Chapter Twenty Eight
Primadonna

AFTER A WHILE,  Miguel decided to leave Sydney alone and let her work her magic.  He walked back into the living room and plopped down on Johnny's couch.  The man looked up from his phone smirked at him,  making Miguel frown slightly. "What?"

"Nothing,"  Johnny shook his head and went back to the dating app.  "You just remind me of myself when I was your age."

"In what way?"  Miguel asked,  hinting a smile.

"When I met my first love,"  Johnny admitted.  "I looked at her the same way you look at her in there."

Miguel blushed and shook his head. "Yeah, uh. . . I-I don't know."

Johnny nodded awkwardly. "She's good for you. And, uh, you're good for her. I can tell."

Miguel smiled. "You think so?"

"I may not be an expert at a long of things but I do know about first loves." Johnny said and his attention went to the phone but he didn't do anything. He only he spaced out in thought.

"Ugh, what is up with you people and having horrible taste in clothes? We're in California, people!" Sydney shouted from inside Johnny's room.

"Not all of us live in a million dollar mansion!" Johnny said loudly.

"I know dogs that wear better things than this!"

"Yeah, well those people are weirdos." Johnny said and his expression read that he was offended.

Miguel stifled a laugh. "How're you doing in there, Syd?"

"There's not much for me to work with but how about a nice button up and uh, whatever kind of jeans these are?" The British girl asked,  her voice emphasizing disgust.

"I have old jeans if that's what your referring to." Johnny responded.

"I'm definitely taking you shopping after this." Sydney said and pulled a repulsed face when she continued looking through the closet.

Johnny's phone went off. "Hey! There's a chick on my app."

"Alright, just swipe right if you like her and we'll set up a bunch of dates." Miguel told him.

"Read thoroughly though! Catfishing is a thing!" Sydney said from inside the room.

"This is dumb. You can't find any your about a chick from one—Ohh, this one's hot." Johnny started and sat up from the couch.

Miguel rolled his eyes.

Sydney's eyes landed on a red jacket that was hanging up. She touched the leather material and took it off the hanger. She walked into the living room with it. "This is a cool jacket."

Miguel's eyes lit up at the sight of it and stood up from the couch. He walked around the table and took it from. "Hey, can I borrow this?" He asked Johnny.

"Yeah whatever." Johnny said, not bothering to look up from his phone. "No. . . No. . . Not with a ten foot pole. Lose that mole, you're in."

The couple stared at him in disbelief. "If you ever talk about me or any girl like that, I will gouge your eyes out." She said to Miguel.

"No worries." He promised and kissed her forehead. He out the jacket on and adjusted it. "What do you think?"

"I think you look hot." She admitted.

"If you two are gonna make out go to my room. Just don't close the door all the way." Johnny said, still looking at his phone.

Sydney rolled her eyes and grabbed Miguel's hand, dragging him into the room. His widened his eyes. "Really?"

"No really," she said weirdly. She paused. "Okay, maybe a little but not right now."

He chuckled and they sat on the bed. "You have any plans tonight?"

"Hmm, it's either spend the day with you or go home and watch rom coms with my mum. Dad watched them with us the other night. Cried like a baby." She informed with a tiny grin.

"Aww," he smiled. "Well, the roller rink's having an eighties theme night tonight. Do you wanna go?"

"I don't have anything for a costume." She said.

"I'm sure we can find something," he said cutely and tucked her hair behind her ear. "What do ya say?"

Sydney hummed. "All right. Just warning you though, I'm an excellent skater."

"Oh really? I'm pretty good too." He said with confidence.

"Really?"

". . . No."

She chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll help you."

"So sweet." he said and leaned forward, kissing her softly.

She hummed against his mouth and cupped the back of his neck, pulling him closer to her. Slowly, they fell backwards till Miguel's back was against the bed and she was hovering over him.

"Is the door open?" Johnny called out from the living room.

"Sensei!"

Sydney decided to go dressed as Heather Chandler from the movie Heather, which was one of her favorite movies. Miguel wore Johnny's red leather Cobra Kai jacket. The couple walked into the roller rink hand and hand, Sydney staring in awe at the eighties decore and the outfits. "Wow, they really went all out."

"I told you," Miguel nodded. "Do you wanna eat first or skate?"

"We can eat. It'll give you some time to prepare for my amazing skating skills." She teased.

Miguel playfully rolled his eyes. "Oh, I'm sure. Just don't let go of my hand. I have horrible balance."

"Not to worry, love." She promised.  She looked around and spotted Charlie standing by himself wearing a Maverick costume from Top Gun.  "Hey,  there's Charlie."

The couple walked up to him and Charlie smiled when he saw them.  "Hey,  it's my favorite couple!"

"What's up man,"  Miguel greeted and they did their handshake.  "Love the costume."

"Aw,  thanks."  Charlie grinned.

"Are you waiting for someone?"  Sydney asked.

"Charlie nodded. "Uh yeah,  I'm meeting Sam here. She should be here soon."

Right as he said that,  Tory came skating their way holding a tray in her hand.  "Hey guys."  She greeted them.

"Tory,  I didn't know you worked here."  Sydney said with a smile.

"Yeah,  I just started not too long ago,"  she nodded and glanced up at Charlie.  "Hey charlie."

The boy smiled back. "Hey Tory."

Sydney eyed them suspiciously.  "Tory,  when do you get off?"

"Uh,"  Tory started and checked her watch.  "In about an hour or less."

"We all need to hang out then."  She suggested and looked up at Miguel.

Miguel nodded in agreement.  "Yeah,  totally.  That would be awesome."

Sam soon joined them,  wearing a pink dress and short brown wig.  "Hey guys."

"Sammy."  Sydney greeted happily and hugged her.

Tory's smile vanished at the sight of her.  "Well,  look who it is."

Sam frowned slightly.  "I,  I'm. . . I didn't know you worked here."

"Yeah,  well,  not all of us get to use daddy's credit card."  Tory said bitterly.

Sydney,  Miguel,  and Charlie shared a worried look.

Sam glanced at Charlie.  "I just came to hang out with Charlie.  I'm sorry."

Tory's face downturned.  "Wait,  you two are here together."

"Y-Yeah,"  Charlie nodded slightly and gave a nervous smile.  "I asked her to go."

"This is getting awkward."  Sydney whispered to Miguel.

"But it's so interesting."  He whispered back.

"Huh,  I didn't know you had a girlfriend."  Tory continued,  her voice full of hurt and anger.

"W-We're not dating,"  Sam denied quickly.  "We're just. . . hanging out."

"Right."  The girl said.  She smiled at Sydney.  "I'll see you after work,  maybe?"

Sydney nodded and Tory skated away,  leaving the others to stand there awkwardly. 

"Well,  this just got sufficiently awkward,"  Miguel said and looked at his girlfriend.  "Wanna eat now?"

Sydney nodded. "Very much so. Sam,  Charlie,  do you want to join us?"

Charlie shook his head.  "Oh no,  I don't want to intrude on your date."

"Don't worry about it man,"  Miguel shook his head.  "We're okay with it."

Charlie looked down at Sam and she nodded with a smile.  "Alright then,  thank you."

Sydney grabbed Miguel's hand and they went to find a table.  "This night just got more interesting."  She said to him.

"Definitely going to be one to remember."  he agreed.

Miguel was not kidding when he said he was a horrible skater.  Only six minutes into them being on the floor,  Miguel had fallen on his face,  his back,  and almost brought her down as well.  Sydney was laughing hysterically.

"Stop laughing at me."  Miguel pouted and attempted to stand up but fell right back down.  "Ow."

Sydney laughed into her hand.  "I'm sorry,  I'm sorry,  come here."  She held her hands out to him. 

Miguel gripped them tightly and she helped him stand up,  his feet threatening to give out from under him.

"Okay,  just hold onto me,  okay?"  She said.  "Hold my hand or my arm."

Miguel interlocked his hand with hers and held onto it for dear life.

"Okay,  just follow my lead.  Slow,  okay?"  She instructed.  She began skating slowly.  Miguel followed her and tensed up his body in fear of falling.  "Good job.  Just like that."

Miguel nodded slightly. "Okay,  this isn't so bad."

"Just keep your legs locked and one foot in front of the other.  Try not to stop all at one way.  Ease yourself into it.  If you feel like you're gonna fall,  stop yourself with your heels."

Miguel nodded in understanding.  "Okay."

Together,  the pair skated hand and hand around the rink.  Couples skated around them faster and obviously more skilled but Sydney was fine with going slow as long as Miguel got it.  A cute smile grew on his face when he was able to do it without falling.  "Babe,  look,  I'm doing it!"

She laughed at his excitement.

"I'm doing it—"

thud.

"Ouch."

Sydney sucked air through her teeth and quickly helped him up.  "Baby steps.  Baby steps.  But that was good though,  love.  I'm proud of you."

He grinned happily and she kissed him.  When he stood up again,  he stumbled.  "I think my skates might be too big."

"What size do you wear?"  She asked.

"Eight."

"Ah yeah,  that guy gave you a nine.  C'mon,"  she nodded and led him off the rink.  From the corner of her eye,  she could see tory starting at Sam and Charlie in the skating line.  She was frowning but her expression was full of anger.  "Hey,  you go ahead.  I'll come find you when you're done."

Miguel nodded and went to stand in the line.  Sydney skated carefully over to Tory.  "Hey."

Tory seemed startled and tore her attention away from them,  seeing the Brit.  "Hey."

"Are you okay?"  Sydney asked.

"Why would I be?"  Tory asked defensively.

"Cause that poor tray you're holding's about to snap in half."

Tory glanced down at the tray she was holding very tightly and let go,  holding it under her arm.  She sighed.  "No,  I'm not okay."

Sydney looked away from her at at Sam and Charlie.  Miguel had joined their conversation.  "Do you like Charlie?"  She asked the girl.

Tory was shocked by the question and more shocked at how calm she asked it. Sydney and Sam were best friends. Tory was shocked she was even still speaking to her. "Um. . ." she started and glanced back at them. She frowned when she saw Charlie laugh at something Sam said. "Yeah, I do."

Sydney was conflicted. Yes, Sam was her best friend and she would always choose her first, but Sam was also conflicted. She liked Charlie but she was also developing feelings for Robby. Charlie was a good guy and he seemed to really like Sam. Robby was also a good guy and from what she knew, he felt something for Sam as well.

Sydney was happy she was in a secure relationship.

"They're not together," Sydney said. "Sam really likes him but she's confused."

Tory nodded. "Yeah, well, I'm not one of those girls that goes around and tries to take someone's guy."

Sydney grinned. "I would hope not. That would start a terrible karate battle."

Tory let out a small laugh. She looked at Charlie again. "Do you think he could possibly like me too?"

Sydney followed her eye and saw Charlie look up from sam and wave at Tory. "There's a possibility. I wouldn't be a good friend to either of you if I got your hopes up."

Aain, Tory nodded. "Thanks Sydney."

After getting his skates, Miguel walked back over to Sydney. "Hey, I got 'em," he said and looked between them. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's great. I gotta get back to work." Tory said and said goodbye to them before skating away.

Miguel looked down at her. "All good?"

"All good," she nodded. "Ready for round two?"

Miguel's cheeks turned red and he stifled a laugh.

Sydney rolled her eyes. "You're such a boy."

He quickly followed after her when she skated away.

I can't decide if I'm on Sam's side or Tory's side

either way, I definitely manifested the school fight