Chapter Twenty Seven
Primadonna

WHEN SYDNEY PICKED miguel up from the dojo,  she was very concerned as to why he looked so pissed off.  He got in her car and slammed the door shut,  sighing.  "Hey babe."

"Hey, love."  She said softly and kissed his cheek.  "Are you okay?  Why do you look so mad?"

"Will you play Taylor Swift? I need a stress reliever." He asked.

She blinked rapidly and opened the Apple Music app. "Anything specific?"

"Don't Blame Me."

Sydney hummed. "Okay, you're in a Reputation mood. Obviously something happened."

She started to back out and drive off. Miguel sighed again. "Sensei Lawrence and Sensei Kreese took us to Cayote Creek and we played this game where all of us were on two teams and had to steal the others headband. It got a little. . . rough."

Sydney raised her brows. "rough as in?"

"Hawk's the one that trashed Miyagi-Do."

Sydney almost crashed into another car with how hard she jerked the wheel. "WHAT?"

Miguel's eyes widened and he quickly grabbed the oh shit handle.  "Sydney!"

"Sorry,"  she said and drove normally.  "Oh,  that little bastard.  He's lucky I don't break into his house and cut that stupid mohawk off in his sleep."

"Maybe Reputation wasn't such a good idea,"  Miguel muttered in worry.  "He also stole the Medal of Honor.  I caught him wearing it."

Sydney gripped the steering wheel till her knuckles turned white.  "I'm going to kill him.  I'm channeling my inner Reputation era."

"You and me both."  her boyfriend replied and pursed his lips.

She glanced at him.  "So what did you do?"

"I fought him, kicked his ass,  took his headband, and got the medal back,"  Miguel explained and took the medal from his pocket.  "Figured I'd let you give it back to them."

"Thank you,"  she said.  She sighed heavily.  "That's insane.  What the fuck is wrong with him?  Is it that Kreese guy?  Is he brainwashing all of you?"

Miguel made a face.  "What?  No. Sensei Kreese knows what it takes to win."

Sydney looked at him oddly. "Takes to win?"

Miguel nodded. "Yeah. He told us karate isn't just for the tournament and that's it's for the real world, too. He said we need to start treating as a real world situation."

Sydney blinked. "Miguel, that's a little extreme don't you think?"

Miguel shook his head.  "No, Sydney.  I want to be the best and for that to happen,  I have pretend like I'm in a tournament."

Sydney didn't know what to think. The way Miguel was talking made her worry and she wondered what was happening inside that dojo to make him believe such dark things.

Quickly, Miguel's mood change and he smiled at her. "Enough about me though. How was your day?"

There was no way she could tell him.  She knew Miguel couldn't stay mad at her but if he knew she was training at another dojo,  he would be livid and Sydney couldn't afford to lose him.  She wouldn't.  "It was good.  I spent the day with Sam."

He smiled playfully.  "Of course."

"Hey,  for your information,  Demetri and I are quite close now."  she informed. 

Miguel's eyes widened slightly.  "Really?"

She nodded.  "Yeah,  he's a weird little thing but he's sweet.  He's like a really tall,  skinny,  newborn deer."

Miguel chuckled.  "That's a perfect description."

She turned down another road.  "What do you wanna do now?"

"Can we go to your house?  I'm tired and really need another massge."  He replied with a small pout.

Sydney smiled sweetly.  She refrained from telling him that her body was sore as well.  "Whatever you want,  honey."

The next morning, Sydney called Miguel and asked if he wanted to go get coffee before they had to go to dance and the dojo. He said yes, of course, and she immediately got out of bed to get ready.

About an hour later, Sydney picked him up and she drove them to a small coffee shop downtown. "This place is cute." She said when she found a parking spot.

Miguel nodded.  "Let's hope they have good coffee.  if not, Starbucks is around the corner."

Sydney chuckled. "You are so California."

They got out of the car and he looked at her in offense. "You say that like you don't live here either."

"I'm British, honey. We're all about tea." she said and walked around the car to grab his hand. "Ooh, I hope they have tea."

He held the door open for her and they walked in, immediately being greeted by the staff.  They sat down and ordered.  Miguel reached across the table and grabbed her hands.  "When's your next dance competition?"

"Three months.  Rosemary's been working really hard on the choreography.  i'm realty excited."  she explained with a happy smile.

"If it's anything like your last dance then it'll be amazing."

Sydney grinned.  "Thanks babe.  So,  are you gonna say anything to Hawk today?"

Miguel gave a small shrug.  "I haven't decided yet.  He's my best friend but what he did was wrong.  I don't want to be like that."

She shook her head.  "You're not.  You're kind,  and sweet,  and loyal.  I don't see you turning out like him.  But just so you know,  even if you're friends with him,  doesn't mean I will be."

Miguel nodded in understanding.  "I get it."

The waitress brought them their order and they looked at each other before trying it at the same time.  Sydney sipped her tea and eyes widened.  "Holy shit,  that's amazing."

Miguel gasped.  "I don't even really like coffee and that's good."

She furrowed her brows.  "You don't like coffee?"

He shook his head.  "Not really."

"Then why'd you agree to come?"

"Cause you asked me to."

God, she was so lucky. "You're so sweet,"  she said with a loving smile.

He grinned. "Only for you."

They sipped their drinks again. "You should come sit and observe us one day." Miguel suggested.

Her stomach dropped. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."

He almost pouted.  "Why?  I know you don't have interest but I think it would be fun for you to see what we do. We can even spar together."

Sydney absolutely loved the way his eyes lit up when he talked about karate and it made her feel incredibly guilty.  "I dunno,  I wouldn't want to hurt you."  She teased and sipped her tea again.

He scoffed playfully.  "Is that right?"

She nodded and smirked.  "That's right."

He leaned forward against the table.  "Only one way to find out."

She leaned forward.  "We'll see."

Miguel smiled and sipped his coffee.  "Hey,  do you know if Charlie and Sam are still talking?"

Sydney nodded.  "I'm pretty sure.  She was just talking about him the other day,"  and Robby.  "Why?"

"I think Tory has a crush on him."  He responded.

She stopped drinking her tea.  "What?"

"Yeah,  she's always flirting with him in class.  They seem to be getting really close."  He explained,  recalling always seeing the two of them smiling at each other in class.

"Oh really?"  she said and clicked her tongue.

Miguel looked nervous.  "Did I just start something?"

"Don't worry,  babe,"  she shook her head and leaned her chin on the palm of her hand.  "Now,  when do you want me to come and observe?"

The bell above the door rang when Sydney entered the dance studio.  Rosemary smiled at her when she saw her walk in.  "Good morning,  Sydney."

"Good morning."  Sydney greeted.  She walked into the dressing room the see some of the girls there getting dressed.  "Hey guys."

"Hey Syd."  they responded and smiled.

Sailor,  who was sitting on the bench and putting on her dance shoes,  grinned.  "Hey Brit."

"Hey."  Sydney said back and put her bag down on the bench.  She shrugged her jacket off and took her tank top off,  completely oblivious to the dark bruise on her side.

"Oh my god,  Sydney,  what happened?"  Maddie gasped when she saw the mark.

It made all the girls look at her,  seeing how big the bruise was.  Sydney looked at her side with wide eyes,  forgetting it was there.  Dammit Demetri.

"Whoa,  Brit,  what happened?"  Sailor asked and stood up,  examining it.  "Was it Miguel?  I'll crush his skull with my hands."

Sydney shook her head.  "No,  never.  He would never.  I uh. . . I tripped over the side walk and landed on my side."

"Ouch."  Maddie hissed.

"Maybe you should go down to three inch heels."  Sailor suggested.

Sydney scoffed.  "As if.  Don't worry,  I'm fine.  It doesn't even hurt."

That was a lie.  Her upper body was sore from karate but she tried hard not to show it.

"Are you sure?  My mom's a doctor,  I know a thing or two."  Sailor said.

Sydney nodded,  plastering a fake smile.  "I promise."

"Let's start,  shall we?"  Another one of the girls,  Hannah,  asked after finishing putting her dance shoes on.

"Please."  Sydney nodded and all the girls walked into the dance room.  Sydney touched her side gingerly,  flinching when she pressed on the bruise.

"Wait what?"  Sydney said into her phone,  pulling a weird face.

"I need your help setting johnny up on a dating app."  Miguel repeated on the other line.

"Johnny?  Johnny Lawrence?  The man who drinks from six AM to six the next day?"  Sydney asked and got into her car.

"I heard that!"  She heard Johnny say.

"Please baby?  We're a little desperate here."

"I'm not desperate."

"What are we talking?  Tinder,  Bumble,  Grindr,  Christian Mingle?"

"How the hell do you know about dating apps?"  Johnny asked into the phone.  

"I'm a teenage girl,"  she said like it was obvious.

"Please Syd?"  Miguel pleaded.

"Y'know,  it's not hard to go outside and meet a woman.  That's how my dad found my mum. We're in California,"  Sydney said.  "My mum has a lot of friends from Kingston that are available."

"I like that idea better."

"For your information,  I like being the only guy around here with a british girlfriend.  Syd,  please?"

"And french." She added.

"You're french? Miguel, how the hell did you pull her?"

"I ask myself that, too," Miguel grinned. "Sydney?"

Sydney sighed.  "You're lucky I like you,  Diaz."

"I know."

Johnny gagged.

"I'll be there in twenty minutes."  She said and hung up the phone.

About fifteen minutes later,  Sydney arrived in Receda and parked her car beside Johnny's.  She strutted to his apartment and knocked on the door,  tapping her heels against the pavement.

Miguel opened the door and smiled.  "Hey gorgeous."

"Hi,"  she said and kissed him quickly.  "Okay,  what am I working with here?"

"I've already got the app downloaded,"  Miguel said.  He sat on the couch and looked over at Johnny.  "What type of women are you looking to meet?"

"British chicks if I'm lucky."  the blonde man answered.

She rolled her eyes.  "We're pretty rare."

"Why the hell did she get with you?"  Johnny asked Miguel.

Miguel smirked at her.  "Guess it was my charm."

"That and you helped me pass Spanish." She added, holding a finger up.

"Anything else?" Miguel asked him.

Johnny didn't respond and only raised a brow at him.

Miguel nodded.  "Super hot babes. Dumb question.  Okay, what are your likes?"

"Besides day drinking." Sydney chimed.

"You make me sound like an alcoholic." said Johnny. He quickly pointed at her. "Don't respond to that! My likes? What am I supposed to say? Long walks on the beach?"

Sydney smiled at her boyfriend. "Aww, that was our first date."

Again, Johnny gagged. "I like muscle cars, martial arts, and Iron Eagle. and Iron Eagle II."

"You're very exciting." Sydney said flatly and Johnny glared at her.

"Why aren't you texting this down? Computer dating was your idea." He said to Miguel.

"Look, y-you have to take this seriously." said Miguel. 

"It used to be simple."  Johnny sighed.  "Find a chick at a bar,  bump into her hard,  but not too hard.  Pretty hard.  Ten you buy her a beer."

The couple shared a strange look.  "Yeah,  no."

"Tried and tried,  Diaz,  Benoist,"  the man said.  "That's how the cavemen did it.  Cavemen,  that's another like."

Sydney sighed.  "That's the farthest thing from what girls want."

"Okay,  enlighten me,  Frenchy.  What do girls want?"  Johnny challenged.

"Girls want a guy to be open. They want a guy who isn't afraid to tell them how they feel and they want a guy that listens to what she wants and how she feels. Girls want a guy that tries hard but not too hard; A guy that doesn't give up on what he wants. Girls want a guy that doesn't care about showing her off like a trophy and cares more about making sure she knows that she's cared for and that she's loved. Girls want a guy that they can always go to and know that no matter what, they'll always be there because nothing can stand in the way of them."

The room was silent. Both Miguel and Johnny stared at her with wide eyes. Miguel especially and he couldn't help but think she was the most perfect girl in the world.

Sydney wasn't a romantic person. Not really. Most because she didn't know how to be. Miguel was her first boyfriend and before that, all she had for reference was the stories her parents would tell her about their journey together. Meeting in Paris and traveling all over the world together. It was a life Sydney thought only existed in the movies and therefore didn't want to get her hopes up that it would happen to her.

But then she met Miguel and that fairytale she always heard about slowly became reality.  Miguel was her dream guy.

She grew self conscious under their stares and went back to her normal state.  "Uh,  well. . . y'know,  I watch a lot of romance movies."

Miguel nodded slightly,  still in a daze.  "Yah.  yeah,  what uh,  what she said.  Exactly that."

She blushed and hinted a smile. She messed around with her earrings.

"What about clothes?  What are you wearing?"  He asked.

"You gonna teach me about fashion now?"  The blonde asked.

"That's my job."  Sydney insisted.

He remembered always seeing her in brightly colored clothes and shook his head.  "I'm good."

She gasped.  "I find that hightly offense.  I have shoes that cost more than this entire complex."

"She's not lying.  You should see her closet,"  Miguel agreed.  He handed Johnny the phone and grabbed Sydney's hand,  leading her into Johnny's room.  "I'll let you pick it out."

"Thank you honey."  She smiled.

They entered his room and Miguel shut the door.  "Hey,  uh,"  he started and looked down at his shoes nervously.  "All that stuff you said in there.  Did you,  uh—Did you mean it all about me?"

Sydney smiled and cupped his face in her hands.  "Who else?"

He smiled lovingly and leaned forward,  capturing her lips in his.  "When did you become such a romantic?"

She hummed.  "Guess it took finding the right person."

She let go of him and started looking through Johnny's closet,  complaining about how ugly his clothes were.  Miguel only smiled at the back of her head,  feeling his heart swell up in happiness.

I sleep peacefully at night knowing I've created the most perfect couple in the world

Miguel being completely oblivious the drama he just started: 👁👄👁

We officially have a Johnny nickname and it's "Frenchy"