❝ you're the best boyfriend i've ever had. ❞

MIGUEL STARED AT AYANE IN DISBELIEF.

"Did you just- did you just say that you love me?"

"...No."

He was feeling a lot of emotions in that moment. Of course, Ayane was drunk, so she might not have meant it.

Ayane stared at him. Before either of them could say anything else, someone called her name.

"Ayane?"

She turned, seeing Robby and Sam walking up to her. Ayane smiled quickly.

"Guys! I'm so glad you're here!"

She went between them, hugging both of them.

They both gave her a look, as this was certainly not Ayane's normal behavior.

"Are you drunk?" Sam asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

Ayane sucked her teeth. "Is it that obvious?"

Robby raised his eyebrows, shaking his head. "Last I heard, you were in the hospital. I guess you're better now?"

Miguel joined Ayane, standing beside her.

"Oh- yeah, I'm better. Which means I still get to kick ass at the tournament-"

"We don't know that yet," Miguel cut in, placing his hands on her shoulders.

Robby eyed Miguel, then suddenly realized who he was. He was the kid that was hugging his father that day Robby came by.

That immediately ruined Robby's mood.

"Miguel won't let me drink anymore," Ayane tried to whisper, although everyone could hear her.

Sam grinned. "I wonder why. Speaking of, I think I might go get a drink. Robby?"

He nodded, following her off.

Ayane turned to Miguel, looking him up and down for a moment before kissing him hard.

Miguel's eyes widened, and he finally pulled away from her. "Ayane, you're drunk. I'm not making out with you when you're not sober."

She rolled her eyes. "So much fun you are. You won't let me drink, you won't let me make out with you- what else can I do?"

"You can go play beer pong! Without the beer."

Ayane rolled her eyes again, looking around boredly.

"Hey, is that Yasmine?"

Before Miguel could catch her, Ayane was walking over to Yasmine. She stopped, tapping the blonde on the shoulder.

Yasmine turned, her face turning fearful.

"Hey, bitch! What the hell do you think you're doing here?"

Miguel grabbed Ayane. "Ayane, no fighting. Remember?"

She shrugged him off, pointing at Yasmine. "You have to nerve to talk shit about my friends? No one even likes you, you dumb fucking cunt!"

There were gasps and oohs from around them, everyone turning to see what was going on.

Yasmine looked furious, but she was too scared to say anything.

"Ayane," Miguel pleaded, "come on."

She looked up at him, sighing. At once, Ayane let Miguel pull her away.

"That bitch is crazy," Yasmine said as Ayane turned around.

Quickly, Ayane turned on her heel and decked Yasmine straight in the face.

"Oh shit!" Someone said. There were even some cheers.

Yasmine was on the ground, touching her now bloodied nose.

Miguel quickly pulled Ayane away, out of the distance of other people.

"Ayane, what the hell is wrong with you?"

She began laughing, running her hands through her hair. "Good question. Damn, that felt so satisfying."

Miguel frowned, holding Ayane's shoulders. She needed to leave before she did anything else.

"Miguel, I really do love you. I mean- I know I'm drunk but I mean it."

He sighed, shaking his head.

"Okay, Ayane. Just- let me see your phone."

She reached in her pocket, pulling out her phone and handing it over without a second thought.

Miguel pulled up her messages, texting Mrs. Cain.

"What are you doing?" Ayane asked, peering over at her phone screen. All of the words were a blur to her.

"I'm telling your mom that you're spending the night at Aisha's. You can't go home like this."

Ayane grinned. "You're so smart. I need to start cheating off of you in Biology-"

Liana replied, saying that it was fine. Miguel breathed with relief, putting Ayane's phone back in her pocket.

"Okay, let's go home."

"Who's home?" Ayane asked, walking alongside Miguel and stumbling every now and then.

"Mine," he replied shortly. "I got Sensei to come pick us up."

Ayane began to talk nonstop, saying whatever came to her mind. Miguel had never heard her talk so much.

At once, Johnny arrived, though not in his usual car.

Miguel helped Ayane into the back, and he didn't even have to explain to Johnny.

"Damn kid, you really got that shitfaced?"

"Shitfaced?" Ayane replied, "Is that another word for drunk?"

Johnny sighed, shaking his head. They pulled up at Reseda not too long after.

As soon as Ayane got out, she rushed over to the nearest bush and puked.

"Sheesh," Johnny said with disgust, looking at Miguel. "You owe me."

With that, Johnny went to his apartment, while Miguel tried to help Ayane get into his. Carmen was working a night shift, so that meant only his yaya was home. And he didn't think she would mind Ayane staying the night.

Luckily, she had already seemed to have gone to bed. Ayane stumbled inside, tripping all over the place.

"You have to be quiet!" Miguel whispered, pulling Ayane into his room. He shut the door behind him, sighing with relief.

Ayane looked around with surprise; she had never actually been in his room.

"My head hurts," she sighed, holding her head. Ayane seemed to be sobering up, so hopefully she'd pass out quickly.

"That's called a hangover," Miguel explained, pulling off his shoes.

"You can sleep on the bed, just- try not to make any noise, please."

Ayane sat on his bed, rubbing her temples. Her head was pounding. She managed to get her shoes off and laid down. Miguel watched her, staring for a moment just to admire her.

Before she knew it, Ayane was asleep. Miguel took a blanket and pillow from the living room and came back to his room, laying it out on the floor.

Miguel laid down, but he could not go to sleep. His mind was racing.

Ayane loved him.

He found himself smiling, looking up at Ayane's sleeping figure.

Miguel loved her, too.

. . . .

AYANE WAS THE FIRST one awake the next morning.

She sat up quickly, looking around. The place looked foreign to her. Ayane looked down, realizing she was in someone's bed. Her heart skipped a beat, hoping she had not hooked up with someone.

Looking down, Ayane's eyes widened as she saw Miguel asleep on the floor.

Her head was throbbing still, but it was better than the night before.

Ayane watched Miguel for a moment, trying to remember what had happened last night. She didn't remember most of it.

She swung her legs down, careful not to hit Miguel. Ayane examined the room, smiling to herself. Then, on Miguel's bed, she noticed a small stuffed unicorn sitting there.

Ayane picked it up, laughing softly.

Below her, Miguel stirred. He rubbed his eyes, sitting up and smiling at Ayane.

"Hi," she said, "sleep well?"

Miguel stood up, stretching with a small laughed. "Not the best, but you know. What about you?"

Ayane looked up at him, shaking her head. "I-I slept fine. Miguel, you know I wouldn't have minded if you slept with me, right?"

He shrugged. "I know. But you were drunk and it wouldn't have been right to do that without your consent."

She raised an eyebrow, nodding at once.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Um, speaking of- I didn't do anything crazy, did I?"

Judging by the look of Miguel's face, she had done a lot of crazy things.

He poked his tongue in his cheek. "Well..."

Ayane hid her face in her hands with a groan.

"Shit. What did I do?"

Miguel frowned. "Y-You don't remember anything? Anything at all?"

She stood up carefully, as her head was still hurting and her back as well.

"No," she sighed, shaking her head. "Just- tell me what I did before I see memes about me around school."

Miguel tilted his head. "I don't exactly think that'll be the case. Well- for starters, you clocked Yasmine."

Ayane's eyes widened. She looked down at her fist, which was visibly bruised.

"Oh wait- I think I remember it now." She laughed, staring up as she tried to recall it. "Yeah. Yep, that's it."

Miguel laughed with her. "You were pretty... off the rails."

Ayane crossed her arms, looking back up at him. "Well, what else did I do?"

He hesitated, wondering if he should tell her. Miguel didn't want to pressure Ayane with it, especially if she didn't remember saying it.

"Um... you did a lot of things. Said a lot of things. A lot of things."

Ayane groaned once more, pulling her hair back. "Shit," she said again, pacing Miguel's room.

"I like your room, by the way," she said, turning back to face him.

Miguel wrinkled his nose with a smile.

"Thanks. I can say the same for you."

Ayane smiled, pulling out her phone to check the time.

"Dammit, I have to go home so my mom can take me to physical therapy. Wait- does she know that I stayed out last night? Oh my God, I'm so dead-"

"Hey, don't worry. I texted her from your phone and told her you were staying at Aisha's. And Aisha will cover for you."

Ayane met Miguel's eyes, pausing. "I'm so sorry I got drunk," she huffed, "I-I feel so irresponsible. I'm sorry you had to be the one to deal with me."

He rolled his eyes. "Ayane, that's what boyfriends do. They make sure their drunk girlfriends don't do stupid things."

She snorted, giving a shake of her head. Ayane went forward and hugged Miguel, taking in his familiar scent.

"You're the best boyfriend I've ever had."

"Aren't I the only boyfriend you've ever had?"

"Well- yeah. But I have no frame of reference, and therefore I am deeming you the best."

Miguel laughed softly, pulling away from Ayane.

"Okay, you have to get home and I have to get to the dojo."

"The dojo? It's Sunday."

He shrugged. "I have to train as hard as I can for the- the tournament."

Ayane nodded slowly, biting her lower lip. "That is true. Well, I guess I'll talk to you later."

"Okay. I'll call you."

Ayane stepped toward the door, sending him a look. "Not if I call you first," she replied with some sarcasm.

Before she opened the door, Miguel blurted, "Ayane, wait!"

She turned her head quickly. "What? What's wrong?"

Miguel wrung his hands, hesitating. He wanted Ayane to know what she had said. He couldn't just keep it from her.

"Last night... last night, y-you said that you loved me."

Her heart nearly stopped. Ayane strained her memory, until she had a glimpse of it in her mind. She had told him that.

Ayane's mouth was suddenly very dry.

"I did, didn't I?"

She glanced down, trying find her words. Any words at all.

"Drunk words, sober thoughts? Isn't that what they say?"

Miguel shrugged, his heart beating fast. "I-I think so."

Ayane's hands were very sweaty.

"Well, I'm not going to deny it. Even though that was a very embarrassing way to admit it, but- yes, Miguel. I love you."

He blinked a few times, making sure this was not a dream. At once, Miguel took a few steps closer to Ayane with a serious look.

"I love you, too."

"Thank God. That would have been one of the most embarrassing moments of my life," Ayane replied, smiling up at Miguel.

He chuckled, leaning down until his lips met hers. Ayane kissed him back like it was a second nature, gravitating closer to Miguel.

"On second thought- are you sure you can't stay a little longer?" Miguel broke away and asked.

Ayane flashed a grin, replying, "I wish. But don't worry, I'm sure we can reschedule."

. . . .

WHEN AYANE GOT HOME, she was not expecting both of her parents to be waiting on her.

And they were pissed.

Ayane walked in the living room, finding them both waiting on her.

"Ayane, where have you been?" Ennis immediately asked, his deep voice booming through the room.

She stopped in her tracks, stuttering, "I-I was staying at Aisha's for the night. I thought you knew that."

"I called Mrs. Robinson," Liana said, "she said you never came to their house last night."

Ayane was in deep shit now. She didn't know what else to do, other than tell the truth.

"I stayed at Miguel's," she admitted at once, though she left out the part about her being drunk.

Ennis' face hardened. "Why, for any reason, would you do that? Ayane- are you sexually active-"

"No!" She quickly replied, covering her face with her hands. This conversation was getting worse and worse by the second.

"No," Ayane said calmly, shaking her head. "It's just that- I couldn't find anyone to take me home and I didn't want either of you to have to come pick me up so late."

She looked at them warily, unable to tell if they bought that story or not.

"Don't ask to go anywhere for the next couple of months. You're grounded," Ennis said at once.

Ayane stared in disbelief. She was honestly surprised the punishment had not been worse.

"What about karate?" She finally asked.

Ennis shot her a look. "You're in no shape to do karate right now-"

"You don't know that!" Ayane cut off. "I'm recovering faster than anyone thought I would, I can be ready for the tournament!"

"AYANE!" He yelled, startling her and Liana both.

She took a step back instinctively, trembling.

"No karate. Not until you're fully recovered."

NOTES!
yikes... do y'all think she's going to be able to compete?? heheheh sorry i'm evil