A seemingly fairytale romance between the two most powerful people in school was thought to be a match made in heaven because of their similarities.
Except that their similarities are the things that drive them apart.
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That Saturday, Danielle spent the entire day preparing for the date, rising at 8 AM to put finishing touches on her outfit and then waking her father so they could get started on the food. Mr. Toledano took any excuses he could to make Spanish food, especially if he got to make it with his daughter.
"A second date, huh?" he asked, washing his hands before touching ingredients. "It's going well with him, no?"
"It's going really well." The two of them had been inseparable for the rest of the week, talking throughout third period and calling each other every night.
"That's great, nena. If this keeps up, I want to meet him," Mr. Toledano said, carefully choosing pots and pans from the cabinets.
"Of course. I think you'd like him. He's super nice."
"I'm happy you're moving on, you know? It's time you found someone who makes you happy—after yourself of course. But I know you love yourself."
"You taught me how and you did a great job."
"Too great of a job if you ask me," he responded.
"Ha ha."
"How's your mom been?" Mr. Toledano asked, slicing vegetables into small pieces. "Corey was telling me about an altercation you had the other day."
"She thinks I'm a whore. The usual," Danielle said, dropping the sliced vegetables into a pot of boiling water.
"A what?" Mr. Toledano's knife halted halfway through a carrot.
"Una puta. Una prostitute," she said. "She thinks my skirts are too short."
"She shouldn't be calling you those names." He resumed mincing, his sudden silences louder than his knife. "You're a child."
"I'm eighteen, Daddy."
"Don't argue with me. She's wrong to treat you like this. I'll talk to her," Mr. Toledano said, passing Danielle the next round of sliced vegetables.
The last think Danielle wanted was more family drama but she appreciated her father's concern, even if it wouldn't make things much better.
Mr. Toledano kicked his daughter out of the kitchen so she could get ready, scarred by the sweater fiasco of the first date. Danielle wore a matching denim jacket and skirt combo she planned out the day she agreed to a second date.
Billy threw on clothes half an hour before he left the house, avoiding his denim jackets so he didn't match Danielle. She asked him not to wear a jean jacket in the middle of the lecture neither one of them were paying attention to. He opted for a maroon leather so he wouldn't steal her thunder.
