Diary of a Future President

Well, Diary, I did it. My first year of middle school.

There were so many changes.

Everyone has a reason for being.

Wait, what's my raison?

I just felt like everyone else had everything all figured out.

It takes years for people to figure out what their raison is,

and there will be many stops on the road to finding it.

Discover the things you find fun.

Looks like we have a future leader on our hands.

You think I could be a leader?

And guess what? I think I'm getting closer to my raison.

Every challenge we face, we face together.

Every step forward we take, we take together.

And we are just getting started.

Let's do this.

- Oh, my God! -Oh, my God!

Diary, over the summer,

I read about the importance of visualizing your success.

So today, on my first day of seventh grade,

-I'm manifesting my destiny. -Yes, girl, you! Come on.

I'm going to win Orange Bay Middle School Student Rep.

I love you, Elena!

Hello, world. It's me, your leader.

When I met you at the Capitol, I thought, "That girl is born to lead."

- -I should know. I'm a senator.

You are.

Joey and Elena, forever.

Let's kiss some more later.

We totally should.

See, Diary?

I finally found my raison, my reason for being,

setting me on my path to the future.

Hello, Elena. It is I, Elena.

This is embarrassing. One of us is gonna have to change.

Not me. I'm on the precipice of greatness.

Wow. Queen bee, much?

Hey, people use that term as a negative,

but no one in the hive works harder than the queen bee.

Oh, I know. There's this riveting documentary--

Heavy is the Honey Crown. I found it fascinating.

Me too. I thought it was a

stern but fair portrayal of hive mentality.

But this... I mean, you gotta tone this down.

Why? Senator Morales said I was born to lead.

Sure, if leading is throwing yourself a one-woman parade.

What is your problem?

I'm the voice in your head. So really, what's your problem?

Okay, I don't need your judgment.

Yeah. Time to quote Eleanor Roosevelt...

As Eleanor Roosevelt says,

"No one can make me feel inferior without my consent." So, bye!

Mami, do you ever get this, like, pesky voice in your head

making you second-guess everything?

No. I always know exactly what to do at any given situation.

Of course you do. You're amazing.

I'm kidding! Everyone gets that voice in their head.

Trick is knowing when to listen to it and when not to.

First day of school jitters?

What? No. I'm ready.

Sasha, Jessica and I have big plans for seventh grade.

I'm gonna win Student Rep, Sasha's gonna get the lead in the musical

and Jessica's now a hat person.

Mmm.

A hat person-- Oof!

That is a big swing on the first day.

Ah! Where's your brother?

Hey, Liam. How was your summer? Did you have fun with your brothers?

Fun with your brothers. What am I? Nine?

Bummer we didn't text that much... but that's okay.

What did I do?

Uh...

Well, I got my permit. No big deal, except it is.

My mom won't let me drive, but-- I won't say that part.

Tennis! We both like tennis.

We're gonna be on the tennis team, probably make varsity.

It'll be fun. Like the time you had with your brothers--

Stop saying that.

Liam...

Hey, Liam.

Robertico, breakfast!

Happy first day of school, Bobby! It's high school. It's a big year.

I guess. Haven't really thought about it.

Did you double-check that this is all the mail?

Elenita, I'm sure Senator Morales hasn't written back because she's busy.

I just want her stamp of approval on my Student Rep platform.

And I know I'm going to win because...

"I know my school.

I care about the job more than anyone,

and the students listen to me. They respect me."

I really hope you win, Elena, so we can stop hearing about this every day.

Robertico, be nice.

On the way, can we stop and get gas?

-I'll run in and get those-- -Pastelitos and croquetas?

-They keep the best in the gas station. -They're so perfect.

Just like you.

My mom and Sam spent two weeks together

while Bobby and I were at Ñeñe's time-share.

They're insufferably adorable.

Okay, vamos. Time for the picture.

Wait. Sam, let's do a self-timer so you can be in it.

Me? Photobombing the traditional Cañero-Reed first-day-of-school photo?

It's not a photobomb. It's you.

Okay. Let's do this.

Did you do it right?

Think I did...

Jessica, hey!

Wait, I thought you were gonna be a hat person.

I chickened out. Seventh grade is kind of a lot.

They built a statue of Swansby? Are you kidding me?

This used to be my favorite water fountain!

Ugh. Tripp Swansby.

Descendant of Ogden and,

like his great-great-grandfather, the picture of privilege.

Oh, hey. How is it going with your petition to get a new mascot?

Dr. Cooper says it'll get in front of the board any day now.

But when I win Student Rep, I'll make it happen.

What are you doing in the seventh-grade hallway?

-Aren't you in eighth? -Seventh grade.

Grade so nice, I'm doing it again.

Really? The rhyme was right there.

Okay, spill. I wanna hear all about this two-week, no-kids staycation.

Oh, my God. Was that a love giggle?

No.

Trust me, I know all your giggles.

Gas-station-croqueta giggle, good-parking-spot giggle,

shirtless-Idris-Elba giggle...

That was a love giggle.

-Fine. It was fun. -

Like...

...really fun.

It was the first time...

...we had time for just us, you know?

Like, I love Gabi's kids.

You know I love my kids.

But it was so nice...

...doing things, just for us.

It was so simple.

Mmm.

He was just there...

Sam fits into my life.

It was nice. Not having to reach out every time we wanted to see each other.

Hmm, I get it. Sam's a terrible texter.

He puts a period at the end of everything like he's about to murder me.

Ay, Cami.

You know, ever since Robert died,

sometimes, even with the kids around, I get this, um...

pang...

of being alone.

But with Sam around, this amazing guy who's there for me and the kids...

No pang.

No pang.

Gabi, sweetheart?

-Hi. -Hi.

-Mmm. Mmm. -

-I was just telling Cami about our summer. -Our summer. I did that too.

-And how I loved having you around... -Around all the time. Yeah, same.

Okay! So, are you gonna...

-Are we gonna... -What?

Dios mío, seriously? Move in together already!

I'll give you a minute. I'm just...

-Nice shot. -Solid serve.

Did you have fun with your brothers?

Yeah, it was the same as every summer.

We tried to eat a spoonful of cinnamon. It can't be done.

-Hi, Liam. -Hi, Jada.

Wow. Lot of smiling.

Yeah. Yeah, Jada and I've been talking.

Cool. Like, why?

Well, she texted me and asked if Mercury was in retrograde.

I said I don't know, and then we hit it off.

Oh.

-Chill. -Yeah.

Hey, be my doubles partner for tryouts later?

-Deal. -Cool.

Thanks, Ms. R.

I really wanted to sign up to run for Student Rep

on the first day of seventh grade.

Yeah, usually people wait a few months,

since campaigning doesn't start till winter.

But sure, this feels like an important thing for me to do on the first day.

-I'm looking forward to working with you. -Again, this is months from now.

Diary, seventh grade was off to a great start.

Everything besides the new Swansby statue was going according to plan.

Oh! Hey, Sash.

Wait, what?

Move in together. Well--

-If I'm being honest, she said-- -Exactly what I was thinking?

-We've been serious for over a year. -I'm at your place all the time.

Mm-hmm, but living together won't be like those few weeks this summer.

Why not? What could possibly be different?

Well, the kids--

Obviously, it's the kids! By definition, it can't be the same.

Right.