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00:00Hi, my name is Gigi, and I'm from Illinois.
00:02Before I continue, please like and subscribe.
00:05Ever since I can remember, I have loved cars.
00:08I guess it's because my dad is a professional racer.
00:10I grew up hanging out with him at the racetrack,
00:12and his pit crew always treated me like one of their own.
00:15Don't get me wrong, I'm totally a girly girl.
00:18I love to do makeup, get my nails done,
00:20shout for the latest trends, and post selfies on Instagram.
00:23But given the choice between a hairbrush and a socket wrench,
00:26well, you can't fix a car with a hairbrush.
00:28The year I turned 16,
00:30my dad was in a terrible accident while racing.
00:33It was so hard for my mom to see him in the hospital,
00:35but I did the best I could to help
00:36by keeping my little brother and sister in line
00:38while she was visiting him.
00:40I cooked and cleaned, and sure, I hated it,
00:43but I had been raised with a pit crew mentality.
00:45Everyone pitches in.
00:46I missed my dad, and I couldn't wait
00:48for things to get back to normal.
00:50At night, I would watch NASCAR videos
00:52on my phone under the covers,
00:53dreaming of the day that it would be me driving.
00:56One day at school, our mechanics teacher said
00:58he was offering extra credit for anyone
01:00who wanted to work on fixing up an old car after class.
01:03My arm practically came out of my socket
01:05as I raised it to volunteer.
01:07The boy sitting next to me sneered.
01:09But you're just a girl.
01:10I took a wrench that I had in my zini purse
01:12and slammed it on his desk.
01:14Okay, fly boy, what kind of wrench is this?
01:16I was mad, but even though he was dressed in retro style,
01:20he couldn't help but notice his wavy blonde hair
01:22and steel blue eyes, he was kind of gorgeous.
01:25It was like I was watching a unicorn flip his mane
01:27in slow motion.
01:29I bet you're all thinking, focus, girl.
01:31This guy is trouble with a capital WTH.
01:33Then he answered as if he was teaching me something.
01:37Torque wrench.
01:37I can show you how to use it if you need a lesson.
01:40Oh, no, he didn't.
01:42The only lesson to learn here is how to get up from the floor
01:45when I knocked you out.
01:46The whole class laughed at him.
01:48He pushed his chair back and got in my face.
01:51Are we gonna fight?
01:52The class started cheering.
01:54Did they really wanna see me fight
01:55this gorgeous, annoying unicorn?
01:58Hold on, was this guy my nemesis?
02:00Smart, gorgeous, and into cars, just like me?
02:02The teacher stepped in front of me
02:04before anything could happen
02:05while he stormed out of class.
02:07I was sent to the office and he got away.
02:09So unfair, right?
02:10As I was sitting in the office waiting,
02:12I spied him on the football field
02:13through the office window.
02:14His hood was up, but I knew it was him.
02:16I saw him hand another boy a small package
02:18in exchange for money.
02:20I had no idea what he was up to.
02:21I only knew that this is my school
02:23and I had to protect it from bad guys doing shady things.
02:27Since you're an honor student,
02:28I'm letting you leave this time,
02:29but I don't want any more messes.
02:31And I will talk to Diego about this later.
02:33I thought if the principal
02:35wasn't gonna take this seriously,
02:36I was gonna figure out what this guy was really up to.
02:39After my next class,
02:41I was talking to some cute boys
02:42about our favorite subject, NASCAR,
02:44and they invited me to go dune buggy racing
02:46with them that weekend.
02:47Diego must've heard as he walked by.
02:49Dune buggy?
02:50I guess you can't drive a real car.
02:52I followed him to confront him about his rude comment
02:55and saw him walk off alone to a lunchroom table.
02:57He took a half-eaten apple out of his pocket
03:00and started eating it.
03:01I stopped myself from gagging at the thought of eating
03:03what looked like something you would find in the trash.
03:06Gross!
03:07I needed to let him know
03:08that I was watching his every move,
03:10so I walked by him and gave him a dirty look.
03:13What's the matter?
03:13Couldn't afford a whole apple?
03:15He stood up, and I thought,
03:16this is it.
03:17I'm gonna wrestle him to the ground
03:18and search his pockets for evidence.
03:20Just then, my friends walked up to me,
03:22congratulating me for standing up to this bully earlier.
03:24But before they even noticed he was there,
03:26he put his hood over his head and darted away.
03:29We heard what you did, girl.
03:30Chalk went up for girl power.
03:32Girls can do anything.
03:34I was loving all the positive attention.
03:36I was, after all, the hero of this story.
03:38But I couldn't believe he didn't challenge me.
03:40I expected more of a fight for my mortal enemy.
03:42I was thinking that was the end of it.
03:44But the next day, I saw him leaning on a locker
03:47and talking to another boy and whispering.
03:49As soon as they saw me, they stopped
03:51and walked in the opposite direction.
03:52My spidey senses were tingling.
03:54After school, I waited,
03:56hiding under the bleachers to follow him home.
03:58I had to see for myself what the deal was.
04:00My phone rang, startling me,
04:02and I nearly jumped out of my skin.
04:04It was my mom.
04:05I whispered so that I wouldn't give away my hiding spot.
04:08Hi, mom.
04:08I'm kind of busy right now.
04:10She asked me to pick up groceries on my way home.
04:12Um, I wanted to go to the library.
04:14Can I do it after?
04:15I felt bad lying to my mom,
04:17but I needed to have time to confront this worm, Diego.
04:20He came out the back door of the school,
04:21walked across the field to a hole in the fence,
04:24and slipped through.
04:25Gotta go.
04:26Love you.
04:27I followed him, and as I hid from sight,
04:29I saw him walk up to this small, broken-down house.
04:32Three little boys came running out to hug him.
04:34It was the first time he smiled all day.
04:37Hi, guys.
04:38Come on.
04:38Let's get you into the house before.
04:40Just then, a loud car pulled up to the house,
04:42and Diego hurried the kids inside for safety.
04:45A very large, scary man leaned out of the window
04:48and just stared at Diego.
04:49Diego was clearly intimidated by this man.
04:52He dove into the house like he was trying out for the swim team.
04:55The car spun its wheels, screeching so loudly I had to cover my ears,
04:59and it took off down the street, but before it left, I managed to take a picture of the license plate.
05:03I knew he was up to no good, and now I had the proof.
05:07The next day after school, I waited for Diego again,
05:09but this time, I stopped him before he ducked through the gate.
05:13What are you doing here?
05:14What's going on?
05:15Are you breaking the law?
05:16Because we don't tolerate that in this school.
05:18I mean it, Diego.
05:20Why are you spying on me?
05:21Don't you have a life?
05:22I'm super connected at this school.
05:24I know everyone, and if you think that you're gonna-
05:27Okay, fine, I'll tell you, but just to get you off my back.
05:31That's Leo.
05:31He keeps asking me to work for his chop shop, where they steal and sell illegal car parts.
05:36I knew it!
05:37You're a criminal!
05:39Suddenly, he got really calm and touched my arm.
05:41We locked eyes, and for a second, I couldn't explain it, but I wanted to kiss him so badly.
05:47I know what you guys are thinking.
05:49Love him or hate him, girl, but pick a lane.
05:52No, my dad worked for him as a mechanic, but when he found out that Leo was a criminal,
05:56he quit, and now he harasses my family all the time because he knows we're poor,
05:59but I always say no.
06:01My dad raised me better than that.
06:03My mouth fell open like the Grand Canyon.
06:05I guess I never thought about him having good parents.
06:08I felt like the crumbs in the bottom of a toaster.
06:10I wish I could take back all the mean things I said, but instead, I kissed him.
06:15Yeah, I was as shocked as you were, and I was the one doing it.
06:19Are you crazy?
06:19First you embarrassed me in class, then you follow me around like TMZ,
06:23and now you want to be my girlfriend?
06:25A girlfriend?
06:26Slow down there, Flash.
06:28It was just a kiss.
06:29No, this is a kiss.
06:31He kissed me back, and after a second, he shot me a shy smile.
06:35Then I remembered why I was there.
06:37Hey, you're trying to distract me.
06:39Did it work?
06:39Never mind that.
06:40What was all that sneaking around school, handing people mysterious bags?
06:45If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were obsessed with me.
06:48You wish!
06:49Now answer the question.
06:50If you must know.
06:51He pulled up his sleeve and showed me a leather cuff around his wrist.
06:55I make these out of scraps and sell them.
06:57It's the only income I have since my dad isn't working.
06:59I felt like a monster.
07:01I wouldn't have been surprised if I had horns and a tail at that very moment.
07:05Guys, has anyone ever said to you, don't judge people until you know what they're going through?
07:10I'm gonna get that tattooed on my forehead.
07:12I'm sorry that I judged you before I got to know you.
07:15And yet, you kissed me.
07:16I felt embarrassed, but then he started talking, and I got to know that he and his brothers live
07:21with their foster dad, who wants to adopt them, but he just needs a steady job first.
07:25And just then, my phone rang, startling me again.
07:28Man, I gotta change that ringtone.
07:30Oh, I have to take this.
07:31It's my mom.
07:32And without even listening to me, she burst into yelling so loudly that I had to hold the phone away from my ear.
07:38You forgot to take out the trash, and your brother dumped it all over his bed.
07:42Not to mention, I asked you to give your sister a bath.
07:44She's so sticky, I could hang her from the ceiling.
07:46Diego could hear her because it was so loud, and he laughed.
07:50When she heard him, she flipped her switch from angry mom to no personal space mom.
07:56Uh, are you hanging out with a boy?
07:58Oh, Jellyfish, I'm so happy for you.
08:01What's his name?
08:02Is he cute?
08:02I was mortified.
08:04Didn't she know he might hear her?
08:06Mom, I'll be home soon, okay?
08:08She ranted on like a teenager on a sugar rush and yelled louder.
08:13Don't rush on my account.
08:14Hello, Jellyfish's new friend.
08:16Ugh, bye mom.
08:18I hung up and wished I had a time machine to erase that horrible moment.
08:23Parents, right?
08:24I better go.
08:25Okay, see you tomorrow, Jellyfish.
08:28Ugh, mom.
08:29Ugh.
08:30Well, I couldn't stop thinking about Diego and how they barely had money for food.
08:34On my way home, I stopped and bought food to give them.
08:36When I got home, my mom saw the extra food, and before I had a chance to explain, she lost
08:41her mind.
08:42Are you kidding me with all this extra food?
08:44Do you want the kids to call you gigantic Gigi?
08:47But no butts.
08:48Except your butt'll get even bigger if you eat all this food.
08:51I was so angry.
08:53And besides, I have a great butt.
08:55I'll bet J-Lo's mom never said that to her.
08:57Well, I asked her to calm down, and then I explained to her.
09:00After that, she flipped her crazy switch back to sweet again.
09:04Oh, why didn't you say so?
09:06Let's go bring these to him.
09:07She grabbed her keys, and my jaw hit the floor.
09:10How could she go from steaming hot to ice cold at the drop of a hat?
09:14We pulled up to Diego's house, but he burst out of the front door.
09:18What are you doing here?
09:19Did you tell child services about me?
09:21I knew I couldn't trust you.
09:22Was I dealing with another crazy person?
09:25Then I saw his little brother snuggled behind him in the doorway,
09:28and I realized he was protecting his family like a lion protects his pride.
09:32We just brought these groceries.
09:34We don't need your charity.
09:36Oh, that's too bad, because I brought peanut butter and jelly.
09:40His little brothers trampled him like a herd of gazelles.
09:43Peanut butter and jelly? Yay!
09:46I giggled at their unabashed honesty.
09:48Thank you, nice lady.
09:50Diego told them to take the groceries inside.
09:53Sorry, I might have overreacted.
09:56Might have? Okay, I'll forgive you, if you promise never to call me jellyfish again.
10:01Deal.
10:02He reached out to shake my hand, but instead pulled me close, took off his wrist cuff,
10:07and wrapped it around mine.
10:08To say thank you for…
10:10And just then, my mom honked the horn and interrupted us.
10:13Parents, right?
10:14Just as we were about to pull away in the car, that same scary dude came scratching
10:20around the corner in his loud car. He pulled up next to my mom's car. I was freaking out.
10:25Was he gonna try to steal my mom's car? Or hurt her?
10:28Stop. Don't you dare try anything. I will not.
10:31He tried to stop them, but they left and scratched our car, just to terrify him.
10:36Mom ducked me into the car, and she floored it and sped off down the street like Mario Kart.
10:41That Diego is nothing but trouble. You are never going to see him again.
10:45No matter what my mom said, I couldn't wait for school to see Diego. But when I got there,
10:50I found out that my mom had called the principal and gotten him in trouble,
10:53so he would have detention all week. I tried calling Diego, but he didn't answer.
10:57So after school, I rushed to his house.
11:00Better you listen to your mom and stay away from me. I don't want you to get hurt.
11:04I dashed towards my house and slammed the door open so hard that it shook the wall.
11:08Everything okay, Jellyfish? No! You got Diego detention!
11:12Just so that you could stop me from seeing him? You know he's a great guy.
11:16And first, you want me to be friends with him. Then you don't.
11:19Why have you been acting so crazy lately?
11:22I just wanted you to be safe. Since your father's accident, I'm afraid of bad things happening to you.
11:28And I just want to protect you from getting hurt. I just love you so much.
11:32Oh, Mom. But you can't wrap me in bubble wrap for the rest of my life. You raised me as a strong,
11:38smart girl. And you need to trust that I can make good decisions.
11:42You're right. I guess I'll return that bubble wrap.
11:45And then the next day, she went into high gear and fixed everything.
11:50She got Diego out of detention and reported the shady guys to the cops who got arrested.
11:54And the next month, my dad got back on track. And Diego's dad got a job with my dad's pit crew,
11:59allowing Diego and his siblings to finally be adopted. Diego was so thankful that he made me
12:05a PB&J sandwich in the shape of a heart and asked me to be his girlfriend. I, of course,
12:10said yes and immediately called my mom to tell her. You called to tell me your happy news first?
12:16Well, yeah. You're my best friend and the best mom. I love you. I love you too, Jellyfish.
12:23I couldn't help but be so grateful that Diego taught me not to be so quick to judge someone.
12:28You never know. They could wind up being family.