shifted. - julie and the phantoms

4. busted.

I walked through the big wooden front door, seeing both Julie and Carlos sat at the round dinner table across from an older man.

He, was now my fatherly figure... I guess.

Ray Molina.

It's alright though, he seemed, welcoming. Besides, my real parents (especially my dad) couldn't have cared less for me anyway.

"Hi mija." He says, both of my now siblings look up at me.

"Hey." I smile weakly.

I turn towards the empty seat next to Ray.

Although it was empty, it still had a place setting.

More unexplainable memories flooding back.

It was her seat.

Rose Molina.

My sudden mom's seat.

I finally sit down at the table, it being peacefully silent. Until, Ray decides to break that silence.

"So." He pauses, beginning to twirl his spaghetti around his fork.

"What have you girls decided about the music festival?" He asks, shoving the food into his mouth.

Me and Julie glance up at one another, then back down at our plates. It was hard.

It was a city thing, our local high school would have a bunch of families perform a brief song while on a float. We did the music festival every year since we were kids with Rose. Ironic.

Due to personal issues, I slowly developed major stage fright. And, with a loss to someone who suddenly was apparently such an incredibly huge part of my life? The thought of ever playing music again, it just seemed... Unbearable.

"I don't know if we're gonna be doing it this year." Julie mumbles.

"But you guys do it every year..." Carlos frowns.

It goes silent again. Him and Ray absolutely loved standing in the crowd while we sang our hearts out. It was the one thing we all looked forward too.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door, before a young woman began walking into the kitchen seeming to be holding a box full of something.

"Hi Tia!" Carlos called out, causing Julie's head to shoot up.

"Busted." I say, Julie and Ray each grabbing something from the place setting sat in front of Rose's empty chair, tossing the dishes towards the couch and the utensils into the sink.

She puts the cardboard box down onto the counter.

"Hi Carlos!" She replies, walking over to the table.

"Hi Victoria." Ray says, cheekily smiling at her.

"Hola Ray. And hi girls."  she gives each of us a kiss on the cheek, me and Julie giving each other an embarrassed look.

"Hi tia." I say, grinning at her lightly.

"Spaghetti, huh. Again? Thank god I brought my specials." She said, pulling out a few plates of food from the box and placing them into the fridge.

"Thank you Victoria."

"Oh it's no problem, if I didn't take care of you like you cared for me, my sister would kill me. May she rest in peace." She replies, walking back over to the table.

"You know, with you girls not doing the music festival this year..." She starts, interrupted by a confused Ray.

Julie's eyes widen and her shoots up cautiously, nervous for what her dad is soon to find out. Causing me to do the same soon after.