best years ✰ l.p.

Chapter 1-Welcome Home

A/N: Hi again! I'm really excited to get this story going! Lol, I've said that like 5 times already, but it's true. Oh, also I'm going to use ***** as a signal for a time jump or scene change. Now without further adieu, I present to you...

Chapter 1- Welcome Home

Word count- 925

*****

I can't believe it's been 8 years, I thought as I stood on the porch of my childhood home. My Tio Manuel walked past me with my bags and opened the door. "Welcome home, Sobrina!", he said enthusiastically, gesturing for me to come in. As I walked through the door I instantly felt something. I couldn't put my finger on it, but it was somewhere between nostalgia and relief.

"Is that my Mija?", my Tia Victoria asked from somewhere inside the house. "It sure is!", I replied smiling at the familiar sound of her voice. She rushed to the front door and squealed when she saw me. She quickly pulled me into an embrace and said, "I missed you!" I laughed. "I missed you too Tia."

*****

"Where should I stay?", I asked my uncle as I walked up the stairs. "Oh anywhere Mija!", he replied. "Since it's just me and your Tia, we have three extra rooms."

"Ok thank you!", I replied. I didn't really need to think over which room I would pick. I pretty much instantly headed towards my old room. I sighed and sat down on the chair next to my desk. Just like I left it, I thought. Well, except for the bed. My Tia said that since it was so old, they were going to get me a new one. They got rid of all of the old beds actually. Mine was supposed to arrive the day before, but there was still no sign of it.

I started unpacking my bags. I put my clothes in the dresser and my trinkets and pictures on top of it. I smiled when I pulled out a picture of me and my mom. We were sitting in a field of Dahlias and she was kissing my forehead. It was my favorite picture of us.

Suddenly I heard a voice behind me. "Hey Lia", my Tio said. "Hi", I replied a little sullenly. "Are you okay?", he said. "Oh, yeah I'm fine. Just doing some unpacking.", I responded. "I found this picture of mom and me and I just got a little sad. That's all." My Tio just smiled sadly at me and said, "I know it's hard not having your mom here with us, but that's why it's important to keep her memory alive. Whether that's through thoughts, or videos, or photos." He took the picture out of my hands. "And I know the perfect place for this one." He then placed the picture on the shelf above my dresser next to the framed lyrics of a song my mother wrote for me years ago. We smiled at each other and he pulled me in for a hug.

"Sobrina, Manuel! Dinner is ready!", my Tia shouted from the kitchen. We both flinched at the unexpected break of silence. "Then I guess we better head down.", I said laughing. Then we both made our way downstairs.

*****

"So Lia, what are you most excited about now that you're back in LA", my Tio said with his mouth full of food. "Manuel!", Tia exclaimed. "What have I said about talking with food in your mouth!"

"Sorry, sorry!", he said in reply. I laughed. Sometimes they acted like an old married couple and it was just so amusing. "It's fine Tia.", I said. 'Ok, ok", she said. "Well, on a different note, it's 7 and your bed has still not arrived Mija. I don't know what to do!"

"Oh it's fine Tia", I said. "I can just sleep on the couch." "No, I will not allow my Sobrina to sleep on a small couch!", she exclaimed. "There must be something else we can do..."

"Maybe she can sleep in the studio. There's a pull-out couch in there. It might be more comfortable", my Tio said. Tia Victoria gave him a look. "O-only if you're ready Dahlia." I thought it over for a couple of seconds. "It's fine!", I replied. "I think going in there will be one of my first steps to moving on." My Tia smiled over at me. "There's my brave girl.", she said.

*****

I admit, taking that first step was harder than I expected. But, then told myself that I needed to do this. I let out a deep breath and pushed the double doors open. Instantly, memories of my mom and I writing and playing music came flooding back. I felt a tear roll down my cheek, but I quickly wiped it away. You've got this, I told myself.

After I pulled the couch out and put sheets and blankets on, I looked around for a little bit. I saw the instruments up in the loft that had been there since forever. I decided since they were the least connected to my mom, I would start there. I wanted to ease myself into this whole moving on thing.

I was looking around the loft when I saw a box. I opened it and saw that there were a few little trinkets in there, a demo CD, and a...french dip recipe? I grabbed the demo and read the front. Sunset Curve. Why does that sound familiar?

I walked down the ladder with the CD and put it in the stereo. I made sure to play it quietly. Well, as quiet as a rock song can be. It was actually...pretty good. For being from the 90s at least. I started nodding my head to the beat when I started to hear yelling. What an....interesting touch to the song? I covered my ears until I saw three teenage boys appear right in front of me.

*****

A/N: Ahhh! I finished my first chapter! Thank you for reading and please stay tuned for the next one! (P.S. Feel free to comment!!!! I love to have active readers and I want to know what you guys think!)

-Jillian