in their footsteps || vol. 1

Chapter 2.

"Mateo Vargas!"

Mateo looked up from wiping a table. "David Álvarez!" The two boys did their handshake. "I didn't know you would come back today!"

"I came back yesterday. Mexico was great and all, but I couldn't stay away from Buenos Aires any longer." The two best friends went over to the bar; Mateo went behind it and David sat down on one of the stools.

David took a sip from the water bottle he had taken with.

"Does Luz know you're back?"

David quickly shook his head. "Why are you asking?" Mateo snorted as his friend got very defensive. He looked at him with an eyebrow raised. David composed himself. "Why should I tell her? You think I should?"

"Okay, so we're still pretending you don't have feelings for her. Cool." Mateo nodded his head as he prepared some orders. "If you're pretending not to have feelings for her because she's like my sister: don't. I'm okay with it." Mateo winked at his friend.

David watched as his friend went around serving drinks. He had a look around. He frowned, "isn't my brother supposed to be here?"

Mateo rolled his eyes as he took place behind the bar again, "Dani? Haven't seen him all day." The twenty-one year old commented. "He's the rink assistant, so maybe that's where he's been all day." Mateo said as he wiped down the bar. "Speaking of, your dad told me you'll be working here, too."

"Hm, I'll go see him later." David took another sip of his water. "Right, yes. I haven't figured out yet how to make good money by just making music. So, until I do, I'll be hosting the Open Mic's here."

Luci entered the kitchen, she grimaced at the sigh of her parents cuddling by the counters. "Buon giorno," she said, "please remember you have children living in this house."

"Grown children," Federico corrected. Federico took his coffee from the counter, he gave his daugher a kiss on her temple as he passed her on his way to the kitchen table. Luci took an apple from the fruit bowl. She sat down opposite of her father.

The twenty year old let out a loud sigh. She rested her head on her hands. "Mother, father, I am bored." She announced.

"Do you not have any classes?" Ludmila questioned when she sat down at the kitchen table. Luci shook her head, she took another bite of her apple. "Okay, how about you go hang out at Jam & Roller? Maybe spend some time with Mateo?"

A beeping noise coming from her phone made Luci look up.

Look who I'm with!

Luci opened the photo Mateo had sent her. Her breath got hitched in her throat. Her heart began to race. He's back! He's finally back. "Parents, I am leaving you now." She gave both her parents a kiss on the cheek then rushed out the door.

"What just happened?"

Ludmila and Federico were left sitting in their kitchen. They laughed. "She's always been the more dramatic one of the two." Federico commented. "Wonder who she takes after?" He winked at his wife.

Daniel aimlessly skated around the rink. It was still quiet, mostly people with their young children were on the rink. Obviously all the older kids were still in school. His thoughts wandered off to Alicia. They used to spend hours a day on this very rink.

"Excuse me," Daniel blinked, "sorry to bother, but my daughter's wheel has come off."

The young man smiled, "no worries. Follow me." The man and his daughter followed Daniel to the desk. He began to re-attach the wheel. "Are you having fun?" He looked up from the skate. The girl began to smile big time, she began to ramble about how one day she will be a pro!