~ that's just life, baby ~
where valentina and pete figure out how to raise their child as a functioning person in society
'pete, where did she go?'
'i thought you had her?'
'no, i thought you had her...
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The walls were the same pink color from when her mother moved in. The ceilings were still dressed in glow-in-the dark stars that kept her company as well. The room looked like time stood still with certain pieces of furnishing having never left the space. Yet, its new tenant proved themselves different from its previous one.
Colorful framed photos of her family, several playbills, and figurines of video game characters were displayed on her dresser. On her desk, textbooks and notebooks stacked upon each other with a basket of makeup, doubling its use as a vanity. Next to it, a CD-cassette radio player surrounded by discs and tapes of different music artists from the nineties alt scene.
Stuffed animals given to her as presents sat together on her bed. In a corner, a small collection of guitars that were purchased with saved up babysitting and tutoring money. There is also a MIDI keyboard/controller hooked up to a laptop and mic. Her nightstand had several bottles of medication, its purpose to reduce anxiety and alleviate insomnia.
Her room presented a musical and creative personality, a girl who desires to express herself but is trapped by her running mind.
On that note, with merely a few hours of sleep, Sabrina stands in front of her mirror with two hangers in her hands. She drapes the articles of clothing in front of her pajama-clad body, trying to decide which one looked better. This one with the puffy shoulders and peter pan collar is cute but too child-like. While the one with the cinched bodice and sweetheart neckline is out of her comfort zone and no way could she justify wearing this without saying the true reason.
The reason being that she was trying to impress someone– well, not just someone– a boy.
A certain boy who she has been head over heels with since they were middle school. She smiles at the thought of him, oh how she is smitten.
Carter Gomez is by far the most popular boy in their high school. He's the all-American boy: quarterback of the football team, student body president, four-year reign as homecoming king, a four-point gpa average, ivy league bound, gives back to the community, and extremely handsome.
Everyone loved him; either they wanted to be him or be with him. But no one knew the real him, not like how Sabrina did.
He preferred to watch Pride and Prejudice rather than some action movie. He loved to sing his heart out to boy bands and pop divas. He would put others first before thinking about himself. He was a good listener and kind to everyone. He always had good intentions and held honesty with the utmost importance. He also had a playful side where he indulged in playing harmless pranks like placing rubber spiders in fridges or bags.
To her, Carter is her confidant, her rock, her best friend.
She would have never thought to have fallen for her best friend. It's so cliché.
But when she entered the school year, having jumped two grades, she started to notice him differently:
She loved how her best friend's smile revealed the imprint of his dimples, his fearlessness to try new things, and how he can find joy in even the simplest of things like a sky full of stars. Sabrina also admired his loyalty and bravery to help others, most especially to her after developing insomnia and social anxiety.
