Lydia Diaz was one of the sweetest girls you'd meet. and one of the happiest.
But, trauma changes people. trauma changes everyone.
All rights for the 9-1-1 cast and all rights to most of the plot goes to ABC. New plots and new characters belong to m...
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I pull into Hen and Karen's driveway before honking my horn. We're going to the fire station for the annual toy drive. I already picked up Nathaniel, Julian, and Isabelle, they're in the back. I'm not supposed to have passengers for a while, but who follows that rule?
Miles runs out of the house and gets in the passenger seat. On the other hand, Grandma, Grandpa, Anna, and Aunt Sophia haven't left. They're staying throughout Christmas, so they'll be here until next week. Luckily, they're staying at some rented place, but they're always at our house. It's annoying.
"So, are we just going to sit here?" Miles asks with a small laugh. "Sorry." I say quietly before putting the car in reverse. A beep comes from the car and I stop immediately, looking around to see what I did in a panic. "Woah, woah. Hey. It was just the seatbelt alarm. I hadn't put my on yet so it beeped. Nothing happened." Miles says, resting a hand on my shoulder.
I nod my head slowly before continuing to pull out of the driveway. I put it into drive before driving to the firehouse.
***********
"Well, there's our elves!" Dad jokes as we walk into the building. "I didn't know we were elves! We could've dressed up." Miles says. "It's a joke. And even if it wasn't a joke, we would not be dressing up." I say, looking over at him.
"Fun sponge." He says with a grumble, making Nathaniel and Isabelle laugh. "You guys are in charge of baking again!" Bobby says as he walks over. "What? But that was a disaster last year." I ask.
"It wasn't a disaster. You guys made a mistake. Plus, everyone loved the cake pops, so we can just make more of those. And maybe you guys will have a better chance with the cookies." Bobby says. I just nod my head. "It will be fun, Lyds. Come on!" Isabelle says. "I said okay." I say. "You didn't say anything, you just did your little nod." Julian says with a small laugh.
"My little nod means okay." I say defensively. "Okay, Miss Feisty. Let's go make those cake pops!" Miles says before all of us go upstairs.
*******
"Get the chocolate chips from over there and hand them to us!" Miles says to Isabelle as she walks around the kitchen. "Get them yourself, weirdo." Isabelle says, walking back over to me.
I mix the chocolate cake mix, the whisk is old and it's hard to stir. I look at the cake mix box for a minute, thinking over the ingredients. I don't know why I'm doing it, but I am. And that's when I hear my name.
"Lydia Rose Diaz!" I hear Grandma say. I look up. What now? "Grandma? You're supposed to be with Christopher!" I say. "Your Grandfather and Aunt are with him." Grandma says. "Why are you here?" I ask. "Because we need to talk. Privately. Come on." Grandma says.
I put the whisk down before following her. She leads me to the locker room and she closes the door. I look around and the crowd in the firehouse. "I cannot believe you!" Grandma says. "I haven't done anything!" I say.
"You've been leaving your brother out! He misses you and you're ignoring him!" Grandma says. "He said something? I've been trying to spend as much time with him while finding time for everyone else." I ask. "Yes. He's said a lot. He told me what he said the first time. You don't care about him, do you?" Grandma asks. "You're jealous he got all the attention." Grandma adds.
"No! That's not it." I say. "I've been trying. All I do is try." I say. "You're not trying enough. I see you. You're always with your friends. What about your family? What about your father who misses his little girl? What about us, your grandparents who just want their granddaughter back?" Grandma asks. "I haven't left!" I say.
"You've changed is the problem." Grandma says. "Changed for the worst." Grandma adds. I look down. "You used to be this kind and passionate girl but now you're just sad and quiet." Grandma says. "Your mother has failed you." Grandma says. "SHE DIED!" I yell, tears filling my eyes quickly. "YOU KEEP TALKING BAD ABOUT HER!! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH SHE DID FOR US!! UNLIKE YOU, SHE CARED FOR ME! SHE CARED FOR ME AND CHRIS MORE THAN YOU EVER DID!!!" I yell at the top of my lungs.
"Excuse me?! I raised you!!" Grandma says. "You did not raise me!! I raised myself." I say before walking out of the locker room. I walk back up the stairs and go back to the bowl and start stirring. I know I have tears streaming down my face but I don't care.
