reverse falls: guns and roses (under heavy editing)

i. reverse falls

pacifica.

"paz," my cousin, gideon, called. "we're already here."

i snapped and blinked out of my thoughts as i stared at him. he already had his luggage, and mine was still sprawled on the aisle. not to be careless, but this seat's not exactly as spacious as i expected it to be. besides, only a few people were present, so i didn't budge.

i got mine and got off the bus. when it sped off, an old shack greeted me. it looked old and petty, with the word shack's s fallen. not minding the shack, i diverted my attention to the breeze welcoming me ruefully.

it smelled. it smelled that much to make my nostrils flare.

gideon shot me a look. he knew i couldn't be exactly considerate of most things, but i refused to care. i'm not starting to like this.

he took deep breaths. "and that's the shack, paz."

i glanced at him and at the shack. "your shack? gid, for a guy like you, i expected something... more grand." he was one of the nerds back at school, but when we were alone, he would always draw architectures and out-of-this-world creatures.

i didn't expect their shack to be like this. i expected that since he's gifted with such talents, he could've designed their home and business turf himself. but of course, i'm wrong.

"i'm sorry to lift your hopes up," he murmured under his breath. "i should've warned you."

"hey. it's okay." i sincerely smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder. "besides, have i warned you about the bullies back in california? i haven't. we're fair and square."

"well..."

i placed my hand from his shoulder to his mouth. "shh," i said, for i have known that he had a hard time there.

gideon moved with me 3 years ago. the education here in his hometown-reverse falls-didn't meet his expectations. he was disappointed with the teachers, programs and complained that everything was too easy.

i could've liked that school.

but no. gid was always up to some challenge, no matter how difficult. after hearing this, my parents volunteered to give him a scolarship. he agreed. he stayed at home and we became best buds.

i let him explore california for years and years, but i have never, ever heard a drop of detail about reverse falls. well, with the exception of its name, obviously.

"just... bear with this town, okay, paz?" gid said, grabbing my hand, dragging me along with him to what was awaiting.

-

cue the confetti.

literally.

we entered and it was suspiciously dark inside. lights that were able to pass some translucent curtains served as light, and since i have keen eyesight, i caught some figures moving and made a guess.

and to confirm it, one suddenly whispered on my ear: "boo."

i yelped, the lights flickered on and everyone cheered for gideon. nobody seemed to recognize me, and i will blame puberty for that.

in front of us, a very large banner read: WELCOME BACK TO REVERSE FALLS, GIDEON!

"man, you sure are happy to see him again," i commented, not realizing my voice was too loud to make them stop. they all stared at me with questioning faces.

gid stifled a snort. "dad, i forgot to tell you that i'm bringing you a friend... or rather, a relative." he slightly pushed me so i could be nearer to the audience. "paz, this is dad's crew. dad's crew, this is pacifica southeast."