𝘚𝘖𝘕𝘋𝘌𝘙 ⁽ʲ ᵐᵒˡⁱⁿᵃ⁾

𝘛𝘞𝘌𝘓𝘝𝘌

It went without saying that there was no band practice that day.

After a quick text from Julie, however, she was skating down the street toward the Molina household. Following the retrieval of her board (which was embarrassingly anxiety-inducing) she made her way home, somehow managing to avoid another interaction with her sister. She hadn’t been given a specific time to stop by, just a range of when Julie was going to be home by. It was nearly six now, the sun was hanging low in the sky and the air chilled more and more with the passing minutes.

It didn’t take her much time at all, soon she was knocking on the front door. She tried to even out her wind-swept hair, but it was a futile effort. She didn’t know why she even bothered anymore. 

It was opened a few moments later by a one Ray Molina, he took in the girl in front of him and tilted his chin, hand still resting on the doorknob. “Elise! It’s been a while since I last saw you, I think you were about this high.”

He lifted his hand just above his hip, and she laughed awkwardly. It had in fact been quite a while since she saw the man, time had carried particularly fast. Elise wasn’t sure if he knew about the band yet, and even if she had she probably crafted some explanation that Elise wasn’t privy to, so she kept quiet. “Yes, it has been. It’s nice to see you, Mr. Molina.”

“You too.” He widened the opening of the door and motioned for Elise to step inside. She did as instructed and kicked her shoes off by the door, eyes catching where Reggie stood smiling in the kitchen. He waved. “I know you an Julie have been hanging out again, she talks about you a lot. She’s going to be home in five or so minutes, you can hang out in her room if you want.”

“Or you could hang with us!” Reggie cut in. She only smiled at him, anything more and Ray would have thought her insane.

Carlos was sat at the kitchen island, he set down his tablet as he heard the noise coming from the front of the house and turned to look at Elise. He smiled brightly.

“Elise!” She laughed and walked over to him, somewhat surprised that he even remembered her. Back when the Wilsons had the Molina’s over near every day, Carlos would tag along too. The tiny boy would try to sing along with his missing two front teeth, Elise would make up games and play with him all day long. They were close then; he was like the little brother she never had. She smiled at the memories.

“Hey, little man.” She ruffled his hair and took a seat on the stool beside him. She motioned to the iPad set in front of him. “Whatcha’ up to?”

“Oh,” He smirked, dimples appearing. “Ghost hunting. It’s kind of my thing now.”

“He’s been at this all day,” Reggie said. He leaned his elbows onto the counter and narrowed his eyes at an unknowing Carlos. “You’re getting there, buddy.”

Elise laughed and directed her attention back to the little boy. “Is it, now.”

“Yeah, Julie and my papi don’t think ghosts are real. I’m going to prove them wrong.” Oh, how wrong he was. Elise leaned closer to him, looking around as if making sure no one was there to put on a show for Carlos.

“I believe you, dude. What do you have?” Carlos sat straighter in excitement, hurriedly going on to show her the pictures Julie’s dad took in the studio, pointing out the three orbs that she knew to be Sunset Curve. He brought up the numerous articles and YouTube videos he had saved, telling her all he’d learned about spirits.

Reggie was grinning the entire time, going on about no one ever believed him when he was younger, and how he was brushed off when he told his parents his attic was haunted. He went on to thanking Elise for being “honest” with the Molina boy, she glared at Reggie playfully. Elise only communicated with him through such facial expression, but she was sure he got the point.