Los Angeles, 1995

"One, Two, Three!" the blonde drummer counted down, tapping his drum sticks together.

Take off
Last stop
Countdown till we blast open the top
Face first
Full charge
Electric hammer to the heart

Clocks move faster
'Cause it's all we're after now

Won't stop climbing
'Cause this is our time, yeah
When all the days felt black and white
Those were the best shades of my life

Don't look down
'Cause we're still rising
Up right now
And even if we
Hit the ground
We'll still fly
Keep dreaming like we'll live forever
But live it like it's now or never

We ain't searching for tomorrow (tomorrow)
'Cause we got all we need today (today)
Living on a feeling that's been running through our veins
We're the revolution that's been singing in the rain

Don't look down
'Cause we're still rising
Up right now
And even if we
Hit the ground
We'll still fly
Keep dreaming like we'll live forever
But live it like it's now or never
It's now or never (now or never)

"Whoo!" The blonde and brunette girls cheered, clapping their hands.

"Thank you! We're Sunset Curve!" Reggie spoke into the mic, winking at the duo before turning back to his bandmates.

"That was hot." Samantha smirked, looking at her best friend beside her. "And that one guitarist couldn't keep his eyes off you, Rosie."

"Come on, Sammi." Rose said, playfully rolling her eyes and hitting her with the towel in her hand, causing them both to laugh. "You know I'm with Ray."

"Hey, I won't tell him if you don't." Sammi teased jokingly, sending the girl a wink before turning their attention to the band approaching them.

"Hey Bobby, where you going?" The lead singer asked as the guitarist walked toward the two girls.

"I'm good," 'Bobby' said, turning his attention to the brunette-haired girl. "Vegetarian. I could never hurt an animal."

"You guys are really good." Rose complimented, ignoring the boy's attempt at flirting.

"Like next-level good." Sammi added, nodding her head.

"Thank you." Luke said, grinning from ear to ear at the blonde, causing her to send him a small smile back before she glanced over at her best friend.

"We've seen a lot of bands. Been a couple ourselves." Rose admitted, causing Samantha to nod. "I was really feeling it."

"That's what we do this for. I'm Luke, by the way."

"Hi, I'm Reggie." The guy playing bass guitar introduced himself, smiling at the duo.

"Alex." The drummer waved.

"Bobby."

"Nice meeting you guys." Rose said, nodding at the group. "I'm Rose."

"And I'm her best friend, Samantha, or Sammi." Sammi added, sending a small smile.

"Oh, uh..." Reggie said, handing the two girls CDs and T-shirts that both read Sunset Curve on the front. "Here's our demo and t-shirt size, beautiful."

"Thanks." Rose chuckled, holding the shirt up to her body, causing the blonde girl to nod at the design.

"Very cool." Samantha said, sending the group a smile. "I'll make sure she doesn't accidentally wipe the tables down with them."

"Oh, good call. Whenever they get wet, they just kind of fall apart in your hands." Alex explained.

"Don't you guys have to go get hot dogs?" Bobby questioned, turning to his bandmates.

"Yeah, he had a hamburger for lunch." Like exposed, leaning toward the girls, causing Samantha to let out a laugh, making the Patterson boy send the girl a wink as the three boys left.

Rose looked over to her best friend, looking from her to Bobby and back to her.

"Ugh, as if." Samantha scoffed before turning around and getting back to work.

•✧•

Somewhere near Mammoth Lakes, Christmas time 2019

The mother-daughter duo sat quietly in the car as the young girl hummed along to the sound of Christmas music playing lightly on the radio.

"So are you excited to see Nonna and Pop Pop?" Samantha asked, glancing over at her daughter from the road.

"Definitely! I already have the entire break planned out." Athena rambled excitedly. "I was thinking we'd start off with a Charlie Brown Christmas while we decorated the tree. Nonna said she was so excited for us to come that she hadn't yet decorated it. Then, after that, we could bake Christmas cookies while watching Home Alone. And then-.

"Alright, kid breath." Samantha chuckled, causing the girl to stop talking as she sent her mom a sheepish smile. "We will be here for an entire three weeks, so you have plenty of time to do whatever you want with your grandparents."

"Sorry, I'm just excited. I haven't seen them since last Christmas, and with Pop Pop's surgery, I've just been worried about them." Athena admitted, glancing out of her window. "Especially being up here alone during a time like this."

"Sweetheart, your grandfather is fine." Samatha said, glancing over at the girl with a smile. "Besides, they're not alone; your Aunt Rachel is only an hour away. They also have each other, and you know he won't let anything happen to her."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Athena sighed, sending her mom a smile.

The car suddenly slid, causing the duo to jerk forward. Athena's heart began to beat faster as she looked around, scared.

"Mom." Athena breathed out.

"Everything's okay; it was just a patch of black ice." Samantha said, glancing over at her, and the girl sent her a smile.

"Mom, watch out!"

...