Chapter Text
May, 2015
Julie Molina had always been content with her quiet little family. Her father was gentle, kind, and unwaveringly understanding. Her mother was sweet, passionate, and unbelievably talented. Her and her little brother Carlos had been showered with attention and love from the moment they entered the world. The Molinas were an unbreakable little unit.
The final member of their family was, of course, music, which had consumed Julie’s life since before she even took her first breath, when her mother would wrap headphones blasting “Rose and the Petal Pushers” around her pregnant belly. Whatever Rose had been trying to achieve apparently worked, as Julie practically burst out of the womb singing. Ray liked to joke that even Julie’s cries as a baby were always on pitch.
Julie’s life was privileged in a way that she, at the ripe age of 10, did not quite comprehend. This was in part due to the fact that her family lived in a gorgeous home in a part of L.A. that most people could barely dream to find an apartment, but more importantly because Julie had spent her decade on this Earth surrounded with nothing but adoration and beautiful tunes. This was a privilege that Julie never quite grasped until the day the Molina clan gained one more precious member.
Julie and Carlos had been excitedly waiting for said day since their parents had first announced that they would be opening their home to a foster child. Specifically, a foster child that was very likely would never have anywhere else to go and would hopefully become the final piece to their perfect little family.
Carlos had been instantly ecstatic at the idea from the moment he heard it, bouncing off the walls in excitement at the hope of a brother. Julie, who already had a brother and considered herself to already have a sister as well in her best friend Flynn, felt no particular way about the news at first. However, after her parents sat them down and explained that they would be helping a child in need who very much could use a loving family, Julie could not help but share in her parents’ sweet enthusiasm at the idea of doing something good.
When the day finally came, Julie and Carlos nearly tripped over each other as they rushed down the stairs. Their parents were already at the door and shared a smile at the sight of their rambunctious children. Rose pulled Julie and Carlos to either side of her just as Ray opened the door.
The boy before them was a thin, gangly little thing with dark hair and rosy cheeks. He was taller than Julie and a little bit older if she had to guess. He was wrapped- drowning, really- in a red plaid button-up that was beyond oversized. He clutched timidly to the hand of the social worker.
The social worker smiled down at the boy. “Reginald, you remember Mr. and Mr. Molina?” she introduced gently. Ray and Rose had already met with Reginald a few times, but this was the first the children had seen of the boy.
Ray knelt down to Reginald’s level. “Hello again, Reginald.”
“Hello, Mr. Molina,” Reginald replied automatically.
Ray smiled. “You can just call me Ray.” Reginald blinked a few times, unsure, then simply nodded in reply. “This is Julie and Carlos,” Ray said, gesturing to each as he said their name. Julie and Carlos waved excitedly. “Julie, Carlos, this is Reginald Peters.”
“Hi Reginald!” Julie and Carlos chorused in unison.
“Hi,” Reginald replied. He looked unsurely up at the social worker.
“Why don’t I go grab your things while you get to know the Molinas a little?” the social worker asked. Reginald looked between her and the Molinas.
“Ok,” he mumbled. The social worker gave him one final squeeze of his hand before letting go and walking towards her car.
Rose quickly ushered Reginald inside.
“Is it okay if we show you around, mijo?” Rose asked. Reginald nodded politely.
The group guided the young boy around the house. All the while, Carlos, despite his parents’ best efforts, could not resist ambushing Reginald with question after question. Reginald seemed to be a good sport and answered them all, but only ever in a few short words.
“How old are you, Reginald?”
“Twelve.”
“Do you play sports, Reginald?”
“Not really.”
“Do you watch TV, Reginald?”
“If I’m allowed.”
“You’re allowed,” Rose quickly assured him.
“What’s your favorite show, Reginald?” Carlos piped up, not missing a beat.
“Lab Rats.”
“Ooh! Nice! What superpower would you want, Reginald?”
Reginald opened his mouth, but paused. A million ideas seemed to run through his mind, but it was as if he would not even dare to vocalize any of them until he was sure. His mouth kept opening and closing, but no words came. Finally, after a long moment-
“Genie powers.”
Rose and Julie exchanged a curious look, but Carlos just plowed on. “Do you like rap, Reginald?”
“Not really.”
“What music do you like, Reginald?”
Rose and Ray guided the group upstairs as the boys continued to go back and forth.
“Rock.” Reginald paused for just a moment. “And country.”
Carlos wrinkled his nose at that. “Have you ever seen a ghost, Reginald?”
Reginald stopped in his tracks. The Molinas all turned to watch him curiously. Reginald cocked his head, actually considering the question carefully.
“I don’t know,” Reginald said in an innocent, wondering kind of way that even Julie had to admit was adorable. Carlos leaned into Reginald.
“I have,” he whispered loudly, eyes darting around.
Ray chuckled and opened the door to what had been their guest room. “This is your room, Reginald.” Reginald entered curiously. The rest of the Molinas watched from the doorway. It was a completely bare, plain room with a small twin bed, but Reginald looked around it as if it were Wonderland. “I know, it’s boring right now, but you can decorate it however you like.” Reginald’s eyes widened. There was excitement there, Julie thought, but it seemed determined to remain contained.
As they headed back downstairs, Carlos continued with his unending onslaught of questions. Julie, for her part, simply watched curiously, unsure what to make of this quiet, skinny boy that was apparently to be her new older brother.
Just then, the social worker returned with the rest of Reginald’s things and bid the boy farewell before leaving.
Julie went to help her family bring his things upstairs, but paused when her eyes fell on a distinctively shaped case. Julie perked up almost immediately. She rushed towards it, turning towards Reginald excitedly.
“You play guitar!?” she asked. Reginald’s eyes widened a little.
“Bass,” Reginald replied. Julie gasped.
“That’s so cool! I play piano,” Julie told him. “We should play together! You should see the studio!” Julie turned to Rose. “Can we show him the studio?”
“One thing at a time, mija,” Rose replied. “We don’t want to overwhelm him.”
“No, I want to see it,” Reginald cut in. He grabbed his bass excitedly, then hesitated. He looked up at Rose and Ray with wide, twinkling eyes. “I mean… Can I see it?” It was the most words he’d spoken in a row since he’d arrived at the household. Rose and Ray exchanged an excited look.
“Of course,” Rose said quickly. “Julie, do you-” Julie didn’t even wait for her mother to finish, grabbing Reginald’s hand and dragging him out the door.
Julie rushed into the studio and skipped over to the piano. Reginald wandered in in awe, spinning around as he took it all in. “This place is… awesome,” he breathed.
“I know,” Julie replied with a grin. She settled onto the piano bench. “You can set up over there.”
Reginald turned to the little alcove at the side of the studio which was filled with miscellaneous little instruments and musical accessories. He gasped. “You already have an amp?” he asked. He immediately began to set up his bass.
“My mom has all kinds of junk because she used to be a popstar,” Julie said proudly. Although Rose and the Petal Pushers had never quite risen to real stardom, Rose would always be a superstar in Julie’s eyes.
“This is so not junk,” Reginald assured her. Julie began to play a new piece she had been learning. Reginald joined in with a quick jazzy riff. “This amp is way better than mine.”
“You can have it,” Rose said, appearing with Ray and Carlos from the studio door. Reginald perked up.
“Really?” Reginald asked.
“Of course,” Rose said.
“You’re pretty good on that thing, Reginald,” Ray added, nodding towards Reginald’s bass. For the first time, Reginald smiled, revealing bright red braces on a set of very crooked teeth.
“You can call me Reggie.”