As soon as I passed the doors of LAX, I took a huge breath. It smelled like fuel, sun and the faint scent of salt carried on the breeze from the nearby ocean.
I was definitely home.
I loved London for so many things, but Los Angeles for so many others.
With my suitcase rolling behind me, I walked to the bus stop. It only took a few seconds before I saw a black girl with pink braided hair and a vibrant smile sitting on a bench, tapping her foot to the rhythm of an upbeat song playing through her earphones. As I approached, she looked up, her eyes widening in recognition as she caught sight of me.
"Valentina fucking Villanueva!" she exclaimed, jumping up from her seat with excitement. "Girl, you're back!"
I grinned at the familiar face before me, feeling a surge of warmth and affection as I embraced my friend in a tight hug. "Lotte! Oh my god, it's so good to see you!" I exclaimed, returning her hug with equal enthusiasm. "I missed you like crazy!"
Charlotte laughed, pulling away to look at me with a playful smirk. "Missed me? Please, you've been living the high life in London while I've been stuck here dealing with all the high school drama."
I rolled my eyes playfully, giving her a playful shove. "Oh, stop it. You know you love the drama."
Charlotte chuckled, rolling her eyes in mock exasperation. "Maybe just a little," she admitted with a grin. "Oh, here are the keys to your LA royal carriage," She said, reaching into the pocket of her jean shorts and then handing me my bus card. One thing I hadn't missed about LA was having to take the bus everywhere.
I laughed at Charlotte's dramatic gesture, taking the bus card from her with a grateful smile. "Ah, my trusty steed," I joked, slipping the card into my pocket as we made our way to the bus stop together. "I missed taking the bus almost as much as I missed you."
Charlotte rolled her eyes at my teasing remark, but there was a warmth in her gaze that spoke volumes. "Yeah, yeah, keep talking like that you'll see what happens," she teased, her grin widening as she nudged me playfully.
"Oh, I've never been so scared," I announced, and Charlotte scoffed at my words. "By the way, I took a hotel. Since, you know, my mom doesn't wanna see me anymore."
Charlotte's playful expression faltered, replaced by a look of concern as she reached out to squeeze my hand gently. "Valentina, I'm so sorry," she murmured softly, her voice filled with sympathy. "But you didn't have to take a hotel. You could've just stayed at mine."
I raised an eyebrow at my best friend's offer. "Oh, you mean at the house right in front of my parents' house?"
Charlotte nodded sheepishly, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yeah, I guess that might be a bit awkward," she admitted with a chuckle. "But hey, the offer still stands if you ever need a place to crash. My parents would be more than happy to have you."
I smiled gratefully at Charlotte's offer, touched by her kindness and generosity. "Thanks, Lotte," I replied warmly, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Alright. What's the first thing you wanna do now that you're back in the best city in the world?"
As Charlotte posed her question, a rush of excitement coursed through me at the thought of being back in the vibrant, bustling city of Los Angeles. There were so many things I had missed about this place – the warm sunshine, the endless beaches, the eclectic mix of cultures that filled the streets.
But there was one thing in particular that I had been craving ever since I jumped on the plane back in Heathrow.
"I want tacos," I declared with a grin, my mouth watering at the thought of sinking my teeth into a delicious, savory taco from my favorite food truck. "Real, authentic, LA street tacos. The type that's so juicy it stains your shirt every time."
Charlotte's eyes lit up with excitement at my suggestion, her grin mirroring my own as she nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Tacos it is!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "We'll hit up all the best spots in town – I'm talking Mariscos Jalisco, Leo's Tacos, El Chato – you name it, we'll get it."
I laughed, feeling a surge of anticipation building within me as we made our way towards the bus stop. "Sounds like a plan," I replied with a grin, already imagining the delicious feast that awaited us. "But first, I promised Leah I was gonna call her as soon as I landed."
Charlotte smirked at my words, taking me by my shoulders and shaking me excitedly while singing; "Leah Williamson, and Valentina, Sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"
I couldn't help but laugh at Charlotte's playful teasing, my cheeks reddening at the mention of Leah's name. "Oh, stop it, you stupid ass," I teased, giving her a playful shove. "But seriously, I need to call her. I promised."
Charlotte grinned, rolling her eyes as she nudged me playfully. "Alright, alright, go make your lovey-dovey phone call," she replied, her grin widening as she waved me off towards the nearest bench. "I'll be right here waiting for your ass like I've been doing for fifteen years."
I chuckled, shaking my head in amusement as I made my way towards the bench, already reaching for my phone to dial Leah's number. I settled onto the seat and pressed the phone to my ear, impatiently waiting to hear Leah's voice again.
I knew it was close to three in the morning in Spain, but I also knew that she was waiting for me to call. No matter how tired she might be from her own flight. And if I didn't call, I would get a serious scolding.
Each ring felt like an eternity, but finally, just as I was starting to worry, the line connected, and Leah's warm voice filled my ears.
"Hey, baby," she murmured, her voice laced with sleepiness but still affectionate.
A rush of relief washed over me at the sound of Leah's voice, banishing any lingering doubts or worries from my mind. "Hola, mi amor," I replied softly, a smile spreading across my lips as I settled back against the bench. "I'm sorry if I woke you up."
Leah chuckled softly, the sound sending a shiver of warmth through my veins. "Don't apologize, I told you to call." She said. "You're happy. I hear it in your voice."
I blushed softly at her words. "Yeah, well, that's what Los Angeles will do to me," I replied. "How was your flight?"
"I mean, shorter than yours, but still long," she replied with a tired sigh. "But it's nothing I can't handle. Just glad to be back on solid ground."
I nodded sympathetically, knowing all too well the feeling of exhaustion that came with a long flight. "I hear you," I told her with a sympathetic chuckle. "Who's your roomie this time?"
Leah's laughter rang out through the phone, the sound filling me with warmth and joy even from thousands of miles away. "Ah, the ever-lovely Georgia," she replied with a playful sigh, her tone tinged with affection. "She's half asleep right now, but she's still yelling at me for being on my phone in the middle of the night."
I couldn't help but chuckle at Leah's description of her roommate, picturing Georgia in my mind with her tousled hair and sleepy-eyed glare. "Well, tell her I said sorry for waking her up, and that I can't wait to meet her someday," I said with a grin.
"I don't think she cares right now, but that's still really sweet of you," Leah said, her sentence ending with a yawn.
I smiled softly at Leah's tired but contented tone, feeling a surge of affection welling up inside me. "Get some rest, babe," I murmured softly, my voice filled with warmth and tenderness. "I'll let you go so you can get some sleep. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
Leah's voice softened with gratitude, a small smile playing on her lips as she replied, "Thanks, Val. You're the best. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"I love you," I whispered.
"I love you t- ouch! She just threw a pillow at my face!" Leah exclaimed, her voice muffled as she spoke, followed by the sound of laughter in the background.
I couldn't help but giggle hearing Leah, imagining the scene playing out in her room in Spain. "Tell Georgia I said hi," I replied with a grin. "Get some sleep, love. I'll talk to you soon."
Leah chuckled softly. "Goodnight, Val," she murmured, her words laced with sleepiness.
"Goodnight, Leah," I replied before I ended the call and tucked my phone back into my pocket.
I looked to my left, and Charlotte was waiting for me, preciously keeping my suitcase close to her while her fingers tapped away at her phone. She lifted her head, and once she saw I wasn't on the phone anymore, pressured me to come back to her so we could take the next bus downtown.
I chuckled at Charlotte's eager expression and stood up, walking back to her. We waited for the next bus to arrive then climbed aboard, Charlotte excitedly recounting to me what had happened at our school since I left. I listened to her words with one ear, my mind still filled with thoughts of Leah and the sound of her laughter echoing in my ears.
I had missed Los Angeles so much, it made me forget all the bad things about it.
I knew Leah hated that I called this place home. She had shown it. Every time I did, she didn't say anything, but I could see the wince on her face and the sadness in her eyes.
I knew she wished I'd feel this way about London. Because London was her home.
I think she's scared, sometimes. That one day I'll be sick of the rain and the gray of England and that I would want to catch a no-return flight to California.
I knew Leah's concerns all too well, her fears of being left behind, of losing me to the allure of my hometown, or to some mysterious girl I keep assuring her doesn't exist. And while I tried to reassure her that my heart belonged with her in London, there were moments when the pull of familiar streets and sunny beaches proved too strong to resist.
Los Angeles may be my hometown, the heaven-sent town, but London was where I had found love, acceptance, and belonging. It was where Leah was, and as long as she was by my side, I knew that was where I truly belonged.
Maybe I should remind her of that more often.
I turned to Charlotte, her animated chatter filling the air around us, and felt a surge of gratitude for her unwavering friendship and support. She may not understand the complexities of my relationship with Leah, but she was always there for me, ready to listen, to laugh, to lend a shoulder to cry on. And for that, I was eternally grateful.
As the bus 40 rolled to a stop on Broadway and 7th Street, we both stepped out onto the bustling streets of downtown LA.
We walked together to the hotel I was staying in for the five days. Of course, I had checked to make sure they would allow Drayton in, so he'd stay with me as soon as I got him back.
It was the Delphi Hotel. Nice, but not too expensive. But of course, Charlotte acted like I was staying at the Ritz, telling me I had 'forgotten all about the streets' and had become a 'posh Londonian snob' since I had moved to London.
I laughed at Charlotte's playful teasing, knowing she meant no harm by her words. "Ayo, come on, Lotte," I replied with a grin, nudging her playfully as we made our way toward the entrance of the hotel. "East LA's in my blood, cuh."
Charlotte snorted at my words, knowing I absolutely always hated people speaking like makeshift gang members. "Just shut up and hurry up. I wanna go eat some tacos. And you're paying. Now that you're rich." Charlotte answered, and I simply rolled my eyes at her words, a smile playing on my lips.