Chapter 1: Summer of '95

Part 1

The sun-kissed streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico, pulsed with life as 16-year-old Luisa Rivera pedaled her bicycle down the sidewalk, the warm breeze whipping her curly brown hair into a frenzy. It was the first day of summer break, and she was determined to make the most of it. Luisa had just finished her sophomore year at school, and the thought of two months without waking up early or worrying about grades was exhilarating. As she rode, the vibrant colors of the city seemed to dance around her – the bright pink of the flamboyant trees, the turquoise of the ocean glinting through the palm fronds, and the sunshine-yellow of the houses that seemed to lean in, as if sharing a secret. Luisa felt carefree, her feet pumping the pedals in a rhythmic motion that matched the beat of the salsa music drifting from a nearby café. She turned a corner onto her street, and her eyes landed on the small family-owned bakery, El Pan de Abuela, where her parents worked. The sweet aroma of freshly baked bread wafted out, making her stomach growl with hunger. Luisa parked her bike outside and pushed open the door, greeting her parents with a warm smile. "Mamá, Papá, I'm starving!" she exclaimed, as her mother, María, handed her a still-warm empanada. "Welcome to the start of summer, m'ija," her father, Carlos, said with a chuckle, ruffling her hair. "You're going to need your strength for all the adventures you'll have." Luisa took a bite of the empanada, savoring the flaky pastry and the rich flavors of the chicken and spices inside. As she ate, she gazed out the window, watching the people strolling by. Her mind began to wander, imagining all the possibilities the summer held. Just then, the doorbell above the entrance jingled, signaling the arrival of a customer. Luisa's eyes followed the sound, and that's when she saw him – a boy with piercing green eyes and a messy mop of dark hair, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes as he greeted her parents. "Hey, Señor and Señora Rivera," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I'm Enrique, the new kid on the block. I smelled the most amazing aroma and followed it to this wonderful bakery." Luisa's heart skipped a beat as she watched Enrique's gaze meet hers, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, a spark of curiosity igniting between them. As her parents welcomed Enrique and offered him a sample of their freshly baked bread, Luisa couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement, a sense that this summer might just be more interesting than she'd anticipated...