Tag: first-love

Dear Diary: A Summer Dance (1987)

Before fame, heartbreak, and second chances, Emma Sinclair and Josh McGuire were two kids growing up together in Boston.

This Emma and Josh diary entry takes us back to the summer of 1987, when a family cookout and Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” turned an ordinary summer evening into a memory worth keeping.

Here’s a little glimpse into Emma’s world before everything changed. ❤️

Emma and Josh Diary — Summer 1987

Dear Diary,

Today was the best day!

I know I say that a lot.

We went over to the McGuires’ for a cookout. Their backyard is huge, and they always have strings of lights hanging up for when it starts getting dark.

I call them twinkle lights.

Anyway, it wasn’t even dark yet, and I was sitting in a chair talking to Molly when “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” started playing on the radio.

It’s a new song, and I love it!

Next thing I know, Josh is pulling me out of my chair to dance.

He didn’t even ask me!

He just grabbed my hand and pulled me up.

I tried to protest because I didn’t want to put on a show in front of everybody.

Josh, on the other hand?

He’s the showman.

I laughed the entire time as he spun me around till I was dizzy.

We ended up falling onto the grass, laughing so hard I could barely catch my breath.

When Josh started to get up, he stopped and leaned over me, his face close to mine.

He just stared at me.

For a second, I thought he might kiss me.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he stood up and held out both hands to help me off the ground.

I was still a little dizzy when I got to my feet, and Josh noticed.

He grabbed me before I could fall again and said, “Careful Em. You’re gonna fall for me.”

I just rolled my eyes and said, “In your dreams, McGuire.”

He grinned.

When I went back to sit with Molly, she had this stupid smile on her face.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing,” she said.

“Molly!”

She started laughing.

“You should’ve seen the way he was looking at you.”

I could feel my face getting hot.

“He was just being Josh.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

I wanted to throw something at her.

Sisters are so annoying sometimes!

Anyway, I can’t wait for the next cookout.

And I hope Whitney Houston comes on the radio again.

Want to hear the song that inspired this diary entry? You can find it here ➡️ I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston

Read more diary entries here: Emma’s Diary

The First Time Josh Really Saw Emma | Unfinished Melody Bonus Scene

Before Emma and Josh became each other’s first love, there was a moment when ten-year-old Josh first began to see his best friend’s little sister differently. In this Unfinished Melody bonus scene, we step into Josh’s point of view and revisit the moment he realized there was something special about Emma.

Josh’s POV — 1983

I don’t remember the first time I laid eyes on Emma.
Not really.
Our families had known each other for as long as I could remember. She was Mitchell’s little sister. She was always there.
But I remember the first time I really saw her.
I was ten years old.
She was sitting on the front porch of her house, reading a book.
I smiled at her.
She smiled back.
She was wearing a blue knit dress covered in little white daisies, and her blonde hair was braided.
I remember asking what she was reading.
“Charlotte’s Web,” she said in that soft, sweet voice.
I’d seen Emma sitting on that porch with a book a hundred times before.
But for some reason, that day was different.
That was the moment I realized I liked her in a way I didn’t like any other girl.

Song for this memory: Just One Look – Doris Troy – YouTube Video

New to Emma and Josh’s story? Explore the World of Unfinished Melody and discover where their story begins.

Dear Diary: Tonight Something BIG happened

In this entry from Emma’s Diary, thirteen-year-old Emma remembers her first Block 213 concert and the night Josh turned an unforgettable performance into something much more personal.

Dear Diary,

Tonight! Tonight something BIG happened.

I went to a Block 213 concert. Mom got tickets for me and Olivia.

I was so excited.

Let me just tell you.

Josh KISSED me.

It wasn’t just a peck either.

In front of a whole crowd of fans.

There were thousands of girls screaming for these guys.

Then there was me.

Standing in the front row with Olivia.

He dedicated the song to me.

He started singing it, and at the end, he jumped off the stage and came right up to me.

I know my face turned beet red.

Not because he kissed me.

But because he did it in front of EVERYONE.

Then he kissed me again when I went backstage to see him.

He seemed so happy to see me.

I was so happy to see him too.

I just got home and couldn’t wait to write about it.

The way it felt.

What I felt.

It wasn’t like before.

I can’t even explain it.

All I know is, I love him.

And I believe he loves me too.

Interested in reading more about Emma and Josh’s history? Check out more from Emma’s Diary

Want to read the full story? Read paperback, eBook or with Kindle Unlimited here: Unfinished Melody – Amazon

Emma’s Diary: Memorial Day Weekend, 1988 | Unfinished Melody Bonus Scene

One of my favorite things about writing is exploring moments that happen outside the pages of the novel. This diary entry isn’t included in Unfinished Melody, but it offers a glimpse into thirteen-year-old Emma’s thoughts after one of the happiest evenings of her life. I hope you enjoy this little peek into her world.

Memorial Day Weekend, May 27th, 1988

Dear Diary,

This has been the BEST weekend ever, and it’s only the first day!
Josh came home for Memorial Day weekend. I haven’t seen him in a whole month, and I missed him so much.
After dinner, he asked if I wanted to walk down to the dock with him. He was carrying his guitar, and I kept wondering what he was going to do with it.
We’ve been to the dock lots of times before, but there were always other people there. Tonight it was just us.
When we sat down, he smiled at me and said, “You’re going to love this. I’ve been working on it all week.”
Then he told me I was the first person he wanted to hear it.
Can you believe that?
He started singing, and then he asked me to sing with him.
My heart was beating SO fast.
I love to sing but not in front of people.
Especially not in front of Josh.
But he talked me into it.
He told me he’s heard me singing before when I didn’t even know he was listening.
Eek!
I was so embarrassed.
I took a deep breath, smiled and nodded.
Then he handed me a piece of paper with the words on it.
At first, I just hummed along.
Then I started reading the lyrics and quietly singing with him.
It was a love song.
A LOVE song.
The words were about loving a girl and not wanting her to leave.
Oh my gosh…
Do you think he wrote it about me?
I mean… maybe I’m just dreaming.
But it really felt like he did.
When we finished singing, he smiled at me and said, “Someday, I’ll play this for you again.”
I don’t know why, but when he said that it felt like a promise.
We sat there for a while just looking out at the lake. Neither of us talked very much. We didn’t have to.
“Emma?” he said.
I looked at him.
“Yeah?”
He kept glancing at my lips.
And then…
He kissed me.
Again!!
I thought my heart was going to jump right out of my chest.
He’s kissed me lots of times.
But tonight…
I don’t know.
It just felt different.
We were alone so…
Maybe that’s why it felt different.
My heart was pounding.
When we pulled apart, we just looked at each other for a minute.
Then I heard Mom call, “Emma! Josh!”
I couldn’t help but giggle.
“I guess they’re looking for us,” I said. “We better go back.”
“Yeah,” he said.
He stood up and held out his hand.
I took it.
We walked all the way back to the cabin holding hands.
I didn’t want to let go.
Right before we went inside, he kissed me one more time.
I think this is what having a boyfriend feels like.
Right?
I mean…
He keeps kissing me.
He holds my hand.
He wrote me a song.
So…
I think I’m his girlfriend.
And now everyone is asleep, and I’m writing all of this by flashlight because I don’t ever want to forget tonight.

Have you ever kept a diary or journal? ✍🏻📖

Let me know in the comments.

Curious how their story begins? Read The Prologue first.

If you enjoyed this diary entry, continue the story in Unfinished Melody, available on Amazon