The Dresden stop, the penultimate stop on the tour, demanded all their concentration. The weather was terrible from morning: it rained all day, heavily, with thunder and lightning; it felt like the dead of winter.
They stayed indoors all day, and although they tried to pass the time by challenging each other to ping-pong, cards, or PlayStation, their mood wasn't the best.
After wandering around, Klaus retreated to the rehearsal room to do some percussion exercises; Kristian and Annalisa, curled up on the sofa, began leafing through music magazines; Bill, yawning, announced he was going to get some sleep, while Tom and Naomi chatted, sitting in front of the French windows that opened onto the garden.
Belinda went into the kitchen and, rummaging through Madeleine's supplies, decided to make a dessert: a tiramisu. Yes, it was the perfect day to eat it, given the bad mood around.
She selected all the ingredients and, having found what she needed, began to prepare it.
That morning she had spoken to her mother, who, having learned what had happened with Alex, now called her every day. Luckily, he hadn't shown up again, and she couldn't believe it.
She smiled, remembering the tenderness with which Bill had surrounded her since that morning. Every smile was brighter, every word seemed like a caress, and every look was better than a thousand words.
It made her feel truly good, and regardless of what happened once the tour was over, she was sure she would have wonderful memories of it.
Sure, she felt a little melancholy when she thought about their imminent departure, but she tried not to dwell on that thought.
Two days earlier, she had managed to pop by the University of Potsdam and picked up all the information brochures and documents she needed. Bill, surprising her, had accompanied her, disguising himself under a basketball hat and wearing sunglasses. Wearing no makeup and wearing jeans and a T-shirt, with a button-up shirt covering his tattoos, no one had noticed them.
Bill had waited outside the building while she made her rounds of the offices, sitting on a bench in the garden, curiously leafing through the various brochures. When she left, Bill had smiled at her and made room for her next to him.
"Of course, without you, I would never have gotten into college!" he confessed.
Belinda had brushed a strand of hair from her eyes. "And why?"
"School has never been a temptation for me." He had laughed. "In fact, I hated it. I was the butt of teasing from my classmates because of my hair, my clothes, and because I already wore makeup on my eyes."
"Kids are incredibly mean to anyone who is different from them," Belinda had confirmed sadly. "It happened to me too, but after the first time they realized I'd defend myself and left me alone, simply calling me a loser."
"Did you get into a fight?" he asked, surprised.
"That's a strong word," he downplayed with a sly smile. "I just slapped someone a couple of times and word got around."
"They certainly didn't expect that from you!"
"Just because I'm small and petite? Never judge by appearances!"
"I wouldn't have underestimated you," Bill had retorted solemnly.
She had laughed and patted him affectionately on the arm. How she enjoyed those lighthearted conversations, from which she learned so much about him, about when he was a creative but solitary boy, different from the person he was now. She recognized that boy in some of his behaviors and was also beginning to understand why Bill sometimes acted so stubbornly or aloof.
The day was so beautiful, so peaceful, and being free to wander around like ordinary kids, without the need to confine herself within four walls, made her feel exhilarating.
"What do you think?" she asked him.
"About this school? Oh no, you're asking the wrong person," he had laughed, shaking his head.
"No, about this day out!"
Bill had sighed. "Oh, fantastic. I'm trying to enjoy it as much as possible, so I can count it among my happiest memories."
"Don't you miss the fans?" she teased him.
"You know, it's a nice feeling to sit here, without anyone talking to you, asking you anything, but seeing people continue their journey. Ah, let me enjoy these moments a little longer!" she said with a bright smile.
"I was thinking of attracting someone's attention... You know, I'm not used to this silence anymore, it almost scares me!" Belinda tried to get up.
"You're not busy enough, that's why!" he said mischievously, pulling her closer and kissing her sweetly on that public bench, in front of so many people strolling or sitting at the outdoor café.
It had been an unforgettable moment!
He sighed as he continued mixing the ingredients and placing the cookies in the pan.
She'd decided to enroll in the first semester courses and, if the standards they advertised were maintained, she'd continue.
Confess, you're afraid you'll miss him... You're doing it to stay close to him, a little voice whispered in her mind.
But no, that was the original plan, so there was no ulterior motive. If then... Well, if she saw Bill a few more times, she'd certainly be pleased.
She pictured him outside the university, on a late summer evening, sitting on a motorcycle, his helmet dangling from his arm, waiting for her. He had a rugged, slightly mysterious look, dark glasses, slicked-back hair, and a cocky smile.
She burst into laughter: truth be told, he looked more like Tom than Bill.
But what was she thinking?
She returned her attention to the cake and, as soon as she'd dusted off the last layer of cocoa, she put it in the fridge. She tidied up the kitchen, wiping down the counters and washing bowls and silverware, dried the sink, and went out into the living room: it was deserted.
Where had everyone gone?
She wandered through the various rooms, finding Klaus, still in the music room; Kristian and Annalisa had gone to the TV room and, sitting on a rug, were nibbling on chips and exchanging knowing smiles.
She approached Bill's room and, gently turning the handle, went in to check: he was lying on his side, hugging a pillow, sleeping soundly.
She slipped away quietly and tried to figure out where the other two had gone. She couldn't find them in the playroom or in their respective bedrooms.
Had they gone out in that awful weather? She could have sworn her sister wouldn't have moved; she was too afraid of thunderstorms, but she couldn't trust Tom. It was pouring outside, and the sky was black.
As she passed the door that led to the garage, she heard a light laugh. She peeked in unnoticed, and on a slightly battered swing in the corner of the living room were the two boys, blankets over their legs, chatting in low voices.
She quietly retreated and returned to the living room. Since everyone was busy and she didn't know what to do, she thought it might be best if she got some sleep too; after all, it was early afternoon, and conditions wouldn't improve until the evening.
Yawning, he went into his bedroom and, slipping under the light blanket, sank into a dreamless sleep.
*
Naomi was listening to Tom talk about piercings and was telling her about the first one he'd gotten.
"I want to get a tattoo, though."
"Yes? And where would you get it? What design would you choose?" the boy asked, tracing light circles with his finger on her hand, which was casually resting on the blanket.
"I'd really like to do Tinkerbell! Um, it would be nice to get it on my neck, behind my ear, what do you think?"
"Yeah, I think that would look good," Tom admitted. "But you know, since you're still underage, you can't go alone, right?"
"I'll ask Linda to come with me."
"The area where you want the tattoo has to be free of moles and scars, you know?" he said, looking at her face, where she had two small moles that looked like dots drawn next to her lips.
"I don't think I have any on my neck... Have they popped out by now?" she admitted doubtfully.
"Lower your head so I can check."
Naomi pushed her hair forward, exposing her neck, and leaned toward him.
Tom laughed, moving the strands along her shoulder. "You have so much hair!"
Naomi muttered something, but the boy didn't understand.
"I said, 'Do you see anything?'" she repeated, worried. "Come on, don't make me anxious!"
Tom slowly brushed his fingers along her neck, like a caress, and then, instinctively, placed his lips there.
Surprised, Naomi jumped and jerked her head back, hitting him on the lip.
"Ouch!"
"Oh God, Tom, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, mortified. "I wasn't expecting... that!"
Red-faced, she pushed her hair back and looked up at him.
The boy had his hand on his lip, where the hoop of his piercing was.
"I hurt you, I'm sorry!" Naomi put her fingers to his mouth to make sure it wasn't bleeding. "I didn't think..."
"...that you'd be so tempting?" He laughed, rubbing his lip.
Naomi smiled awkwardly. "How stupid!"
"I've been tempted to do it for days, but I keep telling myself it would be crazy, considering you're still a little girl. You're different from the others I know and from those your age. Every time I think about it..." She sighed with an uncertain smile. "I feel like I'm committing a sin."
Naomi touched his lip with a caress.
"Be careful, little fairy, there are reactions you may not know about yet..." he warned. "...and unfortunately, I'm not a good boy."
"You're one of the best bad boys I know, Tom, and I like you for that," he replied with a wink.
"Well, thanks, I'm flattered!" he chuckled with satisfaction.
Naomi leaned her face close to his, making him sigh.
"Do you know that if your sister finds out, she'll kill me for it?"
"Will you tell her?" she teased.
"Of course not! Are you?"
"Try to be persuasive and I won't tell her anything," she tempted him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Tom looked at her seriously, trying to find a reason to resist, but those eyes fascinated him and he felt as excited as if it were his first kiss.
She swallowed, repeating that she'd now understood that, despite her cheerfulness and feigned carefreeness, she was still naive and a dreamer, and she didn't want to do anything that would cause her pain. She remembered how his heart sank when he'd held her in his arms and revealed what was between Bel and his brother.
She liked Bill; it was clear she worshipped him: she'd been a longtime fan of his, she felt grateful for the support his voice had given her during the worst period of her life, and they were very similar in both character and thought: a perfect match, in short.
She tried to convince herself with this last lame excuse, but it didn't work.
"To hell with Bill," she grumbled.
He closed his eyes and pulled her close, pressing his lips to hers, trying to put all the sweetness he could muster into that gesture.
He felt a slight dizziness as he was inexorably sucked into a vortex in which he felt an incredible force enveloping him, like an intense magic he couldn't resist.
After all, I'm kissing a fairy after all! he thought, letting himself be carried away and trying not to think of anything else.