I just want to be with her again.
This last year has been crazy. Women fawn over our band. The number of topless and naked women I’ve seen begging for a piece of us, a piece of me…
I shake my head.
The guys love it. It makes me wonder if this is the type of stuff my dad deals with when he's on tour. Naked women throwing themselves at him.
Not only women, but the drugs. They’re hardcore.
In Wisconsin, we deal with weed, we deal with alcohol, but hard drugs are hard to come by in our sleepy town. We don't have much crime. It's safe here. So, when I see lines of white powder left and right, or pink, yellow, and white pills, or needles filled with a brownish liquid, I barely know what to do with myself.
I've dabbled, yes, but it's not really my thing. The guys are more into the women, and they like to do cocaine, but otherwise, we stay out of it. For the most part, at least.
We drive down Main Street, and I see the studio where I've spent so much time watching Luna. I hope she's still dancing. I hope her body is ready because what I've heard of Julliard is that it's rough. It's not pretty, but once you get in, it's totally worth it. I know it's what Luna has been meant to do; she always has. Her body was made for it.
The way her toes are always pointed, the way her body is made. Her spine is always straight. She's a ballerina at heart.
I crack my window down, smelling the lake, the slight smell of fish from the bait shop, the cow manure. I take a deep inhale, closing my eyes as all my memories come back to me.
Home.
We pass the school, then old Tip Town park, and I watch little kids play on the playground. It's a new era here. My generation is gone, and in its place is an entirely new group of families, kids, and friends who get to explore the land of Shallow Lake, Wisconsin.
It’s funny. Shallow Lake actually isn’t shallow at all. It’s a pretty deep lake, really. Not sure where the name came from, but it stuck somehow.
We turn on our long road, and I see the cornfields that I've lived across the street from for my entire life. I see a hint of the lake in between the houses. I only got a glimpse, but I can't wait to swim in the water again.
I may only be here for a couple days, but I plan to take advantage of every second.
First things first, though. I need to see my girl.
"Right here, on the right."
I point to our houses, which look exactly the same. They seem a little smaller than they used to, whether it be because I've grown or maybe it’s because of all the grand places I've experienced over the last year.
The brakes squeak as the taxi parks, and I go in my wallet and hand him some cash. "Thanks for the ride." I was able to Greyhound up from Iowa but decided on a taxi home instead of calling Luna or my parents.
I wanted to surprise them.
I walk around to the back of the car as the trunk pops. I grab my black duffle, wrapping my fingers around the worn straps and shutting the trunk with a slam.
The sun is setting. The orange glow over the dark blue waters is something I'll never get sick of. This place is not something even a bone in my body could ever get sick of.
Someday, I'd like to move back here. Takeover my parents’ house if I could. Maybe buy my own house on the lake. Start a family with Luna and raise our kids in this small town. That's my goal. Way down the road. Not something I've ever spoken with Luna about, but I know she feels the same.
The taxi driver pulls out of the driveway, reversing and heading back the way he came. I shield my hand over my eyes as the sun glares at me, and walk toward Luna's house. Just as I'm walking up to her door, it opens, and there stands Jane.
"Hey, Jane." I wrap her in a hug, not thinking anything besides hugging my second mom.
She's stiff for a second, shock covering her face before she melts and gives me a hug back.
"Roman, I didn't know you were coming home."
"Yeah, it was kind of a surprise. Is Luna here?"
Her eyes blink a few times at me, shock in her gaze again. It makes me raise my guard a bit. She's not acting cold toward me, but something is definitely wrong. I'm not sure what it is, but it makes my stomach turn sour.
"Um, yeah. She's in her room." She opens the door, and I walk in after giving her a smile. I could ask her what that look is about, but the only thing on my mind is seeing Luna.