They had two days off before the final stage; it was approaching August, and the heat was unbearable during the day, so they were all holed up indoors with the air conditioning on full blast.
The girls spent a lot of time alone, as the others were unapproachable until sunset, busy rehearsing new arrangements of the old songs they performed at concerts.
"Like vampires," Naomi quipped. "In fact, in the evening they come back to life and energy!"
They arranged with Hellen to go shopping at the nearest mall.
"We don't have hordes of rabid fans swarming the city," Annalisa stated.
Belinda had no intention of joining the group, as she felt the need to rest a bit, as the heat was wearing her down and she continued to feel dizzy during the day.
"It's the lack of blood!" Hellen laughed, referring to her pale complexion. "Young vampires need to eat more."
For added effect, she grabbed a raw steak from the fridge and waved it in front of him.
"Sorry, but I like my blood fresh!" Belinda laughed, baring her teeth and trying to bite her.
They ended up having a pillow fight, laughing like madmen.
Drawn by the noise, Tom poked his head out of the rehearsal room and, noticing the commotion, was happy to escape from his work for a few moments. He grabbed a pillow to join them, but the girls, after a quick glance of understanding, all attacked him at once, burying him under a mountain of feathers that flew around the room.
"Come on!" Bill opened the door to the room and gave them an annoyed look. "Can we have some quiet time?"
They stopped abruptly and, after looking at him guiltily, burst into uncontrollable laughter.
The boy, seeing the mess in the room, realized they were having fun, and even though he needed a moment's respite, he shook his head, muttering,
"Brats!"
He turned his back firmly and went back inside to continue working.
Seeing themselves scolded, they promised each other they'd have a pillow fight another time. They cleaned up the room, and Annalisa informed Tom of their exit.
"Take me with you, please!" Tom begged. "Bill can't stop. He's got a perfectionist streak lately."
"Only one condition, my dear Tom-Tom!" Naomi teased him. "Buy us something truly fa-bul-ous!"
"I'll even buy you a yacht if you save me from Mr. Perfection's clutches for the entire afternoon!"
"What's the matter with him?" Naomi asked, perplexed.
"He set out to be better than you on stage, more effective with his performance." Tom pointed to Belinda, who raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Don't be surprised, it's well known that he always has to be top of the class," he muttered, giving her a knowing look.
Belinda didn't reply, feeling those ominous thoughts she'd worked so hard to banish once again.
"So, shall we go?" Hellen asked, jingling the car keys.
"Tom's paying for everything!" Naomi exclaimed, hugging him and blowing him a resounding kiss. She then disappeared to grab her shoes, and within minutes they were off toward the city center.
Left alone, and seeing that Bill was clearly nervous, Belinda decided to retire to her room and rest until evening.
"Until the tombs open and demons populate this land again!" she had grumbled to herself.
She lay down on the bed and immediately fell asleep. She woke up after several hours and, stretching like a contented cat, reached out and touched a piece of paper on the bedside table.
She picked it up, intrigued, and began to read; she recognized Bill's nervous, snorting handwriting.
Sweetest Bel, it's always a pleasure to chat with you, when you swear you're awake, while I'm sure you're asleep. There was a little work snafu, and we have to go into town with André.
By the way, thanks for giving Tom the chance to escape, leaving the hassle to us. I'm really starting to think you have a thing for him! Madeleine will join you soon, because I'm not comfortable leaving you home alone. I asked you if you wanted to come with me, but you said, "I don't like carrots!"... I assumed you didn't want to come!...
I hope you'll forgive me, but the temptation was strong, so I kept asking you questions, which I'll list below:
Me: Which one of us do you like?
Bel: Not you! (sigh!)
Me: What should I do with you?
Bel: Hide inside your heart (kiss!)
Me: Are you sure how you feel about me?
Bel: I could put my life on fire.
Me: Do you know you're amazing?
Bel: No!
Me: Shall we run away together?
Bel: I wish!!
Me: What if I weren't Bill?
Bel: You'd be mine!
Me: What if I could erase something?
Bel: Me!
Me: Will you miss me?
Bel: You don't know how much...
Do you know I miss you already? I've been wishing you'd tell me all this while looking me in the eyes!
XXX Bill
The signature ended in a flourish that looked a lot like a little star with a devil's tail.
Smiling awkwardly, she had to admit she didn't remember a single word of the conversation reported in the letter, but she certainly wouldn't have answered her questions so directly.
What had Bill really wanted to ask her? Did he still not believe she loved him? She hugged her knees tightly, holding them to her chest, thoughtful.
After a while, she recovered and went in search of Madeleine, who, upon seeing her, waved goodbye, as she was on the phone. Belinda waved back and, so as not to disturb her, headed for the music room.
The kids had left behind a great mess, and since the heat was stifling, she went to the window and threw it open. There was no air conditioning in that room, as Bill was afraid of catching a cold that would lower his voice.
As she returned the door, her gaze fell on a blue electric guitar sitting in the corner. He approached and stared at it for a long time, until he finally gathered the courage to slowly touch the strings.
The magic he felt every time he picked up a guitar was always intense, but that time it was even stronger, considering it had been a year since he'd last touched one.
He took a deep breath and decided to pick it up. It wasn't one of the ones Tom usually used; perhaps it was a spare. The boy, in fact, carried about a dozen of them around with him, which made his brother grumble about the extra load.
He sat on a stool and, after plugging the cable into the amplifier, picked it up. He gently plucked a string and let his fingers slide back and forth, producing a low melody.
Yes, the magic hadn't disappeared: it had just hidden itself, but now it was there, wanting to say goodbye, like an old friend.
She smiled as she hummed the first song she'd composed when she was thirteen. She'd dedicated it to her sister, remembering the moment she'd been born and she'd seen her for the first time.
You come from far away,
we've been waiting a while.
You're still acting so grumpy,
and your gaze doesn't rest
on these tormented souls
that you bind with a thin chain.
Oh, naughty little star,
the morning will come soon,
you'll give us your smile,
you'll take our hearts!
At that time, she only created rhyming couplets, and that was the lullaby little Tinker Bell would fall asleep to every night.
She'd loved that moment, when she realized she wasn't alone anymore, but especially when Tracy had placed the little bundle in her arms, saying, "Do you think you can take care of her?"
She looked at her, then shifted her gaze to the chubby baby, whose eyes were closed and her face pouting.
She asked seriously, "You're going to give me trouble, aren't you?"
Tracy smiled, replying, "I think so!"
Belinda leaned over and, placing a kiss on her forehead, whispered, "It's okay, I'll be here when you need me!"
At those words, the little girl let out a yawn that almost looked like a smile.
Belinda had never shied away from that vow.
She continued singing softly, lost in her memories, continuing with a little medley of her songs, feeling more and more at home and at peace with herself.
When her fingers began to tingle, she knew it was time to stop. She opened her eyes again, smiling radiantly, and realized that Naomi was standing in the doorway, looking at her with eyes full of joy. There was no need for words between them: Belinda opened her arms, and her sister dropped the bags on the floor and ran to hug her.
When she pulled away and turned to look at her, her eyes were shining; Naomi rested her forehead against hers. "Welcome back, Selena!"
Selena, the name she used when she was in the band... It had been a long time since anyone had called her that. Alex had loved the name, for its exotic quality; he thought it suited his singing style very well, even though he continued to call her Luna.
As she prepared to put away the instrument, Belinda noticed that Tom, who had followed Naomi, was also watching her attentively from the doorway.
"Sorry I took the guitar without telling you," she murmured embarrassedly.
"Don't even think about it!" he said as he entered. "I never use that. You can keep it as long as you want."
Belinda tilted her head to the side to think about it and, remembering the sensations she had felt, replied, "Thanks, I'd appreciate it."
They headed for the exit, picking up the bags left on the floor, and as they closed the door, Tom broke the silence.
"I like your music, Bel... Will you sing again?"
"I don't know," she replied seriously. "I think I need to find the courage... even though with you, I'm already regaining my serenity."
She smiled gratefully at him, and he put a hand on her shoulder. "You should let Bill hear it, too."
At those words, a slight chill rushed through her, violent. She stopped and forced him to do the same.
"No, Bill mustn't know anything," she said in a stiff voice.
"Why? You have a wonderful voice."
"No, Tom, no! Promise me you won't tell him anything!" she asked pleadingly.
"But..."
"Swear it, Tom!"
The boy looked at her worriedly and raised an eyebrow. "Why? I don't understand, I thought you loved him..."
"That's exactly why..."
"I've never kept secrets from Bill," the boy protested.
"It's not your secret, it's mine." She snorted in frustration. "I know it's hard for you to understand, but I have a bad feeling, Tom. I don't want to hurt Bill needlessly. Please, promise me!"
"Okay." He gave up, frowning. "But you and I should have a nice chat one of these days, okay?"
Belinda agreed, lowering her head. "I promise."
"Hey, lazybones, want to come see what I bought?"
Naomi's voice from across the room interrupted them, and, rolling their eyes, they joined her.
"You have no idea what I've been through!" Tom complained. "She's a total lunatic when she's out shopping. I think she bought the whole store."
"I told you she's sick!" Belinda laughed, patting him on the arm sympathetically. "What did you get her, by the way?"
Chuckling, Tom took a red bag from the pile and showed her the store's logo.
"Underwear?" Belinda's eyes widened. "Tom, is there something you'd like to confess to me?" she scolded, pointing a finger at his throat.
Naomi burst out laughing, while he raised his hands innocently.
"I was the one who chose," her sister confessed. "He just paid."
"And that's all you did?" she asked, feigning scandal.
"No!"
They all burst out laughing, while Tom, feigning despair, sat on the sofa with his head in his hands.
Soon the others returned, stunned by the pile of bags.
"Bill!" Naomi trilled loudly. "Come see what I got you!"
Belinda and Tom shook their heads in dismay, while Bill, with a cry of surprise and joy, ran to get his gift.
"Did you have any doubts about those two's twin neurons?" Belinda whispered to Tom, nodding at them.
They laughed late into the evening, while Tom, head bowed, endured his brother's scolding for missing work.
"I've been punished enough, haven't I?" he muttered, referring to the endless shopping spree and getting kicked under the table by Naomi.
Only after midnight did Bill and Belinda have a moment alone, and they took a stroll in the small garden.
They sat on a stone step, admiring the beautiful starry sky.
"Don't you have something to tell me?" she asked without turning around.
"Are you talking about the letter?" he replied in a low voice.
"Yes, did you enjoy it?"
"I have to confess, I did! Do you know that when you sleep, you mumble more than you talk?"
Belinda snorted.
"Evidently not, since I'm asleep and can't hear myself!"
"You look like a ruffled kitten," the boy laughed.
"Too bad I don't scratch!"
Bill looked at her. "Are you mad?"
"No… I just wish you didn't use these tricks, that's all! I feel… helpless, naked."
He chuckled. "I promise you, you look different naked."
"Oh, stop it!" She pushed him away. "Guys! You always think about one thing."
"Are you telling me you don't like it?" he whispered in her ear.
"Are you telling me you don't understand?" she mocked him.
Bill pulled her closer. "Um, I'm not quite sure I understood correctly."
"I'll just refresh your memory," she joked, hugging him.
"I promise I'll apply myself seriously," he replied with an eager expression.
"I don't know why, but I have no doubts."
The boy lowered his head to kiss her, but stopped just shy of her lips. "I'd love to hear you repeat what you told me today..."
"Then try asking me and be convincing!" She laughed.
Bill didn't reply, but simply closed the space between them and kissed her passionately.