Safe and Sound

The walk to the car would be short. They took the Georgia Augusta Street up north and turned right onto Summer Street.

“Did you switch to the academy solely because of your music? Or were there any other reasons?”

“Perhaps there was another reason. But I'll keep that to myself for now.”

“Hmm, okay.”

“And what about you? It did sound like you don’t like being associated with your family. Are they from around here? Like with Gail?”

“Yeah, they are and it’s somewhat like with his family. But also different.”

“Why did you choose a high school so close to the city then? Would they have cut of your funding if you moved further away?”

Robert entered a garage, still on Summer Street. Kim followed inside.

“Something like that. If I would work some job on the side, I could move were I wanted, but I think then I would have only time for school or art, not both. So I have to remain dependent on them for now… I admire you for actually managing to balance your passion, school, and work.”

“Oh, it's not as special as it may have sounded to you. These three things just overlap for me.”

“Huh? Do you earn anything with your music?”

Kimberly became a bit nervous. They got into Robert's car, some kind of Chevrolet Caprice.

“Yes, kind of. It works out for me.”

They buckled up and Robert started the engine.

“That’s great! You could’ve told me that you are already this far along on your path. What are you doing exactly? Teaching music? Some kind of backstage work? Or even onstage?”

“It's a little embarrassing to talk about it. I'll tell you another time, okay?”

Robert looked at her skeptically.

“Fine. Would you like to tell me a little more about your music then?”

They exited the garage and took a left turn onto Summer Street, the way they had come.

“I don’t know. It’s not that special. I just love to write stuff. The musical notes then come almost by themselves. Like it’s intuition.”

“What kind of stuff do you love to write?”

“Relationships, feelings, what you'd expect from a high school girl, right? I love to write about anything that means something to me. And about what it means to me. How it could be and about how it isn’t.”

“I think I get it a bit. Would love to hear you sing one day.”

Kim blushed again. They were on Georgia Augusta Street again. Down south this time.

She was unsure about her feelings. She wanted to open up to Robert a little more. But something held her back. She didn’t respond. The silence hung over them for a few moments. However, it wasn't entirely uncomfortable. At least Kimberly didn't feel uncomfortable.

“You never told me your last name, did you, Kimberly?”

“It’s Orange, like the color.”

“That suits you. I like it.”

“You never told me yours too, did you?”

“Pallandt. Double L, with d and t at the end.”

“Robert Pallandt. Doesn’t sound too bad.”

“It’s Robert H. Pallandt to be more precise, my father would insist.” He said with a bitter smile.

“Should I continue to dampen the mood with more questions about your family or what the W. stands for?”

Robert’s smile became lighter.

“Of course, and I’ll keep bothering you with questions about your job and your reasons for coming to the city. It’s Harrison by the way.”

Kim chuckled and stretched out in the passenger seat. She was a bit surprised by her own gesture of relaxation. But the realization of how safe she felt in that moment brought a small smile to her lips.

“I may not want to talk about some things about me right now. Like my job. But I really enjoy talking to you, I think, and to share some moments of silence with you isn't uncomfortable, unlike with many others, where I just have nothing to say to them.”

By now, they had left the lights of Downtown behind them. A single traffic light still prevented them from entering Trinity Falls. Robert turned to her. He looked a bit surprised. But his expression quickly changed to a genuine smile.

“I feel the same… So, will you come along to Fortune Hill?”

“Yeah, yeah, you've got me hooked. But don't get too cocky just yet. If it gets too cold, you'll drive me straight back, okay?”

The traffic light turned green and the car headed uphill.

“Of course. Back to the dorm or my apartment though?” Robert asked half-serious.

Kimberly acted outraged, her mouth wide open.

“I said don’t get too cocky, you jerk!”

“Sorry, not sorry.” Robert chuckled.

“Maybe I can visit you another day. Daytime, so I can actually see your paintings.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

They took a right turn and drove up a smaller winding road.

“No offer to paint me? Is the offensive already over?”

“I think I might just take my art a little too seriously to use it for something like that.”

“So, you are not serious about me, huh?”

“You're quite skilled at twisting my words, huh?”

They took a left turn. Kim laughed. Maybe more of a giggle. It wasn't just the car's heater that kept her warm. The shared feelings did so too. A few silent moments flew by.

“We’re almost there.”

“You mentioned some kind of art styles when I asked what you are into. Can you describe it to me? What it is, what you like about it, what it means to you?”

“Hmm, that’s kind of tough. But I’ll try… First there would be Surrealism. It already existed for a few decades before the period I prefer. It was kind of underground in the Soviet Union before it collapsed. A portal to possibilities beyond the reality of life back then. Beyond life in general. That is what it means to me in very rough terms.”

“And the other future thing?”

“Futurism. It’s a celebration of energy, technology, dynamics, moving forward and the future in general. The second generation focused a lot on aircraft. Especially military aircraft. They tried to capture the kinetic energy, to capture the idea of moving at great speed in a still image.”

“Sounds a bit materialistic and brutal.”

“It was. And also a rejection of the past. But the dynamics of just doing things always fascinated me. Probably because I’m often so indecisive.”

“You? Indecisive?”

“Yeah, most of the time I am.”

Robert glanced over at her briefly.

“Not always though.”

They turned left again, this time into a small parking lot. It was almost empty. Only one other car was there. Kimberly couldn't even make out the brand.

“Our destination?”

“Yeah, that’s it.”

Robert killed the engine. They slowly stepped out into the night. Only the faint gleam of a few old streetlights illuminated the vicinity. The air was cold. Not freezing, but cold and clear. In the distance, the sounds of the city broke the silence of Fortune Hill.

Kim watched him locking the car.

“Is it a long walk from here?”

“No, don’t worry. However, I can also carry you if you prefer?”

“Maybe I'll take you up on your offer later.” Kim quipped.

A few pine trees around the parking lot loomed in the dark. Kimberly also spotted some houses further up the hillside. Magnificent buildings. Barely lit and shadowy in the distance. A small dirt path led away toward them. Their path.