This Must Be The Place

The older woman seemed stressed. Shadows under her eyes that even layers of makeup couldn't hide, but otherwise perfectly styled. Dark hair, dark eyes, and unusually tanned for the season. She deliberately emphasized her Italian heritage and still looked gorgeous in her late thirties.

“Hey, everything’s fine, Kim? Were you able to enjoy the rest of the weekend after the Saturday session?”

“Hmm, yes. It was quite nice.”

“Good to hear. Probably locked yourself in the dorm again and just focused on the new songs. I'd bet on it, right?”

Franca took two left turns and they quickly left the school grounds. The same road that had connected Kim to the night she lived through on Saturday lay before them now. But without snow and in daylight, its magic was lost. It seemed rather dreary. The first blossoms of spring were yet to come.

“Oh, yeah, mostly.”

“Mostly? Did someone manage to coax you out?”

“Maybe.”

Kim felt a spark of anticipation for summer and how it would transform Arden Park and the rest of West Green. She loved the forests of New England, but the cold always made her so sluggish and tired.

“Hmph. Have you made any progress with the songs? The deadline isn’t that far away.”

“I know. Eight are done.”

“Sounds good. Anything a bit more upbeat this time?”

“Not really. But I’ve got an idea over the weekend. Maybe it will be a bit more to your taste.”

“Come on, I don’t mean it that way. I like your stuff. Just curious to see you outside your comfort zone for once.”

In the distance, Kim spotted the Fortune Hill Monument. It was a landmark that had been there every time she moved down to the city, but now, for the first time, it caught her attention, penetrated her thoughts with its newfound meaning.

“Ah, that's Fortune Hill. Just a few mansions, forests, and your run-of-the-mill obelisk. There must be a hundred of those monuments around the US.”

“But the view must be great from up there.”

“Hmm, I bet. Now that you mention it... I've lived here for over ten years, but I've never been up there.”

“Do you know of any other places that are worth seeing? Preferably great vistas and not completely overrun with people?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I'd like to get to know the city. I've been here for several months now and haven't seen much.”

They had once again reached the traffic lights between Trinity Falls and Downtown. The well-known threshold between worlds.

“I think the harbor and Sambuca Beach are obvious. But those are more like summer goals. Hildesia is quite nice. Probably the best part of North Central. Lots of cafés and charming alleys. Feels more like Europe.”

“You’ve ever been to Europe?”

“No. Maybe it’s more like I imagine it.” Franca laughed.

“Perhaps another recommendation for a place you've already been to?”

“You remind me once again that I work too much and don't go out enough. A tragedy.”

Franca appeared lost in thought. They had taken a left turn from Georgia Augusta onto Bamber Street.

“Maybe Sandley Wood in Arden Park would be up your alley. I went there once, shortly after I moved here. It's quite nice if you like hiking. Should be worth a visit soon when spring is in full swing. There is a nice little Café in the area.”

“You really like your Cafés, huh?”

“Ha, can't deny the charges, can't deny them… But this one is a cute repurposed farmhouse.”

“Sadly, that's not the kind of view I'm after. I mean a proper panoramic view.”

Meanwhile, they took a right turn onto High Street and crossed the bridge over the Mirth River. The mix of high-rise, Gothic and Greek Revival buildings of Downtown made way for the Federal Style architecture of Spalding.

“Ah, that reminds me of the Union Center. Great view up there. It’s mainly a shopping destination and some office space, but the view from the observation deck is amazing. From there, you can overlook the sea, the city, the surrounding countryside. Basically everything. Highest point in the city that is open to the public.”

“Let me guess, there's a café up there?”

“You guessed right.”

Kim made a mental note of the location for later. They were close to their destination, Square Studios. The place Kimberly would record her new album. She had already been there a couple of times. More often than at the label. There, she had actually been just twice. To sign the contract and the second time to endure a presentation about how she could market herself better.

“I forgot to ask, but what is the meeting about? Will someone from the label be there?”

“Yes, Quinn will be there. He called it. Said it’s important. Didn’t want to talk about it on the phone and requested you to be present. But don’t worry. Probably just some marketing bullshit he came up with again.”

“Ugh, I hope not. The last time was tedious enough.”

“We’ll see.”

The last turn lay ahead of them. Fortunately, the studio shared an underground parking garage with several other tenants in the building on Valley Avenue. When the car finally came to a halt, it was just after 4 p.m. Kim wanted to exit the vehicle, but Franca stopped her.

“We still have a few minutes. Let’s talk”

“What about?”

The engine was still humming in the background. Franca sighed.

“I don't know exactly what Quinn has in mind, but a source at the label told me that the studio manager and another representative from the label will also be there. That can only mean that he wants to build up pressure. Which doesn't really make much sense given our current situation in the release cycle. You're right on schedule. Your image is indie, and you haven't made any missteps so far.”

“Missteps?”

“I don’t want to be like this, but did anything happen on Saturday? Getting wasted in a public space, nip slip, made out with a much older guy, you know?”

“What the hell!? Nothing of that sort happened!”

“But something did happen?”

“I was just out with friends, having dinner.”

“What restaurant?”

“Plumeria Walk.”

“With boys?”

“Yes.”

“Class mates?”

“No, but they also attend the academy.”

“Did you make out with one of them?”

“Hell, no! No alcohol, no nudity, no nothing.”

“Did you all leave all together?”

“No…”

“You alone with a boy?”

“Yes…”

“And where did you go?”

“Fortune Hill Monument.”

“Fuck, now I get it… But nothing happened in public?”

“Nothing at all. Afterwards he drove me back to the dorm and the night was over.”

“That’s all? He didn't sneak into your room with you? Not even a farewell kiss?”

“This isn’t cool. I didn't sign up for this interrogation bullshit!”

“I don’t want to do this either, but Quinn is an idiot and he shouldn’t know things I don’t when we go in there.”

A long silence made the air between them crackle. Franca turned off the engine. Now it was Kim’s turn to sigh.

“No, we didn’t kiss… We just hugged. That’s all.”

“Thank you, and I'm sorry. I know what I'm doing here isn't cool, but this way I can take the wind out of Quinn's sails right away. Just sit there and let your charming, calm aura work its magic. I’ll do the talking.”

“Thanks, Fran. I try to not make it difficult.”

Kim apologized, but inside she was boiling. She would have loved to have gone in alone and given those label assholes a piece of her mind.

“Do you want to see the boy again? You didn’t ask those questions about great vistas without lots of people for nothing, did you? Something serious developing?”

“I don’t know yet. Maybe. I want to figure this out for myself first. It's nobody else's business!”

“Alright, alright. I'll stop with the questions now, let's just calm down for a minute or two and then we’ll do this.”