"I plan to. It's my first time. I'm just soaking it all in."
Salinger smiled. He finally found a fellow first timer. Not that he was on a hunt for one, but all his friends were veterans. Since at least 2009, some claim. This two year experience meant he was the only one asking questions.
"Me too."
The bartender brought her the beer she ordered. "Well, it was nice meeting you," She paused for a name.
"Oh, Salinger."
She smiled. "Salinger?" She was shocked by this name like most that met him. He nodded.
"I like that."
She turned to walk away. "And yours?"
He grabbed his beer quickly and walked towards her. She turned around. It was at this moment he noticed the Ferris Wheel directly behind her, shining like a dying star behind her.
"Penelope."
He stretched out his hand with a contagious smile. As if infected she smiled back and grabbed his hand.
"My friends call me Penny."
Their hands separated slowly. She took a sip of her beer.
"I shall call you Penny, friend."
She noticed him looking past her. She turned around and saw the Ferris Wheel.
"It's pretty, isn't it?"
She stood next to him and spoke. "Would it be lame if I said this is better than most the bands that I've seen all of today?"
He chuckled. "Depends on what bands you've seen."
She took another sip of her drink.
"I guess the Black Keys bore me."
"Don't forget Kings of Leon."
"I didn't even seem them. I didn't come to Coachella to be put in a coma."
They laughed.
"I'm sure tomorrow will be better." He said confidently. She hit his cup with hers.
"I'll make a toast to that. If you're wrong, you can only call me Penelope."
He laughed.
"You're on, and if I am you can call me Sal. I hate that name." He hit her cup.
"Deal. So let's meet here tomorrow around six before Broken Social Scene?"
"Sounds like I'm winning already."
She began to walk away.
"We'll see."
He threw his cup into the trash. "And what if I win?"
She didn't stop walking.
"Maybe we can get a beer someplace else. Somewhere cooler."
He smiled. "Cool."
Then it hit him to ask.
"Who did you come to Coachella to see mainly, anyways?"
She turned enough that he could see her face.
"Bright Eyes!"
And she was lost within the waves of humans before he could reply with excitement. That was his favorite band.
__________
"Pass me another beer."
They drank their beers, some more than others, and they smoked
weed like they were fill in members for N.W.A. They'd get their chance soon, someday,
maybe never. Maybe it was even too late. Salinger was surrounded by one of his favorite bands that he happened to be
real great friends with—The Simple Life. Cody, Mitch, Nico, Roy, and Andy all
surrounded him engulfed by laughter. They had nothing to worry about right now.
While being drunk would permit it, being high didn’t give it a chance.
“I wish I could say I am having a good day.” Nico said with
a sad tone.
“Was that supposed to be a joke? You’re drinking with your
friends. Come on, save that shit for Cody.” Mitch responded quickly.
“Hey, fuck you.” Cody chimed in.
Laughter
erupted again. As Salinger opened up his fourth beer he could not help but feel
relieved. Life was finally in a good place. Five months ago he finished his first book. After publishing it he acquired an amount of money he said would finally make sure the people he loved are comfortable and happy. Sadly, money doesn't last forever. This morning he started his second one and is already on path of stress he is well acquainted with.
While not many of his friends have read it, the ones that did loved it. Except for his friend Marat in Hawaii, but he doesn't like anything, and that's neither here nor there, he always said. Luckily, at this moment, he is here. And here is a great place to be. He lives in Claremont now with five of his best friends in a four bedroom house. He has a great job, great friends, and finally doesn't have to worry about money.
While not many of his friends have read it, the ones that did loved it. Except for his friend Marat in Hawaii, but he doesn't like anything, and that's neither here nor there, he always said. Luckily, at this moment, he is here. And here is a great place to be. He lives in Claremont now with five of his best friends in a four bedroom house. He has a great job, great friends, and finally doesn't have to worry about money.
“Well Nico, have a better day.”
Salinger passed him the bong. He didn’t take it. “I’ve had enough for one night.” Before they could protest this outright denial of a good time, he chugged a beer and they
all forgot what had just happened. This is a bit of a monthly ritual, you see.
The guys had their lucky break this year. They’re signed and going on
tour this year for their new album Puncture.
So due to all their busy schedules they’ve decided to put aside at least one day
out of each month to hang and catch up. Mostly drink, but they’re not ashamed.
Not yet at least, they’re still below the age of thirty five. These are Salinger's friends.
“Hey man, why doesn’t that kid come down here and drink with
us?” Andy asked.
“Which one?”
“Not the one with the weird name, he’s a dick.” Roy said.
“Yeah, and we don’t like dicks.” Mitch said in a playful way while he crossed his arms.
“Cody does.” Salinger didn’t recall who said it but they all laughed
harder than they had in the past hour.
“He doesn’t drink.” Salinger answered.
“But I do, and it looks like you motherfuckers started
without us.” Jude said at the screen door with Tyrell behind him.
Jude Noach is one of Salinger's ten best friends. They’ve been friends for about four years now. They graduated The University of La Verne this past year. If there is one
person he knows that knows how to have a good time, it’s this guy. Jude is 5'9, black, and skinny. He’s a good looking kid. He
comes from a wealthy family in Beverly Hills and he likes to party. That also might be an understatement. Every person Salinger knew could give you a memory worth sharing about Jude. He wasn't just the life of the parties, he was the parties. Since meeting him and Salinger have been almost inseparable. Jude is one of his most loyal and trustworthy friends.
Tyrell Bertan is also one of Salinger's best friends. They, too, have been friends for four years. Salinger and Tyrell met while pledging for the same fraternity they are a part of to this day. He became Salinger's closest pledge bro for a great many of reasons, but most of all, it was probably because they are both never ashamed nerds and honest people. Tyrell is also the first person Salinger ever considered truly his little brother. He is 6 feet tall and Portuguese. Tyrell is one of the most likable people Salinger has ever met. He always jokes around about how everyone loves Tyrell and sometimes, when he really pays attention, he can see it annoys Tyrell. He might say it to laugh, but he means it every time he says it. Everyone loves Tyrell, and with good reason. Even Sufjan doesn't dislike him.
Tyrell Bertan is also one of Salinger's best friends. They, too, have been friends for four years. Salinger and Tyrell met while pledging for the same fraternity they are a part of to this day. He became Salinger's closest pledge bro for a great many of reasons, but most of all, it was probably because they are both never ashamed nerds and honest people. Tyrell is also the first person Salinger ever considered truly his little brother. He is 6 feet tall and Portuguese. Tyrell is one of the most likable people Salinger has ever met. He always jokes around about how everyone loves Tyrell and sometimes, when he really pays attention, he can see it annoys Tyrell. He might say it to laugh, but he means it every time he says it. Everyone loves Tyrell, and with good reason. Even Sufjan doesn't dislike him.
“Well maybe if you’d answer your phones, we would have
waited.”
"You know I'm not good at replying and doing that stuff." After four years Tyrell still is the world's worst texter. Salinger doesn't mind too much, except when it is important. "Besides, my phone is dead."
Tyrell looked around at all the available beers.
"I'll drink!"
"You know I'm not good at replying and doing that stuff." After four years Tyrell still is the world's worst texter. Salinger doesn't mind too much, except when it is important. "Besides, my phone is dead."
Tyrell looked around at all the available beers.
"I'll drink!"
Jude
sat down next to Salinger, put one arm around him, and grabbed a beer. Tyrell sat next to Mitch and did the same. “It’s hard to answer
phone calls when you get so many. Ladies call, my brother, ladies call.” Jude
was always out with one girl or another, or sometimes two. They’re all surprised he
isn’t a father yet. Tyrell, however, was a committed man. He and his girlfriend have been together for a year. Jude and Tyrell are close, which Salinger greatly appreciates, and so they often accompany each other on missions even if Salinger's schedule proves busy.
“So, what’s up, fuckers?”
Inside his other three best friends slept. He had to remind everyone of this fact every
two minutes. It is two AM, Sunday just opened its eyes, and they’re not ready to
close theirs. They meet the days eye to eye as much as they could. His best friends he lives with, other than Jude and Tyrell, Riley Lynn, Caleb Faust, and Sufjan Nassif are fast asleep awaiting their Sunday morning.
“We should try and get Riley to have a beer with us. Think she'd be down?” Jude insisted. “Not Suffy though. I'm with you guys, I don't care much for him either.”
Sufjan is that best friend you have
in high school that all the girls forget you have a face because of. Admittedly
he’s a good looking guy that all his female friends, a few of his sisters, and
even some of his male friends fell for. Everything came easy to this guy in high
school. He had the girls, the grades, and the life. He has also known Sufjan for five years.
"Why isn't Riley out here anyways?" Tyrell asked.
"Why isn't Riley out here anyways?" Tyrell asked.
Riley is the best friend your mother always thought you were dating, even if you didn't stand a chance. She was beautiful, and he even liked her when he was younger. Her almond shaped eyes pulled in the boys and her wild attitude kept everyone guessing what she'd do next. Riley was the kind of girl everyone loved and every girl wanted to be. Riley was an energy that kept everyone going.
"She just broke up with her boyfriend. She isn't in the mood." Salinger responded.
Caleb is another best friend he met in college. Caleb is 5'11, blond, and blue eyed. Caleb is easy going, funny, and all around one of his favorite people to be around. When they first met, Caleb could not stand Salinger, but over time came around. Now they live with each other. When Salinger needs a serious talk about life or a more academic topic, Caleb is one of the few he calls on. College would have been a whole lot different without him.
"We're out of beer." Cody said in a disappointed tone.
"Good, it was shit light anyways!" Jude tossed the can on the floor.
"She just broke up with her boyfriend. She isn't in the mood." Salinger responded.
Caleb is another best friend he met in college. Caleb is 5'11, blond, and blue eyed. Caleb is easy going, funny, and all around one of his favorite people to be around. When they first met, Caleb could not stand Salinger, but over time came around. Now they live with each other. When Salinger needs a serious talk about life or a more academic topic, Caleb is one of the few he calls on. College would have been a whole lot different without him.
"We're out of beer." Cody said in a disappointed tone.
"Good, it was shit light anyways!" Jude tossed the can on the floor.
They all packed up their things and left after that because they had practice in the morning. Their first big show of their tour was five days from now and they had to be prepared. This was the show that would change their lives. Exactly what they've been working towards. It was now just Salinger, Jude, and Tyrell on the porch with their last two beers.
"Okay, maybe throwing my beer on the ground wasn't my best idea."
He turned to Salinger and Tyrell.
"Damage control. Come on, guys!"
"Go home, Jude, you're drunk." Tyrell yawned.
Jude stood up.
"Okay, maybe throwing my beer on the ground wasn't my best idea."
He turned to Salinger and Tyrell.
"Damage control. Come on, guys!"
"Go home, Jude, you're drunk." Tyrell yawned.
Jude stood up.
"Let's go buy more beer. I'm young and the nights younger, what do you say?"
"And do what?" Salinger.
"I don't know. Let's roam the streets." Jude.
"We'd get caught." Tyrell.
"Fuck Claremont police." Jude.
"I'm tired, Jude." Salinger.
"I just farted." Tyrell.
"I just farted." Tyrell.
"Come on," Jude.
Jude put his arm around him.
"Don't be boring like Sufia."
He stood up, causing Jude's arm to fall to his side.
"I'm just not up for being stupid right now."
Tyrell's face became annoyed.
"There's absolutely nothing wrong with being stupid."
Tyrell's face became annoyed.
"There's absolutely nothing wrong with being stupid."
Jude stood up as well.
"Think of it as fun. You've been too busy lately to have any. Am I right, Tyrell?"
Tyrell looked the other way.
"You, dickhole."
Salinger turned to the door.
"You, dickhole."
Salinger turned to the door.
"I'm calling it a night."
Tyrell finished his drink.
"I'm calling you an ass. I'm going out. Are you coming with?"
Tyrell walked towards Salinger.
"Naw dawg, I'm seeing my sister in a few hours. I have to at least get a little sleep."
Tyrell walked towards Salinger.
"Naw dawg, I'm seeing my sister in a few hours. I have to at least get a little sleep."
Jude began to walk down the driveway.
"Be safe, Jude. I'll see you tomorrow."
Jude flipped him off.
"Whatever, assholes."
He was gone. Jude, one way or another, was always gone.
"You think he'll be alright?" Salinger said concerned.
"I think so. He hasn't been too happy lately. You should talk to him."
"Don't you?"
"Yeah, but I'm not enough. Come on, Salinger, you of all people should know that it takes more than one."
Salinger shook his head.
"I started my next book today."
Tyrell shook his head in approval.
"What's this one about?"
Salinger felt the cold breeze dance across his body. Cold, despite his sweater. He looked up at the moon.
"All of us."
Tyrell stretched.
"So a book that never ends?"
"I suppose you can say that."
"What do you have written so far?"
Tyrell put his arm around him.
"Only one line. The second line is always the most difficult."
"Can I help inspire you? I mean, I did write a story about dinosaurs before."
Salinger shrugged.
"I recall. Well, why not? You've given me enough to write this book anyways."
Tyrell was confused.
"Really?" He said in the odd way he always does to questionable things.
"Ty, our lives are inspiration. Anyways, do you want to hear the first line?"
Tyrell was silent in approval. Salinger pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.
"Heavy hearts have great trouble with happiness."
Tyrell took it in before he spoke.
"More so the longer it lingers."
Salinger considered it.
"Heavy hearts have great trouble with happiness. More so the longer it lingers?"
His right eye twitched. Tyrell gave him an ugly face. He returned the favor.
"I love it. Thanks, brother."
"Ha, it's my story, too, remember? Just thought I'd pull my weight. Also, we should rewrite my dinosaur story someday."
"So long as I get to ride one of them."
"The dinosaur would be too big for you to ride!"
"I'll get like a really big saddle."
"Illogical! Can saddles really be that big?"
They laughed and went inside to their room. They shared a room large enough to hold two full beds and still have enough room for spontaneous dance parties. Tyrell fell asleep quickly but Salinger could not bring himself to do the same. He had writing on the mind and a brother out on the streets.
"Heavy hearts." He whispered to himself. Tyrell shot up quickly in his bed.
"Huh? What? I think it's going to be alright, guys. Just have another of those. Regards!"
If Salinger was a stranger he might have been terrified by this outburst. Instead he laughed, because he knew Tyrell this well. He raised his hand to the ceiling.
"Regards, Ty."
He fell asleep. Two hours later his phone began to vibrate on the floor. Jude was calling.
____________________________________________
"Maybe she thought today sucked?" Jude laughed. "Or she found out your pecker is tiny."
Salinger shoved Jude away.
"Well what else could be the explanation?" He grinned.
"I'd say those are two solid theories." Tyrell joined in.
Salinger gave him an ugly face.
"Did you make that face to her?" Tyrell responded.
Salinger flipped him off and then sat in the dirt. Jude and Tyrell sat next to him.
"You're not really that butthurt about this, are you?" Jude asked.
"The one that got away, right?"
"Or didn't exist. But yeah, got away." Salinger pushed them both away.
"Let's just make the best out of today, yeah?"
"Isn't that what we always do?" Tyrell extended his hand to them both to help them up.
"Fuck yeah we do!" Jude yelled.
"Fuck yeah." They each said.
Arm over each others shoulders they walked into the crowd. Salinger, despite how hard he tried, could not take his eyes off the Ferris Wheel. Just maybe, somewhere in the ocean of thousands of people, at this moment she was looking at it too.
Just maybe.
He was gone. Jude, one way or another, was always gone.
"You think he'll be alright?" Salinger said concerned.
"I think so. He hasn't been too happy lately. You should talk to him."
"Don't you?"
"Yeah, but I'm not enough. Come on, Salinger, you of all people should know that it takes more than one."
Salinger shook his head.
"I started my next book today."
Tyrell shook his head in approval.
"What's this one about?"
Salinger felt the cold breeze dance across his body. Cold, despite his sweater. He looked up at the moon.
"All of us."
Tyrell stretched.
"So a book that never ends?"
"I suppose you can say that."
"What do you have written so far?"
Tyrell put his arm around him.
"Only one line. The second line is always the most difficult."
"Can I help inspire you? I mean, I did write a story about dinosaurs before."
Salinger shrugged.
"I recall. Well, why not? You've given me enough to write this book anyways."
Tyrell was confused.
"Really?" He said in the odd way he always does to questionable things.
"Ty, our lives are inspiration. Anyways, do you want to hear the first line?"
Tyrell was silent in approval. Salinger pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.
"Heavy hearts have great trouble with happiness."
Tyrell took it in before he spoke.
"More so the longer it lingers."
Salinger considered it.
"Heavy hearts have great trouble with happiness. More so the longer it lingers?"
His right eye twitched. Tyrell gave him an ugly face. He returned the favor.
"I love it. Thanks, brother."
"Ha, it's my story, too, remember? Just thought I'd pull my weight. Also, we should rewrite my dinosaur story someday."
"So long as I get to ride one of them."
"The dinosaur would be too big for you to ride!"
"I'll get like a really big saddle."
"Illogical! Can saddles really be that big?"
They laughed and went inside to their room. They shared a room large enough to hold two full beds and still have enough room for spontaneous dance parties. Tyrell fell asleep quickly but Salinger could not bring himself to do the same. He had writing on the mind and a brother out on the streets.
"Heavy hearts." He whispered to himself. Tyrell shot up quickly in his bed.
"Huh? What? I think it's going to be alright, guys. Just have another of those. Regards!"
If Salinger was a stranger he might have been terrified by this outburst. Instead he laughed, because he knew Tyrell this well. He raised his hand to the ceiling.
"Regards, Ty."
He fell asleep. Two hours later his phone began to vibrate on the floor. Jude was calling.
____________________________________________
"Maybe she thought today sucked?" Jude laughed. "Or she found out your pecker is tiny."
Salinger shoved Jude away.
"Well what else could be the explanation?" He grinned.
"I'd say those are two solid theories." Tyrell joined in.
Salinger gave him an ugly face.
"Did you make that face to her?" Tyrell responded.
Salinger flipped him off and then sat in the dirt. Jude and Tyrell sat next to him.
"You're not really that butthurt about this, are you?" Jude asked.
"The one that got away, right?"
"Or didn't exist. But yeah, got away." Salinger pushed them both away.
"Let's just make the best out of today, yeah?"
"Isn't that what we always do?" Tyrell extended his hand to them both to help them up.
"Fuck yeah we do!" Jude yelled.
"Fuck yeah." They each said.
Arm over each others shoulders they walked into the crowd. Salinger, despite how hard he tried, could not take his eyes off the Ferris Wheel. Just maybe, somewhere in the ocean of thousands of people, at this moment she was looking at it too.
Just maybe.
They met at Coachella. He swears she exists. He just hasn't seen her since.
