CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 6
DYLAN BORNSTORM
DYLAN WAS NOT THERE FOR ANYTHING ELSE, he was on vacation from school and didn't even want to know about studying anymore.
He first started going to bars in the city center — practically every day. As he was not very eloquent in the first approach — his appearance didn't help much either — he sent little notes with poems by Shakespeare...
He knew that a lot of people didn't know his poems himself — because reading nowadays is no longer a habit for everyone, only for a lucky few like him.
The first night Dylan met a very shy girl named Mary Laine, she was blonde, tall, had a very low voice, was a very nice and intelligent person. It was strange, because he talked to her and people laughed at him.
At least she was fun... — he thought happily to himself.
They laughed a lot that night, but she wasn't like the other girls who frequented those places — a vulgar girl, with no familiar labels — she went to accompany her friend with her boyfriend, and as soon as she came to talk to me they disappeared from view and left alone with me.
What was a wonder...
The two spent hours and hours talking, in fact, they were the last to leave the bar that night. They left completely drunk, and laughed at everything and everyone, as if the world were the comedian and they were the spectators of the greatest show in the world.
When they arrived at her house, it was easy to kiss her, he wanted that as much as she did, but her parents woke up just in time "H", so Dylan decided to leave quickly so as not to cause her any inconvenience later, after all:
It's not every day I get to date a woman, especially like that one...
As he was completely drunk, he could barely walk and talk...
It was the first time I was drunk...
And that gave him countless falls until he got home — in fact, he doesn't even know how he got there.
His mom and dad were almost crazy with so much worry about him, Dylan didn't even remember all the lecture he got that night, he just heard... he had completely lost track of everything that was going on around him.
Dylan slept until three o'clock the next day.
My head felt like it was going to explode... I felt like a bell being tolled by the clapper...
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HAD A WHOLE LIFE "a politically correct life" every day he'd lived up to that point, even Dylan thought he had really gone overboard this time.
But I loved it...
As soon as his migraine headache subsided, Dylan went over to Mary Laine's house to talk about last night — because Dylan had loved the conversation and everything else that had happened, it had been really wonderful, and he was looking forward to it. to have a second dose of happiness after everything he had been through.
But it was very strange and unusual...
A true surreal dream...
Dylan arrived at his house, rang the doorbell and a sweet lady came out who said that no Mary lived there.
Dylan insisted:
— I left her here this morning.
She said:
— Sorry, young man, but what I had was a young man completely intoxicated talking to himself at my door, with the complete conviction that he was talking to someone, but as this is a normal thing in young people these days, I didn't give much thought to the fact...
Dylan thanked him kindly and left.
There wasn't much for him to do, or the lady was hiding the game, or Mary Laine was another one of his countless fantasies, maybe a girl he'd dreamed of all his life. She had a lot of Monique if you look at it, wore the same clothes, spoke softly in the same way as she did — when he met her, she was very shy.
It was really hard to believe that she didn't exist, that she was part of his collection of imaginary friends.
I felt like a complete idiot...
More than I ever was...
THE NEXT NIGHT, DYLAN decided to go again to the same bar where he had met Mary Laine, she was there but pretended she didn't even know him. However, Dylan met another girl named Nadja Ballie, she was black, she had fantastically beautiful skin, Dylan had never seen a black woman as beautiful as her...
If there was a black woman as beautiful as her... that's cool... maybe Naomi Campbell... apart from that exception, maybe none...
We were talking at the corner table, it seemed like no one had noticed us this time...
But how? — I thought — A woman as beautiful as she and no one sees her? But she wanted company, regardless of whether others saw her or not...
Nadja knew a lot about fashion, taught a lot of things, made Dylan dress much better, cut his hair in a more modern way — at that time it was too long and hid his face.
They left for almost a month without telling anyone.
Dylan discovered that she didn't exist either when he introduced her to his mother.
She said:
— You are very beautiful, dear, I love your green eyes...
Dylan immediately realized that Nadja was also a figment of my entire imagination.
The feeling of frustration was inevitable, he really wanted her to be real, she seemed too perfect, a person who made him feel like a normal person again, with normal habits...
Just like Monique made me feel...
Dylan decided never to go to that little bar again, he was having bad luck...
DYLAN STARTED FREQUENTLY ATTENDING numerous bars downtown. He met countless girls.
The new girl was called Juliane Smith, and she was studying Communications and Marketing:
She talked a lot... my God...
She was very pretty too — not as beautiful as Nadja — no one was prettier than her, not even Monique — but she was really very pretty and attentive, she made a point of knowing if he was really okay, Dylan realized it was more of a virtue than Monique had it too.
Even though this coincidence was strange, they went out for two weeks.
Dylan went to a nightclub:
I was going crazy again...
All the girls Dylan went out with had something of Monique, like she was the one who had entered his mind, not making him forget...
Despite desperately wanting this...
WHEN DYLAN MEET Camille Mond, it was a total embarrassment, she was sitting in front of the bartender and Dylan offered her a drink, but the guy said no one was there. Dylan told him to give him the drink anyway, as he would drink for her — once again his mind tricked him with the false promise of new love.
Camille had the same smile as Monique...
Dylan left that bar, leaned against the door of a closed establishment and began to cry desperately because of everything he was living, he felt like a prisoner in himself.
he doesn't know why that exactly she was crying, a specific reason, but it felt like she needed to do that, it was as if life was losing its meaning and she was looking in the wrong place.
That's when a girl named Carol Battz appeared.
— Are you feeling good? — She asked — do you need anything?
— I'm feeling fine — I said to her wiping the tears from my face — it's just a little loneliness, that's all...
— If that's all it is, won't you mind if I walk you home? — After all, my boyfriend just dumped me and I need company too.
They were talking all the way to his house.
She was a very pleasant, affectionate person, Dylan never saw her again, he couldn't even tell if she was real or more a figment of his fertile imagination, but it seemed that suddenly he needed to open up to someone, talk about how he was doing. feeling...
She came like an angel into my life...
Dylan did a great job talking to her, she was a friend that since high school — when Monique and I didn't let go of the friendship we had with each other.
That's what killed me inside, she also had a lot of Monique's qualities, but I'll never know if she was real or an imagination.
The next day, Dylan woke up feeling much better. Feeling like a new man, full of disposition.
That morning, his brother announced to the entire family that he was getting married, as his fiancée was pregnant. It was a total happiness for the whole family — especially for him, Dylan always rooted for his brother's happiness — in a way, he had been waiting for this for a long time, since they had sex practically every day, and he was forced to listen to everything — since I slept in the room next to his — but even so, Dylan was extremely happy with the news...
Despite everything, he deserved to be happy...
Dylan greeted the two lovebirds and wished them all the blessings a first— time uncle could bestow.
Dylan was a little stunned.
I... uncle? I'm getting old already... — I said to myself.
DYLAN WAS ALMOST A MONTH without going to downtown bars, he was happy with the news of his brother's wedding, and worked hard at the party.
It was a very beautiful party — it was in the backyard of her house — with beautiful white arrangements made by the bride's family.
He himself sang at the party and at the celebration, which caught everyone's attention...
Nobody knew he sang... especially like that...
Even he didn't really believe that, only Monique knew he could sing — whether he sang well or not, it was up to others to say and not him —, she was very insistent that Dylan sing more and more, play small shows, but he never took it to heart. seriously, until the moment when his brother cried hugging him and asked for forgiveness for everything he had done and for having given them the best marriage they could have or dream of.
Dylan didn't even know if he was really his brother, or an imaginary friend posing as his brother, but he was happy for him, he never had anger or hatred, he was a good person — Dylan knew that — he just hung out with the wrong people, and after he started dating, he was an exemplary brother to him...
During the party, Dylan met many influential people, as his brother had already played guitar with some people, many of them even joked that he was the complete opposite of what they had always heard around.
David Heringer came to her side unpretentiously and asked:
— Nice sound you made...
— Thanks, aren't you the guy who played with my brother?
— David Heringer — he said with a sly smile — nice to meet you.
— David... man... what a pleasure to see you again... man... that's really cool...
Dylan squeezed his hand and then gave him a bear hug, lifting him up with excitement.
— It's ok, man, I missed you too — they laughed — are you up to sing in my band?
— I? Sing? I don't think so, you're professionals, I don't think it gets that far...
— I think if you want to, you can go further.
AFTER THE WEDDING AND THE HONEYMOON, his brother called saying that he had talked to David and insisted that he talk to him and that he would love for him to sing with them, he was really in awe of his timbre of voice.
Dylan accepted the invitation, but without commitment, he never saw himself as a professional singer, but it was one of the best experiences he could have in his entire life.
His mother didn't like the idea at all — as she knew he would drop out of college because of it. Dylan said no, and actually managed to stay in college — for a short time — for a year it was fine...
But later...
IN THIS ONE YEAR, many cool things have happened in your life.
As they only played in the city, it was quiet, not even I knew I could be so successful with girls.
Billy — the band's lead guitarist, introduced a girl named Dannie Schurmann — a traffic— stopping blonde — she was too cocky for him — not to mention too flirty — but even so Dylan invested everything in that relationship.
What's wrong with going out with a real girl for once in your life?
Dannie was already insinuating herself.
They went out a few times, she was the first "real" girl he'd had by his side since Monique.
Her mother didn't like her at all, her father — he already liked her too much — he didn't even imagine that a few months later, Dannie would be the main factor in their separation.
They dated for almost two months, but she wasn't smart at all, she didn't have pleasant conversations or anything, they just talked about music and sex, it was the only language she knew, and that Dylan hated about her...
Like it or not, her illusions about perfect girls changed over time, at least she talked about less unpleasant things with me, I mean...
At least she talked to me...
Dylan broke up with her after he discovered by accident that she was dating his father, as his father suddenly became a regular at the band's concerts. David always told him to open his eyes about it.
Has he never really liked music "especially rock" all of a sudden starts going to every concert?
Until the day Dylan caught him in her dressing room with her, both of them stark naked with her father pounding into her effusively.
He asked not to say anything to his mother, and really Dylan didn't say anything after all:
That was none of my business...
Which wasn't the same thought his mother had—since, when she was nervous, she took it out on him, that it was her fault for their separation, but then she apologized and was calm again.
DYLAN MEET ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, a skinny brunette named Janine Horky. That's when Billy asked who he was talking to.
Dylan pretended he was staging a play he was writing...
I was just practicing some scene... — I told him.
When Dylan turned to the side, the girl was gone.
In a way he found that a relief, but deep down, Dylan really wanted her to be real...
I no longer knew who was real or not...
Several times Billy and David caught him talking to himself and Dylan made the same excuse, but they liked me a lot and liked him a lot more than his brother, but he never said anything about it.
Billy once said that if he didn't let go of the band, he could be friends with whoever he wanted, even his imagination — and he really was like that —, for Billy only two things mattered in life...
Women and the band...
Not necessarily in that order, but that was all in his life.
In the band, Dylan was only friends with him and David, the other members were all married and had their families accompanying the band, so... it was something very professional. Dylan and Billy didn't... go out with every woman that came our way. He stayed closer to him, so he had no problem going out with an illusion created by his mind, but often it didn't help much, after all, when Billy drank too much he saw many more imaginary people than Dylan.
Even though he was single, David was already a little better behaved, not because he was the son of shepherds, David and even less Dylan didn't care about that, they were both too good for him, and that was the least of his problems, but David he was kind of quiet, he liked being on stage and nothing else, he was the angel in his ear, while Billy was the devil. Usually the devil won the war.
Although some girls seemed more like a dream than reality — they were so beautiful — they were all together, they became very good friends, to the point of considering themselves blood brothers after a pact they made by pricking their finger.
THE BAND DID VERY WELL for Dylan, he went several months without seeing anyone unreal, he was too busy with the shows, rehearsals, and even more, his nephew had been born — he had almost forgotten this little detail.
Michael called him Jonathan, he was a beautiful baby, as far as possible, his brother came to all our shows.
Dylan didn't know if Billy's company was good or bad, as he was back to normal, but at the same time, he'd become just like those guys in high school, who went out with all the girls and didn't care about anything else, but Dylan knew he wasn't like them...
At least I thought so...
Dylan always wanted true love in his life, he mirrored himself in David's family, but seeing his father go out with his ex "girlfriend" and he didn't even care about his mother anymore — it saddened him a lot, that way, he ended up looking more at the Billy's follies than the wisdom of David.
Maybe this band thing had been a bad idea, but now it didn't help anymore, he was enjoying it too much — it became an addiction —, this thing of having all the girls he wanted, meeting new places, new people, everything he didn't have. enjoyed in his teens and was enjoying it now, after all:
I also deserved a little happiness...
AFTER SO MANY YEARS of humiliation and selfishness on the part of my classmates, it was now your turn to take the podium.
When Dylan told Billy about his life, he laughed a lot, saying that it had been like that with him too, but when he started playing guitar it was completely different, girls were attracted to guitarists and vocalists, it was amazing...
And worst of all, he was right...
The girls didn't even care about the rest of the band — even if they weren't married — they just came after the three of us — like a magnet that clings to metal.
It was a time I barely even saw it go by.
Dylan and Billy made fun of David saying that he should be a fag for not liking women, but if he wanted to go out with a guy, it was for him not to worry, the friendship would continue regardless of sexual options, the important thing was to love...
David always played dumb about those silly jokes and went on with life as if nothing had happened, he knew that offstage someone special was waiting for him, and it wouldn't take long.
BY THE END of the year, his college grades were the most terrible, Dylan had never gotten a red grade in his life. That's when he decided to stop enrolling in college and embark on the music world.
Billy threw a party because of it, but his mother nearly had a heart attack.
She just kept talking...
I knew this band thing would ruin your future... I knew... I knew... and bla-bla-bla... and ti-ti-ti...
As remorseful as Dylan felt to see his mother in that state, and with good reason — since his brother was married, his father was seeing Dannie and didn't even care about her anymore. Dylan didn't even stay at home anymore, he always made a lame excuse that he was traveling, this and that, but he couldn't stay at home in that weather anymore, his mother had a knack for ruining his day when she was nervous, and lately she just lived nervous.
Dylan decided to move in with Billy.
Billy said he had a nice room for him in the apartment, and that it would be great if they lived together, because then it would be a real big party.
And really that was all he said.
Dylan never saw Billy go out with the same girl twice, nor did David go out with a single girl, Billy was the most woman fanatic on the face of the earth, whatever, white, black, Asian — he had a fall for Asians.
Billy wore some weird stuff, but Dylan hadn't used it yet, didn't think he was ready for that. But when it came to women, Dylan wanted to take advantage of what fame had given him, and embarked on that life with his crazy friend.
Dylan had never had the thrill of having so many real people around him and now he had them, he just couldn't tell if it was doing more good than harm...
One day, Paul Wilkinson — the band's bassist — warned him not to go headfirst into that life he was entering, as many could not resist, and he would not be the first to be so lucky...
Since I was starting early...
Dylan told him he knew where he was going.
Worst of all, the friend was right... and as usual, Dylan was wrong.