Disneyland?
I get out of my car, taken aback. It’s the last thing I would have thought of.
It seems to be the happiest place in the world, observes Damen, laughing. You do not know ?
I shake my head no.
Awesome ! I will be your guide, then.
He puts his arm through mine and leads me towards the entrance, and
As we walk down Main Street, I try to imagine that Damen has been here before. He’s so handsome, sophisticated and sexy that it’s hard to imagine him wandering around this place where Mickey reigns supreme.
It’s better during the week, there are fewer people, he says as he crosses the street. Come, I’ll show you New Orleans, it’s my favorite place.
I stop, surprised.
You come often ? I thought you moved in since then
little ?
It’s true, he confirms, looking happy. But one does not prevent the other.
He takes me to see the Haunted House. After which we are going to take a trip to the Pirates of the Caribbean.
Which do you prefer ? he asks as he comes out.
Um… Pirates, I think. Well, maybe both. But
in the Pirates, there is Johnny Depp, so obviously that’s a big advantage, right?
Johnny Depp? Talk about a rival!
With his dark jeans, long-sleeved black t-shirt and boots, he outshines every actor I know, but I don’t
I would admit it for nothing in the world.
We go back ? he suggests, his eyes shining.
So we’re going back. Then, we go back to the Haunted House.
At the end, when the ghosts invite themselves into the cars, I almost expect to see Riley insert himself between us with his
grimaces and other clowning. But no, it’s just a cartoon ghost. I suddenly remember that Riley told me about a date. She has other fish to fry.
Later, we sit at the water’s edge, at Blue Bayou, the Pirates’ restaurant. I take a sip of iced tea.
It’s a very large park with a little more than two ghost or pirate attractions, right?
It seems, yes, he said, handing me a squid with the end of his fork. Before, there was one called Mission to Mars. It was a favorite among lovers, because it was completely in the dark.
Does it still exist? I said, blushing like a tomato. Well, I don’t want to go there. It’s just out of curiosity.
Damen looks at me with an amused look.
No, it closed a long time ago.
I stick my fork into a stuffed mushroom, hoping it won’t be too bad.
So, like that, you went on the lovers’ ride when you were… let’s see… two years old?
He bursts out laughing.
No, it was way before.
Normally, this is the kind of place I avoid like the
plague. It’s teeming with people, with energy going in all directions,
auras that get tangled, thoughts that wander. But with
Damn, it’s different. It’s easy and very pleasant. All it takes is for him to touch me or speak to me for us to be alone in the world.
After lunch, we tour the park visiting
all attractions, except those where you risk being sprayed. As night falls, Damen takes me to Sleeping Beauty Castle, and we sit near the moat to watch the fireworks, which will soon begin.
He wraps an arm around my waist and gently nips my neck.
So, am I forgiven? he whispers in my ear.
The roar of the fireworks seems far away as Damen hugs me and his lips seek mine.
You see ?
With his finger, he points to the dark sky where purple wheels, silver waterfalls, golden fountains,
pink chrysanthemums. The explosions follow one another at such a pace that the ground trembles beneath our feet.
He hugs me and whispers in my ear:
The party is over.
And Tinkerbell is gone? I say as we walk back to the parking lot, hand in hand.
I sit in my Miata and smile at him when he pokes his head out the door.
There will be more days like this, I promise. Next time we will go to California Adventure.
I thought we had just experienced one, a Californian adventure!
It’s incredible, but he always guesses what I’m thinking.
I follow you, like on the way there? I said, turning on the ignition.
No, this time it’s my turn. I want to make sure you get home safely.
I pull out of the parking lot and onto the highway to head home, ecstatic when I see Damen in my rearview mirror. I have a boyfriend !
Super cute, sexy, intelligent, cute! With whom I feel normal.
With whom I forget that I am not.
I take my new Mickey sweatshirt out of its plastic bag,
placed on the passenger seat, and caresses the image of the little mouse with his finger. Damen chose it, holding it up in front of me to check the size.
You see, it doesn’t have a hood, he pointed out to me. I looked in the mirror and wondered if he hated my look as much as Riley said.
So what ? I asked.
What do you want me to tell you ? I like you better without a hood.
The memory of the kiss exchanged while we made the
line at the checkout – his warm, soft lips on mine – still haunts me.
And when my phone rings, I glance in the rearview mirror and see that Damen has his phone pressed to his ear.
Hello, you, I said in a deep and sensual voice.
Forget it, Haven said. Sorry to disappoint you, but it’s just me.
Ah, hello, how are you?
I flash to alert Damen that I’m changing lanes. He is no longer behind me.
With my eyes glued to the interior and exterior mirrors, I
scans the four lanes of the highway, but there is no longer any trace of Damen.
Hey! Are you listening to me, yes or no? Haven looks pretty pissed.
I slow down and turn my head hoping to spot the BMW
black from Damen. A huge truck passes me. The driver honks his horn and makes an obscene gesture at me. Charming.
Excuse me, were you saying?
I told you that Evangeline disappeared!
What do you mean, “disappeared”?
I wait until the last second to take the highway exit, but still no Damen. However, I am certain that he did not overtake me.
I tried to call her several times, but she doesn’t answer, Haven continues.
And… ?
I can’t wait to get his story over with so I can focus on the disappearance that concerns me.
And that’s not all. She doesn’t answer her cell phone or at home, and no one has seen her since Halloween!
Really ?
I check the mirrors, turn my head in all directions, but still nothing.
Didn’t she come home with you?
Um… not exactly, Haven replies in a strangled voice.
I end up giving up. I promise to call Damen on
his cell phone to find out, as soon as I’m done with Haven.
You listen to me, yes? Haven screams. If you’re too busy, just say so. I can always call Miles, you know.
I take a deep breath to keep calm and take the
left lane, determined to rush to get home as quickly as possible.
Haven, excuse me, but I’m driving, and I’m having trouble concentrating. And then we both know perfectly well that Miles is at his drama class, and otherwise you wouldn’t have called me, would you?
Yes, well, Haven mutters. Anyway, what I didn’t tell you is that Drina and I actually left without her.
What ?
You know, at Nocturne. She just disappeared. We looked everywhere for her, but we couldn’t find her. So we thought she had met a guy, which was plausible, and then we ended up leaving.
Did you leave her in LA? On Halloween night? When all the weirdos in town are out?
I have barely said these words when I see the scene: the three of them
in a super dark and frankly shady club, Drina dragging Haven into the VIP room, abandoning Evangeline on purpose. Afterwards, I don’t see anything – no man, anyway.
What did you want us to do? She’s an adult, let me tell you, and she does what she wants. Drina said she would keep an eye on her, but she lost sight of her. I just spoke with her on the phone, she is terribly angry.
I don’t believe a word of it. Drina isn’t the type to be remorseful, or to feel anything, really.
Drina blames herself?
You don’t believe it, do you? But you don’t even know her.
I press the accelerator, firstly because I know that there is
no radar there, and secondly because I would like to leave all this history behind me – Haven, Drina, Evangeline and
the strange disappearance of Damen – even if I know it’s illusory. I lift my foot to reduce my speed.
Sorry, I said.
Good. Listen, I feel bad. I do not know what to do.
Did you call his parents? I say, even though I know the answer in advance.
Her mother is a serious alcoholic who lives in Arizona, and her father left before she was born. Its owner is waiting for his belongings to be cleared out to re-rent the apartment. She was reported missing to the police, but they didn’t seem to take her seriously.
I know, I said, turning on my headlights to illuminate the canyon road.
What do you mean, you “know”?
I mean: I understand how you feel. Haven sighs.
Where are you ? We didn’t see you at lunch.
On the road to Laguna Canyon, I’m coming back from Disneyland. Damen took me there.
Really ? Hey, that’s weird! Haven exclaims.
I quite agree with her, I still can’t get over
to the idea of Damen having fun in Mickey’s kingdom, even if I saw it with my own eyes.
Is not it ?
No, what I mean is that Drina was there too. She
explained to me that she hadn’t been there in years and wanted to see if it had changed. That’s crazy, isn’t it? You do not
haven’t met her?
Uh no.
I try to keep my voice normal despite the knot in my stomach, my sweaty palms and the panic that overwhelms me.
Oh well, it’s funny. Mind you, it’s so big, and there’s such a crowd…
Yes, it’s true. Listen, I have to leave you now. See you tomorrow.
I hang up without giving him time to answer and stop on the side of the road. I look at my call list to find Damen’s number and slap the steering wheel when I see it displayed.
” private number “.
Funny boyfriend, whose number I don’t have and don’t even know
where he lives…
