It was their last appearance on the radio show, and Belinda hoped someone would win concert tickets. Theorists were still far from sure, but now that the single was ready and distribution was about to begin, she was more relaxed. They had worked extensively with the producer in the studio, and during the process, the song had changed significantly from the original, having added effects that made it more commercial. She didn't care that it wasn't similar to the original: it would always be Bill's.
At a nod from Albert, she put on her headphones, and live on air they heard the first phone calls, with the audience asking to speak to them.
The listeners were very knowledgeable, and some speculated about her, linking her to some interesting emerging rock voices on the internet, while identifying Tom was still a long way off.
"Go whenever you want, buddy!" the DJ exclaimed in a friendly tone to the person on the phone.
"I think I know who your Fairy is!" began a voice speaking English. "She looks a lot like an old friend of mine… Don't you, Luna?"
The voice coming through the headphones made Belinda turn brutally pale, planting her feet on the floor to maintain control.
"Alex," she whispered in shock, putting a hand over her mouth.
She cast a frightened look at Bill, who quickly removed his headphones and rushed into the booth. Belinda waved him away.
Albert looked at them, bewildered, but quickly returned to the call.
"Oh yeah?" he said into the microphone. "And who is that? Can you give us more specific directions?"
"I'll give you all the information you ask for, Albert… as long as you let me speak to her live," the boy sneered. "Will you put her through to me, please?"
"She's not in the booth right now, but I could have her called." He stalled. "What can you tell me about her? You said her name was Luna; As far as I know, that's not her name."
"No, that's the nickname I gave her. You know, she was special to me, do you want to know why?" Alex asked in a soft voice.
"If you want to say it..." Albert, sensing something off, glanced at the control room, unsure whether to hang up, but Belinda motioned for him to continue.
"Make her stop!" Bill hissed, pulling her headphones away.
"No, you don't know Alex!" she said softly. "If he found out I'm here, he could be out here too! Let's see what he wants."
Bill took her face in his hands. "But he might say unpleasant things to you on air!"
"He won't do anything, don't worry. It's his style to be very dramatic," she reassured him, caressing his hands.
She quickly wrote a sentence on a piece of paper and passed it to Albert: "Let him talk, don't hang up: he's a psychopath!"
"Belinda is her real name," Alex continued, following his thoughts. "She was as distant as the moon, beautiful and cold... I had the chance to have her all to myself, but fate snatched her away from me in a cruel game."
She was playing the victim! Belinda was blinded by rage, put her headphones back on, and, taking the microphone, blurted out in English: "It wasn't fate that snatched her away from you, Alex, just a well-placed kick in the stomach!"
Bill stared at her, astonished.
"Luna!" exclaimed the listener, happy to have her attention. "So you've arrived, huh, naughty girl?"
"I couldn't miss this call, could I?" she replied sarcastically.
"No, you can't miss your appointment with your destiny," the boy muttered in response.
"Can I ask you something, Alex?"
"Sure, I told you: you're my Moon and you can ask me anything," he whispered slowly.
"Do you want to enter the contest?"
"Huh? No, what the hell… I don't like the way your new boyfriend sings, and I certainly don't want to come hear him!" he replied excitedly.
"Then let's talk on another line. We have a lot to talk about, don't you think?" He gestured to the director.
"Sure, honey, I'll call you on your phone. Let's leave these idiots to go crazy trying to figure out who you are." He laughed. "They'll never find you anyway. I, on the other hand, always know where to find you."
"No, wait, hold on. I don't have a cell phone, wait, I'll get another phone here!" Belinda replied and, asking Albert to play the commercial, walked away, followed by a furious Bill.
"Just ask where it is, then hang up, okay?" he said, taking her by the arm.
"It's not that easy, you don't know him..." the girl began, trying to gather her thoughts.
Bill snorted resentfully. "Bel!"
"Let's see what he wants, okay?" she tried to reassure him, lightly caressing his face.
She moved to the control room where she put the call through to her headphones, while Bill, Tom, and Naomi also put on headphones so as not to miss a single word of the conversation.
"Don't make this bastard speak Italian!" Bill hissed in her ear. "I have to understand every word he says to you, okay?"
She nodded, while Naomi only held part of the headset, since Tom was having trouble understanding the language.
Taking the microphone, Belinda began: "Hello?"
"Why are you speaking English, Luna?"
"Maybe because I want to forget the past, and a new language seems easier. But you haven't lost your sexy Anglo-Saxon accent, either.
"You were teasing me; you said I looked like a lord with that way of rolling the S!" he muttered, but I could tell he was pleased.
"It also reminds me of how touchy you are." Belinda laughed flirtatiously. "But maybe I already told you that that accent of yours made you much more charming, especially when you sang. I haven't found it in any other guy."
Bill gave her a dirty look. She continued: "That's what I've always liked about you. If it hadn't been for what happened, you would have been one of the greatest artists I've ever known."
"Really? No, you never told me that." Alex looked surprised.
"And didn't I even tell you that I've been on the verge of shouting from the stage at a concert several times: 'Hey ladies, this amazing guy is my boyfriend'?"
"Were you proud of me?"
"Why are you surprised? After all, if it weren't for your talent, we wouldn't have gotten anywhere." Belinda sighed. "Even Pixi said that."
Naomi glared at her, gesturing with her hands to ask if she was crazy, but Belinda made it clear she'd explain later.
"What a sweet girl!" Alex commented. "I was convinced she didn't like me, but why are you only telling me now?"
"You know, I rehearsed for the song and suddenly I realized I missed your voice. Between you and me, the guy who sings with me is a total loser!"
Tom, at Naomi's translation, looked offended. "Well, he could have said that to my face instead of behind my back and in another language!"
Belinda tried to remain serious as she continued her charade.
"Did you sign a contract, Luna?" Alex suddenly asked her.
"No, of course not. I'm waiting for my father to get here. You know he takes care of everything," he replied, making up a merciful lie.
"He's always had his say," the boy commented annoyed. "But now you're an adult and you can decide for yourself."
"Yes, but I can't just give up everything. These people might sue me... And besides, where can I find someone to sing with me, just like that?"
"I can give you a hand, if you want," he offered in a soothing voice. "The song is yours, right?"
"Yes, but why would you do that? After all the bad things I said to you?" he murmured in a stinging voice.
"I know you were just mad because I didn't hear from you for so long," Alex replied in a forgiving tone. "And then, when I called you back, I scared you with my usual attitude. I'm sorry, baby, I'll make it up to you."
Naomi put her hands around her neck, threatening to strangle her if she didn't hang up, but she continued undaunted.
"You'll have to try seriously this time."
Bill's murderous glances threatened to make her laugh, but she looked pained.
"Then I'll make up for it right away," the voice in her headphones said. "Are you coming to me, Luna?"
"Should I leave for Italy now?" she asked, perplexed.
"No, honey, I'm here with you."
"Really?" she exclaimed in a shrill voice, halfway between fear and enthusiasm.
Bill glared at her, yanking the microphone out of her hands.
"That's enough!" he hissed in her ear. "I don't know what you're thinking, but I don't like it!"
With a sharp gesture, Belinda yanked and took the microphone back, whispering, "Alex, honey, they don't want me to keep using their phone line. Where can we meet?"
"No!" Bill shouted, trying to take the headphones off her, but she struggled, waiting for his answer.
"Just outside the studios there's a little square with a bar, I'll be there," the boy replied in a whisper.
"I'll free myself and come!" Belinda ended the call.
"You're crazy!" Bill shouted at her, angrily. "You're not going!"
"With everything we did to keep you away from him," Naomi began.
"What are you saying?" Belinda asked, standing up. "What did you do?"
"I hid your phone and stopped you from reading the papers!" her sister snapped.
"Why?" she asked, surprised. "What were you trying to hide from me?"
Naomi pursed her lips stubbornly, but Belinda grabbed her by the arms, shaking her. "Tinkerbell, I'll ring you like a bell if you don't answer!" she threatened. "Tell me everything!"
"It was Mom who told us not to tell you anything!" her sister snorted, annoyed. "When she called you that morning, it was to tell you that Alex had run away and she suspected he was coming here."
"You knew?" Belinda asked Bill. "And you didn't tell me anything?"
"I agreed with your mother. We had to keep you safe, and I did," he replied seriously.
"So everything that happened after that was a setup to keep you from running away?" He clenched his fists, his cheeks red with anger.
"No!" Bill denied firmly, waiting for his reaction.
Belinda stared at him intently and wondered whether to believe him: after everything that had happened in the last week, did she have to lose him like this?
Her heart screamed no, and, inhaling, she admitted she had to trust him.
"Okay, Bill, I'll believe you this time," she said resolutely. "But now you have to trust me, too."
He shook his head. "We won't let you go, Bel! I won't let that creep hurt you again. Let's call the police and tell them where he is, they'll take care of him!"
"He'll run away again, I know him!"
Belinda looked at them carefully and then resolutely agreed: "Call the police, tell them where I am, and mention that Alex is a fugitive wanted in Italy. But don't come with me, Bill, please! Stay safe here, I'll be back as soon as I'm finished."
"No..." Naomi began.
"Yes! If you love me, you have to do it now!" Belinda smiled, squeezing her sister's hands. "We have to put an end to this."
She looked at the boys and quickly hugged Bill, giving him a sweet kiss on the lips.
"He won't hurt me, I promise. But you have to be quick, please!"
She headed for the door, but hands tried to hold her back.
"You won't stop me," she laughed fondly. "I can knock you both out in one fell swoop, but I don't want to. I need your help."
She quickly freed herself and cast a final glance at Bill.
"If you really love me, protect me," she begged, and, opening the door, she ran away.
Her heart pounding, she headed for the gates, praying that her sister and the others wouldn't hesitate, because she couldn't know how far Alex might go.
She'd been confident he wouldn't hurt her, but she wasn't entirely sure. His voice on the phone had sounded excited, and she couldn't tell if he was experiencing withdrawal or had taken some substance.
Belinda slowed slightly when she saw the square in the distance; there was a terrace with tables in one corner; people were sitting there sipping drinks, but she couldn't recognize Alex.
She tried to steady her breathing, despite the heat and anxiety causing hot flashes in her back. She slowly approached the tables, scanning the crowd for the boy's face.
"Hi, Luna!" a deep voice called from behind an open newspaper.
Belinda turned to look, puzzled. She spotted a man with a thick blond beard, his hair a little longer in the front, hidden under a white Panama hat and a light, well-made white suit. Dark glasses completed the look.
She struggled to recognize the boy, whom she hadn't seen for a year, in this well-dressed stranger with a slightly husky voice who looked at her with a smile.
Slowly, the man lowered his dark glasses, and the green of his irises shone in all its brilliance.
Alex had always had incredibly beautiful eyes, a bright green very close to the color of a spring meadow, and a slightly exotic shape.
"It's me!" He laughed, seeing her puzzled and standing in the middle of the sidewalk. "Don't you recognize me?"
"But you don't look like yourself anymore!" she said, disconcerted, surprised by this new change. "I certainly wouldn't have recognized you."
He smiled flatteredly and motioned for her to sit at the table.
"You're more beautiful," he noted, staring at her long hair that fell in soft locks around her face. "You've grown up."
"Don't get me wrong, or I'll really think so." Belinda laughed, continuing to study his face. "But, really, a lot of things change in a year."
"Yeah..." the boy confirmed, lingering on her face, as if thirsty to fix her features in his mind. "I missed you, Luna."
Belinda lowered her eyes uncomfortably.
"So, was the Erasmus thing true?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Of course. I just didn't find a good offer and was thinking of going back to Italy." She nodded, returning her gaze to him. "I'll try in Milan. Maybe they have some interesting plans."
She tried to keep the conversation light-hearted, so as not to irritate him and try to figure out who this new guy was. One thing she was sure of: it would have been better not to meet him on her first phone call, because she would have felt fragile and lost, and Alex would have taken advantage of it.
I have to thank Bill for making me fall in love with him. He's shielding me from myself and my emotions, she said, reassured.
"And how did the music contest project come about?" he asked in a feigned disinterested tone.
She'd been expecting that question and had prepared a story to tell him, but she had to lie convincingly.
"Oh, that's my sister's fault," she laughed, amused. "You know she's crazy about Scream. She found a flyer on the noticeboard at a concert looking for new and original voices to audition and sent in my demo. When they called me, I was completely blown away!"
He shook his head, as if reliving the incident, while looking for other topics to continue.
"And the song you wrote? Who was it for?" Alex leaned forward and took her hands.
"Guess what?" Belinda grimaced.
"You didn't really want it to end like this, did you?" he asked with a warm smile.
"No!" she blurted out, irritated, freeing her hands. "I didn't want to keep thinking about you, despite what you'd done to me."
"You're right, baby, I'm sorry," Alex said caressingly. "Look at me, Luna, please."
Belinda looked up at him, wondering why she couldn't feel the old magic that had once completely captivated her. Now, in her mind, she saw only two green eyes staring at her with concern.
"I didn't mean to hurt you, I never would! Unfortunately, I wasn't myself that night. Can you forgive me?"
She had lived months hoping to hear those words, but now they no longer meant anything to her.
She shook her head, resolute. "I don't think so, Alex. I'm sorry."
"You're a tough cookie!" the boy chuckled. "What can I do to convince you?"
"Do you know why I came here today, Alex?" Belinda looked at him thoughtfully.
"To talk about how great we'll be together and record a great musical hit?" he replied with a smile, winking.
"No. I came to see if you still scared me or if I had feelings for you." He sighed. "But, fortunately, neither… I'm sorry, but you won't ruin my dreams anymore."
She stood up and started to walk away, but he caught her wrist.
"You're not leaving me again, Luna!" he hissed in her ear. "Now I'm taking you away with me."
Belinda burst out laughing, even though she wasn't amused at all.
"What? Will you carry me on your shoulder like a sack of potatoes?"
Behind the boy, two men stood up and turned to look at her, silently.
"I could scream," she ventured, but she had a feeling those two wouldn't help her.
"You try." Alex laughed slyly. "Let's see how many people come running."
A sheen of sweat beaded on Belinda's forehead as he continued speaking.
"You know, I was surprised you agreed to see me. Yes, I was pleased, but you never compromise, and I thought it strange that you'd changed your mind. But I have to say, I was hoping a little."
"I'm still a terrible liar, aren't I?" She smiled with a tired grimace, remembering Bill when he'd pointed it out.
"No, you're almost good, but I know you: my Luna never compromises, she only follows her heart."
Belinda desperately searched for a way to escape, but she still saw no one who could help her. She sighed desolately.
"Can I at least get a drink? My throat is burning." She tried to stall, waiting for unexpected help that she herself had foolishly refused. "There's everything you need in the car." He grabbed her arm, pushing her toward an oncoming white sedan.
Belinda's hopes of escape dwindled further and further, and she could only blame her own stupid arrogance for the police's failure to arrive in time to save her. A trickle of sweat ran down her neck, and she turned to Alex, who smiled at her with satisfaction: he had been smarter than her.
"And my sister? What do I do with her?" she said in a last-ditch effort. "I can't leave her here alone!"
"I'll have my friends pick her up and take her home. Don't worry, I care about that little witch too."
He took her wrist and caressed it, bringing it to his lips and placing a light kiss there.
Belinda felt like vomiting, so disgusted was she with him.
Slowly the white sedan approached and parked near the outdoor seating area. Two young couples got out, chatting and laughing happily as they approached the tables.
Alex looked at them lazily, then gave a small nod to the two men behind him, who started walking ahead of them, while he dragged her by the wrist.
Belinda glanced at the two couples, who looked up at her, giving her a look that left her perplexed. She glanced at their car and caught a glimpse of her sister's face, gesticulating and mouthing, "Run!" before she slumped back in the seat.
She wondered what the hell Naomi was doing in that car, but when she saw the girl behind her stand up, she had the feeling they were her escape route.
She stopped abruptly and turned to Alex. She raised an eyebrow and, with a wry smile, said, "I'm sorry, but history repeats itself."
She elbowed him sharply in the stomach and jumped back, avoiding his recapture.
The young men sitting there instantly jumped to their feet, blocking him, while other men appeared from other parts of the square, stopping his accomplices. She sighed, thanking heaven that more of them had intervened than she had hoped.
Everything happened quickly, trying not to alert the people in the bar, but Naomi got out of the car shouting, "Bang him, that infamous bastard!" drawing attention to them.
Alex was hoisted up in pain, but the girl had no mercy. She approached him decisively and, raising an arm, punched him in the face, sending him tumbling backward.
"Goodbye, Alex!" she said angrily. "You have no idea how satisfying it is to wipe your face off the face of the earth!"
The plainclothes police officer held her back, but she shook her head, saying she wouldn't do anything else, and ran into her sister's arms.
Belinda hugged her tightly. "You're crazy!"
"Who knows where I get it from?" he laughed, hugging her. "You crazy, reckless girl! You drove us crazy when you left! And I had to yell at the police on the phone, saying they were going to kidnap you. These people are just asking stupid questions and they didn't want to move!"
"And how did you convince them?"
"Oh, dear Bill took care of it!" the girl commented. "But he'll tell you everything."
"Where is he?" Belinda asked, looking around.
"In that SUV over there. Come on, come on."
He tugged her to the car with the dark windows, which was parked in a corner of the square; as soon as they arrived, the doors opened and the boys quickly pulled them in, driving off immediately.
Belinda immediately threw herself into Bill's arms, who smiled with relief.
"What a punch!" Tom commented, hugging Naomi and planting a kiss on her mouth, oblivious to the others. "I adore this girl!"
She laughed, blushing, unsure whether it was the compliment or the kiss. But ultimately, it didn't matter. She hoped that moment would put a bad time to rest forever.
"Thank you for trusting me!" Belinda exclaimed, snuggling into Bill's arms. "I was really scared at the end."
"You're reckless!" he said, holding her tightly, as if to reassure himself that she was truly real. "I hope that was enough of a lesson for you!"
"I can't promise you that!" Belinda laughed, happy to finally be safe.