Pills of love

Tropical Loveland (part 1)

Benny stood in line, tapping his ticket and ID against his thigh as he leaned slightly to the right to see how many people were ahead of him. He had grinned like more times than he cared to admit that day, feeling a tingling sensation in his sternum, not just from the excitement of boarding that grand cruise ship, but from the anticipation of spending the next few days with Lenne, his longtime friend and bandmate, for total relaxation and fun. They had both saved up for that trip, a much-needed escape from the grueling schedule of rehearsals, recording sessions, and performances that awaited them in Spain.

The time available to them there would be short, just in time to get to Valencia, 3 days, and then from there they would reunite with the others and start their tour. Their first real tour outside Sweden.

As he stepped onto the ship, Benny felt as though he had crossed into a world of luxury. The ship's opulent decor sparkled under the fluorescent lights, and the scent of sea salt mingled with the aroma of delicious dishes drifting from nearby restaurants. He slipped on his sunglasses, even though he was indoors, and let a broad grin spread across his face. With luggage slung over his shoulder, he turned to Lenne, who had an expression like the one of a child on Christmas morning.

"Can you believe we're actually doing this?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with glee. Lenne quickly adjusted a loose strand of his hair before slipping into his own adventure mode, the playful spirit of a carefree wanderer.

"Nope, this is definitely real!" Benny chuckled and high-fived along with him. He admired his infectious enthusiasm "First stop, the cabins?".

"Let's drop our things, then let our exploration begin!" he replied, his excitement palpable.

Once inside their respective cabins, each of them took a few hours to unpack, freshen up and change. Benny tossed his bag onto the bed and placed some clothes in the small wardrobe at the foot of the bed, letting his thoughts dance between the thrill of the cruise and the upcoming tour in Spain. He picked up his little ukulele hidden among his clothes, strumming a few chords absentmindedly while glancing out at the shimmering ocean through his porthole.

Yeah, he was so thrilled for that new experience.

After a quick shower, Benny slipped into a casual button-up and dark jeans, the kind of outfit that felt right for the seaside chill. The idea of ​​dinner and the promise of new sparkling things to see filled his thoughts as he stepped out of his cabin.

The two friends met in the ship's atrium, where a grand chandelier created a crown of light above them. Lenne looked like the typical first-time tourist, his skin white as milk and his eyes big and amazed. As they took in their surroundings, Benny could hardly believe it was just the two of them, alone in that world of luxury. Their laughter echoed through the ship's numerous interior corridors.

"First things first—food!" Lenne enthusiastically declared "Then we can check out the lounge, the pools, the casino!".

"Hold your horses, my friend. I've already spent a fortune on these three days, I don't want to be broke for some poker bets" Benny snorted, hands in his pockets as they walked on one of the external piers, the sea air blissfully hitting him full in the face.

"Oh, shush. It means you will watch me play. You will be my goddess of luck" Lenne nudged his arm and laughed.

"Fuck off" Benny chuckled.

"Now, food, man, food!" Lenne almost yelled.

Benny nodded, his stomach growling in agreement. As they made their way to the dining area, the ship's ambiance buzzed around them, couples twirling about, families gathering, and groups of friends enjoying each other's company. Benny stole glances at Lenne, observing how effortlessly he attracted smiles and sparked conversations with whoever was around him. He was a social animal through and through, more so than him.