Take Me to Loveland

People Are Strange, When You're a Stranger

Clemens's POV

I walked through the crowded streets, feeling lost, not sure of where I was going. It was hard to get people to stop so I could ask for directions back to the hotel I was staying at. I'd say something, and they'd mumbled something about not being able to understand me, despite my speaking perfect English. I'm from Germany, so my English was clouted by a thick accent, which made it difficult to get my meaning across.

Feeling flustered and annoyed, I looked around for a cafe of some sort. I just needed a place where I could sit down, and think. Maybe I could find someone to actually help me get to where I needed to be. I finally spotted a coffee shop a several meters in front of me. As I walked in the door, I was greeted by the smells of fresh ground coffee and baking pastries. There weren't a lot of people inside, but there was a lot of in and out traffic. I looked around. The cafe had couches in one part, where I could see a few young girls laughing amoungst themselves. There were small tables set up for two scattered through out the room. Every other table had someone poring over a laptop with headphones in, oblivious to what was going on around them.

I was making my way towards the counter, when something tapped my shoulder and I turned around, to see a girl, no younger than myself, looking at me with a shy smile on her face. She reached up, and ran her fingers through her long, brown hair, averting her eyes from mine.

I cleared my throat. "Hello... can I help you?" I asked.

"I was going to ask you the same thing... you look lost." She said, her blue-green eyes, meeting mine, smiling nervously. I smiled back at her, feeling relieved.

"I am, actually. Thank you for noticing," I replied. "I'm not from this country, you see, and I can't find my way to my hotel."

"I can tell you're not from America... Is that a German accent?" She asked.

Again, I smiled and nodded. "Do you think you can help me?"

"Where do you need to go?" She asked.

"Venus Breeze Hotel," I said, pulling out my travel information and handing it to her. "It says it's on Franklin Avenue, but I can't find it anywhere on my map."

"That's not far from here, actually. You're only ten blocks away. I can walk with you, if you want?" The girl said.

"That's very sweet of you, to offer. My name is Clemens," I said, reaching out my hand.

Her cheeks flushed as she reached out and shook my hand. "I kind of already know that... I'm a fan of your music." She looked me in my eyes, and then away again. She was cute as shy as she was. "My name is Livian, but you can call me Liv, for short."

"Oh, you are! Wow... that's surprising to me to find a fan in this small place." I said, smiling.

Liv laughed. The sound was harmonious, making my heart flutter and giving me a feeling of butterflies in my stomach. I could feel my palms getting damp, and I found myself cursing my own body to myself.

"If this place is so small, then what brings you here? Is Phillipp somewhere as well?" She asked, turning and motioning for me to follow her out the door.

I followed her on to the busy street. "No, he's still in Germany, though he'll be along soon. He had some things to take care of with his visa. And as for how I got here... That's a funny story." I replied, falling into step with her.

"Oh, how so?" I could tell that she was relaxing as we talked more.

"Well, we wanted to work on our new album in America, but we didn't want to go to California, or New York. Those places are too big, and noisy. So we took a map of the US, and threw darts at it and we ended up with South Carolina." I explained.

"Wait, so you actually made travel arrangements with darts and a map?" She laughed. "I've always thought that'd be a cool way to travel."

"Yep... anyway, my visa went through with no problems, but for Phillipp got held up because he couldn't find his birth certificate." I added. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cigarettes and my lighter. I offered one to Liv.

"Oh, yes, thank you. I just ran out." She said, taking one from my pack and lighting it with her own lighter. I lit my own cigarette, and put the pack away.

"It's just around this corner, Clemens." Liv said through a cloud a smoke, and pointing with her cigarette. I adjusted my heavy backpack on my shoulder, feeling relieved. My feet hurt from walking so far.

"So, how did you end up so lost?" She asked as we got to a crosswalk.

"I called a taxi from the airport, and the driver took me to the wrong place and left me there." I told her. "The map on my phone told me that I wasn't far from the right hotel, so I decided to walk there."

"And how long ago was that?"

"Two hours, maybe?"

"Ouch, I'm sorry. But, you're here now!" She pointed at a large beige building a few meters away, smiling. I practically threw my arms around her.

"Thank you! Thank you so much for helping me find this place." I said. Then I realized that I was hugging a stranger and pulled back. Liv was smiling, though her face was very red.

"You're very welcome," Liv replied. "I guess I'll head off."

I stared at her for a moment. I didn't want this to be the last time I see her. I couldn't place my finger on it, but there was something special about her. She saw me in that crowded coffee shop. Really saw me and could read that I was distressed. She had loaned me a kind hand, on a day where I couldn't find any. She was beautiful. Her hair was long, and brown with streaks of blue and purple throughout. Her pale face was lightly freckled, and her eyes were green with flecks of blue mixed together. She was chewing her bottom lip and playing with the bottom part of her hair. I couldn't help but fantasize about running my fingers through that mane of hers. I had to pysically shake myself to keep my thoughts in check.

"Could I get your phone number? I don't have an American phone yet, but I would like to talk to you some time, maybe." I asked. My heart was pounding in my chest as I watched her face for her reaction. She looked taken aback by my request. Her eyes widened with surprise.

Liv reached into her bag and pulled out a bright blue notebook and a pen, opened it and began to write quickly. Then she tore the page out. Smiling, she extended the piece of paper to me. I took the paper, folded it carefully and slipped it into my pocket.

"You can call or text me any time. Maybe I can show you around." She told me.

I extended my arms to her, and she stepped forward and hugged me, I let my arms wrap around her waist as I pulled her to me. "It was very nice meeting you, Liv." I said in her ear. I could feel her smile against my shoulder.

"It was nice meeting you too, Clemens."

Reluctantly, I bid her farewell, and went to check into my hotel. I got through the process with little hassle, and found my way to my room with ease. Once inside, I threw my bags on the bed and collapsed, face first onto the pillow. I was exhausted from the long, uncomfortable flight, the mix up with the cab driver, the grueling walk through an unfamiliar place... I yearned for this moment of being able to just close my eyes and allow sleep to take me and keep me in a place of pure bliss. I rolled over onto my side, pushing my bag onto the floor as I kicked off my shoes and socks, leaving them in a haphazard heap on the floor beside the bed.

After I got myself situated in bed, I turned the television on and rolled over, closing my eyes. As soon as they were shut, Liv appeared in my mind. Her sweet, shy smile accompanied by her intense piercing eyes. I pictured myself with my arms around her again, only this time for a longer period of time. I held her close to me, breathing in her scent, running my fingers through her long, long hair.

I fell asleep with a smile on my face.