The End of the Beginning

I followed Robin outside, and he took out his guitar. "I wrote a song," Robin said. "Tell me what you think."

It was nearly midnight, so the only lights were the moon and the lights on at the house across the street. I lay down in a lounge chair next to Alan's pool as Robin began to play a song.

As soon as the song started, it was clear what it was about. From the lyrics, it was obvious that Robin was writing about me again. It wasn't quite like Florence though. It was more tragic and anguished, with raw emotion pouring out of every note. Somehow, that made it a stronger song. "I love it," I told Robin.

"Thanks," Robin said. "I might test it out on our next tour, and if the fans like it, then I'll put it on the next Wallbangers album."

"That sounds like a good idea," I said.

Robin lay down in the lounge chair next to mine. "I'm glad that you decided to stay here, Bianca," he said.

"Me too," I said. "It's nice spending time with you."

"I agree," Robin said. "You know, I still love you. I always have."

"I love you too, Robin," I said. I didn't even need to think about it. The truth was right in front of me. It was in the way that I had rushed downstairs when I heard our song, and the way that my heart wouldn't stay still whenever Robin was around. "I don't think we're right for each other though."

Robin sighed. "You're right."

"We just have such different goals in life," I said. "If we tried dating again, I doubt it would work out."

"It probably wouldn't," Robin said. "It's still nice to think about what could have been."

"It is, but you can't dwell on the past, Robin," I said.

"I'm not," Robin said.

"It kind of seems like you are," I said.

"Maybe just a little bit," Robin said. "It's just been such a long time since the last time I saw you. We've missed out on so many years together."

"We have missed out on a lot," I agreed.

"We don't need to be together, but I would like to see you a little bit more," Robin said.

"Me too," I said. It was true. I had spent so many lonely years without Robin, and it would be nice to be with him again, even if we would only be friends.

"Maybe if we see each other more often, I can be less ashamed about all of the songs I write about you," Robin said.

"How many songs have you written about me?" I asked.

"Too many," Robin said.

All of a sudden, the clock struck midnight. "Happy 2017!" someone screamed from inside the house, while the sounds of noisemakers, New Year's kisses, and obnoxious pop songs floated outside to Alan's pool.

"Happy New Year's Bianca," Robin said.

"Happy New Year's to you too, Bianca. Thank goodness 2016 is over," I said. "It's been a bit of a wild year."

"I don't think it's going to get any better in 2017," Robin said. "Donald Trump is taking office in less than a month, and Against Me! released an album just last year, so they won't have any new music to help me through it."

"Yeah, it's probably just going to get worse from here," I said. "At least I'll have you."

"That might help a little bit," Robin said. "I'll still expect to be doing a little bit more protesting than usual this year."

"Maybe I'll come with you," I said. "I need to get my frustrations with this country out of my system too."

"Wait a second, I have a great idea," Robin said.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I'm going to talk my record label into releasing a compilation of all of my political songs on Inauguration Day," Robin said. "We all know that music is the best way to change the world, after all."

"I don't think that will actually do anything, Robin," I said.

"It's more effective than my censorship protest in high school," Robin said.

He had a point. Just about anything was more effective than Robin's high school activism. "You're right," I said. "At least you're trying to make a difference."

"That's all that counts, isn't it?" Robin said.

"Absolutely," I replied. "Do you have a New Year's resolution?"

"Not yet, but I'll come up with one," Robin said. "Do you?"

"I have a few," I said. "I want to move to Canada, finish my fifth album, and be a better friend to you and my other friends without getting into any romantic entanglements. I think I'd like to remain single for a while. It would be good for me."

"Those are all good resolutions," Robin said. "I couldn't actually move to Canada though. I'm way too attached to Seattle."

"I've got it," I said. "I'll move to Vancouver, and you can visit me there. It's even closer than Los Angeles."

"Is there a music scene in Vancouver?" Robin asked.

"I don't know," I said. "I'm sure there are at least a few studios in the area though, and if there aren't, I'll record at home. I've heard that a lot of artists are doing that these days."

"That sounds like a plan," Robin said.

"Do you have any resolutions yet?" I asked Robin.

"I think I'll steal one of yours," Robin said. "I want to be a better friend to you. I haven't been the best to you, especially since I left Madhouse. Will you forgive me for that?"

"Of course I will," I said.

"Then we can move on," Robin said. "We'll just forget all of the mess that happened and start over."

"Great," I said. "If we're starting over, I might as well introduce myself again. Hi, I'm Bianca Madison. What's your name?"

Robin chuckled. "Bianca. That's a nice name," he said. "I'm Robin Stanley. I know what you're thinking. I'm a thirty five year old man. Believe it or not, I'm not a teenager."

I smiled and glanced over at Robin, worried that the night would end far too fast. I decided to say to him the only thing that was left to say after a night like that. "Robin, I think this is the beginning of another beautiful friendship."