CHAPTER III: PALMS ROAD
The alarm clock rings. It's 11:30 a.m. I remember I have to be at the Bassets' house by 1:00 a.m., so I immediately jump out of bed. For a moment, I wonder: should I really go? However, the thought of rejecting a gesture of gratitude compels me to leave the hostel.
At the nearest bus stop, I take the bus that stops near the Palm Road district. There are about seven stops, and I estimate I'll be there in forty minutes. Getting off the bus, I walk for a few minutes, and as soon as I step onto the main avenue, the guard quickly jumps out of the booth and shouts at me:
—Excuse me! Where are you going?
—The Bassets invited me to dinner. I brought their son last night.
"Who?" the security guard asks me.
—Justin, Justin Bassett—I say confidently.
—Okay, come in —he finishes.
I recall the path I took to take Justin home, and with that in mind, I head toward my destination. A different Palm Road appears before my eyes, very different from the one I saw in the darkness of the night. In a matter of hours, everything on Palm Road has changed; daylight has transformed the somber face into a luminous one. A blue veil rises above the sky, making the sun shine brightly. Countless flocks of tropical birds can also be seen gliding overhead.
The avenue stretches straight and majestic, lined with rows of harmoniously rising palm trees. Between each one, hibiscus bushes with intensely colored flowers add a vibrant contrast that further highlights the beauty of the place. The houses, authentic mansions of different architectural styles, line up with their imposing facades. The front gardens are populated with geometrically cut topiaries. At every corner, I perceive the aroma, where rosebushes and jasmine bushes unfold their fragrance. I notice how, behind the gates of the mansions, high-end cars dazzle. It's as if, in this place, problems don't exist and everything is perfect.
After a breathtaking walk through the neighborhood, I arrive at the Bassets' house. I hesitantly press the doorbell. The gate opens automatically, and I walk through the front yard. A white-stone path leads across the lawn to the entrance of the Bassets' mansion. Along with the cliff-lined path, there's a stone fountain that spurts crystal-clear water and makes a soothing sound as it falls. The Bassets' house has a modern style, with a white, fully glass-paned facade.
Anne Basset comes out to greet me and greets me with a smile.
"I'm so glad you came!" she says, hugging me. "Come on, come in!"
Inside, the Bassets' house is as imposing as it is outside. There isn't much decoration, but its minimalism makes it attractive. The floor is a gleaming marble and most of the furniture is white. Anne Basset invites me into the dining room, where everything is already set up for lunch. Charles Basset is already seated at the long dining room table. He suddenly stands up and says to me:
—Thank you for everything you did yesterday for our children! Nicki was discharged this morning. It turned out she wasn't seriously ill, and while it could have been worse, thanks to you, it all ended with just a minor scare.
I don't know what to say to this, and Anne immediately invites me to sit down. Suddenly, Nicki appears.
"You don't know how grateful I am for what you did for me," he says, looking at me with glowing eyes.
"It's nothing," I say with a slight smile.
At this point, Nicki takes a seat and later Justin arrives and, seeing me at the table in his house, gives me a violent look and says to his mother, with some disdain:
—What are you doing here?
"Justin, don't be rude," Anne Basset replies, "after what he did yesterday for your sister, it's the least we could do, and not just for her, but for you, who didn't even know where you were."
"And you couldn't invite him another time?" Justin Bassett says. "I don't have the heart to put up with guests, especially strangers."
"Justin saved your sister's life, he's not just anyone," Anne Basset retorts.
Justin, annoyed, sits down. We have lunch at a long table that lacks every last detail. It is decorated with a wide variety of dishes that Anne has prepared with great care. As the lunch drags on, the Basset brothers keep their eyes on me. Nicki keeps staring at me, absorbed in thought, as if I were someone who transcended the limits of her world. Justin doesn't look at me that way; he watches me with a certain abhorrence, with an uncomfortable gaze that I prefer to avoid. It seems as if he's waiting every second, every minute, with great nervousness, for the door to open and for him to bolt out into the street. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable, not only with the Basset brothers' stares, but with Charles's, who is right in front of me and also never takes his eyes off me. So I have no choice but to seek refuge from these inquisitive glances in Anne's hospitality.
"The kids say they don't know you. What's your name?" Anne asks me.
"Everyone calls me Nomad," I answer decisively.
"Nomad? How ridiculous!" Justin says sarcastically, while Anne gives him a withering look.
"And why does everyone call you that?" Charles asks.
"I like to travel, to live in different places. I feel like this name represents me," I reply.
"I think it's very original, don't you, Justin?" Nicki tells her brother in a brash tone.
"Of course! Super interesting," he replies ironically, squinting at me.
Before finishing dessert, Anne asks her children:
—Guys, why don't you take Nomad to the party tonight? He'll meet your friends that way.
Justin sighs and puts his hands to his head, on the other hand, Nicki comes out of her reverie and nods her head, very convinced that he goes to the party.
"No need, Anne," I intervene so as not to bother Justin.
"Of course it's necessary, you'll have a good time and you'll get to know each other better," Anne tells me convincingly.
"Didn't you hear what he said?" Justin says. "He doesn't want to come."
—Nomad, don't listen to him, you're coming with me —Nicki insists.
After lunch I head back to Forest Wood, wondering if it would be a good idea to go to the party with the Bassett brothers.
Time flies; it's 10:00 p.m. and I'm back on Palm Road. I've finally decided to go, more out of pure courtesy than desire. The sky is starry and the lights of the mansions illuminate the avenue. The Bassett siblings come out the door, all dressed up. Nicki is wearing a stunning blue lycra dress and high heels. Justin is wearing white pants and a lilac T-shirt with a huge flower on the back.
"Well, at least you're punctual," Justin says sarcastically.
"Thanks, I'm glad to see you too," I reply.
Nicki approaches me and gives me a hug, then we follow Justin to his black sports car. We get in the car and head to the party.
"We're going to have a great time, Mia throws the best parties in the neighborhood," Nicki says.
"Who's Mia?" he asked with interest.
"She's a girl from school. Last year she was at a boarding school in Italy because her parents caught her having an affair with a Barracuda member. She came back a week ago and today she's celebrating her return to the island," Nicki gossips to me.
"The Barracuda?" I ask, puzzled, remembering the first place I'd booked a stay.
"It's the most troubled neighborhood on the island," Justin chimes in.
Justin parks and we get out of the car. The sidewalk is packed with people; from outside, you can see the countless neon lights emerging from the large windows of Mia's villa. Music resonates throughout the street. People, glasses in hand, stroll through the well-dressed garden with blind joy. There, they hang out or go outside to smoke, under a wide string of warm lights. In the background, I see some young people jumping into a huge pool, competing to make the most spectacular jump. Justin quickens his steps until, shortly after, we lose sight of him in the crowd in the garden. As we reach the entrance, a group of girls approach Nicki and begin talking so quickly that they are lost in their words.
"Nicki, I'm going in, see you inside," I interrupt to escape the sudden conversation.
"Okay, find the bar and order whatever you want. I'll be right there," he tells me.
I enter the house and walk among the people. Some are dancing, others are chatting animatedly, while music and colorful lights fill the air. Suddenly, I feel a cold hand on my shoulder, and I instantly turn around.
"Hey, I see you're lost!" a young man in his twenties says to me...
"I'm looking for the bar," I tell him instantly.
"The bar is in the back, but I can offer you something better. I'm Troy, and I deliver flowers to your doorstep or anywhere in the city, whichever you prefer," he tells me with a mischievous smile.
"Flowers?" I ask in confusion.
"Come with me, I'll introduce you to more people!" Troy instigates. "Hey, by any chance, you're not from around here, are you?"
—No, I recently arrived on the island, —I answer.
—You're into new experiences. You must be a very interesting person. Come join me!
Troy is short, with very dark brown hair and blue eyes like a Siamese cat's. He's wearing a striped shirt and beige chinos. As we walk through the rooms of the house, he starts greeting everyone. There are so many people, and between the noise and the loud music, it's as if we're in a nightclub. A mellow scent of alcohol and tobacco, among other substances, wafts through every corner.
Again, I see Justin appear and nervously approach Troy and say:
—Dude, when will you be able to have the flowers?
"I won't have them for a few hours," Troy replies, stopping at that moment.
A green-eyed girl suddenly appears behind Justin.
"How romantic! Are you going to give me some flowers, my love?" she asks with innocent astonishment.
"Yeah, sure!" Justin replies.
Troy looks at him with a cynical smile and Justin sighs in relief.
—See you in a few hours, Troy, Justin concludes.
It's at that moment that I realize these two are up to something... Troy and I go up to a higher level of the house, where there are fewer people and the atmosphere is less charged. On a long white sofa, there is a group of girls and boys holding balloon glasses while they chat.
"Look who's here, guys! Our favorite gardener!" says Logan, the boy who made fun of my necklace at the dock.
Troy approaches and passes them some bags of plant fertilizer, furtively and discreetly.
—Here you go. Now for the dough, he says seriously.
Logan pulls a wad of bills from his pocket and throws it on the table.
“Happy?” Logan says arrogantly.
"If you want more, call me..." Troy answers.
"Don't doubt it," he replies.
Logan turns his head and fixes his gaze on me.
"Haven't they told you yet that only children on the island wear white collars?" he says, mocking me.
"Logan, shut up. He saved Nicki," the guy next to him says, in my defense.
"Are you the one who saved Nicki?" he asks sarcastically.
"And you're the one who ran away when he was drowning?" I ask.
Logan glares at me while his friends hide their laughter and whisper among themselves. Suddenly, I turn around and realize Troy has disappeared.
An awkward silence forms in the meeting and Mia intervenes:
—Get those long faces out of the way, it's my party and we've come to have fun!
"Mia, nobody messes with me," Logan says.
—Logan, relax, let's dance —Mia asks him, lightening the situation.
Mia takes his hand and leads him to the dance floor. They walk past me, and Logan whispers menacingly:
—Be careful what you say.
The rest of the group follows them and begins to dance; it's the perfect moment to disappear. As I head for the stairs to find Nicki, I reflect on Logan's words: the kids from the island? Why did my grandfather keep that necklace? A heated shouting pulls me from my thoughts. It's a hooded boy arguing with Troy. Suddenly, he grabs him by the shirt and yells:
—What the hell is wrong with you? You were supposed to be there at twelve!
"Dude, Alex, calm down," he says with a hidden smile. "It won't happen again..."
"It won't happen again!" Alex shouts, desperate. "Do you know the mess you've gotten me into? I've covered half the island with your damn merchandise!"
—Wait a minute, how did you pay them?
"Since you didn't answer the phone, I had to call Noah," Alex replies.
"Fuck!" he says, clutching his head. "Noah's going to kill me..."
—Take care of your filthy drugs, Troy! I'm doing enough turning a blind eye.
Alex fixes his brown eyes on me and realizes I'm listening. I quickly prepare to flee, pretending I haven't heard anything. I search the entire house for Nicki. I look around, but I can't find her anywhere. I walk until I reach the entrance and leave the bustling mansion. The garden is packed with people. Some, lying on the grass, gaze at the stars with fascination as if it's the first time they've seen them. Others walk unsteadily along the edge of the pool. While some get into fights, others celebrate their conquest of the night. In a secluded corner, I see Justin sitting on the ground, staring into space, holding a bottle of whiskey. I hesitate for several seconds before approaching, but I finally do.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
"You again, what are you trying to do, save us all?" he answers, stammering.
"It doesn't matter. You're drunk," I respond indignantly.
"What are you saying? Yes, I'm better than ever," he tells me with a crooked smile.
"Yeah, sure. Good night, Justin," I say as I get ready to leave the party.
—Palm Road, a dream life: mansions, sports cars, parties... You live in paradise until one day you discover that this perfect world only exists from the outside.
I stare at him in puzzlement, not knowing what he's talking about.
"Don't try to be one of us, believe me, this world isn't made for you," Justin scolds me.
A surge of indignation fills my body. I leave the garden, and a jet-black blanket of darkness covers the entire neighborhood. Appearances can be deceiving. Who would have thought that, behind those perfect lives, luxury homes, high-end sports cars, and harmonious gardens, there are secrets, lies, betrayals, and an emptiness that no one dares to acknowledge? Nothing on Palm Road is what it seems.
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