Rover.

I wish I knew what in the world would make her choose a deserted island because at the moment I'm coughing up salty seawater and it's not what I expected.

My hands are covered in wet sand and its grittiness is much harder than any metal chord I've ever plucked. I can feel the small waves wash over the holes in my shirt, billowing it as I bring myself to my knees.

I can hear Noah cough, so I turn to try and find her. She's on her back still floating in the water.

"Noah!" I call out to her.

She quickly finds me as she moves to stand on her feet, "I'm okay, I just swallowed some water."

"How long have we been here?" I ask her.

She swims her way over to me as she replies, "A while. You were kind of just passed out for like ten minutes."

"Ten minutes?"

"Yeah, I didn't want to wake you," she says.

"You could've," I tell her.

She looks at me as if I'm a little lost, "It's bad luck."

She is right, I'm somewhat lost, "Bad luck?"

"When someone's dreaming," she explains, "you're not supposed to wake them up or else they will stay stuck in their mind forever."

"Isn't that for sleepwalking?" I cautiously correct her.

"Same thing," she replies, "we're dreaming and I can see you walking."

I laugh, "I don't think this is how it works."

"Oh well," she says pushing me off balance and back into the shallow water.

She lies down beside me and we just feel the water contour our bodies. Her skin is smooth as the back of her hand floats on top of mine.

I don't think I ever want to go back to reality. No more concerts, no more record label chasing after me. This is it, this is all I want. I'm free here.

When Avery asked me if I would be performing tonight, I wasn't lying when I said I would, but it would only be for her, Noah.

I'm ringing the water out of my shirt hoping it will dry quickly as Noah leans on a palm tree at the edge of what I assume is a forest.

I watch her look out into the unknown, the curiousness that has her eyes wide open looking for an adventure. Her smile proves to me that doing this with her was the right idea.

"Are you coming?" she calls out to me.

"My shirt's still drying," I tell her.

"Just, leave it in the sun, it will be here when we get back," she extends her hand for me to follow.

I couldn't argue with her on that fact, and if we're really on a deserted island I shouldn't even need to worry about it.

I stand up and walk through the hot sand to her. I put my fingers in between hers and I can see her try to hide a grin.

The forest floor is covered in dry shrubs and fallen leaves. We watch our step as we venture further, the trees getting closer and closer to each other and hiding us from the sun. Birds are singing far above us and their colours create fireworks of feathers.

"I've always wanted to visit an island like this," she says as we continue walking. "Although, I've never been a big fan of the heat."

"I guess that makes this the ultimate compromise," I say. "You can dream that away."

She shrugs, "I feel like it would take away from the experience."

"Well, you can dream it away just a little," I indulge her.

"You've got a point," she slyly eyes me.

The humidity in the air almost instantly starts to fade. 

"You see, it's much better now," I tell her.

As if flipping a coin she changes the subject.

"I don't know what to do now that we're here," she chuckles.

"Why don't you follow me?" A voice rings out from behind us.

We both turn to see who's there. It's a girl just slightly shorter than Noah and darker hair. She looks like-

"Diana?" Noah questions her appearance.

"Come," she whines somewhat. "The party isn't far away."

"The party?" Noah asks.

"Who is that?" I butt in.

Noah sighs, "My sister. Older sister."

"You don't like her?..."

"No, of course, I love her," she replies, "she's just more of the outgoing type who drags me along as her personal sober driver. Obviously, I'm glad she's got the sense not to drive, but I wish she would just get one of her friend's siblings to do it sometimes."

"Come on!" her sister keeps begging.

"Could be fun," I suggest.

"Fine," Noah gives in.

Diana erupts into a clapping mess of excitement, "Oh my gosh, this is going to be so fun!"

She rushes up to us grabbing Noah's hand as she starts pulling her farther into the forest. Seeing as I'm attached to her other hand, I quickly become the end of the line.

We must have walked a few hundred metres until a clearing full of people came into sight. Lanterns hung from trees and keg stands we're placed kind of everywhere.

The music that's playing is loud and I can barely speak over it, "How- How did you make this all up?"

"I have no idea!" Noah shouts back.

Diana, at this point, has vanished back into the crowd of drunk Millenials.

"Hey have a drink!" a random guy in red swim trunks shoves two solo cups into our hands.

We both study the liquid not sure what to do with them.

"Uh," is the only thing Noah says.

I give her a shrug, partly with confidence, and take a sip.

"Holy shit!" I say as my lips leave the rim of my cup. "This tastes real."

She looks at me with a questionable expression.

"I'm serious," I tell her.

She stares at it for a couple more seconds but eventually drinks from her cup.

I can see her try not to gag and spit it out as the same surprise that caught me off guard hits her tongue.

"Oh my god!" she says. "You were right. Who the hell thought of bringing good beer to a keg party?"

"You, apparently," I answer.

"I should have had parties in high school," the idea comes to her. "Maybe then I would have actually had friends."

"You didn't have any friends?" I question her.

"Not really," she tells me, "I preferred being on my own, but, I'm glad that I have you now."

"Me too," I say.

We're standing just on the edge of the giant group dancing the day away and before we know it we get sucked into the happy madness. We jump to the beat, our arms in the air and I can't believe that this is just the beginning of the life I want to have.

With the stars out and the frogs gurgling, a large fire is set in the middle of the grounds and everyone is sitting around it. Noah sits in between my legs as I sit on a log.

I notice her drawing something with a twig in the dirt.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Nothing," she tries to act like it's not important.

I bend down closer to see, it's our initials.

"It's stupid," she says.

"It's cute," I tell her sincerely.

Her cheeks flush red. She tries to hide it with her hands.

I wrap my arms around her, holding her close.

"I used to do this in my notebooks at school," she eventually admits. "Well, I kind of still do."

I notice a sharp rock just behind me and I reach to grab it.

"Why don't we make it permanent?" I show her.

"Really?" she laughs a little.

"Yeah," I try to convince her, "why not?"

"Okay," she says getting up off the ground.

She helps me stand and I lead her out into the dark of the leave covered palm trees. We find one who's tree trunk curves as it grows higher.

I take her hand and place mine over it with the rock ready to carve into the tree.

N + R.

"It's perfect," I tell her. "I'll remember these days together forever."

She quickly faces me and pulls me down into a kiss.