| 1959: �Joshua, I�m not sure I want to stay at this place,� the black haired girl whispered to her fianc�e. �I have a bad feeling.� �You and your feelings Cheryl. It�s nothing. Now, come on, we�re staying here for the night.� The black haired man led his soon to be wife up the stairs. �Joshua, please,� Cheryl begged. �Don�t talk to me like that. Just because I feel things you can�t�I know when I sense something, and I�m sensing something.� �Cheryl, it�s nothing. Now, you have to stop behaving like this. How is our marriage going to go if you keep questioning me like this?� The girl hung her head, obviously trying to hide the fact that she wouldn�t mind if the marriage didn�t happen. �Well, then maybe I shouldn�t marry you.� �Nonsense. We�ve known each other for years; we�re perfect for each other. Trust me, after this vacation we�ll head back home and then the final plans can be made. And, of course, you�ll be much happier. Your sleeping problems will probably even go away. You�re just nervous.� �I�m sure you�re right,� Cheryl bowed her head further. No, he�s not right; Dana�s thought broke through her dream. He�s not right at all. You don�t want to marry him, there�s nothing back home for you, don�t go. Cheryl followed Joshua to the hotel room, sitting down on the edge of the bed and staring out the window. �This hotel is in the middle of nowhere.� �It�s just lucky we stumbled upon this place. We need somewhere to stay for the night. I�m getting too tired to drive.� �I could have driven,� Cheryl suggested. �It�s too late for you to drive, dear. You might have crashed the car.� �I can drive, Josh,� she replied. �I didn�t say you couldn�t,� Josh kissed his love on the top of her head, and then smiled down at her. �Now, we�d best get some rest before we head back on the road tomorrow.� �Alright,� she sunk down into the bed, a look of discontent on her face. She wanted so much more than this, so much more than what was to come. |
| �But we never know what�s to come,� Dana whispered without realizing she was. �We can never be sure,� Her light sleep was interrupted by a screeching laughter from outside. Dana sat up in her bed, yawning and stretching out. She stood up slowly, taking her time before walking to the courtyard window. Looking down on the moonlit courtyard, she saw Princess, along with a number of young men, all dancing about. She watched as they twirled in the hot desert night. She wiped the sweat from her own forehead, wondering how she�d been able to sleep in this heat. Another burst of laughter drew her attention back to the merry group below her. �You know why they�re dancing, right?� the light voice behind her asked. Dana turned around to see Nick entering the room and coming to stand beside her. �I�m willing to take a stab at it,� Dana gave him a half smile. �Is it �some dance to remember, some dance to forget�?� �Don�t laugh. Those are some of the truest words in that song.� �And the song is about what exactly? Because last time I heard there were people who study that sort of thing who still didn�t get the whole song.� �The song is about a visit to The Hotel California. What else does it have to be about?� �Oh, come on. That song has got to be symbolic, metaphoric, or whatever the term is. There�s no way it�s just about this place.� �This whole place has a meaning dear. No one finds the Hotel California unless they�re looking for it. So, obviously there�s a reason for the song. But that reason is completely different from your reason.� �Okay, if you�re so smart, what is my reason?� Nick looked down into the courtyard and grinned. �She�ll tell you, she�s the only one who really knows.� �Who, Princess? In case you haven�t noticed, she�s a psycho.� �Maybe, but she knows people. She knew me when I first came here.� �How many times have you come back here?� Nick smirked at her before turning for the door. �Who says I ever leave?� With that he left her alone once more.After throwing on a lighter shirt, Dana left the room and headed down the stairs into the courtyard. She caught site of the boys she�d seen from her room and her jaw dropped to the ground. They were all incredibly handsome, each a different type. She watched a gorgeous blonde swaying as he looked at her from across the courtyard. Dana blushed and nearly bumped into a dark young man with deep-set brown eyes. �Sorry,� she managed to stammer out as he checked her out. �Quite alright,� he responded as she walked past him. �Princess?� she called out after the raven-haired girl. �Princess, we have to talk.� The girl twirled around gracefully to face Dana. �Oh, you�re finally here!� she flashed that wide smile at Dana once more. �I wondered how long it would take.� �Yeah, I�m here. Uh, Princess, do you think you could tell me something?� �Anything you wish, angel eyes.� �Uh, yeah,� Dana looked perplexed. �I just need you to tell me�I mean�what am I�uh�?� �What are you doing here?� Princess asked, arching a single eyebrow. �Simple, you�re here because you have a reason to be.� �Well�� �Well what?� Princess asked. �Well, what�s my reason, then?� Dana demanded. Princess laughed at the girl. �Simple. Sleep.� �Sleep? That�s my reason for being here?� �Sleep is the answer,� Princess sang, before dancing away from the completely confused Dana. �Sleep, that�s it?� Dana yelled. �I�m here to sleep?� There was no answer. �Thanks for the help Princess!� Dana yelled back sarcastically. �You�re welcome!� the girl replied merrily. �Ugh!� Dana grunted before she began to head back to her room. She bumped into another of the dancing patrons. �Sorry,� she mumbled, not even looking up. �It�s alright,� came the reply. Dana shook her head as she ascended the steps to her floor. This place was so�surreal. She couldn�t wait to get out of this weird place and back home to her dead end job pressed up against the glass ceiling. Once in her room, she fell into her bed again. She was amazed at how tired she suddenly felt. She sank back into the bed, barely able to open her eyes. Yawning, she lay down and closed her eyes, once more sinking into an uncomfortable dream state. |