Leaving the airport, Hermione witnessed American soil for the very first time. Being in the West, everything she saw had a reddish colour, but most significant were the deep red rocks and dust – it really was like the cowboy-movies she had watched as a child. But now there was no TV screen between her and her dream. She had wanted to experience America at least once in her life, so now seemed like a great time. She had gone on this trip alone; she did not like being on her own too long, but she knew that she needed to do this alone. She had to experience this with herself as her only companion. She feared it, but that was what this trip was all about: Conquering the fear. If she ever wanted to feel free just for a while, this was the time to do it. Every negative or sad thought was pushed aside immediately as she focused on taking as much of America in as possible. She wanted to really live life, and now it was going to happen. No more hesitation or fear; just curiosity and moving forward.
She put down her bag on the sidewalk outside the airport and looked towards the sun through her sunglasses. She felt like a celebrity with her sunglasses on, and that was what she wanted to feel like now. She wanted to be able to not care about what other people would think of her. Of course there was an all-clear blue sky, and the temperature was rising above what she was used to. She opened up her bag to grab her straw hat. She had chosen to travel lightly, so the bag was not overloaded with clothes and shoes. Closing the bag again, she put her hand on her money just to feel it against her skin. She had gone to the bank to withdraw her entire savings to spend on this trip, and she carried it in cash – no credit cards; just the real all-American dollar. She put on the hat and combed her long brown hair with her fingers. She thought about dyeing it platinum blonde to try out something new, and while stroking it with her fingers she smiled and agreed with herself: Now was the time for change. She had never taken risks with her hair before, but if this wasn't the time, then when would it be?
She had put on chic gladiator sandals and a pair of short and beige shorts. She was also wearing a tight, white top and on top of that a beige, long and thin cardigan. She would never wear this at home, but she had wanted to wear this outfit for so long. It was perfect for America.
Checking her look in her mirror, she picked up her bag and went to the car rental company to pick up her car. It was a Thunderbird convertible of course, just like in Thelma & Louise. Her taste in American movies had obviously affected her choice, but she did not mind. She loved the movie and this was a small and secret tribute she paid in silence. Finally sitting in the Thunderbird's driving seat, Hermione felt invincible – just like she was supposed to. With nothing but a map, she left the airport and headed towards the real American wilderness – the desert, which was number one on her priority list.
With the music beating, she quickly found herself on the dusty highways stretching though the desert. She felt comfortable and at peace here, driving inside her own American movie. She made a couple of quick stops to breathe in the authentic air and to take it all in. Taking a break by the side of the road, she sat on the trunk and watched the beautiful red and brown colours in the earth, the wild and green colours from the bushes and cacti, the grey road, and on top of it all, the blue sky with the relentless sun burning down. She smiled - it was just like it was supposed to be. She then changed from her sandals into real cowboy boots, since she wanted to find one of those dirty bars built in solitude along the highways in the deserts.
After a couple of hours of driving, she finally found what she was looking for: A lonely bar, covered in dust and dirt, suddenly appeared close to a sign telling the drivers that this was the last place to drink and eat for 50 miles. With a smile on her face, she parked the car next to the bar. "Dusty Home", the sign above the bar said in flashing, neon colours. Even though darkness was rapidly catching up on her, she still had her sunglasses on. She put on her red lipstick and under the shades, she gave her make up a little touch-up. She carefully used her liquid eyeliner to intensely frame her brown eyes.
Entering the bar, she once again found what she had been hoping for: A bar counter to her left where around ten men were hanging out, either talking into their drinks and beers or talking to the next guy. The sound of the closing door made them all look her way, and everyone of them watched her closely. She knew it, and actually she wanted it. Normally she did not want this kind of attention from men, but now she did. She wanted to be desired and make people believe that she was something special. Even the bartender looked at her. Slowly, she took off the sunglasses and with a broad smile on her face, she walked past them and sat down in one of the small booths on the other side of the bar. The room was badly lit – even after she removed the sunglasses. The smoke was thick and so was the smell of beer. She reached out for her mirror, knowing that most of the men in the bar were still looking at her, and put on some more lipstick; not because she needed it, but because it was a sensual gesture she wanted to try out. She could tell it worked, and after only a couple of minutes, a guy approached her with a beer in his hand. With an archly smile, she looked up at him, licking her lips. He looked like a biker, wearing dirty jeans and a band T-shirt. Around his neck he wore some sort of scarf that made her chuckle. He was her age, but his hair was already thin, and it seemed like he was trying to compensate by growing a forceful moustache.
"Such a pretty surprise. Can I offer you a beer?", he said and sat down. She gave him a nonchalant and disapproving look.
"Did I ask you to sit down?", she then asked in a posh manner.
"What?", he said, clearly not able to read between the lines.
"But I'd take that beer", she then said without smiling.
"Okey dokey, miss", he then said, putting his own beer in front of her. With disgust, she looked at the half-empty bottle and the dirty glass.
"Thank you", she then said, taking a sip. She had not been drinking beer for a long time, and within seconds, she could already feel the alcohol's effect. When she did not speak further to him and just concentrated on the beer, he got confused and gave her a look that put his ignorance on display.
"What?", she then snapped at him, "I'd like to enjoy my beer alone".
"What?", he then said, not having a clue. She shook her head and looked past him towards the bar counter. In the corner, one of the men caught her attention. She knew he had been looking at her, but now he seemed lost in a hilarious conversation with the guy next to him. Hermione found herself unable to stop staring at him. He did not look particularly good; actually he looked a bit funny. It was not just his face, but also his clothes. Something about him reminded her of a circus clown. Then he turned his face in her direction and found out that she was looking directly at him. At first, he seemed a bit uncertain about what to do, but then he smiled a confident smile and raised his glass. Smiling almost made him look funnier. He had an oblong-sized face with a remarkable jaw line and thin, dark hair and was probably way past 4o years old. Hermione had never really been attracted to guys his age before, but if she wanted to, then now she had the opportunity to try it out. She named him Joe.
"I just brought you a drink, and now you are sending me away?", the younger guy who gave her the beer then said, pulling her from her thoughts.
"Yes, the lady is implying that giving her a nearly empty and - dirty beer, I might add – is beneath the way to treat a lady. So yes, get out of here", someone then said. Both Hermione and her suitor looked up, and the deep voice came from the guy she had just been day dreaming about - Joe. She felt she was staring to blush – old habit – but quickly, before anyone noticing it, she put on a confident smile and sat back to tell the young guy to get lost.
"But…", he just said, and "Joe" pulled him up in a gentle but firm grip and sent him on his way.
"May I?", Joe politely asked and pointed at the seat opposite Hermione. She nodded.
"I can offer you a beer", he then said, grinning, and pushed the half-empty beer closer to her. She chuckled and smiled her usual sweet smile. She couldn't help it.
"No thank you. You drink it", she answered cheekily and watched his reaction with a devious smile.
"Okay, as you command", he then said, grabbed the bottle and emptied it in a few seconds.
"Ahhh", he said and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
"That is disgusting, drinking that beer. You don't know where it has been", she said and frowned. She overdid it to make him believe that she was way more of a prude than she really was.
"I know very well where it has been. In your mouth, and that is a taste I don't mind between my lips", he then said and winked at her. His attitude was too confident, but he seemed to overdo it, which made it funny instead.
"You've been spying on me? Is that what you do around here? You're sneaking around in bars, spying on young girls", she then said, pretending to be offended.
"Yes", he said bluntly and drank the last of the beer. She was unable not to smile; she had never found herself in a situation like this before, being courted so much. A part of her really liked it, and she did not want to stop playing her games.