La Serenissima

Dr. Cupid Returns

Skype was Austin Moon's best friend. His amazing best friend that kept his actual phone bill from going through the roof and instantly connected him with his friends and family back in the United States. It was the simplest thing to use and with his Macbook always in his bag, he was always just a minute away from calling them up and catching up on the things he was missing out on - like his brother actually getting a girlfriend and it lasting beyond the two week mark.

Today, he was trying to reach his very real best friend, Dez, despite his crazy schedule...or so he had assumed. When Austin left just after the holidays, Dez was off to Mexico for a video shoot and then to Los Angeles for a television show and beyond that, everything was up in the air. When they were in high school and Austin was trying to become that internet sensation, Dez was the one filming his performances and making music videos for him. Those were the videos that got him noticed and he liked to think that Dez was a major reason that he was where he was today - in Venice, recording and writing his third album; the album he had promised everyone, including Dez, that it would be better than the ones before.

Austin smirked to himself, as he took over Santo's desk in the conservatory, remembering how Dez once called the older music he had been listening to 'boring as hell'. It wasn't boring any more. Austin let the rings echo throughout the room, while pulling out some song sheets to work on, just in case. He had been working on the same song for days, and stared back at Ally's note. The same one that was haunting him and keeping him from actually finishing the tune. Wouldn't have minded...he wouldn't have minded either.

"Oh my God, is that Austin Moon?" Dez's voice came over his monitor, along with his impression of a teenage girl's squeals. "It is Austin Moon!"

Austin couldn't help but laugh at his friend, and he didn't think it was possible, just seeing Dez's face and, crazy clothes, made him feel better already. "Hey, man. How's it going?"

"I can't complain...really, I can't," Dez got serious. "I've been banned from complaining."

"Since when have you ever complained about anything?"

"Apparently, since I was born..." Austin watched Dez scratch his head and his orange hair flip from one side of his head to the other. "Anyhow. How's Venezia? Is it freezing? Is it just as magical as my sister keeps telling me it is? Oh, isn't it Carnival time or something, too?"

So many questions kept shooting out of Dez's mouth and Austin blew out a breath. This is what he needed, this is exactly what he needed. He needed Dez to take his mind off of Ally for just a moment or two so he could actually decide how to tell her he wanted something more too. Austin spit out answer after answer before Dez went all bug eyed about him actually participating in Carnevale.

"Wait, I'm sorry...the guy who I could not get into a Zalien costume got dressed up like a clown?"

"I wasn't a clown and I did too dress up like a Zalien," Austin argued back.

"No you didn't. You were Veloptu and The Electric Avenger...not once were you a Zalien. Which was a seriously un-cool best friend thing to do. I was the only Zalien for six Halloweens running."

"I was a Zalien, Dez. Double check that photographic memory of yours again. Third grade," Austin told him, pushing the papers in front of him to the side for now and concentrating on his friend.

Dez's eyes popped open. "How could I forget about that?"

"Maybe because that was the only year that you weren't a Zalien."

Austin caught up with his friend and found out that his directing career was exploding in more ways than one. Not only was he contracted to film all of Mixed Nuts' videos for their album, but he was a signature away from signing on for his first big movie and Austin couldn't be more excited for him. While he was dreaming of a music career, Dez was dreaming up his directing career and it looked like it was all coming true for the lifelong friends.