August 1st, 1959. 7:34pm. The Holly Apartment.

"Hey all in the apartment 2A,

We're from next door and our little girl is very young and impressionable. It would be appreciated if you stopped eith your GODLESS activities while she's home from school!

Thanks,
Barb and Tom"

I squint at the note, making sure I read it right.

I definitely read it correctly.

"Buddy," I call. "Those new neighbors put this in our mailbox,"

He walks out of the bedroom and takes the note, reading it.

"What?" He says after he's read it.

"I know!"

"What 'ungodly' activities are they referrin' to?"

I roll my eyes. "Probably rock and roll,"

"Premarital sex," Buddy laughs.

"Sex for anything but reproduction,"

"Honestly most of our lives," he shakes his head.

"How old is that girl? She has to be atleast 10 or so,"

"She hears worse at school,"

"I'm choosing to ignore this," I say, throwing it in the trashcan.

"Good plan," Buddy replies.

"Oh, what's the number of today?" I ask.

"Uh, the number?" Buddy raises an eyebrow. "Like the date?"

"Yes,"

"The 1st? August 1st?" Buddy replies.

"Damn," I frown. "Only twelve more days of peace,"

"Until the next grand adventure!"

I shake my head. "I'm not ready to go to the south again,"

The next day

"So, Violet, tell me a little about yourself," Dr. Metz says.

"Well, uh, I'm Violet, I'm 22, , I'm from Paris and I do music for a living,"

"Music? Like records?"

I nod. "Yeah my husband makes records ,"

"Produces?"

"No, he makes them. He writes the songs and performs them,"

Dr. Metz writes on the dreaded notepad. "Why do you think you're here? Why do you need help?"

"I have some issues from my childhood that I haven't fully dealt with, I guess. I have pretty bad mood swings sometimes and I can't control them,"

"Tell me a little about your childhood,"

"It was Nazi Paris so, well, I've seen some things,"

"Like what?" He presses.

"The worst was seeing my best friend being shot in the head, but getting bombed wasn't fun,"

Dr. Metz pauses, then blinks hard. "I'm sorry, dear. Was there anything else that has taken a large toll?"

I purse my lips. "I was raped, but I really don't think that that bothers me much,"

"I know this will seem as a very personal question, but its common practice to ask any victim of sexual assault,"

I nod. "Go ahead,"

"Did the assault impact your sexual relationships after?"

I shake my head. "No, not at all. I was 7, but I've never had an issue,"

He nods and writes some things down. "It says in your file that you were in inpatient care?"

"Yeah, back in Lubbock,"

"Did that help at all?"

"Not really, no. I think all I needed was medication and a therapist appointment every week or two. The inpatient care was overkill,"

"You had suicidal thoughts?"

I shrug. "Yeah but of course I'd ever act on them. They weren't like, active. They were more passive. I would be doing homework and then I would just think "If I killed myself then I wouldn't have to do this,". Just little stuff like that. They stopped a long time ago,"

"And you're currently taking Ipronazid?"

"Yeah, 50 milligrams before bed every night,"

"Do you think they work?"

"I don't know anymore. I'm not nearly as depressed as I was when I was a teenager, but now I've been getting really strong mood swings,"

"Has that affected your relationship with your husband at all?"

I pause for a moment. "Yes and no,"

"Explain,"

"I feel like he's getting less patient, which I don't blame him for. I also think I've been less patient with him. I've been quicker to, well, get frustrated. We haven't really fought or anything, we just haven't been as, well, affectionate towards each other,"

"Mmkay. Do you think it's your irritability? Or are you, well, loosing feelings?"

"Oh! No no no, of course we're not losing feelings, we're just in a rough patch," I say quickly. I honestly don't think I can ever fall out of love with Buddy. We've been through too much together.

Dr. Metz puts his hands up defensively. "Okay, okay, how about I call for an updose on your pills and add a new one called St. John's Wort? It's a natural antidepressant and it should even out your mood soon,"

"Yeah that's okay,"

"Great, I'll call in a prescription. For your next appointment, how's two weeks from today?"

I glance at the calendar. "Yeah, that's fine. I'm gonna be out of town until mid September after that though," I reply.

"Oh, that's fun! Where are you going?"

"Well, my husband is going on tour down in the south. I'm tagging along, as always,"

"Tour?"

"For his music,"

"Oh, so he's well known?"

"You can say that," I say as my mind flashes to the last tour back in January and February.

"Would I know any of his songs?"

"You probably do," I decide not to mention that his new single 'Love Tries My Heart' is at number 4 in the United States as of this morning.

"What songs?"

"'Peggy Sue', 'That'll Be The Day', 'Girl From Jupiter', along those lines,"

Dr. Metz furrows his eyebrows. "Buddy Holly?"

I nod. "That's him,"

"Oh, neat! My daughter just adores him. Well, I'll see you after your tour, call in when you get back and get a new appointment so we can discuss the effects of your new dosage,"

I stand up and shake his hand. "Thank you!"

"The pharmacy should call you when your prescription is ready,"

"Thank you, have a good day," I say as I let myself out.

Well that wasn't as bad as I expected. I just told him some stuff and he gabe me some meds. Maybe therapy won't be too bad this time around.

Home

I walk into the apartment and frown. "Hey, Buddy," I call.

"Yeah doll?" He says from our bedroom.

"Babe, can we talk?"

"We've been talkin' a lot, baby," he laughs.

I walk into the room and sit next to Buddy on the bed. I can tell that he's been writing songs based off the fact that his notebook is on the nightstand and there's some words scribbled in it.

"How was your appointment?" He asks.

"I, well, they updose my current meds and put me on new natural ones,"

"Natural?"

"Its called St. John's Wort, I think it's like a plant extract or something, I've heard of it before. Apparently it'll even out my mood,"

"That's great!"

"Buddy, do you still love me?" I blurt.

He furrows his eyebrows and looks at me. "Of course I do!"

"Lately we've been drifting apart,"

"I know, doll, I'm sorry,"

I frown. "I'm sorry too,"

"How can we fix it?" He asks, scooting closer to me.

"I don't know,"

"Maybe now that this Koch stuff is over and done with, we'll be better,"

"I hope so,"

"I love you, I hope you know that none of that has faded even a little. It's just been real stressful lately. Music and your family and such. I don't think I woulda made it through this without you,"

I turn and hug him. "I love you, and it hasn't faded, either,"

"Not fade away, doll," he laughs and wraps his arms around me. "I'd be a mess without you,"

"I'd be some boring nurse, probably wishing I had more in life,"

"What if you never moved t'Lubbock?"

"I think I know exactly what'd happen,"

January 19th, 1959. 7:56am. The Jones Household. Chicago, Illinois.

"Violet! Get in here, quick!" Marvin calls from the living room.

I quicky put down the dish I was washing and walk in. "What is it?"

"Buddy Holly is coming to Chicago!" He says, pointing to the radio.

"HE IS?" I exclaim. "No way!"

"He is! He is, it was announced, he's coming in February!"

"Marv, can we go! Oh please, can we go! His music is so good!"

Marvin chuckles. "Yes, we can go, Violet. You have a crush on him, don't you?"

I blush. "No!"

"Yes you do!"

I shake my head. "No, I don't. I only have eyes for you, I promise,"

"Okay, whatever you say, Vi. I gotta get going to work, I'll see you when I get home," he kisses my cheek and walks out the front door.

I'll never admit it, but I do have the biggest celebrity crush on Buddy Holly. He's so handsome and his music! I love that man. I feel like I know him.

I smile and turn off the radio. I'll listen to records while I clean.

February 7th, 1959

I wander into the concert venu with Debbie Wilson-Norge. I'm practically shaking with excitement and adrenaline.

We get in line to get our tickets checked. I managed to get a couple of front row seats for Debbie and I.

Debbie and I make it through the line and to our seats.

We sit down and I start to shake my leg. I don't think I've ever been this excited in my entire life. Not once.

Debbie looks at me and smiles. "T-minus twenty minutes until the show starts!"

I repress a squeal. I'm a little older than most of the people here, but I'm still head over heels for a rock star.

"Vee, calm down! It's just a rock show."

I shake my head. "It's not just a rock show, Debbie! I'm going to see Buddy Holly live and in person!"

"Why do you like him so much?"

"Because, he's an amazing musician. Can I tell you something weird?" I ask.

"Go for it,"

"It feels like...I know Buddy Holly. It's like, I feel like we're connected somehow. It's like I knew him in another life, I don't know,"

Debbie rolls her eyes. "You and every other girl who listens to his records."

"No, it's different. I swear on god, it's different."

"Whatever you say, Vee. Whatever you say."

The lights go down and a hush comes over the crowd. A spotlight turns on and the announcer walks out on stage.

After Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, and Dion and the Belmonts, it's finally Buddy's set.

I feel my heart speeding up as Dion and the Belmonts exit the stage.

The announcer walks to the middle. "As our last act, we have Mr. Buddy Holly!"

Everyone around me screams, but I'm too stunned to make any noise. It's happening.

I've never been a girl to be obsessed with celebrities, but I guess Buddy Holly is an exception.

I see a lanky man with large glasses and a guitar start to walk out to center stage.

My jaw drops and I'm frozen. I don't move. I can't move.

"Hey y'all, I think you know who I am by now?" He says into the microphone.

"Buddy Holly!" The crowd cheers.

The man smiles. "Yep, that's me. Well, let's get this show on the road," he says as he postions his guitar.

The beginning of 'That'll Be The Day' streams through my ears.

Oh my god, it's happening.

I'm seeing Buddy Holly live.

Right now.

He's right there.

Like, five feet in front of me.

He plays and sings and does his thing.

After 'That'll Be The Day', he turns to his band and says something. He looks at the crowd.

He looks down to the front row.

He scans it.

And lands on me.

He makes eye contact with me and I feel my face heat up.

He smiles and winks AT ME and starts playing Peggy Sue.

I can't believe it.

He winked at me.

There's no way he was looking anywhere else.

It was dead on at me.

I feel like I'm gonna faint.

Throughout his set and the grand finale, he keeps looking at me and smiling and winking and nodding.

Oh my god.

Buddy Holly acknowledged me.

The show finally ends and as he walks off stage, I see him stop and talk to one of the guards by the stage.

Buddy Holly motions to me and the guard nods. It looks like the guard says 'redhead'.

Oh my god.

Is Buddy telling the guard about me?

The guard nods once again and Buddy walks to backstage.

Debbie grabs my arm. "Come on,"

I see the guard start to walk in my direction.

"Hold on, Debbie, something's happening,"

"Nothing's happening, come on!"

I don't budge from my spot. "Give me a second,"

The guard is definitely walks towards ME.

He makes eye contact with me as he continues walking.

Debbie seems to notice that's he's walking towards us.

She raises an eyebrow. "What's going on?"

"I don't know..." I reply.

The guard finally makes his way to us. "Ma'am?"

"Me?" I ask.

"Yes, you. Mr. Holly wanted to invite you backstage if you were interested."

"He did?!" I say, my eyes going wide. "No way!"

The guard nods solidly. "Well, are you interested?"

Debbie shoves me toward the guard. "Yes! She's interested, take her back there!"

"Okay. Here, I'll escort you ma'am," the guard offers his hand.

I quickly take it as he leads me to a stage door.

Just before I walk in, I look back to Debbie Wilson.

She smiles and gives me a thumbs up.

The guard closes the door behind me and I suddenly see a bunch of music equipment and people wandering around.

I recognize everyone that was on stage.

Dion, the Belmonts, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, everyone else that was backing them up, and....

Oh my god. It's him.

I stand awkwardly by the door and glance around.

Drums. Amps. Guitars. Basses. Everything.

Buddy spots me and grins. He starts walking over.

I start silently panicking. How do I look? Is my makeup okay? Is my dress straight? Is my hair neat?

"Hey. How're you, doll?" He asks.

"Oh! Hey, hi, I'm doing great. How are you?" I say quickly.

"Great now that I'm talkin' to a pretty lady," he winks. "What's your name?"

"Violet," I reply. "Violet Jon-Winter. Violet Winter."

"Great to meet ya, Violet. I'm Buddy," he holds out a hand.

I take it and he shakes it. "It's nice to meet you too, Buddy." I blush. It feels like I just got electric shocked.

"Well, Violet, do you wanna go talk in private? My dressin' room or somethin'?"

I nod. "Yeah, sure." I try to contain my excitement.

He takes my hand and leads me through a couple of hall ways and into his dressing room.

He opens the door for me and I walk in.

He closes the door behind us.

I glance in the mirror. I look pretty good, I admit. I spent an two hours getting ready for the concert for this exact reason.

I sit in one if the chairs and he pulls another one closer and sits.

"Well, Violet, I wanna know more 'bout you. What do you do for a living, doll?" He asks.

"Oh, I'm a nurse." I reply.

"Do you like it?" He asks.

I shake my head. "No, not really."

"Huh, sounds hard. I could never be a nurse, I barely graduated high school. Where d'you live?"

"I live in River Forest. It's a suburb of Chicago, obviously."

"How was the concert?" He asks.

"It was so great! I lived every single second. You were my favorite act."

He raises an eyebrow. "Was I, babe?"

I blush and nod. "Yeah..."

"Violet, you know how gorgeous you are?"

"Thank you, wow. You're really handsome, by the way. Can I be honest with you?"

He nods. "Please do,"

"I have the biggest celebrity crush on you. The biggest,"

He smiles. "Aw, doll. I appreciate that so much, you have no idea. I think I got a crush on you, even though we've barely talked."

I grin. "You're so cute," I attempt flirting. But it's never been much forte.

He places a hand on my thigh and I feel my heart speed up even more. Oh my lord, this feels so right.

I put my hand on top of his hand.

"Are you happy with your life?" He asks, suddenly grabbing my hands.

"That was unexpectedly personal," I laugh. "But honestly? No, I don't think I am."

"I'm sorry about that. What could make it better?"

I shrug. "I think I just wasn't meant to live this life I have. I don't think I was meant to be a nurse or to be so...stationary. It just doesn't feel right,"

"Makes sense, darlin'."

"Well, are you happy?" I ask.

"I'm not too happy either. If I'm honest with you, I'm just lonely. It's hard to travel all the time and never be with the same person. I don't mind the travellin', but I feel like someone is missin' from my life. Maybe it's a woman, maybe it's a best friend. I really dunno. All I know is that I'm lonely."

I nod. "Doesn't seem like it would be fun. It's like you're always moving with no fixed points,"

"Yeah, that's how it feels." He looks at me intensely.

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't be," he says. He drops my hands and puts one on my face and the other on my thigh again. He leans in and kisses me.

I kiss back. Oh my god. What am I doing? I'm kissing Buddy Holly! Oh my god!

We break away. "You're really pretty..." he trails off.

"Thank you." I smile, putting my hand on his shoulder. "You're incredibly handsome..."

We kiss again, but it escalates. It escalates quickly.

What am I doing?

I'm married.

I'm married to Marvin.

I'm cheating on my husband with a rockstar.

I don't even care, it's Buddy Holly. I've had it in for him since 'That'll Be The Day" was first dropped.

What am I doing!?

Marvin! I'm cheating on my husband!

Oh god but it feels so good. It feels so right.

Oh my god.

Oh lord.

I'm about to bed a rockstar that I met twenty minutes ago in his dressing room.

Oh god this feels good.

He pulls away, looks at me and smiles. "You're so georgous," he mumbles. "So georgous.,"

I blush and wrap my arms around him.

He pauses. "Are you okay with this?"

I nod. "I'm really okay with it, really,"

"You sure, babe?"

"I'm so sure. I really like you. I like you a lot."

"Well Miss Violet, I like you a whole lot too." He smiles.

Oh my lord. I'm really actually cheating on my husband.

Buddy and I go on to, well, have sex.

After were both cleaned up and satisfied, we sit back down.

He wraps an arm around me. "So, do you wanna get married?" He asks.

My jaw drops and I turn to him. "What?"

"Will you marry me?"

I sort of freak out. "I have to tell you something,"

"What is it?"

"I'm already married..."

"I know, I saw the ring on your finger. But you're unhappy. I wanna make you happy," he says.

"I can't afford a divorce lawyer,"

"I'll pay for it all. You're too pretty to let you slip through my fingers. Call me crazy, but I feel like I know you. Come on, please. I feel like I need you in my life,"

"Buddy..."

"I'll pay for a lawyer and everything. I just want to marry you,"

"I feel like I know you too..." I reply. "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you, but you really do have to pay the lawyer. I barely make any money at the hospital, my husband makes all the money,"

"Really?"

"Really." I say, kissing him. "Let's get married."

"Where can I find you?"

I give him my phone number and address.

"I don't wanna force you into anything," he says. "But I think you're the missing person,"

I nod. "I feel like you're missing from my life, too. I really do want to marry you."

"Great,"

We hear a small knock on the door. "Buddy?" I hear a quiet voice. "You done? We need to get moving,"

"Yeah, come in if you want,"

Dion slowly opens the door.

I blush and avoid eye contact.

"Well, what's your name and how was it?" Dion laughs.

"Violet, and really good."

"Good to hear. Y'know, you're the only person that Bud here has ever hooked up with on the road."

Buddy punches Dion's arm. "Shut up!"

"Just saying."

"By the way," Buddy smiles. "She's my new fiancee,"

"What?! No way!" Dion exclaims. "You've known each other for an hour!"

"It feels right." Buddy says. "It's destiny,"

I bite my lip and look down. The word keeps repeating in my mind. Destiny.

---

I slowly open my eyes and just see the darkness.

Well, that was a super weird dream.

I shove Buddy sleeping next to me.

He stirrs and rolls over. "What baby?" He asks.

"Buddy?"

"You okay, doll?"

"Shit, I just had the weirdest dream."

"Yeah?"

"I was married to Marvin and you played a show in Chicago and invited me into your dressing room and we had sex then you asked me to leave Marvin and marry you."

"Did you say yes to my proposal?"

I nod. "Of course,"

"I feel like that's exactly what woulda happened if you never moved,"

"Me too," I reply. "I don't know, we have a weird connection. Have since we first met."

He pulls me closer to him. "Well, was it good?"

"Being married to marvin? No."

"No, the dressing room part,"

I giggle. "Duh,"

"Pft. Look at you. Having weird sex dreams!" Buddy teases

"Hey!" I laugh. "At least they're about you!"

"Fair enough." He replies. "I can't believe you cheated on your dream husband with me!"

"I can," I grin. "You're the one for me,"

"I guess I can say the same thing to you, doll." He wraps his arms around me. "You're my dumb spaz"

I laugh. "And you're my spineless prick,"

"We make quite the couple,"

"You're sure right about that."

"It feels right. It was destiny,"

"You said that exact sentence in the dream!"

"Well then, it must be true."

"Oh, yeah, you had that dream!" Buddy exclaims.

"Yeah,"

"And we went into my dressin' room?" He laughs.

"I would've cheated for you,"

"I'm irresistible, what can I say?"

I smile and kiss his cheek. "You're one of a kind,"