The moment the plane touched down in Berlin, Isadora looked out the window and sighed — a mix of relief and nostalgia. The chaos of LA felt like another universe. Here, the air was colder, the sky grayer, and the language familiar.
Her mom picked her up from the airport, practically tackling her in the arrival hall.
> “Minha filha! Você está magrinha demais! You need to eat!”
Isadora laughed and hugged her tightly. Even after a near-breakup, a car crash, and world-shaking drama… being home made it feel like maybe everything would be okay.
Isadora had lived in Germany most of her life. Her mother was Brazilian, but her late father was born and raised in Hamburg — a serious, music-loving man with a dusty vinyl collection and stacks of poetry books in German. That side of her, the quieter one, only came out when she was home.
The walls of her childhood apartment still had concert posters from when she was twelve: Avril, Evanescence, early Tokio Hotel flyers. She passed her old keyboard and scratched bass guitar in the hallway like they were old friends.
That weekend, both bands met up at Nina’s cousin’s house — a farmhouse just outside of Leipzig, surrounded by trees, with no paparazzi, no managers, no adults.
A massive sleepover. Phantom Youth and Tokio Hotel. No stage. No rehearsals. Just junk food, guitars, and chaos.
In the living room:
Bill was showing Nina how to straighten hair using an iron.
Georg brought a bunch of PlayStation 2 games and crushed everyone in Tony Hawk’s Underground.
Gustav set up a horror movie marathon.
Memphis taught Tom how to beatbox (badly).
Isadora was in the kitchen with Tom, sneaking gummy bears into microwave popcorn and laughing so hard she nearly dropped the bowl.
They all ended up on sleeping bags and beanbags in one massive pile, limbs tangled and laughter echoing.
Later that night, when most of the others were passed out mid-movie, Tom and Isadora slipped outside to the porch, hoodie and blanket wrapped around them.
> “Being here makes things feel normal again,” she said softly.
> “You’re my normal now,” he replied, nudging her shoulder.
She smiled, resting her head on his.
> “You’re such a sap.”
> “Yeah, but only for you.”
They fell asleep side by side, fingers laced together under the stars.
Did y'all see the picture of Heidi and seal meeting at their son's graduation
YOU ARE READING
"Strings Between Us
Romance2004. Germany. Tom Kaulitz is used to getting what he wants - the stage, the crowd, the girls. As Tokio Hotel begins to rise, so does his ego... until she shows up. She's the Brazilian guitarist in a rival band - quiet, sharp-tongued, and completely...
