Alex inspected the CD closely. “Pet Shop Boys. ‘Go West.’”
It wasn’t the copy Kyle had given Micah. No matter what, he couldn’t have parted with it. He had gone on eBay to find another one, and it had taken a few weeks of bidding on different copies. Micah had even put the song back on his iPod and could listen to it again without thinking of who gave it to him and getting maudlin about it. He and Kyle had actually started cautiously texting each other again, and although Micah couldn’t say they were at the “friends” stage again, they were on their way. If Micah had learnt anything at all over the past couple of years, it was to hold on to the people who were willing to be your friends no matter what shit you put them through. And then try not to put them through any of that shit again.
“I thought it was appropriate,” Micah said.
“Can I put it on?”
“Sure.”
“Why are they wearing such weird hats?” Alex slid the CD into the player.
“I guess fashion was really bad in the nineties.”
“I’ve never seen any pictures of mum and dad wearing stuff like that.”
“I don’t think our parents were hip enough.”
“Oh.”
The song started and they both fell silent as they listened, and Alex continued to stare out at the beach. Micah pulled into a free parking spot, and they allowed the song to play out.
“They want to go west,” Micah said.
Alex rolled his eyes. “I got that.”
“You didn’t let me finish, idiot. We are west. Get it?”
“Kind of.”
“Just think about it. Here we are, driving down the West Coast Highway, the sun shining upon the water as it sets… because the sun sets in Western Australia over the ocean, did you know that?”
“Yes, because I’m not stupid,” Alex said, as if he definitely thought Micah was. “It’s the opposite side of the country, so of course it doesn’t rise over the ocean like it does back home.”
Micah smiled at the use of the word “home” for Melbourne. He remembered how he did it all the time when he first moved here, and of course Melbourne would always be home, but for right now Perth was home. And he was starting to think of it that way himself. “Anyway, we’ll be driving, and going, ‘Wow, this city actually can be quite pretty,’ and then I’ll slip this into the CD player again, and as you hear the seagulls cry before the beat kicks in, you’ll actually feel pretty content with where you are. And then the lyrics will start, and you’ll sing along, but you’ll realise you’re in the West, and you’re fine.”
“That’s a pretty heavy way to look at that song.”
“I don’t think it’s wrong, though.”
“No. Probably not. It’s kind of a sad song really, isn’t it?”
Micah thought about it, and had to agree. “But it’s hopeful too.”
“Yeah,” Alex said. “It’s a pretty good song. Put it on again.”