When in Paris

Step 1 - Arrive and Lose All of Your Money

I stood in the middle of the airport and stretched, watching people walk around urgently, looking for their bags. I took my time walking to the baggage claim, listening to the chatter around me.

"...food? Let's go get some..."

"...flight leaves in ten minutes! Hurry..."

"...time are we meeting them? Is Lexi..."

"...Tu m'as manque aussi! Nous devons..."

I couldn't help but grin as the French floated to my ears. I walked over to the baggage claim and grabbed my bags. I felt like I was in a dream as I walked out of the busy airport and to a taxi stand. Waiting for a taxi, I looked around at the different people walking in and out of the airport.

A group of guys caught my attention. They all looked around my age and I couldn't help but stare at one guy in particular. He was tall and had an athletic build. He was extremely cute, with flippy dark brown hair and ice blue eyes. I realized I was staring when he looked in my direction and raised an eyebrow. I quickly looked back towards the street and ran to the closest taxi.

I told the taxi driver where I was going and slumped in the back seat. I was never like this around guys, so why this one? Especially since I had never even talked to him, just stared a bit. I sighed and pulled out my phone.

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"We're here, madame." The driver said, pulling me out of my day dream. "Thank you so much!" I said. "Now, that'll be fifty francs." He replied. I reached for my backpack, but realized it wasn't there. "Um... could you give me just a minute?" I asked, frantically pawing through my pile of bags. "Be fast, I have other places to be." He turned around. "Americans." He muttered, shaking his bald head.

"I can't seem to find my bag..." I said. "What? No money?!" The man yelled. "No... I'm sorry." I told him apologetically. "Whatever. You've wasted enough of my time." The man replied before speeding off.

I sighed and pulled my cell phone out of my pocket. At least I had that. I dialed my mom's number and waited for her to pick up.

"Hello?" She asked brightly.

"Uh, hey, Mom. It's Ella." I said.

"Ella! Are you in Paris yet? Is it nice? How about the hotel?"

"Um... Well you see... I have a bit of a problem... I can't find my backpack with my money in it..." I said, biting my lip. There was a pause. "You lost the credit cards and everything?" My mom eventually asked. "Yes. I don't know what happened! I must've missed it at baggage claim. Maybe I can go back and loo-"

"There's no point in going back, it'll already be gone. I'll just have to cut off the credit cards." She sighed. "I'm so sorry, Mom." I said, feeling tears prick my eyes.

"It's okay, honey. I'll have Dad send some more money over. I don't know when it will be there... At least a week... We need to find you a place to stay. Let me call you back in a few minutes." My mom said and hung up. I sat on the crubs and put my head in my hands. I let the sound of Paris fill my ears. Hearing all of the French and people walking past put me at ease. I sighed. I was so close to reaching my dream, but now here I was with no money. Was I going to have to return home?

Fiften minutes later, my phone rang. "Hello?" I asked. "I found a place for you to stay!" My mom chirped. I jumped up from the curb. "Really?! Where?" I asked excitedly. "You see, I have a friennd who is the dean for an all girls' boarding school."

"So I'm going to an all girls' boarding school?" I asked.

"Not exactly. My friend told me that she would gladly let you stay, but the school is completely filled." I could feel myself slump again. "I thought you said you found a place for me to stay." I said.

"I did! So, she called her friend who is the dean of another boarding school..." My mom trailed off.

"But...?"

"It's an all boys' boarding school." My mom gushed. "So... I'm going to stay... at an all boys' school... where a bunch of French boys attend?" I asked.

"Well... the boys are from around Europe and America. There are a lot that aren't French. I'm sorry, it's only temporary!" My mom said. She sounded like she was panicking.

"Mom!" I said, getting her attention.

"Yes?"

"This is the best thing you could've ever done for me! I love you so much!" I said, jumping up and down. I received a few glances from people walking by, but ignored them. I was going to a school with all boys. European boys. Life couldn't get any better.