Love, Monaco

00.07

I throw on my Finding Nemo themed shirt the next day, grinning as I walk into the living room. "Wow you really went there, I thought you were kidding" Wren says as I spread out my arms to show off the shirt. "I never kid about aquariums" I tell her happily. Émie waltzes into the room typing on her phone, "she's right Wrenny" the brunette mumbles while not even looking at us, "let's go I can't wait" i exclaim while rushing my friends.

The three of us walk into the Musée Oceanographique and I look up in awe of the building. "C'est magnifique" I say under my breath as we walk to the entrance of the museum tickets ready to get scanned. "Woah" I hear my friends say when we get into the main part of the museum, my gaze moves around the large room before stopping at a fish tank. I grin skipping over to it, my friends chuckle behind me as they follow my childlike movement. "Del pose for the camera" I spin around striking a pose with an exaggerated facial expression making Wren laugh loudly. "Send it to me!" I exclaim once they show me the great picture, "okay okay" Émie replies with a smile as she taps away on her phone, mine vibrating seconds later with the shared picture.

I bite my lip as I save the photo, I then go into my text messages selecting mine and Charles' conversation. I quickly attach the dorky picture typing a message to go with it,

Della
Today got very fin-teresting 😆🐠🐟🐡

I chuckle to myself at the horrible pun before sending it and putting away my phone to rejoin my friends who have walked further into the exhibit. "Finished sending that masterpiece to Charles?" I blush looking away from Wren who is looking at me knowingly, "yes" I mumble embarrassed by how well she knows me, "good showing off your dorky side is my favourite version of you" I smile and Émie links our arms to pull us along.

☕️☕️☕️

We're watching the sea turtles moving in the water later when my phone vibrates. I step away from the large tank to pull out my phone, I smile when I see that Charles texted me back.

Charles
Just keep swimming...just keep swimming... 🎶🐠🐟

Della
You just made my day

Charles
And you made mine with that picture

Della
What are you up to?

Charles
Headed to Italy

Della
Oooo a jet setter, where was my invite?

Charles
😅

Della
I'm kidding Charles, you don't know me enough to invite me on trips like that 😆

Charles
But I want to know you enough to invite you on trips Della 😫

The text makes me bite my lip, "Del?" I look up at my two friends, "whats got your attention?" I shrug a smile coming to my face for a second before I bite my lip again. Suddenly my phone is snatched out of my hand, "hey!" I yelp watching my friends huddle together to look down at the device. "God he's really something" Émie exclaims while smiling at me, "I know..." I start and look down at my sneaker clad feet, "but you're scared" Wren finishes making me nod. "I wish that I wasn't this broken" I tell the two brunettes sadly, "time heals all wounds Del" I shrug and peer up at them, "there's no harm in getting to know Charles, he seems sweet and maybe he's the person you need in your life to heal further" I smile slightly. "Look you smile whenever he's mentioned, that means something" you sigh realizing that your friends are onto something, "pull me out if it's headed in a bad direction" I say as I look at them, "always babe, but if we're being honest I don't think we'll need to with this one" I look at them seriously, "promise me" I say, "we promise Del" Émie replies with a nod. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding before taking my phone from them.

Della
When you're back in Monte Carlo let's grab a coffee, one where we don't need to-go cups

Charles
That sounds perfect, I'll text you when I get back to the city

Della
😊☕️

I look up a smile on my face. "So?" I put away my phone and link my arms through Émie's and Wren's making them walk with me to the next exhibit. "We're going to get coffee when he gets back from Italy" I reply after a few seconds of silence, "great" I nod in response and we continue our journey through the Musée Oceanographique.

☕️☕️☕️

At the end of the day the three of us are seated at the tiny dining room table in our rented apartment. Plates of spaghetti in front of us as we sip at wine and reminisce about our university years. I sit back watching my two closest friends laughing at one of the many stories we share, feeling happy just sitting with them, a simple meal getting shared with the backdrop of a city that has been nothing but amazing to us the first few days of this graduation celebration. "I love you guys" I say making them turn to me, "aw Del love you too babe" Émie exclaims, Wren nods in agreement both of them smiling, "it's going to be weird not living with you guys after all of this" they nod, "i'm not ready for that so lets not mention it" I laugh at Wren's statement before we continue eating our dinner. The rest of the evening staying low-key as we take our drinks to the couch giggling as we get a bit wine drunk before heading to bed.