French Rose

Chapter 16

"Good morning"

I had half my head into the kitchen. What he had on that counter was mouthwatering, more than enough to make me feel completely awake. It was the same effect as coffee, just a tougher kick. I ate more than enough yesterday and the sugar was just okay for one week but those pancakes were screaming my name.

"So what do you have going on there?"

"Making breakfast for you, something to remind you of home"

"Home?" Hunger pushed me and off I went to the counter side. I sat behind the piled of food, wondering if he made all of this for just one person. I never expected him to make something so normal, seeing the first type of meal he gave me was something straight from a fancy restaurant. I always had in mind that all my days here would be spent eating cereal or ordering food. 

"Figured out you're not a fan of French food or at least, not used to it yet so I made something to remind you of home"

"Not that I hate it or anything, I just find yours a little too, what's the best way to put this, fancy"

"What is it? You don't like fancy food?"

"Well, it's usually too small. Big turn off. Besides, I've not had the opportunity to eat street food and trust me, I'd do anything to try it out."

"I know a place we can get not-so-fancy breakfast"

"I'm probably the most popular being on social media now and no amount of bodyguards would stop the amount of people out there. Thanks for the concern but as much as I'd like to, I'm okay with having your pancakes for breakfast"

"No one said anything about walking on the streets"

I went to the movies once in my entire life and it was an experience I couldn't forget. I was the most bored twelve year old on the planet and no, I didn't have a problem with it. That was the year I started realising my life couldn't get more fun than watching Netflix and eating all day. I was getting used to my life pattern and everyday routine. Wake up to my parents, have breakfast, be forced to go to school, get back and eat, watch movies till I'm forced to do my assignments, eat and sleep. It happened the same way every single day, it felt like my life was programmed and sometimes, when I had to go on trips with my parents or parties, it was usually worse. Then I'd have to meet more people, fake a smile, eat extremely tiny and fancy food, literally everything I was getting used to.

I didn't have a choice so I had to find fun in it or at least sanity.

Well, one day the family thought it would be a good idea to visit the movies for my own good. I wasn't involved in the decision making, it was a last minute thing and I didn't really have a choice so I had to roll with it.

At first, I thought it would be a good thing. I could meet new people, eat popcorn that wasn't made by me and hopefully find a friend and understand what the best friend thing was all about. At that point in my life, I was dying to have a best friend. All the girls in school had one, I'd see them walking in pairs or cliques and sometimes feel lonely.

Although, they waved to me across the hallway almost every day and try to talk to me but our conversations never exceeded 'hi's or 'hey's. I never attached myself to any one of them, no matter how much they tried. They all looked similar, same type of clothes and stuff like that. Besides, the ones that were different never had the courage to talk to me and neither did I.

Anyways, I got all dressed, even went as far as adding my mom's mascara and eyeliner with high hopes.

I already got a bad feeling about the when thing from when we stepped out of the car. People started taking pictures, pointing at us and basically everything I foolishly didn't think would happen. We did have a lot of bodyguards around us but it wasn't like going to the movies like a normal twelve year old with my family.

I was quiet throughout the entire walk in and I had my head down even when I heard people calling my name. We got popcorn which was the only good thing about the entire visit and spent just thirty minutes into the movie.

We caused a lot of distraction, a lot of people wanted to watch the same movie as us and the queue was frustratingly long. Not that we had issued with getting in, I was just worried about the length and people spending a lot of time waiting.

We went back home and decided to watch the movie with family and some friends.

Sitting in the car with Lucas beside me reminded me of that day. Through we weren't going to the movies but it was different and less extravagant than my usual lifestyle so I guess that was enough to bring back those memories.

It was the first time in while I was going somewhere without a driver or escorts trailing behind me. Lucas was behind the wheel and I was beside him on the passenger's seat, looking out the window with a scarf and sunglasses.

It felt so normal, I felt so normal.

Turns out Lucas mom owned a restaurant, a family business actually, where he learned his amazing cooking skills and we were on our way there to have breakfast. I could remember he mentioned something about it when we first met but it felt like the first time when he told me again. He said the place had the best croissants, bread and his sister was the best pastry chef he knew. The way he spoke so much of her looked like she was the best thing that ever happened to him.

"Thanks again for this Lucas"

"Its nothing Christina, anything to make you satisfied"

"Please, you make it sound like I'm a goddess or something"

With his eyes on the road, his lips curved up in a smile and said "It seems you don't like claiming the authority you have"

"Only God has all the authority. Might've been born in a different family but we were both born the same way so nothing makes us different"

"Well, that new"

"Why? You've never heard something like that before?"

"No, I haven't. I've worked for a lot of people like you and I don't know If it's because you're young but you're different"

"I'll take that as a compliment. You say young like I'm five, I'm not that small, you know? Besides, we look the same age. How old are you?"

"Nineteen"

"And I'm eighteen so what's the different"

"Three hundred and sixty five days"

"It's just a year, whatever"

"A year is enough to achieve a lot of things" He said as the car pulled to an abrupt stop in the middle of nowhere.

"Wait a minute, where are we?"