The flight wasn't as bad as Thea thought it would be. Sure the take off was scary but she just clenched onto the side of her chair, closed her eyes and held her breath just like Lilia was there with her. Once in the air things were great, she passed the time by eating the sweets that she got before going to her gate, watching films and listening in on the argument that was happening a row behind her. Before she knew it they had landed and she was stepping out into the mild French air. For some reason Thea though it would be warmer than it was, but then she remembered that it was the beginning of autumn and she was only a 2 hour flight away from rainy England. Even though it was cold, the sun was shining through the clouds making the place seem warmer than it actually was. Checkout was quicker than England, within an hour she had collected her 5 bags, full of all her clothes and belongings and made her way to the taxi stop. Her dad had refused to put her on the coach that comes with the flight as he said that it wasn't safe now she was on her own. So he booked her a taxi and it was waiting for her as she walked out the airport.
The taxi driver helped fit all of her suitcases in the boot of the car, though Thea could hear him muttering under his breath. She didn't know what it meant as he was talking in French but she knew that it wasn't good. She climbed into the back of the taxi and looked up the address for her new apartment, as the driver was finishing cramming her bags in the boot.
"Boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg" Thea told the driver as he got in the car. He nodded his head and started driving down the rural French roads. Thea got the impression that the driver didn't know much English, this made it hard to communicate to him, as she had only taught herself basic French. After an awkward hour and a half of silence, the first sign for Paris came up on the road ahead. Thea decided to put on her sunglasses and earphones, so she could pretend that she was in a movie when they finally drove in. She knew it was sad, but she didn't care, she had been dreaming of this moment all of her life so it needed to be special. After about another half and hour, Thea could just about see the 'Welcome To Paris' sign in front of her, so she rolled down the window took a deep breath and looked at the place in awe. The scenery in Paris was so much more idyllic than she had imagined in her head. Rows of shops and cafes ran along the cobble pavements, and flowers and trees bloomed around the car, incaving them in the wonders that Paris has. The streets were busy with tourists - taking pictures of everything that they laid their eyes on and children skipping along the pavements arm in arm as their parents frantically pushed their way through the crowds in order not to loose them. The people that's stood out to Thea the most though, was the woman dressed head to toe in elegant and fresh outfits, holding shopping bags of designer clothing, with people stopping to look at them in admiration. Thea knew that as soon as she got her first pay, she would need to update her wardrobe in order to stand out in this city of fashion and make her mark.
After driving through the winding streets of Paris for 10 minutes, the driver pulled up to a set of apartments, Thea knew that one of them was hers, she just didn't know which. The company had flown her over with all expenses paid for, including accommodations, so she had no idea what the apartment would look like, but she wasn't expecting anything grand. As she stepped out the taxi, the sudden smell of homemade croissants and pastry's came flooding in from the bakery's placed all over Paris, and the loud rustle and bustle of the streets overwhelmed her ears. She took a sigh of relief as right in that moment, she knew that she would be ok.
As the taxi driver started unloading all of Thea's bags from the car, she took in the surroundings and just stood for a minute processing where she were. Five minutes later, the Taxi driver left and Thea began to pick up her bags and walk through the doors to where the registry was. The entrance to the apartments was more beautiful than Thea could have ever imagined. Light wood laminate floor was placed with a red carpet leading all the way up to the desk. White columns were placed around the buildings and pictures of Paris was put up all around the walls. The object that caught Thea eyes the most though was the elegant chandelier that hung proudly from the ceiling, sparkling in the sunlight that reflected through the glass windows. Everything about this place seemed like a fairy tail to Thea, and it made her whole heart feel so full. She walked along the carpet up to the desk and rang the bell. A few seconds later a woman emerged from the door behind and sat down at the computer.
"name please" said the woman in her graceful French accent, adjusting her glasses and staring down at the computer. Thea instantly got the feeling that the woman wasn't very talkative, and felt like it would have been a bad idea to try and make conversation.
"Thea Rose" she replied, as she watched to woman start to type of her computer. After a couple of seconds the woman walked back behind the door, leaving Thea all alone in the reception. While she waited she looked up on her phone the nearest bakery, as she was dying to try the freshly baked croissants that she had smelt earlier. After a couple of minutes the woman re-appeared and passed Thea a key over the desk.
"Apartment 577 on level 17" said the woman, sitting back down at her desk again.
"Thank you" said Thea as she grabbed her bags and the key and made away towards the elevator. As she struggled to juggle her bags and press the button , she heard a deep voice yelling from behind her
"Let me help you with that" it said, as Thea fell over all of her suitcases. Red and embarrassed Thea stood up and turned around to find a man, no older than 23 standing next to her. Thea had never seen anybody like it before. He had thick dark brown hair that fell over his forehead. His eyes were a piercing blue colour, and his jawline looked like it had been chiseled by God himself. Thea felt herself go more red as she frantically tried to pick up all the bags that she had dropped. Before she could pick up the key, the boys hand had already come down and picked it up.
"looking for this" he said in his deep masculine voice. A subtle smirk grew, as he moved his hair out of his face.
"yes, thank you" replied Thea as she took the key for her apartment from his hand. Before she was given the chance he had pressed the elevator door and before she knew it she was stood in the elevator with him. There was a minute of awkward silence before the stranger started a conversation
"your from England aren't you" the boy stated, as he looked at Thea. Thea didn't know if that was meant to come across as kind or patronizing, either way she looked at him and replied
"yes - yes I am." There was another minute or so of awkward silence until finally the doors opened and Thea could walk out. She picked up her bags and walked, not knowing whether to say bye to the man or not. She was going to turn around and say her name, but all that came out was
"I love sharks," Her face began to grow red. Something about this boy made her go all jelly like, she hated it, no body had ever made her feel this way before. The boy looked so confused but replied with "yeah, I quite like them too." Thea smiled as the same smirk grew yet again upon the mans face. And as the elevator doors shut for the final time, Thea wondered whether she would ever see the mysterious boy again.
YOU ARE READING
Imagine Us In Paris
Romance22 year old Thea Rose moves from her quiet English hometown to the busy streets of Paris, with her eyes set on being a fashion designer for one of the biggest brands in the world. But that's not the only thing she has her sights on.
