Every ballet class starts with an exercise on the barre, a horizontal, often wooden or metal, bar that is fastened to the walls, or free-standing with supports on either side. While doing barre exercises, a dancer will stand and hold on to the barre...
I don't remember what time I fell asleep, or how I managed to not spill any of the ice cream on the couch. Somehow, the container is on the coffee table and closed, I imagine it's melted.
I stand up and stretch, wishing I would have moved to my bed before falling asleep on our not-so-comfortable sofa.
I start by turning the TV off, folding the blankets I used, and then putting the now warm tub of ice cream back into the freezer. After I'm finished cleaning, I go to check my phone for any messages, in which I discover two.
Gael-
| I'll pick you up at 5. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in.
I smile at his message for a second, before moving on to the next.
Unknown Number-
| This is Kelsey, the girl you ran into. Let me know when you want to follow up on that tour!!
I groan when I remember that's still on my To-Do list for the day, and try to come up with a reply.
We can start our tour at the Carrousel de Louvre. I |need to go shopping for a date tonight. Can you take the Metro to the 1st arrondissement by 11?
I hit send and hope my new tourist agrees, mainly because I needed a dress for tonight. Usually I could borrow something from Livie, but judging by her shut bedroom door, that might not be the best idea.
My phone reads 9:17 am, giving me plenty of time to shower and decide what I'll do for breakfast. Soon after stepping out of my bathroom, my phone chimes with a text from Kelsey.
| I can manage :) I'm dying to hear more about your many dates. Two in a row?!
I take note to explain that later, and focus on sifting through my outfit options for today.
After spending at least half an hour in my closet, I find a pair of black sweats and a white collared shirt.
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^^^ Juliettes outfit
When I'm finally ready to leave, I text Kelsey to let her know I'm leaving, and decide on stopping at a crêpe cart for brunch.
____________________________________
"Wait so you're getting paid to have a boyfriend?" Kelsey cries while pushing the plastic hangers on a rack.
"Fake boyfriend," I correct.
"Paris is more fun than I thought," she smiles while pulling out a pink dress and holding it up. "This is cute."
After glancing at the fabric she chose, I pull out a leopard printed dress that hangs loosely at the top.
"Okay, you win," Kelsey admits while putting hers back where she found it.
After paying for the dress, we continue walking through the Louvre, weaving in and out of shops aimlessly.
"You know, Gael might have some cute friends looking for a fake girlfriend," I tease while tracing my fingers over a display.
"Oh my god, would you ask him for me?"
I laugh and pick up a small handbag that caught my eye. "Of course, you have to get the full Paris experience," I joke.
Suddenly, Kelsey takes the handbag out of my grasp and examines it closely.
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"Let's send a picture to Gael and ask him to buy it for you," she smirks.
"No thanks," I grimace and put the bag back on the glass shelf.
"Come on, you know he'll say yes."
"Sorry, I don't like asking people to buy me $500 handbags."
After I finish my sentence, my phone chimes in my pocket and I pull it out to see who texted me. Instead of a new message, I find Gael and I's conversation open, and a voice memo I just sent. Even worse, Gael hearted the ten second clip.
"My phone recorded that whole thing," I whisper frantically.
Kelsey takes my phone from me, laughing when it chimes again.
"He wants a picture of the handbag," she snorts.
"No way, I'm not sending him-"
Before I can finish, the sound of my camera shuttering cuts me off. I reach for the phone, only to have it pulled further away from me.
"He said it's cute," her eyes widen and she looks up from the screen slowly. "And sent $500 in ApplePay."
My face immediately goes red, and Kelsey finally returns my phone to me. Sure enough, Gael sent the money and followed up with another text.
| Bring it tonight, can't wait to see the completed look ;)
I know I should thank him, but I'm far too embarrassed to send anything back.
I quickly grab the handbag from the display again, and speed walk to the register to pay for it. I can tell Kelsey is trailing behind me, making me slightly irritated.
After slamming the bag on the counter, I pull out my card and hand it to the lady who is studying us carefully.
When my card has been swiped, she wraps the pink leather and places it in another bag for us to leave with.
As soon as we're outside the store, I look over to Kelsey who is biting her nails nervously.
