To Be a Hero | MLB

37: The Tower

At five minutes until eight the next day, I'm walking into the Place de Vosges, Antoine's and my usual meeting spot, my eyes searching the park for Antoine's familiar lean form. He's not sitting on our bench, and I feel my heart start to sink.

I'm still early, I tell myself. He'll be here in a few minutes.

I start toward our bench, then jump as a pair of hands come to rest on my shoulders. I spin around, holding my breath, then relax as I come face-to-face with Antoine.

He holds his hands up in surrender, and my eyes are drawn to his long, slender fingers. "I am sorry, should I not have done that? I wanted to surprise you—"

I smile. "It was fine, Antoine." Then my smile dims, and I work myself up to saying what I've been dying to tell him for the past twenty-four hours. "So, Antoine, about my decision..."

Panic crosses his face for a moment before his features settle back into their usual calm state. "Actually, before we... ah... talk about that, I was wondering if I could take you somewhere."

I raise my eyebrows, more than a little startled. "Where?"

He grins. "The Eiffel Tower."

"Oh" is all I can say.

"You said you have not been there yet, right?"

Once, as Pinion, but... that doesn't count. "No."

"Perfect. I just wanted a chance to take you there before things... change between us."

I smile and take his hand, knowing things are only going to get a lot better for us. "Okay, then. Lead the way!"

We chat on the way to the Tower, and I can practically see Antoine's nerves melting off of him as we walk. It's hard to ignore the... interested looks he gains from other teens we pass, and I can't help gripping his hand tighter.

Mine, I think. He's mine. Well, almost.

We arrive a little over an hour later, after the sun has set and the sky has turned from a soft pink to a dark, mysterious purple. Antoine pays for our admission, and we take the lift to the second floor.

"You are not afraid of heights, I hope?" Antoine half-asks me, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

I tear my gaze away from his lips for long enough to meet his eye and nod, then shake my head. "No, I... I'm not afraid of heights." When did everything about him become so... distracting?

Ever since Antoine found me at the park, I've barely been able to keep my eyes off him. More than usual, at least.

Is it because I know I'm about to become his girlfriend, or something else? I know I have feelings for him, but could it be something... more?

His hand gently squeezes mine, and I realize we've made it to the second floor. We step out onto the balcony, where a few other couples and families are gazing out over the city. Antoine guides me to the railing, and we stand in silence for a few minutes, gazing out over the city and watching miniature cars and people flow by below us.

Softly, Antoine begins to tell me about his favorite places to visit across the city, and I stay hooked on his every word, watching the way he uses his hands to convey his passion and grinning every time his voice speeds up right before he switches to another topic. The light of the moon above us gives him a slight glow, and my gaze travels to the faint shine it gives his dark hair.

He finishes telling me about his favorite café in the seventh arrondissement, then leans forward to see out over the balcony's railing. "It is amazing, really," he sighs, and I follow his gaze to the tiny pinpricks of light shining from windows and cars far below. "My city... it has been through so much, and yet it remains so beautiful. I love that I get to call it my home."

I take a moment to admire the look of pure adoration on his face before taking my cue and sliding my hand into his. "There's something I like even more," I say softly, and Antoine turns to look at me, intrigued.

"And what is that?"

I grin. "You." Then I place my free hand on the side of his face and pull him closer to me, pressing my lips against his. Antoine dips his head to kiss me back and slides his hand around my waist. He deepens our kiss, and I melt into him, relishing the soft tenderness of his lips.

Eventually, we part, breathless and elated. He keeps his hand on my waist, and I rest my head against his chest. I smile to myself, hearing his heartbeat quicken in his chest.

"Does this mean..." he murmurs, and I gaze up at him.

"I'll be your girlfriend," I finish for him, and he bends to kiss me again.

We stay on the Tower for a few more minutes, hand in hand, nothing on our minds except each other. And honestly?

It's perfect.