Riot time in Paris // Billie Eilish G!P

Chapter fifteen

"Let's set up here, guys." Marie-Louise parked her vintage Volkswagen van along the side of the road, next to a violet field just outside Tourrettes-sur-Loup. The van looked like an old hippie bus, with flowers painted all over the sides, surrounding the logo of Gallery Valbonne. "I hope you didn't forget to bring your blue paint."

"This feels like a school trip," Brenda said as she jumped out of the van with bags full of utensils. "But much more fun."

Billie followed her fellow course mates into the blue field. It was early morning, and although most of them had complained about the un-Godly hour, it had all been worth the drive. They had packed up a picnic too, prepared for a long day ahead. Marie-Louise had told them to bring sunscreen and caps or hats to protect them from the sun in the open fields. Brenda and Samantha had taken the dress code to a whole new level, with big floppy summer hats, decorated with leaves and fresh flowers. They looked great together, walking towards the rising sun.

Billie had seen a shift in both of them as the weeks had passed. They had started to dress differently. Perhaps bohemian was a good way to describe their new-found style, Billie thought. The floaty floral summer dresses were for sale in every boutique in the area, and they had embraced it, flaunting their tans and their new bangs after a recent visit to the hairdresser.

Graham wore an LA Lakers cap and a matching purple t-shirt. His arms were white from the thick layer of sunscreen he had applied in the van. Cherie was quiet as always, casually dressed in a black cap and a grey tracksuit. Although the group couldn't have been more different to her, Billie had enjoyed getting to know them better. Cherie still didn't say very much, but she was always sweet and helpful during class. The low sun skimmed the violet flower roof, creating the perfect scene for a painting. Billie took a deep breath, looking out over the fields that seemed to stretch out in an endless sea of purple and blue.

"Toilet paper is in the van," Marie-Louise yelled, breaking the magic moment for everyone who stood there, focused on the scene in front of them. "If you need to go, run over to the woods." She pointed in the direction of the forest that was at least a ten-minute walk from where they stood.

They set up in a semi-circle, the same way they always did in the gallery garden. Marie-Louise stood in the middle, slightly more to the front, so they could see her demonstrations.

"Today we are at one with nature," she said, spreading out her arms. "There's no better place to paint than in the French fields, non?" She had put on a blue dress for the occasion, blending in with the landscape. Her hair was pinned up in a thick braid, this time topped off with two blue parakeets; Adele and Fleur. Adele had died of old age, Marie-Louise told them, and that much was clear. Graham speculated Fleur's death had been more violent, as she had numerous stitches across her chest, but no one asked.

Billie mixed French Ultramarine and Chroma Blue with water on a paper picnic plate, dipped her brush into it and put her first blobs of color on the paper. Not only had her technique improved, her confidence had grown too. She found herself relaxing into the painting now, rather than getting frustrated with her mistakes, and she was able to correct things she didn't like, instead of starting over again.

"Isn't it a lovely day for painting in the French fields," she said. "I wonder if this is what heaven looks like."

"Someone's chirpy today," Graham remarked, looking over at Billie.

She turned to him, unsure of what he meant, when she suddenly realized she had a big grin on her face. Oh God, I must have been carrying this cheesy smile the whole morning. "I'm just happy," she said. "The sun is shining and we're in this beautiful field... what else could anyone want?"

The group eyed her in suspicion.

"Are you sure it's just that?" Brenda asked. "Graham's right. You do look happy. You're glowing, as they say." She cocked her head. "Have you met someone?"