2 kids

Little Paris

Ashley

"We should go to Paris," Heather thinks out loud. "The city of fashion. Or Milan. We should go to Europe, that's my point."

For a split second I thought she was going to say, 'the city of love'. And guessing from Ciara's side eye she did too.

"We should," I agree.

Heather links her arm through mine and Ciara's, passionately listing all the things she wants to see and do in Paris. Within ten minutes she has planned the perfect girl's trip.

"How long have you been thinking about this?"

She turns to me with a bright smile coating her face. "Years."

"You're turning into a desperate romantic," Ciara teases her.

And though the smile doesn't fade from Heather's beautiful face, it fades from her eyes. Only one spark goes out – but that one spark is enough. "I'm just no longer pretending I'm something I'm not. I'm living my life the way I want."

I notice Ciara gently squeezing Heather's hand. There are still plenty of things about my friends that I don't know. Unshared secrets we share. They aren't pushing on me, and I'm not pushing on them.

I found my little Paris in the middle of New York City. For a few months it was the most beautiful thing ever happened to me. A different, special, rare and unique kind of beauty floated around. Mesmerised me and trapped me in illusions of a perfect future.

And then it crumbled.

And my own little Paris no longer existed.

The girls lead the way to a small café nearby, tired from walking the whole day and shopping around. They took me under their wing the moment we were introduced, but now it's almost like they have adopted me. Everywhere I go, they like to follow. Most of my days I spend with them, Sophie and Violet joining us too. While Mae is out in the world, pursuing her dream, we're patiently waiting for her to return whilst slowly living our own lives.

"If you'll move to Paris, Ash," Heather starts again. "I'll be visiting you so often you'll grow annoyed with me."

"I think she's already annoyed with you."

I laugh and assure them both I'll always welcome them. "If I get accepted."

They both halt, flashing me their motherly looks. "You will get accepted." And resume walking.

I wish they could predict the future. I wish their predictions would be true.

We turn right, as instructed by Ciara, and almost crash into Nico. Heather silently curses under her breath, Nico just grins at us and snorts.

"What a pleasant surprise," he says. "Where are you headed ladies?"

"To enjoy a day with no men," Heather immediately replies and shoots him a glare. They stare each other down, until Nico doesn't grin wider at her and announces he'll join us. His voice doesn't leave much space for any objections, and Heather just rolls her eyes.

When Ace left for their tour, Nico became something of a brotherly figure. I hadn't realised what Ace meant to me. I always assumed our relationship was merely friendly, but when they left, I realised it was a bit deeper. We had grown close over the months and when the four of them departed, I felt.... abandoned in a way. With Mae and Ace gone, after what happened between Alex and I... I felt miserable. Heather and Ciara adopted me, and Nico practically joined them.

*********

Ciara studies me with her sea green eyes, then brings the coffee cup down. "Alright, we won't barge in there like the world's on fire. But we'll be there." Her beautiful auburn hair shines under the sunlight. She looks like an angel – angel of fire.