Down the road of memories

La vie en rose

Elle POV

I didn't remember how annoying jet lag is! However, I traveled a lot and long distances : LA to Dodoma, LA to Paris, Baltimore to New Delhi then Paris to Bangkok. Was it the fatigue and stress that went away after the wedding? I don't know it, but I literally collapsed on the bed in our hotel room a few minutes walk from the Eiffel Tower as soon as we arrived, Noah and me.

I don't know how long I slept, but when I woke up, Noah was still sleeping next to me. I know we've only been married for two days but I still feel like I'm living a dream... or la vie en rose! As if I couldn't still believe that as I had wished when I returned to Noah's motorcycle when he left at the airport for Harvard... that a part of my heart would always belong to him. And today I can say that my whole heart belongs to him! I said to myself, tracing the line of his chin with my finger. He only sighed, still asleep murmuring :
- I love you, Elle!
- I love you too!" I said to him before getting up and going to the balcony overlooking the Champs Elysées and the Eiffel Tower.

Flashback Paris in June, 14 months before the reunion in front of the Kissing booth

- Aux champs Elysées! Aux champs Elysées! Au soleil, sous la pluie! À midi ou à minuit! Il y a tout ce que vous voulez! Aux champs Elysées!" Chloe sang at the top of her lungs as she, Rachel and I headed across the Champs Elysées towards the Eiffel Tower.

I have been in Paris for 6 months and things are going well overall. I love Parisian life with its refined cuisine and exquisite bread rolls. It had become my morning routine to cross the street to the little local bakery to buy myself a "pain au chocolat" for breakfast before heading to the hospital. I also love the hospital I work at. There are several medical students who come from all over the world. I love learning about what is being done elsewhere.

But when the month of June came, I started to feel homesick. Lee was supposed to come spend our birthday in Paris with me, telling me that he can't do without his bestie during this day. However, he was kept at work by a big project. He was disappointed... and so was I! I felt alone and I needed my best friend too. What was my surprise when two days before my birthday, Chloe and Rachel knocked on my door and said :
- Special delivery from the Flynn brothers!" they said to me, hugging me.

I couldn't believe that Lee and Noah chose to send their girlfriend and best friend to surround me during my first birthday overseas.

A difficult part, besides the boredom of home, of living in France is learning French. I swore to myself that I would succeed despite my difficulty learning new languages. This is why I was so surprised to hear Chloe singing in French while we were walking on the Champs Elysées.
- I didn't know that you knew how to speak French Chloe or that you are a fan of Joe Dassin." I said to her, smiling.

It was so good to have my friends with me!
- I have always loved Paris!" she told me. "I came frequently with my parents since London is so close. To stay in the mood, I started taking French lessons and listening to Joe Dassin.
- For me, it's a dream come true!" Rachel said to me, taking my arm. "I was absolutely euphoric when Lee told me he couldn't come and that he was going to send me to see you instead!
- It's true! But you told me you were sent by the Flynn brothers?" I asked intrigued, looking at Chloe.
- It was Noah who bought my plane ticket. He is in the rush of study for his bar exams. He told me he couldn't let you celebrate your birthday alone in Paris." Chloe told me.
- It surprises me that Noah even stops to consider my feelings given the way I told him I was leaving." I told them, looking at my hands as we climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower.