Summer Nights (RE-WRITTEN)

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A:N This story includes themes of mental health and eating disorders, please only read if you feel ready too, you are beautiful always x

I beam brightly as I look around my new apartment. I can't believe that I'm actually living here.

I'm actually doing it.

I'm in Paris, days away from enrolling into art school.

My fingers skim the edges of the furniture with wonder, this was going to be my new home. I already feel an overwhelming surge of excitement thinking about the potential memories that are going to be made.

Reminder to self: take polaroid pictures each time, a new person visits my apartment for the first time.

I look around before plopping myself down onto the plump olive green sofa sitting in the middle of the living room. I reach forward and put on the television.

I tilt my head as the characters of whatever television program is playing begin speaking French.

Next, reminder to self: learn French.

Subtitles, I think you are going to be my new best friend for a while.

My natural grin widens even more when I hear a knock on my front door. I quickly bolt onto my feet, I rummage in my carry-on bag that was I left on the kitchen island. I race towards the front door, the second I swing it open, I click the capture button on my camera.

"Fuck! I think you've just blinded me."

I give the chocolate haired man a sheepish smile, "Sorry, I should have warned you. I just got so excited."

Rocky rubs his eyes, "And your answer to being exciting is blinding me?"

"No, of course not! I just wanted to take a picture of the first time you visited me here for my scrapbook."

He sighs loudly as he brushes pasts me and steps inside, "I've got the code for the wi-fi and all of the other details you'll need."

I give him a grateful smile as my heart warms, "I really appreciate your family doing this for me. I don't even know how to repay them, it was such a big ask."

He shrugs, "No one uses this place anymore anyway. It's no big deal. Where's all your stuff?"

Now it was my turn to shrug, "I have no idea, the depot place said it had been delivered."

"Are you sure you put in the right address?"

I roll my eyes, "Of course I put in the right address. I'm not that silly."

"Then where's your stuff?"

"Do you honestly think I'd move all of my belonging across the globe without being sure I'm sending them to the right place?"

"I absolutely think that."

I scoff quietly before I grab my phone to show him the details of my shipping confirmation. My eyebrows knit together when he barks out a loud chuckle.

"What's so funny?"

"Well you've sent your shit to Paris, but the one that's a city in Texas."

My heart drops violently, "What?"

"Did you not wonder why it was so cheap?"

I desperately take my phone out of his grip, "I just thought I got a good deal. Oh my god, oh my god."

"Relax, just give the company a call I'm sure you'll be able to get it sorted."

"All of my things are in them boxes!"

"I'd call them quickly then."

"This is a disaster! Oh my gosh, do you think that this is a sign that I'm making a mistake? I mean I'm only eighteen, I've just moved across the country on my own. I know nobody here, I mean I've got you but you're leaving in forty-eight hours, after that I'll be completely alone. What if I get burgled? I don't even know the emergency contact number!"

Rocky sighs loudly, "First of all, breathe. Secondly, you're not making a mistake, you got accepted into some prestigious fancy art school, you'd be a fucking idiot if you went home after one blip. And you'll make friends, just give it some time."

"I think I'm going to have a heart attack."

"Grab your keys."

I tilt my head, "Where are we going?"

"The legal age of drinking here is eighteen, if I have to here you whine and bitch, I'm going to need a drink."

I follow him cluelessly as I grab my jacket and keys. I continue my rambling as we walk down the stairwell, I continue my rambling as we walk down the street, in-fact I don't stop my constant verbal diarrhoea until I've had my second glass of rose' wine.

I glance around at the scenery, Rocky found us a bar with outdoor seating, I look in awe at the magical architecture around me.

"You still think that you're making a mistake?" He asks as he lights up a cigarette across from me.

"No." I whisper still wonderstruck.

"You just need to give it some time and you'll land on your feet."

My heart clenches when I look at my phone and see a message from Brooke, "Also, I need to send a picture of us for Brooke."

He gives me a blank look, "I'm not taking a picture with you."

"It's for Brooke, you know the woman has took you in since you were a small child."

"Fine. Let's just get it over with me."

I hold up my phone and flip the camera around, I beam brightly at the camera. After I've took the picture, I can't help but feel butterflies as I stare at the photograph. Rocky was actually smiling in the picture, if anyone saw this they'd think he actually enjoyed being around me. I quickly ensure that it's saved and send it over to Brooke.

"The wine here is like heaven!" I sing as I pour myself another glass.

"The French do know their wine, top me up."

"I'm actually starting to feel slightly tipsy."

"Of course you are, we all know you're a massive lightweight."

"Say whatever you want about it, it just means that I end up spending less money than everyone else."

"What money? I'm the one who's been paying."

"Don't be silly, I'm paying you back the second we get back to the apartment."

"No, it's fine. You're literally in a foreign country with nothing, pretty sure you need the money."

"Nope, I'm paying you. You've already been kind enough to stop my mind racing at a million times an hour, you can't pay as well."

"I'm paying end of."

"I'll just slip money into your wallet when you're not looking."

"And I'll take it out."

"You're so stubborn!"

"Likewise. Also there is a waiter is making eyes at you."

My cheeks burn brightly, "Really?"

"Yeah."

I turn my head around excitedly only to be met with disappointment, "There's nobody there!"

He laughs loudly before taking a sip of his wine, "I'm sorry I couldn't resist, I've been planning on doing that for the past ten minutes."

I huff slightly before I flick one of the olives from the little bowl in the middle of the table at him. I gape when he manages to catch the olive into his mouth.

"Oh my god!" We both cheer out as we raise our arms in unison.