Heartfelt Transitions [First Draft]

River Date Maybe?

A month and a half to Paris Trip

The classroom

Recess

"And no matter what happens," Victoria was saying, "I WILL visit the pantheon. We all WILL."

"And the Palace of Versailles," Ryan added, looking over Victoria's shoulder to read the to-do list in her hand.

"History nerds." I rolled my eyes, flipping the page of my English textbook. "Tell me, why do we need to make an agenda out of this too? Let's just wing it."

"No plan is planning to fail," Victoria said smartly.

"Look at her." Ryan grinned. "So proud of that quote."

"And by the lense of that logic," James, who had been diligently studying his course silently till now, spoke up, "you are planning to fail your midterms, Vic."

"Ugh. Party popper much?"

"Realist is the word."

"Shut it, James."

"Hey, he is right." I shrugged. "You gotta study."

Victoria was about to open her mouth to retort when she frowned. "Huh."

"... Yeah?"

"You have changed a lot since we met."

"Uh.. hopefully for good?"

"Yep. Anyways, James, you are not excited for the trip at all?"

James leaned back into his chair and gave her a cool look. "I don't think it's the right time to be excited."

Victoria looked annoyed but Ryan just smirked.

"Oh yeah, mate?" His eyes were on the phone in his hand. Wait... James's phone. "Then.. I wonder... hm, why is your search history completely filled with stuff like best spots to visit in Paris?"

James froze and his eyes snapped to Ryan. "Wilson.. give the phone back."

"Non~" Ryan sang in a terrible french accent.

James jumped from his seat and lunged for the phone. Ryan dodged, getting to his feet.

"Thirty things to do in Paris," Ryan read aloud.

James took steps towards him and Ryan jogged away.

"French 101 for tourism! Wow! Incroyable monsieur! French cuisine and oh."

Ryan's eyes widened with a knowing glint and he smiled sweetly at James.

"Please," James said. "Please don't read ahead.."

"Most..." Ryan said, delivering the final blow and throwing the phone, ".. romantic places for couples in Paris. Very romantique, monsieur."

James caught the phone, completely flushed red and burning bright.

"ThIs iS nOt tHe tIme tO bE eXciTeD, ViC," Ryan imitated in a mocking tone.

Victoria burst out cackling.

James came back to his seat, crestfallen. I wanted to control it but couldn't help the smile that had appeared on my face as well.

"Oh don't be looking like that now," I said.

"Look like what?"

"A deflated balloon, that's what. You are allowed to be excited."

"Of course, it just.." James sighed. "It just feels undeserved. Unjustified. Irrationally so."

"You are deserving."