The Acting Project

Welcome To Paris

5

Welcome To Paris.

“America is my country and Paris is my hometown.” -Gertrude Stein

    All these years of imagining what Paris really looked like or just seeing it on TV. They really can’t do it justice. I guess unless you’ve seen it yourself you wouldn’t get what I mean.

“Here we are.” Piper says taking the keys out of the ignition. We pull up to an apartment building.

“The elevator usually never works. We live on the fifth floor. Um…Oh don’t talk to our neighbors. They don’t know I’m American and I intended to keep it that way.” Piper says then she winks.

“Why?” I’m afraid to ask.

“Let’s just say they don’t exactly like Americans. So lets get your luggage and lets go on up. If you’re not too tired we should get to know each other…. Oh I should probably let you know my father works for the FBI. So I looked you up to make sure you weren’t a killer or did any crimes.” She giggles at the end. Oh so I not only live with a giggler I live with a creepy stalker giggler. Always a plus.

“Ok. I guess. Should I be offended?”

“No.” She smiles.

We walk up I’ve flights of stairs and finally make it.

“Don’t worry we have the best view living on the top floor.” 

She hands me a key and says, “Why don’t you do the honors. This is your key anyway.”

    I opened the door very scared not knowing what to expect. Let me just say this was the neatest apartment I had ever seen. It looked like a lot of countries threw up in her apartment. Well our apartment.

‘Ok so let me give you the tour. Feel free to walk around. This is the living room. I decorated it all in American patriotism.” She smiles.

“I like the red, white and blue couch.” I run my hand over the fabric and set my bags on the couch. 

“I know isn’t t fabulous.” She plops on the couch. “Over there is the Jungle/South American room. I spent some time there. I gather the décor when I was visiting.”

    Let me give you the quick version in my words. The kitchen is very bright and is an Italian themed. Her room is Moroccan. I felt like a genie in a lamp. The bathroom is an African safari.

“So how do you like it?” She ask me.

“Oddly enough I like it.” I tell her, relief flashes her face.

“Super! So here is your room I put all of your boxes in here for you. And I had a spare dresser so that’s in here to.” She opens up the door.

‘’Thanks”

“No problem. Go freshen up and I’ll show you around the city.” Piper says to me.

“Can we just stay here for the night? Well at least I am. I’m exhausted.” I say and I fall backwards on the bed.

“Why don’t we at least get to know each other right now, all we know is each others names. Give me a sec.” She runs to her room and changes. Piper comes back with sandy blonde hair a lip ring and no tattoos. Wearing sweats, too.

“You look different.” I give her a once over.

“I know right. I hate that makeup, but I can’t wait to see you tomorrow in it.” She squeals.

“Me too. So tell me about yourself.” I say sarcastically.

“Well. Where to start. I’m Piper Holiday. Which you figured out earlier. I was born and raised in Dallas. I was a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. My family breeds cows. I have 8 brothers and 6 sisters.” She says all with a southern belle smile. My jaw drops. “No joke and I’m the oldest. My momma and daddy breed like rabbits. If you know what I mean.” She says in the sweetest country accent you have ever heard. “What about you?”