Finding Paris

Farewells and Hellos

Finding Paris

Chapter Nine: Farewells and Hellos

A man- probably the conductor- going down the aisle shouting in rapid-fire French and sliding compartment doors open two at a time with a bang startled me out of my light nap.

Dazed and disoriented, it took me a moment to collect myself and break free of that limbo between dreams and reality. I knew I was having a particularly nice dream, only that I could no longer remember it the moment I opened my eyes. How disappointing! I frowned at the strange, hard, solid weight that felt a lot like a hunk of rock on my left shoulder and the weird fuzzy tickly things poking at my cheek. Grass? 

Then I realized it was indeed a rock.

A rockhead with soft, tickly hair like silk the color of dark chocolate.

I was jolted awake and alert with this realization at once. With a speed that could have done The Flash proud, I scooted away from Jared thus, jerking him awake as he fell through a column of air and face planted on the cushioned velvet red seat which I had previously occupied. For a moment he just remained still, his face buried in the cushioned seats.

I was almost afraid he'd suffocated or something as equally stupid.

Then, Jared lifted his head groggily. He seemed to immediately pick up on the situation at hand and avoiding the awkwardness, immediately got to his feet, banging his head on the overhead compartment with a wince in the process. 

"I thought airplanes were the only ones with these damn things," he muttered as he stretched his arms over his head and proceeded to pull our bags out from the compartments where he had stowed them.

My shoulder felt warm from where his cheek had been. I unconsciously lifted an arm to my shoulder, putting my hand right on the warm spot. What is wrong with me today?

"What are you doing?" he asked, preventing me from spacing out, "Are you alright?"

I slowly looked up like an uneducated moron. Jared peered at me curiously. He leaned over to take a closer look at me, his face only inches away from mine, causing me to hastily jump to my feet, also hitting my head quite loudly on the compartments above.

He laughed as I rubbed the sore spot on my head and I marvelled at how rich and real his laugh sounded, like his very own music. Then, I found myself laughing as well. It was kind of funny, in the way some little stupid things are sometimes.

"So," I began awkwardly, looking out the window of the train, "We're finally here."

"After the adventure and everything," he said with a sarcastic eye roll.

It was raining out, judging from the droplets running down in rivulets down the glass, and the station platform was teeming with people, people about to board the train, just getting off, or simply there to wish someone a safe trip or to hug someone goodbye. 

It suddenly occured to me that in a few hours, Jared and I will be parting ways as well. 

I wondered how I would say goodbye to him. I know I should be glad we're finally saying goodbye and probably won't see each other ever again, but the thought left me kind of nervously anticipating the moment.

"Yeah, it was an adventure indeed," I added awkwardly, once again loading my arms with my luggages.

"A crazy one at that," he said with a lopsided smile that really finished off his good looks.

I didn't know what to say after.

What was happening here?

One little train ride and suddenly, there's this entire change in the atmosphere? All of a sudden, things are awkward between Jared and I. He wasn't being snarky or annoying, and I wasn't bugging him anymore. I tried to remember what could have caused the awkwardness, perhaps it began the second we stopped fighting?