The End, Not Quite||An Anna and the French Kiss Story

Chapter 5 || Young Engaged Couple

Etienne and I run down to greet our friends who are all smiling brightly. Etienne and I are hand in hand and beaming. Everyone, ok fine, Meredith wants to see the ring and I'm happy to show it off. It's small and simple but completely perfect. It has a small diamond so that I'll be able to do that thing where people ask what's new and I'll just show them my hand and they'll freak out. I'm not really sure if that really happens but it probably does, I mean why wouldn't it. Etienne reveals that the reason why he got that job at the theatre was so that he could buy me the ring. Everyone says that Etienne is loaded but he's not, his father is and I'm touched that he wanted to work for my ring. It is also revealed that Etienne, Josh and Cricket have been scheming this for a while which explains how everyone knew to come and how jittery Cricket was at the restaurant,

"My fiancée and I are headed out for a celebratory dessert. I would ask you to join us, but I don't want you there." Etienne announces. I roll my eyes and everyone laughs. We go to hug everyone goodbye, when I go to hug Meredith she stops and whispers in my ear, 

"I'm really happy for you. And I better get an invite to the wedding." I could tell that the first part was completely sincere and so was the second part but it was also playful. I was truly moved and smiled and whispered back a quick thanks. I took Etienne's hand and strolled off into the city of Paris.

We walk for a while until I look up, well down, at him, 

"So, are we going for legitimate dessert or metaphorical?"  I ask,

"Hmm... which would you like?" he asks and brushes my hair out of my face,

"Perhaps both?" I grin,

"Ooh... I would like that." He smiles,

"You're cute," I poke his chest. "Come on, I want macaroons, I haven't had them in months." I grab his hand and lead him to the bakery that sells them. We run down a path, happiness ricocheting through the both of us. We reach the bakery and he grabs my waist then kisses me squarely on the mouth. He pulls open the door and smiles at me,

"I love you," he says as I walk in the door.

"I love you too," I say and grab his hand. We walk to the counter and I order 4 macaroons and Etienne gets two small cakes. We go outside and sit on a bench and eat our cakes. I put a hand on his leg and he runs his hand over mine. We lace our hands together and sit, watching the snow fall. I lean my head on his shoulder and smile,

"So, how would you like to treat ourselves to that metaphorical dessert now?" he asks. I grin, 

"I would love to." I say and we stand and he grabs both my hands and kisses me deeply and passionately then we run back to the hostel, the cold air hitting our faces and making us feel as though we could live forever.