Here in Paris

Chapter Three

"He totally likes you" Carrie gave me a strait look.  "No, he doesn't.  I'm sure he was just confused or something.  Case closed" I slam my math book shut.  I uncross my legs and swing my feet over the bed.  I trace an imaginary circle on the ground with my slippered feet.  Carrie is my second best friend. When you first meet her she seems really boring and dull and nerdish but she listens to you and always tells the truth.  Well, except this time.  She thinks she's telling the truth.  

Carrie has strait red hair, square-framed glasses, and freckles.  She always wares the same orange lipstick and has a solid color hoodie with a pair of bell bottom jeans.  She's a little odd on the outside but she can be really sweet.  

When it comes to what I'm like... well I'm just some random brunette that likes sweat shirts and yoga pants. I spend most of my time painting so that explains why I have so many ruined clothes. I also like watching TV while eating ice cream sandwhiches or anything ice cream.  I wouldn't be surprised if you told me you saw me at the local swimming pool.  I go there a lot.  

My cat Weasel jumped onto my bed. I usually don't let him on my bed because the idea of cat hairs where I sleep grosses me out, but for some reason I really was in a kitty-huggin' mood.  "C'mere, you" I pull him onto my lap rub behind his ears as he purred.  I look at Carrie who was looking at me all weird.  "Get. That.Thing. Off. . . Now" she commanded.  "Oops, I forgot." I set Weasel down on the floor and he scampered out of the room with his tail in the air.  Carrie was allergic to cats and got really itchy around them.  I would hate that.  

"So... when he kissed you... was it like-" "I don't want to talk about it" I push my wavy hair off my shoulder.   I hear a beep from somewhere really close and both Carrie and I dive for our phones.  I stick my tongue out at her mockingly when I realize it was me who got the text.  Carrie just sighs and through her phone only inches away from her on my bed.  

Hey, how've you been? I'm sorry, it was really awkward at school today. -Liam

"Wow... okay" I say aloud.  I honestly didn't expect a text from Liam.  We didn't say a word to each other after school today.  

Great! :) and don't worry it's not a big deal. -Lucy

I was about to put my phone on my night stand by my lamp when it beeped again.  Carrie and I both looked at the screen of my iPhone.  She always read my texts...

Do you want to meet somewhere? I have something I want to tell you. -Liam

My hearts beating a little faster now, I'll go so far to admit.  What was so important that we had to meet somewhere? 

Why don't I just call u, or u can tell me right now through text? -Lucy

Could we just meet? Unless ur busy. -Liam

Alrighty.  How about Taco bell? -Lucy

Sure. i'll leave right now. -Liam

"Carrie, do you mind? I'm sor-" "Don't care! Go!" Carrie smiled.  "But be sure to tell me everything tonight" Carrie jumped to her feet.  

                                                                                   _______

"Hi" I pull a chair out from across Liam.  "Hey, Lucy" he smiles.  He ran his fingers through his hair and looked around.  I take a bite of my taco I'd bought just a minute ago.  I really should come her more often...

"So, you wanted to talk to me?" I set my taco down and sit back.  Last night I was scared to go to bed, I didn't want to dream- or even think about Liam.  What where all those years of friendship? Preparation for this? I would've felt better if something like that happened to someone I'd never met.  It was so confusing and I kept asking myself if I had other feelings for him.  

"Well before I get to the big thing, I just wanted to apologize"  he took a sip of his coffee.  "I couldn't help myself, I wasn't going to do that.  I was going to give you the bracelet and tell you that you're the greatest friend I could ever ask for but then I found myself kissing you, and that was because..." he stopped.  "Because what?" I lean forward.  He looked so, all over the place, that I almost wanted to tell him that it was okay, that I liked it.  I almost wanted to tell the truth.  

I froze for a second.  The truth? My thoughts were interrupted when he continued.  

"Because lately I've been... this sounds really weird and I don't want to say it if I'm the only one that's going through this, but..." once again, he stopped.  In some ways that might have been for the better.  "Never mind that, that's not what I came to tell you" he massaged his fist like he always did when he was nervous.  

"I came here to tell you that I'm sending you to Paris.  It's what you've always wanted and now, I think, is the perfect time" he looked into my eyes, probably waiting for my reaction.  

"What!?" I stand up so quickly my chair falls down.  People around me start starring.  I grabbed my chair and sat my butt down again.  My cheeks were probably red, I felt red.  "What in the world? What are you talking about? Why?" I had this weird feeling, almost like I was going to faint.  "Because, I'm dating Hannah and I can't do this to her.  It's our one year anniversary next week and... you know what I mean.  I think it'll be good for us to be away from each other.  Just over year ago I was thinking we both go but that was when we were just friends and-" "You mean we're not just friends anymore?" I kind of thought about that already but I didn't expect him to say that.  

Paris has always been my dream.  I'd walk along side the walls that hang famouse paintings in a museum, shop till my feet stopped working, and go sight seeing.  For some reason things seem worse when you do it because someone told you to rather than doing it out of choice.  

"Do you want to go? Because if you don't want to you don't have to.  I would've done this anyway, as a gift, thought you should know." 

Tears started welling up in my eyes.  I have no idea where they came from but for some reason I just couldn't hold them back no matter if I tried.  "I'll have to think about it" I muttered, wiping away my tears.  Another one slipped down and I could feel a bunch of eyes crawling on me from around the room.  

"I'm just confused, how long will I be gone?" I never liked being controlled but right now it didn't seem like he was trying to control me.  He was doing this for the better.  

"But what if I liked you back?" I blurted.  

"Do you?" 

"Only as a friend!" as the words slipped out it made me wonder if that way true.  "But what if I did?" I pressed.  "I don't know, Lucy.  I'm just as confused as you are" he stood up.  "Paris is just an option, but I hope you understand that it would be for the best" he said, before he walked out of the building.  

I stay in my seat, trying to process what had just happened.