Take Me to Paris

Chapter 1

                                  || Chapter 1 ||

‘’That’s not fair, you cheated!’’ Alexander laughed, admitting he let Amélie win. She was like a tempered bomb, ready to explode every second with anger. As he looked her in the eyes, he noticed her disappointment. They were sparring for over a year now, once every week, but he couldn’t fight with her as if she were a man. The thought of hurting her already made him shiver.

‘’How could you do that to me, Alex? You know I hate that. Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I can't fight and defend myself.’’

‘We’re just training, relax. It'll be a fair fight next time. I promise.’’ She glared at him, as if burning holes through his back. Finally, she let go of it with a sigh.

‘’Fine. Just so you know, I could’ve won anyway.’’

‘’Sure, ma chérie.’’

Amélie smiled and left, taking her house keys from the locker just before she closed the door behind. Her skin felt abnormally hot, especially now when the temperature outside was over 25°C. Being sweaty and breathless from the training didn’t help.

While walking home, Amélie thought of Alexander. They have always been close, inseparable. They loved spending time together drawing, playing games, scaring the neighbours and hiding in a tree house. But, when Amélie found out her parents are moving to Britain and they plan to leave her in France, thinigs changed a bit. Her parents loved her, but they were offered a job in Oxford. Since her mother was British and her father French, they were always arguing about where to live: Britain or France. The job was a breaking point. Finally, her father gave up on trying to stay in France and went to Britain. Amélie lived with Alexander’s parents from that on, still happy.

A couple of years later, Amélie realized her parents knew that she couldn’t be away from Alexander for a whole year, so they left her with him, believing he’ll look after her. After all, Alexander’s parents took Amélie in their house as if she were their own daughter.

It was summer, so Amélie knew she’s going to Spain in July. There were no words to describe how she hated it, hated spending summer with her Aunt far away from both her parents and Alexander. Last year, her parents visited her and stayed for the whole summer, so she didn’t need to go anywhere. If only they could come this year too, she hoped.

‘’Amélie, you’re just in time for dinner. Wait, where’s Alexander? I thought you were training...’’

Amélie closed the door and walked into the kitchen.

‘’He has a meeting with...Arnaud, I think. That’s the only thing he said to me.’’

Alexander’s mother squealed in joy. She quickly hugged confused Amélie.

‘’You have no idea, do you? Arnaud Moreau is one of the best professors in Paris. He offered Alexandre a job as a French teacher in one of the most prestigious schools.’’

Although the news were happy, Amélie couldn’t smile. If he was offered a job in Paris, a city he adores, he would accept it without thinking. Of course, he would leave and forget her at instant...or so she thought.

‘’What is it, Belle?’’

Aware of Madame Dupont staring at her, she looked away.

‘’He’ll leave, won’t he?’’

Her expression softened as she sighed. Madame took her hand and sat on the bar chair. With her other hand, she gently took a lock of Amélie’s hair and tucked it behind her ear in a soothing matter.