We arrive in Paris at twelve pm, but this time the exchange students are waiting for us at the arrivals in the airport with nice banners and bright smiles.
The airport is bigger than in Poland, and everything is definitely much fancier, but I still miss Nins and all the other people there, even though we only stayed three days.
I find Leigh-Anne sitting together with Perrie's exchange student, Jessica. They're linked by the arm which probably means that they're best friends.
"You must be Rey! Je m'appelle Leigh-Anne. This is Jesy."
Introductions follow between the six of us, and Kylie is actually trying to make an effort to be nice. Which is...nice.
I can definitely see that she's changed since her and Sean broke up. The breakup must've been one of the best decisions of her life. I make a mental note to congratulate her for that because I don't think I have.
The ritual is the same as it was in Poland; they drive us to their school where they give us a tour, and after lunch we all go to our exchange students' houses.
There is a welcome party going on later tonight at Aaron's house; Zayn's exchange student. I've seen him at school a bit earlier and he's really fit. I mean, who doesn't like a guy with tattoos and a nose piercing? Let's be honest.
I don't ask Leigh-Anne about Aaron, because I don't want anyone to hear about my little, temporary crush. I should probably ask Louis. I trust him.
So after I dress up for the evening with a black dress and matching pumps, I sit down on my bed and pull out my phone to text Louis on WhatsApp. Unfortunately, Leigh-Anne's WiFi is pretty shit, so I can't send the message out, which means that I'll have to wait until the welcome party to talk to him and observe Aaron a little more.
While Eleanor gets Leigh-Anne's makeup done, I walk back into the bathroom to check myself out in the body-length mirror.
As I look at myself, I realize that I've got a bit of a stomach straining against the dress, and immediately begin to panic. I've tried to make myself believe that I had recovered from the eating disorder on my own, but there was always that voice in the back of my mind counting all the calories and regretting every single time I didn't throw up after I ate.
I reluctantly get on the electric bathroom scale after I take off my pumps, and my eyes widen when I see 62. I've gotten three kilograms fatter since the last time I weighed myself a month or so ago.
I slip back into my pumps when Eleanor calls out for me and decide not to eat anything tonight, and only drink water because alcohol has as much calories as normal coke.
Leigh-Anne's mother drives us there, and tells us that she'll be back around two in the morning to pick us up before her shift at her hospital. Or at least that's how Eleanor explained it to me because French definitely wasn't one of my strong subjects at school.
Aaron's house is nice and quite big, but not like one of those big houses that look unoccupied. It's cozy and obviously lived in, since he has two younger sisters that are sleeping at their grandma's tonight so Aaron can have the party.
His parents are upstairs in their bedroom and don't seem to mind the noise coming from downstairs and outside.
"They're used to Aaron's parties already." Leigh-Anne explains as we walk through the crowded house and finally get to the living room where most of our friends are. Everyone is dressed quite fancily, and I learn that we'll be attending a club in an hour or so after we eat the pizza's that Aaron ordered.
"French pizzas are the best." Jesy assures me when we're outside having a smoke with Eleanor and Louis.
"Pizza is the best everywhere." Louis laughs and places an arm around my shoulder.
"Oh I've been meaning to talk to you." I tell him and put my cigarette out in the ashtray.
"Let's go out in the garden then babe."
Louis leads me down the steps with an arm on my lower back and stops when we are finally out of everyone's earshot.
"So what's up?"
"Um I don't really know how to ask you this-"
"Oh come on Rey, you know you can tell me anything without being judged."
"Well uh, I was wondering like, is Aaron single? Because I'd really like to you know-make out with him."
"As far as I know he's single." Louis smirks.
"That's good then. Really good. Thanks." I say and start walking back towards the house.
"Wait, Rey?"
"Yeah?" I ask, turning around when he stops me by grabbing my arm.
"Just don't-don't do something you'll regret."
