Seventh Kiss

3. Red hues

"Jules, I'm in the middle here and I'm almost taking my last breath" Low exaggerated.

"You know you love it! And I'd love to cover up a dead body, I can finally cross that off my list." Jules laughed as he released us from his death grip.

"Should I reconsider who I'm staying with over the summer?" Low questioned, looking at Jules suspiciously.

"Maybe you should, and maybe you shouldn't," he smirked, "But anyway girls, are you ready for the summer of your lives?"

"Currently, I'm just ready to sleep. Then we can talk about this whole summer of our lives thing you've got going," Karen answered.

"Oh Karen, lighten up doll. You're in Paris for Christ sake and I'm pretty sure you slept the whole flight." Jules laughed.

"It wasn't enough though. I need the full beauty sleep just so I can show my face in Paris," Karen muttered as she leaned against the taxi window.

"When we get home I've got some rules though," he warned.

"Ugh!" Alexis let out, "More rules."

"Don't worry it's just the basics. And then I'll show you around during the weekend, but I can't during weekdays," Jules answered.

"We know, you've got work," Low replied.

"Omg, do I get to meet designers?" I squeaked with glee.

"If you can behave yourself...maybe," J smiled, engulfing me in a warm embrace.

"J, I'm hungry. You better have food stocked up," Alexis informed.

"What is life without food?" J laughed, "That's the one thing I always have."

"Your house is...well.... ah... BIG," Alexis beamed as we all looked at the marvelous building in amazement.

"It's actually pretty average," he laughed and opened the large cream colored door.

"Can I just live with you or what?" I wondered in amazement, entering probably the most beautiful house I've ever seen.

"Are all houses in Europe like this? If so, where can I sign up for one of these big boys?" Low questioned.

The smell of the third floor was a fresh pine wooden flooring smell. You could almost see your reflection with how shiny the floor was. The sense of delicacy hit you straight away as you could imagine the crisp clean white bedding places in each of our rooms. It was as though you could hear your breathing echoing for miles around you, the house was so big. With spiraling banisters and the sweet scent of the maid baking bread in the kitchen, the house gave off a warm, homey feeling.

"Low is right! Good luck getting rid of me," Karen sighed flopping on top of the bed behind her.

"You have a maid... GUYS HOW AWESOME IS THAT?" Alexis blurted running up and down the stairs, looking at every inch of this three story mansion.

"Alexis, she's only here during the day! And she only speaks French," J yelled back.

"DARN!" Alexis answered, "GUYS, IM LOST!"

"SUCKS TO SUCK," Karen groaned, covering her face and ears with pillows.

"I'll be right back." J laughed, running down the shiny wooden stairs, searching for the lost girl.

"I never thought I'd get so excited over a house.." Low marveled, opening up the cream colored balcony, letting the warm summer wind fight its way in against the cool air already dominating the the gigantic room. The sky furrowed with wispy bands of clouds, softly glowing colors from the palest amber-pink to deepest flaming red. The warm hues hit her red hair making it glow.

"Trust me, I didn't either," I replied staring out at the landscape.

"Alana and Low, please head downstairs into the kitchen if you want dinner." We heard what was obviously Jules' voice.

"Um... Where did that come from?" Low questioned as she stared around the room in amazement.

"Let's go downstairs and find out!" I blurted.

"Guys, you should have some of this. It's fantastic. Like out of this world fantastic," Alexis muttered, barely audible with the amount of food still in her mouth.

"Be careful, we wouldn't want you to die on the first night here. Plus it would be awkward explaining it to your parents that you died because you couldn't wait until you swallowed to talk," Low mentioned.

"But it's just so good! Try it!" Alexis smiled, pushing her plate toward Low.

"No thanks, I'm good" Low answered pushing the plate back to its owner, just as picky as ever.

"Ladies, please tell Fleur here what you'd like for dinner. Tonight you have the choice of choosing from these four dishes before she leaves for the night," J mentioned, "So here are your choices: Chicken Friand, Chicken Pesto Pasta, Quiche Lorraine, or Soupe du Jour."

"Donne moi Chicken Friand avec sauce aux champignons s'il te plaît." (Give me chicken friand with mushroom sauce please) I asked kindly at the young woman by the stove. She seemed quite shy hiding behind her black rimmed "hipster" glasses, her green chocolate speckled eyes glued onto her feet and her dirty blonde hair lay right on her shoulders.

"Bien sûr et pour ta copine?" (Of course and for your friend) She replied slightly above a whisper, while she nervously fidgeted with her fingers.

"Low, what would you like?" I asked.

"The chicken pasta thing, I guess," she answered sounding completely confused, "I mean that's the only one where I actually know what it is," she laughed.

"Elle voudrais le chicken Pesto pasta" (She would like the chicken pesto pasta) I answered Fleur.

"D'accord" Fleur answered.

"Jules' your life is like unreal," I laughed, enjoying my freshly made chicken friand.

"And your French has gotten so much better since I last saw you." He smiled back.

"I feel like this whole summer I will stay a lost sheep because I'll always need someone with me just to ask for what I want for food." Low dramatically faked cried.

"Don't worry Low, I've got you. But I'm still stuck on that we only get tomorrow with Jules before he has work," I let out.

"Haha, you'll still get to see me. I work at home, so don't worry! And I didn't forget my promise to take you to la laurdée and get you all the macaroons in the entire world," he reassured.

"You are the best" I replied hugging J by the crook of his neck, "Love you!" I quickly mumbled before heading to my room.

Walking into my room the balcony was still open, showing the beautiful city of Paris. It was sunset. I watched with an unwavering gaze as a fiery red orb of light slowly sank beneath the horizon, and threads of light lingered in the sky, mingling with the rolling clouds, dyeing the heavens first orange, then red, then dark blue, until all that was left of the sunset was a chalky mauve, and then that melted away in turn as darkness took over the sky. Sequin-silver stars like the glowing embers of a dying fire winked down at me, illuminating the curtain of sky.

Far into the distance I could see the tower that many call magical, the tower I've been waiting to see for all my life.