An Ariella Story

The Panthéon

Today was the day we visited the Panthéon.

I quickly slipped on a skirt and ran a brush through my tangled hair. Stazi impatiently tapped her foot as she waited for me by the door.

"Can you hurry up?" she asked.

"Almost done!"

The lipstick tube swiped across my lips and I looked in the mirror to make sure I looked okay. I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder as I followed her out the door.

"You look hot." she commented in the elevator. 

"Thank you." I laughed

"What's the occasion?"

I looked at her with a confused expression. "There is no occasion. I just decided to wear something that you bought me. Is that a crime?" 

 "I guess not."

The metal doors opened and we walked out into the lobby where the rest of our classmates were waiting. I looked around at everyone. The excitement from being in France was still on each person's face.

"Nastasia!"

My best friend and I both looked to see Jessi waving in our direction. She walked over to us as fast as she could possibly go in her bright blue stiletto's.

"What's up, Jess?" Stazi asked casually.

"We have to stay with our buddies today. The Panthéon is apparently a huge building and we could get 'lost'." she said, using her fingers to make air quotes.

"I guess that's my cue to leave and find Gabe." I said.

"He's with Tiffany." Jessi sneered my way.

"Like I care?" I said a little too forcefully. I don't know why the mention of him with my foster sister bugged me. It just did.

Nastasia gave me an understanding look and I went off to find Gabe. To be honest, I was a little nervous to see him after what happened yesterday. But maybe Stazi was right. Maybe he didn't think anything of it.

He was with the blonde bimbo, leaning against the wall next to her. She stood there stupidly, twirling her hair with her fingers like those annoying girls in movies while he whispered something in her ear. She let out a loud laugh.

I walked up to them and cleared my throat. Gabe's smile never left his face while Tiffany's scrunched up like she'd just smelled a dead rat.

"Can I help you?" she said rudely.

"I'm here to retrieve my buddy." I said while putting extra emphasis on the word.

Tiffany looked from me to Gabe. "You guys are partners?!"

"Yeah." he replied quietly.

I rolled my eyes at her outburst. Why did she have to be such a drama queen?

"That's so not fair! I'm definitely going to talk to Ms. Parks about this!"

And with that, she stormed off. I knew the teacher wouldn't change it. We'd been here for five days now. It was pointless to change something just because Tiffany had a jealousy issue.

"So you're here to retrieve me?" Gabe smirked.

"Oh shut up. Apparently we're supposed to stick together today. So don't make this situation worse than it already is."

He didn't. Surprisingly, he behaved the whole bus ride there. It was when we walked through the entrance that he opened his mouth.

"I'm sorry about Tiff."