Take Me To Paris

Chapter Four

The week went by in a blur. It was Saturday now, around the time Oliver comes.

He normally comes around one, when there isn't much of a crowd. We talk what little we can, but since I don't know hardly French, and he doesn't hardly know any English. I was really beginning to like him. A lot.

At closing time, Aunt CC and I walked out and she took me to my French class.

"Welcome back Piper! Comment alle vous?" Madame said.

"I'm good, how are you?" I said. Comment alle vous meant 'How are you'?

Madame beamed. "You learn fast."

"Are you walking home?" Aunt CC asked. I nodded.

"I'm fifteen. I think I can handle it." I said.

"Ok, be safe and have fun." Aunt CC said, then left.

"Ok, so what do you want to learn today?" Madame asked.

"It doesn't matter to me." I said.

We worked on different words and phrases. Mostly what I needed to know. At the end of class I said goodbye to Madame and left.

Walking down the streets of Paris was different than walking anywhere else. It was special, like everything French.

I looked across the street and couldn't believe who it was.

"Oliver!" I called. He turned and smiled at me. I walked over to him.

"Où allez-vous?" He asked.

"What?" I said. Someone close by said "He asked you where you were going. Still learning?"

I smiled at her. "Thank you. And yes, I am still learning. But I'm taking a class."

She nodded and walked off.

"Home." I said, and saw his confusion. "Les Paris Apartmants." That was the name of the building we lived at. Oliver nodded.

I linked my arm in his and we slowly walked down the street together to my home. When we got there, I smiled up at him.

"Au revoir." I said.

"Au revoir." He said.

I walked inside and into the small elevator. It went up to my apartment and opened.

When I walked in Aunt CC was in the salon doing yoga.

"Hey." I said. She looked up.

"Oh hey. How was class?" Aunt CC asked.

"It was good." I said. "I'm just gonna head up to bed."

"Ok sweetie goodnight." Aunt CC said.

Once in my room, I opened the French doors and sat cross legged on my bed. I opened my laptop in front of me for the first time since I arrived in Paris. I went on to FaceChat and clicked on my friend Monica's profile.

Monica was my very best friend in America. We used to do everything together before I moved. I missed her, and I had to tell her about Oliver.

After a moment she answered. I couldn't believe what I saw. She and two other girls were there. And those two other girls were Jessica and Isabelle. Music played in the background and there were snackes everywhere.

Jessica and Isabelle were the two most popular girls in school. Also twins. And they hated me. They always harassed me because of my parents they somehow found out about.

"Monica?" I said.

"Oh, hey Pip! How's Paris?" She asked.

"It's good, Mo. How's NY?" I asked.

"Super fun!" She said. She had always been so charismatic and fun. Guess some things don't change.

"Hey Piper!" Jessica said.

"Bonjour, Miz Piper!" Isabelle said with a French accent.

I smiled at them. "Monica, can I speak to you? Where those two can't hear?"

"Um, sure, I guess." Monica said. She motioned for Jessica and Isabelle to go out.

"What's up?" Monica asked when they left.

"Why those two?" I asked. "You know how mean they were to me."

"Pip, calm down. They're actually really fun to hang with." Monica said.

"We never had sleepovers because you said your mom wouldn't allow it. Why do they get to come over? I vented to your mom about them because my parents didn't care." I said.

"Pip, calm-"

"Don't tell me to calm down! And don't call me Pip anymore! I thought we were best friends, but I guess I was wrong." I blurted.

"Maybe you're just jealous because I was always popular and you weren't! And maybe you're jealous because I didn't want to have sleepovers with you but I do with them! Us three have been friends since the day we were born! Our moms are friends! Yours and mine aren't! Get over it!" She said.

"Wait, you mean you lied to me about the sleepovers? About Jessica and Isabelle? About being my best friend? About being there for me?" I said.

"Um, Jess and Isa-" Monica started.

"I have to go." I said then shut down my computer.

I put my face in my hands and cried. A second later, Aunt CC came in and comforted me. I was sure lucky to have Aunt CC.

And I was sure lucky I was in Paris away from the fakes.