Speak Now

Chapter One

Madeline stepped off the plane into the Paris airport, just in time to avoid being trampled by the people behind her. Sometimes she wished she wasn’t so invisible. It was really easy to just glance over her without a second thought. In fact, it had happened so much, Madeline could actually say she was accustomed to it. She didn’t even expect her brother to pick her out from the crowd. But he had, and boy did he scare her! She was waiting for her luggage to pass by when she was taken to the ground by her brother’s sudden bear hug. Trying to keep a straight face, she started scolding Alfred as he helped her to her feet but couldn’t for very long and started giggling herself. Alfred gave Madeline a proper hug, and she hugged him back with a relieved sigh. “It’s really nice to see you again, Alfie,” she smiled.

“Oh come on,” Alfred blushed, “you haven’t called me that since we were kids; please don’t bring that silly nickname back. It’s not heroic sounding at all.”

“Alright, alright; whatever little Alfie wants,” Madeline laughed. Alfred playfully punched her on the arm, “Alright, I won’t say it!”

“Promise?” He looked down at her, quizzingly.

“I promise,” she said, drawing an X over her heart. She took off her little red beret to readjust it, and before she could put it back on, Alfred reached over and pulled the ribbons out of her pigtails. “Hey –” she started to yell, but Alfred put his hand over her mouth, quickly silencing her arguments.

“I’m just trying to fix your hair that I messed up. It’s the hero thing to do.”

He dropped his hand and Madeline turned back around, allowing him to finger comb her mildly tangled locks. He hadn’t gotten very far when Madeline’s bag came around on the conveyor belt. She picked up her small, red carry-on bag with the big white maple leaf, and reached for her matching suitcase. Alfred grabbed her wrist and with his free hand, he picked up the bag. Madeline didn’t even question it; she knew her brother – as obnoxious as he could be at times – tried his hardest to be chivalrous. Though, sometimes, Madeline wished he would drop the “hero” obsession and just be that “nice guy” who helped a young lady out. But she knew that dream was futile. They walked through the French airport – more like she guided him – and when they got outside, a taxi was waiting.

“Alfred, you didn’t have to –”

“Oh, yes I did. You covered all my expenses when I came to visit you in Ontario, so let me cover it this time,” he stated simply.

The taxi driver got out and put Madeline’s luggage in the trunk while Alfred opened the door, motioning for her to slide in. I smiled in response and took my seat. Alfred got in on the other side, and once the driver was back in the car, gave him the directions to the hotel. Madeline watched out the window as they drove through Paris to the hotel, and marveled at the city’s beauty. Her eyes sparkled as she watching the lights flicker as they passed. She had studied abroad for college and had gotten the opportunity to stay with an old family friend who made sure she saw all of the sights Paris had to offer. She spoke French fluently, and even now, always preferred to natural sounding beauty of French words over English. Alfred, who was her younger twin brother, had stayed back home in New York City. The two twins both looked like their mother, from their ash-blonde hair, to their fair complexion. They both wore glasses, and had a similar facial structure, but that was where their similarities ended. Alfred had sky-blue eyes, while Madeline – due to a mutation called “Alexandria’s Genesis” – had violet orbs. Alfred had short, straight hair with a cowlick in his bangs, while Madeline had long, slightly wavy hair that curled towards the bottom. Even their personalities were different: Madeline was very soft spoken and introverted, while her twin was outgoing, and most – even Madeline – would say, obnoxious. But despite their personality differences, they rarely had any conflicts. Even when Madeline decided she wanted to take up a better job opportunity which required her to move to Canada, Alfred never allowed his own emotions get in the way of his sister’s happiness.

“What’s so funny?” Alfred poked Madeline’s face, drawing her attention away from her thoughts and the window.

Madeline didn’t even realize she was giggling. “Just thinking,” she replied. “Just thinking about how pathetic it is that a hero such as yourself has to have quiet ol’ me interpret everything for you.”

Alfred smiled, “Well, I’m sorry, Maddie, but I don’t speak a lick of French.”

“No fair,” she exclaimed, playfully pushing his leg, “I can’t call you Alfie, but you can call me Maddie?”

They both just smiled at each other, waiting for the other’s retaliation. They never got the opportunity because the cab pulled up to the hotel entrance, “Nous sommes arrives.” *

Alfred got out, but before he made it to the other side of the car, Madeline had already gotten out herself, ruining Alfred’s “chivalrous younger brother” act. He sighed in brief annoyance, then took Madeline’s suitcase out of the trunk. They were both staying at the same hotel, and made their arrangements in order to have rooms right next each other. It made finding each other a lot easier. Madeline walked inside, into the extravagantly decorated lobby. Being careful not to bump into anyone – or anything – she made her way through the evening weekend crowd to the front desk. She smiled and said, “Madeline Williams, J'ai une réservation.” **

The woman behind the desk smiled, typed up her name on the computer, and after Madeline signed a couple papers and receipts, the receptionist handed her a little pink envelope which contained her room keys. Alfred had caught up with her, and they both boarded an elevator to the third floor.

Their rooms weren’t very far from the elevator, which was nice. That meant not a lot of walking. Alfred was in room 304, while Madeline was directly across the hall in room 305. Alfred had informed Madeline that he had arrive the day previous, so he was already unpacked and settled in. He even offered to help her unpack. Madeline smiled shyly, and politely declined. She knew her brother only meant well, but sometimes he seemed kind of oblivious to things like relations between members of the opposite sex. Especially when it came to things like what was deemed sociably acceptable and what wasn’t.

As soon as Madeline sat on the bed, her exhaustion hit her. She had had to finish an assignment before leaving home, so she hadn’t been sleeping much. And any hope of sleeping on the plane had been crushed the moment she sat down next to that crying baby. She had actually began to pity the mother partway through the flight! The least Madeline could do was shower, so she did just that. Once out, she realized the hot water hadn’t done her any good in regards to her sleepiness. She put her bag and suitcase on the floor at the foot of the bed, but not before out her long time best friend – her stuffed polar bear, Kumarie. Madeline quickly fell into dreamland whilst cuddling her bear.

*We’ve arrived.

**I have a reservation.