The Secret We Share

Alexis

I was dreaming, peacefully, when suddenly I felt something, or rather, someone, poking my arm.

"Aleeexiiss" I heard Ana say in a singsong voice as she continued to poke my arm, "you're gonna miss breakfast if you don't wake up."

At the mention of breakfast, I opened my groggy eyes to see Ana inches away from my face, scaring me awake.

"God Ana you scared the croissants out of me," I groaned whacking her with one of the pillows on the bed.

Ana just giggled. "See you would have had to eat croissants before I could scare them out of you, which you haven't yet. So come downstairs sleepyhead." She poked my arm one last time before leaving me to get myself out of bed.

The room I was staying in, a guest bedroom in my cousins very roomy home, was beautiful. The walls were soft white, and the bed had cozy blush pink and grey blankets. Plants were placed around the room, and warm sunlight slanted through white shutters on the windows. This was like a dream bedroom plucked off a Pinterest board, complete with gold strands of fairy lights. I loved it.

I begrudgingly rolled out of the warm bed and onto the sun soaked wood floors. I threw the blankets back on the bed, attempting to make it look neat again, and made my way to the bathroom.

Even the bathroom was picturesque, but of course I could expect nothing less of my design-savvy aunt and cousins. The black and white tile floors were accented with fluffy white rugs, and the marble countertop of the vanity was adorned with silver and gold trays of soaps, shampoos, and lotions.

I shook my head, smiling to myself. I could definitely get used to this.

I hurriedly washed my face with the lavender scented face soap on one of the trays, and finished the rest of my quick skincare routine. I wanted to get downstairs to the aforementioned croissants.

Drying my hands on the fluffy towel next to the sink, I walked back out of the bathroom. I'd finish getting ready after eating.

*****

I walked down the wide wooden stairs into the kitchen, only to be greeted by the warm and heavenly smell of fresh croissants and pastries.

"Finally! Good morning Alexis," Camille said with a bright smile. I returned the gesture, and she jumped from her seat to grab me a plate.

"Good morning dear," my aunt said, immediately enveloping me in a hug.

"Good morning aunt Margot," I said, returning the hug.

"Did you get enough sleep?" She asked me, holding me at arms length pretending to examine my face.

"Yes I did," I said with a laugh, "the room is gorgeous, I'm assuming it was designed by you."

She waved her hand, "I decorated it with the help of Ana and Camille, they have a real knack for it," she said modestly, never one to take credit even when it was due.

Before I could reply, Camille grabbed hold of my arm. "Let's get you some breakfast, we have a full day ahead of us." She steered me towards the huge countertop covered in a spread of delicious looking food.

"Me and Camille wanted to make you breakfast," Ana said, gesturing at the expanse of food laying before me.

"We may have gotten just a little over zealous with the early morning baking," Camille laughed, referring to the extensive amount of pastries and other breakfast foods they had prepared.

"A little over zealous?" I laughed "you'd think the queen of England was coming for breakfast."

The twins laughed, "well you're more important to us than the queen of England," Ana said, "after all we haven't seen you in forever!"

"Well thanks, I appreciate all this- even though it is totally unnecessary." I said with a chuckle.

Camille started to heap food onto my plate describing each dish as we went down the counter. By the time we had reached the end of the long display of food, I was left with a pile of breakfast that could have probably served all of us.

"I have to head to work loves, but I'll see you when I get home, have fun!" My aunt said in her soft french accent, and we all said goodbye to her before she left.

"Au revoir Maman! (goodbye Mom)" Ana and Camille called out as she left the house.

"Let's eat!" The twins said in unison, causing us all to laugh.

*****

As we dug into the large plates of food in front of us, Ana and Camille explained some of the dishes. Some were things I had never even seen before. But, everything was delicious. I couldn't believe how talented the twins, and my aunt were, it was unbelievable. The cooked, baked, designed, decorated, and looked amazingly chic while doing it all. There must be something in the water here. I could only hope it would rub off on me while I was here, a girl could dream right?

"So," Ana said, returning me to reality, "let's talk itinerary."

"Yes let's," Camille echoed.

"Sounds good to me," I smiled.

They began to list the long list of activities that we were going to try to fit in for the day. Shopping, lunch, the Eiffel Tower, and more shopping were only a fraction of the things they had planned. After finishing breakfast and itinerary talk, we all separated to get ready to go.

*****

I stared at the clothes I had unpacked from my suitcase, trying to decide what to wear. Finally, I settled on an off white colored T-shirt, that was slightly loose, and a pair of black ripped skinny jeans. I slightly tucked the shirt into the front of the jeans, grabbed my white and gold leather sneakers and my black leather purse, and walked out into the hallway.

I walked down the hall, finally reaching Ana and Camille's rooms, which were across from each other.

I knocked on both doors at the same time, "Hey guys! I'm ready to go so I'll be downstairs." I called out.

After receiving a response from both of them I went back down to the kitchen.

I started to clean up from breakfast, thinking random thoughts as I absentmindedly put food into containers and plates into the dishwasher. Somehow I remembered where everything was, although the last time I was here was so long ago.

My thoughts drifted to Kylie, to Chloe, to my parents, and everywhere else in between.

"You ready to go?" My cousins asked suddenly, jolting me from my thoughts.

"Yes! Ready to go." I said, mustering a smile, though I was suddenly aching at the thought of Kylie. I couldn't help but think of her and how I missed her already, even though it had only been a couple days since I saw her last.

"Okay, well then, let's go!" Camille said grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the door.