Hverfa - Vanished

Chapter 1

Paris is suffocating me. Never would i have dreamed of stating this fact, yet here i am sat on the edge of my unmade bed staring at the half full suitcase on the floor, listening to the rain and hailstones loudly hitting the window, despairingly wishing i were somewhere far far away. And however unkind this may sound, i would not like this place to be the romantic vacation i am about to be shipped off to.

My parents are divorced, Mum lives in London and Dad in Paris. I've lived in France for most of my life as my relationship with my mother is, well, should i say complicated. My accent is therefore a strange mixture of both French and English, but i've always found that makes me a little bit unique and i've always quite liked that. I decided to stay in Paris for my studies and after various flings and drunken verbal incidents, i can confirm that i am just about lucky to have found someone who has remained interested in me for longer than a month. Only i am not in love, and i am definitely experiencing my independence being stripped away from me the longer i am with him.

Poor Younes.

"Ell, are you ready?" a very monotone voice comes from the next room

"Yes, one minute" I call over my shoulder as i frantically shove all the pieces of clothing strewn out on the floor, into the case.

I contemplate packing some novels from my english literature and philosophy studies but decide against it, what use will they be to me when i'll be forced to sit and listen to Younes talk about how much he loves his new hair colour or how incredibly talented he is at skiing or any other sport he takes part in, without giving it a thought to ask how i'm doing or how I'm feeling.

I slip them in anyway.

I zip the case up and make my way into the kitchen to find Younes chewing on a protein bar, next to him on the counter are some leaflets which i can only imagine is the place we will be travelling to.

He looks up to catch me goggling at them and wastes no time shielding them from my view.

"Uh don't be naughty, you don't get to do that. It's a surprise remember" he smirks, revealing a dimple on the corner of his mouth.

"Okay that's all reasonable and whatever but what isn't is not telling me specifically what i need to bring. I might need a coat you know!" I make sure to laugh a little at the end so he knows i'm being playful. I never seem to know when i've pushed his buttons, he can be quite sensitive at times, i have noticed.

"But that's the point of the surprise. Anyway, we can always buy coats there if the weather isn't what's expected" he shrugs and throws a carry on bag over his shoulder.

"So it is a hot country then?" i playfully make a face at him and watch as he rolls his eyes at me

"Come on then, you" he says condescendingly

I leave Dad a note on the table containing words of our abrupt leave, which he will find on his return from a work trip in the States.

I turn to examine that everything is as it should be, completely unaware that i should be memorising my surroundings.

"Au revoir, Minette" i sweetly say to my dearest, that is my cat, who looks at me with great sadness before placing her head between her outstretched arms, watching as i close the door for the last time.