The Atlas Of Love

- twenty -

I woke up feeling a tear slip through my eye. Yawning and stretching, I sat up straight with a wide smile, thinking of how I'd be in Paris a few hours from now.

"You're up." I heard Xander say in a low voice.

I turned to smile at him and for the first time since we've been on this plane, I didn't want to punch him or anything.

I was happy that he was here with me. It honestly could've been a little lonely without him.

"Uh, Xander?" I called out.

"Yeah?" He looked down, raising his eyebrows.

"Thank you for coming with me." I said in a barely audible voice but he heard it and a warm smile spread on his face.

"Anytime J, anytime." He ruffled my hair, and snuggled close to me, resting his head on my shoulder.

"Let me get one more nap before we land." He said in a groggy voice.

I nodded and leaned closer, playing with his fingers which were on my lap.

Xander had really long, artistic and beautiful fingers. My fingers were long too but his were longer and beautiful. He used to play the guitar back in highschool but there were now no traces of being a guitarist on his fingers.

I always wondered why he gave up playing the guitar but that was right after our break-up and we weren't exactly in the best of terms so I never asked.

I peeped at the lady beside him and found her sound asleep. She must've fallen asleep right after I did.

My gaze fell back on Xander. It's surprising how he's going to take another nap in a span of less than 8 hours because Xander was an insomniac.

I mean, he always looked sleepy but he would have so much difficulty in sleeping and would bug me to death if I didn't keep him company until he fell asleep.

Then again, back in highschool when we dated, I would talk him to sleep and it was me who spoilt him by inducing this habit, so I had to deal with it myself.

Xander always said that it was much easier to fall asleep when I was around and I used to tease him saying that it was only because I was boring to be around, but it really must be true.

He fell asleep in the blink of an eye.

They announced that we were going to be landing in a few minutes and I almost freaked.

I shook Xander so hardly and punched him till he woke up glaring at me for doing so.

I showed him the brightest smile I've had in the last 4 years and it somehow made him smile too.

"Are you that happy to be here?" He asked, pushing his hair back with his hands.

I simply nodded, not even being able to talk. All I could, and wanted to do was squeal.

He rolled his eyes, turning away to hide his smile from me, but I still managed to see it.

By the time we walked out of the plane, I was close to crying. All these years, Kara and I planned on coming here and doing so many things and now that I'm finally here, my bestfriend was missing from my side.

Xander seemed to have noticed this. He walked up beside me and put his arms around my shoulder. "You're really okay right? I know you're missing Kara right now but don't forget to enjoy while you're here. It won't last for long." His dimpled-smile appeared.

I nodded. "Thank you Xander. Now don't say anything anymore because I don't want to spend my whole stay in Paris thanking you."

This made him let out a snort.

He let go of me, walking ahead and I laughed to myself, following his steps.

Paris was truly beautiful. Everything about it was so lovely. Heck, even the air felt like love to me.

We got into a cab and showed the card of the hotel to the driver to take us there. Xander and I were both not very good in French and we obviously didn't want to be embarrassed in front of each other and so we opted for the safest option.

Lucky for us, the driver spoke English.  He showed us all the beautiful, beautiful sights on our way to the hotel and even gave us his number in case we needed a ride.

We paid, thanked him and got out of the cab, carrying our own luggages.

-----

"I'm sorry, what?" I raised my brows at the woman at the counter.

"I'm sorry ma'am. You should've reserved another room beforehand. We'll let you know when any of the other rooms becomes vacant." She gave me a tight-lipped smile.

Alright Kara and I were tight on budget when we booked our rooms and I thought it was only the two of us coming to Paris so we booked only one!

Who knew she'd get pregnant and not travel with me!

I turned back around, only to see Xander smiling smugly at me. He already tried asking for another room but the lady at the counter said they didn't have any other free rooms and I insisted to ask her myself, so hence, the smirk.

I rolled my eyes, sighing in defeat.

The hotel we were staying at wasn't a really fancy place. Everything was just cozy, nice and warm-- except the receptionist.

I caught her flirting with Xander when we first checked in and then again on our way out to get some food.

I called up mom, dad and Kara informing them that we landed safely in Paris and that we were getting ready to head out. Xander also called up his mom and made her talk to me for assurance.

We didn't have a guide and completely relied on the maps in our phones.

Xander said that he had a friend who moved to Paris a few years back, to open and restaurant and that he wanted to take me there. Since I knew no one here and food was being offered, I agreed.

"Xander! Wow, buddy! Been long!" A tall, and gorgeous, like really gorgeous, man comes out of nowhere and hugged Xander.

Xander's dimpled-smile immediately appeared. "Hey, Asher. How's it going?" He asked, giving him a fist bumb after pulling away from the hug.

I just stood there awkwardly smiling up at them.

"Is this your girlfriend you told me about?" He asked, shifting his gaze to me.

"No, actua--"

"So nice to finally see you. You're even more beautiful than the picture he showed me last time. No wonder you've got him whipped." He cut me off, offering me a friendly hug.

"Yeah, well uh-- we're not. I mean, I'm not his gir--"

"You didn't tell me you had friends coming over." Another really tall and drop-dead-gorgeous woman walks out from the room behind us and wrapped her arm around Mr-- uh, Mr. Asher.

"Yeah, it slipped out of my mind." He smiled at her.

Bummer. She must be his girlfriend.

"I'm Tessa by the way. Asher's sister." She introduced herself and I almost jumped up in happiness.

God bless me!