Last Kiss in Paris

Chapter 4 - Ignoring Coach Johnson's Warning

Suggested Song: The Reaper by The Chainsmokers ft. Amy Shark

Pretty face with two sides
So what's it gonna be tonight?
Dark days, I'm terrified
I know that something isn't right
You take what you want
Then you leave when you're done
Pretty face with two sides
So what's it gonna be tonight?

--

"Wow, so Johnson just let you off with a warning?" Mel asked Amrisha incredulously the next morning at breakfast. They were sitting in a booth at the hotel cafe, enjoying a light continental breakfast after their indulgent dinner the night before.

"See, I told you Pierre was trouble," Sophie said from beside Amrisha, cutting up her omelette. "Remember you're going to meet Ben, so don't you go smitten with player Pierre."

Amrisha sighed, and took another sip of her black coffee. She had barely gotten any sleep the night before, tossing and turning, thinking about Pierre, Ben, Pierre, Coach Johnson threatening to call her parents...

"Not one full day in France and you've already gotten in trouble," a familiar voice drawled.

Amrisha turned to see Alek walking towards her table, followed by Lucas. They both carried plates piled high with food – mainly sausages, bacon and other fatty, oily, carby foods. How boys could eat and never gain weight...

"Ugh," Amrisha slapped Alek's arm, "who the heck told you that?"

"Sadipo, Alexander, Bhuvi, you know we boys do gossip once in a while?" Alek jabbed finger in the direction of a nearby table. His three roommates waved at the girls.

At the next table, Amrisha caught sight of Pierre, who was sitting amidst a group of giggling girls. He glanced up, catching Amrisha's eye, and gave her a wink. Amrisha's heart fluttered.

"Charming," she muttered absentmindedly.

"Ben sure is," Mel said eagerly, "I'm so excited for you Amrisha. By the wording of his text message, it's definitely a date. Where are you meeting him? Sophie and I are gonna help you look amazing!"

Amrisha tried to put Pierre out of her mind. "Uh, he said to meet him at five at this metro station."

"Omigod," Sophie and Mel squealed in unison.

"I'm so proud of you," Sophie pretended to wipe away a tear. "The Amrisha I met in grade 7 is now all grown up."

"That's nice," Lucas said, his mouth full of hash brown, "but you do know we have to go to l'école today? Madame Choux is giving out timetables." He thrust a piece of paper onto their table.

"Luckily," Mel looked at the paper, "we end at 3pm. Thank god it's Friday – we have free time for the rest of the afternoon, and you'll have time to get ready and head over to Ben."

"You'd better make curfew, or Coach Johnson will definitely tan your hide," Alek pointed out. The others agreed.

"Right," Amrisha replied. Trying to take her mind off the impending 'date' with Ben, she added, "We'd better finish eating and get ready for school then. What do we have first?"

"History," Lucas wrinkled his nose, "then Gym, Mathematics, Art, and Literature."

*

Amrisha yawned for the umpteenth time. She stared blankly at the copy of Les Misérables on the desk in front of her. Usually, she didn't mind reading, but focusing on a whole chapter seemed to fry her exhausted brain. All she wanted was to have a nice nap.

A pale hand tapped her shoulder. It was Saige. Amrisha had been sitting next to her for the past half hour – her friends were all in another class – but she had been too tired to make much conversation. "Yeah?" she muttered, turning around to look at Saige.