Last Kiss in Paris

*Chapter 6 - Amrisha Tries to Become Strong

Suggested Song: LIKEY by TWICE

Me likey likey likey
Me likey likey likey

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Pierre woke with a start. He pulled himself up from the floor rug and picked up the mess of sheets on the floor, rubbing his backside. He rearranged the sheets back onto the sofa and lay down, willing sleep to come. But he had already been awake for too long. Pierre struggled to find a comfortable position to sleep, and being 185cm tall, he had to lie with his legs dangling uncomfortably off the side. Soft snores of the other boys filled the room, and Pierre's eyes swivelled to the bed nearest to him, where Amrisha lay.

He had just fallen asleep the previous night when a body had almost fallen on top of him. He had turned and opened his weary eyes, and the first thing he saw was Amrisha's face. She looked prettier than usual with makeup on, and was wearing a very nice dress. Pierre had stared at her for some time before realising all the other boys were encircling his lower bunk, staring as well. As Amrisha was snoring in a deep sleep before anyone had processed what had happened, Pierre was now occupying the sofa. Unable to fall asleep again, he got up, stepped over some Evolve the Frog playing cards, and headed to the window, opening the curtains a crack. The first lights of dawn were approaching. As he stepped back and almost tripped on a set of hotel keys and a handbag, he grinned, an idea forming in his mind.

*

Amrisha was being carried by strong arms. The last time this had happened, she was 5 years old, and her dad had carried her from the car to their beach house on the coast. Amrisha's head was heavy with drowsiness, and she struggled to open her eyelids. Sleep called to her again, and she allowed herself to be sucked in. The last thing she remembered was pulling herself closer to her carrier and whispering, "Ben."

*

"C'mon Amrisha, we're going to Versailles!" Sophie shook Amrisha's sleeping form, while Mel pulled the pillow out from under Amrisha's head. She groaned and turned around, swatting their hands away. It could only be 6 o'clock, but Amrisha felt as tired as ever. Her brain seemed to be pounding against her head, and her thoughts were fuzzy and sluggish. What had she been doing last night? Suddenly, Amrisha recalled what had happened and she sat up abruptly, pushing away Sophie's arm.

"Wh-when did I get here?" she spluttered.

"I dunno," Mel replied. "We thought you were staying in the boys' room until there was enough light to come back up here. I bet one of the boys carried you up."

"Pierre," said a different voice. Amrisha whipped around and saw Emanda. She had hardly heard Emanda speak much, and when she did, it was usually to Saige. Amrisha raised her eyebrows in question. "Pierre carried you up," Emanda explained in a monotonous voice. "I saw him." Amrisha gasped, and fell back again, her head throbbing from last night's champagne. She vaguely remembered those strong arms, the scent of sandalwood, how she absent-mindedly snuggled up to him...

After much reassurance from her friends, a vomit session, three glasses of water and some Panadol later, Amrisha felt relatively better, and headed down to breakfast with the others.

"You kissed!?" Sophie exclaimed as Amrisha told her about her date with Ben. She swept her eyes over the two large tables in the dining area and instantly spotted Pierre, chatting alongside some of his sporty guy friends and giggling girls. They locked eyes for a second, and Pierre smirked, mouthing the word Ben. Amrisha froze. Did she...somehow...mention Ben in her sleep? Before she could act, he had turned away. A hand tapped her shoulder and she saw Buvhi, gesturing her to join their table. Alexander still looked quizzically at Amrisha while Sadipoh grinned at her, albeit remembering the previous night's events.