The Mighty Storm (Raura Revised)

Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Dave drives the car down Avenue du Général Lemonnier and enters the underground parking garage of the Louvre. A space nearest the lifts has been reserved for us, and there is an attendant already waiting to meet us.

Okay, so let this begin.

Dave parks up and he and Ben get out of the car.

Ben opens Ross' door.

"You ready?" Ross asks me.

I can't seem to answer. I'm frozen to my seat. In truth I'm scared and even more so now we're here.

I've been living in a bubble with Ross. Our relationship this last week has been just him and I cocooned, despite all the Will stuff. Now we're about to go out in public together and everyone will know I'm Ross Lynch's girlfriend, and then it won't just be him and me anymore. His world will become a part of us.

And I'm worried that it might take over.

"Give us a minute," Ross says to Ben, grabbing the door, he closes it.

"What's wrong?" he asks, turning to me, his gaze worried.

"I don't know," I shrug, finding my voice. "I guess it's all just got a little real now, and I don't mean us," I add at his worsening expression. "I just mean you, who you are, the world you live in. The one I'm about to become a part of."

He looks at me puzzled. "Laur, you've known all along how my life is."

I take a deep breath. "I know, I guess ... it's just this – us going on our first date, and we have to bring Dave and Ben along with us, and Stuart has to call ahead to prepare them for your arrival – at the Louvre for god's sake! That's how famous you are, and it just feels ... a lot crazy. And a little un-date like," I add quietly, wringing my hands together in my lap.

"It is crazy, baby." He takes hold of my hands, trying to soothe my tension. "And it's a part of my life, granted – but not all of it. I know this part isn't great and I'm sorry if this doesn't feel like a date." His lips turn down at the corners. "But I've never been on one before, so I'm kind of new to all this. You're gonna have to help me out with this stuff, okay?"

"Of course I'll help ... I'm just – I guess I'm just a little scared."

"What of?" He looks concerned again.

"The fact that my life is going to change, majorly, by being with you, and because of that, I might not be able to do things I used to."

"Don't be scared." He tucks my hair behind my ear. "Nothing will change for you – I promise. I'll make sure your life stays exactly the same, just with the added bonus of me in it." He grins. "And this here today is a small thing. The people who come to the Louvre won't have a care or a clue about who I am."

"Yeah 'cause art fans never listen to music, Ross." I raise my eyebrow at him. "Everyone knows who you are."

"Not everyone. I bet there are millions of people who don't know me. And I bet every single one of them is in the Louvre today."

"You're an idiot," I say, laughing.

"Takes one to know one."

"It does." I put my hand against his warm cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too, and everyone else will love you when they get to know you."

"Except for your legions of female fans."

"Yeah, well, maybe not them," he grins.

I roll my eyes at him.

"But they will love you when they see how happy you make me ... and you do, Laur – make me happy – you always did. I don't know how I coped all those years without you."