The Secret We Share

Alexis

We'd spent the whole day exploring the city which my cousins called home, and though my stomach had been knotted in guilt at the the way I had left Kylie, I had almost all but forgotten in the beauty of this city. Only the sudden growling of my stomach reminded me of the feeling.

Camille smithed a laugh, "hungry?" She asked.

"Maybe a little," I said sheepishly, laughing at the face she made at me.

"Come on, I know a place," she said grabbing my hand to drag me along, her sister in tow.

*****

Me, Camille, and Ana finally stopped speed waking as we arrived in front of a small but cozy looking restaurant. Through the windows, candles glowed softy, and people filtered in and out of the glass panes doors.

"This is our favorite place," Ana said with a smile as we walked through the entrance.

I could see why, this place was amazing. It seemed so chic and yet casual, making me feel instantly comfortable in its atmosphere.

"Bonsoir mademoiselles, un table pour trois?" Asked the host at the door.

"Oui s'il vous plaît," replied Camille in quick French with a smile at the host.

He grabbed three menus and gestures us to a nearby table, pulling out the chairs for Evan of us as we sat.

"This place is so amazing," I said, my mouth already watering with one look at the menu. Luckily I could read it, what with my limited knowledge of the language.

My cousins and I started to talk about everything happening in our lives at the moment as we each looked over our menus. Suddenly, I glanced up, and almost didn't believe my eyes.

"Chloe?" I said, causing my cousins to look at me with furrowed brows, and then to follow my eyes to the girl that I was looking at.

"Alexis? Oh my gosh, hi!" Chloe said rushing over to the table.

"I didn't expect to see you!" I said, standing up to give her a hug.

Remembering my manners, I turned to my cousins, "Ana, Camille, this is Chloe, I met her in the flight here!"

They all said hello to each other, Ana and Camille clarifying who was who as they were often mistaken for being identical (though it was pretty obvious to most people that they were not).

Camille invites her to sit at the extra seat at our table, and she obliged as we all sat back down.

"So, what are you doing here?" I asked Chloe, smiling.

"Well I met a few old friends here for dinner, we just finished up but they had to get back home, I was just on my way out." Chloe responded, giving a small shrug, "and well, now I'm here." She said with a small giggle.

My cousins gave me a pointed look, creepy how their expressions could mirror each other's sometimes, but I brushed it off.

Camille wiggled her eyebrows at me as Chloe was still turned towards me, but then Ana interjected, turning her attention to Chloe.

"So Chloe, you go to school nearby?" She asked, which began a whole conversation about Chloe's summer in Europe- though she let out the reason behind it.

*****

We were all laughing and having an amazing time as we shared stories over now empty plates of food. Chloe ended staying to hang out with us while we eat, having instantly hit it off with my cousins.

As we were catching our breath after one particularly good story, Chloe said that it was probably time she get going. She bid us all goodbye and I stood up to walk her out, letting my cousins know I'd be right back.

*****

We stepped out of the cozy restaurant into the slight chill of a summer night, a breeze brushing over us.

"Crazy how we crossed paths again, huh?" Chloe said, turning towards me on the sidewalk.

"Yeah no kidding, I thought that the last time I'd see you was in Charles de Gaulle," I replied, giving her a smile.

"Hey are you waking back or do you need a taxi or something?" I asked her, but her eyes suddenly shifted to an emotion I hadn't seen in her yet. Was that, fear? She seemed defensive, though she hadn't yet replied.

"Uhm, no that's okay, it's not far, thank you though," she said, the strange emotion seeming to have passed.

However, I noticed her shiver a bit in the cool evening, so I grabbed the sweatshirt I'd stashed in my bag.

"Here," I said, extending it to her, "I don't want you to get cold if you're walking."

She took it, a small flush rising to her cheeks, "thank you," she said giving me a quick hug goodbye, "you really don't need to give me your sweatshirt, what if you get cold?"

"I'll be okay, goofball." I laughed, insisting she bring it with her, and she agreed, slipping the soft grey hoodie over her head.

"Why don't we meet up this weekend," she said suddenly, softly biting her lip.

"That would be great," I answered as a warm feeling bubbled up in my chest, "how about we meet here? This weekend at 5pm?"

"Perfect," Chloe said.

And with that we said our goodbyes again and for the second time, we went our separate ways.

I couldn't help but turn back to the window, after going back inside, only to see Chloe getting into a black town car a little ways away from the restaurant.

Huh? That's odd I thought to myself, but didn't think too much of it, walking back to the table where my cousins waited for me to really tell them what was going on.

"Spill." Said Ana.

"And spare no detail." Added Camille.

I rolled my eyes, "come on," I said, "I'll explain on the way back to your house."

*****