Anna and the French Kiss: Etienne's POV

34

Paris in the springtime is my favorite place to be. The trees have finally grown bright green leaves. Flowers are blooming everywhere, there job to accent the many walkways and buildings around the city. It puts everyone in a good mood, and it makes my already bright mood, an even brighter one.

This morning, I received a call. My mother's latest PET/CT scan was clear, which means there is no evidence of cancer. Obviously she'll still be tested every three months, but as of right now, I can live freely knowing that my mum will be okay. It's almost as if the weather is mirroring my aura today, because it's a beautiful day. 

And I'm with a beautiful girl.

Anna and I are sprawled before the Grand Bassin, an octagonal pool popular for sailing toy boats--although I haven't actually done so in all my time in Paris. Meredith is playing a league football game in an indoor field across the street, and Josh and Rashmi are watching. We also watched, but Anna and I aren't exactly attentive when it comes to sports. Fifteen minutes into it, I was whispering in Anna's ear and prodding her with lifted brows.

Obviously, she didn't take much convincing. We'll go back to catch the end of the game soon. 

So far I've shown Anna a beekeeping school, an orchard, a puppet theater, a carousel, and a courtyard of gentlemen lost in boules, lawn bowling. I told her that we're in the best park in all of Paris.

A tiny sailboat breezes behind us, and Anna sighs happily. "Étienne?" 

We're lying next to each other, propped up against the ledge of the Bassin. I shift, and my legs find a comfortable spot against Anna. Our eyes are closed. "Hmm?" I ask.

"This is sooo much better than a football game."

"Mm, isn't it, though?"

"We're so rotten," she says. 

I slap her with a lazy arm, and we laugh quietly. It's so nice to just lie here, enjoying life. For so long I had to pretend to be better than I felt, and finally I actually do feel good. I can thank Anna greatly for that. 

I sigh. "Do you think Meredith would notice if we just didn't go back?" 

Anna doesn't answer, and I open my eyes to find her asleep. There's also a sailboat in her hair, and her brown locks are wrapped around it messily. I laugh and call her name, and she opens her eyes suddenly. "Wha?"

"There's a sailboat in your hair."

"Huh?"

"I said, 'There's a sailboat in your hair.'"

She tries to lift her head, but it snaps back, snagged. A young boy approaches us, clearly frustrated. 

"I'm sorry, that's my boat. Can I have it back, please?" He asks in French. 

I nod and laugh at Anna as she tries to pry the toy's sails from her head. The boat tips over, and her hair dips into the Bassin. The young boy shouts at her. 

"Hello, help?" She throws an exasperated look at me. My laughter has reduced into a fit of giggles. I struggle up as the boy reaches for her hair, tearing at the wet tangles. 

"OUCH!" Anna yelps. 

"Be careful!" I snap in French. He lets go. I start to gently work the cloth and string and wood from her hair. I hand the boy back his boat and tell him to watch where its going. The boy clutches his toy and runs away. 

Anna wrings out her hair. "Ugh."

"That's very clean water." I grin. 

"Sure it is." 

"Come on." I stand and offer my hand. She takes it, and I help her up. I lead her to a safe spot away from the pool, relishing in the softness of her hand against mine. I never want to let go. 

We sit in the grass underneath a canopy of pink blossoms. The Grass Police usually yell at pedestrians who sit on the lawns, but I see no sign of them. Even if they did correct us, I somehow could just convince them that it's okay for us to sit here. I have a gift when it comes to that sort of thing.

We are still holding hands. 

I don't want to let go. Is she not letting go just to be nice? What are we doing? 

I force my gaze to the Grand Bassin. Anna does the same. I'm not even watching the boats. My hand is burning, but I can't let go. I scoot closer. I'll do anything to feel her touch, all of her touch. She smells sweet, as if she bathed herself in rosewater. I've never been a fan of the scent roses have, but ever since I've met Anna, it's one of my favorites. 

I shift again, and so does she. Our bodies are so close together that there isn't an inch of air between us. I finally look at her. I examine her side profile, willing her to look at me. 

She does. 

I stare deeply into her eyes. "What are we doing?" 

Her lips are so perfect. It's as if God worked a little bit harder on her lips, just to make them absolutely beautiful. She tilts her face towards mine, and I tilt mine towards hers. I close my eyes. Our lips brush lightly. It's enough to burst my heart into a million pieces.

"Of you ask me to kiss you, I will," I say. 

My fingers stroke the insides her wrists, and my head is swimming. 

"Kiss me," she says.

I do. 

We are kissing like crazy. As if everyone on the planet has died, and this is the only way to bring everyone back. I slip my tongue inside of her mouth. Her perfect lips are softer than I could even have imagined and my body is dissolving into hers. I feel like I'm flying. Her fingers grip my hair, pulling me closer and it's enough to make me pass out. I have never felt like this before. 

I push her backwards, and we're lying down, making out in front of the men who are lawn bowling and the little old ladies who are gossiping. I don't care. I don't care about any of them. Only Anna. 

I'm on top of her, and I feel all of her. The curve of her chest, her thin waist, her amazing legs. She smells like vanilla and roses and the mixture of those scents are the equivalent to getting high. It's only the two of us and the world around us has gone dark. 

Until I feel the presence of someone standing over us. I stop, and my entire body goes rigid.

"How could you?" a girl cries.