FRIDA' S LIST

Chapter 16 Anthony is back

I HATE Sundays in Paris. It's like humanity ceased to exist. When I woke up this Sunday morning, I didn't know how to feel about last night. I almost did it. Poor Steve. He had been so nice to me. He might be a good friend.

After lunch, I went to my poetry club. We had a rehearsal every Sunday now since the contest was coming soon. We were waiting for Madeleine, who was late for the first time. Julie was talking with her two friends. They were staring at me and laughing. I tried to ignore them and pretended to be reading my lines. And I didn't know why but I felt miserable. I felt so lonely as if the world was totally empty and I was the last one left. I couldn't stay so I ditched my poetry club. I called Maeva and Celestin, but they didn't answer. Some things never change I guess. I didn't wanna come back home, but I didn't know where I could go, so I went to the movie theater. I watched two comedies trying to get some fun, and when I stepped out of the theater, the sun was going down. I didn't know where to go. I still didn't want to go home that was why I went to his coffee shop.

"Hey, Frida!" he waved me over when he saw me.

He beamed at me and that depressed me. I didn't know why. I should be home, my mind argued. Louise must be home, and Maeva is gonna answer her phone, I thought to myself.

"Hi, Steve," I said.

"What's going on?" he said, looking me up and down.

"Nothing special," I mumbled.

I probably looked like a mess.

"Sorry, may I have my coffee, please?" A young German woman asked him with a strong accent.

"Yeah, hold on. I'm in the middle of something here," he replied, dryly.

She was probably shocked. She seemed to be a tourist and maybe in her country she wasn't used to this. She shook her head and looked at a guy sitting at the table just behind her.

"So, tell me what's going on, Frida?" Steve asked me softly, without paying attention to her anymore.

"I'm gonna quit the acting club."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I don't feel like going into it anymore."

"Hey! Can I have my coffee, right now?!" A deep male voice asked Steve, tapping one finger on his table.

"Why are they always disturbing me? Sorry, I'll be right back," Steve said, raising an eyebrow at me.

It was the big guy with the German woman, and according to his accent, he was probably German too. I nodded and sat at a table. A few minutes later, Steve slid into the chair across from me.

"Take this. It's on the house," he said, handing me a cup of tea.

"Thank you. But_"

"You're welcome," he cut me off.

He put the cup in front of me. I nodded to thank him.

"So, you wanna stop your acting club. How come?"

I looked at his eyes. He had beautiful brown eyes. A silly thought crossed my mind: "He's a cute guy, not really my type, but a cute guy."

"I don't know. I just feel like I need something else in my life," I mumbled.

"Oh, I see," he said, nodding.

"Forgive me. I think I'm not in a good mood. Forget I said anything."

I dropped my head into my hands.

"Come on, girl!" he told me. "What's going? What is it about?"