FROM FRANCE TO USA

First time

I was at Chris's house, getting ready for tonight. Becca had invited me to dinner, and even though we'd spent the entire month calling each other while I was away at camp, I couldn't shake the nerves about seeing her again. Our last encounter had ended with a kiss at the park, and I hadn't seen her since.

To add to my anxiety, Becca refused to tell me where we were going. The mystery only made me more nervous—I absolutely hate surprises.

After much deliberation, I decided to wear a simple black dress paired with my trusty black Converse. I headed downstairs to get a second opinion from Chris and Tobin, who were lounging in front of the TV.

"How do I look?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

They both turned away from the screen to check me out. Tobin grinned and said, "Tu... es... très belle!" Her French accent was clumsy, but the effort was sweet.

I smiled, feeling a bit more confident. "Merci!"

Chris, however, tilted her head and asked, "Don't you want to wear heels?"

I wrinkled my nose in disgust. "Heels? Seriously, Chris?"

"What?" She shrugged, clearly unbothered by my reaction.

"You clearly have no idea how much effort it took just to put on this dress. Heels are out of the question." I crossed my arms, emphasizing my point. Chris rolled her eyes and kissed me on the forehead.

"You look perfect as you are. Is Rebecca coming to pick you up?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah, she should be here any minute now." As if on cue, my phone buzzed with a text from Becca, letting me know she was outside. I grabbed my jacket and started heading towards the door.

"Isn't your soon-to-be girlfriend going to come in and say hello?" Chris teased.

"Chris, come on," I groaned, feeling the tension rise.

"What? I just want to meet her," Chris insisted.

"You're being ridiculous," I said, trying to keep my frustration in check.

"Ridiculous? Madi, I just want to know who you're spending time with, especially if it's someone who's not exactly... reliable." Chris's voice hardened, and I could tell she was referring to the fact that I'd mentioned Becca's habits before.

I sighed deeply. "So that's what this is about? You don't like that I'm seeing her because she smokes weed and has a bit of a wild streak? And because I snuck out to see her once?" I bit my lip, holding back harsher words. "People can change, Chris. Do you really not trust me?"

"Okay, girls, let's calm down," Tobin interjected, trying to diffuse the situation, but Chris cut her off.

"You're blowing this out of proportion! I just want to meet her and get to know who you're going out with. It's not about trust."

"Are you sure about that? The only person who legally has any say over me is Alex, and if I'm not mistaken, I don't see her here right now." My voice trembled with anger. "You have no right to control who I see."

"Alright, enough, both of you!" Tobin shouted, her tone firm. "Madi, stop before you say something you'll regret. And Chris, let her go out without making a scene." She turned to me, her expression softening. "Go on, Becca's waiting for you. Have fun."

"Yeah, thanks..." I mumbled, heading out the door with a mix of frustration and sadness.

TOBIN'S POV:

After Madi left, she seemed either angry or upset—it was hard to tell. Chris was usually better at reading her than I was. I walked back to the living room, but Chris wasn't there. Guessing she might be on the terrace, I headed outside.