Chapter 1

The view from Here

I walked around the apartment oohing and ahhing but when I reached one of the bedrooms, my jaw dropped. I opened the double doors leading to a balcony and there, right in front of my eyes was the Eiffel tower.

"This is it Rachel,"

"I don't know Alex," I said glancing around nervously, sure it was amazing, but it did look pretty expensive.

"Relax!" exclaimed Alex. "We'll get a job so we can keep this place, I know it."

I wasn't so sure that finding a job would be so easy in a place like Paris but I reluctantly nodded slowly. It was a beautiful Wednesday afternoon in the city of Paris. Alex and I had been saving up for this trip since the beginning of high school, so this was like a dream come true.

"Merci," Alex said to the Paris Heights Apartment's Manager as she collected the key for the apartment.

She failed at trying to put on a French accent. As soon as the manager left the room I burst out laughing.

"What was that?" I managed to say between breaths. She poked her tongue out at me obviously not taking my criticism to heart and announced that she was going to call her mother. I nodded and dumped my bags on the floor, claiming the room as my own. I figured the other bedroom would have the same view as both of the rooms faced the same way. I plopped onto the bed and pinched myself, trying to wake up from what was obviously a dream. Not only was I now living in Paris, but I had my best friend Alex to share the amazing experience with.

When Alex had finished on the phone I had almost finished unpacking all of my clothes.

"So what's the plan for tonight?" she asked me, no doubt assuming I already had some ideas in mind.

"Well," I began. "I was hoping we could check out a night club and just have some fun? I bet you're dying to meet some cute French guys.

Alex just smirked, I knew her too well. Back in high school she'd have a crush on a new boy every month. Those days seemed so far away, but I was happy for the change.

"So what do you think?" I asked again.

"Sounds like a plan," she replied as she walked out of the room to get ready.

I turned towards my wardrobe, and tried to choose what to wear. Firstly, I decided that I would have a shower, because sitting on a plane for 20 hours really made me look like I hadn't showered in a week. As I glanced at myself in the mirror I couldn't help but wonder just what would happen in the next few months, and the rest of my life.

I stepped out of my room wearing a black halter neck dress. Alex was already waiting, and she was wearing a pink mini dress. I smiled and thought to myself, I really couldn't imagine this just a month ago, Alex and I about to go out for a night in Paris.

"Where should we go?" I asked as we stepped into the elevator.

"Well," Alex began. "I talked to the cute door man Louis and he suggested this place which is in walking distance.

"Of course you did," I said laughing as we walked out of the doors and into the city of Paris. I could tell that this was going to be an amazing night.