Camille
It has been a year since I have last returned to my home town in Paris. Everything seems so different though. It feels brighter, more spacious. It doesn't quite feel like home. As long as I can remember it was always crowded and no one ever seemed to notice I was there... Mom tells me though that nothing has changed, but she's wrong. Something has changed, maybe not in Paris, but in me.
Now that I am a singer and have been gone so long, I realize just how beautiful Paris is and how lucky I am to live here. I've been gone for a full year and every second that I have been away has made Paris more and more breathtaking. I've never thought before just how much I've taken it for granted. I live in the most beautiful city in the world, the city of love and light.
I'm on my way to school right now to meet up with my childhood friend, Alice Bourgeois. Everyone thinks she's mean and yeah, she might not be nice all the time, but she's still a good person. And yeah, I guess she can be rude at times, as well, but that doesn't change anything. She may like to flaunt her power and that her mother is The Chloé Bourgeois, the CEO of the huge clothing store, "Antoine Et Lili," but she means well.
After all, her mom isn't usually home, and that must have been so hard for her to deal with. Now I actually understand a shred of what she must have gone through, as I have not been home for the last year. I missed touching and hugging my parents and now I finally can since I finished my tour. I'm sure she yearns for that, and she used to be one of my best friends, it's not like I can just abandon her.
I heard while I was away that Alice got a new friend to hang out with named Jade. Alice always talked about her when we were on the phone. She says that she is a petite girl that doesn't really talk much, but Alice thinks very highly of her. She even says that sometimes she seems like a little light that is meant to be there to comfort people. I bet though that during those long months without her Mom, Jade was quite comforting. It made me so happy when I found out that she had made a new friend. I was worried that she would be lonely without me, but it seems I didn't have to worry.
Most people I knew before I became a model would always ask how I got to know Alice. Everyone knows she doesn't even like to talk to people that are poor, and they're confused how I met her because before I became a singer I was very poor.
While Alice was away they would always ask the same damn question. It was super annoying, and it is not that it was a bizarre question or anything, just really repetitive. And as I also had to say it so frequently it eventually became memorized. But I would always explain simply that, "My parents were employed by Alice's Mom and since I was about her age I became her playmate and now we are friends. Now, do you have a problem with that?" Most kids would just say "no" and then walk away, but there were those few times that it became a problem with the other person. Saying things such as, "you are not high enough in status to stand by Alice" or "you are not pretty enough." Not that it even mattered what I looked like, but I just did not understand the point to them saying anything in the first place. I guess maybe they were just jealous or having a bad day and just needed to get their shit out. Either way, if they are having a bad day they should not have to bother me with it.
"Camille, Are you ready for your first day of school? I mean it has been a year. Are you ready?"
"Of course I am Mom, why wouldn't I be?" I reply back worried.
"I don't know, it's just that you're in high school now and before you even got out of middle school you already had a job and it has been a year and I have just missed you so much!" My mom grabs onto me tightly.
"Mom! I am fine and I will be fine. There's nothing to worry about. I've missed you too, but I have to go to school. Plus, I miss Alice. I am finally seeing her after such a long time. I promise we can talk all you want when I get home."
The car rolls to a stop.
"I got to go."
I grab my bag and reach my hand towards the handle.
"Ok, well have fun and tell Alice I said hello, ok? I love you!" She moves her hand to her lips and gives me an air kiss. I move out of the car and whisper back "I love you too."
The car drives away and I stand there watching it. All the way until I can't see it anymore and even a little while longer. After a little while I snap out of it and start heading towards the school.
Alice texted me earlier and we decided to meet at our first class in room 2010. On the way though I notice a pair of twins, a brother and sister. They were both staring at me with curious expressions on their faces.
"I'm sorry. Do you have a problem with me?" I ask as I walk over to the two of them.
"No, you just looked-"
"Are you Camille Beaumont!" The girl shrieks.
I stand there for a second realizing again for the millionth time that I am a singer now. It is never going to be how it was before I became a singer, ever.
"Yes." I reply, shook.
The guy turns to the girl whispering something really fast and clipped, seeming a bit agitated. Then he switches back to me giving a nice counter response.
"Sorry about my sister, she's kinda a big fan of yours. When she heard that you were coming here she was really excited and seeing you just kinda made her suddenly forget all sanity."
"I am so sorry." The girl answers back.
Again I stand there mouth agape, not processing that this is really happening. While I was on tour it did not feel real, but being back in my home town makes it so much more real. So much that my usual response to this has left my mind, I am frozen.
"Oh... it's ok." I fumble out.
I must sound so weird and unnatural, I must be sounding like a total idiot, I curse myself internally.
The girl gives a quick flick of the wrist and at full arms length she has a pad and pen in both her hands.
"Can I please have your autograph then?" She keeps her head down, shaking the whole time. She must be nervous.
My whole body just calms down and I smile down at the bent over girl, glad that she asked.
"Of course I will give you an autograph." I grab the pad and pen and write my practiced signature on the first sheet of paper. The body of the girls completely relaxes as she realizes that she has not been turned down, but accepted. When I finish writing she grabs it giddy with excitement over the autograph. I don't get why someone would get so pumped over a signature on a piece of paper, it is not like it is worth anything. But then again, who cares, she is happy and that is all that matters.
"What are your names?" I question casually.
"Nick and Anna Agreste!" The girl known as Anna answers quickly.
Agreste. The name sounds familiar but I can't put a finger on where I've heard it.
"Well I guess that means I will see you around school then, right?"
"Right!" Anna hollers out. I smile and I turn again to the entrance when the warning bell rings. Oh crap! I hurry up the stairs to room 2010 where I see Alice waiting with a girl that I think must be Jade at a desk, sulking.
"Hey, Alice!" I chirp out.
Alice looks up, and stares at me for a second until she recognizes who I am. Do I really look that much different since the last time she saw me?
"Camille! It's been forever. You look so much different, so much older. I didn't even realize it was you for a second." She pauses and then yells at the top of her lungs. "This is my friend Camille and yes, she is Camille Beaumont, the singer, and do not come near us." The whole class turns their heads around not wanting to make eye contact with Alice. Unlike everyone else, I smile at Alice's simplicity, as she always needs to make herself clear. Alice then comes in on me, enfolding me into a hug and I squeeze back with delight.
We break away from each other a second later and I look towards Jade.
"So this is Jade, I'm guessing?" I ask, searching for clarification.
"Yes, this is Jade, quiet isn't she?"
"Yeah, she is very quiet."
Jade gives me small, shy smile and I can automatically tell that we're going to be great friends.
The bell rings, interrupting us.
"Ok, we are giving assigned seats so everyone get up." The teacher calls out. The class sighs as the teacher gives out this command. To be honest, though, I don't really care where I sit, it's not like I really know anyone. It would be nice to sit next to Alice, though.
Alice's hand shoots up into the air.
"Ummm, Mrs.Duval, can we please choose our seats? I would really like to sit next to my friend Camille who has not been here in a year. It would make her feel a lot more comfortable here. Right, Camille?"
Alice turns to me to get my affirmation. I look at the teacher and nod my head.
"I would feel a lot more comfortable being next to someone I know." I agree lamely.
Mrs.Duval stares us both down.
"Well, if you feel uncomfortable now, Mrs.Beaumont..." She pauses, waiting for my approval. I nod my head in agreement.
"Putting you with people you know will not make it better. So I am going to continue and put you in the seat that I feel is best for you. Of course, I will also try to choose a seat that is comfortable for you." Mrs.Duval stops there, getting ready to start her seating arrangement. She grabs a little notebook and looks down at it before taking a breath to start her organizing of students.
She goes through the list slowly pointing to the seat that she assigns a person to. I don't really pay attention until I hear my name being called.
"Camille, you will be sitting in the middle section on the left side in the first place right here." She points to the seat that I will be sitting in which is right night to a girl that I don't recognize, not that I would recognize her though. Now I wish I was paying attention to the names being called out. The girl has midnight black hair with a tint of blue in it and dark green eyes that remind you of a swamp.
I walk up to her she gives a warm smile as I approach.
"Hello, my name is Viva Farkas and you would be?" She gives her full attention with her body towards me in her seat and her eyes pointing in my direction.
"I am Camille Beaumont." I put out my hand and she pauses before grabbing hold of it and giving my hand a nice shake.
"I heard you were friends with Alice and a famous singer, that true?" She questions.
"Yeah, I am friends with Alice and yes, I am a singer." Viva barely gives it another thought before asking another question.
"What is your favorite color?"
I find it strange to be asked this out of no where, but I give her my answer anyways.
"Red, like roses."
"Cool."
Two guys sit in front of us in the row ahead cutting into our conversation to state one little thing.
"Oh, hey, Viva. It looks like I have a seat in front of you this year, unlike last year." He gives the essence of awkwardness as he speaks, he must really like this girl then to be so flustered over a few words.
Ugh, just one thing I am going to have to listen to every day as he blabbers on to Viva. This is going to be one hell of a long year, I can already tell, and yet I was so pumped just minutes ago. It deflated at once when I heard this guy say one sentence. You have got to be kidding me!
The guy talking to Viva suddenly turns to me. "Then you must be the person to replace me. Name's Jax, Jax Leblanc." He greets me with a smile of flashing white teeth, stretching out his hand towards me. Oh, so he can be normal, just not around her. Go figure.
I reach my hand out to his and smile back. "Name's Camille-"
"I already know who you are, miss famous singer." I roll my eyes.
"That is not my name though, it's Camille-"
"Camille Beaumont, correct?" He stares at me with a smug look on his face. It irritates me.
"Yes, you are correct, but you don't need to interrupt me to get your answer across, you could have waited."
"Yeah, I could have waited, but what would have taken longer?"
His arrogant attitude annoys me already. Just wait until that kid gets himself into trouble. I would love to see that.
"Ok, we get it. Jax don't interrupt people. It's impolite. Apologize to Camille." Viva intercepts. He does not hesitate to respond.
"Of course, I was out of line and I am sorry." He obeys, just like anyone's echo. Maybe that is what he will become, an echo. It does not even seem like he has a mind of his own when it comes to Viva. I never knew someone could become so dumb just because they like someone. Maybe I should stay away from that for like, the rest of my life. Love is apparently a thing so strong that it can make anyone as stupid as a rock. That will not happen to me anytime soon. I won't let it happen.
Author Notes:
So, this is my first story that I am going to try and write. I hope you like it and that you will continue reading. I know this might not be the most enticing first chapter ever, but this is my first thing to post something.
I would also like to add that I got a lot of help from a friend of mine on this. She is a fantastic and amazing person and she will be helping me throughout the series.
Please write comments and tell me what you think of it.
Thank you for reading
-Raylee May