Chapter 2
"If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning."
-Mahatma Gandhi
The sky was so blue and clear as I opened my eyes once I realized we were landing. I looked around and saw everyone get up and grab their bags and other essentials. I got up grabbed my handbag and walked off the plane. I looked around and followed the crowd off the plane and down the long corridor. I kept walking straight till I came across the baggage claim. I picked up both of my bags and walked towards the transportation department. I walk up to the secretary.
"Excuse me?" I say politely
"OH! Yes sorry I was a little preoccupied," she jumped and dropped some papers. I bent down and helped her pick them up. "Thank you dear," she smiles sweetly. I smiled back. "What can I help you with?" she asks.
"Could you call me a taxi please?"
"Oh yes I can," she typed some things into her computer. "What name should I put it under?"
"Alex Russo," I say.
"Okay," she says typing a few more things into the computer. "The taxi should be here in 20 minutes. While you're waiting we have a small sitting area," she says pointing to the right.
"Okay, thanks so much," I say waving goodbye while walking in the direction of the sitting area. She smiled and waved back.
I sat down in one of the chairs and placed all of my bags near me. I took my phone out of my purse and turned it on. Once it was on I saw that I had 3 text messages and 2 missed calls all from my mom wondering where I am. I called her back.
"Hi mom I just landed and I am waiting for a taxi," I said.
"Oh okay good, thank you for calling me back," she said still sounding very worried even though her words said otherwise.
"Don't worry mom. Everything is going to be fine," I said assuring. My words sounded more confident then I felt.
"I know mija, I know," she said sounding more like she was trying to reassure herself than me.
I looked up as I saw a man standing at the doorway holding up a sign that says 'Russo'.
"Oh mom I've gotta go my taxi is here."
"Oh okay, goodbye mija, don't forget to call once you've got settled," she says.
"Goodbye mom," I say.
I then hang up on her and grab my bags and walk towards the man. He looks at me and smiles.
"Etes-vous Alex Russo?" he says.
"Huh?" I ask confused. What the hell did he say?
"Alex Russo?" He asks.
"Oh, yes that's me!" I say finally realizing that he was asking me if I was Alex Russo.
"You only speak English no?" he asks in a heavy French accent. Damn, I know that New Orleans was a French colony but I didn't know people still spoke French. I voiced these thoughts to him. "Oh yes several people still speak French from time to time. But not as much as they use to."
"Oh ok, Should I be really worried about that?" I ask nervously. Oh gosh! I sure hope I don't have to learn a whole new language. I barely passed Spanish.
"Oh no, no mademoiselle, I'm sure you'll be fine," he says hastily. Phew! That's good!
"Alright that's good," I say relieved.
"Well then now that we've got that covered why don't we start going, oui?"
"Huh? Oh yes, yes, let's go," I say hastily. He chuckles and turns around and walks towards the taxi. I look down and blush out of embarrassment and follow him. Once we get to the taxi he takes my suitcases and puts them in the trunk.
Then I climb in the back and he gets in the driver seat.
"Alright. Where are we going?" he asks.
"Uh, 3452 Baronne street," I say looking at the paper for my apartment address.
He just nods and starts driving. I look out the window and watch the buildings as we pass them. After about 10 minutes we pulled onto Baronne Street. He then pulled over in front of an apartment building. I got out and looked at the giant building in front of me. The taxi driver puts my suitcases beside me.
"How much?" I ask.
"$22.46," he says. I hand him my debt card. He walks over to the driver side of the car and swiped my debt card. He came back with the receipt and I signed the bottom.
"Thank you..." I trailed off realizing I don't know his name.
"Francois," He says.
"Well Francois thank you for everything," I said.
"It's my job. And if you need anything, anything at all. Call me," He said handing me his card.
"Thank you I will. And I really appreciate the help," I say taking the card and putting it in my pocket.
"No problem, mademoiselle," He says getting back into his car waving goodbye to me. I wave back and watch as he drives away.
I turn around and face the place I will now call home. I take my suitcases and head through the front door. The lobby is very unique. A lot nicer than most places in New York. I stare in awe at all of the art on the walls and the chandelier hanging from the ceiling. I go over to the receptionist.
"Excuse me?" I ask politely trying to get her attention.
"Yes?" she says annoyed. Well then someone has their panties in a twist.
"I am Alex Russo and I am here about an apartment I am renting," I say.
"Is that supposed to mean something to me," she says sassy. She wants to be like that? Well two can play at that game.
"Okay. Now you listen here lady! I just came here from the airport and suffering from some jetlag and all I am asking is for my key and room number! That isn't much to ask!" I say getting angry. She looks at me and raises an eyebrow then looks down at her computer and then looks in the drawer for my key and hands it to me.
"Your key, and your apartment number is 34 on the second floor," she says quickly. I grab the key out of her hand.
"Thank you," I say and smile politely. I then turn around take my bags and head for the elevator. I press the button to bring the elevator down. Once the doors open I step in and press the 2 button for the second floor. The elevator doors close and I wait a few minutes before it stops and dings telling me that we are on the second floor. I walk out dragging my suitcases behind me. I turn left towards the direction that the signs were pointing me to. I scan the room numbers as I go past them looking for the number 34. Once I find it I stop and put the key in and turn it then open the door. The first thing I see when I walk in is a small hallway. On the immediate right is the door to the guest room. When you walk down the hallway into the main room it contains the living room, a small kitchen, and a dining table. When you turn right there is a door leading to the master bedroom. There is four closets in the master bedroom. There is one full bath attached to the masters bedroom.
When I found this online, using Zillow, I got it because it came with furniture. Which was one less thing I had to worry about. I drag my suitcases with me to the master bedroom. I shouldn't be getting my other stuff till tomorrow or the day after. I shipped them about 2 days ago. So I should get them soon. For the next hour or so I spend it unpacking my clothes. The one thing that sucks is that I won't get my wand until I get my other stuff. Therefore I have to do everything myself. There isn't that much magic I can do with my hands. Once I was done with that I sat in my living room looking around.
I looked at my watch and it said '5:47'. I decided to get some dinner. The one big reason why I picked New Orleans to live in is because of the French Quarter. The art, the stores and the jazz. Everything. I decide today would be the perfect day to go there. I head into the bathroom and shower to stop smelling like plane. When I got out I changed into a dress, a jacket, and boots. I grabbed my purse and headed to the elevator.
It took me awhile to find the French Quarter. But once I got there I stopped short. This place was beautiful! I just stood there just watching in awe at all the life there was. Down the street there was a small band playing some jazz. There were so many shops and there was a little section where there were people drawing and painting everyone who passes them. One guy started drawing me. I watched as he finished he showed it to me.
"Wow that's really good!" I say in complete awe.
"For you mademoiselle," he says with a smile.
"Thank you so much," I say smiling.
He smiles back. I wave and start walking down the street. For some reason I feel eyes on me as I'm walking. But I shake it off. I continue down the street looking at all of the shops and restaurants. I stopped by some fast food restaurant. I went in and ate. Then afterwards I left. Soon I came across a Patisserie which was a French pastry shop. I decided to go there for dessert. I walked in and saw multiple tables. I walked up to the counter. I looked at the menu and decided on getting a chocolate-filled Éclair with chocolate fondant. The worker looked at me expectantly.
"Could I have a chocolate-filled Éclair with chocolate fondant?" I ask.
"Excuse-moi?" she asks in French.
"Huh?" I ask confused. That's the second person that spoke in French to me.
"Elle aimerait un chocolat fourre Éclair," a random guy said to cover for me. I turned to the mystery man to see a tall guy with blonde hair and blue eyes.
"OH! Oui, Oui. J'arrive," the worker says. Then she walks away.
I turn back to the guy.
"Thank you for that," I say. I look up and see that he is just staring at me with a smirk on his face.
"No problem darling," he says with the sexiest British accent. "I'd do anything to help someone as beautiful as yourself." That brings me back to reality.
"Oh do you say that to all of the girls that you talk to," I say sassily. He looks at me with a raised eyebrow and a shocked expression on his face. I look back at him with my own smirk on my face.
"Uh no-o not really," he says trying to get his cool act back. I just laughed. He then just looks at me in awe. At that point the worker comes back with my Éclair.
"Et Voila," she says.
I look at the guy. He smirks then says "Merci."
"De rien," she says smiling and walks away.
I look back at him and say, "Well thanks again..."
"Niklaus," he says immediately.
"Thank you Niklaus," I say. I then walk away.
"Wait don't I get to know your name darling?" he says quickly.
I turn around with a smirk and say, "Alex."
He smiles and looks at the ground. As I turn back around and walk away I hear him very faintly say, "Alex."
It was midnight by the time I found my way back to my apartment. Once I get inside I head to my room and change into my PJ's. I lay in bed and stare at the ceiling and mumble, "Niklaus." Before I go to sleep.
