*3*
Elizaveta threw her head back in laughter, "You are awful, no wonder I love you."
Brie had told her of the little encounter with the Frenchman and what she had done to evade him, she was quite proud of herself.
"I know; I am one of a kind." she said.
"Oh lord, what do men think?" Eliza said wiping her eyes.
"Well they're thinking, just not with the right head." Brie stated.
"Brie!" Eliza shouted, covering her mouth.
Brie laughed at her friend's reacting. It wasn't hard to fluster the woman or her boyfriend, they were much like Matt. Her sweet friend that smelled of maple syrup came to her thoughts, his kind smile and stunning eyes, Alfred came up as well. His bouncy energy, his love of fast food, and his nonstop ranting as she beat him at a game.
"Homesick?" Eliza asked.
"Huh?" Brie said snapping out of her thoughts.
"Asked if you were homesick. You get that far off stare when you think of those two boys." She replied.
"Oh, yeah I am. I do miss them. Should call them and see how they are." Brie said grabbing her bag.
"Leaving so soon, it's only five." Eliza pouted at her.
"You know I have to write up that story plus finish the article. Besides I know Roddy misses you." She smiled at her.
"He hates when you call him that." Eliza said gathering her things.
"Only because you call him that in bed." Brie explained as she quickly walked away.
"You weren't to hear any of that!" Eliza chased after her.
"Oh Roddy, yes like that, right there, more!" Brie moaned out as she ran from her.
"I'm going to kick your ass!" Eliza yelled after her, giggling after a laughing Brie.
Brie settled down in her white love seat, the gentle breeze calming her skin as she typed on her laptop. Writing was always Brie's passion, of knights and princesses, heroines saving the day, love around every corner. It was her world, yet she never really lived it. Once her boyfriend's found out about her, they hightailed it out, saying it was too much for them. Not that she really cared.
A small bing caught her attention as the little blue cloud popped up. Smiling she opened the tab to be greeted with a bear nose.
"Kuma, no. Down." She heard Matt tell his sweet pet.
"Bonsoir Mathieu." She said.
"Bonsoir to you as well." He smiled at her, "How's Paris treating you, pretty as I said it was eh?"
"But of course, you haven't steered me wrong." Brie smiled, "It is gorgeous here, wish you could've come along. You are just as much French as I am."
"Un peu." He said holding his fingers together. "How's the new story?"
"Quite well, a little adjustment here and there and things should fall into place. Hopefully by the end of the month I'll send it to Marline and we'll have it looked at and then hopefully have it published." she told him.
"That's excellent Brie! I'm happy for you. What's this one about?" he asked.
Brie gave him a wide grin as she went on explaining about the novel in work of a young woman whom travels the world to find what seems to be missing from her. How the girl sees beautiful lands and people and realizes that there is more to the world than she had ever seen. Gaining multiple friendships and loves throughout her adventure.
"I really can't wait to read it Brie, it sounds amazing." Matt exclaimed in his quiet tone.
"I'll send you the first official copy of it." she told him.
"Aw, you don't have to do that sweetie." he said, waving his hands in front of the camera.
"Dude! Is that Brie?" a loud voice shattered the quiet of the moment.
In a flash, Matt was shoved to the side and there before her was Alfred. His bright blue eyes wide in excitement at her.
"Brie! Dude, haven't seen you in ages. What's up, how've you been, what's going on?" he bombarded her.
"Alfred, I was talking to Brie first." Matt politely noted to the hyper man.
"Yeah, yeah. So, how is it there." He ignored Matt.
Brie laughed at him, "It's wonderful out here Alfie." She saw the small dusting of pink grace his cheeks, he always blushed when she called him that.
"Oh, that's good." he said rubbing the back of his head, "Oh did you find anything?"
Matt popped up as well and looked at her, nodding his head in agreement.
Brie sighed heavily, "No sadly, but I still have a lot of France to explore yet before finding any answers."
"Any more burns?" Matt asked quietly.
Brie quickly pulled her phone out and sent the picture to him, "Once it gets to you, you'll understand."
The chime rang out, Matt and Alfred looked at the picture, their mouths hanging open. "This is a whole new ouch, dude."
"You ok maple?" Mattie asked.
"Yeah, the majority of it had gone away. Small scratches and soreness of the usual. Fades away like usual just to appear the next morning." She told them.
"Hopefully you can find answers there Brie, you really deserve them." Matt said, his soft eyes never leaving hers.
"How much did you get out of your parents before the accident?" Alfred asked, Matthew smacked his shoulder.
"Seriously?" Matt scolded.
Brie's heart sank a little. Her parents were quite distant with her, between their businesses and her nightmare, they just seemed to not want to be near her. She had asked multiple times about the trip but was never given a clear statement, just that it happened in Paris. Sadly, her parents were involved in a fatal car accident a month before her move, she had nowhere else to turn for the past.
"It's alright boys and to answer you, the same as usual. Extremely little." she replied to them.
"You know we're both here no matter what." Matt said.
"Yeah, if you ever need anything Brie, any time or day, just call us." Alfred added.
Brie smiled at them, "I know boys, you've always been there for me. And I'm truly thankful for you both."
They smiled at her, how she wished she could have a hug from them once more. Just that comfort would ease her troubled mind.
"Need a hug eh?" Matt asked.
"Can tell huh?" she replied.
"We've always been able to tell when you needed one." Alfred said, "We'd wrap you up in one if we could. Virtual will have to work for now."
Brie giggled at the two boys, holding her hands out to them. They did the same, laughing at their goofiness with each other.
"We love you Brie." They both said.
"I love you too boys." she replied. "You have to get going huh? Have that meeting for your company?"
"Yeah, we don't want to but it's life." Alfred said to her.
Brie nodded, "I understand boys, I should finish the rest of my work as well."
"As we said, you ever need anything, we're here." Matt said once more.
"I know boys, thank you. Take care, love you both." she said waving at the screen.
"Love you too." they replied and waved.
The screen went back to its blinding white page, her story staring at her once more. Brie sighed, setting the laptop down on the small table. Her mind wandered in her thoughts; a part of her wondered if she'd ever find the relief she searched for, if there was ever solace from the nightmare, and the man that resided in her nightmare, did he really exist?
Brie made her way to the small window overlooking the illuminated city, she leaned up against the frame and watched as people walked past her terrace, enjoying the gentle night. The scent of rain filled her small apartment, she relaxed as the distant sound of thunder filled the night. She always did enjoy thunderstorms, somehow they were soothing to her.
The scent of red wine and roses caught her off guard, something about that combination made her body full of comfort and warmth. Glancing around, she tried to see what caused the sweet aroma. Hey amber eyes darted back and forth to all the windows and cars that laid before her, nothing seemed to stand out until a window across the street lit to life. She saw someone walking around as the night breeze lifted the curtains. Brie leaned out more to see better, they turned around and walked to their window as well. Realization slapped her as she noticed who it was, it was the Frenchman from earlier. His tight red shirt contoured his torso ever so perfectly as his blonde locks lightly lifted off his shoulders as he took in the night air.
'Don't worry, we will gain back what is ours, ma fleur. This war will be over soon.'
A voice rang out in her head, it frightened yet calmed her. The man made his way back into the room, going dark once more. Was all of that because of him?
Brie shook her head, trying to figure out everything that had happened. She quickly saved her work and shut everything down, hoping that a night's sleep would ease her mind before the nightmare came.