So here's me updating this fic after months. Yay! I really want to get the ball rolling with this one. I have a lot of evil ideas…MWAHA. This one goes out to Kristen, because she has just been update goddess all week and she likes this story so… enjoy!
The sun's rays radiated from the bright blue sky, the warmth hitting Stephanie's face as she sat by the sill of her hotel room window. An almost dreamlike sigh escaped from her parted lips. For the past week all she could think about was him. The way he smelt, the warmth of his hands on her shoulders, his deep, rich voice, the feel of his warm lips brushing over hers. He more or less consumed the very fibre of her being. That moment when their lips touched she felt something inside of her shift. Though, she had never experienced a moment quite as wonderful as the one she shared with Paul.
But the moment was short lived. He farewelled her with an abrupt 'goodbye' before his footsteps disappeared into the night. When she finally brought herself to going back into that horrid night club she was completely overwhelmed. She had to cope with the fact that she barely escaped from the jaws of death and shared a sweet kiss with a man who she couldn't see due to her inept sight.
First thing after entering the heated club she was encountered by Amy, who was relieved to see her. Apparently, while Amy was scouting for Trish, she had discovered that her blonde, waisted friend had one too many of those cocktails and was in serious danger of passing out right on the dance floor. With much effort, Amy aided Trish to the bathroom before the blonde started throwing up in one of the toilet cubicles. Half an hour later, Trish was feeling better and the two emerged from the bathroom to try and find Stephanie so they could head back to their hotel. Only, Stephanie was nowhere to be found which automatically put both women in panic mode, Amy especially. Finally, they decided to split up and look for their lost, blind friend. Telling people her description and asking if they had seen her, to which they replied 'no' or just chose to ignore the two desperate women.' So Amy was more than relieved when Stephanie walked through the back door.
Stephanie decided to spare the details of her near death experience, and also her encounter with Paul, knowing that they would freak out and blow it way out of proportion. She was adamant on keeping those events to herself. It was definitely not something she would be sharing with her parents as well, hell no! Not if she wanted to maintain her freedom.
Since that night, Stephanie has never been the same. She was desperate to bump into him again. But the realization hit her with full force at slight chances of that happening. How the hell were you supposed to find a man you are incapable of seeing? That thought alone made Stephanie feel hopeless. She didn't know anything about him other than his first name, and here she was longing for a second encounter.
"Stephanie, you coming?" Trish called out from behind the door. She had been noticing as of late Stephanie's erratic behaviour. At times it was almost like she was in another world. She would drift off when she was being spoken to, consumed by her thoughts, at times she looked happy, but that happiness was short lived and soon transpired into sadness. Later she would approach Stephanie about her bipolar moods. Right now though they had places to be and were running on a tight schedule. Stephanie's hands fumbled all around her until they came in contact with what she was looking for. Reluctantly grabbing hold of the putrid object, she used it to help lift herself up. She held the white-tipped cane out in front of her and moved it back and forth on the ground, feeling her way around the room. After her bonehead decisions that nearly cost her, her life, Stephanie decided that it was best that she used her walking stick. She still couldn't stand the damn thing all the same.
Trish aided Stephanie out of the way of the bellhop, who was currently placing each girl's bag on top of the other on a large trolley. Part of the plan for this trip was that they would travel through different parts of France by train. So today marked the first day of their roundtrip experience.
Moments later they were checked out of their hotel and boarding a train for their long journey through Paris. Stephanie couldn't help but feel disheartened as the train started to pull out from the station. During these last few days she was hoping to hear something, anything from the man who saved her life. Now there was no chance. She was travelling to the other side of the country. Any chances of meeting him again would be slim, at most.
Sighing sadly, Stephanie rested her head against the window as the train moved at full speed. It was a beautiful view outside- one that she couldn't see of course- At this point in time, she didn't care. Coming here to France, her number one focus was to gain some independence and in turn, earn the respect from everyone who told her that she had limits to her future. And now? Paul was all she wanted. He was all she craved ever since that night when he swept her off her feet… Literally and stole her breath with a kiss.
But she really had to stop thinking like this. He was a stranger for Christ's sake! Not just because they only knew each other for about ten or so minutes, she fucking couldn't see him! There is no logic whatsoever in dreaming about someone, a stranger, who you could not see and probably would never see due to a whole list of reasons. It made no sense at all! Who knows if Paul was some creepy old man with missing teeth, just looking for his next innocent victim and she happened to be the perfect candidate for that. But if that was for sure he would have attempted to do a lot more than just… kiss her! What if he was aware about the status of her family, in terms of wealth? But no, that makes zero sense. He didn't even know who she was better yet who her father was. There was nothing in it for him. Maybe he does this on a regular basis- rescue the damsel in distress in hopes of getting some. The fact that she was blind probably must have scared him away. But Paul did not seem like that type of guy. He was sweet to her. He actually treated her… normal. That alone intrigued her more than any other given factors.
Stephanie decisively became aware of the chatter going on around her, after zoning out for a while. She overheard Trish informing Amy that they would be arriving at their destination in around 2 hours. It was not long, really. Stephanie was just in dire need for something to lift her spirits.
Unbeknownst to Stephanie, Amy and Trish were observing their friend suspiciously. She couldn't still be angry about that night in the club, could she? After all, it's not like it was their intention to leave her there. And it was not like they knew she would be outside of the damn club in the first place! Even still, they felt like complete shit. Going to that club was a horrible idea. It wasn't the best place to take your blind friend. Pity they only acknowledged that fact a little too late.
Amy kicked Trish's foot under the table to get her attention.
"Ow! What was that for?" Trish whispered softly.
Amy's eyes travelled to Stephanie, whose head was against the window with a sad expression adorning her face. She then looked back at Trish and gave her a small nod, signalling to her to start talking.
Trish sighed softly; they might as well get this over with. They needed to get this out and sorted before it ruined their whole trip.
"Steph?"
Trish called out to her friend gently, tapping her shoulder softly to get her attention.
Stephanie snapped out of her thoughts and turned to face Trish. "Sorry, I was just…I'm just tired, that's all." She said all but glumly.
Amy and Trish exchanged nervous glances. Running her fingers through her crimson hair, Amy spoke up. "Steph, please tell us what's wrong. You have been acting strange ever since that night at the club."
There was a deafening silence for a few seconds. Despite the large capacity of passengers on the train, in that moment, the air was still, as Trish and Amy anxiously waited for Stephanie to comment. God help them if she was pissed at them. They both equally cared for Stephanie's wellbeing and knowing that their carelessness potentially put her in danger made them feel like complete shit. They never intentionally meant to leave her alone for that long. They needed to make sure she understood that.
"We just want you to know, Steph that…We did not intend to leave you sitting there in that club for so long and we are so sorry if you're still mad at us and we completely understand we shouldn't have-" Trish rambled on breathlessly.
Stephanie could sense the urgency and worry in both her friend's voices and was quick to reassure them. "No, no, no, guys. I was never mad. I understand. I shouldn't have been out there anyway." She didn't have the guts to tell them what went down once she was outside- that would only make matters worse- as if it couldn't get any worse.
"I'm just…I don't know…Feeling…homesick, I guess." She came up with that conclusion. She couldn't tell them the real reason behind her depressed mood. That would require an explanation of what happened that night outside the club.
Trish and Amy nodded understandingly. They were relieved that Steph wasn't upset with them. They just hoped that she could get over this homesickness so that things could be normal again. But in saying that, they knew how hard this is for Steph. This is literally her first time being so far away from her home and family. She had every right to feel homesick.
"We understand, Steph." Amy touched her arm softly and Stephanie smiled in response.
"I might just take a small nap. We've got a long way to go." She said softly.
Trish nodded in response. "Good idea," Amy and Trish went back to their discussion and left Stephanie to herself.
Sighing sullenly, Stephanie reached into her bag and pulled out her IPod. She was desperate to check out of reality for a while. She leaned back into the comfortable recliner seat and was transported into her own little world for the next two hours or so.
"Steph, wake up!." Trish shook her friend's shoulder until she finally began to stir from her slumber. Stephanie's eyes fluttered open and instantly winced as she lifted her head from the window. The awkward position forcing her neck to cramp up, she brought her slender digits to her neck and began to knead the flesh.
"What happened…" She mumbled softly, her voice evident with her sleep.
"We're here." Amy's voice answered her query and before she knew it, they were off the train and were in a mad scramble amongst many other people who were all in a rush to get to places.
"I wonder where he is…" Trish mumbled to herself as her hazel orbs scanned the vast area looking for someone in particular.
Stephanie's face scrunched up in confusion. Were they meant to be meeting up with someone here? Finally her curiosity became the better of her, "Who?"
"Oh my, I can't believe I forgot…" She trailed off. "I hired a tour guide for the rest of our trip. You know, to show us around, take us to the best places and landmarks."
Stephanie nodded in response. She felt shoulders bumping into her and she squirmed uncomfortably amongst the vast crowd, some not even bothering to apologize, just mumbling rudely under their breath and moving on.
"Hey! Have some manners!" Trish shouted out to someone who nearly knocked Stephanie over and shot her an expletive. Stephanie smiled back at her friend. Trish may be a lot of things, but at the end of the day, she always had Stephanie's back.
"Some people…" Trish muttered irritably to herself as the tall, bald man walked off in a hurry, without a care in the world. Honestly, the faster they found their tour guide, the better. Poor Steph was being shoved about like she was a toy of the sort.
"Trish, Steph, over here!" Trish's eyes scanned through the crowd until they fell on Amy, who waved out to her friends and beckoned them to her.
"What is it?" Stephanie inquired as Trish looped her arm through hers and guided her past the crowded train platform.
"I don't know," She replied as they made their way over to Amy, who was on the less crowded side of the platform.
As they got closer, Trish became aware that her friend was not alone; she had some rather attractive looking company. Attractive wouldn't even be a proper word for it, this guy was hot! He was tall and his arms rippled with his muscles. He was obviously no stranger to the gym that was for sure. Trish let her eyes shamelessly travel from his massive biceps to his thick, toned jean clad thighs. His face wasn't bad either. Long, blonde hair that fell to his shoulders, from what she could see from the distance she was in; he had a great smile, too, as he talked to Amy who was next to him.
Stephanie staggered awkwardly behind Trish as she was all but dragged across the platform. The white-tipped cane dangled from her hand uselessly as they finally came to a halt.
"Guys, this is the man who will be our guide for the next few weeks." Amy informed. She gestured to the man beside her before her eyes darted to Trish. "So be nice to him."
Trish giggled playfully in response and reached out to shake the man's hand. He took it and shook it firmly, his hazel eyes smiling back at her. "Hi, I'm Trish. Nice to meet you…" She trailed off.
"Paul Levesque. You can just call me Paul."
Stephanie was in her own train of thought, not really paying much attention to what was going on between her friends and the tour guide. That was before he said those words… In that voice. That voice. She heard it so long ago, but it was still a tangible memory embedded in her mind. She felt her heart beat faster, her mind work over time, her body temperature rise as he spoke just a few mere inches from her.
"Paul, this is Stephanie." Amy introduced him to the brunette next to Trish. He never took much notice of her until he turned to face her. His eyes suddenly widened as he came face-to-face with the woman he kissed almost a week ago. He couldn't mistake those big, blue, stunning orbs for anyone else. Her eyes never reached his, though see looked scared, as if she'd seen a ghost. It was almost the same look she had the night he saved her. Her hands were shaking a bit. Who would have thought they would meet again in these circumstances? To say he was shocked to see her was an understatement.
Stephanie's hand shot out slowly towards him. "H-hi…" Her voice was barely a whisper. The heat from her chest rose up to her cheeks and she now was overcome with a sense of giddiness. She couldn't believe this was happening. Paul was their tour guide for the rest of this trip…Here stood the man that she thought she would never see again, yet he was right in front of her, more real than ever before. She would be lying if she said she wasn't overwhelmed by this. But she was happy nonetheless.
At her nervousness, Paul cracked a smile. He sensed a little déjà vu as she stood there with her arm held out for him, waiting for him to take it. Paul took her slender hand softly into his much larger one and brought them to his lips, kissing the tops of her knuckles softly.
"It's a pleasure to be at your service, mademoiselle."
Stephanie didn't get a chance to respond before his warm hand let go of hers. He smiled at her knowingly before heading off into another direction to get their bags.
He left all three women in shock, but none as astonished as Stephanie. A dreamy smile slowly emerged on her face as her blue orbs travelled aimlessly into the distance. Trish grabbed a hold of Stephanie's arm and squealed.
"Oh my god, Stephanie, I wish you could have seen the way he was looking at you! I think he likes you…" She playfully bumped her hip into Stephanie, causing her to chuckle and blush like an idiot.
"Yeah, way to go, Steph!" Amy commented as she and Trish watched Paul walk down the platform to the retrieve their luggage. Stephanie on the other hand was lost in her own little world, content to just stay like this forever.
"Steph?"
"How is he?" She asked softly to no one in particular. Not that the looks mattered entirely to Stephanie, at all. She couldn't see him anyway. But it was just something that she needed to know for some unexplainable reason.
"He is DROP. DEAD. GORGEOUS! He has shoulder length blonde hair and incredible hazel eyes and that beautiful smile… not to mention that body! Goddamn, he looks like a fucking god, Stephanie! I say, go for it girl!" Trish practically burst out in excitement.
Stephanie's smile grew wider as Trish continued to marvel over Paul's so called 'incredible body'. What a small world it was that fate should bring them together again, given the circumstances of their unintentional meeting. Maybe this was destiny's way of telling her that this was why she was here. She may not have an answer, or a treatment to cure her sight. And as she thought of the weeks to come, she couldn't help but feel like she belonged here. Fate had led her to this- fate led her to Paul Levesque.
Sorry if that kinda sucked towards the end... got a little lazy while writing it. #lazylazzy lol
