"That looks fine. Like every other outfit you tried on," I sighed as I handed Evie another pair of jeans.
"Yeah, but I don't want to look 'fine'! I want to look amazing!" She yelled from behind the bathroom door.
"I'm sure Bill doesn't mind."
"I still wanna look good,"
"Yeah I know." I sighed again.
"What about you?" She asked.
"What about me?"
"Have you got your outfit together?"
"Yeah, I guess, I mean it's not a big deal."
"This is so a big deal!"
"Why?" I was confused, she was already with Bill, why was it important?
"Because!" Oh, right, that.
"Evie, as fun as it is listening to you go on about Bill, my cab's here and I have to get to the studio or Emma's gonna kick my ass!"
"Fine," She sighed and stepped out in another amazing outfit.
"There, just go in that!" I suggested.
"This? Are you kidding?"
"Yeah, bye Evie, don't have a meltdown while I'm gone," I smiled and ran down the steps and outside to my awaiting taxi. It had been a whole week since my 'date' with Tom and I was ready to move on and act like it was just a slurry dream. I sighed and realized that there was a faint vibrating sound coming from my handbag. Oh, right - my phone! "Hello?" I answered without checking the caller ID.
"Hey Rach, it's Eric!" I relaxed when I heard his voice.
"Hey Eric, I'm gonna be at the studio soon so tell Emma not to worry!"
"Actually I was calling up to tell you that filming's cancelled for today and tomorrow 'cause the director called in sick," He explained.
"Really?"
"Yeah, we have a day off! Thank God, too! Otherwise Baldy would have killed me!"
"Ha! Honestly, you shouldn't hassle him so much!"
"I can't help it, anything to make you smile I guess,"
"Awww, Eric! When did you become Mr. Cheesy?"
"Haha! I am anything but cheesy,"
"Suuure... Oh, hey Eric, I have to go I have a call waiting! Have fun on your day off!"
"Yeah, you too."
I smiled as I hung up and then felt my smile turn into a confused look when I saw that Tom was the one calling me. "What does he want?" I thought out loud.
"Excuse me, Miss?" The taxi driver asked.
"Oh, nothing! Sorry! Oh and, um, could you actually take me to Colby Park?"
"Colby Park... Colby Park... Oh, yes, I know what you are talking about. Ofcourse, Miss."
"Thanks." I turned back to my phone and saw that I had one new text from... Yeah, you guessed it - Tom. I deleted the message before bothering to read it, honestly, today was going to be completely Tom-free.
I sat pondering the course of my day until the cab pulled up next to the park, "Thanks!" I smiled when I got out and handed the guy my fare. He thanked me and I turned to the half-empty park before me. The playground was deserted and the only people around were what looked like teenagers who had ditched school, smoking on the benches. Idiots. I sighed and walked onto the playground. I could see this park from my hotel room; it was only a few blocks away. I sat on one of the many empty swings and swung myself half-heartedly. I needed to do something to get my mind off everything, I closed my eyes and swung higher - I must have looked insane but it was fun. I opened my eyes in time to glimpse flashes of the sky and the trees. I felt so young, like a little kid again, doing something just for the sake of it, no ulterior motive, no anything. I sat swinging and reliving childhood memories on park benches with my dad, for the next ten or so minutes before I sensed the clouds darkening above me and decided to walk back to the hotel. I took the long way through the park, around the small duck pond and past the upcoming cancer patients and almost skipped across the street.
Smiling, I walked through the hotel lobby and through golden elevator doors absorbed in my thoughts. I barely remembered walking out onto my floor when I was confronted by a glittery piece of paper taped to my door. I plucked it off and read it in silence. I reread it before following the suggestions on the card and going next door - where I only just noticed the over powering club music and loud shouts. I knocked - as if anyone would hear it, I thought. I was wrong - seconds later I was face to chest with a tall, dark haired guy. "Bonjour mademoiselle!"
"Um hi?" I held up the piece of paper.
"Oh, you mus' be from nex' door, welcome! We are throwing a 'ouse warming party for my brother!" I smiled at his thick French accent and his moustache and goatee set. He had medium length curly hair, with bunches of confetti on his hair and shoulders.
"I'm Rachel," I smiled.
"Forgive me, mademoiselle, where are my manners? I am Phillipe and zees," He turned back to the crowd and pulled out another similarly tall guy, "Zees, is my brother, Alex."
"Bonjour," Alex bowed, took my hand and kissed it - so French. He got up and I took him in, his whole appearance, he had dark, straight, brown 'bed hair', lightly tanned skin and amazingly aquamarine eyes with wide pupils. He was wearing a white V-neck shirt and loose fitting jeans over black and white sneakers.
"Hi, I'm Rachel," I could feel myself blushing.
"Would you like to come in?" He held out his hand.
"Sure." I took his hand and stepped into the dimly lit room filled with a pulsating mob, tightly packed into the apartment. "I'm not dressed for this!" I shouted over the music.
"You look fine!" I caught his grin before he turned back to leading me through the crowd. I couldn't help but smile to myself, I felt quite giddy holding his hand and I didn't know why.
"Here you go," He smiled and appointed me to an empty couch. "I'll be right back, do you want a drink?"
"Water?"
"Just water? Not even a Coke? What about... Uhh... How do you say... What about a Dr. Pepper? You don't want one?"
"Nope, just a water," I sighed at my deliberately boring option but smiled when he laughed and faded into the crowd. I had a look over the apartment, it was set out the same as mine but furnished completely differently - instead of serene ornaments, there were many messy shelves and abstract paintings covering the walls.
"Here you are, just water." Alex leaned over to hand me the glass full of transparent liquid.
"Thanks." I looked at his glass, half full with red wine, swirling in his hand. He looked at me, as if deciding what to say next.
"Do you want to dance?" He smiled and took my hand before I could say anything in response. He pulled me into the crowd of elated dancers swaying and jumping along with the music.
"How long have you been here?" I asked when we stopped walking and were standing right in the center of the crowd.
"Not long," He took my hand and spun me around. "Maybe sometime you could show me around?" He grinned before twirling me again.
"Maybe."
Maybe it was the glitter, maybe it was the loud drum and bass, maybe it was his voice but whatever it was, I had fallen in-like with Alex in the space of an hour. I fell asleep that night with thoughts of French accents and aquamarine eyes.
At 2 AM I woke up, something was wrong. I pulled out my phone to find I had ten unread messages from Tom and for some reason this enlightened me, I quickly flicked through them, a few were from that afternoon but the latest one was sent a couple of minutes ago: 'I can't sleep.'
I replied, 'Neither.'
To which he texted 'Are you angry at me?'
'What?'
'You haven't answered any of my texts.'
'Cause you're starting to sound like a bit of a stalker...' I smiled.
'Just say you love me and get it over with, I know you want to.' His words glowed in the dark room. I stared at the screen, letting it blur in and out of focus before another text caught me off guard. 'Are you still there?'
'Yeah, but I don't want to be.'
'Oh, sorry, good night then.'
'Good night.'
I was about to put my phone away when I got another text; 'I can't wait for the concert.' I sighed before returning my phone to my bag.
At 3 AM I pulled out my phone and sent a message to Evie: 'Why won't Tom leave me alone?' Yet I knew her answer before I got the text - 'I think it's 'cause he likes you.'
EEEEPA! (No, not the Environmental Protection Agency, I just say that now...) Anyway, here it is, chapter quatorze - like my french? (I've been taking french for a year and a half now so I know what I'm on about). Sorry for the huge long wait but when you're trying to read a few of the world's hundred greatest books in between homework and stuff you just don't have time to open up your laptop and type at the risk of a detention the next day. Guess what? I HAVE THE GREATEST FRIENDS ON THE PLANET! Thankyou Eden, Alisha and Spekel for Humanoid Live! I love you guys and thankyou Clare for Scream! (not that Clare should be on here...) I love you guys so much! It's my real birthday tomorrow! I had my Alice and Wonderland-ian themed party last Sunday - I made my Alice dress :) Proud of myself. Anyway, thanks for waiting guys, tell me what you think of the chapter :)