Jenna hobbled back to her hotel room hours later, a boot on her left ankle, pain medications in her purse and a list of instructions of how to care for her fractured ankle. She sighed as she collapsed onto her sofa, looking over at Bernard who hadn't left her side since he had picked her up.
"Thank you monsieur, I appreciate your assistance today"
He bowed "It was my pleasure Jenna" he smiled at her kindly. "Is there anything else you need?"
"No, thank you. I think I'm just going to order some room service and spend a quite evening watching TV"
"Very good, good luck to you Jenna."
"Thank you, and to you as well"
He bowed once more and departed the room. He paused outside the room and smiled a remarkable young woman he thought idly before entering the elevator and leaving the hotel.
Jenna laid her head back and sighed, closing her eyes. She had refused pain medication because she didn't want to be woozy and not be able to make her way home. She was finally able to stop acting as though all was well. Her ankle hurt, they had prodded and adjusted her ankle unrelentingly. Her knees were badly bruised and ached. She dug in her purse and retrieved the pain medication they gave her. She popped two in and swallowed them down. She felt a tear roll down her cheek, she hastily wiped it away.
She wasn't sure how long she sat there, what she really wanted was a bath. She was dirty and sore, but she couldn't get her ankle wet. She heaved herself up off the couch and hobbled into the bathroom and began running the water into the large marble bathtub. She stripped off her ruined clothes and carefully sunk down into the tub, draping her broken ankle over the side of the tub.
She sighed in contentment as she felt the water wash away the dirt from her adventure down under the Opera House. She lay there for a moment before dunking her head under the water and washing the grime from her hair.
An hour later she emerged from her room, dressed in comfy yoga pants and a Penn State T-Shirt. She ordered room service and sank onto her couch and waited. Passing the time by channel surfing. She hopped up when there was a knock on the door, she hurried as fast as she could, with crutches and opened the door.
She got her plate situated and sat down once more and resumed her channel surfing. She finished her dinner, and finally found a channel she could watch. Jenna however wasn't able to content herself in front of the TV, she got up and went to her balcony and looked over the city, which looked beautiful. The sun had just set and lights were twinkling all over the city. She leaned against the railing, feeling the cool summer breeze whip her hair around.
Her thoughts kept returning to the lonely man under the Opera House, she would have gone insane in that forced solitude. How can one person endure so many hardships and cruelties but still remain chivalrous and a gentleman? She shook her head, her heart ached for him, and for all the pain he suffered at the hands of his fellow man. After a century in solitude he still could care for another human being, amazing.
She hoped she would indeed see him again; she wanted him to see that not all people were so small-minded. She pushed herself away from the balcony and returned to the living room. She left the door open, hoping the breeze would cool the room off.
She sat down at the table and pulled some notebook paper out of her shoulder bag and began a letter to her sister Paige. She straightened her left leg out, hoping to ease the throbbing in it. She soon felt her eyelids drooping, and figures she should head to bed. She stood up and arranged her crutches and turned to limp into her bedroom.
She stopped short when she saw the dark figure emerge from the balcony. Erik. She took a breath "Erik, I wasn't sure if I really was going to see you again."
He remained silent, golden eyes fixed on her ankle. "Your injury, is it bad?"
She shook her head "Not really, it was fractured. They put this boot on me and told me to take it easy. They also gave me some medicine for the pain"
He nodded "You were going to bed?" it was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes, but I can stay awake longer. You're here"
"There's no need Jenna. You've had a long two days, go to sleep. I will return tomorrow night"
"You promise?"
"Of course" the surprise in his voice was noticeable.
She smiled at him "Until tomorrow night then. Goodnight Erik."
"Good Night Jenna"
And just like that he was gone. How does he do that? Her heart finally slowed down to it's normal pace, as did her breathing. She continued on her way to bed and fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The next morning she woke up, excitement coursing through her. She was going to see Erik tonight, Good lord; I'm as bad as a teenager with a crush. She got out of bed and ordered a small breakfast. She was supposed to be leaving for Rome tomorrow but decided to extend her stay a little longer…she tried to convince herself that a certain masked gentleman had nothing to do with it, that she merely didn't want to stress herself out with her injury and all. Who are you fooling sister? She grinned stupidly as she drank her morning coffee.
The first task of the day was to call her parents and assure them that all was well, but inform them that she was staying in Paris a few days longer. Her father nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard she had hurt herself and almost insisted that she return home immediately. But after a few moments Jenna convinced her parents that she was fine and wanted to stay and had no intentions of returning home early. Before she hung up with her parents she asked her mother if she could talk to her dad privately.
"Dad, do you remember how you taught me that one good turn deserves another and that those who are privileged are responsible for helping those who aren't?"
"Yes" her father replied hesitantly.
"Well, the person who helped me needs my help. I don't know how long it could take" she but her lip as she was met with silence.
"Okay honey, but just be careful" he said finally.
"Thank You, I will Daddy"
"That's my girl. If you need anything. More money, anything you call you hear?"
"Yes Daddy"
"Okay, love you baby. Stay safe and keep in touch"
"I will, love you too Dad. Bye"
She hung up the receiver and sat back. Whew, that wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. She wasn't sure if she would be able to help Erik, but she was willing to try. She had been churning an idea over in her mind since the previous morning. But she dared not mention it until she got a better idea of Erik's temperment and state of mind.
She looked over at the clock, she still had plenty of time before night would fall, and she had wanted to do more shopping. She hauled herself out of her chair and went and got dressed before grabbing her purse and leaving the hotel.
She returned hours later, the bellboy laden with bags and boxes from her shopping excursion. She instructed him to leave them in the unused bedroom, where she had been storing her things during her stay.
She smiled as she thought of her purchases, one stood out in her mind. She didn't know what possessed her to buy the men's trousers, dress shirt and shoes. She was going crazy she knew, but she couldn't stop herself. She saw that it was past dinnertime.
She had stopped at a small café and had dinner. She wasn't sure when Erik would appear but she didn't want him to see her in her shopping clothes. She hurried into the bedroom and changed into jeans and a tasteful button up shirt. She brushed out her hair and touched up her mascara and lip-gloss before returning to the living room.
She turned on the TV and once again began to channel surf before giving up and picking up a book. She didn't hear the balcony doors open, or the nearly silent footsteps as Erik crossed from the door to where she was sitting on the couch.
"Always with her nose in a book" a voice breathed into her ear.
She jumped and dropped her book, looking up to see Erik smiling. "You shouldn't sneak up on people like that"
"Forgive me, it's an old and bad habit that I must learn to break. It's hard to cease being a ghost when you've done it for so long"
She felt a pang of pain shoot through her heart for him. "You're not a ghost to me…"
He cleared his throat, nervously. She fixed her book, which had landed splayed on the floor. She was nervous with him so close. She looked over at him, smiling as he gazed around the room. He finally turned his attention back to her. "Have you ever seen Paris from the roof of the Opera house?"
She shook her head "No, but it sounds magnificent."
"Come then, I will take you"
She smiled "It sounds lovely" he held out his hand to help her stand. He waited patiently as she gathered her purse and sweater before showing her out of the room.
Is this a date? Am I going on a date with the Phan-Erik? This is kinda cool she thought as they walked out of her room and onto the elevator.
