Wow! Just, wow. Barcelona is even more beautiful than I had imagined! It's also a really romantic place… maybe this vacation is my chance to tell Chuchi how I feel? I'm standing with the other Cheetah Girls, trying to decide what we want to do first. Aqua just listed a ton of places she wants to see, and it all sounds amazing. It doesn't take us long to decide to just start walking around to all the nearby 'must-sees.'
Several hours later we all ease down into some chairs at a little outdoor café. We've been running around like crazy and I don't know about the others, but I'm tired and ready for a snack. I go ahead and summon a waiter and give him my drink order. Oops, I guess I went too fast, because now Chanel is translating for him. We're all chatting quietly when Aqua abruptly shushes us. It only takes a moment for my ears to pick up the faint strains of music. I recognize the sound of the classical guitar, but the tune is unfamiliar. It is very beautiful and I'm content just to sit back and listen. Eventually the mystery musician comes into view on the stairs next to the café. It's a very cute boy who looks about our age. It suddenly hits me how amazing this entire situation has become. I'm in a beautiful foreign city, sitting next to my best friend (and crush), and a talented musician is serenading us. Everything just seems too perfect to be real! When the guitarist starts singing in Spanish, I immediately turn to Chanel to ask her to translate for me. She leans closer into me and more or less whispers the words to me. I had laid my hand on hers to get her attention, but all of a sudden with her whispering these seemingly intimate words to me I feel very exposed and gently take my hand off hers. Imagine my surprise when a few seconds later she leans even closer and puts HER hand on top of mine! I'm not sure why she did it, but I'm certainly not complaining. But all too soon the moment is over and Chanel is joining in on the song. One by one the rest of us join in and we end up following the guy all over the place, exploring his favorite Barcelona sights. It's always a ton of fun singing with my girls, and it's even more fun this time! It's gotten late, though, and it's time for us to go to Luc's for the night. I quickly introduce myself to guitar boy, learn that his name is Angel, and thank him before hopping into the car next to Chanel.
I can feel Chanel getting more and more tense as the car passes through the gate of Luc's villa. I take a brief moment to admire my surroundings before turning to give her a reassuring smile. She tries to smile back at me, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. Some lady (a maid, maybe?) is ushering us inside one of the many doors of this enormous villa. A beautiful old grand piano immediately catches my attention and I wander over to caress the ivory keys. I just know I'll be spending a lot of time here in the next month, playing my heart out. I make my way further into the room while the woman continues to tell us about the villa and where we'll be staying. When she leaves, Chanel immediately starts mocking her.
"Metro pah-sses. Everything here in Luc Land is perfect, huh. Why doesn't he just sell tickets?"
Luc walks in the door just as Chanel says this, and there is no way for us to warn her. But he actually takes it really well and makes a joke out of it. Chanel shrugs him off and is acting kind of rude, so I shoot her a stern look. I know that she's scared and upset, but it's not like her to act like this. I hate seeing her this way. I know if we were here under other circumstances that she would be having the time of her life. If she weren't so upset, then we could be enjoying this experience together.
When Luc finally leaves, Aqua and Dorinda kind of get on Chanel's case. They don't really know the whole story, and don't understand why she is so upset. So even though I agree with what Aqua and Doe are saying, I still go over and gave Chuchi a hug so that she knows I have her back. Then I suggest that we all get to bed and sort of lead the girls toward the door. I know without looking that Chanel didn't follow us, because I don't feel the tiny butterflies I always feel when she's near. So I double back and find her still standing in the same place we left her. She looks like she is lost in thought so I put my hand lightly on her shoulder to get her attention.
"Alright, Chanel. It's gonna be okay." I smile softly at her, showing her with my eyes that I understand. This time when she smiles back, it's a real smile. A tiny smile, but a real one. I take her hand and walk with her to her bedroom. We say goodnight in the doorway, and I give her a tight hug. While I'm holding her close, I can't resist giving her a soft peck on the cheek. I hadn't meant to do it, and I back away as quickly as I can without it seeming strange. I whisper another 'goodnight' and turn to head to my own bedroom. As soon as I am in the privacy of my own room, I admonish myself for getting carried away. I worry that I have just given away my secret and freaked out my best friend. It takes a long time before the worries fade enough for me to fall asleep.
(Chanel's POV)
What the heck just happened here? Bubbles has hugged me, and even kissed me on the cheek before, but it's never felt like that! I'm still standing in my doorway, staring down the empty hallway in the direction my friend just headed. My cheek is tingling where Galleria's lips had been. I know she didn't mean anything by it, at least not in 'that way.' So then why do I feel like this? I step into my room and shut the door slowly. As I look around the room, I notice myself yawning like crazy. I feel tired and even a little dizzy. Oh, jetlag! That must be why I feel so weird, and why I felt all tingly with Bubbles at the café earlier and when we hugged just now. I just need to get some rest and everything will be back to normal. Mmm… that bed looks so comfy…