Chapter 1

Nicole

"Finally, another day over." I mumbled to myself as I walked through the doors and the bakery bell jingled. I had my backpack on one shoulder and with every step my feet seemed to get more and more heavy. Culinary school was a lot harder then I thought it would be, and a lot more tiring. And now I had to walk up four flights of stairs just to get to my apartment.

"Well if it isn't my favourite employee." Mme. Babin greeted me with her usual warm smile. She's the downstairs bakery owner. I work for her in the evening after my classes and in return I rent an apartment in her building for free. It's a fair deal, an apartment is hard to find in France, especially Paris.

I smiled back at the kind, middle aged women and waved. Mme. Babin is in her late fifties and has greying hair. But her skin is still smooth and her green eyes still sparkle. She's one of those girls who you can tell use to be very pretty when younger.

"See you at seven." I told her before making my way up the back staircase and to the fourth floor. By time I got there, my feet were aching and I wanted to collapse. But I didn't. Instead I made my way to the fifth door on the right and unlocked it with the keys that hung around my neck. I'm only 17 and already living on my own. It was the best choice for me though. I started school a year early, so I was a bit younger than most of the graduates.

My family is back in Canada while I study here in Paris. But we have another house in England and New York. Plus a lake side cabin in Maine. I was fortunate enough to have enough money to travel to Paris. Now I'm working out my dream to be a pastry chef.

"Hey Toby." I talked cutesy to my dog who came running up to me as I walked in my apartment. I had a brown and white beagle with droopy cheeks and floppy ears. Dogs usually aren't allowed in the building, but Mme. Babin lets me since I'm her favourite and only employee. But he's a nice dog.

Toby barked and set his fore paws on my knees and licked me a few times. It took a few seconds before I was able to push him off. He walked with me to the kitchen.

My kitchen was small, but large enough for me to cook in it. I had black counter tops along the perimeter of my kitchen and it broke at the door way. A white back splash completed the counter tops with a stainless steel sink. I had an island(table thingy) in the middle of the kitchen and from my kitchen you could get to my metal balcony.

When you first walk into my place, you're met with a small but wide hallway. Just a few feet down is my living room to the left of the hall and directly across from that is my kitchen where I stand. If you continue down the hall there's my bathroom and bedroom. I have a rather large apartment, so I can't complain.

"Okay...let's see, homework." I began mumbling to myself and sat down at my kitchen table situated in the corner. I pulled out my nutrition book and began to flip through it. For my culinary school, I need to learn all about nutrition then cook a delicious nutritious meal by next Monday.

"Hey Nicole!" I heard a faint voice call from outside my door followed by a knock. I sighed in annoyance. I knew exactly who is was. But I got up anyway and opened my door with a fake smile.

"Hey...Marie."

Marie was my across the hall neighbour. She's 18, short and a bit on the beefier side. Her short blonde hair dangles in a bob and makes her blue eyes shine brightly. She's kinda like my friend, but we don't really know each other that much. Though she acts like we've been friends for years. She's not in my culinary school, but we do take a cooking class together.

"I was wondering if you wanted to get a cup of cafe with me." She wondered and really exasperated on a french accent, though she's only half French.

"Erm..." I hesitated and glanced behind me. I really should get back to the kitchen and finish my work, but for some reason I said, "Yeah...sure."

"Fantastic!" She clapped her hands together then took my wrist and dragged me out of my apartment. Luckily I was able to close the door behind me.

Marie and I walked down the stairs and out the front door of the bakery. I smiled and waved to Mme. Babin as I passed by. When we finally got out on the streets, Marie started rambling on about who knows what. To me, her voice was just another background noise and my thoughts faded away into my mind.

Man...what am I doing? I should be studying for my culinary school, not going out to some cafe.

Slowly, Marie's voice came back into range, "Nicole? Nicole are you listening?"

"Huh? Oh yeah." I lied with a shake of my head to get me focused. Surely a small break couldn't hurt.

"So...what do you think?"

"About what?" I felt foolish as my cheeks went hot with embarrassment.

"Opening a spa with me." Marie repeated. Her question took me by surprised and I stopped dead in my track. I only stayed there for a moment and picked up my paste to catch up with Marie.

"A-a spa?" I stuttered out the words that barely formed in my mouth.

"Oui!" Marie replied 'yes' in French and excitedly clapped her hands together.

"Oh um...I'm kind in the middle of school. Culinary school." I made sure I really pronounced culinary, hoping Marie would get the hint.

"Well I'd figured since that's going to get you nowhere. You can drop out once your semester is over." Marie spoke matter-o-factly. As if she wasn't offending me at all.

Am I really going to go no where? I thought to myself. I'm training to be a chef in Paris! The culinary expert of the world! Surely I'll get a job somewhere. My life isn't dull...at least,I don't think it is.

"I don't need an answer right away, it's a lot to think about it. Give it a day or two and you'll come around." Marie assured me, though I wasn't comforted at all, "Here we are."

We stopped walking and paused in front of a coffee shop, or as we call them cafes. It wasn't our usual cafe, in fact this one originated from New York I think. But we figured we might as well try it. It was called 'Fill me up coffee shop.' Sounded decent enough, so I swung open the double doors and entered the creamed coloured cafe. We took a seat by the window.

"So what do you want to order?" Marie asked and took a look at the black bored bolted to the wall above the cash register.

"I think I'm good with just a hot chocolate." I told her simply and Marie nodded. She got up to go order our food and drinks. Meanwhile, I stared blankly out the window and rested my gaze on the busy streets.

My life isn't dull. I have plenty excitement in my life. I'm on the road to a great career, I don't need no spa. Marie is just being unreasonable...but she's pretty much the only friend I have. I won't be in Paris for that much longer, unless I get assigned to a restaurant in Paris or France. A year at most.

"Here you go." Marie came back with two hot chocolates and one hot cinnamon bun. It was September and already starting to get chilli. And I hate the cold.

"Thanks." I smiled and gave a slight nod of my head in thanks. I wrapped my hands around the warm cup and took a sip. The cocoa burned my tongue a little but it felt nice, and the whip topping tasted good as I licked it off my upper lip.

"So, Nicole." Marie began with a devilish look in her eyes, "Tell me some good gossip."

"Gossip?" I questioned and cocked an eyebrow.

"Yeah, you're in college."

"Culinary school." I corrected her before Marie continued.

"Is there a certain someone you have your eye on." Marie grinned evilly, practically begging for the information.

"No, not really." I shrugged and pretended that it didn't bother me. It was true though, no one at my school interested me or was interested in me. My love life is pretty much at zero right now.

"Good, cause I have the perfect guy for you." Marie winked and smiled. Her blonde hair swayed back and forth every time her head moved.

"Marie, you don't have to."

"Nonsense!" Marie insisted though she always does this. I can't count how many times Marie thought she had the perfect guy for me and set me up on a blind date, "It's time you get you game back. You're what? 17? And how many boyfriends have you had since high school? None!"

"I like to focus on my career more than boys." I told her flatly.

"His name is Ray. He likes sports, he's tall and loves good food." Marie began to describe Ray for me, but I only half listened. I couldn't deal with this right now. I didn't want to. Ray did not sound like the 'perfect' guy for me. Sure I like tall and it be great if they like good food. But I hate sports, I suck at them and want nothing to do with them.

"Marie..." I interrupted her so I could tell her to stop. But she didn't listen, I don't even think she heard me cause Marie just kept talking.

"So I set you up for Friday night at Angelo's. He'll meet you there at six." Marie told me before taking one last bite of her cinnamon bun and wiping her fingers on a napkin, "Sounds good?"

I sighed, "Yeah, sounds good."

"Great." Marie smiled before glancing at the wall clock, "I gotta run, but I'll see ya later." Marie waved goodbye to me then walked out the doors. Now I sat alone in this coffee shop, slowly sipping my now lukewarm beverage. I didn't mind, since the cup was almost empty. But once again, I slowly drifted off into my thoughts.

Ray. Is that short for anything?Ramon maybe. That's such a french name. Rrrrramon! At this point I let of a small laugh. Sometimes I can't believe what I think about. Who knows, I might as well give this guy a chance. It's not like my life will change within the next few months. All I do anyway is study. This will be a nice change I guess. Maybe Marie is right. Maybe my life is a little dull. Maybe I do need a little excitement. I can't keep waiting around for something to happen. My life is pretty set, I can see my future crystal clear, that is if nothing goes wrong. But it's not like my life will change if I go on a little date. Who knows, maybe in the next few months. I'll meet the love of my life.


Yeah, this probably isn't what you expected. For those of you who've read my missing piece series, then you already kinda know who Nicole is. For those of you who haven't, then here enters the other main character! So...yup. Please review and thanks for reading! Hope you liked this chapter. ^J^