Chapter 3
Nicole
It's been two days since Marie told me her offer. And I've been thinking about it ever since. I didn't want to run a spa with her, though Marie is my only friend here in Paris. I don't want to disappoint her. But I can't just give up my entire life. I've worked hard building this path for my life and paid good money to get into this culinary school. I can't just leave that all behind for some small business. I know that I should say no, but how do I word it? I have no clue.
"Bonjour Mme. Babin." I greeted the bakery owner in french, since that is the dominant language here in Paris. As soon as I walked into the bakery, I smelt the delicious scent of fresh baked cookies and croissants. This is probably my favourite part of the day, when I'm returning home from a long day at my school and I'm met with mouthwatering smells. It reminds me of why I'm doing this, I want to be a pastry chef after all.
"Nicole, hello!" Mme. Babin returned the greeting and waved her hands frantically in the air as she came rushing over me. Mme. Babin is a rather short woman, I'm a few inches taller than her, so I often have to look down when speaking with her, "I have something to ask you."
"Sure, go ahead." I told her while setting my bag down on a chair. The wall of the room was lined with tables for customers to come a sit and down while enjoying their Mme. Babin special treat.
"Well, I'm going on a trip to Germany in a couple of days. I was wondering if you could watch the shop for me while I'm away." Mme. Babin wondered with big pleading eyes. I couldn't say no to her, no matter how much I already have on my plate.
"Sure, no problem." I shrugged casually, pretending like it was no bit deal. I'm sure I would be able to handle it.
"Are you sure, it's not to much is it?"
"It's no trouble at all." I assured her. After a moment or two longer of small talk, we finally parted ways and I walked up to my apartment. I was greeted once again by a happy jumpy dog who followed me all the way to the bathroom. As Toby followed me in, I closed the door and he circled my feet. I looked at my reflection in the mirror above the sink. I pulled my hair back in a low ponytail and held it there for a moment as I heavily sighed. As I showed by distress, Toby whined.
"Oh Toby...what am I going to do?" I chuckled slightly. I often ask this question to my dog, though I never get a response. It seems a little sad that the only person in my life who will listen to me is my dog.
Toby tilted his head sideways in an 'I don't know' kind of look. It was as if he understood what I was saying. I sat down on the toilet cover and placed elbows on my knees while placing my chin in the palm of my hands. I stared Toby straight in the eyes, admiring their small brown glow. I smile slightly before glancing up at the wall clock. It was 6pm on a Friday night, my date was at seven.
I decided to hop in the shower to get all cleaned up. About fifteen minutes later, I got out and sat on the edge of the tub. Still in my towel, I grabbed my blow dryer and dried my hair. Next I took some lotion and rubbed in on my legs. This whole time, Toby was napping on the rug. He likes to do that, to fall asleep to the rhythm on the falling water coming from the shower. I smiled before getting up and walking out. The click on the door woke up my dog and he excitedly followed me out and to my room. There, I finished getting ready. I wore a red top that falls into a waterfall ruffle pattern. I also wore a short black skirt and sandals with black straps to finish it off. By time I was done, it was a quarter to seven and I decided to head out.
"Bye Toby." I scratched my dog behind the ears before getting up and leaving, "Wish me good luck." Those were my final words before I left my apartment behind and headed down the steps. With a friendly hello to Mme. Babin, I walked out the bakery's doors and the little brass bell jingled as I did so.
The restaurant I was meeting this Ray guy was only a few blocks away from where I live. So I didn't have too far of a walk. I would have taken my car, but I don't have one. My culinary school is only about a ten minute walk from my apartment, so when I first came to Paris a few months ago, I did really see a need to get a car. Everything is kinda local around here.
I soon made it to Angelo's, the restaurant I was going too, and walked in the doors. This would be my first blind date...ever. So I'm not exactly sure how to act or what to say. I tried to swallow the nervous lump rising in the back of my throat and decided to leave this in the hands of fate.
"Hi, I'm here under a reservation for Ray Monière." I told the lady standing at the podium thingy. When she spoke, she had a very thick French accent.
"Right this way." She told me and lead me to the specific table right in the centre of the room. As I walked, I looked around the restaurant. It was dimly lit with beautiful elegant lights that hang from the ceiling. Along the walls of the restaurant, there's booths for larger groups of people and along the centre is actual tables. The burgundy coloured walls are decorated with paintings of flowers, sunsets and other scenery. It was quite beautiful.
When I got to the table, Ray was already waiting for me. He's tall, even sitting down and his cheek lining has stubble on it. He has a beginning moustache growing on his face and his arms are very well built. He has very bushy eyebrows and a square jaw line. His grey muscle shirt showed off his well, muscles. One word to describe my first impression of him: Macho.
"Hi, Ray?" I did the usual greeting for people who've just met and took my seat. I brushed out my skirt before looking up at the man sitting across from me.
"Yes, Nicole hi." His voice is deep and raspy, just how I imagined it, "How are you?"
"I'm good...you?"
"Well I'm hungry, that's for sure." Ray let out an almost staged laugh. I giggled along with him so I wouldn't appear as rude. At that moment, we simultaneously picked up the red menu with gold letters on it and opened them up.
"Everything looks so good." I commented as I pretended to read the menu. Honestly, I lost my appetite due to how nervous I was. So I'd probably just order something small.
"You can say that again. What looks good to you?" He wondered and glanced up from his menu. I raised mine a little higher to make it look like I was having a hard time deciding.
"I think I'm gonna have the..." I took a moment to actually look over the menu, "The Quiche Lorraine with a lemon ice tea."
"No wine?" Ray looked at me suspiciously but I simply shook my head and told him that I don't drink wine, "Alright then. Waiter!" Ray called and a waiter wearing a Tux came rushing cover. Ray told him my order and what he wanted, which was Ratatouille.
The waiter quickly scribbled down our order and rushed off to the kitchen. That's when our conversation continued.
"So Nicole...I hear your training to be a chef?"
"Yeah, a pastry chef." I confirmed with a nod of my head.
"Oh that's cool. You know, I love a girl who can cook." Ray winked at me and grinned. I shifted my eyes uncomfortably for a moment before quickly changing the subject.
"So, what do you do?"
"I'm working my way to be a professional athlete." He told me with pride practically dripping out of his mouth. I had to try so hard not to roll my eyes.
"Oh cool." I lied, "So you're in college or something?"
"Yup." He nodded his head then silence fell over us. An awkward silence fell over us, I was never one to be a chatty person. So I didn't know how to forward our conversation, "So Marie told me that you two are opening a...spa? Together?"
"Oh, well it's not official yet. I dunno if I'm going too..." My voice trailed off as I spoke. I needed something to say, and I needed it fast, "So how do you know Marie?" Thankfully I thought of something.
Ray began explaining his back story to me and all that, but to be honest, I kinda zoned out. I already knew this guy wasn't exactly my 'type' as people say. I didn't want to be rude, but I couldn't wait till this date would be over. Thankfully, our food came.
We began eating and having small conversations from time to time. Each one seemed to start with 'how is your food?' or 'Are you enjoying it?' just basic stuff like that. Then it would sometimes lead into a deeper conversation about who knows what. All I wanted to do right now is get home to my dog.
"Well that what delicious." Ray said with a cheeky grin and pushed his plate away while leaning back in his seat.
"It certainly was." I agreed politely and smiled. The waiter came by with our bill and Ray, being the 'gentlemen' that he claims to be, insisted to pay for the meal. I thanked him for it before he and I walked out of the restaurant. The cool night air hit my face as soon as I walked out. The icy breeze felt nice against my warm skin. I closed my eyes for a split second to breath in and savour the sweet air. I was quickly snapped out of my thoughts.
"Do you need a drive home?" Ray asked and opened the passenger door to his dark green mustang.
"Oh, I only live a few blocks away." I shrugged off the offer politely but Ray urged on.
"I can drive you, it's dangerous to walk home at night."
A bullet of fear hit my stomach as I realized Ray was right. You could say I'm a paranoid person, so after some quick thinking I took him up on the offer. I slid myself in his car and Ray closed the door behind me. He cheerfully walked to the other side and got in the driver's seat. With a flick of his keys, the engine roared and he started to drive me home.
"I live right here." I pointed out the bakery with the apartment building attached. The ride was only two or three minutes...of silence.
"Alright, I'll walk you to your door." Ray smiled and unfastened his seat belt.
I was going to protest, but over time I've learned Ray wouldn't listen. So I remained silent as I unlocked the bakery's doors. When I started working here, Mme. Babin gave me a spare set of keys for when I need to take care of the bakery myself. And now I'll be completely running it for the next few months while she's away.
"Nice place, is this yours?" Ray wondered and looked around the homely bakery.
"No, I just work here. But I'll be running it while the owner's away." I told him and started to walk up the steps. This is where I thought Ray and I would part ways but no. Ray continued to follow me up to my apartment. I began to get a weird feeling inside my stomach.
"Which apartment is yours?" Ray glanced around the hallway as he spoke. I walked a little ways down the hall before stopping at my place.
"Right here." I gave a sure nod of my head. I searched through my hand bag for my keys and fumbled them out. I turned around and faced Ray before unlocking my door, "I guess this is goodbye. Thanks for tonight, I had fun." I didn't completely lie.
"Who says the fun is over?" Ray got this wicked smile upon his face and took a step closer to me, pinning me against the door. I got a fair idea of what he was doing, and I wasn't liking it. I'm not one to jump to conclusions, so I decided to wait and see his next move.
"Ray...what are you-" I began to ask but he interrupted me.
"Why don't you unlock your place and let me in?" Ray grinned maliciously and licked his lips. His eyes were glazed with hunger.
I wasn't about to let this happen. I barely know this guy, but he seemed so nice at first. I was too quick to judge and now I knew that I had to fight back. I'm not very strong but I do know how to defend myself at times. So I put on an evil grin and pretended to play along.
"Okay." I smiled and adjusted the grip of my keys. I turned around to face and unlocked my door, but I didn't open it. With a tight grip and quick movement, I sung myself around and slashed my key through the air. I heard a shriek of pain and seen that I had cut Ray across the face. I turned the nob of the door and ran inside.
"You little b-" Ray began to shout but I didn't catch the rest of his sentence for I had slammed the door in his face.
I slid my body to the ground and pressed my knees close to my chest. I rested my head on my knees as I tried to slow my breathing. I heard a faint jingle and pounding footsteps come running towards me. I knew Toby was coming. He skidded to a halt when he saw me upset. Toby tends to do that, change his mood with mine. So with a whimper, he slugged towards me on four paws and rested his head on my feet. His body thunked against the hardwood floor as he laid down. Toby let out a soft whimper.
I raised my head and smiled weakly at Toby. His sad brown eyes could make anyone smile.
"Oh Toby, what am I going to do?" I asked him and scratched his head. The mixture of brown and white fur scruffing together. I wouldn't trade Toby for any dog in the world.
Toby barked happily as if he could actually answer me. I wish I understood the language of dogs, so then I could actually talk to Toby and understand what he was saying. But sometimes, I'm glad that he doesn't talk, cause sometimes I just need someone to listen.
"The date went horrible, thanks for asking." I joked around a bit sarcastically. I began to explain my date to Toby, I walked through step by step of how it went. Everything seemed fine until what just recently happened, "I guess some people just give the wrong impressions." I finished off my explanation to my beagle After thinking about it more for a moment longer, I decided it would just be best to forget this night ever happened and go to bed. And that's just what I did. Hopefully, it can be erased from my memory.
This will be a story to tell Marie. I thought to myself as I laid awake in my bed with Toby and the foot of it. I stared up at my blank with ceiling and then gazed around my dark blue room. I wasn't the one who painted it, but I decided to keep my room this colour. After all, blue is my favourite.
I suppressed a heavy sigh and rolled over. All I want right now is for sleep to come to me. I don't have school tomorrow, so that's a good thing. But I do need to watch the bakery, so I pushed all thoughts to the back of my head and closed my eyes. Thankfully, I was able to drift off to sleep.
I know it's a little late, but happy holidays everyone! Well, I hope you all enjoyed yet another chapter in Nicole's point of view, and I'll start working on posting the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed and please review! Thanks. :)
