Chapter 5

Nicole

"Thanks, come again." I smiled politely as the tourist left the bakery with a dozen of our cream puffs. It's been about a week since my date with Ray, and about a week since Mme. Babin left for her trip to Germany. So I've been taking care of her bakery, also while trying to keep up with my culinary school. I have a lot on my plate, but in the end I'm just thankful I'm fortunate enough to get to study cooking, in Paris.

Once the costumer left, I wiped my hands on my apron and grabbed the dish cloth from underneath the counter. I began to wipe off all the tables, humming a tune that just came randomly in my head. Then, I began thinking.

I imaged myself dancing to the same tune I was humming. I was with someone, but I don't know who. I could see his outline, as if a shadowed figure, but not his face. I didn't know who this mysterious person is, or why he's dancing with me. Just sometimes I like to close my eyes and imagine a perfect world, with a perfect scene running through my head. But I know that I don't have time to day dream.

Just then I got snapped out of my thoughts when I heard a jingle. The bell above the door rang, informing me that there's a customer waiting.

"Welcome to-" I stopped mid sentence when I saw a short blonde girl with her hair up in a bun standing a few feet away, "Oh, hey Marie." I smiled and greeted my friend.

It was silent for a moment as Marie smiled back at me. She wore a nervous look upon her slightly chubby face and her shoulders were hugging her neck.

"So...I heard the date didn't go too well." Marie chuckled nervously and gave me an apologetic smile. I could see it in her eyes that she truly felt bad.

"It's okay." I shrugged it off like it was nothing and continued washing the table so I didn't have to look into Marie's big round eyes.

"No, it's not." Marie told me and walked closer. She now laid a hand on my shoulder and I stopped wiping the tables. This time I stood up and decided to look her straight in the eyes. I let myself give her a side smile, thinking of some way to convince her that I didn't blame her for what happened, "If I knew Ray was that kind of person, I would have never set you up with him."

This time I set my hands on her shoulders before speaking, "Marie, it's fine. You didn't know, it's not your fault."

"Thank you, Nicole. You're a great friend!" Marie claimed and wrapped her arms around me in a hug. I didn't know if I should hug back or just accept it. I decided to wrap one arm around her.

"Um, no problem." I responded as we ended our hug. Once again I started to clean the tables.

"So..." Marie started talking again, rocking back and forth on her feet with her hands folded neatly behind her back, "I've heard what you did to him with your keys."

I couldn't help but give a somewhat sly smile and looked over my shoulder, "Oh really?" I questioned with a grin and a raised eye brow.

Seeing my content, Marie smiled, "Yeah! That was pretty ninja of you."

"Ninja?" The words I spoke was muffled by a laugh of disbelief, "Yeah, right."

"What do you mean?" Marie cocked her head to one side, confusion glowing off of her face.

"I think a ninja would be the last thing I'm likely to be."

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, I'm not that strong, or good at self defence. I don't like violence. I can't do flips, or use a weapon. Or-" I began listing off reasons my I'm not fit to be a ninja, but Marie cut me off.

"Okay, I get it." She giggled as I finished off the last of my tables. I walked back behind the counter to put the rag and bucket away in the storage room. I turned around and opened what was a small, closet like door and set the bucket of soapy water and the rag in the room. I closed and locked the door after wards.

"Did you want anything?" I offered Marie when I was back behind the counter.

"Hm, what do you have?" She asked and walked up to the counter top. She peered in the glass window of the counter and took a good long glance at every pastry.

"We have more stuff in the back." I told her and pointed to the back room that was just down the hall. The hall was next to the stairs I climb everyday to get to my apartment. If you continued just walking straight instead of going up, you would be in the bakery's kitchen.

"I think I'll take, an éclair." Marie ordered a classic french puff pastry, dipped in chocolate and creamed filled.

I smiled then took a napkin from the dispenser. With a small key, I opened the glass door and gripped the éclair. Then I set it on a small white plate and handed it to Marie.

"How much?" Marie wondered and went to stick her hand in her little pink purse.

"It's on the house." I insisted. After all, Marie has done so much for ever since I moved to Paris. Though neither of us are actually from here.

Marie smiled a thanks and sat down at the nearest table closet to the register. We stopped talking for a little, while I tended to some other customers. They came, they bought, they left. I watched the customers walk out the door, then just continued to stare blankly out the door. I do this often, I gaze at the people who leave the shop then get lost. I don't necessarily think about anything. I just get lost in the scene that is separated from me by a shield of glass. I don't know why, but it seems like all my dreams extend just a little father. No matter how close it seems like I'm getting, my dream in just around another corner, or just behind another window, impossible for me to walk through.

I shook my head and smiled pitifully. I couldn't believe how many times I get lost in my thoughts, how many times I get distracted when I don't have anything important to do. Granted, there is better things to do then day dream all the time, but if you don't day dream, then how do you keep your dreams alive?

I glance over at Marie and turns out she was doing the same thing I was. Her crystal blue eyes stare blankly at nothing, her gaze unfocused and distant. I could tell she was day dreaming.

"What you thinking about?" I asked and snap Marie from her thoughts. It takes her a moment to get back to reality but when she does, she says.

"What?"

"What where you day dreaming about?" I ask again but reformed my words with a smile. I set my elbow down on the counter and rested my chin in the palm of my hands. I waited for Marie to answer.

"Oh, nothing important." Marie shook her head with a shy smile. I cocked my eyebrow at her, Marie is rarely ever shy. I knew something was up. So I walked up to her table and sat myself down in a chair.

"Come on, what were you thinking about?"

Before speaking, Marie shifted her eyes to make sure no one was listening to our conversation. Though we were the only ones in the bakery.

"You can keep a secret, right?"

I nodded my head with a side smile.

"Well..." Marie continued, "I don't know why, but I like to imagine myself in a meadow. In a white dress, doing nothing but walking in rows upon rows of flowers."

No words came to me. I wanted and felt like I needed to speak, but I couldn't. All I found myself doing is smiling. My lips pressed lightly against one other, forming into a curved line and a glow in my eyes. I liked this side of Marie. I liked seeing the dreamer side of her, instead of her constant perky self.

"What?" She looked at my suspiciously while speaking.

"Nothing." I shrugged and laughed away my smile.

"Okay...your turn." Marie told me and flipped her blonde bobbed hair.

"No, I don't think so." I closed my eyes and brushed a stray piece of my long brown hair out of my face.

"Oh come on, I shared my daydream, what's yours?" Marie urged and scooted herself in closer. Much like a little girl eager to hear some important news about to be delivered. Curiosity glowed within her eyes once again.

"I-I don't know." I gave a little shake of my head. I never told anyone about what I daydream. I don't know why though, "I don't really have time to daydream." I lied. I have fantasies, I have dreams in mind, but no one ever ask me about them. So when they do, I just tell them I don't. I'm a busy person. I have my culinary school, my job, and I attend a cooking class with Marie once every two weeks. The only ones I tell my dreams to is Toby. That way, he can never judge.

"Everyone has time to daydream." Marie rolled her eyes playfully, "So spit it out. What is your dream?"

"Hey do you know what's weird. You're not from here yet your name is French, what's with that?" I randomly changed the subject and leaped up from my chair. I walked back over to the cash register counter and pretended to fiddle through some stuff.

"My mom is French." Marie replied flatly, clearly unamused, "Why won't you tell me wh-"

"Hey what time is it?" I interrupted her and glanced at the red round clock above the door.

"What does-" Marie tried speaking again but I cut her off once more.

"Hey it's five, closing time. Plus we have cooking class." I shrugged happily, glad to avoid the subject as much as possible.

Marie exasperated a long sigh before getting up, "Fine, but this is not over."

I smiled widely before we walked up the stairs together and started getting ready for class.

I walked in my apartment and closed the door behind me. As usual, Toby can running and barking down the hall to greet me. I got down on one knee and embraced my dog as he nearly knocked me over.

"Hey Toby." I started talking babyish to my dog and ruffling up his fur. In response, Toby would bark and lick my face. Through my closed eyes and giggle, I managed to push him off, "Ick, well this isn't gonna come off." I said when I realized that I was covered in dog drool.

After things died down, I went to go watch some TV. I sat down on my hazelnut coloured couch and just flicked the TV on, deciding whatever channel it was on, I would watch. Of course, it was the food network.

"Come for the food, stay for the John!" The TV voice over announced when the show 'You gotta eat here' came on.

"Hehe John, that's such an awesome name." I noted to myself and Toby who had his head rested on my lap and forepaws extended.

It was about twenty minutes into the show before I started to get sleepy. It was getting late and I have to open the bakery early tomorrow, not to mention I have my culinary school. So I was about to turn the TV off and go to bed, when a news report caught my eye.

"We interrupt this show to bring you an important broadcast." The news reporter stated. It was Francois on the 10 O'clock news. He wore slicked back brown hair and a very square jaw line, his broad shoulders stick out and doesn't help the fact that he has squinty eyes.

I cocked my head to one side in interest and sat back down on my couch.

"Philip Johnson has just been killed in a store robbery. They say it was a group of five people which who have killed three other people besides Philip. Philip once jailed brother, Arthur, got released a few months ago and now is going on a rampage, blaming the people of Paris for Philip's murder. Two of the five robbers have been caught and police are still searching for the remanding three and Arthur. Until then, the citizens are advised to stay inside and keep doors locked."

The newscast ended and my TV screen turned black for I had turned it off. A twinge of fear struck inside my chest as I kept thinking to myself about what I just heard. Getting more and more freaked out, I ran to my door to check if it was locked, sure enough it was. But for extra precautions, I unlocked then relocked the door. I did the same to my balcony's doors as well.

After that I went straight to bed, and I let Toby sleep with me. I could have sworn he understood what the news had said because Toby seemed less energetic and was whimpering. So I got into bed and let Toby cuddle up right beside me. For some reason, I always felt safer with Toby beside me.

"Man, what I wouldn't do to be Mme. Babin right now." I thought out loud to myself. Mme. Babin, away in Germany and safe from any killers. I know I'm probably freaking out for nothing, but the news suggested that we stay inside for the next few days, how bad can these robbers be? Enough to get all of Paris indoors?

I scoot a little closer to Toby and shut my eyes. All I wanted right now was to be in the comfort of someone. Anyone. I just wanted to feel comforting arms around me, reassuring me that I was safe. That nothing bad is going to happen. That everything is going to be alright. But the best I could do is comfort my dog. I'm not saying I'm lonely, I'm just...all alone. And right now, I want nothing more than to just feel safe.


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