- It can't be… - Emily whispered to herself, turning the paper in her hands, trying to find any possible perspective that could deny the obvious.
She had to admit it. She was lost. The brunette looked around, bewildered by the people surrounding her, not knowing where the hell she had ended.
After the blonde had left the room, she scanned the map that CeCe had given them up and down, and when she managed to find the street where the restaurant was placed she chose to do a brief scheme of the route she would have to follow to get there.
She had to use one of the airline tickets to copy the portion of the map she needed and, for her, she had done a good job. Emily thought that with it she would be able to reach her destination easily, so she allowed herself to have a quiet shower and… to turn on her phone.
The brunette knew it was unwise to keep in touch with Rosewood, but she couldn't think of giving up on her old life, not completely. After all, she was already there, miles and miles away from home, how much more she had to move off?
Of course, she hadn't even thought to tell Alison that she could communicate with her family and friends, the blonde would have made her get rid of the phone in a heartbeat and they both would have had an epic fight, and frankly, none of them needed something like that.
The list of missed calls hadn't done anything else but increase, and Emily felt terribly guilty for putting the people she loved in that state of worry.
She called her mother and the answer came as quick as the first time. She seemed more calm and relaxed, but the tone of concern continued standing out in her voice. At first, the conversation was easy, simple questions to make sure that the other one was fine. But, after a few minutes, things got complicated. It was obvious that her mother would try to make her go back home, but the brunette hadn't expected her to try it through the statement that, right now, she was practically lapidating her future.
If she stayed with Alison she would not finish high school and, if she would not finish high school she wouldn't get into any university and, if she wouldn't get into any university she will not have a career and, if she will not have a career she won't find a decent job and… well, in that case, her mother was sure that her life would be completely miserable.
Then, the tone of the conversation became lighter and Pam reminded her to eat well, always wear a jacket and to go back to her house, for God's sake. There wasn't a furious cut of the line, just a sorrowful "don't ever forget that I love you" and the soft sound of the phone hanging.
Emily stayed a while with the device in her hands, thinking that at least her mother hadn't tried to put her against Alison. It seemed like Pam knew her daughter too well, and she was sure that the possibilities of changing her mind would duplicate if she attacked her directly. She hadn't shouted at her, not even once. She knew that Emily was the one with the power at that time and that the girl could exclude her from her life easily, she just had to stop calling and she'll be gone, forever… what mother wants that?
The conversation stayed on the surface of her brain, filling her with doubts. That's why she was now totally lost in the center of Paris. She had made it through the subway, true, but the streets of the city were like another world which required a higher concentration.
She was in the 6th district, in St. Germain de Prés, where the avenues weren't endless and people seemed more relaxed. The familiarity emanating from the neighborhood, with its small shops, florists and handmade products stores should have comforted her, but the maze of narrow streets that she was facing had her more than confused.
Emily was supposed to go down a street and turn right as soon as she could once she had abandoned the subway, but the brunette had been so distracted thinking about how "her future was coming down", that she has lost herself.
The girl had suffered a huge shock when her career in swimming had become an impossible thing and now, thinking she wouldn't even be able to think about reaching her last goal (the plan B she had begun to unfold once she accepted the reality of her situation): become coach of elite swimmers, had her on the edge of that feeling of dizziness that gives not knowing what are you going to do with your life. It was awful to be in that position, again.
She tried to focus on the present, she had to find the restaurant's street, it was almost four and she was supposed to be in the door of the local, about to enter.
She was in the Rue Bonaparte, she was sure of writing that name. She checked the "map" and sighed slightly relieved. She had skipped just a couple of streets, she was near. Emily quickened her pace.
Perhaps, when they'll be a little more stablished she could go back to study, it wasn't that crazy, right?
She would contact with the girls, and they would tell her what she had to study to prepare the exams. It would be like a distance learning course. "And then what? Visiting Rosewood for the finals?", her subconscious seemed to hate her, so much. She snorted at her bitter sarcasm. "Besides, what makes you think that they are going to help you?".
That was another of her main headaches: the girls.
They had continued trying to contact her and even her mother had insisted that she should call them, but she could not dare to do so. If anyone knew how harmful Alison could be, it was them, and if anyone knew what a mess her day by day had become in Rosewood, it was them. And so far, the brunette was managing to ignore the cons of the decision she had taken, what really meant to flee. But Emily knew that once she spoke with them, they'll make her see all the things she didn't want to see (that Alison could be playing with her, again; that it was crazy for two minor to start from scratch in a foreign country; that it had been a very cowardly gesture to burst out running in that way…).
But… she missed them so much, and she was so concerned about them… Would A still be after them? Would he have gotten to hurt any of them? Just thinking about it gave her chills…
Rue Guisarde, suddenly she was there. She looked at the watch on her wrist, she was just 10 minutes late… first day… nice.
She took a breath, cleared her mind as much as she could and walked into the narrow street.
The asphalt only allowed the transit of a car and the sidewalks the transit of a single person. The brunette had to go looking left and right as she advanced, local by local. That place was full of shops, cafes, small libraries and many different restaurants. Each showcase had an unique color. When she reached the red façade titled La cuisine du le monde she didn't stop to observe any details, she just pulled the door and entered.
It was a café.
Circular steel tables accompanied by ornate black chairs made of the same material. Windows allowing the view to the exterior decorated with intricate and curious railings. A long counter. Coffeemakers. Red walls. Uniformed waiters serving tea and costumers reading the paper while drinking the espresso of the evening. It reminded her of the Brew, only a little more sophisticated and imbued with that strange European flair… but maybe the soft French music playing in the background was what really made the difference.
She approached the counter.
- Excuse me. – She began, drawing attention of one of the waiters that was pouring coffee behind the bar. – I'm here for… the job, do you know who I should talk to? A manager, boss… anyone?
The boy was watching her with his mouth slightly open and cheeks burning. Emily reached into her purse and pulled out the form.
- Maybe I'm at the wrong place. – She said, showing him the paper. That was definitely a café, not an international restaurant, would she had misread the name on the entry?
- Oh, tu viens pour le travail. – Finally, the boy smiled, apparently understanding what she wanted. – Oui, tu dois parler à Nicolette, elle est celle qui se charge des nouveaux.
Now she was the one looking at him with her mouth open, what the hell did he just say? Maybe she should have chosen the bookstore, the brunette was not prepared for that.
- Elle est au-dessus, en préparant les salons, tu montes, il n'a pas de perte. – He continued, and Emily, obviously, kept her puzzled face. The boy sighed.
- Sorry… Je ne parle français? – She apologized awkwardly. She was overwhelmed and even starting to suffocate, if Alison were with her at that moment everything would be so much easier… when did she think that she could survive in a country like that?
- Au-dessus. Les… - He leaned over the counter and pointed the ascending stairs she hadn't seen when she got in. – Les escaliers.
- Oh! The stairs. – She said and he laughed.
- Yes, stairs. – He claimed, with a weird English. – Tu montes et demande par Nicolette.
- Nicolette? – It was the only word that seemed a name.
- Oui! Nicolette. – He confirmed, smiling from ear to ear, quite proud of himself.
- Okay… thanks.
- De rien.
Emily said goodbye to the guy with a vague wave of her hand and hurried up the dark stone stairs that led to the first floor. The steps kept ascending, but there was a small landing that served as a hall, with two large wooden closed doors and a small and high mahogany table decorated with burgundy velvet, placed between them, supporting the weight of a lamp and several notebooks.
The brunette could hear quick movements and dishes clattering behind the doors. She walked tentatively towards one of them and opened it, finding a sizeable room in which, around a dozen people wearing the same uniform she had seen on the servers below (white shirt and black trousers, essentially), clothed naked tables with white tablecloths, filled vases with fresh and colorful flowers and counted forks in the multiple cabinets beside the walls of distillate red that made the place. From the ceiling hung two large crystal chandeliers. There were curtains of a color a little bit livelier than the one painted the walls, but not as bright as the one on the lower floor, covering what the girl supposed would be windows. Also, the walls were decorated with fine paintings and an antique and large mirror covering a whole side of the room.
- Qu'est-ce que faites vous ici? – Emily jumped when she heard a singing but subtly irritated voice at her back.
Turning around she found a woman, shorter than her (despite the high stilettos her feet shod), but clearly at least fifteen years older than the brunette, with very pale skin, dark eyes and short hair, so black, that it seemed to have some electric glow.
- Le salon ne sòuvre pas jusqu'à sept heures. – She continued talking, and Emily could only look at the authority given off alone with her body posture, upright, all security. – Si vous le désirez, il peut predren quelque chose au rez-de-chaussée. – The black and tight dress she was wearing also made her look very serious, then Emily saw the golden plate hanging from the left strap of the cloth.
- Nicolette. – The brunette read quietly, and the woman looked at her strangely. – I am… well, I'm here for the job. – She hastened to deliver her the application. – Sorry I'm late, I got lost while coming and…
- Demetz… - Nicolette said, more to herself, looking intently to the paper.
- Yes! Demetz, he was the one… - Emily smiled, happy to understand "something", she had never thought it would be so confusing to live surrounded by a language she didn't know.
- Une américaine. – She cut her, raising her sight from the sheet and looking at her from head to toe with pursed lips.
- Uh… yeah, I'm from America. – Emily didn't know what to say, she had the feeling that whatever will come out of her mouth would be terribly wrong.
- Dis à Chloe qui vient ici tout de suite. – Nicolette said quickly to one of the waiters who passed by, then she looked at the brunette. – You, wait.
And there she was, standing, surrounded by the orderly coming and going of the other workers, who barely threw a glance at her.
The salon door opened again, this time who came in was a brunette, with her hair in a braid, light complexion, gray eyes, dressed in the uniform of the waiters and visibly agitated.
- Hello. – She told her between wheezes.
- Hello. – Emily replied.
- You're the new girl, right? The American? – She was speaking in English! And she knew who she was!
- Yes. – The brunette answered, breathing a sigh of relief.
- I'm Chloe. – She said smiling, holding out a hand.
- Em… Natalie. – She corrected herself quickly, shaking her hand and hoping she hadn't noticed the hesitation.
- Well, you've already met Nicolette, I can assure that the worst is over.
The girl walked across the room and Emily followed her. She couldn't be more than 22, she looked nice, and the brunette couldn't need more some sympathy at the time, after that first encounter with, who she assumed, was the leader par excellence. They walked to a small door, the only thing on one of the walls besides that huge outstanding mirror.
Inside, there was a room very similar to what Emily would have thought would be a dressing room. The light was pretty dim. There were racks everywhere, full of uniforms, each with a garment: some with shirts, others with pants and there even were some loaded with ties. Cupboards and chairs set randomly. Two boudoirs were resting against a wall and, at the back of the room, she could distinguish four corners covered by thick black curtains, as if they were fitting rooms of an upscale boutique.
Although, if Emily had to choose something to give it the award of "the most baffling thing" it would be, no doubt, the great glass that was embedded in the wall separating the room from the salon and that allowed her to see, clearly, the salon that would be occupied by many customers hours later. Emily couldn't help to wide her eyes at that.
- Oh, that thing… - Chloe commented when she saw what had attracted the brunette's attention. – It's a little weird, right?
- Customers can view this room while eating? – She didn't remember seeing the inside of that place from the outside, only the huge mirror and there was no way she could imagine how having a gigantic window to a room like that could win the favor of customers.
- No, it's something like a one-way mirror. We see them, but they don't see us. – That was even more disturbing. – Usually no one is here during the night, it was… one of the things Nicolette brought with her when she was hired as the maître.
- And when was that? – Emily asked incapable to look away from the glass, she could see perfectly as the waiters were putting things in the salon and she had no trouble imagining Nicolette sitting in a chair, watching that same "landscape" for, what? The brunette wasn't sure if she wanted to know the answer to that question.
- Like a year ago. – Emily turned to look at the other girl, who had chosen a trouser of one of the racks and offered it to her, along with a white shirt. – Here, I think they'll suit you.
She showed her the "fitting rooms" with a nod. Emily took the clothes and went into the small space, closing the curtain and starting to change.
- So… you've been working here for a long time? – The brunette asked, just to talk about something, that room gave her the creeps and the silence didn't help.
- About three years. – The muffled voice of the girl answered from the other side.
- Wow. – Emily was surprised, starting to try on the trouser.
- Yeah… you could say that they liked me. – The brunette buttoned the pants. That girl had a good eye, they fitted her perfectly. – Did you have a hard time finding the place?
- The truth is that I got the streets a little messed up. – She confessed and stopped before removing her shirt. – Do you think Nicolette was bothered because I was late?
- I think you've been lucky and she hadn't realized it. – Chloe said with a small laugh.
- She is scary. – Emily admitted, undoing the buttons of the shirt to put it on.
- I know, is like a dictator, but in miniature. – The two laughed. – Do not tell her I said that.
- Don't worry, I don't think…
Suddenly the lights went out. The brunette froze, with her heart static on her chest and the shirt still in her hands. She opened her eyes wide in an attempt to see into the darkness that was blinding her.
- Chloe? – She called. There was no sound to be heard and it seemed like the air was heavier.
It was just a power failure, the most normal thing in the world, but after everything she had been through, that simple situation was a potential source of anxiety.
She heard footsteps outside and stuck her back to the wall, had she heard Chloe moving around the room at some point?
- Chloe? – She called again.
The steps came closer, the girl wasn't answering, and a cold sweat began to cover her skin.
A click echoed through the room, strong, and the light snapped back.
- I'm sorry. – Chloe's voice said from outside. – I hope you aren't scared. – Emily buttoned the shirt quickly, trying to breathe slowly, and opened the curtain. – The deposit isn't on, yet. It might happen a few more times before we open to the public.
- Deposit?
- Yes, give me your clothes. – The brunette looked in the space behind the curtain and handed the girl her belongings. – It is a "renewable energy tank"… actually, I'm not sure how it works, but it does. It's like a reservoir of energy and… well there's never been outages with customers, Nicolette would totally freak out if it happened. – She went to a cabinet and opened it as she spoke. It was full of square boxes, all numbered. – Especially today.
- What about today? – Emily asked, watching as she opened the drawer number 7, placing her stuff inside.
- Tasters are coming to evaluate the restaurant. – The girl said, raising her eyebrows appreciatively. Then she looked at her with pity. – You didn't come in a very quiet day.
- That's why she was so grumpy… - The brunette reasoned, recalling how Nicolette had talked to her. She couldn't know if she was a customer or not, but the irritation had appeared implicit in her voice.
- No, she's always like that, but if today she shouts at you more than usual, you'll have to forgive her. – She closed the closet doors and pointed the piece of furniture. – You can leave your stuff here every day, you have the number 7. – She moved to the racks and Emily followed her. – The uniform stays here, you don't have to take it home. – The girl looked at her with intention and the brunette nodded, showing that she was understanding the instructions she was giving her. – You'll have to pick up your hair and… - She turned to the rack of ties, choosing one. – never forget the tie.
Emily finished grooming putting her hair in a high ponytail, tucking her shirt into her pants, knotting her tie and getting on some decent height heels Chloe handed her. After the girl checked her one last time they left the room and went to a table that was already assembled.
- Well, the first thing you have to know is that from 16:00 to 17:30 we prepare the salons, you'll be in this one, with me, but there are five more, another one on this floor and two in each of the upper floors. – Maybe she hadn't take a very careful look at the entrance, but to not see that the building was large enough to have three floors… - Then we spend one hour in the kitchen, learning the menu.
- Learning?
- Yes, the chefs tell us how the dishes of the night are made.
- The dishes change every night?
- No, but there are always nightly specials.
- And… in which language they explain that?
- In French. – Chloe replied, as if it was obvious, Emily sighed. – You aren't in good terms with French, right?
- No, I'm… I'm not.
- You'll get used to it, you'll see, they almost always say the same. – The girl said, trying to downplay the issue, she wouldn't say the same if she knew that the brunette had been hearing the language for just four days. – After the kitchens we spend half an hour doing the finishing touches on everything and at seven we open to the public. You ok till here?
- Yes… I think so. – How did Demetz put her in there? It wasn't a normal restaurant, it was one of those prestigious sites with many forks that movie stars go when they pass through town on vacation, how would she fit in there?
- Okay, so… this is the only thing left. – She took a wooden box that was on the table and positioned it in front of the brunette. – Open it.
Emily uncovered the box, inside there were different metal plaques, Chloe took one and showed it to her. It had an American flag printed on one of its faces.
- I don't know if you've noticed, but the waiters who are here are a little "different" between us. – She said quietly, as if it was a secret. – When the customers arrive, they pick their country flag and place it in the center of the table, so we know which language they want to be attended. And there is always someone who doesn't find his flag, that's why we are here, thank God, English is pretty universal.
- Wow, that's very… convenient. – The brunette acknowledged, that would solve so many problems in such a simple way that it seemed absurd that it wasn't established in any other places.
- It's another "Nicolette system".
It looked like Nicolette had done many things for the business and, indeed, even without knowing too much that woman, Emily could see her hand behind every detail.
Until 17:30 they were adjusting tablecloths, counting knives, folding napkins and arranging menus. Then they went down to the ground floor and entered the kitchens, which were huge, hot and full of people.
The brunette knew that, if she began to count, she would nearly reach the triple digits with the crowd that was cramming there. There were people of clear French appearance, boys and girls with Asian features, tanned Hispanics, serious Germans with light eyes and more varied people that she didn't know how to classify, but that surely would fit in one of those 5 groups of languages: French, Chinese, Spanish, German and, of course, English.
The man that seemed to be the "chef of chefs" was the one who explained, in a very pronounced French, which would be the star dishes of the night. He told them how they should be presented and what they contained, in which one they should ask the customer doneness and even the kind of drink that would strengthen the flavor of those delicacies.
For Emily it was a tortuous hour of misunderstanding. She felt how her brow tightened as she watched the dishes the chef was showing, trying to guess what would they be made of and glaring furtively at the notes that the people around her were taking, because yes, there were people taking notes in that kitchen… and she didn't even have a pen or paper.
It wasn't until they reached the "half hour of finishing touches" that Chloe took her aside and quickly explained everything she needed to know. As the night would evolve she would be more aware of this, but if wasn't for that girl, that would have been her first and last night in La cuisine du le monde.
The time moved with unusual speed and at 18:55 Nicolette appeared in the lounge.
- Je compte bien le meilleur de vous, comme chaque nuit. – She had aligned all of them and was pacing in front of them with her hands folded behind her back, as the sergeant of a platoon that was about to go into battle. – Vous aurez à être impecabbles, vous savez déjà l'important qui est cette nuit. Je n'admettrai pas de faute de personne. – She finished that sentence standing right in front of Emily, staring at her.
She took one last look at them, turned, and walked away with her head held high. Nobody needed to speak French to realize that whatever she had said had been a clear threat: if they hassle that night, they were dead.
- Sometimes she really likes drama. – Chloe told the brunette as they were "breaking ranks" and distributing around the room. – Don't worry, everything will be fine, just take a deep breath and enjoy. – But enjoy, precisely, was the last thing Emily did that night.
She ended up attending four tables, with some other mistake while recommending the menu and hesitation in answering customer questions about it. Among the diversity of people who she attended, she had the "luck" to get a lady allergic to pepper that forced her to go in person to speak with the chef to make sure that not a single peppercorn touched her food. But that wasn't the worst, the big deal of the night was a child four years old that didn't seem to like the food inside de dish, but he loved how Emily cleaned his table over and over. When they reached the dessert the little boy decided that the girl would look good with the chocolate mousse his mom had requested as a supplement to her white shirt. So the brunette ended covered in sticky and creamy chocolate (the house specialty) and thanked the fact of wearing her hair tied, she didn't want to imagine what she should have done to get rid of that if it had come down over her hair.
Other than that, the night wasn't so disastrous… if you decide to ignore the three times she almost got burned while flaming meat, the wine bottle that had threatened the sir of the table 12 and the multiple slips she had on those heels, who the hell waxed the floor of a restaurant just before the waiters start to serve?
- You haven't been so bad, for a first day. – Chloe told her, once they both had changed and walked downstairs to the entrance way. – But be sure to eat something tomorrow.
Apparently, in the kitchen there were enough meals to feed customers and all employees. Although, the brunette had been so overwhelmed that she hadn't felt a little bit hungry.
- Well, at least I tried the mousse. – Emily joked and the other girl laughed.
- I couldn't have put up with that child of the devil. Lucky us, the tasters were on the top floor and Nicolette didn't go down once.
- Yes, than… wow. – They had just reached the ground floor, where the cafeteria was, or at least where it had been, because now there was no sign of any kind of coffee. The lights were blue and purple and the music had become more suggestive.
- They use every hour of the day. – Chloe said, noticing the elegant manner of dressing in the customers. – At eleven they transform the cafeteria into a cocktail bar.
- Also a "Nicolette idea"?
- You're getting her.
They went outside and found the cold of the night. Emily shrugged into her jacket and took the direction of the subway while Chloe took the opposite, the girl smiled at her.
- Are you going to the subway?
- Yes, you?
- I'm staying here, I live a couple blocks away.
- Lucky you. – She definitely disliked the subway, even more when she was alone, although… knowing that the blonde would be waiting for her in the hotel was a little incentive.
- Tomorrow everything will be easier, you'll see. – The girl said. – You'll even like it.
- I hope so. – The truth was that she hadn't entirely displeased it that much, it had been a rough night, yes, but at least she had forgotten everything for a few hours too worried about doing things right and take charge of her present.
- Well, see you tomorrow. – Chloe said waving her hand.
- See you. – Yes, it hadn't been a bad night, maybe she had even made a friend.
Emily arrived at the hotel almost crawling, for once she didn't mind the frown that the owners of the place always threw to her while she was crossing the entrance.
When she opened the door of her room she found Alison sitting on the bed, legs crossed, wearing her pajamas and with what looked like hundreds of papers around her, so focused, that she didn't know that the brunette was there until the door broke her reverie, closing with a slight bump.
- Hi. – She greeted her without moving from her spot.
- Hi… what are you doing? – Emily took her purse off her shoulder and placed it in one of the few racks they had.
- Studying. – The blonde sighed, being aware of the chaos she had surrounding her. – And waiting for you. – She smiled at her, starting to pick up papers. – How was your afternoon?
- It's been intense, why… why are you studying? – She took off her jacket and sat in the little space that the girl had cleared off the mattress.
- Because of Charlie. – The brunette raised an eyebrow. – Is the idiot I have as my "boss". He wants me to study all of this for tomorrow.
- And you're doing it. – Emily was surprised. Alison had never been a lover of the textbooks that teachers made them memorize in high school, she thought it was extremely boring to learn all of that because: "Jeez, someone has written it in a book for something, what sense does it make for me to learn it all if I can read it whenever I want?"
- Yes, I don't have any other option, he is stupid enough by himself, I don't want to give him more reasons to mess with me. – Alison wrinkled her face and dropped the last page of authors she had been staring at, her head hurt.
- Looks like you had a nice day, is everyone as nice as that Charlie? – Emily scoffed and the blonde glanced at her with narrowed eyes, menacingly.
- It's a circus. There is this couple that is like a whole reality show and the creepy music freak… but I shouldn't complain, I know it could be worse.
That last comment shocked Emily, because the old Alison would have been complaining for hours because, for the old Alison, anything was never enough. But the blonde had been through thing that she didn't know. She hoped that, gradually, the girl would be able to open up to her and tell her darkest moments, the ones that changed her. She hoped that she would end trusting her, one hundred percent.
- Did you find a place for lunch? – The brunette asked, wanting to keep the conversation as relaxed as possible.
- More or less, actually I ate with them. – The blonde said, getting all the papers in a pile that she placed at the foot of the bed.
- Then they can't be that bad.
- I told you, it could be worse. – She turned to her. – What about you? Have you made many friends in your restaurant?
Emily flopped on the bed, feeling every muscle in her body sigh with relief. Alison laughed.
- I was late. – Was the first thing the brunette said. – And people only spoke French, I didn't understand a thing. God, I've been standing all afternoon, and… there was that woman who could not eat pepper and had me going up and down stairs with everything she ordered and… that kid…
She kept talking and talking, telling her what she had done and what she hadn't, laughing. She seemed happy, physically exhausted, but happy.
The blonde was trying to follow her words, she really did, but she had been locked in that room since five in the afternoon, alone, studying… as much as she liked the brunette's voice her mind was only able to focus on how soft her lips looked and that heat she knew her skin could provide her.
- Good thing that girl, Chloe, helped me, otherwise… what a mess. – She said, covering her eyes with one hand and revealing an embarrassing smile, she had been a total show in that first day. – And… I should shower. – She concluded with regret, looking towards the bathroom door, as if it were in some unreachable place.
- I've missed you. – Alison said suddenly. The brunette turned to her and half rose, leaning on her forearms.
There was warmth in her blue eyes and an incipient smile peeked at the corners of her mouth. How many times had Emily dreamed for Alison to look at her like that? With the certainty that it wasn't a trick of her imagination, making her confuse a simple gesture of kindness with something else?
- I've missed you too. – The brunette replied, licking her lips unconsciously.
In an instant her heart was racing and the fatigue had decided to leave the room to let them some privacy.
They were in the same bed, awake, with no one that could disturb them, slightly distracted of all the problems that they had to face and very, very aware of the presence of the other.
Emily incorporated herself completely and moved closer to Alison, glancing from her eyes to her mouth, warning her about what she wanted to do. It was as if she had just whispered, "I'm going to kiss you", and the blonde only needed half a second to lean towards her, offering her lips.
Somehow, it was as if they were kissing for the first time, a controlled friction, lightweight… a knot in the stomach, sweat in the hands, a frozen breath. The brunette was the one who ended up contact, tilting her head slightly to find a better angle and fully capture the blonde's mouth. They caressed each other lip to lip, sliding from top to bottom in a slow dance, a mix of softness and pressure that left them trembling.
When the air began to be missed Alison separated their mouths minimally, just enough to allow a breath, gathering their foreheads, making their noses collide gently. Then Emily reached out, searching for the blonde's waist, and the girl didn't hesitate to approach her body.
Alison let her hands ascend slowly over the brunette's bare arms, igniting her insides as each digit moved over her skin.
They needed to touch each other, to feel each other… It seemed impossible that both ached so much for each other after only a few hours apart, but being able to say and do the things that friendship had forbidden did nothing but intensify it all, turning every touch into something new and exciting. And now no one was saying goodbye to anyone, neither it was a brief encounter after years without looking at the other in the eyes… now they had all the time in the world to simply be together.
Their mouths met again and they kissed, with increasing eagerness, their tongues chasing each other, their breaths mingling, hectic and superficial. And then, finally, their bodies came in full contact. Alison pushed the brunette until she ended up lying on the mattress, with the blonde positioned above her, waist to waist, chest to chest.
Alison felt the hands of Emily climbing up her back, from her hips to her shoulder blades, slowly, wrapping her, and although the brunette was only daring to touch her over her clothes, that caress had taken away the little air she was managing to introduce into her body, making her pour a moan into the brunette's mouth.
The blonde traced a path of linked kisses through Emily's jaw to get to her neck, where she sucked a portion of skin into her mouth, letting the flavor of the brunette impregnate each of her taste buds.
- Ali. – Emily gasped.
Suddenly, Alison stopped her ministrations and looked up to meet her brown eyes. She stared at her, questioningly, as if there was something she didn't understand. Before Emily could ask her what she had done wrong, the girl took her chin carefully, turning her face to the right, exposing her neck. Her hasty heart throbbed even faster as she felt the warmth of her mouth when she licked her skin, from the carotid till almost reach the lobe of her ear.
Emily's hands clung to the blonde's top and she had to bite her lower lip, hard, to keep from screaming with pleasure. Soon, Alison's mouth was back on hers.
- You taste like chocolate. – She said against her lips.
- There was an accident with a dessert. – The brunette explained, not knowing how she came to collect so many coherent words.
- I like it. – The blonde sighed before kissing her again.
Then Alison looked for a more comfortable position, shifting the weight of her body from her arms, which had been supporting her, to her knees, placing each leg on either side of Emily's waist, being able to strain her hands under the shirt of the brunette.
I've been dying to have you like this since I saw you on that plane. – She whispered to her ear and ran her nails upward across her stomach, without pressure, feeling how the muscles of her abdomen contracted and her back arched, momentarily leaving the mattress.
Emily was in complete fire, with sweat starting to coat her skin and desire covering all her body. She felt like it was all too much, the sensations, the knowledge that it was actually Alison who was touching her like that… she was about to explode. And the atmosphere heated up even more when the blonde began to trace the outlines of the brunette's bra with her index finger.
- Ali… don't play… - She begged, her voice quivering.
- I don't. – And she looked into her eyes, dark oceans that were trying to tell her in a look that, certainly, there was no game between them anymore.
Then Emily held her waist tightly and made them both roll till she was on top of her. Now it was the brunette's mouth the one looking for the blonde's neck, gaining control of the situation.
When the girl's teeth bit her gently where her pulse was pounding frantically, Alison could only close her eyes and let her hands wander over her perfect tanned figure to her waistband, where she caressed the skin bordering the garment.
The brunette pressed a hand to the side of the blonde, feeling how hot her skin was and how her diaphragm expanded with every breath she took, while the fingers of her other hand tangled in her hair. She had to gather their mouths together one more time, she needed to get distracted in any way from those fingertips that were about to release the button on her trousers to…
Knock, knock.
The stopped all of a sudden, heart pounding, saturated lungs, skin burning.
Knock, knock, knock.
They looked at each other.
- Are we waiting for someone? – Emily asked.
- No. – Alison replied.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.
"Really?", the blonde thought, frustrated and upset when Emily left her, standing up and heading towards the entrance of the room. With a grunt Alison stood and followed her.
At the other side of the door was standing the woman who was always at the front desk of the hotel, dressed in her usual homespun clothes.
- Combian de temps partez-vous pour rester ici? – She asked, without even saying hello, with that look of disgust she always wore on her face.
- What did she say? – Emily asked Alison, who looked at the lady with a scowl.
- She wants to know how long we'll be staying at the hotel. – The blonde translated. – Y a-t-il un problème? Nous avons sauté un paiement…?
- Non, aucun problème. – She tried to look inside the room, but Alison moved closer to Emily, blocking her vision. If it wasn't to clean the room (which hadn't been done since they arrived), she had no right to enter while they were there. – Combien de temps partez-vous pour rester ici? – She insisted.
- Nous ne le savons pas. – The blonde answered, crossing her arms.
Then the woman nodded and left, just like that, walking slowly down the hall.
These people were nutcase. Alison rolled her eyes and her peripheral vision caught movement in soil. Her eyes bulged and she grabbed the arm of the brunette. Emily looked at her and followed the direction marked by her eyes to locate what had drawn the attention of the girl.
A big gray rat, followed by two smaller rats, was traveling on the same path that the hotel's lady had taken, walking past them like nothing.
Alison closed the door quickly.
- What kind of place is this? – The blonde whined.
- You were right, that thing was huge. – The brunette said, thinking about calling some exterminators by herself.
- Maybe we're going way too far with the saving, maybe we could get something more normal. – Alison commented, looking around.
- I thought the idea was to get a flat as soon as possible.
- And it is, but I'd rather take another month sleeping quietly in a real hotel room than being here, waiting for something or someone to sneak into the room. – The blonde continued. She was really pissed. – And also, the owners look at us as if we were criminals every single time we enter the hotel, have you seen how that woman tried to see inside the room? What does she think she's going to find in here?
- Now I need that shower. – Emily said, still thinking how that hair ball had moved with confidence in front of them.
- And to top it all… - The other girl grumbled.
- What? – The brunette didn't understand her outburst, they already knew the place was hell.
- Well… she killed the mood! We didn't have a moment for ourselves in the whole freaking day, and now that we could… - She puffed and crossed her arms again.
Emily was speechless. She hadn't expected that particular reaction from the blonde, not at all. She blushed. Alison wanted to be with her, and she was angry when she couldn't be with her. She felt like they really were a couple, desiring each other equally. She smiled. The blonde looked up and saw her face, she squinted and cocked her head.
- Although… maybe not everything is lost. – Alison approached Emily, took her hands on her own and kissed her.
The brunette followed the movement of her lips, which were still warm, and closed her eyes, letting herself go with the moment, allowing her body to relax. The blonde left her mouth to kiss her neck, God bless that kid and that mousse…
Then Emily yawned and Alison tensed against her body.
- Please, tell me you didn't just yawn. – The blonde asked her.
- Sorry? – Emily said, after a second of silence.
Alison chuckled, defeated, and leaned her forehead against the brunette's shoulder, who automatically put her arms around her.
- Come on, take that shower. – The blonde told her, beginning to separate from her body.
- No, I'm… I'm fine, I can… - Emily took the girl's face in her hands, ready to kiss her, but Alison moved a little more away and aligned her fingers over the brunettes.
- Take a shower, and when you go out, we'll see what we do. – She winked and pecked her lips before returning to bed.
When Emily left the bathroom she found out that the lights had been turned off and the blonde had got between the sheets. The brunette sighed.
She went to her bedside, left the clothes she had taken off on the nightstand and laid on her side of the mattress. She felt slightly tense, would Alison have fallen asleep? Would she still be mad? Although, before she entered the bathroom she hadn't seem that upset… In an instant the blonde turned and approached her, offering the sheets for the brunette to cuddle with her. Emily reached for her hand and squeezed it, joining their bodies as much as she could.
- You're tired, right? – Alison asked her softly.
- Not too much. – The brunette lied, in fact, the shower had taken what little strength she had left. Still… she didn't understand how the proximity with the blonde didn't have her completely turned on, on the contrary, she was feeling her eyelids heavier by the moment. Maybe, inwardly, she was getting to the idea that they could get close at any time, that what had just happened minutes before could be repeated without either having to come back from the dead.
- I don't wanna push you to do anything. – Emily couldn't help but laugh at that comment.
- Believe me, you don't.
- Today was a long day, you should regain your strength.
- Ali, I can…
- When we do it I want you to enjoy it, Em. – She said firmly. – Every time we do it. – The vehemence of those words and the almost illicit lust that came with them made the brunette shudder. – And being so tired you won't be able to enjoy it.
If Alison could read minds (which the brunette had doubted occasionally because of how well the blonde had been able to read her emotions in the past), she'd know that what Emily thought was that, with her, she could enjoy it even sleeping.
- I'll let you rest. – The blonde said. – But… - She slid one leg between Emily's legs and put her right hand over her face. – only if you let me kiss you till you fall asleep.
Emily didn't know how those two things, "kiss" and "falling asleep" would be compatible, but that seductive tone had left her totally speechless, so she only managed to kiss the corner of her mouth, missing her true goal because of the darkness. She felt the blonde smiling.
- I'll take that as a yes. – Emily sighed, nodding against her face, and Alison drank that sigh joining their lips again.
AN: I'm definetly done with the apologies and the promises of updates, it's going to be a hell of a month for me so I'll update when I can :S (hope the almost 8000 words compensated the delay of the update, I guess I got a little carried away at the end...)
From now on the French would be here and there so I'm sorry if some mistakes are made (if English isn't my first language French is that thing I've always wanted to learn correctly but never had the time)
And I think that's all. Hope you're enjoying the story and thanks for reviews, favourites, followers and for reading ;)
