You're twenty six and aren't sure exactly what you're doing here, except that you need to see her. Your brothers words sticking in your brain, he thinks you don't deserve her and lead her on maybe you do. You don't know how to change it.
There's the way she lights up when she sees you that always makes you feel warm like the sun has planted itself in your chest. There is the banter that make the two of who you are and you feel jealousy burning in your gut when she says that sexy black thing she's trying to pass off as a dress is for her boyfriend, the hoity toity dude Sean mentioned.
He doesn't want to think of some French fuck getting her out of it so he thinks of doing so himself and she does look good too good, possibly the tightest skinniest pair of black jeans he's ever seen on her, a burgundy turtleneck that fits to the curve of her chest like a second skin. She must feel his gaze on her because she looks uncomfortable or maybe turned on you really can't tell, She brings up Liz and any sexual thought is doused she effectively threw a bucket of ice cold reality on you. You dodge her question compliment her French and ask her to show you the city. You are pleasantly surprised when she says yes.
She puts on a hat so sparkly god could use it as Chyler GPS. She writes Pepe Le Dickwad a note and you are off your hand in hers.
She trucks you out into the Paris sunshine taking you to a bakery about a block from her walk up and orders something. You like hearing her speak French all those vowels are sexy. A biracial woman cuts in front of him and whispers something to Chyler.
They turn. "Johnny, this is my room mate Ruby."
"Ruby Navarro, John Cena."
The other woman says some that ends with "American," "Oh wait I hope he's not fluent." she says with a British accent.
"Not a chance and Yes it is." Chyler smiles.
"Nice to meet you John," She turns back to Chyler. "No worries love, I'll handle Jean-Paul if he comes by." "Thank you." Chyler says as the baker hands over a bag.
"Au revoir babe." Ruby says.
"Bye love ya Rubes…" And she sweeps out.
Chyler is handing over euros and robust man behind the counter is eying him.
Puis-je avoir la cutie lorsque vous avez terminé avec lui?"Chyler laughs. "Ah! Benard coquin! Il a pris et, malheureusement, pas par moi."
"Why do I feel as though I'm being talked about?"
Chyler grins quick and sly. And hands John a croissant. "Because you are. Benard wanted a shot ya when I was done," Chyler is laughing at the look on his face. "No worries told him you were taken. Eat that no bitching about your carb intake either you come to Paris ya gotta eat good food it's a rule."
"This sure is an interesting place." he mutters. Chyler's laughing again and dragging you away.
You watch Chyler walk a little ahead of you and realize somewhere between her bedroom a year ago and now she's become a woman. You like it. Its comforting and unsettling all at once. You're not sure how long you can avoid whatever this is, how long you can keep it unbroken and pure. You stuff a bite of croissant in your mouth before do something stupid like say you love her or kiss her senseless.
She walks backwards facing you down a tiny side street with a long ass name, you want to tell her be careful, watch where you are going Chy but she smiles at you like the whole world is perfect and the sun is back in your chest and you can barely swallow much less speak.
"Good stuff there Johnny?" she gestures to your half eaten pastry. You can only nod dumbly.
"Told ya! Come on the Louve's this way."
-/-/-/-
The Mona Lisa isn't as impressive as you thought it would it would be its no bigger than an eight by ten and well its just not what you expected. You hate museums the shits boring but Chyler is all leaned up against you curled into your arms and warm. She smells nice too a flowery so it's all bad.
You get the shit almost literally scared out of you when Chyler lets you walk up on a statue literally walking through a stone wall. He's reaching out to something one leg through and half his face. Jesus Christ its weird but so detailed you appreciate the art. Chyler is laughing so hard she's lost her balance and is sitting on the concrete.
"Johnny your face… so white…" More cackling.
"Shut up!"
"Sorry can't too funny…"
"Chyler…"
"Oh Shit…" She laughs "That's the hardest I've laughed in forever. Thanks."
"Glad I amuse you." You reply dryly
"Always baby, did you think he was going to get you?"
"What is it?"
"The walker through walls…I nearly pissed my pants the first time Ruby showed me or really let me think I was being mugged."
"Do you want to go to Versailles? We can bring a picnic to the palace grounds."
"Why not?"
-/-/-/-
We head to an open air market to get things for our picnic it's massive and a little startling but Chyler's right a home. You stop because a man has his easel set up and is painting, a bunch of junk on rickety old table A chipped teacup a red hat box and a loosed string of pearls. Chyler is next to you now her hand slipped into yours "Sometimes imperfection is my favorite thing." she says. You both stand there you don't know how long, totally silent and its perfect.
You want to buy the painting but you know Liz will ask questions and ruin its beauty. You drop a euro next to the guys feet and pull Chyler along.
-/-/-
You go back to Chyler's little three room nest like loft and sit on a worn leather couch while she prepares your lunch.
"You like it here Chy?" Its more statement than actual question. She nods. "I do."
"Why?" you pick up a book read the spine. Love Letters Of Great Men. You smile only Chyler. "Why? I like the rhythm and feel of the place, the people the action the art food all of it. I like who I am here more than any other place…" You know she wants to add something but doesn't. Opening the book you find her place marker a red length of sequin trim stopped on a letter by John Keats. You read and suddenly know why its stopped here.
March 1820Sweetest Fanny,You fear, sometimes, I do not love you so much as you wish? My dear Girl I love you ever and ever and without reserve. The more I have known you the more have I lov'd. In every way - even my jealousies have been agonies of Love, in the hottest fit I ever had I would have died for you. I have vex'd you too much. But for Love! Can I help it? You are always new. The last of your kisses was ever the sweetest; the last smile the brightest; the last movement the gracefullest- "That made me cry. He was dying of tuberculosis and had fallen in love literally with the girl next door, its so sweet and perfect yet achingly painful don't you think?" Chyler interrupts
"Why do you have this?"
"To remember great and true love exists." she sips red wine from a coffee mug.
"Someone will love you like that some day." he says.
"So my Daddy tells me." She sighs grabbing their food "Lets go. It takes forever to hail a cab."
Versailles is enormous to the point enormous isn't a big enough word to describe it. You two take part of the tour then set out in the lawns on a blanket and eat thick sandwiches with rich cheese sweet ham and crusty bread and some left over fruit tartines Chyler had bought from the gay baker. And wine to wash it all down.
You realize as you watch the wind blow through the ends of her hair. You do love her but its to late you're with Liz telling her will only hurt her. Instead you pull her close and kiss her temple.
"What John?"
"I'm happy to be with you." she's quiet and kisses your cheek. "Likewise."
-/-/-/-
On your way back from Versailles you recognize the melody on the cab radio but not the French words then. Chyler sings them, "I could drink a case of you and still be on my feet." She smiles at you. "Joni Mitchell."
You take a picture with the Eiffel Tower in the background. You drunkenly admit to Chyler you a lot more than like her. She tenses a moment "Do you have some wwe curfew to keep?"
"No."
"Good. The perfect place to watch the sunset is Sacre`- Cour."
"What's that?"
"A church on a hillside in the Montmartre suburb."
Another hailed cab some scary ass driving and they are in fron't of a great multi-domed church. You kind of feel the need to go in and thank god for letting you survive the drive but Chyler is spreading a blanket on a side lawn and sitting down. You lay beside her leaning on your elbows. You look over and are so taken you can't breathe.
"Sunrise is better, but you have to leave so." the sky is being painted in god's palette of colors and the light makes Chyler's skin appear golden.
"Chy you know I- you know that I right?"
Chyler shoots him an angry look and starts ranting in French "Je fais ce que sais que tu m'aimes sais, vous avez toujours sais que je ne serai jamais assez Et je peux;? t même que vous détestez pour lui Pourquoi ne pas simplement dire qu'il baise et embrasse-moi bon sang! mais non! tu es si noble putain! Fuck cela et vas te faire encule! John Cena!"
"All I caught was my name pretty baby. And the word fuck." he smirks and immediately knows it's the wrong thing to do. There are tears in her pretty green eyes.
"I know John of course I do, why do you think I stay, wait? Don't say the words to me until you can mean them wholly. I don't wait to fight with you not after the perfect day we've had but you need to know this. I'll wait for you because it still feels right but I won't wait forever because I deserve love and to be with some who can tell me and show me. Eventually someone who a lot more than likes me but doesn't dare to love me won't be enough."
He swallows the lump of tears choking him. "Okay."
-/-/-/-
She hugs you goodbye at your hotel with the door man staring. She goes up on her tip toes. "Goodbye for now my Johnny." she kisses the pulse point in your neck and tries to move out of your arms. You grab her up against you and kiss her forehead. "This was fun Pretty Baby see you in West New."
You watch her cab pull away. You aren't any closer to answers than you were during that argument with Sean.
"We'll always have Paris." you murmur to yourself and then laugh. "God she's turned me into the worlds biggest cheese ball." you go up to your hotel room and smile at the staring doorman.
-/-/-/-
You are eighty five and look to Canden "Come on Teezny I want to show you and the other girls Sacre`Couer."
-/-/-/-
AN: I own nothing but my characters, The love letters of great men is an actual book I borrowed a bit of John Keats' letter to Fanny Brawne I do not own it. If you want to read Chyler's rant in English use google translate I did, all the places I used are real! I think that's all please review!