Chapter Three: The Eifle Tower
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from "Silence of the Lambs" or "Hannibal". I do not profit in any way from this site. None of my original character are linked to any other movies, tv shows, books, or songs. Any similarities between my characters and characters from movies, tv show, books, or songs is mear coincidence.
Wednesday March 13th '07, 9:00 AM
Usually whenever Gabrielle spoke about her father she always had dreams about him when she slept, but not this night. She had only one dream that night. She was in an open field on a horse. They rode around the field and she felt free as a bird. They came to a forest and she entered with interest. They weren't following a path but soon they came upon a beautiful cabin and there was smoke rising from the chimney. A minute later the front door opened and then just as she saw someone start to walk out she had woken up.
"Damn! I hate when that happens. I wonder how long it will take me to finish this one. The last one took me a month to finish." Gabrielle said to herself as she looked at the clock, "Well at least I slept through the night this time. And for the first time in forever I didn't dream about father."
Gabrielle then called the front desk and ordered room service. When she was told that her teacher had once again ordered room service for them and had for the rest of the week she thanked the receptionest and asked when breakfast would be brought up. Gabrielle hung up the phone with a smile.
"Nine thirty again, leave it to Mrs. Mathews to have everything all planned out, god love her." Gabrielle said to herself as she got out of bed, "Might as well shower now, I have to wash my hair this morning anyway."
Gabrielle's shower lasted longer than she though it would. She got out and put on her bathrobe, which she loved because it was made out of a towel like cloth. She started to towel dry her hair as she looked through her close for something to wear. She didn't want to wear a skirt because they were going to the Eifle Tower and she like the feeling of being up high and having every one under her able to see her underwear.
Gabrielle had just decided black and white camo, cargo pants that went to just below her knees. A black tank top that had a heart encircled with vines. A white, down, zipper up vest. And her black, knee high, two inch heel boots when there was a knock at the door. Gabrielle made sure the tie on her bathrobe was tight before answering.
"Room service" said the bell hop, and Gabrielle noticed it was the same one from the day before.
"Hello again, right by the table again please." Gabrielle said as she opened the door wider for the cart to be brought in.
"Hello again to you too miss." said the bell hop as she brought the cart right in, "Have a nice day."
The bell hop walked out of the room and Gabrielle shut the door. She then walked over to the cart wondering what was for breakfast today. This time when she lifted the lid off one of the plates she found pancakes and french toast.
Gabrielle gave a little chuckle as she replaced the lid and said, "French toast, how ironic... Well I guess it's time to wake Becky."
Instead of jumping on her freind to wake her, Gabrielle walked over to the curtains and opened them fully letting in as much light as possible. Becky being a semi-light sleeper woke up almost immediately.
"What the hell!!! Gabby why did you do that? I was sleeping quite nicely thank you!" Becky protested as she pulled the covers over her head.
"It's time to get up, breakfast was just delivered compliments of Mrs. Mathews again. Get up and get in the shower, like the past two days the bus will be here at ten-thirty. We have an hour to get ready." Gabrielle said as she pulled her friends covers to the bottom of her bed, "I've already taken my shower so you can get in now. C'mon get up."
Becky got out of bed reluctantly and went into the bathroom for her shower. Gabrielle plugged her straightener into the outlet on the vanity and got dressed while it was heating up. When she was dressed she brushed out her hair then used the straightener to dry her hair and straighten it at the same time. Gabrielle decided to not wear a headband and by the time she was done with her hair Becky was out of the shower and more awake.
"Have I said how much I love that shower?" Becky said as she went to find something to wear.
"You've said it every morning since we got here." Gabrielle said with a laugh as she went to the breakfast cart and put their plates on the table as Becky got dressed.
When Becky was done fusing with her hair they ate, brushed their teeth, and did their make-up. When they were ready to leave they grabbed their purses and once again put the breakfast cart outside their door as they left for the lobby.
They arrived down in the lobby just as the buses pulled up and got right on the bus to the Eifle Tower. The girls once again listened to their music as they took the thirty minute ride to their next tour.
Dr. Lecter awoke at eight-thirty and took a shower. He then proceded to dress in a black suit with a deep red shirt. He then put on his black shoes, black tie and black fedora with the deep red stripe around it. Dr. Lecter then went down to the kitchen and had breakfast. By nine fifteen he was in his black Jag and headed toward the Eifle Tower.
Dr. Lecter parked in a parking lot three blocks away from the Eifle Tower. As he got out of his Jag he checked his watch: quarter of ten. He knew that none of the buses in Paris started making their rounds till ten-thirty, and the closest hotel was at least a half hour away. Today, Dr. Lecter decided, he would only watch Ms. Helfire. He wanted to see how she acted with her friend and classmates.
Dr. Lecter walked toward the Eifle Tower and started thinking up a plan to watch Ms. Helfire without either her or her friend Ms. Perry noticing.
At eleven o'five Gabrielle's bus pulled up to the Eifle Tower. Both Gabrielle and Becky gasped as they got off the bus and looked at the tower. It was a lot bigger than either of them though it would be. Again their group was split up into ten smaller groups, and again Gabrielle and Becky were separated. Gabrielle was tempted to ask to be kept with Becky because she knew Becky was deathly afraid of heights but something inside her said that Becky had to face her fear on her own, so she said nothing and followed her tour guide.
Some of the facts her tour guide told them Gabrielle had already known because they had learned a little about the Eifle tower the week before the trip. They had learned a little about every major place in France the week before the trip. Still Gabrielle soaked up the new information like a sponge. During the tour Gabrielle wondered how Becky was doing up on the tower, but she quickly put it aside knowing she would here it all from Becky when they were done the tour.
The tour took an hour and fifteen minutes. Their momentoes for this tour was a keychain of the Eifle Tower and a keychain of the French flag. Gabrielle looked around for Becky and found her sitting on a bench with her head in her hands. Gabrielle sat down next to Becky and put her arms around her and noticed she was crying slightly.
"My stomach is in knots." Becky said softly, "Do you have any Tums on you Gab?"
"Yeah." Gabrielle said as she opened her purse and pulled out a small bottle, "Here ya go hun."
"Thanks." Becky said as she to the two tablets from Gabrielle hand.
Becky took the tablets then washed it down with half her water bottle she had brought with her. Gabrielle rubbed Becky's back as she put her head bac in her hands.
"Is everything alright miss?" asked Gabrielle's tour guide.
"I think so." Gabrielle replied, "She has and extreme fear of heights which puts her stomach in knots. I gave her some Tums."
"I see,..." said the tour guide as he took his backpack off and opened it, "I have some saltines. That should help aswell...here."
The tour guide handed Gabrielle a small pack of saltines then put his backpack back on.
"Thank you sir." Gabrielle said as she opened the pack.
"You're welcome." said the guide and he turned and left.
"Her hun, they might help a little." Gabrielle said softly as she held out a couple of crackers.
Becky took them with shaky hands and ate them slowly. Dr. Lector watched from a distance as Gabrielle rubbed Becky's back and gave her a couple more crackers when she had finished the first ones. Slowly Becky stomach started to calm down and she was feeling a lot better when she had ate them all.
Gabrielle put the cracker wrapper in the trash that was next to their bench then sat back down next to Becky. Just then Gabrielle's phone went off and was relieved to see it wasn't her father.
"Hello Mrs. Mathews...Yeah we're still at the tower...I'm not sure, I didn't ask. I was helping Becky calm her stomach...Yeah one of the guides gave her some crackers... sure hold on." Gabrielle answered then handed the phone to Becky, "Check-in time."
"Like clock work." Becky joked as she took the phone, "Hi Mrs. Mathews...yes I'm fine now...I'm afriad of heights...umm, my guide said one-thirty like yesterday...alrighty...buh bye."
Becky ended the call then handed Gabrielle's phone back to her. Gabrielle put her phone in her purse then looked back to her friend.
"So, we have an hour till our bus gets here. Do you wanna look around and go in the shops?" Gabrielle asked as she stood up.
"What about Dr. Williamson?" Becky asked jokingly as she stood as well.
"I don't know. He asked where we would be today, so I told him. He never said if he was coming or not, but don't you think that if he was coming he would be here by now." Gabrielle answered completely seriously, "Besides he most likely has to work today. I gave him my number so if he wants to talk to me, he'll call."
"Alright, I guess you're right. But what if he's late?" Becky asked as they started walking.
"I may have only known him for two days, but he doesn't seem like the type that would tolerate anything less the puctuality." Gabrielle said as they looked in the window of the first store.
Dr. Lecter followed them as they walked down the street and was impressed by Gabrielle's profiling skills.
'Yet another thing she has in common with Clarice' - Dr. Lector thought to himself, 'The F-B-I would be proud.'
The Girls went into the first clothing store they came to and looked around. Gabrielle didn't find anything she liked but Becky found a nice skirt and top that she liked. After Becky had made her purchase they left the store and continued walking. As they walked they talked about what they wanted to do while they were in Paris. They entered a jewlery store and came out with a couple of necklaces each.
Gabrielle stopped in front of a shoe store and looked in the window.
"Gab you are one person who doesn't need anymore shoes, c'mon." Becky said as she laughed.
"I know." Gabrielle chuckled, "But look at those ones!"
"Which ones?" Becky asked as she looked through the window.
"The ones with the ryne stones in them." Gabrielle said as she stepped away from the window.
"Oh, you mean the ones priced at five hundred dollars?" Becky chuckled as she stepped away to look at her friend with a 'you gotta be kidding me' look.
"Yeah, they're absolutely gorgeous. If they weren't so expensive they'd be mine." Gabrielle said as they started walking again.
Dr. Lecter looked at the window of the shoe store as he passed and saw the shoes the girls were talking about and saved the image in his new room for Gabrielle. The girls entered another clothing store and looked around. Gabrielle bought a couple of tops she liked and a pair of caprees. Becky bought a shirt that said "kiss me I'm NOT Irish".
When they left the store Gabrielle checked the time on her phone and said, "We should start heading back now Beck, the bus will be here in ten minutes."
"Alright, just give me a minute. I'll be right back." Becky said and she went across the street into yet another clothing store.
"You've gotta be kidding. What's gotten into her?" Gabrielle asked herself allowd while she waited for her friend to return.
A minute later Becky walked out of the store and back across the street.
Becky smile at Gabrielle and said, "Okay, now we can go."
"What did you get?" Gabrielle asked as they started walking back.
Before Becky could answer Gabrielle's phone went off.
"Hello?" Gabrielle answered, "Hi Mrs. Mathews what's up?... Mail for me?...Front desk?...Alright I'll pick it up when we get back to the hotel, thanks...it should be here any minute... ok bye."
"You got mail?" Becky asked.
"Apparently. Wonder what mum sent me." Gabrielle said as she put her phone back in her purse.
"How do you know its from your mom?" Becky asked as the got back up to where the bus had dropped them off.
"She's the only one who knows what hotel we're at, other than my step-dad." Gabrielle said as the bus pulled up, "Talk about perfect timing."
Dr. Lecter watched the girls get on the bus and headed back to his car as it drove away. He was glad to Gabrielle wasn't one of those people that you talk to once or twice and then you can't get rid of them. She wasn't one of those people who thinks everyone revolves around her. She wasn't upset that he hadn't come to talk to her, she wasn't even expecting it.
Dr. Lecter got in his car and pulled out of the parking lot. Instead of going home however, he decided to go back to the Paris Opera House. (also known as the Opera Genier I think) There were a couple of balcony seats calling his name.
When the girls got back to the hotel they went straight to the front desk.
"Hello my name is Gabrielle Helfire my teacher Mrs. Mathews said I had some mail." Gabrielle said when the receptionist looked at her.
"May I have some identification please?" Asked the woman as she held out her hand.
Gabrielle nodded and put her bags down. She quickly grabbed her school ID cardout of her purse and handed it to the woman.
"Very well, hold on a moment." said the woman as she handed Gabrielle's ID back to her.
The receptionist then turned to the man who was standing behind her and said something in French. The man she had spoken to disapeared through the door behind the desk. A minute later he came back carrying a medium size box and a large mailing envelope.
"Holly crap." Gabrielle and Becky said at the same time as the man put both items on the desk.
Becky put all her bags in one hand then said, "Here Gab. Give me your bags so you can take your mail."
"Okay, here." Gabrielle said as she handed her bags to Becky.
Gabrielle then thanked the receptionist and picked up the box and envelope. The girls went up to their room and when they got in Gabrielle put her mail on the table. She then took her bags from Becky and hung up the clothes she had bought and was glad she had asked to keep the hangers. Becky hung up everything except what she had bought last. She put that bag under her bed.
"The box looks like a 'care package'. You know with shampoo and stuff." Becky said as she pulled her container with Tusedays breakfast in it, "Do you want your leftovers for lunch? I'll heat it up for ya."
"Sure, it is lunchtime anyway. Thanks. I'm gonna open the box." Gabrielle said as she pulled her pocket knife out of her purse and cut the tape on the box.
"Shit girl where did you get that!?!" Becky asked when she saw the pocketknife, "And how the hell did you get it on the plane!?!"
"I got it a couple of years ago from my grandfather before he died and I put it in my suitcase's secret pocket. I don't like being in unfamiliar territory without some form of protection." Gabrielle said as she pulled the box open.
"Aparently. Remind me never to piss you off or run into you in a dark alley." Becky joked as she took her left overs out of the microwave and put Gabrielle's in.
"You were right Beck. It is a care package. We now have a three month supply of shampoo, body wash, shaving cream, and shaving razzors. Plus there's also perfume, body lotion, hair spray, nail polish, make-up, and nylons." Gabrielle said as she looked through the box.
"Any note or letter to go with said care package?" Becky asked.
"Yep" Gabrielle said as she pulled a folded piece of paper from the bottom of the box.
It read:
Hey Gabby and Becky,
We thought you could use more bathing supplies than what the hotel probably gave you so here's a three month supply. LOL!
Hope you two are having a great time in Paris and we already can't wait till you get home. Stay safe and have fun!!!
Love,
Your parents.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
"Well that's nice of them. Leave it to our parents to get together and send us this. Perfect timing too 'cause we were running out of body wash." Becky said as she pulled Gabrielle's food out of the microwave and handed it to her.
"Go figure. Thanks Beck..." Gabrielle said as she took a bite then put the container on the table.
Becky put her food down and picked up the box and said, "I'm gonna put this under the vanity so it's out of the way.
"Alright. I'm gonna open the envelope." Gabrielle replied as she picked up the second part of her mail.
Gabrielle opened the envelope and pulled out a two smaller envelopes and a letter.
"Hey this isn't one of those box inside a box, inside a box things is it?" Becky asked jokingly.
"I hope not, 'cause the last box is usaually empty." Gabrielle chuckled as she unfolded the letter.
It read:
Dear Gabrielle,
I know you don't have much spending money with you, so I thought I would send you some more. In the larger envelope half the money there is from me and half of it is from your step-grandparents. In the smaller envelope is some money from your father's wife. She said there was a note in it with an explination. I hope you and Becky are having a great time.
Steve
"They sent you more money? Thats better than the care package." Becky said as she started eating again.
"No, my step-father sent the money. Which probably means my mum knows nothing about it. The return address on the envelope is Steve's work address. I'll have to call and thank him later. Lets see how much he sent me." Gabrielle said as she put down the letter and picked up the thicker envelope.
Gabrielle opened the envelope and pulled out all the money. Her eyes went wide as she counted it all out.
"Well!!! How much?!?!?" Becky asked excitedly.
"Eight hundred!!! Half of it is in twenties and the other half is in tens. Damn! I thought my step-grand parents liked me but I didn't think they liked me this much! I haven't spent that much time with them. Mums gonna flip if she finds out Steve sent me four hundred dollars." Gabrielle said as she put the money back in the envelope.
"How much did your step-mum send? Seems kinda weird she'd be sending you money don't you think?" Becky asked.
"It's no weird if she's trying to get me to talk to my father, she tried that before. Trying to buy my attention is what she does best." Gabrielle said as she opened the second envelope and took out the money, "Six hundred from the wife of my drunk father, wonder what she wants this time."
Gabrielle put the money back in the envelope and pulled out the letter that was with it.
The letter read:
Dear Gabrielle,
I'm sorry we missed your birthday. Your brother wanted to send you a present, but he wanted to give you was too large to ship to you. Two hundred of this money is from your brother, he pulled it out of his own bank account. The other four hundred is from me and your father. I hope your having a good time in France.
With Love,
Karren
"Of course they missed my birthday. They've forgotten it for the past three years. Then they suddenly remember when Jim's birthday comes around because his is five days after mine!" Gabrielle said as she ripped the letter to shreads and threw it away.
Gabrielle then sat at the head of her bed and said, "You know, you'd think that if they wanted me to talk to them so fricken much that they'd remember a date as important as my fricken birthday!!!"
And with that Gabrielle completely broke down. Becky had expected this ever since Gabrielle's father had called. Becky put Gabrielle's money her friend's suit case then climbed up on her bed. Becky wrapped her arms around her best friend trying to comfort her. After an hour or so Gabrielle had fallen asleep. Becky got off the bed carefull not to wake Gabrielle and pulled the spare blanket over her.
Becky then went over to the table and put the cover back on Gabrielle's left overs that she had bairly eaten and put them back in the fridge. Then she pulled the curtains half shut so the light wouldn't wake Gabrielle. Becky went to her own suit case and pulled out a book to read while her best friend slept.
OH!!! Gabrielle is pissed!!! Please review!!!