It was just another night in New Orleans.
The fresh breeze blew through the streets, and songs played in the background because of the establishments on Paris Avenue.
Jazz music, bars, and dance clubs are all creating a show of noises. People crowded the brightly lit streets. Some people were going home from work, while some were there to relax with their friends or by themselves.
With all those wondrous noises The Big Easy has to offer every night, this night was a peculiar one.
Buried by the vibrant nightlife were hurried steps, desperate ones. They echoed in the alleys, crossing the farther part of the Avenue.
A dark figure was the source of the sound. It was running desperately, almost trembling and hitting the obstacles in front of it.
Not far from there, a tall, skinny, tanned man was humming a song while calmly walking in the street. His hands were behind him, slightly shaking his head while dancing to the rhythm he was humming.
The man's brown eyes looked up to the night sky through his sizable, round glasses. A smile formed on his face while he was mesmerized by the moon and the shining stars above. It was abruptly interrupted by a figure running in front of him. His whole body collided against it.
The impact pushed his body back, almost falling. Fortunately, his legs were quick enough to hold their weight and get equilibrium. His glasses slipped off his face, but lucky enough not to fall on the ground. It was hanging on the tip of his nose after the impact.
He shook his head a bit, trying to understand what had happened. Then, he heard the figure exclaim in pain on the floor. The figure was a woman with long yellow locks, rosy cheeks, and pale skin.
"Oh my!" The brunette exclaimed while offering his hand to help the lady. "I'm so sorry, my dear. I didn't see you."
The girl looked terrified before looking up. Her body even contracted, pulling her hand closer to her. Her big eyes went to make contact with the brunette's eyes. She sighed in relief as soon as she recognized that she didn't know the man who was willing to help her stand. But at the same time, she stopped for a few seconds, mesmerizing the man.
"That's okay. It was my fault after all." She chuckled, holding his hand to pull herself up.
"Are you okay?" He asked, releasing her hand after she stood up while adjusting his glasses and clothes.
"I'm fine. Thank you for asking. And you?" She adjusted her dress, and then she shyly put a lock of hair behind her ear. Her eyes wanted to mesmerize the man more like she was curious about him.
"I'm fine, okay? No scratches to worry about!" He smiled and put his hands behind him again while studying the girl. "May I ask, why the hurry, dear?" He tilted his head a little while half, closing his eyes and raising one of his eyebrows.
"Oh, that…" She began to giggle nervously. "I-hm- I got scared by—hm-" Her eyes were wandering around to try to make up an excuse. "A cat! Silly me." She put her hand over her cheek in a flustered manner.
"I see…" He smiled suspiciously and then raised his head a little, still studying the woman in front of him. "I believe- I never saw you around here… Are you new in the city, darling?"
"Yes!" She smiled. "I'm just visiting New Orleans for the first time! I want- Will be here for a few months-weeks." She was running over her own words. Then she put her hand over her neck, shyly again. "Let's say I didn't plan it very well… And I needed some fresh air." She giggled.
"Fair enough. I must say, you chose an excellent place to spend your vacations then!" He seemed excited for the girl, now gesturing with his hand. "But it's a bit late for a mademoiselle to be running around the city all alone." He pointed out. "Where are you heading to, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I- Arrived today, so I was looking for a hotel to stay." She placed her hand over her own arm, caressing it.
"I can help you with that. There are a few good hotels on this Avenue that I could recommend to you." He hooked his thumb in his back direction.
"You don't need to worry about it, sir—" She stopped and blinked, giggling. "I don't even know your name."
"Dean Miller." He held out his hand to her. "Pleasure to meet you Ms…"
"Charlotte Magne. But you can call me Charlie." She put her hand over his. The man then kissed her hand in a polite gesture, making her smile.
"I insist on helping you. What gentleman would I be for letting a charming girl like you walking all by herself in the streets?" He placed his hand over her back, gently pushing her forward.
"I- Well, thank you, Mister Miller." She started to walk by his side.
"Dean. you can call me Dean." He remarked while shaking his hand, so she didn't need to call him by his surname.
"But tell me, Charlie. Where are you from?" He led the way to a less dark part of the Avenue. Charlie looked behind her or to the sides every now and then. She truly looked like she was terrified of something.
"From? I am from—" She coughed a bit, trying to think fast. "I'm from Los Angeles!" She smiled nervously, trying to pay attention to the man by her side.
"California, huh?" He made a pause for a second, raising his eyebrow. "Quite far away, I would say." He chuckled and tilted his head. "Any particular reason you decided New Orleans to be your stop?"
"Oh- I heard amazing things about the music, festivities, and food! So I decided it would be good to enjoy a little bit more of myself." She smiled sweetly towards the man.
"You are absolutely right! I'm born and raised in this beautiful city and in my humble and not suspicious opinion… " He gave a small chuckle with his own ironic tone at the 'suspicious' word. "New Orleans is the best choice to enjoy a vacation, even to live here."
Charlie gave a small giggle, now paying attention to the man's features and shiny smile. "I'm glad I chose just right then!"
"Not just right." He raised his finger. "A perfect choice!" He chuckled with her as they were reaching one of the first hotels there. It was big and bright with a European structure. The facade was white and dark red - a very flashy-looking hotel.
"Here we go, dear. The Grand Chateaubriand," He opened the door for her and waited for the girl to enter.
As soon as the blonde entered, her jaw almost dropped. It was so beautiful. Its floor with shiny and decorated tiles, few cylindrical pillars on its edges to sustain the second floor's corridors, all in dark reddish wood with golden details. Her eyes then were granted with an also dark reddish wooden counter with big shelves behind it.
A black woman with short yet very stylish hair was behind the counter. Her pearly whites suddenly appeared just as the man was visible to her vision.
"Dean, my dear friend!" The woman got out, walking to the hall to greet the man. As she got closer, Charlie saw how beautiful the woman was. She was wearing a green dress and high heels. Her lips were red, and she was also short in stature.
"Lorraine!" Dean smiled at the woman and took her hand, giving it a kiss on its back. "It's very nice to see you."
The woman chuckled and gave a light nudge on Dean's arm. "It seems like ages since the last time you came to visit here." She smiled kindly. "What brings you here?" She placed her hands on her waist. "Don't you tell me you'll finally invite me to the dance? You own me this." She closed one eye with a sheepish smile while one of her hands pointed at him.
"Hey, hey. I already paid my debt. We danced last month!" He put his hands behind his back. "Are you trying to lure me to a dance with you again, aren't you, dear?"
Lorraine smiled and laughed, turning her back and calling them with her finger.
"Oh Dean, you know me so well. You know I hate to waste a good dancing partner like you, so I take what I can." Her walk got jazzier as she spoke while going back to behind the counter. "What can I do for you?"
"We will dance again when the opportunity shows up." He smiled at her and lightly placed his hand on Charlie's back to lead her to the counter.
The blonde shyly smiled at the woman that she was fascinated by.
"This lady here is looking for a good hotel to stay for-" He remembered Charlie didn't give an exact time she wanted to spend there. "A while… And of course, I had to recommend your hotel."
"Always so sweet." Lorraine placed her chin over her hand while her elbow was touching the counter. She even sighed at the man before shaking her head and turning to the blonde girl with a gentle smile.
"Hello, miss! I'm Lorraine Theriot, the owner of this hotel! Would you like to know the hotel more before making your decision?"
"No! I already decided. I want to stay here!" Charlie said with a smile putting her hands behind her back and looking around. She looked like a curious and excited child looking at a new toy.
Lorraine looked at Dean and raised her eyebrows. Usually, the guests will always want to see the hotel first. At least know its price before booking in.
"Very well! You are very decided, I can tell." Lorraine pointed to her with a big smile. "Want bedroom suite or a more common –"
"The best you have available!" She smiled at the woman with her big shining eyes.
"Alright! Do you know how long you plan to stay, dear?"
"No, maybe a few weeks or months…" Charlie looked to the floor, thinking and pursing her lips. "I can pay you daily since I don't know how long I will be!"
Lorraine then gave a smile to the blonde and looked at Dean. "Since you are Dean's friend, I can charge you per week."
"Fair enough!" She nodded, all smiling.
Lorraine looked behind the girl trying to find any purse or baggage, but there weren't any there. Charlie followed Lorraine's sight, looking at what was behind her.
"Do you have baggage, dear?"
Charlie turned with a shy smile. "Actually, no- I will pick up my baggage tomorrow… There was a mistake in my train, and they told me I will be able to pick them up tomorrow only."
"Poor thing. You have no clothes to sleep on, then?" Lorraine glanced at Charlie, worried.
"No, but don't worry, I will be fine! In fact-" Charlie's hand went to her dress pocket. She slightly snapped her fingers and took off a few dollar notes, putting them over the counter. "I can pay for today at least!"
Lorraine looked at the money over her counter. She picked up the cash, and there were few notes of $100. That amount could pay for at least a whole month or two in the most expensive room. The woman looked to Dean in confusion.
"Dear, with this amount of money, you could pay for months of your stay." She blinked at Charlie.
"That's okay!" She tilted her head with a gentle and sweet smile.
Lorraine was even more confused, just as Dean, but she quickly fixed her voice with a discreet cough. "Very well, I will provide you a hotel nightgown at least, and we can do your laundry when you desire." The woman smiled at her.
"Now, follow me—" Said the woman as she got one of the keys and left the counter.
"Glad I could help-" Dean smiled and gave a quick tap over the counter. "It's getting late, and I have to go now." He smiled and waved at Lorraine and Charlie. "Have a great stay in this beautiful city!" He turned his back to go to the front door. Charlie stayed still, watching the man leave while waving shyly.
"Shall we go to your room?" Lorraine asked from the stairs after waving to Dean as well.
"Hm… Sure… Just-" Charlie turned to the front door. "Be right back!" The blonde said, running after the man that just exited.
"Dean, wait!" She called the tall man while holding the bottom of her dress to carefully descend the staircase
"Yes, Charlie?" He turned with a confused smile.
"I just wanted to thank you." She stopped by him, looking up with a shy smile.
"No need to thank me, dear. As I said, glad I could help." He gave a short bow.
"Still—" She interrupted. "Thank you. You helped me a lot today." Charlie, in an impulse, threw her arms around the man, giving him a hug.
Dean widened his eyes and pulled up his arms. He wasn't expecting that contact at all…
"Have a good night!" Charlie smiled and released him. "I hope to see you soon!" She then held the bottom of her dress again while running up the stairs to enter the hotel again.
"Good-night?" Dean was confused with the abrupt gesture of the girl and blinked. He then chuckled and shrugged. "What a strange and unusual night." He proceeded to walk his path to his home.
The next day in the morning, Charlie got out of the hotel to 'get her baggage'. In a few hours, she came back with them. Lorraine helped her set up at her room, as Charlie asked. After setting up, Charlie threw herself at her own bed.
She sighed with a smile on her face. All the fear she felt yesterday repeated this morning. But now that she was at the hotel, she was relaxed, happy, and felt a great sense of relief rushing within her body.
There was a small radio by the bedside table. Charlie rolled over her bed and turned it on, trying to tune into a station. When she stopped at one that had a good sound quality, she rolled back to her prior position on the bed. Instrumentals emitted from the radio.
She was tired, but the jazz music was just so… Good… So enthusiastic for her ears that she had to get up to choose her next clothes. She wanted to explore the city, and she needed a shower before heading out on her own little adventure.
While she was opening the drawers, she was dancing. She was also throwing her clothes on the bed so she could choose.
Her feet were dancing to the rhythm as well as her body. It has been a while since she didn't feel alive like that… A long-long time.
She was throwing her clothes on the bed. She turned to face the bed, but she didn't notice her feet got stuck in one of her dresses. It made her fall on her face against the bedsheets. She laughed out loud as if she was a silly teenager.
The song ended, and a voice came out of the radio.
"Hello my dears, this song was "Weary Blues" By Andrew Matthews and performed by Louisiana Five! Now, a little break for the news—"
The more Charlie paid attention to that voice, the more she felt she heard somewhere already… It was very unique, charming—
She closed her eyes to try to remember, and a face came into her thoughts. "Dean?" She tilted her head, opening her eyes and looking at the radio as she was trying to see a face there.
The voice was definitely his. Charlie could even hear it through the little relaxing radio static noises. She quickly went closer to it, listening to what he had to say.
"Now, as we do every Friday, I will read the letters you send to me, my dear listeners."
Charlie's smile got bigger. Did he get and read letters from his listeners? How sweet of him!
" 'Dear Alastor, I might say I love to hear your voice greeting me every morning while I go to work. Thank you so much for always cheering us and entertaining us in New Orleans with the news, information, and your talks. I admire you very much! Signed, Beatriz.' – Well, thank you very much, my dear Beatriz,"
Alastor? But he said his name was Dean…
She waited to see if he was going to correct Beatriz, but he did not. The next letter was to 'Alastor' too… Also the next one, and the next one…
"That was the last letter for today. Now, I say my goodbyes to you, my dears. And I wish you all a delightful weekend. I will be on air again on Monday. And with that, stay tuned…"
"Alastor…?" She blinked at the radio as his voice vanished and a song started playing.
