It was another crisp morning in Paris when John B. Routledge, Christian Hughes, Clay Jensen, and Jordan Baker woke up in their hotel rooms, excited for a new adventure. The rest of the crew—Sarah Cameron, Dani Ardor, Betty Cooper, Jessica Davis, JJ Maybank, Kiara Carrera, Pope Heyward, and Cleo—were also getting ready for what promised to be a memorable day. After all, they were heading to Reims, where they'd explore the historic Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Reims and a few other sites.
John B. stretched and yawned, looking over at Christian, who was still half-asleep. "You ready for another day of JJ embarrassing us in public?"
Christian grinned sleepily, "Always. But hey, at least we've got Emily, Mindy, and Camille to keep things... somewhat normal."
The group gathered in the hotel lobby, where they met Emily Cooper, Mindy Chen, and Camille, who were bright-eyed and excited to lead the way to Reims. After a quick coffee run, they all piled into their vehicles and set off for the charming city.
Once they arrived in Reims, their first stop was the iconic Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Reims, a towering gothic structure that had been the coronation site of French kings for centuries. The sheer scale of the cathedral left everyone in awe.
"Wow," Sarah said, staring up at the intricate carvings on the façade. "This is... incredible."
"Right? It's even bigger than the Notre Dame in Paris," John B. added, holding Christian's hand as they walked toward the entrance.
As they explored the cathedral, Emily, Camille, and Mindy offered insights about the history of the place. "This is where French kings were crowned for over a thousand years," Emily explained. "It's a symbol of French royal history."
Jessica, fascinated, asked, "So, is this cathedral bigger than Notre Dame in Paris?"
Mindy nodded. "It is! The Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Reims is slightly larger in length and it's equally impressive. It's famous for its beautiful stained-glass windows and its 'Smiling Angel' statue."
At the mention of the Smiling Angel, JJ immediately perked up. "Wait, so there's a smiling angel? Like, is it smiling 'cause it heard one of my jokes?"
The group burst into laughter, and Emily patiently answered, "No, JJ. The Smiling Angel is a famous sculpture from the 13th century. It's a symbol of the hope and peace associated with the cathedral."
JJ wasn't convinced. "Sounds like something I would inspire. Angels love my humor."
After wandering through the cathedral, taking in the towering ceilings and the impressive stained glass, the group moved on to their next stop: Basilique Saint-Remi. The abbey church, steeped in medieval history, had a much more somber and reflective atmosphere.
Clay, staring up at the massive structure, turned to Emily. "What's the significance of this place?"
Emily smiled. "This basilica is dedicated to Saint Remi, the patron saint who baptized Clovis, the first king of the Franks. That's a huge moment in French history because it marked the beginning of France's Catholic history."
"Wow," Kiara said, "so this place is basically where the foundation of French religion started."
Jessica chimed in, "And what is Saint Remi the patron saint of?"
Mindy quickly answered, "Saint Remi is the patron saint of France. He's known for converting the Franks to Christianity."
As the group continued to walk through the basilica, JJ, who was trying to behave, couldn't resist. "So, do you think Saint Remi ever pulled off a miracle with champagne? I mean, this is Reims, right?"
Everyone groaned but couldn't help but laugh at JJ's ridiculous question. Camille, laughing through her exasperation, answered, "JJ, I don't think turning water into champagne is in the Bible."
Next up was Palais du Tau, a former archbishop's palace located near the cathedral. It had served as the residence for kings before their coronations and was now a museum housing royal treasures.
As they explored the palace, John B. marveled at the intricate rooms and historical artifacts. "This place feels like we're walking through a history book," he said to Christian.
Clay, always curious, asked Emily, "So who used to own this palace? Was it royalty?"
Emily explained, "It was originally the residence of the archbishops of Reims. The palace played a major role during the coronation of French kings since the archbishop would conduct the ceremony here."
JJ, always quick to jump in, raised his hand. "So, if I move to France, can I get myself a sweet palace like this? You know, for all my future kingly duties?"
This time, even Camille laughed. "Only if you can get the French government to give it back to you, JJ."
Their next stop was the Pizzeria L'Antica Chanzy—the perfect place for a quick bite before continue diving into sightseeing. The group chatted excitedly over pizza, with JJ causing the usual stir by trying to convince everyone that pineapple belongs on pizza. "Come on, you've got to admit, it's revolutionary," he said, much to Pope's disbelief.
With full bellies and boundless energy, the group continued their tour, their next destination being La Porte de Mars, the ancient Roman arch. Emily, Camille, and Mindy guided them through the ruins, sharing fascinating tidbits about the arch.
"This is one of the last remnants of Roman Reims," Camille explained. "It's about 33 meters long and 13 meters high."
Cleo, ever-curious, asked, "What's the local Roman folklore about this place?"
Mindy answered, "There's a legend about the god Mars blessing the city with strength and resilience, which is why the arch was dedicated to him."
JJ, unable to resist, chimed in. "So, do you think if I rub the arch, I'll get god-like strength?"
The group burst into laughter, and Mindy replied with a chuckle, "Maybe, but please don't try. The French authorities might not appreciate it!"
Next up was Reims City Centre, where the group wandered through the bustling streets. As they walked, Emily shared insights about Reims' importance in French history, especially during World War I.
"This city was crucial during World War I, and many of the buildings had to be rebuilt after the war," Emily said as they strolled through the picturesque streets.
Christian, intrigued, asked, "What's the real history of Reims during the war?"
Mindy replied, "It became a strategic point during both world wars. The Germans occupied Reims for a while, and the city endured heavy bombings."
As they continued walking, JJ, trying to keep things light, asked, "So, if Reims survived all of that, do you think it could survive me?"
Everyone laughed, including Emily, who responded, "I think Reims has seen worse than JJ Maybank."
After a quick stop at Foujita Chapel, a beautiful, small chapel filled with stunning frescoes, the group found themselves marveling at the work of the Japanese artist Tsuguharu Foujita.
Betty, looking at the detailed artwork, asked, "What's the meaning behind these frescoes?"
Camille, always full of knowledge, answered, "The frescoes depict the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary, with a unique blend of Japanese and European styles."
John B., still soaking in the beauty, asked, "Where is Foujita buried?"
Mindy chimed in, "He's actually buried here in Reims."
Of course, JJ had to ask, "So, if Foujita were alive today, do you think he'd paint a fresco of me? Maybe riding a horse or something?"
Everyone cracked up, and Camille replied, "I'm sure Foujita would have found you... inspiring."
Next, they visited the Musée de la Reddition, a museum dedicated to the surrender of Nazi Germany at the end of World War II. The group stood in silence for a moment as they took in the gravity of the history within those walls.
Jessica, looking at the exhibits, asked, "So, what was this building before it became a museum?"
Mindy answered, "This was actually where the German surrender was signed, ending World War II in Europe."
JJ, surprisingly respectful but still managing to be hilarious, asked, "So... does that mean this place is where the Germans basically said, 'Okay, we give up, you win'? Because that's a mood."
The group laughed, and the museum staff announced the closing in ten minutes over the intercom, bringing their time in Reims to an end.
Upon returning to Paris, they made their way to L'Esprit de Gigi for dinner. But as soon as they entered the restaurant, they were met with a shocking sight: Gabriel, the chef, had a black eye and looked as though he'd been in a fight.
Everyone rushed to his side, with Camille immediately grabbing a first aid kit from the kitchen. Betty volunteered to help, applying ice to Gabriel's face.
"What happened?" Sarah asked, horrified.
Gabriel sighed. "It was Alfie... he came in with Topper, Veronica, Cheryl, Bryce, and Layla. They confronted me, and things got heated. Alfie punched me right in front of the customers."
The group listened in disbelief as Gabriel recounted the story. Topper, Veronica, Cheryl, Bryce, Layla, and Alfie had apparently shown up earlier and caused a scene, hurling insults at Gabriel, until Alfie finally lost his temper.
Before they could fully digest the story, the door to the restaurant swung open, and there they were—Topper, Veronica, Cheryl, Bryce, Layla, and Alfie.
They walked in with smug looks on their faces and offered the group a half-hearted, fake apology.
"We're sorry... for treating you like, you know... crap," Layla said with a smirk.
John B. glared. "Cut the bullshit."
Christian stood up, eyes locked on Topper. "You think we believe anything you say? Fuck you, Topper."
Bryce had the audacity to apologize to Jessica about Hannah Baker, but Jessica wasn't having any of it. "I'll never forgive you for what you did," she said coldly, her voice trembling with anger.
The group quickly turned the confrontation into a united front, demanding that Topper, Veronica, Cheryl, Bryce, Layla, and Alfie leave the restaurant. After a few more minutes of tension, the troublemakers were finally kicked out, much to the relief of everyone.
Once the restaurant settled down, Gabriel went back to the kitchen to prepare the group's meal. They spent the evening reflecting on the drama, laughing about how their Paris vacation had taken more dramatic turns than they'd expected.
JJ, in his usual way, grinned and said, "You know, for all the craziness, we've still got one thing going for us: we know how to make a French dinner eventful."
Everyone laughed, and John B. raised his glass. "Here's to surviving Paris with JJ and the rest of this wild crew."
As the night continued, the group bonded over their shared experiences and realized that, no matter how many chaotic moments came their way, they were in it together. And with friends like these, there was never a dull moment—especially with JJ around.
