When All Else Fails

Chapter Two

So there I was, pouring my heart out to a French dude I just met. A day in my life.

"You know you could always stay here." His eyes seemed to sparkle with the light surrounding him.

I sighed. "I can't. New York is the city where things happen. Adventure is always around the corner. It's what I've DREAMED of ever since I was little."

"Well, yeah," he smirked, "but Paris is the city of wonder." He stepped toward the window and pulled back the curtains even more than they already were to reveal the great piece of architecture that was the Eiffel Tower.

I smiled slightly, taking a few steps forward to look out. The breeze blew through my hair slightly as I leaned out, looking over the city. "It's beautiful," I muttered.

"It's also," he swooned, gliding over behind me. He gently wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer. "The city of love," he whispered into my ear, sending chills down my spine.

I closed my eyes for a few seconds, in a daze.

Wait.

My eyes flew open, and I spun around. "What're you DOING?" I cried, shoving him off of me.

"I was just trying to help!" he pleaded.

"You were just trying to flirt with me!" I cried, stumbling to retrieve my bags. "Just... Stop. I can get to New York on my own."

"Mademoiselle, wait!" he cried after me. I spun around, my gaze meeting his. "Just let me explain."

I sighed, resting a hand on my hip. Oh, this better be good. "Explain then."

He swallowed, taking a step forward. He gently took my hand in his and brushed his lips against the top of my palm. As he looked straight into my eyes, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. "J'adore américaine filles."

I raised my eyebrows, shaking my head slightly. "Sébastien. Stop."

"But you're different." He let out a sigh, his hazel eyes bright in the twilight seeping through the many open windows. "As soon as I saw you..." He paused, placing his hand ever so softly on my cheek. He smiled, looking at the ground. "I knew you were different."

I brushed away his hand, flipping my hair over my shoulder. "Is that what you tell all the American girls you pick up in the airport parking lot?"

He smirked, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me closer. "Surprisingly..."

I raised my eyebrows again.

"...no."

I let out a tiny breath of air. "If I'm going to stay here," I started, moving my arm away, "we're gonna have to get to know each other first."

He shrugged, holding out his hands. "Works with me." He stepped toward me, taking the bags from my hands and placing them right where they started. He motioned for me to sit, and I gladly accepted.

"So what do you like to do?" he asked, looking straight at me again.

I pulled a strand of hair back behind my ear and sighed. "J'aime voyager," I smirked, deciding to show off more French. "Non, j'adore voyager."

He smiled, rolling his eyes slightly. "Anything else?"

I shrugged. "I love to write. And take pictures."

He smiled again, seeming to be way too content with himself. "What better place to so either of those things..."

"Don't say it," I warned.

"Than in Paris?"

I let out a sigh. "Don't rub it in."

He patted my knee. "You know I have to."