Fresh Start, New Beginnings

Chapter 20

Ryan's POV

The flight had pretty much drained all of my remaining energy. I can't believe Drew agreed to an interview as soon as we touched down in Paris. I was mardy and seemed to be reflecting my mood on anyone who spoke to me "Ryan" Zach called from behind me.

"What?" The tone in my voice told me I needed sleep and soon.

"That's our bus over there I think" Zach pointed to a Dark Blue shuttle bus. I walked over to it.

"OneRepublic" A tall blonde woman climbed out of the passenger side "Hello my name is Clarice" her accent was thick french "I am your escort while you are in Paris"

Zach took the lead and introduced us all I had no time or patience for this. I just wanted to sleep "Come I will take you to your hotel"

While we were in the bus my mind kept wondering, I just kept thinking about Abigail. Even though we had only been on a few dates she had made a lasting print on my mind, I wanted to call her, but at the same time I didn't want to seem needy.

"Ryan?" Drew's voice interrupted my thoughts "Clarice wants to know if there is anywhere you would like to visit while we are here?" I try to sound polite as possible, it's not Clarice's fault I am this tired.

"Erm, Notre Dame and the Arc De Triumph, maybe?" I suggested, Zach and Brent nod.

"Of course, I might have guessed historic places would be of interest to you" she smiled sweetly. I get the impression maybe she is flirting with me a little, I brush it off and it happens again my mind wanders back to Los Angeles.

We finally arive at the hotel and only just get into the foyer "Welcome to Paris" the woman from the radio is here with her tech team. Zach introduces us all politely, I try not to talk a lot "So Ryan there are some rumours we would like to clear up here in Paris. Is it true you are dating Abigail Jenson-Carter?" The woman pointed a microphone in my face.

"Yeah I am, but it's early days so I'd prefer to keep it private" my reply is cold and snappy, but at this point I really don't care. After a few more questions we are finally free to go to our rooms.

-×-×-

It's late when I finally wake up "Shit" I get up from the couch quickly and look around its 2am, I see a note on the side. It's from the rest of the guys 'We are in the bar, night sleepy' I smiled as I screw up the paper and throw it in the trash bin. I check my phone and see I have a twitter notification, it's a link to a picture.

'Romantic Meal maybe?' Is the heading on the tweet, it's a picture with Abigail and some guy. They seem to be really close. It's at that moment I remember her message 'Lunch with my Mom and an old friend' an old friend, an old boyfriend? I think to myself. My heart sinks as I think about all the possibilities, then I realise I am being stupid. Who the hell am I to have a problem with this? We have only been on a few dates. It's then I remember I have promised Abigail a phone call I dial her number and wait "Hello" her voice echoes in my ear.

"Hey how are you?" I replied.

"Yeah not too bad thanks you?" I don't know what to say "Ryan is something wrong?"

"What? Sorry no" I quickly reply "I just wanted to hear your voice" Wait, What did I just say, oh god...think before speaking next time you idiot...I think to myself.

"Aww that's sweet" she replies much to my relief "It's nice to hear your voice too, so how's Paris?"

"Yeah, I haven't really seen much of it yet" I sit down on the couch and flick through some TV channels "I just got to the hotel and crashed in my room"

"I wish I had" she sounds tired "I drove to my Mom's"

"I thought you were heading home after the airport?" I ask her, her tone of voice changes its very shakey all of a sudden.

"Yeah something came up" Abigail's voice was even more shakey "I was going to crash when I got to my parents but then my Mom suggested lunch and we bumped into Lee at the resturant" Lee, so she was having lunch with a guy.

"I'm meeting him later actually for a few drinks" my heart sinks again, how can she be so open about this "Well him and his wife actually, I haven't seen them in such a long time" he has a wife, my faith is restored. I still have no idea what this means. Why did I get so worked up about this? "How about you? Do you have any plans tonight?" She paused for a second "Oh shit wait what time is it there?"

"Erm" I glance at the clock "2.45am" I tell her.

"Oh wow your like, living in the future right now" she laughs, she seems amused by this "What's the weather like tomorrow?" I can't help but laugh at her silliness.

"It's pretty warm" I sigh "So how long are you staying at your parents?"

"Erm just a few days, Tony thought it would be best if I..." her tone changed again and she cut off before finishing her sentence "I have a break in my schedule and he thought it would be nice if I visited my parents"

Although I didn't know Abi that well I knew her well enough to know she was lying, I didn't say anything though. I figured she would tell me if she wanted me to know "So what do you have planned after you Mom's?"

"Not much really, probably just spend some time at home catching up on my TV. I have about 9 or 10 box sets recorded" I can't help but laugh at Abi's answer.

"That's tragic" I laugh "You are such a geek"

"You cheeky..." she sulks "It's easy to be mean over a phone, Mr Tedder, you should say that to my face next time I see you"

"Fine I will" I chuckle "I doubt you will be a match for me"

"Is that right?" She now has a more playful tone in her voice "We'll see"

"So apart from your tragically geeky plans to binge watch TV, do you have anything else planned. Any tv shows I should be watching, or new tattoos planned?" I have no idea why I said that but I hear her chuckle naughtily "Has anyone ever told you, you have a very naughty laugh"

"Yeah it has been said a few times actually" she replied "And no I haven't got any new tattoos planned, especially not in any more naughty places"

"Hey that tattoo is hot" my mind is taken back to the moment I saw that cheeky little tattoo, a small black rose on the skin over her pubic bone "I still can't believe you didn't find out about it until two days later"

"Yeah well what can I say?" Abigail was obviously flirting with me "I never really look at myself when I get changed"

"You should, you are extremely hot without clothes" Where the hell did that come from? I thought to myself, jesus that was hardly smooth.

"Well I am glad you noticed" she is in a playful mood still. Thank god, that could have easily ended badly. Talking to Abigail causes me too relax, she seems to have a calming effect on me. I just wish there wasn't thousands of miles between us right now.