Circle Of Lies(Connor Franta)

Chapter 8/ The Lock

I checked my phone, seeing a text from my Mum. It read: hey honeyboo! Hehe I haven't called you that in ages , I can hear you moaning at me for calling you that embarrassing name LOL 😂 <- I just found these emoji things and they are pretty rad as you might say :-)) anyway, having fun in France? hope you are! Text me back! Love you!!❤️😊😊

I mentally cringed at my Mums old nickname for me, and giggled at the thought of her discovering emojis. I texted her back, grabbed my bag and left the hotel room.

The previous evening we went to a French restaurant and it was quite delicious. To be fair I didn't try anything I haven't eaten before. Unlike Connor who ordered the most rare things, it was quite funny seeing his faces as he tried to wolf down the food.

That day we were visiting the lock bridge which I was very excited for. I couldn't wait to make a lock and have a piece of me in France, as silly as it might sound. After that, we were going to The Arc De Triomphe.

I walked into the hotel lobby where excited students were waiting to leave. I saw Connor and he waved to me, I waved back and suddenly felt very self-conscious. I was wearing a floral skirt which made me feel slightly weird because, I had not worn a skirt in ages. I was also wearing a white button up see through shirt, with a black vest underneath and bright turquoise vans.

My hair fell into curls at my shoulders, and my fringe was straightened, covering my eyebrows. Only a small amount of make up covered my face, foundation, lipgloss and a little mascara.

That morning I had found myself making so much more of an effort. Make up felt foreign to me, and I usually just wore jeans and a simple shirt. I had the slightest feeling that it was because of Connor and not just because I was in a new country.

"Morning Skye!" Connor called. We hugged and I inhaled his usual scent of vanilla and honey. "Excited to see the lock bridge?" he asked.

"Yes! I really want to put one on"

"So do I, maybe we can do one together?" he looked hopeful.

"Of course, but I'm picking the lock!"

"Why can't I?"

"Because you'll probably pick a cat shaped one, then everyone in France will mistake me for a cat lady too!" He laughed and put his arm around me. The past few days I had starting noticing things about Connor that I hadn't before. Like his nose, it was perfectly rounded to me.

And his chest, he wasn't massively fit because he didn't tend to do any sports activities. But he did have a slight six pack. I was guessing by feeling through his shirt whenever I hugged him, yes I tried to feel his stomach with my own, it's not that creepy. Even his neck was just-

"Skye"

I nearly jumped. "Er yes?"

"You looked great today" Connor told me and kissed my forehead. I knew the jealous looks I was receiving from others but I really didn't care. In that moment I only saw Connor.

*******

"Okay everyone!" Miss Lelia called. Her chestnut hair bounced as she talked and her voice was like honey, and her tone smooth as silk. Everyone stopped to listen to her. She wasn't strict, but everyone smiled whenever they heard her, she was very kind and caring and unsurprisingly made boys swoon.

"We will be staying here for twenty minutes, and meeting back at the bottom of the bridge" after that, everyone ran in different directions onto the bridge in excited clusters.

"Are you going to put a lock on the bridge?" Dan asked me.

"Yes, me and Connor are" I smiled but noticed I didn't get the same response back. I saw a flash of hurt on his face, but it faded as he showed me a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Oh. Okay. Well, I'm going to look around with Phil" he left, dragging his feet. After he walked away, Phil came up to me.

"Don't worry about him" he smiled softly. I smiled at him as he left and then confusion sunk in. I wondered why Dan looked hurt, but quickly dismissed it when I saw Connor.

As I watched him in his black skinny jeans and white Ramones shirt, I felt warmness and tingles throughout my body. To be honest, I had never really looked at his overall appearance. I had to admit: he is very attractive.

He stood next to me and I could see the corners of his mouth, morphing into a mischievous form and I was suspicious. "Connor, what have you done?" I got my answer as he pulled out a lock-a cat shaped lock. I couldn't help myself from laughing, "You actually got a cat shaped lock! Oh Con..." he grinned and locked my fingers in his.

"Let's go put it on!" I shivered in delight feeling his fingers intwined into mine. His hands were slightly bigger and fit perfectly in mine, as cliche as it might sound, I couldn't help thinking it.

We wrote our names with a black sharpie. It read: Connor + Skylar 15.03.14 and we put it on the bridge.

"You know the tradition" he told me. I nodded and we held the keys together, then threw it into the see watching it sink into the water forever.

We stood back and smiled while looking at the ocean. I interlocked my hand back with his, and stared into his face. After considering it for a second, I reached up a planted a chaste kiss on his lips. I tried to read his face, as felt scared from my brave move.

There was only warmth in his face as he wrapped his arms around my waist, kissing me on the nose. Simple, but sweet. And we stayed with his chin resting on my head for a long time. My fingers stroked his arms and I thought about what I would be doing now if I wasn't with Connor, and how I would be feeling. I knew that I had undoubtedly developed a crush for him, just like I did four years ago.

As I rested in his chest, I turned to look at our lock and gasped. Next to it was it golden lock that read: Robert D + Clarissa S

Newly Engaged

I couldn't make out the date as it was scratched off. "What's wrong Skye?" Connor asked, breaking away from our embrace to look closely at me. "Its him I'm sure it is!" I almost whispered, getting closer to the lock. "What's him Skye?" Connor asked with more curiosity.

I touched the lock, feeling over the engraved words. "It's Uncle Rob! His wife's name was Clarissa, Kaila's Mum. I can't believe it! They came here!" Connor went still and emotionless. "Well I don't know who 'Uncle Rob' is "he said flatly.

His tone surprised me, a minute ago he sounded so soft. "He's been in the newspapers" I told him, while still feeling the lock. "Haven't you seen the article on Robert Downing?" Connor flinched at the name and turned backwards. Wow he was acting weird.

"Oooh I have! I have!" I looked to see Louise standing next to me, looking like she was bursting to tell her news. "He was that millionaire who got murdered! His case ends in a week"

"Case ending?" I asked.

"Yes, after a week, the police aren't investigating it anymore" I nearly fell on the floor in shock. "What? how can they just stop!"

"Cause it's been going on for years" Louise shrugged, looking at a piece of her hair. "Anyway, should dye my pink highlights red now? Ooh what about purple? What do you think Con-" she stopped talking and I realised why. Connor was gone.