The last week of school and work had went fast. I kept my head down, my night's strictly filled with homework.
I didn't go out, I didn't work overtime, I did what I had to do to finish the work from school before leaving for my holiday.
I was looking forward to the trip, but I wasn't looking forward to the reaction I was sure to get from Callum. I hadn't mentioned it to him yet, and I had demanded that Malory didn't say a word to him about it.
Friday went by in a blur. After school, Clora hugged me repetitively, demanding for me to call her everyday and take loads of pictures to show her when I returned. She was just excited as I was, and almost acted as if she was coming along too.
I hadn't stopped thinking about the trip all week, but my excitement faded as I drove to work.
I had taken the afternoon off, but I wanted to tell Callum up front in person before I left tomorrow morning. I'd at least get a night of recovery from the fit he was sure to have.
Things between Callum and I had intensified, but not in a good way, the awkward way. Thankfully, he never pushed the kids that had occurred, and nor did I.
I didn't hover, and I didn't stick around longer than what I needed too, I just did what I had too and moved on.
"Afternoon" Malory greeted as I walked into the warm establishment
"Afternoon" I replied, a smug excited smile playing on my lips.
"Excited I see" She commented as I slowly walked past her
I nodded and made my way to the back of the kitchen.
I felt my palms sweat, my skin shiver.
I could hear Callum's radio playing, but it fell on deaf ears, Callum wasn't there.
I moved out the back door, walking towards the small dark yard.
My heart dropped when I saw his back turned to me, his body perched on the wooden table in the centre of the yard.
Slowly I walked towards him, conscious of the crunch the leaves made beneath my feet. Callum spun around and I was surprised to see him holding between his fingers a cigarette. Throughout the time I had known him, not once had a seen him smoke.
I looked inbetween him and his hand as he noticed
"It helps with stress" He lightly laughed putting out the butt with the tables end, tossing it into the bushes.
"It creates stress, especially on your lungs" I shot back, half smiling as I moved towards him, sitting down on the table, my feet on the seat
He scoffed and stood in front of me, watching, waiting.
I took that as my time to speak and bravely outed the words.
"I came by to let you know that I will be having 2 weeks off" I started, easing the topic up
"2 weeks?" He repeated watching me
"I'm going away, a little holiday" I answered casually, shrugging.
"Where too?" He edged, getting closer to the big argument
I looked at the ground and shoved my hands deeper into my jackets pockets
I sighed, "Paris"
"Paris?" He repeated, his voicing raising a little
"Paris" I confirmed looking up at him
"That's a bit more than a little holiday" He scoffed
"I guess it is" I smiled, suddenly feeling as though it wasn't going to be as bad as I had thought
"Are you going with them?" He continued on specifics
"Who else?" I replied, knowing he was going to become uncomfortable with the fact I was going with Duke and the others
"I should probably tell you its not a good idea and you shouldn't go, but you're just as stubborn as I am, and it really wouldn't do anything to change your mind" He started, taking a seat beside me on the table.
I smiled, knowing that no argument would erupt tonight
"But I'm going to warn you, Paris is a hot spot for rogue Vampires" He continued as I kept my eyes on my feet
"Rogue?" I asked.
"The vampires that don't care about the law, including their own laws. They take one whiff of you and they will know your something special, something, different"
"I've come across other Vampires before, and they had no idea I was different" I shrugged
"Have you?" He asked, not believing me
I thought about it for a moment.
He was right, I hadn't met any Vampires that weren't aware of my condition.
"They'll know as soon as they smell me?" I asked, curious yet frightened
"If they get close enough, yes" He answered, causing me to cringe
"Well, they aren't going to get close enough, I'm going there for a holiday, to relax, sightsee, that's it" I defended
"Are you sure that's the only reason?" He asked, narrowing his gaze, his eyebrows raised
"What other reason would there be?"
He sighed and looked ahead into the distance "You should ask him, ask him what the real reason is"
"Tell me what you think the real reason is"
He shrugged "Ask him Rose"
I was about to beg again when Malory burst out from the back restaurant door "We have hungry customers Cal" She spoke, poking her head out at us.
"I'm on it" He nodded towards her.
He hopped up from the table and began to walk back, turning his head towards me as he reached the door.
"Have a nice trip. Stay safe" He weakly smiled before leaving.
I sat there for a moment and thought about his words. He was casual about it, which leaf me to believe he was being honest about an ulterior motive for the trip.
He wouldn't lie about something like that, not so easily anyways.
I planned on leaving it the way it was for the time being, I was way to excited to question Duke's motives. I was going to ask him about it, just not yet.
I headed back home and ran into Dukes waiting arms, I was ecstatic about tomorrow looking forward to the adventure more so than any other in my life.
Duke was just as eager as I was, and that night he helped me pack.
Duke, Riley and Jaymi had already packed, I was the only one unprepared.
We were sitting upstairs in my 'old' room, boxes still unopened as they sat near the closet.
I packed a suitcase full of clothes while Duke hovered around the room, edging closer to a box where he lifted the lid open
He reached in and pulled something out while I stuffed a few jumpers into my suitcase.
"You look like him" Duke mumbled, snapping my attention towards him. He stood above the box, a crinkled photograph in his hands.
I was sure it was the photo of dad and I, the one I had packed when I'd moved.
"I take that as a compliment" I smiled as I tugged at the zipper to close my packed bag. I then stood, pulling it upwards with me.
"Everything down to the eyes" He continued, moving towards me with the picture still in his hands
"That's what I've been told my whole life"
He walked towards me and folded the photo up along the crease lines, bending over to tuck it into a pocket in my suitcase.
"I think he'd like to visit Paris too" He commented, standing back up, kissing me on the forehead.
I dragged my suitcase from the room as Duke held the door open for me. I pulled it down the stairs, clanking against the carpet.
Riley was standing at the bottom of the stairs, along with Jaymi.
"All set?" Riley asked as he dawdled along beside me. I dumped the suitcase at the front door beside the others and nodded
"Sure am" I smiled as Jaymi grabbed a hold of my arm, linking hers with mine
"I can't wait to take you to all the beautiful places there" She grinned widely "You are going to love it!" She thrilled while Riley laughed behind me, standing beside Duke
"I'm going to love it, I can't wait to see the pretty views and the fancy restaurants" I dreamed
"Tomorrow afternoon I plan on taking you to my favourite cafe. It's beside a huge park and water fountain, it's absolutely stunning" She smiled "A lot of people get engaged there, it's a proposal hot spot"
The rest of the night, Jaymi and I sat in the lounge room, chatting about all the things we planned on doing in Paris.
A few times it crossed my mind to ask her about what Callum had suggested, but I decided not to ruin the trip, only wanting to enjoy the week ahead. It was going to be the best time of my life, and I wasn't going to overshadow that with the thought of a possible hidden motive.
"I've never seen you so excited before" Duke spoke as I lay beside him, daydreaming
"I've never been anywhere besides here in my life. Its my first time travelling, I should be excited" I played with the hem of his shirt, my face sunk into the pillow I was lying on.
He lightly laughed, flicking me on the nose, I swiped his hand away and sighed.
Closing my eyes, I begged darkness to take me, tomorrow couldn't come fast enough.
-
When morning came, I was more excited than I had been the day before.
I practically skipped around the house everywhere I went.
I scoffed down my bacon and eggs, giving myself indigestion, coughing and spluttering, Riley laughing at my expense.
We shot through the morning and before I knew it, it was time to head to the airport.
I clung onto Jaymi's arm as we watched Riley and Duke pile our suitcases into the car. Subtly, I noticed the boys talking to each other as they did so, not sure as to what they were talking about exactly. They looked serious and the idea of secret scheming flew directly to mind. Before I could think too much into it, I forced it away.
I plastered on a smile, taking in Duke's appearance.
He was wearing a light blue v-neck shirt, revealing every muscle through his body. His legs were wrapped around by a pair of black jeans, the ends of them were stuffed into his combat boots.
"Snap out of it Rosalie, your chin will get dirty on the ground" Jaymi spoke, pulling my attention back towards reality. I lightly blushed, looking down at my black vans.
We sat in the car while I impatiently tapped my foot on the floor, watching out the window. My stomach filled with butterflies. I had no idea what to expect from the airport, never the less that plane itself. Everything was new to me, I had turned into a tourist the minute we hit the city.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, the plane we're going on is private" Duke informed me from the front seat, not turning his head in my direction.
"A private plane?" I repeated.
Jaymi and Riley were smiling beside me, amused by my excitement similar to that of a small child on an excursion.
When the time finally came, we pulled up to a small private airport. There was only one plane on the landing strip.
Ours.
It was sleek, polished white with one single red stripe from the top of its nose to the tail.
"Ready?" Jaymi asked, the car pulling up to a stop. I nodded, following them in exit of the vehicle.
While two men loaded our belongings, I entered the place via a set of metal stairs.
Inside, it was cosy and prestige.
It was like a tiny little hotel, clean, tidy and themed with the colours red and vanilla.
I sat by the right window, unafraid of the heights I would see, unbothered by the horror stories Clora had told me that would likely not happen.
Jaymi sat behind me, Riley beside her when I watched Duke disappear for a moment, heading towards the front of the plane.
I arched my head in an attempt to see what was going on, but it was whipped back when I felt two small blows to the back of my seat.
"I'm going to kick your seat all the way to Paris" Riley threatened as he lifted his eyebrows at me aswell as a foot to emphasize the threat.
I narrowed my eyes on him, glaring before looking back out of the window; that was when the plane started up.
I felt insects crawl inside of my internal organs, my nerves of finally taking flight kicking in. Before take off, Duke had joined us, sitting beside me.
"Ready?" He asked, resting a hand on my knee, bringing a flash image to mind of how Callum had done the exact same.
I smiled in return, placing my hand on top of his, sighing as I looked out the window again.
"I sure am" I mumbled.
My eyes were out the window as the plane began to propel forward. Swishing sounds echoed as the blades spun through the air, repetitive as they gained momentum. A few minutes later, the plane had picked up speed, shooting forward on its wheels before lightly lifting into the air. I felt my hand lightly grip on to Duke's, unintentionally out of instinct. Quickly, the ground beneath us grew further and further distant. Duke laughed lightly, as well as Riley behind him. I ignored them both and continued to watch out the window, fluffy clouds rushing past my view.
"You can sleep if you want, we won't be there for a fair few hours" Duke offered as I watched the clouds drift past, wishing I could reach out and touch them, letting them slide in between my fingers like silk.
I shook my head "No way"
I could see Duke smile as he squeezed my fingers gently, settling into his seat with his head leaned back.