What Happens in Paris

by Jen McConnel

  Riding the glass-encased escalator in one of the hamster tunnels up to the gallery entrance, I looked out at the city with a twinge of longing. Paris really was beautiful, and a part of me wanted to stay and explore more of its nooks and crannies, but I’d already told Sarah I’d pay her back for the train ticket. Besides, I reminded myself, the longer I stay in Paris, the more likely I am to cross paths with Hunter. Despite telling myself that this was the last thing I wanted, I looked around the gallery expectantly when I got off the escalator, wondering if fate would throw us together again.

  His familiar skinny frame was nowhere in sight, so I tried to focus on the artwork surrounding me. I recognized a Warhol, and a few of the other paintings were vaguely familiar from my art history classes, but I was restless. Nothing in the museum really spoke to me, and before I knew I’d made a decision, I found myself outside once more, headed back in the direction of d’Orsay. The rain had stopped temporarily, but halfway to the museum, the skies opened up again, and I was soaked and shivering when I made it to the old train station.

  The guard at the front desk recognized me. “You were here earlier, oui, mademoiselle?”

  I nodded. “That’s right.”

  “You are the one who fainted before Nature.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “The piece you fainted in front of. Nature Unveiling Herself to Science. It is a very evocative piece, is it not?”

  Oh. I hadn’t known the title of the sculpture. I nodded. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Yes, she is.” The guard debated for a minute, and then he leaned over the counter. “You do not need to pay the admission fee today. But please, keep this just between us two.”

  I smiled at him. “Thank you.”

  He waved his hand dismissively. “She is my favorite piece,” he said simply, “and I know how powerful she can be.”

  He thought I’d fainted because of the artwork? I wanted to correct him, to tell him I’d just forgotten to eat, but that seemed rude. Instead, I just smiled and nodded and filed into the museum behind a clump of tourists.

  I avoided that sculpture altogether, and this time, I didn’t allow myself to get mesmerized by the art. I traversed the galleries slowly, but I didn’t spend as much time with any single piece as I’d spent staring at the beautiful sculpture. Everything was amazing, but I was feeling restless. Maybe it really was a good thing that I was leaving Paris.

  On the top of the stairs to the third floor, I stopped, surprised. There wasn’t much art up there, but there was something better; the clock tower of the old train station was still there, the transparent clock face looking down on the city. It was beautiful and unexpected, and I stepped toward the thirty-foot-high clock, pulling my camera out of my bag. A tall man was standing at the clock, looking out at the city below, but he was backlit from the sun, and he had an eerie, ghostly appearance. It was as if I’d stepped back in time, and I snapped a couple of quick shots, capturing the man in the center of the clock. As I was winding the camera for a third shot, he turned around, and I froze.

  It was Hunter.

  Chapter Twenty

  For a minute we just stared at each other, but then he looked away. He started walking toward the stairs, ignoring me. I swallowed. Did I really want to let him walk by me without acknowledging him?

  Taking a deliberate step back, I stood directly in his path. He paused, and looked at me. “What do you want?” His tone was gruff, and I thought back to the way I’d met him at the airport, fighting over a backpack. I almost stepped aside, but something held me in place.

  “I’m glad you’re here. I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

  “I didn’t think you wanted to.”

  “Hunter,” I spoke carefully, choosing my words, “I’m still really glad we met.”

  He looked surprised. “You are?”

  I nodded, and I realized it was true. I was still embarrassed about what had happened last night, but deep down, I was happy Hunter and I had had whatever it was we’d had. I took a deep breath. “Yeah. I hadn’t planned on anything like that happening, but, um, now that it did . . . I’m glad.”

  He stared at me without speaking.

  “I just,” I stumbled over my words and paused. “I just want you to know that it didn’t mean nothing. It meant a lot, even the parts I can’t remember.”

  He nodded cautiously, and his next words surprised me. “It meant something to me, too.”

  For a moment, we stood there, just staring at each other, and then Hunter took a step closer to me. “But I guess this is good-bye, right?”

  I hesitated. “I guess. We should really go our separate ways.”

  “Can I kiss you one more time?”

  I nodded, too stunned to speak. Hunter took another step toward me, and then another. He paused right in front of me, his face inches from mine. He didn’t reach for me, but he leaned forward gently, watching me. I felt myself leaning toward him, and when our lips met this time, I kept my eyes open.

  Hunter did, too.

  The kiss was long and deep, but it was bittersweet. His lips tasted salty, and when he pulled away, I imagined I saw a tear on his cheek. He stepped back and stuck his hands in his pockets. “Good-bye, Camie.”

  I forced a smile. “Bye, Hunter.”

  “Enjoy the rest of your trip.”

  I nodded. “I will. I’m looking forward to Florence, I think. And the coast will be . . . different.” I paused, remembering the harsh words we’d hurled at each other that morning. “You enjoy your trip, too.”

  He exhaled sharply. “I’m wondering if maybe it’s time for me to stop traveling.”

  “Oh.” I didn’t know what to say.

  We stood there staring at each other for another moment, but finally Hunter looked away. I stepped to the side, and he moved around me, headed for the stairs.

  “Thank you,” I whispered, when I thought he was too far away to hear me.

  He stopped, but he didn’t turn around. “Thank you.” Without another word, he disappeared down the museum stairs.

  I listened to his receding footsteps, and then I pulled my eyes away from the stairs. I looked back at the looming clock face, and slowly, I crossed the room until I was standing where Hunter had been when I’d come up the stairs. The river stretched out beneath me, and when I turned my head to the left, I could see the Eiffel Tower. I scanned slowly to the right, and I spotted the spires of Notre Dame. Looking down on Paris, I felt my heart start to crack. I didn’t realize I was crying until a tear landed on my neck, and I wiped my face. God, this trip really hadn’t been anything like I’d imagined.

  I wept and watched the city beneath me, remembering all the places I’d been with Hunter. My tears started to fall harder, and I let myself cry until I was spent. The clouds outside had started to disperse, and a hint of the beautiful sunset was peeking through the hands of the clock when I finally pulled myself together and headed back into the bustling street.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  When I glanced up at the darkening sky, I realized it was a lot later than I’d thought, and I would need to hurry to meet Joelle and Sarah for dinner. Part of me just wanted to give up and fly home, but I didn’t want to leave Sarah in a lurch with my train ticket. Besides, there was no sense in letting the money go to waste. When I got back to the hostel, the girls were already standing in the lobby with their backpacks on.

  “There you are! We were afraid you changed your mind!” Joelle smiled at me.

  “Sorry. I was just trying to see a little bit more of Paris.”

  Sarah looked at me closely. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded, wondering how bad I looked. “Just ready to leave.”

  Joelle smiled. “Then let’s go!”

  “Let me grab my bag. I’ll be right down!” I rushed up the stairs and crammed my clothes back in my backpack. I forced the zipper closed and then headed back to the lobby. “Where to?”

  “There’s lots of food near the train station. Do y
ou have any preferences?”

  I shrugged, following the girls up the cobblestone street, struggling to push thoughts of Hunter out of my mind. “Anything sounds good.”

  “That’s what I like to hear!”

  Sarah handed me a folded sheet of paper. “I printed your ticket for you.”

  “Thank you.” I stuck the ticket in the front pocket of my messenger bag. “I really will pay you back.”

  She smiled. “I know.”

  Sarah and Joelle chatted animatedly on the walk to the train station, but I was half listening, and half lost in my thoughts. When we stopped to eat at a Middle Eastern restaurant, Sarah tapped my shoulder. “You sure you’re okay?”

  Joelle was scouring the menu, but I could tell she was listening. “Yeah,” I said, choosing my words carefully, “I just met someone in Paris, and it’s kind of hard to leave.”

  Sarah gave me a sympathetic smile. “I totally understand.”

  I looked at her, surprised. “You do?”

  “Yup,” Joelle chimed in. “She met this guy in London that she was sure she was in love with.”

  Sarah looked embarrassed. “Who knows what would have happened if I’d stayed?”

  Joelle shook her head. “It was a vacation fling, Sar. Doesn’t mean anything.”

  I stared at the table. “That’s probably true. At least, I don’t think mine meant anything.”

  “Cheer up, you two! There are tons of guys in Italy. Plus, just think of the man candy you might find on the beach!” Joelle took a sip of her water and grinned.

  Sarah and I looked at each other, and even though I’d just met her, it felt like we understood each other perfectly. “I’m not looking for another guy.” We spoke in unison, and Joelle cracked up.

  “Well, then, there’s nothing to stand in the way of our adventure!”

  We ate fast, but when we made it to the train station, they were already boarding our train. Sarah gave Joelle a quick hug, and I was surprised when the brunette threw her arms around me, as well.

  “I can’t wait to meet up with you guys in Italy! Have fun without me.”

  I nodded. “Enjoy the wedding!”

  Joelle made a face, but then she started to smile. “Will do!”

  Sarah and I rushed through the ticket counter and hurried onboard just as a harried-looking conductor was pulling a chain across the door to the train. He shot us a look as we rushed by, but he didn’t stop us, and Sarah checked her ticket and began scanning the numbers on the sleeping berths. After a moment, she led the way to a small compartment halfway down the hall.

  Once we’d dropped our bags, Sarah opened the window shade. “Shoot. I’d hoped we’d get a chance to wave, but it looks like we’re already moving.”

  I flopped onto the seat and closed my eyes. “Good-bye, Paris,” I said, my heart heavy. When I opened my eyes, Sarah was watching me intently.

  “Are you okay?”

  I nodded, desperate to steer the conversation into safe territory. “How’d you and Joelle meet?”

  “Pretty much the same way we met you. We were staying at the same hostel in London, and she asked if I wanted to tag along with her. It’s a lot better than traveling alone.”

  I nodded, grateful she’d invited me to come with her. “Did you get harassed at all before you guys met up?”

  “Oh God, yes. It’s like a woman with a backpack has a neon sign on her chest that says ‘looking for a good time.’ It was really annoying.”

  I felt relieved. “I had a taxi driver in Paris try to convince me to have coffee with him.”

  “That’s nothing. This guy at a food cart in Amsterdam proposed to me.”

  “You’re kidding!”

  Sarah shook her head. “Nope. But don’t worry, it’s gotten a lot easier now that I’m not alone.” She smiled at me. “Safety in numbers and all that; it’s good to know somebody has your back.”

  “It sort of sucks, though, that we can’t do it by ourselves if we want.”

  She shrugged. “We can of course. But I’d rather have company. I hadn’t actually planned to travel around like this, or I would have made a friend come with me.”

  “How’d you end up in Europe, then?”

  “Long story. I was an au pair in London, but,” she paused, “I got fired.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “S’okay. Besides, I met you and Joelle, so now I’m all set.”

  I nodded. “Thanks again for inviting me.”

  “It seemed like you needed to put Paris behind you.”

  “Yeah.” I closed my eyes, picturing the way Hunter had looked when he kissed me for the last time. We were quiet for a while. Finally, Sarah broke the silence.

  “Camie?” Sarah’s voice was tentative, and I looked at her with curiosity.

  “Yeah?”

  “I really think I loved the guy from London.”

  I nodded. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  Sarah hesitated, but then she shook her head.

  “What about you? What’s the story with your guy?”

  I thought about Hunter, and frowned. “It’s complicated.”

  She sighed. “Seems like love always is.”

  I didn’t think I’d spent enough time with Hunter to fall in love with him, but suddenly, I wasn’t so sure. “Yeah. And travel.”

  When the porter came around to turn down the beds, I thought I’d have a hard time sleeping. My mind was still working through everything that had happened with Hunter, and when I closed my eyes, flashes of steamy memories from the other night flickered through my mind. I was remembering more and more about our night, and Hunter was right; it had been special. I wanted to latch onto the fragments of memory, but the motion of the train was soothing, and eventually I dropped off to sleep.

  When I woke up, hazy sunlight was poking through the curtain into the cabin. I sat up and stretched, glancing around the small train compartment. Sarah was curled up against the wall with her back to me, snoring gently. Quietly, I slid the compartment door open and wandered out into the hallway. The windows in the corridor weren’t covered, and I stared in surprise at the rising sun and beautiful fields we were racing past.

  Human-size sunflowers waved at me, field after field of them. The golden sunlight made the flowers look even more yellow, and the whole thing was beautiful. I wished I’d brought my camera out into the hall, but I didn’t want to disturb Sarah, so I just stood there, soaking in the picturesque fields and trying to imprint the image on my brain. I’d never seen anything like it, and I sighed, feeling relaxed for the first time since I’d decided to leave Paris.

  A porter came along the corridor, pushing a little serving cart. “Coffee? Tea?”

  “Coffee would be great.”

  He handed me a Styrofoam cup and gestured to the window. “It’s a beautiful way to wake up, no?”

  I nodded. “Beautiful. When will we get to the coast?”

  The porter laughed. “We’re almost there. Quite a difference from Paris, no?”

  I looked back at the rolling fields of sunflowers and smiled sadly, thinking about everything I’d left behind in Paris.

  “It’s perfect.”

  From: JoJotheGreat

  To: SarahGirl18, CamieLuvsArt222

  Subject: Going to kill my family

  You guys have no idea how crazy things have been. The wedding’s not for another week, but I don’t know how I’ll make it. Mom is driving me up a wall, plus my brother is making me keep a big, juicy secret from my parents, which isn’t making things easier. I really, really wish I were in Nice with you!!!

  Any fun updates from the beach? Are you both tanned models now? Can’t wait to see you girls again, but Italy still feels like it’s ages away. Send me some pics and give me something to fantasize about other than Berlin. (Not that the city’s that bad; it’s actually really cool, but I HATE traveling with my parents.)

  Hugs!!

  Joelle

  Follow Joelle in her next adventure to Ge
rmany in…

  WHAT HAPPENS IN BERLIN

  Jen McConnel

  Keep reading for a sneak peek!

  From: CamieLuvsArt222

  To: JoJotheGreat

  Subject: Life’s a Beach

  Dear Joelle,

  Sorry things are so nuts there! Would it make you feel any better if I told you that you aren’t actually missing much? It’s been cold and rainy, so Sarah and I haven’t spent much time on the beach at all. We did find a cool little place to stay, but I’m seriously starting to get sick of hostels. I’d kill for a kitchen right about now . . . or a little privacy!!

  Sarah says hey, but we both miss you. Let’s hope that the forecast in Italy is better than it’s been in Nice; I’m ready for that summer weather you talked about! When you know your travel plans, shoot us an e-mail and we’ll start heading to the boot. Are we still meeting back up in Florence?

  Keep breathing and just remember: you love your family. Most of the time.

  Hugs,

  Camie <3

  London was a wake-up call.

  I’d never felt so alone and so surrounded at the same time, and not just because of the crowds of tourists and natives; the first hostel I stayed at was coed, and all the other travelers seemed to be with friends. I’m not usually a shy person, but the first night there, I was too jet-lagged to try to talk to anyone, and then the next morning, one of the girls in my dormitory threw a crazy fit, digging through other people’s bags and claiming that someone had stolen her camera.

  I packed up after that and found a new place to stay, and I started to feel a bit more comfortable. Still, traveling alone was a head trip, and I got over my hesitation fast at the second hostel, making sure to talk to the girls sharing the room with me. After that, I realized that I liked hanging out with the strangers I met every day, but I also liked downtime, so I bought a couple of novels from a used book store and read in Kensington Gardens.

  I was really having a blast, traveling my way, and then when I met Sarah and we decided to travel together, things got even better. She was a lot of fun to be with, even with her heartbreak, and I think I let her feel braver. Before we left Amsterdam, she announced that she wanted to get a tattoo, and while I was waiting for her to finish up, I decided to pierce my nose. I never would have considered doing something like that back at home, but this trip made me feel bold and confident, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t second-guess myself.