Chapter 8: Hopelessly Romantic
In a quiet cafe in the heart of Paris a mischievous blonde, a green-eyed artist, a cold yet alluring family heir and stunning foreign brunette, sat around a rectangular wooden table, next to the large floor-to-ceiling window, quietly eating their breakfast. While none of them said much, there was no awkwardness, it was like a understanding silence.
"So Arianna, it's obvious you're not from France, how long have you lived here?" Juliette asked eagerly breaking the silence. While Arianna spoke fluent french, you could still hear that her accent was not from France.
"Oh... umm," she had to think about it, she'd been in Paris so long she almost forgot she wasn't from here. "Just over eleven years, if I remember correctly."
"And where are you from?" Felix asked politely.
"Sydney Australia," she smiled as she placed her knife and fork together in her plate, indicating she was done. "I was 16 when I moved to Paris."
"So why'd you move here at such a young age?" Liam asked sipping his coffee. Arianna knew, he hadn't yet worked out who she was, so why she'd come to Paris yet, so he had no reason of knowing.
"Oh I was offered a job here." She didn't lie completely, this way she could use the excuse of not wanting people to know who her mother was, without seeming deceitful.
"Shall we go for a walk, the Eiffel Tower and the Pont de L'Archevêché bridge are not far from here. Since you came here from work, how much sightseeing have you really done in Paris?" Felix found the opportunity to change the subject, and stir Liam away from asking questions.
"That's a splendid idea." Juliette hooked her arm around Felix's as she smiled excitedly. Juliette was a hopeless romantic and loved the walking the streets of Paris with Felix.
~ ~ ~
Felix pulled Juliette in for kiss, his soft, warm lips met her, causing her to forget everything. Arianna couldn't help but take a photo of them, so in love on the Pont de L'Archevêché bridge.
"While it's always been cheesy, Juliette has loved the idea of the love locks on the bridge." Liam pulled his gaze from the happy couple, to look at the beautiful woman beside him. They were watching them from the across the bridge has both tourist and locals walked and drove between them. "She thinks there's something hopelessly romantic about it." The thought make Arianna giggle, while the pair were too busy flirting with each other, Juliette took a moment to return Arianna's favour, and took a photo of them looking intimately into each other's eyes.
"Who do you think will make the first move?" She snickered to Felix without even looking at him. He didn't respond he was too busy fiddling with a small velvet box hidden in his coat.
Out of the corner of his eye, Liam saw Felix playing with his pocket, to give the couple a little privacy, he started walking, "let's go have a look at the Eiffel Tower." Guiding Arianna away from the couple, she followed him slightly confused. "I think Felix is trying to propose." He leant down and whispered softly into Arianna's ear.
"Where do you think their going?" Juliette pouted sounding disappointed. Felix still didn't reply, his heart was racing faster and faster with every passing second. His beautiful girlfriend looked at him concerned. "Are you okay babe?" It's now or never he thought, taking both her hands into his.
"Juliette Marie Clair, I've loved you since we were children. I've loved your mischievous nature, your wild ideas, your laughter and smile fill me with so much joy, the kind of joy I want to feel for the rest of my life..." he let go of her right hand and full out a red velvet box, before getting down onto one knee. Juliette's mind was racing just moments ago and now was completely blank, tears flowed from her eyes as she realised what was going on. "Will you, Juliette Clair, do me the honour on becoming my wife?" Holding her mouth as tears streamed down her face, all she could do was nod. He placed a white gold and sapphire engagement ring on her left ring finger, before scooping her into his arms and kissing her passionately.
There was a loud applause from the bystanders and by the bank of the Stein river Liam and Arianna watched the couple, Arianna took more photos of their happy moments. Liam was happy for his sister, but couldn't help but think of Chloe in this moment.
"That kind of happiness is every girl's dream." Without registering what she was doing Arianna leant her head on Liam's shoulder smiling, at the couple. "But she's lucky, not everyone gets their happily ever after."
"I suppose so." He smiled down at the girl and rested his head on hers, without even realising it, his thoughts of Chloe had vanished. He thought about what she'd just said and recalled the trace of sadness that lingered in her tone he couldn't help but wonder, 'who broke your heart so badly?'
She wasn't sure when but her and Liam were suddenly leaning on each other, shyly she moved her head to look at him. "Are you okay?" Her voice filled with concern. He snapped out of the trance moving his head and looked at her expressionless like usual.
"Fine." While he wasn't cold her the way he was to others, he still kept her at a distant, this strange feeling he had about her made him uneasy. He felt like she could see right through her, like the facade he put on worked so well for everyone family, friends and everyone else, but this girl he met last night, she could see right through him.
She knew he wasn't, she knew seeing a proposal would strike up feeling after separating from his fiancee. But what could she do?
"Come on." She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the Eiffel tower.
"Where are we going?" He asked with a slightly hint of surprise in his voice. Her hand was warm in his and sent electricity up his arm that warmed his body.
"The Eiffel Tower, I've never been inside." She smiled brightly, her golden eyes shined with sun's reflection and the slight spring breeze blew through her chestnut tresses, she was like a vision of a goddess, and his heart started racing in a way which it had never had.
He let himself be lead astray, this is dangerous, she is dangerous. If this is how she affects him now, how will how him in a year, in two, in ten? Why he did think she'd still be in his life in ten years? And why did it hurt to think that she wouldn't?
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