Hello everyone ! So there is chapter 3. Quickly before you start reading it, I wanna say something about Paris attacks and the world events that happened recently. I am praying for everyone. And I hope one day we will all be equals, and happy. We deserve peace ! I am truly sorry for what happened, and I hope everyone is doing fine !

This chapter is very special to me, I hope you'll like it ! Let me know if you did !

Chapter 3 : One night and one promise.

It was him, Steven. He seemed surprised to see me, maybe because he hadn't recognize me with makeup on. I smile at him and he smiles back.

« I'd never thought I'd see you again » I say.

Caitlyn is starring at me with a smile in the corner of her cheek, and it makes me feel awkward. Then, she looks at Steven, probably waiting for him to answer. I do to. I wait for a couple of seconds which seems to be hours.

He stands up and says « Dear friends may I introduce you Lia, she was on my flight yesterday.» Some of the guys wave at me or smile saying hi.

I recognize one of his friend, the guy who had sex in the plane's toilets but he doesn't seem to care about this situation. None of his friends seem to care.

« Well, this is very sweet but we must go. » Caitlyn finally says, probably feeling as annoyed as I am, by Steven's friends enthusiast. She grabs me by the arm and we walk away.

« Wait, Lia, are you doing something tonight ? » Steven asks.

« No she's free. » says Caitlyn.

I am blushing. Why did she say that ? Maybe I wasn't planing on going out tonight, maybe I don't wanna go out with this guy. I mean I barely know him. And for what I've seen he's very different from the men I usually would go out with. He dares and he doesn't care about anything but himself. May I just add that he called me « sweetheart » without even knowing me.

He smiles, waiting for my answer.

« I'll meet you here at nine is that alright ? » I say, even surprised by my answer.

« It's perfect. » he says. And I even think I caught him blushing ! Oh my god yes, he is blushing !

He puts both of his hands in his pockets and adds « Well I'll see you here, tonight, at nine then. ». « That's right. » I say.

When I'm finally back to the flat I sit down and serve myself a cup of water. Caitlyn sits right in front of me. I know exactly what she is doing. She wants a story, an explanation and she obviously wants details. I've always hoped my mother would act this way with me. But she never had the time, she always had a patient to see or to call. I look at my grandma and I laugh « I know... I know » I whisper. She laughs too. « We'll cook something for diner and you'll tell me about this handsome super model guy we just met in the street. ».

I tell her everything from A to Z. She laughs, smiles and moans to all the different situations I tell her about. Her smile is so bright, it fills me with joy. This is how the beginning of my evening goes.

We eat the salad we cooked. Caitlyn goes in her room and works for a hour or two while I have a shower and spend the rest of the time trying to decide what I'll wear.

My blond hair are wet when I get out of the shower. My curls are resting on my shoulders and on my back as well. My body's rolled up in a white towell. I put a bit of music in my room. A summary vibe goes on and on. I'm claping my hands and slowly dancing while I blow dry my hair and straight them. I put a tiny bit of makeup on.

I open my window and lean toward to look at the Parisian sky. I close my eyes and feel the thin air carressing my face. It smells good, it smells like summer nights. You know what I mean ? It's a great sent, it's warm and thick. You can hear a bit of noise coming from the restaurants. The forks and knives knocking on the plates, people laughing and having deep conversations. The kids are running around, having fun, not caring, just feeling free. The restaurants are also playing some music. The street lights are bright, it's almost making me blind.

Steven's face appears to me and I realize I'll almost be late, and I still haven't choose my outfit. I pick up a short and a flowy white shirt, that I brought from home. I decide not to go crazy.

I quickly grab my handbag and go downstairs. I leave a note for Caitlyn who's busy. I open the door and walk right to the place we are suppose to meet.

It's 9:15 p.m. He's here, sitting on the stairs, his phone in his hands. He's wearing a white shirt. I bet it makes his blue eyes shine brighter. He put it over a jean and is wearing a pair of nike. I whistle at him, he turns his face and smiles when he sees me. « Hey babe you have a phone number ? » He says laughing.

He stands up and steps back when I get closer to him. He looks at me up and down. I feel naked when his eyes run around my body.

« You look beautiful Lia » when I hear those words I have chills all over my body. He seems sincere and he almost convinces me. « You're not too bad either » I say smiling.

We walk through the streets. A family, eating in terrace, stares at us when we pass in front of them but I pretend not to notice. We walk inside a bar, it is very small and dark. There are red spotlights on the walls and posters of different boy bands. The waitresses are wearing tiny dresses.

Steven's friends scream when he comes in and he pretends not to hear. He doesn't leave me a choice and grabs my hand, make me sit between him and another guy. The table is in a circular form. In front of me, there's a girl, she smiles at me.

She's really gorgeous and it wouldn't surprise me if she'd say she's a model ! Later in the evening I'll learn that her name is Camryn. She keeps having fun with the guy next to her, he's tall, has brown hair and brown eyes, his skin is tanned but not as much as Steven's skin. He's wearing a black top and a bright blue skinny jean.

They all talk for a long time, telling about the latest trends, the rumors that are going on inside their group of friends and the crazy things they've lived this passed few weeks. No one seems to notice me and I'm fine with it. Actually I think it's better this way. Sometimes, Steven looks at me. I guess he's just trying to figure out whether I'm bored or whether I'm enjoying my night. I don't even know myself.

I have my chin resting on the palm of my hand. I close my eyes for a minute and breath. My eyes and cheeks are burning, I'm sweating, I feel disgusting. I feel like I don't belong here at that very moment. Those people are cool, their lives are mazing, they have seen so many beautiful things in this world, and it makes me realize that I've been nowhere for so long. I have been missing so much. Life could've offered me so much but I was too obsessed with my weight and with a bet I made with my best friend. I 've been too obsessed by something so stupid, that I've missed half of my teenage life. How pathetic am I ?

I'm thinking of leaving them, pretending I have a curfew when I hear :

« Lia and I are gonna go for a walk. Maybe will meet you guys later » Steven stands up, says goodbye to Camryn and the brown hair man, who looks sad to know we're leaving (or at least they pretend to be!). Then Steven looks at me and his eyes are filled with an emotion but I can't tell which one it is. Whenever he looks at me this way I feel good. It's comfortable. It's that kinda look which makes you feel safe, free and fearless.

We're walking on the sidewalk, La Seine is on our left side. It's a little windy and there's a bit of rain. But it feels great. I have no idea where we are or where we're going. But the fresh air helps me to get rid of this thoughts, of this stress I had earlier.

« You barely said a word tonight » Steven starts.

« Yeah I know. It's just I don't know your friends... and... well, I don't know you... so it's kind of hard for me » I say. But I just don't know anything about the friendship kinda stuff. I can't remember the last time I hanged out with friends. I don't know what's cool or what's not and I'm not the type of girl who tells the best jokes.

« So why did you accept meeting me tonight ? » He asks.

« I don't really know. » I say. « Maybe I wanted to know more about you » I end up saying.

He smiles but doesn't let his teeth appear. « What do you want to know about me Lia ? If you still wanna know more about me ! » he asks.

« I still do wanna know everything about you Steven. » I answer with a tiny smile.

He looks happy about my answer. And this moment is so cliché, I feel like I'm playing in a romantic movie. Well, we're in Paris right ?!

We both sit on a the sidewalk and we look at the lake. I hear him inhale and exhale.

« My name is Steven Roniall, I was born in Manchester, England. I am 23 years old. My dad is a surgerer and my mother is a nurse so I've been raised by doctors my whole life. Well they didn't raise me because they were never home. I have an older sister, she took care of me when I was a kid. She taught me almost everything I know. She made me smoke my first cigarette, made me drink my first glass of whisky. » he stops and laughs remembering his moments with his siter. « And I'm here in France for my holidays, with my friends. I'm planning on having the best summer of my life. » He says.

« That's it ? » I ask.

« Yeah pretty much. What about you? » He asks back.

« There's nothing really happy about the reasons why I end up being with my grandparents for my summer vacation. » I say sarcasticly while looking at him.

« Tell me » he says.

I wish I could tell him everything, but I won't. I'm sure I can trust him, but I just don't feel ready to talk about it. It's like I can't put it into words. It's still so fresh. To me it seems like it was yesterday. I remember Cassie's face and her smell, the way she tried to make me join her in the « inbetween ». She wanted me to kill myself, and I almost did. It was only yesterday I tried to get rid of my eating disorder and stop self-harm. None of the reasons I'm in Paris are joyfull. In fact I've lived a pathetic life untill that week-end. This is the first time I walked into a bar, it was the first time I bought a Chanel dress, the first time I had been walking down Paris's streets. This summer is the summer of the first times. And so far, all I can say is that I like it. I'm feeling like an adventurous. Everytime I do something new my heart beats faster, not because I'm gonna have a mental breakdown but because I'm filled with happiness. This is it. I am happy with me. And there is nothing better than this feeling. Maybe it's not gonna last but that's exactly what makes me wanna keep trying.

« I'll tell you another time » I end up saying.

« What ? You already wanna go home ? » he asks. « NO ! No, no not at all ! » I say.

He looks at me and smiles. It's too dark for me to see his dimples but I guess them. « Good then. Follow me. » he says.

And I do. We walk straight, we turn to the left many times. We're behind a building when he asks me to close my eyes. I burst out laughing and ask why I have to. He does not enjoy my answer and imitate my voice. It makes me mad so I punch him in the shoulder. He fakes to be hurt and It makes me laugh even more. He puts his big and soft hands in front of my eyes, trying to hide the view from me. We walk and he whispers « I just wanna show you what France is about. Lia you seem to be an amazing person but you also seem to have secrets. You're mysterious and I am curious. It's like you're a player and I love the game. You know what I mean ? » he asks. « Yeah » I briefly answer. I can barely focus on hiw words, the only thing I feel is his warm breath on my neck and the fact that our bodies are almost touching. I have never felt this way before. He takes off his hands from my face and tells me to open my eyes. « I want to make a deal with you. ».

Wow ! Oh my god ! This is beautiful. Words can't even describe the beauty of the landscape I have, right in front of my eyes. I see sparksfly, not litteraly but it's coming close. There's the Eiffel Tower and it's lighten up.

« What deal ? » I say remembering his last sentence. He smiles once again, proud because he notices the excitment in my eyes when I discover the Eiffel Tower for the first time.

« We'll spend the rest of the holidays together. » He says.

The sky is covered by grey clouds but the moon, hiding behind them, is shining so bright that it's lighting up the city. I am filled with wonder, I can't look away, it's almost magical !

I feel his eyes on me. I turn my face to the left so that I can look at him. « So what do you say ? » he asks smiling, letting appear his teeth and his dimples this time.

« Deal » I say smiling.

He puts his right hand in his hair and move back his eyes on the Eiffel Tower. « This is exactly what I wanted to hear » he says.