Chapter 3: The Third String
Paris, France
7/07/2016
Thursday, 11: 13
There is something about rainstorms in the summer. The quick drops that fall from the grey sky made Nett always feel at peace. She never understood why. Most of her friends were annoyed whenever the rain started to pore. They would say that it ruined the fun, or at that moment they could be on some beach or pool and relax. Yet she couldn't imagine a better way to let out just take all in and think.
"You do realize that looking through the window won't make him reappear?" said Stell Blanchet, while taking up her teacup and bringing it to her lips.
Her dirty blonde hair was styled in a neat bun, making her delicate features stand out even more. When you look at Stell you couldn't help to wonder if she was a model. From stunning chocolate brown eyes, porcelain clear skin to a petite frame, Stell had it all, yet the girl wouldn't even stand in the same direction as her camera. She did love the attention, but just not that kind. Estella was a ballerina, training to be in the Royal Ballet. They met by accident in a bookshop four weeks ago and immediately clicked. Both bonded over the book Fahrenheit 451, and the conversation went on. Stell reminded her of Nett's old friends, like a combination of Ruben and Callia, determined and free-spirited.
Both girls decided to go out in the city when the storm started. Stell spotted a little cafe called Ild, hidden between two large grey buildings. It looked like something out of a hipster magazine, like a cliche. They both said perfect and went in.
Nett rolled her eyes at her, " I wasn't even thinking about him." Which wasn't actually a lie. Her thoughts have only been partly clouded by Yanis. She really tried not to think about him. It was quite moronic to not be able to stop thinking about a stranger she only met once. Nett replayed their time spent that day more than twenty times, regretting not giving him her number or at least uh Instagram username. At the time tho she wanted to play hard to get. Callia used to say it is how guys stay interested. However she did forget one crucial rule and that is if you do not hear from a guy in three days you're out, then again he has no way of contacting her. Nett deleted her Facebook profile the second she came home after Alex's party and it didn't help that her username on Instagram was @croixjr.
Like what was she thinking at the time?
"You know it is bad to lie to yourself, right, Rouge?" Stell put the teacup back on the shiny wooden table and took the newspaper that was placed on it. Flipping through the paper, Stell didn't even look at the news tabloids. Marinette knew she was searching for the Sudoku section like every time they sat down somewhere and spot the papers. It was basically her instinct to reach for them. Kind of like a kink of hers.
"I'm not lying."
"Aha. How about you try that again but more believable now?" her eyes still glued on the game. In the back, you could hear a soft song playing. Its beat complimenting the rain as it poured down on the streets.
Nett took a piece of her cheesecake, " I'm serious Stell."
Her dark eyes shot up, " Nett what did we discuss not even two days ago?" When Nett just shrugged she continued with a sigh," There are two types of girls, the ones who take charge and the ones who are pitiful and wait for their Prince Charmin, who FYI doesn't exist."
"Harsh," commented Nett.
"Honest, honey. I'm honest." Stell wrote the last number on the sheet,"Done. Now you wanna talk about it?"
Nett closed her eyes for a second. She quite enjoyed the fact that they were currently alone in the cafe," What's there to talk about? I had a great day with a total stranger who I will never see again. Case closed."
"Case not closed. You still think about the brown eyes, Adonis. That is the problem here." Stell looked out the window. Her gaze fixed on a dark blue motorcycle, whose body glimmered in the rain. "Shame for the bike. I would literally jump from the Pont des Arts before I'd let such a beauty get soaked."
Nett nodded in agreement, " It really is a pity." taking one more bite of the cheesecake," Fine, so I do think about him occasionally. Occasionally. " she said pointing the word out.
"I'll bite. We'll see you in a few days. If you aren't over him or at least found him, I'm throwing you from the Pont des Arts." mocked Stell.
Nett rolled her eyes," I will jump willingly if it makes you feel any better."
"Not really. Now less thinking about Adonis and tell me how you can drink that?"
"My coffee?" she raised a thin eyebrow.
"Yes. It is black coffee with a shot of espresso. Who drinks that on their free will?" she crunched her button nose in disgust.
"Okay, new game. There are two types of people. The ones who drink real coffee with its bitterness and rich aroma, and the ones who drink skinny tall fancy named lattes whose name normally have nothing to do with the taste."
Stell laugh chimed through the cafe, " Yeah well I have nothing against being one of those people who actually like what they drink."
"Whatever makes your pointed shoe spin."
"Nice try. Still gotta work on the line tho." she offered.
They both continued their playful talk, while the cafe started to get drown in an aromatic sweet smell. It was delicate yet powerful all at once. Juicy peaches with raspberries and a hint of vanilla. Nett was about to turn to see where it was coming from when all of a sudden a rough voice starlet her, "Puis-je vous offrir quelque chose, mademoiselle ? Pêche Melba peut-être ?"
❀
New Orleans, USA
04/09/2017
Monday 12:05 pm
One thing Marinette could never get used to is the feeling of peoples eyes on her. She always felt frantic whenever she was the center of attention. Trying to blend in with other kids in school today didn't work so well. The freshmen and sophomores didn't even glance at her seeing that they never heard of her, but the juniors and seniors?
As if she was a marshal with glowing neon green skin with an extra set of arms and legs who spits pink snot every few seconds.
Too graphic? Ups.
Not one of them tried to talk to her. It was just whispering chiming through the halls as she passed by. It may have been better if someone had said something to her face to face, but like this, when you knew they were gossiping about you, Nett couldn't help but feel insecure. This was sophomore year all over again. Though she, unlike her younger version, decided to walk a little straighter. Her head held a little higher with a little smirk playing on her cherry red lips. Chanel Rouge Allure was on, and as Yanis told her a thousand times if she alone didn't feel confident enough, let the lipstick do its talking.
So she did.
It took her a whole year to feel better about herself, and she was determined to show everyone the changes.
Yeah.
That won't be so hard, will it?
Nett couldn't be more wrong. As she was walking down the hall to her AP French class a group of familiar-looking seniors was standing at the door. Tall and regal they were watching her, specifically a brown-haired girl and a dark-eyed boy.
The Preps.
All the members were present, with Paris Nightengale and Alex Vyhovsky, leaning their back at the wall next to the door she needed to enter, astonishment in their eyes as she was approaching them.
They must have heard till now that she was back, it wasn't possible they hadn't. It wasn't an ego drive, that she was that important for them to hear, it was just that the school was simply small. It was a private academy where the only exciting thing is the pranks the Preps sometimes pull on the Principal or the school teachers. Lake was usually the main brain behind all of it, to Nett's surprise he just gave her a toothy smile, while Sebastian wore a devilish smirk. Nett felt someone glaring at her, beside Paris shooting daggers at her. On Paris's left side, standing there was her diddley best friend who normally never left her side.
Liv Schuciri was giving her the death stare.
It did occur to her that being friends with Paris made her automatically hate her, but it was still bizarre. The only time she did talk to Liv was during advanced Physics and then she was nice to her. They both were on the honor roll. In a year one and two, Liv was on the third place and Nett on the fourth. The second place went to Rue and the first? Who knows for the two years she was present the first one to have the higher score at the school was unknown. Apparently whoever got the highest score at the yearly held External final wanted to stay mum about it. Not wanting to brag or not wanting to be labeled as a nerd. Who knows.
'Head held high, Marinette. Head held high,' she reminded herself over and over again. ' Do not, I repeat not look at the floor.'
In two seconds she was in the classroom where the safe zone was. For all she knew, Nett could have just waltzed into the classroom without a word form the Preps, in some universe maybe. What she didn't encounter was the fact that both Rue and her bea would be there standing with them. Which meant in one, two, three...
"Nett! We have another class together!", said Ruben all cheerfully. And there it was as if on cue, all of them directed their attention to her.
Awesome. Just awesome. Note the sarcasm in her thoughts.
"Yeah. All of my classes were always AP. You knew that." she stated."Not really a surprise."
Liv shot her a weird look, " You were gone for a whole year in a school that has a different program than us. I hoped you'd be in an average class you know? For your own good." she smiled sweetly.
Nett nodded, giving them a tight smile, "That is so nice of you, but no worry I tested for all of the classes while I was in Paris. All 100%, besides Chemistry I got a 99,9%."
"Bragging much?" said Paris finally while raising a brown eyebrow.
Nett just shrugged," Nope! Just making sure Liv doesn't get lazy. I already passed you for junior year results."
For a second Nett felt bad for Liv. She didn't have a bone to pick with her, but when life gives you lemons. Well, you throw them at the first idiot who tries to insult your intelligence.
"Whaa-t. How is that possible. No, you weren't here the whole time. How is that fair?!"
Marinette started to enter the classroom," Hey, they needed to see if I was for how did you say? Ahhh. Average class. Apparently, I'm not."
"You can't talk to her like that. Right, Ruby?" said Paris.
The nickname made Nett mentally cringe. She passed her not even giving Paris a second glance, " I think you are the last person in this school who has the right to tell me that." Now the only thing standing between her and her seat by the window was nonother than Alex Vyhovsky. She stared at him, he was more handsome than she remembered, maybe even hotter than Yanis. Keyword, maybe. "Move." At this point, there was no nice to play. It was past twelve and she was tired and ready to tell the world to go f itself and take a nap.
"Delacroix got feisty!" chanted Lake, making Nett roll her eyes.
"I find the new attitude hot, don't you agree Alex?" added Sebastian.
If he found it hot or not, Nett didn't want to know because she had enough for today, " Le pousser dans le cul, Perez ." They went quiet for a second. Looking at her with confusion in their eyes,
" What? Aren't you guys supposed to be AP French? Hmmm. Maybe you are just not cut for this class. Wouldn't you agree, Liv? The average one seems like a better option."
With a last smirk, she shoved past Alex and quickly took her seat next to the window that had a view of the courtyard. Counting the minutes so she could finally go home and really look at the pictures she developed this morning between her free periods.
❀
Paris, France
7/07/2016
Thursday, 11: 13
Her heart inflated with a painful sort of jubilation.
His posture was so familiar that it felt like some kind of recurring dream. He was close, just a few centimeters from Stell and her. The atmosphere in the cafe was clouded with bittersweet coffee and the scent of Peach Melba.
"Yanis?"
For a moment he looked astonished. Like he couldn't believe she was actually here, looking at him with glee in her eyes. Or was she just imagining it? At the time it didn't matter. He was here.
"Ah. Mademoiselle Nett. What a pleasure seeing you again," he said giving her a thousand watt smile.
From her side view, she could see Stell beaming with an amusing look in her dark eyes while she was looking back and forth between them.
Estella knew right then and there why her newly found friend went bananas for this guy. He was definitely good looking. From a tall and muscular build to a perfect pearl smile that complimented his dark eyes. She definitely approved. Well based on his looks. But she couldn't help to feel like she knew him. From somewhere, or did he just had one of those faces? Stell just couldn't put a finger on it.
Nett smiled kindly, "Oui. It is nice to see you too." She didn't expect to feel her gut shoot up her throat and then drop back down. "Sooo. You work here?" she asked.
'Obviously, you idiot. If he is standing in a waiters apron and walked around with a dessert.'
Yanis chuckled, " That is a no. I'm helping an ami out. I told you, finding out where I work won't be that easy," he teased.
"What can I say? A little curiosity never killed anyone."
"It did, the cat," he shot back.
"Yeah, but the cat has nine lives," she said in a duh tone.
"Touché," his smile never left his face. To Estella, it was obvious that he had some kind of hots for her. There was no denying it, his look that he was giving her, gave him away. Being with them both in a room made the air in it tense, awkward seeing that neither parties acknowledge her, but tense in a way that you wanted it to be. Movie-like tense, no book like tense. It was simply too uncomfortable to watch. It gave Stell something to tease even more her friend. That will definitely be fun.
"So do you guys come here often?" he continued.
Nett shook her head," Not really. We just spotted it when the rain started to pour."
"Ah. Shelter. Understandable. So can I offer you anything else? A refill of coffee? More dessert?"
"Peach Melba?" She said smilingly.
His laugh chimed through the air, " On its way!"
❀
New Orleans, USA
04/09/2017
Monday 1:02 pm
It was finally done, the first day of school is over. French class was, easily said boring. Marinette was fluent meaning that even though this was AP French, it wasn't challenging enough. For her, it was just like basic English so she spent forty-five minutes doodling in her notebook and debating whether or not to go back to the darkroom for her photos. She had a few minutes to spare before Nett had to do is pick up her brother from school and she was on her way home. Her cozy white sheets and Yanis on facetime awaited her. It was only a seven-hour time difference so they could normally communicate if she was on time.
As she was about to exit the classroom her teacher Miss Zander asked her for a second of her time. Nett rolled her eyes, why does every teacher have the need to pause her today.
"Oui, Madame Zander ? Que puis-je pour vous ? " she asked.
One thing that Marinette learned was that every language teacher likes to be answered in the language they teach. She knew that Miss Zander will answer her back on English, but it was like a way to brag about her ability.
" I was just wondering, would you like to take the assignment of being a tutor when needed this year?"
She probably looked hesitant which was the reason Miss Zander added," It would look amazing for your college application. You can never have enough credits, Mademoiselle Delacroix."
"Fine. Thank you for the offer," hoping that no one will need a tutor at least for the first semester." Salut," she said trying to escape.
"Ahem.Mademoiselle Delacroix. Salut?"
'God, give me a break,' she thought.
"Pardonezz-moi, madame. Au revoir."
"Très bien. Au revoir. Girl."
Shaking her head Nett slung her backpack over her shoulder. The bag gaped open without her even noticing it. Turning on her heel Marinette started to walk down the corridor scanning the hallway for the blue door of the darkroom. She had ten minutes before she had to get Toby.
"Marinette!"
At first, she hoped she just imagined it, that someone was calling her name. But after the third call, Nett felts someone stopping her at the blue door. Dark eyes met her light ones and for a moment she felt her heart skip a beat. The only thought was to stop it.'Just stop it. We do not want our blood pressure to rise when Alex Vyhovsky touches us.'
Yet, she couldn't help it. She didn't want to admit it but something made her shake to the core when he gave her his signature freckled smile. Even as kids, when he teased her.
"What?"
A good offense is better than a defense.
He looked skeptical, handsome but definitely skeptical, as he didn't know what to say to her or how to say it. For more than a year he thought without stop what he'd say to her if he saw her ever again. How to apologize for something that wasn't his fault at the time, and for something he has done while being a foolish child. Everyone makes mistakes, that is what makes us human. Just like learning from those mistakes and hoping that the person we hurt, even if he or she was collateral damage, forgives us for making a thoughtless inaccuracy.
But then again for the first time in forever, he felt insecure under her steady gaze, with those green orbs staring at him with despise in them.
"Umm. How are you?"
He was kidding, right?
"Oh, you know. Peachy keen. I mean why wouldn't I be and you?" she replied sarcastically while turning the doorknob in her hand.
"Well, I'm-" he didn't get to finish, " You do realize that I wasn't serious? That was my 'nice' way of saying bye to you."
He frowned, " You do realize that that wasn't practically nice, right?"
"You do realize that I don't care?"
"You do realize you should?" he shot back.
"You do realize that this is starting to get annoying?"
"You do realize you started it, Firecracker?"
He had her there, even though it was childish. " Can you just leave? I'm kind of busy." Irritation was easily read from her face, as her expression gave everything away.
Raising his thick eyebrow he said," You do realize it is the first day of school. There is literally nothing to do."
"There you go again with the ' do you realize thing' !"
To the students that were still rooming through the hall, they seemed like a couple bickering around nonsense. Eye-rolling and teasing, the freshmen started to gossip right away about the possibility of the Alex Vyhovsky having a girlfriend, while the senior and junior were eyeing up Marinette.
He gave her a full grin, " Aww, we have a thing now. And it's you do and not do you."
While she was about to wrap her hands around his strong neck in hopes of choking him, Alex was rather enjoying himself as he watched Marinette getting all annoyed.
"You know what? My negatives can wait if it means I won't have to deal with you anymore," she said as Nett turned on her heel giving him a very obvious clinical smile. Making sure she walked across the corridors in long stride to get as fast away from him as she could.
"Come on, Firecracker!"
Except she was out of school already. Wanting to just pick Toby up and be done with it finally. Little did she know that Alex had something of hers, that he hadn't had the time to give back.
❀
Paris, France
7/07/2016
Thursday, 11: 20
Estella couldn't help but wiggle her eyebrows at Nett, as her hot Adonis served them the dessert. To her delight, Marinette turned even a deeper shade of red as Yanis placed the fine porcelain plate in front of her.
The scent alone was divine and Stell could tell that the dessert definitely would disturb her diet. Which is why she will tell the boy to pack it up so she could give it to someone else. Thinking alone about the calories she would intake made her squirm. The combination of the candied peaches with the sauce and ice cream was around 360 calories. The ability to rattle off nutritional information was one of her few talents. Stell couldn't remember a single math formula, but the nutritional breakdown of a Coq au vin? Embedded forever.
A flash of realization hit her that the dessert had too many calories to take for now. Her latte took up all of the intakes till dinner. She could feel the fat from the latte already clogging her pores.
'A workout session the second I comes back to the studio,' she thought.' A double one would be smarter,' remembering the breakfast she had that morning.
It wasn't that she had a problem, she'd tell herself. Besides Stell was as healthy as any other ballerina. She just needed to lose just a few pounds. Perfection is obtainable, would chime in her head, day to day. There was no issue, there couldn't be.
To her dismay, Nett's cute waiter was about to leave and she couldn't endure another four weeks of longing and yapping from her friend," Hey, Adonis! Can you keep Nett some company while I make a phone call?"
For a moment the young man looked confused ass why she would address him in such a way. In all honesty, it was quite entertaining, even more so when her friend groaned knowing exactly that Stell didn't have anyone to call at the moment."Great! You can sit here till I come back."
His eyebrows shoot up, " Madame you do know that I can't just sit there. I work here."
Rolling her eyes she answered," The only people here are us two. As you can see," she gestured to the empty seats in the cafe," it's a slow day."
She was gone in a matter of seconds.
Marinette stared at her with her eyes wide open. Taking a deep breath she turned her attention to Yanis who, for a second, looked like a deer caught in headlights.
"Je suis désolé," she apologized in Stell's name," You don't actually have to sit with me." Diverting her gaze to the window whose glass has been stained from the heavy drops of the rain," You probably have a lot of work to do."
Dark orbs stared at her, making her shift uncomfortably," I'm good for five minutes. As your ami said there is no one here," Swiftly placing himself in the chair.
A fit of giggles left her as her eyes swept across his appearance." What's so funny?"
"You look like a giant compared to the pink chair!"
He grunted something under his breath, "Glad I can make you laugh."
"Well, when you can't crack any jokes.."
"Hey! My jokes are funny!" he defended himself.
"The only one who thinks that is you."
Yanis pounted in a fake hurt way,"Aww did I hurt your feelings," Nett teased.
"As if chérie."
Even though she didn't want to admit it, Yanis calling her chérie made her stomach tie knots in the most bewildering way possible. It could have been explained that she had never experienced a boy looking at her the way he did. Intense. No, it was beyond that and Nett saw that the first time they met.
Heightened?
Impassioned?
God, no. None of them fit the description. She continued to crack her head over and over again, trying to keep up with the way Yanis explained the time he first worked here.
"So that's it? Whenever Lucas has to bail you take over?"
Yanis shrugged," It was always like that if he needs help I'm there. It is like... How do you say? Like a rule between us." he tried to explain.
"Bro code?" Nett offered.
"Yes! Exactly. And I could always use the money. It is honestly made, that's the most important thing." Nett nodded in agreement.
They continued there banter over everything and nothing. Marinette didn't know how long her friend was out making an imaginary phone call, nevertheless, she didn't care, as long as this conversation didn't end. Of course, that didn't last, few minutes latter Stell marched in saying they had to leave, which unfortunately wasn't a lie if they wanted to catch the last bus for the afternoon that day.
Both picked their belongings quickly and taking out the euro bills to pay. To both of their surprise, Yanis refused to take it.
"C'mon. We have to pay." Nett whined while Estella seemed to be just fine with it.
"And I say that it's on me," he didn't budge," Let me be chivalry for once."
At that point Nett let out a long sigh, finally giving up," Fine but I'm gonna return the favor."
For some reason that made his face break in one of his million dollars well euro smiles, " And you will by giving me your phone number."
"Oh."
Marinette felt mortified as her face grew as red as her lipstick while she entered the digits of her number on his black iPhone. Giving it back their fingers brushed for a millisecond and even with a small touch, she felt her stomach knot again.
"Merci chérie. Je te verrai bientôt," he said with a wink.
"Au revoir pour l'instant Yanis."
❀
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