Then he leans toward me, just as his phone beeps.
I sigh. He mentioned that he’s meeting Max later, but I don’t want him to go yet.
Louis bites his bottom lip. “It’s Max,” he says, checking his phone. “Hmm, maybe I can meet him tonight instead. I’ll call him.”
He takes a few steps away as he begins to talk. I decide to check my own phone. Our group text has blown up with dozens of new messages since this morning. I flick through to the end, and my heart drops to my stomach.
Anyone here at the dorm? Lucy said fifteen minutes ago. We’re walking over to Berthillon now, if you want to join.
I look around, spinning to get a good view of all the people walking by. Louis has disappeared off in the crowded space, and I take a few steps left and right, reassuring myself that everything is fine. ?le Saint-Louis is a pretty small island, but what are the chances that my friends saw Louis and me?
I guess I’m about to find out, because here they are—Lucy, Anouk, Audrey, and a few others from the dorm, each holding an ice cream cone—right on the other side of the street. I consider hiding behind a group, but it’s too late. Lucy’s eyes dart in my direction. She waves at me, tentatively at first, and then, certain it’s really me, her face brightens.
I jog toward the group, away from Louis, who, last I saw, was still on the phone.
“That’s a gorgeous outfit,” Lucy says, studying me head to toe. Then her gaze stops at the paper napkin stamped “Berthillon” in my hand.
“They’re delicious, right? I had the vanilla and salted caramel. So amazing! I could have another one,” I say quickly, not catching my breath.
“Where are your aunts?” Anouk asks, looking around me. I follow her gaze, but Louis is nowhere to be seen.
“I—I just left them. We had an ice cream and then—”
“They disappeared,” Anouk finishes for me, her tone slightly mocking.
“I was actually on my way back to the dorm,” I say.
We all start wandering off in that direction, and I force myself not to glance back. I don’t know what Louis saw, but I can explain to him later.
“So you’re going to tell us where you went today?” Audrey asks.
I frown at her, wondering what her game is. This might be the first personal question she has ever asked me. Usually it’s ballet or bust, as far as she’s concerned.
But now she, Lucy, and Anouk are looking at me, waiting for my answer. “We went to this famous auction house to see a Degas painting.”
Audrey’s eyes narrow, but I hold firm. I’m telling the truth. Ish.
Anouk makes a funny face. “So, you spend your entire week dancing, then, on the weekend, you go look at paintings of other girls dancing?”
“It was my aunt’s idea,” I say. “She thought I would like it. Besides, Audrey was watching ballet videos during breakfast this morning, and nobody found that strange.” I do my best to pull a joking face, thinking that maybe I should give up dance and take drama classes. I’m getting good at this acting thing.
Audrey shrugs. Anouk and Lucy exchange a nod. Checkmate.
Lucy finishes another bite of her ice cream and turns to me, an excited smile on her face. “Did you read all our messages from today?”
“Umm, not yet,” I say, pulling out my phone. I was kind of busy waiting for Louis to kiss me, but of course I don’t add that.
Lucy does a little jump. “We have an amazing idea for tomorrow!”
Anouk laughs. “More dancing!”
“But the fun, no-pressure kind,” Lucy adds.
They take turns giving me a quick summary of the group exchanges. Students from another dorm heard about a nightclub on a houseboat that sails on the Seine. The perfect spot to watch the Bastille Day fireworks.
“Some famous DJ is performing,” Anouk says.
“And we get to go past all the most magical Paris spots and live our best life!” Lucy adds.
And I hate to do it, really I do, but I have to rain on their parade. “We’ll never get into a nightclub.”
“Of course we will,” Anouk says. “My friends do it all the time.”
“They have fake IDs?” I ask, trying to keep any judgment out of my tone. I have nothing against people who skirt rules to do what they want, but I’d probably dissolve in shame if I got caught, so I’ve never tried, well…anything.
Lucy jumps in. “We don’t need fake IDs.”
Anouk nods. “Just walk in with confidence, smile at the bouncer like you’ve known him or her for years, and you’re in.”