Trip of Our Lives

Christiana POV

"Are you coming?" I demanded looking back over Paris.
Liam huffed and puffed up the steps behind me.
"Why exactly are we doing this?" He asked.
I rolled my eyes and continued up the steps my eyes fixed on the white basilica on the top of the hill. It was supposed to be the best view in Paris. I sent a glance back at Liam perspiration crowded his forehead.
"The fun of it." I said with a smile picking up my pace.
I could hear Liam muttering something behind me but I didn't care what.

So far sightseeing had been as much as I imagined. Though not as impressive to a tourist I had my sights set on seeing the real side of Paris. Maybe that was why I was dragging Liam to
Montmartre Hill instead of doing the touristy things with Louis and Brinley like we had before lunch. I had given Louis quite a glare when he'd suggested splitting up.

My camera bounced off my stomach as I walked up the last couple steps. I turned to survey the view. Paris stretched out before me a sea of buildings leading all the way to the Eiffel tower. I wondered briefly if Louis and Brinley made it to the tower before resting my elbows on the railing. I sensed more then saw Liam lean against the railing beside of me. I turned towards him with a slight smile on his face.

“See totally worth it.” I commented.
I saw Liam’s gaze survey the city before him. He shrugged his shoulders but I could see a smile playing on his lips. I don’t know why but on top of that hill I felt finally content, even if I did have Liam with me. I raised the camera to my face focusing through the view finder. I heard the familiar click of the shutter. I felt a slight nudge in my side. I glanced up to see Liam holding his hand out. I tilted my head slightly the camera still in my hands.

“Do you want?” He asked gesturing to the city.
I rolled my eyes and removed the camera from around my neck placing it in his hands.
“Drop it and I’ll kill you.” I said with a slight smirk before turning my back to the railing placing my hands on it.

I could see the draw of concentration in Liam’s eyebrows as he raised the camera to his eyes. I flashed the camera a smile that for once was real. Liam just kept adjusting the knobs on my camera. My smile slightly strained as I waited for him to take the photo.
“Are you going to take it?” I asked through my teeth.
Liam dropped the camera.

“I already did?” His statement sounded more like a question. I rolled my eyes before pushing off the railing and going to stand next to him. I went to grab the camera but Liam held it up above his head.

“Go sit.” He stated pointing to the stairs of the basilica.
Rolling my eyes I obliged him and settled towards the top of the steps. I rested my gaze back towards the city where I could see the faintest streaks of orange starting to settle. Breathing a sigh of contentment I turned towards Liam.

“Why……”
The question died from my lips as I saw the camera again raised to his face.
“Are you taking pictures of me?”
Liam lowered the camera and shrugged. I stood up and walked down the steps to him.
“No more pictures.” I stated grabbing the camera.

Just then an older French gentleman approached us. His face was amused.
“Would the young couple like a picture?” He asked his English thick with his accent.
“We’re not.” I protested the same time Liam handed the man my camera.
“Sure.” He said with a smile leading me back to the railing.
“I thought I told you no more pictures.” I grumbled as Liam placed his arm around my waist.
Liam just chuckled beside me and giving up I gave the camera a smile.

…………

“Can you tell me again why we aren’t on the main roads?” Liam asked resting his hand on my shoulder.
People bustled past on the crowded streets as I observed the stalls and small shops lining the street.
“It’s too expensive to think about buying a new wardrobe in the fashion district.” I stated thumbing through a rack.
“Besides would you find something like this in the fashion district?” I said holding up a tank top adorned with the words ‘I’m with stupid.’

We were out shopping for a new wardrobe. I was still holding out with the hope that my suitcases would show up but I needed clothes in the meantime. The girls had managed to find me something for me to wear this morning but as I suspected several inches of my stomach peeked out from out of my tank top. I don’t think I would ever forget the sight on Liam’s face when I showed up at his room with Brinley that morning. He looked rather uncomfortable for some reason with my tank top and short shorts. His eyes had remained fixedly glued on my face for the first ten minutes. He definitely got over that my mind flashing to the ghostly warm patch that still lingered on my side from his hand.

“How about this?” Liam asked holding up a white shirt stained with red that stated ‘I’m fine.”
I giggled slightly before grabbing Liam’s wrist. His skin was warm under my fingers and I felt my cheeks heat up but quickly turned away pulling him farther down the street. Liam caught up to me and pried my grasp from his wrist. I was surprised however when he laced his fingers with mine. Seeing my glance from our hands to his face Liam shrugged.
“Wouldn’t want to get lost would we?”
…….
The stopping of the subway lurched me out of my thoughts.
“This is our stop.” Liam stated holding the subway map upside down in front of his face.
I pulled the map away from him.
“What are you doing?” I asked with a laughing.

As we stepped off the train Liam tried to explain. I wasn’t listening to his words but instead was taking the moment of fake interest to study his face. His eyebrows were drawn together in concentration as he tried to make all the squiggly lines make sense. His face exuded passion as he talked telling me he really was excited about explaining this. His large pink lips moved at a rapid pace talking quickly.

“So do you get it?” Liam asked startling me.
I probably jumped slightly because Liam gave me a weird look out of the corner of his eyes.
“Were you listening?” He asked sounding slightly hurt.

My blush must have told the whole story. I watched his face fall slightly making me feel guilty. My mind reeled trying to find a solution. I didn’t know why but the look on his face crushed me slightly. Thinking of nothing else to do I linked my arm with his.
“I’m hopeless at directions.” I joked with a smile.

Liam gave me a smile as if he realized I was trying. Arm in arm we made our way up the escalator and into the Paris streets. Liam apparently knowing the way from having studied the map led me through the streets. We walked in comfortable silence each lost in our own thoughts. My mind was dwelling on the sights we’d seen when Liam stopped suddenly. I would have fallen over if he hadn’t steadied me.

“What is it?” I asked quietly.
Liam bit his bottom lip and scratched t the back of his neck. From the shuffling of his feet I could tell he was nervous.
“We’re kind of lost.” He muttered so silently I could barely hear him.
I just gave him a slight smile.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” I asked.
Liam just shrugged his shoulders his cheeks turning slightly pink.

“I got this.” I stated passing Liam all the bags from my arms.
I strode up to the nearest person that looked friendly.
“Excusé moi monsieur.” I said. “Où est l’hôtel de Nice ?”
The man answered back in rapid fire French. I nodded my head my brain translating. I smiled and thanked him before heading back to Liam.

“You speak French?” He asked slightly surprised.
I shrugged taking the bags from him. “I speak a lot of languages.”
We wandered through the streets until we reached the Seine. The walkway by the river was uncharacteristically empty. I felt myself trying to suppress a yawn. The streetlights glinted on the water and my mind flashed through with melody.

“In the rain pavement shines like silver, all the lights are misty in the river, In the darkness the trees are full of starlight, And all I see is his and me forever and forever.” I sang lightly.
I could sense Liam listening beside me.

“And I know it's only in my mind, That I'm talking to myself and not to him, And although I know that he is blind, Still I say there's a way for us. I love him, But when the night is over, He is gone, the river's just a river, Without him the world around me changes, The trees are bare and everywhere, The streets are full of strangers.” I continued before trailing off.
“Sorry.” I apologized looking up towards Liam.
A slight smile played on his lips.
“No need to apologize.”

Still embarrassed I led Liam off the riverfront to the front of the hotel. The columns and large entryway greeted us. Passing out of the night air and into the air conditioning I noted the others gathered in the library. I waved slightly a smile on my face. I saw Louis wave back before gesturing towards my hand. Confused I looked down to find Liam’s fingers still laced in my own. I quickly dropped his hand like a hot coal.

“Someone’s been shopping.” Louis said in way of greeting.
“Yeah mate and using me as a pack pony.” Liam joked from behind me.
“A very cute pack horse wouldn’t you say Chris.” Brinley teased with a wink Louis’ arm wrapped around her shoulders.
Lost for words my mouth gaped like a fish. I heard Liam chuckle from behind me. Gaining my composure I rolled my eyes and slung my arm around Gracie.
“I think it’s time for some girl time.” I stated totally ignoring the question.
………
A knock on the door startled me out of writing in my notebook. Uncrossing my legs from beneath me I slipped off the bed. We had split up for dinner. Anna, Zayn, Louis, Liam and I had opted to head out to the carnival while Gracie, Brinley, Esmie, Harry and Niall had stayed at the hotel restaurant. While the carnival was fun it had worn me out. A large purple elephant rested on my pillow and the clock read midnight. I opened the door a crack the dead bolt chain stopping it.

“Anna is it you?” I asked.
“Nope.” I heard Liam answer. “Anna stole my spot in Zayn and I’s room.”
I closed the door just long enough to undo the dead bolt. Opening the door I saw Liam in sweatpants and no shirt looking rather nervous.

“Do you need somewhere to stay for tonight?” I asked knowing that was probably what he was too nervous to ask.
Liam’s gaze met mine, his deep brown eyes searching mine.
“Are you sure that will be okay?”

I nodded before stepping out of the doorway. Liam walked slowly past me into my hotel room. I closed the door behind him. He stood just in front of me one of his arms clasped over the forearm of the other. It was just then I noticed the tattoos lining his arms. My eyes were also drawn to his well-muscled torso. Feeling my cheeks heat slightly I gave him a slight smile. My eyes trailed to my feet when I felt my cheeks heat up more. My pajamas were the only clothes in my carry on and the tweety birds were probably not the most grown up thing.

“So……” I trailed off.
“So……” Liam echoed.
“Want to watch a movie?” I ended lamely.
Liam shrugged with a smile.
“Sure.”

I jumped onto the bed and made my way to the headboard. I heard a thump and grimaced knowing I’d knocked my notebook off of the bed. I turned to find Liam perusing through it.
“Hey that’s private.” I exclaimed snatching it from his hands.
“What is it?” He asked playing ignorant.
“My journal.” I stated.
“There looked like other things in there what are they?” he asked.

I huffed and fell back onto the headboard. I didn’t know whether to be mad at him or not. I had been journaling for as long as I could write. It helped me to let everything out. Mostly it was full of poems, doodles and mainly songs.
“Songs.” I stated.
Liam sat down next to me his legs tucked underneath him.
“Sing me one.” He stated sounding like a little boy.
“No.” I stated.

Apparently unfazed Liam asked me another question.
“Why do you journal?” He asked.
Annoyed by his questions I snapped at him.
“To tell my story.”
“This trip will provide a lot of interesting ones.” Liam stated.

I nodded my head thinking back to what Anna had told us earlier. I honestly hadn’t been surprised. Although there were several of us had high GPAs some of the girls were not so street smart.
“Your friend should be glad Zayn was there.” He stated.
I shrugged, “She should have been less of a fool.”
I guess my tone came out harsher than I thought because I felt Liam’s gaze fixated on my face.

“That’s a little harsh.” He stated.
“Well it’s true,” I stated turning to face him, “If she thought that some stranger was going to find her in Paris and be prince charming she is a damn fool.”
“Is it a fool to believe in true love?”
“This isn’t an issue of true love. This is an issue of everyone believing life can end up like a fairytale.”
“And you believe it can’t?”
“It would be stupid to believe it could. People hurt other people. That is a fact.”

Liam looked thoughtful. “That’s a sad mentality to believe in don’t you believe in love? That someone will sweep you off your feet and make everything feel right?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“I’ve always kept my heart tied up tight it keeps me from getting hurt.”
“But then you miss out on all the good things.” Liam stated.
“I miss out on all the heartbreak you mean.” I muttered before picking up the remote.

“How about Madagascar?” I suggested.

Notes

so I wasn't the next update but I was bored so here's another chapter :)
Let us know what you think :)
-Abby
(Christiana's outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/paris/set?id=143467288 )

by the way if anyone was curious what Liam was taking a picture of it was this: