Generation 3- Chapter 4: Un clou chasse l'autre

Apparently I'm into French proverbs right now....

The plane ride home had been initially dreary but who can stay sad when your sisters give you the window seat and you were upgraded to first class? I'm not saying I felt any less heartbroken, just that I was able to fake it better for my sisters' sakes. As we pulled up to the drive, Dad was waiting at the door for us. He looked a little tired, but good. At least I had one reliable man in my life.

I unpacked my things and started getting ready for bed. I was extremely jet lagged from the long flight. I laid in bed but my mind wouldn't stop. The next morning I awoke, weary from tossing and turning and told my Dad the news...I had made a decision, I was leaving to go to school in Briocheport. They had a new unique learn-and-work medical program there. A change of scenery would do me good. However deep in my heart I knew that if Dad so much as acted upset about it that I would change my mind. The guilt of leaving him and my little sisters was a gnawing beast in my mind. Dad however was extremely agreeable. In fact, while we were gone, instead of wallowing in self-pity as we sort of expected him to, he had gotten in touch with some old friends. One of them, Luna Bitters, lived in Briocheport in a beautiful loft and was leaving to do some travel work in Western and Eastern Bruschettastone for a year or so. She had heard that I was considering going to school in Briocheport and offered her apartment and its amenities to me. All I would have to do is take care of things and pay utilities. I was over the moon!

******

 A few weeks later, I was in Briocheport. I was extremely nervous more than a bit excited. I could literally smell the possibilities in the cities...although they smelled a lot like motor oil and ocean.

The loft was beautiful. I spent several hours just marveling at the view from the balcony and thinking about the fact that across the sea was Chambrie...*Sigh* I just can't believe I....Oh Marg, get over it...we are starting over here!

I was excited to have such a nice place to stay but I wasn't really sure what to do with myself. I didn't really know anyone and I was still a little afraid of the big ole city outside my front door.

Before too long however, my growling stomach was demanding my attention and I couldn't ignore it any longer. I peered into the pantry and then the fridge. Never had I seen anything so clean and devoid of food or sustanence. Crap. I guessed it was time to put on my big girl panties and go to the store.

Despite several wrong turns, I arrived unscathed at the grocery store and bought more than enough food to last myself for the week...at least. (Never go to the grocery store hungry!) When I arrived back at the apartment, I headed upstairs and nearly dropped all of my bags when I ran into my new neighbor.

She apologized profusely, blaming it on coming off of a 24hr rotation at the station house. I must have looked confuzzled because she clarified that she was a firefighter. We exchanged introductions. Turns out her name is Butternut Nut. I couldn't help myself and  giggled a little because she said "I know, I know I don't know what my parents were thinking. I go by Bee though." She invited me to give her a call or pop over and she would show me around town once I got settled in. I must say I was a bit relieved to meet someone nice. I had heard rumors that folks in the city weren't the most sociable but so far I hadn't found that to be the case.

My attempt at cooking in the unfamiliar kitchen bombed horribly and I, starving, gave up the idea of cooking at home and headed to the Sports Pub around the corner for a bite.

I inhaled the food so quickly that the bartender gave me a strange look. I hiccuped and thanked him for the food, looking a bit sheepish. He handed me a drink and muttered "It's on the house" and walked away.

 

I must say I was enjoying the warm, full belly and the drink went quickly to my head. I decided I could play the piano even though the only song I knew what "A Whole New World" from some childhood cartoon movie.

I decided to join some guys for a game of darts and wiped the floor with them. Turns out I'm a natural and they invited me to join them weekly at the pub.

I headed home rather later that I would have liked that evening with my first day at the hospital tomorrow. But I crawled into the awesome bed in my new home and decided that I liked Briocheport so far even though I had a twinge of homesickness when I thought about my family. Maybe this was what I needed to get over the sadness I had been carrying with me since we left Chambrie....

Maybe....

Generation 3- Chapter 3: En tout pays, il y a une lieue de mauvais chemin

Lemon Drop Shadow had arrived in all of his beautiful manly glory minus the car. It was a bit of a junker, but I didn't mind too much.

He had told me we were going on a "surprise" date. We turned and headed into the country side. The conversation remained light and mostly small talk. We finally pulled up to the Chambrie Nectary. It was a beautiful brick building and I marveled at it for a moment before Lemon Drop ushered me inside. I was surprised to see that we weren't the only ones by far interested in the nectar tasting. Lemon Drop casually informed me that I was lucky to be in town at the time that the nectary was having its tri-annual international nectar tasting. What a yummy date!

Lemon Drop was showing me around the sampling room when I saw a familiar face walk through the door.

Apparently Thyme had mysteriously disappeared again and Dew Drop was bored. She seemed non-too-surprised to see us there, having saw a flyer boasting the nectar-tasting. I was surprised and a little anxious to see her there, however, hoping that Lemon Drop wouldn't think that I condoned this interruption by my little sister. Lemon Drop rose to the occasion, greeting Dew Drop and inviting her to join us.
"I'd love to" she said, "As long as I'm not being a third-wheel."

"Non, non mon amie, you and your sister should shop around while I add another onto our reservation for le diner."
As Lemon walked away, Dew Drop whispered in my ear "How's it going sis, is he has nice as he is to look at?"

I couldn't help but giggle and nodded. "Why don't we see if we can find Dad a bottle of nectar while we are here?"

"I was thinking the same thing" she said as she selected one.

"Well I'll just go pay for this beings that cutie patotie French fellow of yours is making his way back over here." Dew Drop said as she walked by.

Lemon Drop and I walked outside to wait for Dew Drop who was standing in a long line of nectar enthusiast so that he and I could have a moment alone.

"I'm sorry that my sister showed up." I said appoligetically to Lemon. He just nodded faintly and smiled. My word, a girl could just loose her self in those eyes...before I knew it he leaned in closer and put his arms around me.

"Margie (it came out Maahrjee) I have been wanting to hold you like zis since ze moment I bumped into you in ze museum. May I kiss you?"

I was a little drunk by the smell of him, I nodded slowly.

His lips were velvet smooth. It was a bit of heaven. I think Dew Drop must have seen us as she walked up because I heard her clear her throat and say "Well I am actually not feeling well...all that nectar you know? I think I'll head back to the hostel. Love you sis!"

I'm not normally the type to kiss and tell so I will just say that there was a lot more ummm...kissing and such that evening and that it was a magical one. As Lemon Drop dropped me off that night (or rather...early morning) my head was swimming. We made a date for the next night and he asked me to meet him in the market place by the street lamp.

Of course Dew Drop was waiting up for me, playing chess, to hear all about me date. I was more than a little unforthcoming with details for my baby sister.

We went to bed and spent the next day, our last day in Chambrie, trying to figure out what Thyme had been up to. I was sad as we walked the city together, I loved it here, but on the other hand I missed home and my father. I also had a big decision to make about school. I was leaning towards Briocheport more and more. I could always come home for the weekends... I was lost in thought and Dew Drop was rambling in my ear when all of a sudden I caught a glimpse of a black beret. I motioned for Dew to hush and peeped around the corner.

Seems I wasn't the only one having a foreign affair...hmm. I talked Dew Drop into turning around and heading back. It was a long plane ride home. Thyme would have plenty of time to explain then. As we arrived back in the square I hugged Dew Drop bye and told her to make sure that all of her things were packed so that we would be ready to leave first thing in the morning. "Yeah, yeah...quit worrying about me and worry about that French hunk of yours". I grinned, I couldn't help it, I had seriously fallen for the guy.

I waited as the sun started to set and the street lamp flickered on. It was a little cool outside and I was regretting not bring a jacket or sweater with me. I checked my watch, where was Lemon? He said he would meet me here at 7, it's 7:30. 

I waited and waited, finally sitting on a park bench for awhile.

Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep on the bench. I woke up freezing. I checked my watch. 9:30. I realized that I had been stood-up. I straightened my dress and hailed a Vespa back to the hostel. I warmed myself up by the fire before pulling out my cell phone.

I dialed Lemon's number, the phone rang and rang. Pick up, pick up please have a damn good excuse for leaving me waiting so long... No answer. I almost hung up but something made me stay on the phone for the answering machine.

An electric shock went through me when I heard a sexy female voice on the maching, "Hallo dahlins' you 'ave reached Lemon Drop and Briochette's leave your messages pour us after ze beep" I hung up the phone. I didn't need an explaination. I was one of THOSE vacationer's that a local had used as a fling. I hung my head and tear welled in my eyes. His girlfriend must have come back home and he couldn't leave or something. I can't believe I fell for him... I headed to my room and crawled into bed. I pretended to be asleep when Dew Drop whispered my name, I couldn't bear to think about it anymore just yet. They'd hear enough on the plan. I cried quietly over my broken heart until I fell asleep.