𝚕'𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊̀ 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚜 | a.s x fem!oc

• 1 ~ 𝙴𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎́ •

As soon as the train emerged from the tunnel, my jaw dropped completely as I viewed the almost ethereal scene before me. Shifting closer to the window so my nose was meters from grazing the cold glass, I focused on the sunlight spilling over the city before me, dripping the very Eiffel Tower itself in the warmest, honey golden light as the city prepared for nightfall.

"Welcome home, little sister," Lyssa smiled warmly at me from across the table, her face lighting up as I stared, doe-eyed at the golden monument across from me on the other side of the now slightly misted glass of the train window.

"It's even more beautiful than I remember, Lyss! I am truly at a loss for words-" I gasp, holding my palm up to the chilled glass, taking one more look at the tower before turning back to look at my sister as the train pulled into the station.

Steam erupted around the outside of the train as it slowly entered the station, the smoke clouding but dispersing almost immediately after, revealing the moderately busy platform buzzing with swarms of people rushing around. I clutch my book nervously in my lap as my eyes dart anxiously around the train carriage, taking in a deep breath as the train jolts and finally comes to a halt with a loud hissing noise.

''Mesdames et Messieurs, bienvenue à Gare Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel. Merci de voyager avec nous,' the crackly voice of the Conductor echoed through the train, causing each of the passengers to start gathering their belongings and make their way to the carriage exits.

I sat staring blankly in front of me as the nerves took control of my body, completely blocking out anything and everything in my surroundings. I probably would've accidentally remained on the train until I reached the next station if it wasn't for Lyssa who gently gave me a poke on my arm to snap me out of my daze.

"This is our stop, Adi. Christian should be waiting in the car for us outside of the station right about now; we shouldn't keep him waiting..." Lyss said softly whilst shaking my arm a little to get me to start moving.

Saying nothing in response, I sigh and look out of the window onto the busy platform. Scanning the cluster of people, my eyes become fixated onto one person in particular. A man - possibly a little older than me - dressed in smart black trousers, crimson red suspenders and was wearing a black fedora jauntily placed upon his nest of tousled, curly light brown hair as he leant his body on the post of the platform sign. He grasped a creased newspaper in one hand, his other rested casually on the red band of his suspenders, his thumb overlapping the elastic. I notice his gaze sweep through the crowd until for a brief moment, his eyes landed on mine. He stared directly into my hazel eyes, a smirk growing on his lips as his frame loosened a little. His mysterious demeanour intrigued me greatly, a red hot flush spreading across my cheeks as he tipped his fedora a little to me. I noticed him begin to walk towards me, but my attention is rudely snatched back to my big sister, who had seized my novel from my lap.

"If we don't get off of this train now Adira, we'll end up in Versailles. Come on; Father is expecting us," Lyssa complained, holding my book far above her head in an attempt to get me to rise from my seat. I do so in annoyance, plucking my precious novel from her grip. As soon as I safely had the blue leather piece of literature safely back in my hands, I immediately direct my eyes back to the window, frantically searching for the man once more.

Unfortunately to my dismay, he had now mysteriously disappeared as though he was merely a figment of my wild imagination. I let out a small sigh, grasping onto the handle of my suitcase as I turned back to face Lyssa once more, "Let's go, then."

I had hoped to find the man once I stepped off of the train and onto the platform, but once again was disappointed when he was still nowhere to be seen. As Lyssa led me through the busy crowd, acting as though she was a shepherd herding her sheep, my mind seemed to find it amusing to play tricks on me by getting my hopes up every time I spotted a man sporting a black fedora or accessorized with blood red suspenders, only to bring them back down again every time at the moment of looking upon their faces.