Chapter Two The Beginning of Something #2
Simone moved in her seat as the pilot’s voice came through the cabin.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be beginning our descent shortly.
Please return your seats to their upright position and fasten your seatbelts.
”Simone blinked slowly, still shaking off sleep.The cabin lights had brightened slightly, and around them a few passengers were already moving in their seats, adjusting blankets and reaching for their seatbelts.Simone looked out the window.
The sky outside had turned pale with early morning light.
Then she looked beside her. Camille was still asleep, the blanket pulled loosely around her shoulders.
She reached over and touched Camille’s arm gently.
“Camille.”Camille moved but didn’t wake up.
Simone leaned a little closer.“Camille,” she whispered again.
This time she woke up.“Mmm?”Simone nodded toward the window.
“We’re starting the descent.”Camille frowned slightly, still waking up.
“Really?”Simone laughed.“Yup, now get up.”Camille sat up.
She looked around the cabin, still adjusting to being awake.
Then she reached down and clicked her seatbelt.
Simone did the same. The plane tilted as it began its slow descent.
Outside the window the clouds stretched endlessly beneath them.
For a while there was nothing but white and soft morning light.Then the plane dipped lower.
The clouds began to thin. Camille leaned toward the window.
“Wait.”Simone looked over. The clouds parted just enough for the city below to begin appearing through the gaps.Buildings.
Roads. The winding shape of the river cutting through it all.
Camille leaned closer to the glass. Simone smiled.The plane continued descending through the clouds, giving them little glimpses of the city before the white mist swallowed it again.
Camille shook her head, still staring.“I can’t believe we’re actually here.
”Simone looked out the window for a moment.
Then back at Camille.“Me neither.”Camille leaned forward, looking out the window like she didn’t want to miss anything.
The plane dipped lower and the clouds began to thin again.This time when the view opened beneath them, the city stretched wide and clear.
Rows of pale buildings. Long streets lined in careful patterns.
The dark ribbon of the Seine winding through it all.
Morning light spread across the city in soft gold.
“It’s huge.”Simone leaned slightly toward the window as well.The plane moved gently to the left, lining up with the runway.
From this height the cars looked like tiny moving dots, bridges crossing the river like threads.
“I don’t think it’s hit me yet.”Simone smiled faintly.
“Give it a minute.”The plane dipped lower.
Now the ground felt much closer. Fields and buildings stretched beneath them as the plane approached the runway.Camille’s hand tightened slightly around the armrest as the plane lowered the final distance.
Simone noticed. Without saying anything at first, she reached over and placed her hand gently over Camille’s.
Camille looked at her.“You okay?” Simone said softly.Camille relaxed a little beneath her hand, letting out a small breath.
“Yeah,” she said quietly. A second later, The wheels hit the runway with a firm thud.
The engines roared briefly as the plane slowed.
Camille laughed softly, shaking her head.
“That part always gets me.”Simone smiled, pulling her hand back as the plane continued rolling down the runway.
Outside the window the ground rushed past before the plane slowed down and turned off the runway.
Rows of other planes sat parked near the terminals while airport vehicles moved around.
Camille leaned back in her seat, still smiling.
“That’s it,” she said. “We’re really here.
”Simone looked over at her. The plane continued moving.
Inside the cabin, passengers were already reaching for their bags.
Camille looked over at Simone.“You always do that.”Simone looked at her.
“Do what?”Camille nodded toward her hand, the one that had just been resting over hers.
“Make sure I’m good.”Simone shrugged a little, like it wasn’t anything special.
“Someone has to.”Camille looked at her for a second, smiling.
Before she could say anything else, the seatbelt sign chimed off.Passengers began standing in the aisle.
Simone stood and reached into the overhead bin, pulling down their carry-on bags.
Camille stretched beside her.“My legs are so tired,” she said.
“Wait until we start walking,” Simone replied.They joined the line of passengers moving toward the front of the plane.
They finally stepped through the plane door and into the jet bridge.Camille looked around as they walked.
The walls of the terminal were lined with signs in French and English.Arrivées.
Correspondances. Sortie.Camille smiled.“Okay,” she said softly.
“Now we’re in another country.”Simone laughed as they followed the signs toward the main terminal.
A few minutes later they stepped into the larger arrivals area.
Camille looked around, taking everything in.
People moved in every direction, rolling suitcases, greeting family, scanning signs.
French and English announcements echoed softly through the terminal.
“Okay,” she said. “First thing we do when we leave this airport.”Simone looked at her.
“Try not to eat a dozen croissants in the first day.”Camille stopped walking and stared at her.
“Girl please,” she said.“I’ll eat a dozen in the first hour.
”Simone laughed.“You’re serious too.”Camille laughed.
“You brought me to Paris. What did you expect?”Simone looked ahead and pointed toward a small café counter built into the side of the terminal.
Glass display cases were filled with pastries, rows of golden croissants, flaky pain au chocolat, and neatly arranged tarts.
The smell of fresh coffee drifted into the walkway.
“Come on,” Simone said, nodding toward it.Camille blinked.
“Simone”Simone was already pulling gently toward the café counter.
They stepped up to the counter, pastries glowing under the warm lights of the display case.
“Really Simone? Camille saidSimone looked at the croissants behind the glass.“Yes.”Then she looked back at Camille.“You want one, right?”Camille raised an eyebrow.“One?”Simone looked at her, amused. Camille shook her head slowly, smiling.“Three.”Simone laughed.“Three?”Camille looked back at the counter.“Yup, three”Simone looked back at the pastries, then at Camille again.“Okay,” she said, smiling.“Three.”She turned to the counter and ordered, her French careful but clear enough for the cashier. A minute later three croissants were slid into a small paper bag.Simone paid and handed the bag to Camille.“Here you go.”Camille didn’t hesitate.She pulled one out, the flaky layers already breaking apart in her fingers.
“You didn’t even pretend to wait,” Simone said.Camille took a bite.
For a second, she just stood there chewing.
Then she slowly turned towardSimone.“Simone.”Simone laughed.
“That serious?”Camille pointed the croissant at her.
“This is disrespectful.”Simone blinked.“How is a croissant disrespectful?”Camille shook her head.
“Because we have been eating the wrong ones.”Simone leaned against the counter, watching her.
“Is that so?”Camille took another bite, flakes falling onto the napkin in her hand.
“Yeah.”She looked back toward the display case.
“I might need two more.”Simone laughed.“Slow down.”Camille pointed the croissant at her again.
“You started this.”A small crumb had fallen onto the front of Camille’s jacket.
Without thinking, Simone reached over and brushed it away.
“You’re making a mess already,” she said.
Camille looked down at where Simone’s hand had been. Then she looked back up at her. She didn’t say anything. Just gave her a small look. Then she took another bite of the croissant. A minute later Camille looked around the busy terminal again, travelers passing by with suitcases and backpacks.
“We just landed and I’m already eating a croissant.
”Simone smiled.“Seems like a pretty good start.”Camille took another bite of the croissant.
Then she held it out toward Simone.“Here.”Simone shook her head.
“Those are for you.”Camille lifted the croissant slightly toward her.
“Bite the croissant.”Simone rolled her eyes playfully.
“Camille,”“Just take a bite.” She said.Simone leaned in and took a small bite from the croissant Camille was holding.
She chewed, nodding once.“Mmmm, that is good.” she admitted.For a second she looked at Camille.
A little longer than she meant to. Then she cleared her throat and looked down the terminal.
“Baggage claim’s this way.”They followed the signs through the terminal until they saw baggage claim.
The carousel was already moving, suitcases circling slowly around the belt.They stepped up to the rail and waited.
A few minutes later their bags appeared.
Simone stepped forward and pulled both suitcases off the belt.
Camille reached for one of them. “I can get it.”Simone lifted the handles and started walking.
“I know,” she said. “But I got it.”Camille watched her for a second, then fell into step beside her.
Simone pulled both suitcases behind her as they walked toward the airport exit.