Chapter Fifteen Rain Against the Window
Rain tapped softly against the windows of the suite. Camille stood near the glass, looking. The Eiffel Tower disappeared in and out of the low clouds. Behind her, Simone was across the couch, remote in hand.
Neither of them had changed the channel in almost ten minutes.
"Looks like we're not going anywhere," Camille said.Simone looked toward the window.
"I don't know."Camille turned."Don't."Simone smiled.
"What?""Whatever idea you just had.""I was going to suggest running through Paris in the rain.
""Shut up Simone." Camille gave her a look.Simone laughed.
Rain tapped steadily against the windows of the suite.
The Eiffel Tower was still visible in the distance, though the gray clouds.
"It really rains here, doesn't it?"Behind her, Simone looked up from the couch.
"Yeah, it does."She smiled."But at least we had lunch before it started.
"Camille laughed."Yeah."She turned from the window.
Simone grabbed the remote from beside her.
"How about a movie?" Camille walked over and dropped onto the couch beside her.
"Sure."She tucked one leg underneath herself.
"What do they have?"Simone scrolled through the menu.
"Hmm."A smile slowly spread across her face.
"Oh."Camille looked over."What?"Simone looked over.
"Freaky Friday."Camille burst out laughing.
"Really?"Simone laughed too."Really.""That's our movie.
""It is." Simone said."I can't believe they have it.
" Camille shook her head."How about Freaky Friday and room service?
"Camille looked over at her."That sounds perfect.
"Something about the way she said it made Simone smile too.
"Okay, good."Outside, the rain continued to fall.
Inside, neither of them minded being stuck there at all.
As the movie started, neither of them paid much attention to it.The rain continued tapping against the windows.
Camille sat curled up on one end of the couch.
Simone sat beside her. For a while, they watched in silence.
Then Camille looked over."That was a little awkward.
""What was?" Simone asked."The class.""Oh.
" Simone laughed.Camille smiled."Almost everybody thought we were together.
"Simone shook her head and laughed."Yeah.
"Camille looked over for a second."Did you think it was weird?
""No."The answer came so quickly it surprised Camille.
"I mean, people have thought that before.
"Camille blinked."They have?"Simone looked at her.
"A lot more than you'd think.""Huh." Camille laughed softly.The conversation faded for a second.
Then Camille looked back toward the television.
"In class"Simone turned toward her."Yeah?
"Camille hesitated. Then asked quietly,"You said that I was your person.
""Yeah."Camille looked down at her hands.
"Why didn't you ever tell me that?"For a second, Simone just stared at her.
Then she smiled."I thought you knew."Camille laughed.
"I knew we were best friends."She looked back at Simone.
"But me being your person?"She shook her head.
"I didn't know you looked at me like that.
"There was something in the way she looked at Camille.
Not surprised. More like, she was confused.
As if she genuinely didn't understand how Camille had missed it.
"I always have, and I probably always will.
"Camille couldn't look away. The room felt quiet after that.
Even with the movie playing. Even with the rain outside.Camille just sat there looking at her.
Not entirely sure what to do with that answer.Camille sat back against the couch.
For a moment she was quiet. Then curiosity got the better of her.
"What did I do?" Simone looked over."What?
"Camille smiled."What did I do that made you come to the realization that I was your person?
"Simone laughed softly."Oh."She thought about it for a second.
"Honestly?"Camille nodded."It was a lot of little things.
"The rain continued tapping against the windows.
"After we got paired together in class, you became my friend.
"Camille smiled.“You walked me around school that entire week.
""I did." Camille said."You introduced me to people.
"Camille laughed."You looked terrified.""I was terrified.
" Simone was laughing now.That made Camille laugh harder.
"And then there was that day outside the gym.
"Camille paused."The gym?" Simone nodded.
"I was sitting outside crying."Camille's eyes widened slightly.
"You remember that too?"Simone looked at her like she'd asked the world's most ridiculous question.
"Of course I remember that."Camille smiled.
"You came over and sat with me."Simone continued.
"You didn't ask a million questions.""You just sat there.
"Camille listened quietly."Then you invited me to dinner at your house.
"A small smile tugged at Simone's lips."I remember thinking,"She shook her head and laughed.
"What?"Camille asked."I thought, she was so nice.
'"Camille's smile turned into something softer.
"You were the first person that made Florida feel less lonely.
"For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Simone looked directly at her.
"I don't think I've ever said it but thank you.
" Her heart skipped a beat."For what?" Camille said.
"For being there."Simone's eyes never left hers.
"For all of it."The eye contact lingered.
A second too long. Maybe two. Long enough for her to suddenly become very aware of how close they were sitting.
Long enough that she had to look away first.And when she did, she wasn't entirely sure why.
Simone eventually looked back toward the television.
The movie continued playing.Rain tapped softly against the windows.
Camille found herself looking at Simone again.Before she could stop herself, she spoke.
"Simone."Her voice came out quieter than she'd intended.Simone turned.
"Yeah?"Camille froze. For some reason, the way Simone looked at her made every thought leave her head.
"Camille?" Simone asked.There was a small smile in her voice.
Camille blinked. What was she going to say?
She had no idea."Uh,"Simone's smile grew. "You called me.""I know."
"And?" Camille stared at her for another second. Nothing. Still completely forgetting whatever she was about to say.
Then she stood. A little too quickly."I'll grab the room service menu.
"And before Simone could say anything else, Camille disappeared toward the kitchen area of the suite.The second she was out of sight, she leaned against the counter.What is wrong with you?She said to herself.
She picked up the menu and walked back over to the couch.
Simone was still looking in her direction as she walked over.
She smirked just a little. Like she knew Camille had completely forgotten what she wanted to say.Simone found that adorable.
Camille stared at the menu for another minute before finally finding something.
"Oh."Simone glanced over."What?"Camille pointed to a section near the bottom.
"Truffle risotto."Simone leaned closer."Where?
"Camille held the menu between them."Right there. "Simone moved to get a better look.
Without realizing how close she'd gotten. Camille let out a slow breath. A little heavier than she intended. Simone noticed and looked over.Now she was even closer. Close enough that Camille could see the flecks of gold in her brown eyes.
"You okay?" Simone asked.Camille looked at her.
For a second, she completely forgot about the menu.
Forgot about the movie. Forgot about the rain.All she could think about was the fact that Simone was right there.
"Camille?" Simone asked."I" Camille blinked.Then looked back at the menu.
Simone smiled."I can move."Camille shook her head.
"No."The answer came out a little too fast. Simone's smile widened.
"It's okay."Camille cleared her throat. Then held the menu out toward her.
"Help me choose?"Simone took it without another word. "Okay."
Camille settled back on the couch. Or at least she tried to. But Simone was close, and the energy was different. And that was becoming a problem. A very unexpected problem, she was starting to like.
One Simone seemed completely unaware of.
Or at least Camille hoped she was. Simone looked it over for a moment.
"Hmm.""What?"Simone pointed to a few items. "The truffle risotto.
"Camille nodded."Okay." She said, but her attention was on Simone.
"The grilled salmon looks good too.""It does.
" Camille said, eyes still on Simone."And I think we should get dessert.
""Now you're speaking my language.""I know.
" Simone laughed."What kind of dessert?" Camille asked.
Simone scanned the menu. Then smiled."Chocolate lava cake.
""Yes." Camille didn't even hesitate."That was fast.""I didn't need time for that decision.
"They both laughed. Simone looked over the menu one last time.
Then closed it."You want me to make the order?
""Yes." Camille smiled."Okay." Simone stood and walked over to the phone sitting on the console table near the dining area.A moment later, she picked up the receiver and called room service.
Camille watched her from the couch. Watched as Simone smiled politely while placing the order.Comfortable.
Confident. Effortlessly herself. Camille found herself smiling again.Then she looked back at the television before Simone noticed.
A few minutes later, Simone hung up the phone and walked back over.
"Food should be here in about thirty minutes.
" "Perfect." Camille nodded.A few minutes later, Simone walked back over and dropped onto the couch beside Camille.
The movie continued playing. For about thirty seconds.
Then Camille looked over."I have another question.
""Of course you do." Simone laughed.Camille smiled.
"Have you ever been asked if we were more than friends?
""What do you mean?" Simone looked at her.
"Like today, have people ever thought we were together?
"Simone smiled. Then looked away."Oh yeah.
"Camille blinked."Really?"Simone laughed.
"More often than you'd think.""Seriously?
""Yep."Camille stared at her."Who?"Simone laughed again.
"Clients.""Employees.""Random people."Camille's eyes widened.
"You're not joking.""I'm not."That only made Camille laugh.
"Why didn't you ever tell me that?"Simone shrugged.
"I don't know.""You don't know?""I didn't want to freak you out.
"Camille laughed."Why would I be freaked out?
"Simone shook her head."I don't know, we’re best friends and I didn’t want to make it weird.
"That made Camille laugh harder. Simone gave her a look.
“Stop laughing.”A few minutes passed. The movie played.
Then Camille spoke again."What did you say?
"Simone looked over."Huh?""When people asked.
"Camille kept her eyes on the television.
"What did you tell them?"Simone looked at her.
Really looked at her. Camille felt it. Without meaning to, she looked over.
Now, holding eye contact felt impossible. Camille looked away first.
"What did you tell them?" she asked again, quieter this time. Simone didn't answer. Not right away. Camille could feel her looking at her. Then, a knock sounded at the door.
Both women looked up. The moment broke."Room service," a voice called from outside. Neither moved. Camille found herself wishing the knock didn’t come.