Julian watched intently as everyone made their way out of the dining room. First, it was Kyrie and Kylian, then it was Julianne and Laurent, followed by Adrian, Laurent's dad, and Tiana, Laurent's sister, and finally, it was Lori. He checked to see if anyone was lingering around. seeing no one, he walked towards the chair Julianne sat on. He retrieved the hand gloves in his pocket and put them on hurriedly. With the agility of a cat and cunningness of a fox, he placed the utensils she used into a zip lock bag. Then, he made his way out of the dining room.
Julianne angrily made her way to Kyrie's bedroom. There, she saw her laughing with her brother. She cleared her throat before they realized her presence. Kylian excused himself and hurriedly made his way out of the room. "Coward," she muttered under her breath. She was face-to-face with a pissed-off Julianne. Faking a smile on her face, she sweetly said, "What happened Julie? Why so serious?"
"What kind of stunt did you pull back there? Why did you do that?" She wailed. "I did it for you Jules. Besides, you did get that kiss, am I right?" She said, wiggling her brows. Julianne felt like she was going to explode. "I didn't get a kiss!" She cried. Kyrie's face paled in disbelief. "What are you saying? I mean we all saw it! He leaned close to you and…"
"Wiped gravy off my face," She complained. "What is wrong with that guy anyway?" She thought. "He's such a tease," Kyrie giggled. "What am I supposed to do?" She asked. "The same thing, play hard to get," She advised. Julianne nodded before looking at her watch. It was almost 8:30. "Well I've gotta go, I'll see you later Kyrie," she said, bidding her farewell.
"Are you done with your project?" She said to Jacques once she sat down.
"Barely, Dylan is so clingy," he said in annoyance. She lightly giggled and said, "He's probably just trying to help."
"He's overdramatic. The other day, he said he would hang himself if I didn't show up for his dumb party," he shrugged, "How's yours with Kyrie going?"
"We're practically done, we're putting the finishing touches," she proudly said. "Lucky you," he said, "A little bird told me he saw you at Heathrow Manor."
"You are a jerk. Not only you but Laurent too," she scoffed. "What's going on between you two? Is it some sort of lover's quarrel?"
"We're not lovers, besides, I get a guy better than him," she said throwing her hair over her shoulder.
"Can you?" He said sarcastically. She punched his left bicep but it just sent him laughing. "What's wrong with you?" She cried. He cleaned the tears on his face and said, "What did he do to annoy you so much?"
She paused and told him the events that had taken place in Heathrow Manor. It sent him laughing again. "There is something wrong with you Jacques," she said angrily.
"I am so going to tell Laurent," he said, still laughing.
"Do that and I'll kill you," she threatened.
"Say if you're looking for a boyfriend, I have a few candidates in mind," he teased. She folded her hands above her chest and said, "I never said I was looking for a boyfriend."
"I thought you wanted to prove you could find a guy better than him."
"Well no but…"
"May I suggest myself as a potential candidate?"
"Not in your dreams Russells. Why would you even think of that? Has spending time with Dylan made you crazier than normal?" She said jokingly. He shrugged and said, "Correction, it's Leonard-Russells, Russells is my grandmother's maiden name. Two, I wouldn't want to date someone like you. I like my girls stupid, not nosy and curious."
"You are a pig, Jacques."
She felt as light as a feather when she stepped out of the Rolls-Royce. She slowly breathed in and out, waiting for Kyrie to leave the car. Eventually, she did, and they went into the hotel together.
Julian shook as he held the envelope in his hands. He sat on the lounge chair in the large room as he slowly opened the envelope. He unfolded the paper and upon seeing its contents, smiled. He knew it was her all along. He folded the sheet and placed it in the envelope. He decided to stroll to the garden where he knew they would be.
"Why are you so interested in the roses?" Kyrie asked, seeing how she was drawn to them. "I guess it's because they're white," she said smiling. They heard approaching footsteps which startled them. Behind them was a tall, lean, athletic man. He had long locks of platinum-blond hair and deep blue eyes. Kyrie hugged him before pulling him to Julianne. "Julie, this is my cousin Peyton! He schools at Notre Dame too! I think he's in Laurent's class."
"You don't say…" she said deviously, formulating a plan to get back at Laurent. He shook hands with her, talked with Kyrie for a while, and then left. They went back to their project, still trying to complete it.
A few hours later, they were done. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and said, "I'm so glad we're finally done! This was so exhausting…"
"I couldn't agree more," Kyrie said, reclining on the bench, "Say, we deserve a treat for all our hard work, we should go shopping!"
"I'm not a fan of shopping," she said, still touching the roses.
"Come on Jules, you never do anything fun!" She whined. She shrugged and said, "Fine, let's go."
"Great! I'll go get our things."
She hopped into the hotel, leaving her in the garden. She sat by the white roses, still observing them. "No one would notice if I picked one right?" She thought. She carefully picked the rose, mesmerized by its beauty. She heard someone clear his throat, startling her. The thorns pricked her hand making her drop the rose. He rushed to her side, holding her injured hand.
"You're bleeding," he said in a concerned tone.
"I know," she said, pulling her hand out of his grasp, "Don't act like you care."
Laurent straightened his shirt and said, "Are you mad at me?"
"I'm not mad, it's just that my um… boyfriend doesn't like seeing me with other guys…" she lied.
He blinked, processing what she said. "I'm sorry but did you just say you have a boyfriend?"
"I do and he'll get mad at me if he sees me with you, so go!" She said confidently. He laughed at her response. "Why are you laughing? I do have one!" She said offended.
"If you mean your imaginary boyfriend then I'm sure you have one," he said sarcastically. "It's true! He is here too!"
"Then where is he?"
"He's…"
"Kyrie said she needs…" Peyton said entering the room. "There he is!" She said, running towards Peyton, "Hi babe, what's up?"
"What are you…"
"Just play along," she whispered. Laurent's eyes narrowed as he stared at Peyton. "You're dating him?"
He spitefully said. His sudden change in mood amused her. "Of course I am! We are madly in love," she said, pulling him closer to her. He shrugged and said, "Whatever."
She watched him leave the room. She released her grip on Peyton. "What's going on between you two?"
He asked. Smiling, she said, "It's a long story."