"You don't give up, do you?" He grimaced, sounding defeated.
"Never."
"I didn't think so." He said, managing a smile, "One night."
Just then, a taxi pulled up and out came Keomi, Fabian Genevieve and Merilla looking lively as ever in their fashionable outfits and overall the most lively I'd ever seen them.
"Hey guys, don't worry. We haven't had too much fun without you!" Keomi laughed, approaching us,
"Yeah, are you ready, Armani?" Fabian asked, reaching out for my hand, but I reached my hand out for River's on the opposite side, he didn't take it, of course, but I held his hand, pulling him along anyways. His eyes met mine, and for a split second, all the darkness that he carried with him faded away, and he was just a boy, and I was just a girl alone in the ever-so-magical city of lights.
"ArmaniandRiver," I said bravely, and I swear Keomi nearly burst out in tears.
"You're coming along?" She asked River, and he looked at me and then back at her,
"Yeah, for one night." He agreed.
The night was young and the cool Parisian air swept through the night, we were supposed to be on our way to some exclusive club downtown, the kind that required an invitation, and you could only get in if you knew someone who knew someone. But I really wanted to do something else first.
"Hey guys, please, can we get a closer look at the Eiffel Tower." I pleaded, which I knew would earn frustrated groans from everyone, but I simply smiled innocently.
"Oh, come on, Armani, it's not that great," Gene assured me,
"But that's because you've always lived here!" I argued,
"Sorry, fear of heights, not going up there," Fabian warned, hiding behind Keomi, who then whispered something to Genevievè.
“Of all the things to fear, you’re afraid of a few meters?” I teased with a snort,
“I will quite literally pass out if you drag me up there, and I’d rather not embarrass myself in front of pretty girls.” Fabian declared in his defence,
"Right, okay, so River will take you up La Tour Eiffel, and you can meet us at The Velvet Room after. Sound good?" Keomi then suggested handing River and me what I assumed were our club entry tickets.
"I do not know what led you to believe that I'd agree to this." River said, but I ran up to him and shoved his shoulder playfully,
"Please, it'll only be a minute or two." I pleaded,
"Oh, come on, River, just go with her," Fabian added,
"No." He smiled sarcastically.
"You're being such a dick, RK." Keomi retorted,
"Wow, really?" River replied, his silvery eyes glimmering with mischief,
"You know what? I didn't mean to cause so much tension, I'll just go by myself," I assured them but just as I was about to walk away I felt a hand grip around my wrist and pull me back.
"You're not going up there alone." River persisted, I could tell from his tone that he was slightly irritated by the fact that I'd ever even considered it.
But then again, River was always irritable. It’s sort of his natural state.
"And why not?" I fought back, trying to untangle myself from his grip,
"Because it is fucking dangerous, now be a good girl and do as I say." He whispered so only I could hear him. I swallowed hard.
"Don't call me that," I replied almost inaudibly.
"You love it when I call you that." He smiled devilishly, tightening his grip on my wrist and pulling me closer. I didn't even notice that our friends had already left. And it was just River Kennedy and me, alone, in the middle of the city of lights.
