“Yes, of course, hasn’t everyone?” I giggled,
“What happens when you take out a single one?”
“Everything collapses,” I concluded, and he looked at me as if I’d just cracked DaVinci's code.
“Exactly.” He sighed.
"How did he die?" I asked, changing the question, and Fabian looked down at the ground,
"A car crash on Lune Avenue last summer. It was sometime after midnight." Fabian told me, and my heart dropped, so much so that I placed my hand over my chest to ensure it was still beating. “The medics said that with the way the car spun, there was never any chance of him surviving, especially being in the driver's seat. That the impact probably killed him immediately, a painless death if you will.”
"That's- That's terrible. Oh my God, Fabian..." I paled, and Fabian grabbed hold of my hand,
"I know River can be impossible and guarded like Fort Knox but that's just because he lost someone who meant the world to him. That shit fucks you up, Armani." Fabian tensed,
"I think I get it now..." I muttered,
"No, you don't, and that's okay— look, it's no secret I'm not exactly a fan of whatever is going on between you and River. I most definitely think he’s not in the right space to open up to anyone just yet, let alone someone he met about a month ago." Fabian explained, scratching the back of his neck, "But I see the way you are around each other, the way you talk and understand each other’s robot language or whatever. But you're just both way too damn stubborn to let your guard down."
"You think so?" I laughed bitterly,
"It's something worth fighting for, and if that doesn't work out, then that's okay too, and I assure you that you'll always have your old pal Fabian to catch you when you fall." He smiled, and I wrapped my arms around him in an embrace and he clung onto me, like he always did, always would.
Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and read the notification.
RIVER K: (LIVE LOCATION) 77 Rue Marie De Medicis
ME: I'll be there in half an hour.
The only reason I'd accepted his invitation after he'd spoken to me like that in the hallway was that I'd assumed he was finally ready to talk to me like an actual human being. And after Fabian’s transparency with me earlier I thought that maybe I could hear him out.
"It's River." I blurted, and my gaze met Fabian's "Thanks for spending the day with me. I needed that."
"No problem, you're leaving now?" He asked, and there was something vulnerable in his eyes for a second.
“Yeah, is that okay?” I asked, checking in with him, “Did you want to hang out some more? because we can if you’d like, I wouldn’t bail on you like that so suddenly.”
“Um, no, it’s fine. I'm sure it’s important.”
“Hey, are you sure?” I insisted with a smile,
“Yeah, you should go…see him.”
"I’ll go ahead then, okay, I'll see you later!" I called, proceeding to make my way down the street.
I hopped into my car and placed the address River had sent me into my GPS. It was on the other side of town. I hadn't driven my car much since arriving in France. But, in all honesty, there was no need for it. I could get everywhere I needed to be on foot.
It was slowly starting to get dark when I arrived at Marié De Médicis, a series of luxury apartments and penthouses along the River Seine. Although the sky was beginning to fade into a blanket of blue as I made my way in, it was hard to deny that this place was beautiful, incredible even. With high-rise ceilings and crystal chandeliers, I couldn't possibly afford to stay in a place like that.
"Bonjour mademoiselle, are you Armani?" A formally attired lady asked as I made my way into the building, her hair tied up into a bun with a name tag that read, Annette. I nodded, "welcome, we’ve been waiting for you. Come with me."
She instructed, and I did just that. I followed her up the elevator to the top floor, which opened to the view of a penthouse with expansive open windows and dark oak flooring. Everything was black and silver sterling. The lounge chairs, the kitchen, and the ceiling was painted with cherubs and angels. And then there stood River, looking out at the view. He didn't even bother to turn around when he said,
"Merci Annette." Before she pressed a button on the elevator and disappeared.
I made my way across and stood next to him; The city below was so far away it was like another world. Those ant-like people and all their little problems were of no more consequence than temporary static on an intercom to me from all the way up here. It gave me a certain sense of escapism I wasn’t often able to feel.
"You can sit down, you know?" He smiled politely, and I did just that, narrowing my eyes in suspicion. The lounge chair was uncomfortable and hard beneath me.
