Dreams Charging Toward Reality

It was time for a change. I was following my dreams and going to Paris, France.

I had gotten into the creative writing program at the Paris American Academy.

The day of the Meet and Greet, I made my way to the Latin Quarter. It was the first time I took the metro.

I went early in the morning to get my bearings. This part of Pairs held a literary history that was phenomenal. I wanted to walk the streets of the greats.

I lingered through the shelves of Shakespeare and Co. before buying a slim volume of poetry. Afterward, I found a cafe to do some writing.

It was about midafternoon when a rather ruggedly handsome man sat down at the table beside mine. I watched him surreptitiously as I worked. When he pulled out a book that I absolutely adored I couldn’t help commenting.

“Are you enjoying that?”

His gaze flicked to mine. There was a flash of surprise before he smiled. My stomach fluttered at the intensity in his eyes. Their silver blue captured me. I had to remind myself to breathe. A dimple winked at me as he said, “Yes.”

“Sorry, I just love that book. It really opened my eyes to the possibilities of writing.” Nervously I waved my hand over my notebook.

“I see.”

“It is to be savoured it. One has to appreciate a book that good.”

He nodded, then asked, "Would you recommend any other books?"

I flushed, but despite my embarrassment, I said, “I love to read writing craft books.”

“And poetry, I see,” he said noting the book beside me.

“I love poetry, and besides I had to buy something the first time I went into Shakespeare and Co. That place has been on my radar since I first started dreaming about coming to Paris.”

“And how did you find it?”

“Oh, my God. I think I spent a couple of hours in there before buying just that. It did not disappoint.”

“And how many of the poems did you read before you settled on buying it?”

I couldn’t help chuckling. “How’d you know?’

He laughed and I swore I could feel the rumble all the way to my toes. “I did the same thing my first time.”

I smiled, feeling a kinship. “And what did you buy?”

He grinned and said the name of a book I also owned.

“And do you still have it?’

He grinned before saying, “Of course.”

“Book nerd,” I muttered affectionately and we laughed.

“Takes one to know one.” He raised his cup to salute me before adding, “So you’ve been to Shakespeare and Co. I’m curious… When did you arrive in Paris?”

“Yesterday. I would have come sooner, but I figured I better orient to my new home before beating a mad dash to the bookshop. Besides, I only got to my apartment around 2 in the afternoon.. After 24 hours in travel mode, I was feeling pretty done.”

“And you arrived from…..”

“Toronto, Canada.”

“Ah, that explains the accent.”

“Accent. You're the one with the Scottish burr. Edinburgh?”

“Right in one,” he said, nodding at my guess.

Our conversation meandered through books and points of interest in Paris. I almost hated to leave, but I had a few other things I wanted to do before the meet and greet. I was tempted to ask for his number, but thought that was way to forward and besides I was not in Paris to find a relationship. I was here to follow my dreams.

As I made my way around the area that afternoon I continued to think about that handsome man and his love of books. It wasn’t often you ran across someone that… perfect. I was almost kicking myself for not having the guts to ask for his contact information. I really would have loved to see him again. Sadly, I’d missed my chance.

When I walked into the hall that evening for the meet and greet I was feeling nervous as a mouse walking into a den of cats.

My stomach twisted and threatened to revisit the small dinner I had eaten before getting here.

I still felt a little off balance with the culture shock. It was both exhilarating and unnerving at the same time. There was no time to be shy, if I wanted to survive I had to dive in.

Before walking in I drew in a deep, cleansing breath.

“This is it. No turning back now,” I told myself as I turned the door handle.

A rush of voices swirled around me as I stood there in the open doorway.

“Welcome,” came a friendly voice that had me focusing on one face in a sea of newness.

I smiled at the twinkle in the woman’s eye. “Bronwyn?” she asked.

I nodded.

“Come on in. I’d Daliah. One of the coordinators here at the Academy. You’re in the right place. Grab yourself a pastry and a beverage. We’ll get started on a more structured meet and greet in a bit, but for now just let yourself get acquainted.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re joining us from Canada?’

“Yes,” I said, testing my voice.

“Lovely, we have a good mix of people this summer session.”

“Hi,” said a petite woman with the most gorgeous auburn hair I’d ever seen. Her green eyes danced with merriment. “I’m Laurel.”

I told her my name as she guided me over to the table laden with Parisian delicacies.

“Is this your first time?’

“It is.”

“You’re gonna love it. This is my second. I had so much fun the last time I was here, but that was a good five years ago now.”

Laurel took it upon herself to introduce me to everyone she’d already met. I appreciated her kindness as my own tongue had fused itself with nerves.

“I see Laurel has taken you under her wing,” a deep voice said behind me. I turned and found myself looking up into a rather familiar face. His silver blue eyes smiled into mine. His sensual lips tipped up into an amused smile.

“She has,” I said, grateful that my voice had not failed me.“ What are you doing here?”

Before he could answer, Daliah called everyone to order and asked us to take a seat so we could get the preliminary aspects out of the way.

Laurel guided us over to chairs at the front. I watched as my dream man made his way up to the front area to sit with Daliah and some others.

“So glad everyone has made it here. I’d like to introduce some of this year’s faculty.” She turned to the group beside her. “We have William Ferguson teaching our main workshop this year. He's on loan from the University of Edinburgh.”

My mouth fell open and I reminded myself to close it and try to act natural. This man, this gorgeous man was going to be our instructor? Lord help me!

I focused back in to hear the purr in Daliah’s voice. She clearly was enthralled with him. I made a valiant attempt to push down my attraction..

When his eyes looked over at me, I nearly melted into the chair. What was wrong with me? I wasn’t some teenage girl infatuated with her professeur, but it certainly felt like that.

This was going to be a very long, hot summer.



Word Count = 1232.
Written for Deadline for Writers: Prompt was Charge (I thought it was Change) Word Count = 1250 (1200 to 1300)