Chapter XIV

“Oh my gosh, awesome!” she cried and sprinted down the stairs. Gareth made a step forward, assuming she was going to fall into his arms, but she turned around instead. There were people everywhere, but the only faces Thalia was eager to see were the band members’. She practically jumped onto James, who picked her up and almost fell over.

“I didn’t think it would work THAT well.” She said and enveloped Mickey in a hug next. “I’m still all… hyper.” She shouted and started to jump around in her spot. Just when she realised how childish she must look, Adam joined her bouncing and laughed with her. Thalia almost tripped as she tried to jump higher than Adam.

“Watch it, girl!” Jesse caught her before she could fall and she threw her arms around him.

“Thanks, and thanks for the show. It was awesome.”

“Ryan, thanks for the solo. It gave me goose bumps.”

“No problem!” he said. She looked at each of them again and noticed her mum standing a little further back, wearing a proud smile on her face.

“Mum!” Thalia said and flew straight into parent’s arms. Gareth gave up smiling nicely, so that she would finally come to him. Eventually she did. And then he didn’t give her the approval she asked for.

“So, finally…” she whispered and hugged him, what struck her first was that he didn’t hug her back. She loosened her grip on him and then lifted his chin up. “Gareth?”

“Huh?” he asked, then looked into her eyes. She was puzzled because she hadn’t expected him to react like this.

“What did I do wrong this time?” she asked. He shrugged and was about to walk off.

“Hey, no. Not like this, not when I’m leaving in only a little time. We’re going to talk about everything that’s wrong. OK? I don’t want to worry all the time I’m away. Look, three hours back you gave me the necklace and all. So, what’s bugging you?”

“I don’t know. I… you were so happy. And I wanted to share your happiness and all you did was turn away. Really. I--- maybe I’m upset about nothing. I just felt left out.” She almost laughed. He was acting like an upset child, something he always did when he wasn’t getting his way. It was a cute spleen of him anyway, and Thalia knew that it would only take another hug and a kiss soothe.

“I didn’t do it intentionally. Gareth, I was just so happy and proud that everything, well, mostly all, went alright.” Then she gave him the required hug and he pouted.

“And I’m really proud of you.” He told her and kissed the top of her head. Thalia tilted her head back once more and leant in to kiss him properly, but before she could engage them in the kiss, Jesse snapped a photo.

“Look at how cute you are!” he presented the photo on the tiny screen.

“That’s indeed a nice one. The best pic someone has taken of the two us in a long time.” Thalia said and handed Gareth the camera.

“You’re right. Can I get a copy?” Gareth asked, still taking in every detail. They looked so happy with each other.

“Sure. Well, I leave the two of you alone. Spend some quality, if that’s possible around here. I’ll see you later.”

“You’ll see more of her during the next weeks than me.” Gareth remarked.

“I’ll look after her, if that’s what you are indicating. So will everyone.”

“You see – they’re so nice.” Gareth nodded.

“Come on…” he pulled her away from the spot where they had been standing for the last five minutes. Gareth walked past the green room, where everyone was in, celebrating, turned around the left corner and pushed the second door to their right open. Thalia wasn’t just greeted by the biggest bouquet of flowers she had ever seen but also by a bottle of champagne and another three boxes.

“Well, we don’t have too much time on our own. Your parents and Nic and Penny and Colin will join us in a few minutes – but… I wanted to give you this.” Thalia looked at him.

“I have an ipod on my own, you know.”

“I know, I know, I know.” Gareth tutted and put the headphones over her ears. She listened and recognised the song they’d written for Penny and Colin.

“How did you do that?” she asked, delighted.

“Well, I took the video to the studio with me and they cut it for me. There are some of my new songs on it, too. But you should listen to it later. Really. At times you feel lonely.”

“So, you’re actually recording again. My gosh, of course you are! See what this lifestyle is doing to me. Hell, you haven’t even told me how things are going and all…” Thalia was excited. To Gareth it wasn’t such a big deal, since he had been writing and playing since the beginning of the on-going year. They had agreed not to talk too much about work anymore when they were together. So, that was why Thalia and him sometimes lost track of each other’s projects.

“Later!” he chuckled and took the little machine from her. Careful not to spill a drop, he poured them both a glass of champagne and they sat down closely on the very old sofa. It creaked when they sat down and Thalia had to laugh.

“This is going to break any moment.” She smiled.

“No, it’s not. Nicola and Penny were bouncing up and down on it earlier.”

“Now I know why it’s so fragile. Poor, old sofa.” She leaned over the armrest and put her glass to the floor.

“Although I seem so happy, Gareth, I’m still a little sad that I have to leave you. But both of us will be working our ass off, so maybe it won’t feel too weird.”

“It will. Because I will have to think about you all the time writing.” Gareth embraced her. She cooed a pitying ‘aww’ and then kissed him, deeply, never wanting to let go again. He held onto her tightly and even pulled her on his lap, hoping he could make her stay in the very last second.

“When you come back…” he took a deep breath and told her further: “We’ll have to get away fro some time. Together. Just us. I think the last time we had a few more days on our own were in Paris…”

Thalia nodded.

“Paris, yeah. I miss such times, Gareth. When we can just be – us.”

*

“We should always stay in the Ritz.” She said and struggled to put her case on the bed.

“Won’t you take a look around first. Seems nice here!” Gareth told Thalia and took her by the hand. The two had just arrived in Paris in order to shot Thalia’s new video for ‘Show me the world’.

They walked around the bedroom and the bathroom. There was a balcony, too, but it gave them no further look then down the road outside the place Vendôme.

“It’s not as cold as in London, is it? I fell kinda warm.” Thalia said.

“Yeah, the sun seems to shine here constantly, at least it has always been when I was here.” Gareth laughed. He put his arms around here and took a deep breath of the fresh air.

After twenty minutes, there was a soft knock on their door. Thalia had just finished unpacking and Gareth was zapping through the various French Tv programmes.

“Kelly?” Gareth asked through the closed door.

“Who else?” she shot back and was let in. “Are you ready to leave?”

“I am. I don’t know about Lia.” Gareth answered.

“Two seconds…” Lia said and went into the bathroom with her make up case.

“It was less complicated when you didn’t do all that and besides, you don’t need it, do you?” Gareth told her, leaning against the doorframe.

“I fell better with though!” Thalia said, poked her tongue out and shut the door.

Five minutes later, they could leave nevertheless.

Once stood on the middle of the place, near the Colonne d’Austerlitz. Thalia, never taking a step without her ‘National Geographic Traveler’ read out: “Put up 1810 by Napoleon.”

“Where do you reckon we should go?” Gareth asked, staring at the map in front of him.

“How about the centre?” Thalia suggested.

“Very funny. What if there ain’t a centre?” Gareth retorted. She looked over his shoulder and both glanced at the map.

“Alright, how about here? Seems like a tourist spot. There might be enough food for us!” Thalia said and pointed to a small island in the Seine.

“That’s where Notre Dame is.” Gareth told her.

“Alright, let’s go there. I love Victor Hugo’s ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’.” Thalia said and wandered off. “I wonder where we can find the next Metro station!” she called.

“Wrong direction, sweetheart!” Gareth called when Thalia started walking south, “it’s up there…” Kelly rolled her eyes.

“If you two could start behaving like grown ups now?” she queried and laughed.

“Maybe!” Thalia and Gareth said in unison.

“We should get on the 14, St-Lazare to Bibliothèque Francois Mitterand. Direction Bibliothèque. And we get out at Châtelet.” Gareth said after looking at the Metro map.

“Alright, captain…” Kelly and Thalia said and he slapped both with the folded map.

“Very funny, girls…”

 “We have to cross the street and head over the bridge and then we’ll arrive!” Gareth said.

And so they walked through the bride sunshine and arrived at the other side.

“oh, look. An orchid shop!” Thalia exclaimed. Recently, everyone seemed to have orchids growing on their window sills.

“Let’s go in!” Thalia commanded. Kelly and her were drooling over the beautiful flowers.

“You think they deliver them?” Kelly asked.

“Maybe…” Thalia answered, “I could send somehow for my mum to look after and when I’ve moved, I can take them.”

“Can you send some for me too? They’re gorgeous.”

“Sure… I’ll go and ask…” she said and went to speak to the woman behind the desk.

Things were settled easily and Kelly and her told them what kind of flowers they wanted. As they left the tiny shop, Thalia went to call her mum to let her know that about two dozens of flowers would arrive soon.

“There we are…” Thalia said when they crossed the street and suddenly found themselves stood in front of a huge cathedral.

“Reminds me a tiny, tiny bit of Westminster Abbey, only that I think this one is a little more charming.” Thalia said. “MM, they started building it in eleven sixty-three. And pope Alexander the third put the first piece in place.”

“Uh huh…” Gareth answered to her remark.

“Hello – I feel like I’m talking to myself…” Thalia said.

“You should just enjoy its beauty if you like it so much. You can read about the facts and figures later…” her boyfriend told her and took her travel guide away.

“Gareth!” she shouted and some people turned their heads.

“Pardon me?” he asked and slipped the book into his coat pocket. Thalia gave in and they walked behind Kelly who had left them standing there. They rushed to catch up with her and entered Notre Dame finally.

“The glass works are amazing…” Thalia said and pointed to the large windows to their left and right high above their heads. Walking around with the other tourists, they had soon finished ‘ohhing’ and ‘awwing’ at the interior and found themselves outside the church again. “If Mr Gates would give me back my map, I might be able to tell where to go…” Thalia said and kissed his cheek.

“Here you are…”

“This way then!” she directed and they walked towards a bridge, where several artists had little stands where they sold jewellery, very old books and drawings and paintings.

“Hey, shall I take a photo of you?” Kelly asked.

“Sure, why not!” Thalia said, grab Gareth’s arm and pulled him towards the brown railing.

“Smile!” Kelly called.

“Damn, I had my eyes closed!” Thalia said.

“Can we take another one?” Gareth asked, “come here, baby…” He pulled her closer around the waist and kissed her.

“Now, that’s a nice one…” Kelly told them and showed them the photo on the tiny screen of the digital camera.

“Lovely…” Thalia said. “We gotta enlarge that and I’ll have it framed…” she said and tightened her long, patterned scarf around her neck.

The three of them strolled along the streets of the so called ‘Quartier Latin’. They passed the university, the Sorbonne, and a group of students standing outside before they turned down a street to their right.

“My gosh, so many book shops…” Thalia said and looked into the window. “This one’s obviously made for the law students…”

Before they knew their little group was stood in front of the high fence which separated the Jardin du Luxembourg from the busy streets all around.

“Alright, let’s go in!” Thalia said.

“I bet it’s lovely here in autumn, when the leaves are all coloured.” Gareth said.

“Yeah, the trees appear so naked, don’t they?” Kelly agreed. Not knowing what else there would be to see, they went on straight ahead until they arrived at a circular place, in the middle of it a huge fountain and to their left the Palais.

“You think it’s for hire? I might just move in there…” Thalia said, staring at the building with its beige walls and brown roof. The tricolore was  fluttering in the wind on top of the roof.

“I don’t think so. Didn’t you mention the Senate is situated in here?”

“Oh, right. That’s a shame.” They walked further to the fountain.

“It’s huge…” Thalia said. All around there were white chairs and most of them were occupied by old men reading newspapers, students enjoying a break or other tourists.

“I really like it here…” Gareth said.

“You reckon this should be a scene in my video?”

“If it’s sunny, yeah” he nodded. Their time passed way too fast and it had already turned seven o’clock as they set their feet back into  the hotel.

“Meet you here at eight…” Kelly told them for the third time.

“We’ll be there…” Gareth promised and opened the door to his and Lia’s room.

“I’m so freaking tired…” Thalia yawned and flung herself on the bed.

“We can head straight to bed when we are done with the dinner… but for now, we have to get ready. I’ll take a shower.” Gareth said and took off his coat.

“I’ll rest my head, don’t forget to wake me when you get out.” Thalia said and peeled out of her coat to. When the bathroom door closed, she had already fallen into a light sleep.

Time dragged by so quickly that Thalia was shocked to find herself lying in bed on Saturday morning at 8 o’clock.

“Gaz… what day is today?” she whispered and stroked his cheek.

“Saturday?” he said unsure.

“Great. So we are not late…” she said and lay her head back down on the pillow.

“What time is it?”

“Eight…” she answered sleepily.

“Great. An hour?” he asked.

“An hour…” Thalia agreed and both fell back to sleep. The shooting in the February cold had worn them out totally. And then, the night before, they had had the party with everyone. The video, from what Thalia had seen up to that point, reflected the fun they had had all through the days. There had never occurred problems with anyone and Thalia found her ideas in it easily.

At nine thirty, Gareth stirred and opened his eyes. For the past days they had had beautiful weather and even that day, the sun was creeping through the curtains. He stretched and rolled over to kiss Thalia’s cheek.

“Come on, let’s get up. Or we’ll miss breakfast…”

Thalia hit him playfully and opened her eyes. “I feel warm for the first time in Paris… I think I might have caught a flu…”

“No, baby. Surely not. But you should take your medicine as prevention.” He advised concerned, knowing every virus would cause her to stop working and cure it.

“Alright. Can you give me the med, it’s in the drawer next to you…” she said and Gareth’s reached over.

She flicked through the various boxes and then took out two pills. She downed them with a glass of water and sat a moment thinking.

“I hate all of this…” she said tossed the pills back into the case.

“I know…” Gareth said. He hated the fact that she had to take ‘drugs’ almost every day. But that was she price she had to pay for her eyesight and Thalia was awesomely happy she had given a second chance on that.

Later that day, the two of them had returned to the crêperie, which they had eaten in on their first day with Kelly. There were still a lot of sights for them left to see and so Thalia decided they could have a crêpes as take-away. The guy was pretty friendly with them and they talked about random things while he prepared their food.

“Thanks…” Thalia said and handed him some money. It was too much, as always but before he could give her the change, Gareth and her had disappeared around the next corner to catch the Metro.

The days passed in a blur and when they sat in the hotel restaurant in the evening to have dinner, Gareth looked at her.

“You know what will be on our last day here?” Thalia thought for a moment.

“Valentine’s day.” She answered and blew him a kiss.

“That’s so cheesy, and yet I can’t help but think it’s romantic. What do you wanna do on that day?” he asked.

“It’s our last day. We can’t do exactly much, can we?”

“Do you wanna see Versailles?” he asked.

“I haven’t thought about that. But that sounds wicked.”

And  so things were settled.

Two days on and the two of them had seen a huge part of the Louvre, plus various sights and other museums. Thalia was dragging Gareth to some cemetery at the moment, jabbering about how she thought their trip had been wonderful. Gareth couldn’t follow her talking really. He was excited about the surprise he had for her and he hoped everything would work out just how he wanted.

“Alright, let’s get in here…” Thalia said, turning left and walking up some large, old, worn out stone steps. A couple of people were standing in front of the large map sign and Thalia quickly unfolded the map they had just bought. Père-Lachaise, the grave yard they had just set their feet on could star with a couple of big names, such as Jim Morrison, Max Ernst and Maria Callas. And most important for Thalia: Oscar Wilde, for whom she had developed a strange devotion after reading some of his tales and plays. She collected his quotes and let one slip every now and then, when she thought they were appropriate, especially, when she had to leave a message for the tabloids to deny a new rumour. Her favourite was: “Most personalities have been obliged to be rebels.” For when the Sun had complained about her getting drunk on New Year’s Eve. Everyone at 19 and BMG thought of it as incredibly funny and were happy Thalia could deal with the pressure press was putting on her.

“Come on, Gaz. Oscar is waiting…” she whispered and dragged Gareth behind her, away from the tourists. She didn’t want them to get recognized just now that they were spending some ‘quality time’ together. She loved meeting people and didn’t mind signing autographs, taking photos or just stop for a chat but just now that Gareth and her had a day off in this lovely city she wanted to be with only him, to be just her, Thalia from London, not Thalia, the oh-so-well-known pianist.

It worked incredibly well, hiding behind them map or taking the smallest of paths when people neared and eventually, Thalia had fun running and hiding from Gareth. Just when she thought she had seen all, a richly decorated grave came into her view.

“Look, Gareth! We found Chopin!” she exclaimed but then lowered her voice, “I knew we had forgotten about someone.”

That night, Gareth was waiting a long time for Thalia to emerge from the bathroom. The next day was Valentine’s Day and since it was their first 14^th February that they were a couple, he wanted to do something special for her. She wasn’t sure what he had organized but it required some classy yet warming clothes and her trust.

“I guess, I’m ready…” she said and opened the bathroom door slowly. Thalia had opted for a knitted, red pullover with a wide neckline, which allowed the garment to fall of her shoulder accidentally. And she had chosen a knee-long black skirt. Around her waist, eighties-like, she wore a black, broad leather belt. It accented her curves alright and Gareth noticed once more that she was getting thinner with every week. But he didn’t want to bother her that night.

“Wow – “ Gareth said, “I didn’t expect you to dress that classy.”

“Thank you kind, sir. Are we ready to leave?”

“I am, a long time. Then come on!” He helped her into her coat and took his own over his arm, along with the new scarf they had bought that day.

Thalia was rather surprised that they took the Metro, but she liked it all the same. It reminded her of various movies, in which loved up couples would always sit cuddled up on the seats. And that was exactly what they did. All the time, they said nothing. From the direction the Metro was taking, she could guess that they were on their way to the Eiffeltower. She had objected to ever go up there again and hoped Gareth wouldn’t take her up there. But she regretted to have complained about him taking her there about half an hour later, when they stepped out of the lift on the top floor. They walked around the by windows closed room, then went up the stairs to actually go out.

“Oh my gosh, Gareth. That is amazing. That was the best idea, really. I didn’t think it would be so great.” She turned around and hugged him. “Thanks.” He kissed her forehead and put some of the hair out of her face, but the wind blew it about a second later.

“It’s really cold up here, though.” He remarked and took her hand.

“Can we take a photo, have you brought your camera?”

“Of course!” he said, delighted that he could capture the wonderful moments for eternity.

“Excuse me – “ Thalia asked and elderly woman. The woman smiled and took the camera from Lia’s hand, although she actually understood no word due to her Polish origin.

“Thank you…” Thalia smiled.

“Looks alright, I would say…” Gareth said and showed her. Although both their cheeks were reddened from the cold, it looked cute. They walked a little further around, Thalia stopped and pointed towards the enlightened Sacré-Coeur.

“Look, Gareth. I like Paris so much!” her hands held onto the fence made out of strong wire and Gareth’s arms fastened around her waist. He brought his lips close to her left ear. The moment was supposed to be romantic, yet Thalia couldn’t help but giggle because his hot breath was tickling on her skin.

“Sometimes we’re so corny. Ashley and Jasper would totally laugh about me.”

“They don’t matter now, do they? And I’ll take Jasper into liking it. In his behaviour towards girls, he can learn a lot from the two of you.”

“Do you think so?” Gareth asked surprised.

“I wouldn’t say so, would I? But you can learn a lot from him, as regards being friends with someone. He ‘misses’ you. Really.”

“I know, I know. But for one night, can’t it be us?”

“Of course, of course.” Thalia said. She turned towards him and pressed her lips against his cold cheek. “What’s the rest of my surprise, anyway?” He laughed, then kissed her.

“We haven’t had dinner, had we?”

“No…”

He took her to the second floor and held the door to the ‘Jules Verne’ open.

“We’re not eating here? We are? Wow!” she walked past him and blew him a kiss. A waiter, dressed in a neat black suit, walked up to them.

“Madame, Monsieur. Bon soir.”

“Gates.” Gareth said. The waiter nodded and led them to a table for two next to the window. Gareth helped Thalia out of her jacket and handed both of theirs to the restaurant’s employee, who then retreated.

“Do you want to sit down, or do you want to eat standing?” Gareth asked.

“I can’t tear my eyes from the view.”

“Actually, I thought we’d just stare into each other’s eyes forever, tonight. But, hell, I was wrong.” Gareth mocked her playfully.

“No, no. Of course. Thanks for bringing me here.” She kissed his lips quickly and then let him help her with the chair.

It was shortly past midnight, when the two came back to their hotel room.

“It’s so warm in here. Do you reckon they still serve room service?” Thalia asked.

“I don’t know. But are you hungry again, already?”

“No. No. The dinner was the best I’ve tasted here. I was just wondering if they still serve hot cocoa. I could do with one, how about you?” Gareth laughed.

“Yeah, sure. Listen, we’ll warm you up by a nice bubble bath, I’ll call the service and then…” he trailed off, looking at her lovingly.

“And then?” Thalia asked, teasing him. She took off her belt and put it back into her suitcase, then she stripped out off her skirt.

“I’ll see you later.” She winked at him but Gareth caught her right arm and pulled her around.

“You make my life so special, so colourful. You give me a reason to breathe, you are my breath, the air I need to stay alive, you’re my heart, my everything.” His words sounded so sincere. The whole night he had searched for words to say. But he couldn’t think them. Not one word. And so he had decided to just give it a go. Tell her straight away what he felt, even if it made no sense. And sometimes his feelings made no sense.

Later, the two lay in bed, close together. Actually, Thalia was lying on top of him, her head resting on his chest, which lifted and lowered with every breath he took. She was sleepy, from the warmth of the bath, from the cocoa, from being out in the bright sunlight and fresh air all day. Gareth arms were looked on her back, firmly, as if he was never going to let her get up again. None had said a word in the last half an hour or how long they were already cuddling. She felt so calm, so relaxed, so happy. And she was thankful for every second she was allowed to spent with him. Her eyes fell closed, just when Gareth started stroking her hair. She tilted her head a little and looked at him. He smiled at her and she was sure what he wanted. She closed her eyes and put her head back in place.

“I’m sorry… “ she whispered.

“It’s alright. It’s alright.” He answered and kissed the top of her head. “This feels just as good.”

*

Gareth broke free from the kiss they had just been sharing. There had been a knock on the door.

“Come in!” Penny and Nicola waltz into the room, both already a little drunk.

“You’re missing out on a biiiiiiiiiiiig party!” Nicola exclaimed. “Your own party, Thalia!”

“I think the two are having a party on their own…” Penny said and the two girls broke into laughter.

“You’re definitely drinking too much!” Gareth said.

“No – look at the two of you, grinning all sheepishly. What were you up to, huh?” Nicola queried. But then Ellen came in.

“Hey…” Jeff entered and closed the door.

“Ok… Colin is where?” Penny asked.

“You are asking for your own husband?” Thalia said, “at least I know where my boyfriend’s at.” Another knock. That was Colin, as always, late. 

Thalia was given a few more presents. An album made by Penny, mostly, with the help of Nicola and Colin, just in case she would feel lonely. She opened the second box.

“We wanted to give you something, too. And we weren’t sure what you would want most. But well, take a look yourself, darling.” Ellen patted her daughter’s shoulder and Thalia took out the envelope on top. She recognized the papers immediately. It were two tickets, for a flight anywhere and valid for the next two years. Thalia laughed.

“You mean when I want to go away, get away from all this?”

“Exactly, and you might want to take Gareth.” Thalia nodded.

“We’ve just been talking about Paris and how nice it was.” The rest of the box was filled with CDs.

“Yours, actually. Maybe you want to take them with you.” She nodded. She had never realised how many CDs he had actually borrowed from her.

“Thanks, I was missing some and thought I had hid them somewhere in the flat, just really, really well.”

“Well, I might just say a few words now, I don’t think I’ll be able to have all around later and then, I don’t know whether all of us are still aware of what is going on.” She winked at Nicola and told them how much she would miss them all, but that at the same she thought it would be a great chance. Everyone agreed with her, wished her good luck and a few tears were shed.

But then, they returned to the celebration itself, where James, Adam and Ryan were just playing an acoustic version of ‘This Love’.