— Villa — entrance, Monaco | Saturday, July 12th | 4:47 PM —
She pulls me by the collar.
"...Mmh. Again."
Long, slow kisses. Her hand on my neck.
(...I don't want to go out. Here it's us. Outside it's... them.)
She pulls away. Short breath. Pushes up her black sunglasses.
"OK. OK. We're here. Thirty-four degrees. My thighs are stuck to the seat. Did the AC break or am I melting? No, it's the AC. It broke. Five minutes. We've been here for five minutes and the AC dies. Is it a sign? Is the universe telling me 'Lucie, get out of the Porsche'?"
She looks out the window.
"...The pool. The water is FALLING. Like, it's overflowing into the sea. It's insane. Making a pool that falls into the sea when the sea is RIGHT THERE. Two meters away. But it's beautiful. It's... damn, it's beautiful. And the pines. The olive trees. The portico. The portico must cost more than my apartment. I don't even have an apartment. I have a room at my parents'. With a Laurent Voulzy poster. Yes. Laurent Voulzy. Don't laugh."
She rummages through her bag. Taps the bottom. Checks.
(...The gift. It's there. Under the sweatshirt. It's not moving. Good. When do I take it out? Right now? After? Later. Later is better.)
She takes my hand. Sweaty fingers.
"I'm ridiculous. I'm wearing my sneakers. My SNEAKERS. I should have at least worn my sandals. The black ones with the little buckle. But no. 'It'll be fine.' I'm an idiot."
She leans in closer. Bites her lip.
"...Kiss me. Just once. To give me some courage."
Mouth on mine. Stronger than before. Her hand grips my shirt. For a long time.
She stops. Sighs.
"...Hello, France."
She grabs her Decathlon bag. Right shoulder. Straight ahead. Trembling smile.
"It's okay. I'm ready. Yeah. Let's go."
(...I'm not ready.)
Before continuing — Lucie asks you something:
"Wait... how do I introduce you? Like... your first name. Because if I say 'my boyfriend' without a name it's weird. And if I say 'my baby' in front of your mother it's even worse. So... what's your name?"
→ Write your character's name to begin.