La Vie En Rose

Mr. Brightside - The Killers

John and I didn’t go to sleep that night. We stayed up, laying in each others arms, talking about serious things and stupid things. When the morning light began seeping through the window, we decided to take a shower, get dressed and walk around Hollywood.

It was around eight o’clock by the time we were outside and walking downtown. The air was still cool, with a hint of humidity. The streets were empty, save for a couple of cars driving past and the occasional dog-walker.

“I think there’s a Starbucks around the corner.” John said, nodding his head in front of us. He was wearing a green plaid shirt with a denim vest lazily hanging over it and his usual pair of skinny jeans. His hair was a mess but somehow, it complimented the Ray Bans that was shielding the sun from his eyes. God, I love him.

We arrive at the somewhat-quiet Starbucks, ordered two coffees and two scones with butter, and sat down at the round table by the window. I wrapped my hands around the warm cup of hot liquid and sat back into my plush chair. I gazed out the window, watching people walk by. Most people were walking at a leisurely pace down the street, taking in the morning sun. I sighed, taking it all in.

“Los Angeles has such a different atmosphere to New York City.” I spoke softly as I continued to observe outside. “It’s a much slower pace here. Brighter too.”

I looked over at John, who nodded in agreement. He took a sip of his coffee before responding. “Are you happy to be back in California?”

“Of course.” I smiled. “Nothing but good memories here.”

I thought back to the road trip we took before Christmas and the first kiss John and I shared at Jac’s party. It feels like it happened so long ago.

“I miss Christmas break.” John said as he buttered the scone. “I saw you every day, we weren’t on tour yet, everyone was happy. We were all just-”

“Together.” I finished his sentence, letting a sigh escape my lips. “I know. I miss it all the time.”

When I first met John, life was a hell of a lot easier. The list of Things To Do was near to empty, save for a couple of homework assignments. Now, the list doesn’t stop. Now I was creating a name for myself and a new brand. The amount of work I have ahead of me is a terrifying quantity.

My anxious thoughts led me to retrieve my blackberry from my bag to check emails. It was almost noon over on the east coast. Naturally, there was over fifty unread messages waiting for me, along with four voicemails and seven text messages. Eugh.

“Everything alright?” John asked. “Your face just turned a little green.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I waved it off, putting my phone on the table. “Just a lot of stuff waiting for me back in New York.”

“Well you don’t have to go back to reality for another 48 hours.” He gave me that infamous smirk while he reached over the table for my hand. Without thinking, my fingers laced with his.

When we got back to the hotel an hour later, John insisted we take a nap. He was dead to the world the minute his head hit the pillow. I, on the other hand, couldn’t stop thinking about everything I had to do before the fashion show. My brain was going into overdrive while I was making a mental list of what I had to do. It was almost giving me a panic attack. Not to mention, I completely forgot to turn in one of the papers I was working on for class at school. That grade is going to suffer badly.

I carefully turned beneath John’s arm so I could face him. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, his breath in an even pattern. I scooted closer to him, closing my eyes and taking a deep breathe. I only had a day and a half left of this before I was back on the East coast. Who knows when I’ll see him again after this. Was it going to be summer before I see his face again? That’s two months away. Even then, when I go back home to Arizona, will he be home? He’ll most likely be on tour the whole summer. I hated all this time we spent apart. Only now do I realize how horrible it is to not be around him as much as I’d like to. Our situation sucked. I laid my head closer to his and closed my eyes once more. This movement caused John to stir only slightly. He pulled me in even closer before kissing my forehead and whispering ‘I love you’

After what felt like only ten minutes of sleeping, we woke up to the sounds of yelling and banging on my hotel room door. Groaning, I pulled a pillow over my head while John rolled out of bed and grudgingly walked over to the door. Before I knew it, there were four bodies jumping on the bed.

“Wake up sleepyhead, it’s afternoon!” Garrett’s voice.

“We’re hungry!! Come on, come on, it’s time for food!” That voice sounded like Kennedy.

“Not to mention it’s a beautiful day outside.” That was Jared.

“And I kissed Demi Lovato on the mouth! Twice!” Pat. Wait....Pat?

I lifted my head up from my pillow and fixed my eyes on Pat with shock. “Wait, what? Really?”

“He really did. I can back him on that.” Garrett, who was sitting on the other side of me. “ They were full on making out last night at the after party. She even gave him her number.”

“Atta boy, Pat!” Kennedy exclaimed, patting him hard on the back. All Pat could do was blush.

I took Pat’s hands in mine and looked at him seriously. “Pat Kirch...you’re a man now.”

John and Jared erupted with laughter when Pat rolled his eyes and stood up. “I hate all of you. And I’m hungry!” He waited by the door with folded arms.

“Are we feeling Pei Wei?” Garrett questioned, looking at me for an answer.

“Yeah.” I yawned, throwing the covers off me. “We’re feeling Pei Wei.”



To say I was worse for wear was an understatement. Not to mention, throughout the afternoon, I was becoming horrible company. I was on my phone the whole time we were all out to lunch, and barely listened to what the guys were talking about. I just couldn’t stop thinking about school and all the clothes I still have to fix. It definitely wasn’t helping that Sharon was forwarding emails from important buyers from Macys and Saks Fifth Ave, who were trying to confirm their seats at my fashion showcase.

“Yo Geeg!” Kennedy caught my attention. “What’s up? You’ve been quiet this whole time.”

“Sorry.” I responded, shoving my blackberry back into my bag. “I’m stressing out over everything I left back in New York.”

John reached over and patted my thigh, giving me a sympathetic smile. I gave him a weak smile in return.

“How’s the fashion show thingy coming along?” Garrett asked before dropping his chop sticks into the empty bowl, “And when the hell do I get my invite?”

“Yeah, I wanna go too!” Kennedy added.

“You guys know we’re going to be in the UK in May, right?” Jared piped up.

“Wait.” I said, quickly looking from Jared to John. That was the first I heard anything about the UK. “You’re going to Europe?”

“Shit man, you didn’t tell her yet?” Garrett asked John but quickly closed his mouth when John threw a glare in his direction. When he turned back to me, his expression immediately softened.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. We booked a six week European tour with This Century that starts right after this tour. I didn’t want to tell you about it until all tour plans were confirmed.” When he finished talking, he searched my face for a response. I noticed all conversations at the table were at a halt, and everyone was looking at me.

My heart sank. Six weeks out of the country? I couldn’t believe it. It was hard enough when we were states apart but countries apart? That’s a whole other ballgame. I couldn’t get mad at him because this was after all, his job but I was still upset over the fact that I don’t get to see him. Committing to this long-distance relationship back on New Years Eve seemed a lot easier than I originally thought.

“Wow.” I finally spoke up, realizing that everyone was waiting for my response. “That’s amazing! Will you be going to Paris?”

Everyone looked relieved that I wasn’t mad, except for John. He was still searching my face for some kind of sign. Or maybe he knew that I was hiding how I actually felt. I smiled at him, hoping it would work.

“Yes we are!” Pat answered for John. “And we’re going to Germany and Ireland and Scotland!”

“Don’t forget Italy!” Kennedy chimed in. “The first thing I’m doing when we get there is eating a whole pizza!”

I noticed John was still looking at me with a worried expression. I quickly reached for his hand and squeezed it, mouthing the words “It’s okay, I promise” while everyone else animately talked about their future travels.



Whack.

“I cannot believe you just did that.” John was completely floored. “Oh, it’s totally on now. Come here!”

I squealed, immediately running away from the bed and around the table by the window. It was our last night together before I was flying back out to New York City tomorrow morning. Everything was all fine and dandy between us when we got back to my hotel room and we were both totally calm but now, for some reason, we were hyper. Really hyper. Maybe it started out by me hitting him across the head with a pillow.

I couldn’t help but laugh loudly as John chased me around the hotel room. We both knew he was going to catch me eventually. There was only so much space to run around. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of running towards the bathroom, where I quickly realized he was about to corner me.

“Gotcha!” He exclaimed triumphantly, grabbing me by the waist and carrying me back to the bed.

“No no no! I surrender, okay? I surrender!” I yelled but it was no use. He had me pinned down to the bed and was attacking me in all my tickly spots. I erupted with laughter, trying to push John away from me but he was a lot stronger than I was. He climbed on top of me, giggling childishly because he knew he was winning.

“It hurts!! It hurts!” I yelled through the laughter. “I surrender John! You win!”

He finally stopped tickling me and smiled, pinning both my hands down to the bed. “Thats what I like to hear!”

I rolled my eyes and pushed him to the empty spot next to me. “You’re ridiculous...and a lot stronger than I remembered.”

“Thanks!” He replied, leaning his head against his propped up arm. He began flexing his other arm. “I’ve been working out. Just man stuff, you know?”

“You’re such a dweeb.” I chuckled as I repositioned the pillow under my head. I turned my body so I could look at John. Without even thinking, I reached for his hair and started running my fingers through his messy locks. I could see him visibly relaxing by the small gesture.

“Hey.” He reached over for my waist and pulled me closer to him. “You’re not mad that I didn’t tell you about Europe, right?”

I sighed, now tracing the contour of his face with my index finger. “I’m not. I’m just...bummed. That means I won’t see you for at least another three months. That’s so long, John.”

“Well hold on a second here, Ms. King! Who says I won’t see you until then?” He asked, with a little smirk on his face.

“Well, I’m only assuming. You’re still on tour now and I’m going back to New York and then I’m there until June. Then you’re flying off to Europe for FOREVER. And then I’m-”

“You are the biggest Debbie Downer in the world, you know that right?” He interrupted. He pushed himself up and carefully climbed on top of me, immediately making my heart race a little quicker. The unreasonable doubt I was feeling a couple of seconds ago have now vanished.

“Hey! What are you doing! You can’t just get all sexual when we’re having a serious-”

“Will you shh!” He put a finger to my lips, hushing me immediately. He laughed at my shocked expression. “What if I see you sooner than three months?”

I was about to ask him what the hell he meant but before I could, he continued.

“How do you feel about maybe meeting me in Milan?” He asked.

“Milan?” I questioned him immediately. “As in Milan.....Italy?”

“Yes of course Milan, Italy. Is there another Milan?” He jokingly rolled his eyes.

“Well there’s a Milan, Illinois.”

“Gigi, you know what I meant!” He exclaimed.

I grinned at him response.

“I want to fly you out to Italy when you’re done with school and your fashion show.” He continued to explain as we both sat up on the bed. While he talked, he casually tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. I couldn’t help but smile when he did it. It was such an innocent act and also my favorite thing he did when he talked to me. “I looked at both of our schedules and it turns out I’ll be in Italy the week after your semester ends.”

“But my mother’s wedding...” I drifted, knowing it was in the beginning of summer.

“I know, it’s in June.” I nodded. “But you have at least two weeks in between school and her wedding. I was thinking you could stay with us for a week. I’ll fly you out to Milan and then you can fly back to Arizona from Germany.”

“Oh John!” I exclaimed excitedly. I jumped up and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Do you really mean it!?”

“Of course I do. I want you out there with me. Besides, I’d miss you too much if I left you here in the stinky United States Of America.”

I squealed, attacking him with kisses on his face. He laughed at my response as we toppled over from my forcefulness.

“I love you! You’re the best boyfriend in the world.” I beamed. “Will you have enough time to sight see? Will you visit all the high-end fashion stores with me??”

He faked an exaggerated sigh. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“I cannot wait, holy crap!” I couldn’t stop giggling. “We have so many things to see!”

“This means I can get laid tonight, right?” John wiggled his eyebrows at me.

“Oh hell yeah!” I ripped my shirt off and tossed it to the floor. “Let’s do this!”