T <3

Juniper.
Holy shit, please.
Oh my god.

huh
what happened
r u ok???

No.
I'm panicking, obviously.

...
thalia
girl pls
u don't have to have
perfect punctuation over texts

Shut up.
Get your ass over here.
Now.

In a burst of urgency, Juniper hurries into Thalia's house, swiftly using their key to unlock the door.

They try not to grimace at the scene - scattered clothes strewn across the couch, floor, and somehow even in the kitchen. Thalias sense of organization is notably lacking.

It comes to ruin the beauty of her apartment. Instead of being captivated by the refined wallpaper and furnishings, your attention is drawn to the disarray of makeup brushes scattered across the coffee table.

A shout from the bedroom beckons. "Jun!"

Recalling their purpose here, Juniper strides into the bedroom.

Upon turning the door knob, the situation becomes apparent.

Thalia is stood on the bed, laptop in hand, poised for attack, while perched on the air conditioner across from her is a small bird.

Juniper enters the bedroom, eyeing the intense standoff. They can't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the scene.

"Care to explain what's happening here?" They cross their arms, leaning back against the vanity table.

Thalia, eyes fixed on the bird, responds with a mix of determination and frustration.

"This little shit flew in through the window, and I can't get it to leave."

Juniper nods slowly, surveying the situation with a bemused smile. "So, what's the plan?"

She gazes at them with a smirk. "The plan? I'm going to scare it away. Watch this."

She makes a sudden move towards the bird, but it just flutters its wings, staying put. Instead, Thalia herself ends up stumbling over and falling back on the bed.

Juniper refrains from laughing, covering their mouth with a hand.

Thalia rolls her eyes with a huff. "Shut up." She takes a deep breath, realizing she needs a different approach.

"Why don't we try something more friendly? Maybe open a window and gently guide it out?"

Thalia narrows her eyes at the suggestion before reluctantly agreeing with a sigh.

"Fine, whatever, let's do it your way."

They both approach the open window, strategically positioning themselves to guide the bird towards the fresh air.

They make synchronised movements, creating a path for the bird to escape. Yet, the feathered creature remains stubbornly perched.

"This bird is testing my patience." A sigh escapes Thalias lips.

Juniper approaches the bird gently, coaxing it towards the window.

"Come on, little birdie. It's time for you to go home"

"Yeah, bitch, you heard them."

They turn back towards Thalia with a frown at her words, as she simply shrugs her shoulders in defence.

Surprisingly, the bird responds, fluttering its wings and taking flight towards the open window. Thalia and Juniper watch in relief as it soars out into the open sky.

"Fucking finally." Thalia groans in relief, causing Juniper to release a chuckle.

"I can't believe I drove 20 minutes for that."

She huffs at their statement before raising her brows. "Oh! Let's go to the louvre again! Since you're here now, anyway."

"Dude, we need to find a new place to be obsessed with." They quip.

"But the louvre is the only place we both find lovely," she states, "there's the useless and sometimes ugly art for you, and the photoshoot opportunities for me."

Juniper blinks at Thalia. "Remind me why I'm friends with you?"

"Cause I'm awesome." She flips her hair to the side with overplayed flair, earning a giggle from Juniper.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

Under the Parisian sky, Juniper and Thalia stroll towards the Louvre.

"Hey, I'm going to grab a quick bite at the usual café. You go ahead to the museum, and we'll meet up later, alright?"

Thalia nods, eyes fixed on Juniper until they walk out of sight. With a sigh, she enters the vast museum on her own.

The grandeur of the museum envelopes her as she wanders through the corridors.

In contrast to the tourists here, her features are fixed with somber. It's not any fun to roam these familiar halls without Junipers presence.

Thalias legs guide her through corridor after corridor, each hallway feeling like a carbon copy of the last.

With a frown, she corners herself into a wall. Her eyes dart around the expanse, searching for some sort of entertainment.

Out of the corner of her eye, she notices a tourist snapping pictures with a camera.

"Who even uses those anymore?" She thinks to herself.

Her wish for entertainment is soon granted.

The person leisurely slips the camera into his backpack, oblivious to the fact that it's dangerously hanging off the edge. He begins to stroll away, the camera falling out and dropping onto the floor behind him.

Thalia rolls her eyes. "what an idiot."

However, once she takes notice to how no one's informing him, her amusement fades into concern.

A surge of unexpected empathy stirs within Thalia. Breaking free from her accustomed demeanor, she decides to approach the man.

Picking up the camera, she hesitates for a moment, considering the unfamiliar act of kindness she was about to perform.

"Hey, camera guy! You dropped-"

He turns around, and for a second, the world seems to hold its breath. Recognition strikes her like a sudden gust of wind, freezing her in place.

"Oh! Thanks a lot, I didn't even notice it was gone." He smiles, taking the camera from her hold.

Her heart, ordinarily guarded by an armor of indifference, now pounds in her chest as if it wishes to break free from the confines of her ribcage.

She absentmindedly nods, seeming to forget the way humans are supposed to act.

Her widened eyes remain locked onto his face, while his are directed at the straps of the camera, completely unaware of the maelstrom of emotions swirling within the kind stranger stood infront of him.

Yet, when their eyes meet, his expression finally begins to resonate with hers.

"Wait..." his smile fades. "Lia?"

Her nod is almost imperceptible, and her gaze remains glued onto him.

"Finn." She manages to utter, her heart now running miles.

His expression transforms from utter shock, an uncontainable smile now grazing his lips.

"Hey..." is all he says.

Neither of them dare to make a move, stood in a somewhat comfortable silence.

That is until, Thalia bursts out into laughter.

Confused but on board, Finn joins in, finding her laughter as infectious as it was years ago.

The cackles of the reunited pair echo through the grand halls, landing stares from annoyed tourists.

Finn takes notice to the looks, dragging Thalia away by the hand.

They manage to find an isolated corner of the museum, surrounded by sculptures peering on their every move.

Thalias mouth is covered by her hand, her muffled laughter bringing a smile to Finns lips.

"Okay, calm down." He chuckles, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Sorry. This is just so ridiculous." She speaks through bits of laughter.

The wide grin tugging at Finns lips is unable to be suppressed. "I know."

Thalias giggles begin to die down, enveloping the pair in a prolonged silence. Although, it's not one of an awkward nature.

"So..." she begins, "long time no see."

He hums in response. "How's life?"

"Good, good. I've actually been modelling for a while now."

His brows rise up in surprise. "Oh? That's amazing!"

"Yeah, well... can't say I'll make it as big as you, movie star." She lands a playful punch on his shoulder, rolling her eyes when he grasps it in feigned pain.

Finn sighs, leaning lightly against a wall. "I genuinely didn't expect to run into you like this."

She mimics his action. "Well, it's Paris. Anything can happen!"

He snickers, eyes unable to leave hers.

They fall into yet another silence, until Finn breaks it by clearing his throat.

"I'm sorry for never reaching out."

"It's fine." She shrugs it off. "You had things to do, and so did I."

She takes hold of his hand, dragging him through the hall. "Now, let's make up for lost time by looking at confusing art that I don't wanna see."

As the hours pass, Thalia and Finn end up finding themselves lost in their world, roaming each and every hollowed hall of the museum.

The art adorning the walls and stoic sculptures that date back centuries seem to take a seat back for them.

Thalia finds herself caught up in Finns infectious energy, forgetting all about her composed and detached demeanour.

It's almost as if they're kids again.

Abruptly, a realisation dawns on Thalia. With a jolt, she glances at her watch, only to find that the hours had slipped away like sand through her fingers.

"Shit! I was supposed to meet Juniper outside half an hour ago!" She exclaims.

Finn furrows his brows. "Who's Jupiter?"

She rolls her eyes. "Juniper. The Dionne to my Cher, the Serena to my Blair."

"What?" He responds, only more confused.

Pure astonishment grazes Thalias features, unable to believe what she's hearing. "Are you kidding?"

"I'm sorry." He shrugs.

"Ugh, whatever. Let's just go."

"Where the fuck are they?"

Thalia navigates the outside surroundings, searching for a trace of Juniper. She strolls back and forth in-front of the statue they were supposed to meet at.

"Could you tell me what we're looking for? Some details would help."

"Freakishly tall, hot, dreadlocks, bitchy but in a good way." She states, pivoting around to look at him.

He chuckles under his breath. "I don't think that last one's gonna help, but thanks anyway."

A sigh escapes her lips as she grabs Finns hand and heads towards the quaint cafe. "Maybe they're still in there."

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, accompanied by subtle hints of cinnamon and cocoa hits them immediately as they enter.

"I think they just went home, Lia."

He tilts his head slightly to the side, eyeing the brunette as she frustratedly looks around for her friend.

Thalia reaches into her handbag and retrieves her phone, unlocking it only to come across countless unseen text messages and missed calls.

She scoffs with a slight grin, displaying the texts for Finn to read.

"I'm going home... you're taking too long... you can just fetch a taxi... gotta feed jewel... who's jewel?"

"Their goldfish." She rolls her eyes, scoffing with annoyance.

He chuckles at her irritation. "Not too fond of jewel?"

"She and I have some unpleasant history."

"I'm not even going to question that." Finns eyes roam the cafe with intrigue. "Hey, this place is actually kinda nice."

A grin plays at her lips. "Save me a seat."

Thalia goes to the front to place an order without consulting Finn about his choice.

She assumes his taste hasn't changed over the years, as they consistently shared similar food choices through childhood.

Unlike most children, sharing was never a point of contention for them; they were always comfortable borrowing each others belongings and taking bites of each others meals. In fact, sharing everything was a natural inclination.

"Uh, I'll take two of those eclairs and my usual." Thalia states, pointing at the display.

The barista nods before suddenly pausing. His eyes narrow, as if inspecting Thalias face.

She lets out an uncomfortable chuckle. "Can I help you?"

"Is it your birthday? Did you win the lottery?" He speaks with a strong accent.

"Neither... why?" She laughs again.

"You seem happier than usual." He shrugs his shoulders, beginning to bring out the eclairs.

A smile that cannot be suppressed covers her face. "Well, it's a good day."

Retrieving a wad of cash from her handbag, she presents what might be deemed a substantial amount by others, yet to her, it's merely a modest tip.

"Here, I rarely ever tip anyone around here." She feigns a smile to be friendly.

His eyes widen. "No, no! It's fine."

"Oh, come on." She insists, sneaking a glance at his name-tag. "Pierre."

"No, really, it's okay-"

"Take the fucking money, Pierre." She speaks with a deadpan expression.

The blonde sighs, grasping the money from her hands. "And... she's back."

"Hi, Pierre was pissing me off." Thalia breathes out, setting the tray on the round table as she pulls out her wooden chair.

"Who?" Finn furrows his brows, grasping one of the cups.

"No one that matters." She retrieves the other cup, clinking it with Finns. "Cheers!"

They both chug down their double-shot espressos, faces contorting from the bitter taste.

"Ugh, why do I do this to myself?" Thalia squints, causing Finn to laugh.

"You really have this everyday?" He inquires, taking a bite of the eclair to rid of the unwanted aftertaste.

"Yup!" She grimaces before gathering herself. "So, how long are you here for?"

"2 weeks. It's only been 3 days." He responds. "I've been crashing at my friends place rather than getting a hotel room. He invited me to stay, so I figured why not?"

"Oh..." Thalia responds, almost disappointed.

Finn locks eyes with her, a slightly noticeably smirk placed on his lips. "It's not the best environment though. If anyone was going to ask me to stay at theirs, I wouldn't turn it down."

Thalia taps her fingers on the empty cup, biting her cheek to hold back a smile. "Good to know."

"He has girls over all the time and I'm forced to hear sounds that I'd rather not." He sighs. "Some peace and quiet would be a huge relief."

Her eyes are directed on the floor as she speaks, still tapping rhythmic patterns on the cup. "I've got a guest room."

"Is that so?" He smiles.

"How about... you ditch this guy and come stay with me in my luxurious home."

Finn hums. "Only if you accept the risk of me setting a fire to your entire house while trying out a recipe I found online."

She puts out her hand. "Deal."

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

The pair stands under a canopy that shelters them amidst the downpour. Night has fallen faster than expected, and with it, the tears of God descend.

"I love rain." Finn sighs in content, receiving a look of judgement from the girl beside him.

"What's there to love about it? It gets your Dior wet."

A taxi approaches beneath the glow of street signs. As raindrops dance on its roof, Thalia and Finn enter cautiously.

As Finn gives out the address, Thalia stares at him through awestruck eyes.

The blurred out city of Paris in the window serves as a backdrop to his shadowy silhouette.

Even in the dark, it's unmistakable how gorgeous he is.

His features possess a touch of androgyny, and his cheekbones resemble those of a Greek deity. Thalias heart seems to skip a beat every time he runs a hand through his hair.

Feeling his presence after such a long absence feels akin to a fever dream. She's been observing him through the glow of screens for so long that the reality of being beside him feels surreal.

"Have I ever told you how pretty you are?"

He lifts his eyebrows in response to her words and turns towards her with a smile. "Not to my recollection."

"Well you are." She nods, feeling an unusual warmth in her face. "Not as much as me, but you're getting up there."

He chuckles, eyes aimed down at his shoes. "Thanks, Lia."

He hesitantly rests a hand on her leg. The heat in her cheeks deepens, and her heart accelerates to a point it's never gone before. Yet, she brushes it off, attributing it to the excitement of seeing him again.

The taxi comes to a halt, the driver agreeing to wait in the downpour while Finn retrieves his bags.

"Got a spare key?" Thalia asks as they approach the apartment.

Finn nods, unlocking the door before stepping inside. She hesitates at the doorway until Finn forcefully pulls her in, eliciting a soft laugh.

The apartment is shrouded in darkness, hinting that Finns friend has already retired for the night.

"Good thing I never unpacked." He grins, Thalia assisting him in gathering his bags and the few belongings that stray loose.

In a matter of moments, the audible sounds of a bed creaking and other suggestive noises reach their ears.

Finn sighs, while Thalia covers her mouth in a mix of shock and an attempt to stifle laughter.

"See what I mean? Let's get out of here."

Finn hastily drops his key on the counter, desperate to leave the premises. With their hands full of bags, the duo swiftly exits the apartment.

Once they rush back inside the cab, Thalia bursts into laughter. "I am so sorry you had to endure that for three days."

"So am I." He sighs, dropping his head back in both relief and exhaustion.

"I'll let him know I left in the morning, wouldn't wanna interrupt that."

"You and I are not the same. I would've facetimed him right now and blabbered on for an hour." She states, receiving a chuckle from him.

"You are pure evil."

"Home sweet home!"

Finn lets his bags fall to the floor, navigating the expanse. Thalias residence is grand, spanning two stories, and the wealth is evident in every detail.

The dim-lit house consists of expensive furniture, vintage and rare pieces, enveloped in the scent of Dior fragrances.

And yet, it's a mess.

"Lia, you really need to hire a cleaner or something." He chuckles, the homely feeling bringing a wide grin to his lips.

"I will." She slowly nods. "Someday."

He allows himself to sink into the cushioned couch, closing his eyes for some much-needed rest.

Thalia calls out from the kitchen, "would you like something to drink?"

Receiving no response, she wanders into the living room to find him peacefully lost in a deep slumber.

Smiling, she observes Finn, admiring him in his restful state. He probably didn't get enough sleep at his friends apartment, given the circumstances.

Fetching a blanket from the guest room, she drapes it over him, taking a moment to watch him sleep before realizing the intimacy of the act.

She quickly retreats to the kitchen with a bright red face.

AUTHORS NOTE

This is so wattpad I love it.
I have yet to make them share a bed though... 🤞🤞🤞