The CBB :: View topic - Love at first sight(Antoine&Genevieve) Completed 19/6 p4

Love at first sight(Antoine&Genevieve) Completed 19/6 p4

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The CBB -> Ste Therese's House

#1: Love at first sight(Antoine&Genevieve) Completed 19/6 p4 Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:17 pm
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The bunnies are going in the wrong direction, back into the past, not into the future. This is how Antoine and Genevieve met. Is it ok to have no CS people in it?

Antoine Moretti added a fourth volume to the pile of books he was carrying and headed towards the checkout desk in the library, hoping that the queue there would not be too long. The books were all very thick and extremely heavy, and he had a fascinatingly complex legal essay to begin work on, so he really was not in the mood to be waiting for a long time to check the books out.
As he reached the queue, Antoine found another student just arriving ahead of him. She was well laden with books, too, but it was not this that made Antoine notice her. She was very pretty, with long, dark hair that fell in a riot of curls down her back, and a delicate, pointed face that was full of character. She smiled at him as she stepped into the queue ahead of him and there was no way he could even think of being annoyed with her. She checked out her books and pushed them into the bag she had slung over one shoulder and then she was leaving, her sandals clicking on the marble floor of the library as she went.
Antoine took his own books back to his room and made coffee, then he sat at his desk and began his work. To his consternation, he could not concentrate on his essay, for he kept on seeing her face in his mind’s eye, her wide smile and dancing brown eyes just would not leave him in peace long enough to do any work. In the end he had to resolutely banish her image from his mind and force his attention towards the words on the pages in front of him. Unusually, it was a dreadful struggle; he would read a few pages and then suddenly he would find he was gazing unseeingly at the page in front of him again, thinking about the girl in the library once more.
Antoine was a studious young man, intent on following his father into his law firm. He worked hard and was at the top of his class and great things were expected of him. Never before had he had so much difficulty in concentrating on his work; he even began to wonder if he might be sickening for something. He poured over his books for hours, but could not get more than a couple of hundred words of his essay done. In the end he abandoned all attempts at working and went to sit on the tiny balcony outside his bedroom window, sipping another cup of coffee and thinking back to that chance encounter in the library.

Last edited by Fatima on Mon Jun 19, 2006 2:17 pm; edited 14 times in total

#2: Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:20 pm
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Genevieve was a CS girl, wasn't she? And yay for another Fatima-drabble!

#3: Author: ibarhis, Location: London and Hemel Hempstead

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:22 pm
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I have no idea if it is allowed or not... but I hope you continue it!

#4: Author: Alice, Location: London, England

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:23 pm
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Most definetly okay to have no CS people. But then Genevieve is a CS person isn't she? She went to the Chalet School Very Happy

Thanks Becky. I hope Antoine bumps into Genevieve again soon.

#5: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:25 pm
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A lovely beginning - thanks Becky Very Happy

#6: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:38 pm
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I'm sure no-one'll mind!

#7: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:52 pm
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I'm so glad you've started this one Becky, thank you! It looks great Very Happy

Kathryn

#8: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:34 pm
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Thanks, Becky. It's lovely to see the 1st time that Antoine and Genevieve set eyes on each other.

#9: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 4:39 pm
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I'm sure it's absolutely fine. I really want to know what happens!

Thanks Fatima

#10: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:39 pm
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Thanks for the encouragement! Here's the next bit.

At exactly the same time the next week, Antoine paid another visit to the library, wondering if he would be lucky enough to meet the girl again. He was rather shy with members of the opposite sex, so he had no intention of speaking to her, he just wanted to gaze at her for a few moments and see if she was really as lovely as he recalled from their previous meeting. Maybe he had exaggerated her beauty in his mind, for he had become almost obsessed with her; he had found it virtually impossible to stop thinking about her and her face haunted his dreams as well as almost every waking moment. He lingered around the bookshelves closest to the exit and watched the other students coming and going and then she appeared, her arms full of books again. He seized the nearest book from the shelf in front of him, with no idea as to its subject, and headed off to join the queue at the same time as her.
She was as lovely as he remembered. She was wearing a bright red t-shirt and a pair of old jeans and although he thought she looked a little thin, she was still stunningly beautiful. Her dark hair had been constrained in a pony tail and he yearned to reach out and just run his fingers through it to see if it really felt as soft and silky as it looked. She was wearing the same fragrance as he remembered from the previous week, and Antoine knew that he would spend the whole of the next week thinking about her as he had done for the whole of the past week.
She pushed her books into her bag and set off for the exit. Antoine suddenly realized that he was about to borrow a book that he did not want, so he left the queue and went to replace it on the shelf from where he had grabbed it so hastily. He sighed and resigned himself to another week of being distracted and of waiting impatiently to see if she would return to the library again.

#11: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:41 pm
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I hope he gets to speak to her soon Very Happy

#12: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 12:26 am
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This is lovely Becky, thank you Very Happy

Kathryn

#13: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 7:52 am
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As the week crawled slowly past, Antoine began to wonder if he ought to arrive earlier at the library and see what she did while she was there. Maybe he would find her reading in a quiet corner and he would be able to gaze upon her for a while as she sat there. He might even learn a little about her, what course she was taking, what her name was, any little detail that would give him something else to think about during the week.
By the time a week had passed, Antoine had resolved to go to the library an hour earlier than he usually went, so that he could prowl around and look for her. He knew he was being foolish, irrational even, but he just could not stop himself. He had spent the past seven days looking for her everywhere, around the university, around the city, wherever he went he cherished a hope that he would see her, but he did not. He walked slowly around the library as if he was thinking about something academic, and then he saw her, her dark head bent over a pad of paper, several open books around her. She was alone at the table, and obviously completely immersed in her work, so he pulled a book from the nearest shelf and sat down opposite her. He would very much have liked to say ‘Hello’, but he did not quite dare. He was very unused to chatting up girls, especially girls as lovely as her, and he could not bear the thought of her looking down her nose at him and walking away, shattering his dreams in one graceful movement.
He peeped across the table at her books, seeing that she had an English-Italian dictionary open in front of her. Perhaps she was doing an English degree; Antoine was encouraged, as he could speak English reasonably well. He dragged his eyes away from her for a moment, trying to focus his attention on the book before him, not wanting anyone to realize what he was doing. It really would be embarrassing if anyone thought he was just in the library to ogle pretty girls. A sudden exclamation made him look up again.
“Damn it!” The girl was searching frantically through her bag, and then she looked across the table at him. “Sorry,” she said, switching to Italian, “But do you have a pencil I could borrow? I’ve just broken mine.”
Antoine was almost overcome to think she was talking to him. “Yes, somewhere.” He fumbled in his jacket pocket and finally managed to produce a couple of very short pencils, almost as blunt as her own. “They aren’t very useful, though,” he added apologetically, cursing himself for not having brought an entire pencil case full of equipment to supply her with.
“Thanks awfully,” she said with a smile. She bent her head over her work again, muttering something under her breath as she scribbled, leaving Antoine gazing at her in awe.
He was completely smitten now, hearing the echoes of her lovely voice in his mind and seeing her charming smile, a smile given especially to him. Now all he had to do was get together enough courage to say something else to her, something witty or clever, something that would show her that he was not merely a boring law student, but a young man of intellect and charm, someone worth getting to know and not someone to be dismissed out of hand.
He sighed, knowing that she was so far out of his league there was no way she would find him even remotely interesting. She sat up and closed her book and handed him back his pencil, her fingers just brushing his own and making his heart lurch delightfully. “Thank you so much,” she said as she pushed her notebook into her bag and gathered up the books that were piled around her.
“You’re welcome,” he managed to say, and then she was heading away, and he had completely missed his chance of impressing her.

#14: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 9:02 am
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Thanks Becky Very Happy

#15: Author: Rosy-Jess, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 10:52 am
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Ooooooh. Lovely. More drabble. You are spoiling us Fatima. Thankyou!

#16: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 11:12 am
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Thanks, Becky. It is very sweet to see the effect that she has on him.

#17: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 12:06 pm
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This is lovely Becky, thank you. I feel so sorry for Antoine but I think you have captured him so realistically.

#18: Author: La Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 12:19 pm
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Poor Antoine, he just doesn't know what to say! This is lovely!
Thanks Fatima Very Happy

#19: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:28 pm
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The bunnies like this story best at the moment!

Annoyed with himself, Antoine shoved the book back on the shelf without any consideration of where he had fetched it from and headed over to the section containing the law books. He still had to choose his own titles and then he really ought to return to his room and try to get his essay finished. It had to be handed in that afternoon, and he still had at least another couple of paragraphs to add. It was so difficult to work now and essays often took days longer to write than they once had done. It was all he could do to concentrate on his work, and having spoken to the cause of his inattention, it was going to be doubly difficult. He knew he would replay their brief conversation over and over in his mind and ponder endlessly about what he should have said and done. From that, his thoughts would move onto some more plans for meeting her and he would be unable to give his full attention to the essay. Antoine selected his books and checked them out, before turning his footsteps in the direction of home. He walked miserably along, wondering why he had finally fallen in love with someone so far out of his reach. How long would it be before he stopped thinking about that girl all the time?
Antoine struggled to finish his essay, handed it in and began on his next assignment. He also spent hours daydreaming about the girl from the library. Every time he closed his eyes he could see her face, smiling at him across the table in the library. He could hear her gentle voice in his mind and he could not stop wondering if he ought to try to meet her again. Would he be able to sit near her in the library, or would she realize that he was endeavouring to bring about these chance encounters? How dreadful it would be, if she was annoyed to think that he was pursuing him and told him in no uncertain terms to leave her alone.
By the time he went to the library the next week, Antoine was in an agony of indecision. He need not have worried, though, for he did not see her there at all. Bitterly disappointed, he left the library with a couple of books and set off towards the coffee shop, wondering if she might just be a little late and thinking that he might see her if he hung around for a while. He bought himself an espresso, as lying sleepless at night often made him feel sleepy during the day, and as he sat down at an empty table he saw her, chatting and laughing with a couple of friends. She looked so animated that he could not understand why the eyes of every man in the café were not fixed on her face. She was even lovelier than he remembered, and he had to drag his eyes away from her, aware that he was almost staring open-mouthed at her. He could not look away for long, though. It was as if she was a magnet, drawing his eyes back to her face again and again.
As she lifted her cigarette to her lips, Antoine gave a regretful sigh. He hated smoking, and he could not believe that his dream girl smoked. She was not perfect. He almost hoped that he would fall out of love with her as easily as he had fallen into love with her. Life was so much easier when one was not always living in a dream world. He watched as she stubbed out her cigarette and glanced at her watch. Suddenly her companions were leaping to their feet and grabbing bags and then waving goodbye to her as they dashed out, presumably late for class. She sat back in her seat and lifted her cup, obviously not about to go anywhere herself. Antoine just wished he was brave enough to get up and go over to her table and sit with her.

#20: Author: La Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:32 pm
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Awww go for it Antoine!!!
Thanks Fatima Very Happy

#21: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:20 pm
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Go, Antoine, go!

#22: Author: Rose in Toronto, Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:28 pm
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Quote:

“They aren’t very useful, though,” he added apologetically, cursing himself for not having brought an entire pencil case full of equipment to supply her with.

Wonderful!

#23: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:05 pm
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Thanks, Becky. I hope they will talk to each other soon.

#24: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:18 pm
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Go for it Antoine Very Happy

#25: Author: Alice, Location: London, England

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:40 pm
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Naughty Antoine - someone will be looking for that book... - But go for it!

#26: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 4:22 pm
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As he debated with himself, Antoine watched her sip her coffee and then replace her cup on its saucer. She pushed her notebook into her bag and stood up and he knew that he had missed yet another chance. It was becoming the story of his life. Antoine sighed and watched as she crossed the room, and then suddenly their eyes met and he saw a look of recognition on her face. She smiled at him and came across the room to his table. “Hello,” she said, pulling out a chair. “May I join you?”
“Hello, yes,” said Antoine, standing up and almost knocking over his cup as he did so.
She sat down opposite him and lit up another cigarette. “My friends have gone to class,” she explained, “And I saw you were by yourself and wondered if you’d keep me company for a while.”
“Yes, of course,” he said at once. “Can I get you some coffee?”
“Thank you.”
Antoine dashed off to buy her a cup of coffee, praying that he would not spoil his opportunity of befriending the lovely girl by boring her to tears. He realized as he bought the coffee that he had not asked her how she took her coffee, so he got a cappuccino and hoped for the best. As he left the till, he had a brief moment of panic, thinking that she had left already, then he saw her, sitting back in her chair and looking lazily around the room. He made his way back to the table and put the cup before her.
“Thanks,” she said, smiling at him. “So what course are you doing?”
“Law,” he said. “And you?”
“Italian.”
She inhaled deeply on her cigarette and Antoine just could not stop himself from saying, “It’s very bad for your health, you know.”
“I know,” she agreed easily. “My sister always says that.” But she put the cigarette out and sipped the coffee instead. “Where are you from?” she asked him.
“Here,” he replied. “My family lives in Milan.”
“I really love the city,” she answered, looking animated. “I’ve had so much fun since I got here. It’s lovely to live in a big city where there’s always plenty to do.”
“Where are you from?” he asked curiously.
“Switzerland. From a very small place half way up a mountain. It’s rather quiet there, but it’s very beautiful.”
“It sounds lovely. I’ve never been to Switzerland.” Antoine wished he could think of some exciting topic of conversation, but all he wanted to ask her was what she was called and if he could see her again. “What’s your name?” he blurted out.
“Genevieve,” she answered, and he was thrilled, for it was such a pretty name and suited her so well.
“I’m Antoine,” he told her.
She offered him her hand across the table. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said with a smile.
He could have held her hand in his for hours, but he contented himself with shaking it briefly. As she glanced at her watch, he knew he had to seize the moment, or he would regret it for an extremely long time, so he said, “Can I see you again?” As soon as the words were out, he knew he had made a mess of things. He ought to have suggested dinner, or even a film, or just asked her to meet him for coffee another day. Instead he had to sound gauche and awkward and there was no way someone as elegant and poised as she would agree to see him again.
“That would be lovely,” she said, much to his amazement.
“Perhaps we could have lunch tomorrow?” he suggested nervously.
“I’m free from one o’clock,” she told him.
“Me too,” he said, smiling at her.
“I’ll meet you just outside here, then,” she said, finishing her coffee and standing up. “Thank you, Antoine.”
Antoine watched as she walked away, hardly able to believe what had just happened. Not only had he spoken to her, he had actually arranged to meet her again. Tomorrow she would be sitting opposite him once more, having lunch with him. He knew her name, and how sweet it sounded – Genevieve – a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. Antoine gave a contented sigh and stood up, deciding that he might as well go for a walk, for there would certainly be no chance of his being able to concentrate on any work now. After such a wonderful half hour, there would be little hope of him being able to string two sensible words together, let alone complete work of a suitable standard to hand in to any of his professors.

#27: Author: Jay, Location: Aberdeen

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 5:03 pm
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Very Happy

That was beautiful, Fatima. I love your Antoine! And Genevieve comes across so well in this one.

*feeding bunnies some more treats*

#28: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 5:09 pm
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Glad your bunnies are hard at work again!

#29: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 5:13 pm
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This so lovely Becky, thank you Very Happy

Kathryn

#30: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 6:17 pm
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Thanks, Becky. I'm glad that she has agreed to see him again.

#31: Author: Rosy-Jess, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 11:43 pm
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Aww. They are lovely together. Thankyou!

#32: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:45 pm
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By the next morning Antoine was so nervous about the prospect of meeting Genevieve for lunch that he could not make himself eat any breakfast and he heard not one word of any of his lectures. He had a full morning, for which he was grateful – it was better to sit in a lecture theatre and think of Genevieve than it was to wait around at home, worrying about whether she would stand him up. He was almost sick with apprehension by the time his lecturer finished speaking and feeling so nervous that he dropped his books on the floor as he tried to pack them into his bag and had to scrabble under the desk for his pencils.
Finally, more than five minutes late, he almost ran out of the law department and off towards the coffee shop. As he got nearer, he saw Genevieve already waiting outside, but she was not alone. She was talking with a tall, handsome young man, and Antoine almost turned and ran away then and there. She obviously had a boy friend and was going to tell Antoine that she was very sorry but they would not be having lunch together. How could he hope to compete with such a Greek God of a man as the one she was standing with? As Antoine stopped walking and tried to decide whether it would be better to face the embarrassment of being introduced to her boyfriend, or to just disappear before she had seen him, Genevieve evidently spotted him, for she waved wildly and came over to greet him.
“Hello!” she cried, taking his arm and beaming up at him. “You’re so late!”
“I’m sorry, my lecturer overran,” he explained, but before he could say anything else, she had turned to the man who had been talking to her.
“I have to go,” she said, sounding not in the slightest bit apologetic. “Goodbye, Mario.” Without waiting for any response from Mario, Genevieve virtually dragged Antoine into the coffee shop. Once inside, she squeezed his arm and gave him the sort of smile he had been dreaming about for almost a month. “Thank goodness you came,” she said, sounding relieved. “I can’t stand Mario! He’s so arrogant and thinks that just because he’s on the soccer team I should be falling swooning at his feet. He’s totally obnoxious.”
“Really?” asked Antoine, rather surprised to hear this.
“Really. Even though I told him I was meeting you, he still thought he could persuade me to have lunch with him.” Genevieve rolled her eyes expressively. “He’s the last person I’d ever have lunch with.”
“I’m somewhat relieved to hear that,” said Antoine, grinning at her and feeling ridiculously happy. She had not been interested in Mario the soccer star because she had been meeting him; she would rather have lunch with a dull law student than a handsome sportsman. “What would you like to eat?” he asked as she led him over to the counter.
“A sandwich would be lovely, thanks,” she replied, still holding onto his arm.
“Are you sure? The pizza here is delicious.”
“Oh, I’m on a diet,” she informed him. “I shouldn’t eat pizza.”
Although he could think of plenty of reasons as to why she should, Antoine did not mention any of them. She might not like it if he told her she was already too thin, and she might not want to hear that they should eat something more memorable than sandwiches on their first date, for she might not actually consider that they were on a date. “Cheese or ham?” he asked, feeling suddenly bereft as she let go of his arm and took a tray.
“Ham,” she decided, and soon she was carrying the tray over to an empty table in the corner of the room.

#33: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:58 pm
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Yay! for they are on a date Very Happy

Thanks, Becky

#34: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:11 pm
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Thanks, Becky. I'm glad that it is going well so far.

#35: Author: La Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:20 pm
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Ooo first date!!! I love this little 'gone back in time' drabble!
Thanks Fatima Very Happy

#36: Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:56 pm
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Wow! This is amazing! I've really missed reading everyones fab drabbles! Thanks Fatima, I'm glad they're on a date together Very Happy

They're both sooo lovely! (I have to catch up with 'happily ever after' now!)

#37: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:57 pm
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I want him!

Thanks Becky Very Happy

Kathryn

#38: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 1:53 pm
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Antoine paid the bill and followed her across the café, sitting down in the seat next to her. “Here you are,” he said, putting her plate in front of her.
“Thank you,” she replied.
Antoine watched as she nibbled at the corner of her sandwich, his mind suddenly blank. He had tried to think of suitable conversation starters so that he would not be sitting silently and staring at her, but all his thoughts had just vanished. He had a bite of his pizza, and glanced at Genevieve, catching her eye and feeling embarrassed to be caught gazing at her.
“I’ve really been looking forward to this,” she told him. “I don’t think I paid any attention to my lectures this morning. I’ve thought about you a lot after seeing you in the library each week.”
Antoine looked at her in astonishment. “Each week?” he asked, surprised.
“Yes, I’ve seen you taking books out several times,” she admitted, “But I didn’t like to say anything to you in case you thought I was being too forward.”
Antoine suddenly felt a whole lot more relaxed. “I’ve been trying to talk to you, too,” he said with a smile. “I’m just not very good at talking to beautiful girls.”
Genevieve smiled back at him. “You say the sweetest things,” she said happily.
Antoine abandoned his pizza. “What are you doing this afternoon?” he asked.
“That depends,” she told him, putting her elbows on the table and resting her chin on her hands and just gazing back at him. “I don’t have any more classes today.”
“Let’s go to the cinema,” he suggested. “I have just one class, but I don’t think I shall be able to pay any attention whatsoever now and I can always borrow someone else’s notes.”
“That would be perfect,” she told him.
They had a brief discussion about what to watch and Antoine finished his pizza. He sipped his coffee and saw that Genevieve had no interest in her sandwich at all. She had finished her coffee and produced her cigarettes, although she did put them away again when he looked disapprovingly at her.
“Sorry,” she said, and he was sure that she meant it. “I really am going to try to give up.”
Antoine smiled at her. “Good,” he said. “Have you finished?”
“Yes, I’m not really hungry,” she told him.
They stood up and Antoine followed Genevieve out of the coffee shop. They strolled down the street together, and Antoine had to keep looking down to see if his feet were still on the ground. He could hardly believe that they were going to spend the whole afternoon together and he had high hopes of persuading her to see him again. They reached the busy main road and as they stood on the kerb, he felt Genevieve slip her hand into his. He looked down at her in surprise and she smiled up at him, and he was so busy marvelling at the way he could be made so happy by such a simple gesture that they almost missed the chance to cross the road. She pulled him across to the other side and they continued on their way hand in hand.

#39: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 1:54 pm
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Thanks Becky Very Happy

#40: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:07 pm
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Ah, so romantic, thanks, Becky.

#41: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:12 pm
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Jen is so lovely, in fact both of them are. This is a real feel good story Very Happy

Thanks Becky!

Kathryn

#42: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 3:14 pm
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lovely Very Happy

*sighs happily*

#43: Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:04 pm
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Awww soo cute! Thanks Fatima! Very Happy

#44: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 7:25 pm
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Thanks, Becky. I'm glad they're going to spend the afternoon together.

#45: Author: La Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 9:13 pm
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I've gone all tingly!!! sp?
Thanks Fatima Very Happy

Last edited by La Petite Em on Tue Jun 13, 2006 4:51 pm; edited 1 time in total

#46: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 1:49 pm
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I'm glad you are enjoying this, because I'm really enjoying it, too. Very Happy

Thanks for your comments.

Late that evening, Antoine sat out on the balcony and gazed unseeingly at the starry sky. He could hardly believe the day that he had had. He had taken Genevieve to the cinema and they had chosen a rather scary film to watch. He had hesitantly put his arm around her shoulders and she had curled up against him as if she belonged there, hiding her face against his shoulder at a particularly nasty scene and blushing afterwards as she admitted that she would probably have nightmares about the film. He had tried to scold her for choosing to watch such a movie, but she had assured him that she had actually enjoyed it. He had been most reluctant to leave her then, and when she suggested that they go for a walk he had agreed with alacrity. They had strolled around the park and the city centre and he had found her very easy to talk to. She had told him about her life in Switzerland and he had told her about his childhood in Milan. She had told him about her plans to travel once she had graduated, and he had explained that he would probably go and work in his father’s law firm.
He had persuaded her to have dinner with him in a tiny bistro that they discovered in a quiet side street and she had actually eaten half of her portion of the delectable lamb dish they ordered and did not even suggest that she might smoke once she had finished. He longed to tell her that she ought to eat more, but did not want her to think that he found her anything less that perfect, so he managed to hold his tongue on the subject of her eating habits. Finally, he had walked her home.
Antoine smiled to himself as he thought about that walk, through the almost deserted streets. He had put his arm around her shoulders and she had slipped hers around his waist and he didn’t think he had ever felt so happy in his whole life. It was the perfect ending to the perfect evening. She had been everything he had hoped she would be, and more, for she was a real person, unlike the two-dimensional creature that had haunted his dreams both day and night for the past few weeks. Antoine sighed happily as he remembered arriving outside the building where she lived. She had turned to thank him for a wonderful day and he could see from her face that she genuinely meant it. She had thought that their afternoon had been as enjoyable as he had found it and when he asked if he could see her again she had agreed at once. Coincidentally they both had two free hours the next morning, but a hefty pile of work to do, so she had suggested that they study together in the library; hopefully he would be able to concentrate on his work with the object of his affections sitting next to him, but at that moment he really did not care if he met his deadlines or not. Genevieve actually liked him and wanted to spend time with him, so what did a few essays matter?
Antoine remembered how he had looked down at her and how she had looked up into his face. Somehow, he had found her in his arms and he had leaned closer and eventually his lips had met hers. He had felt her clinging to him, and he had managed to tangle his fingers in her silky hair as he kissed her. When they had finally drawn apart, she had given him a radiant smile and had gently touched his face as she thanked him again for a wonderful evening. With great reluctance he had released her and watched as she went quietly into the house, waving as she closed the door, and then he had walked away along the street, missing her already, missing her arm around him and the tap of her heels on the path as they walked, but most of all, missing the chance to talk to her and find out more about her.

#47: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 1:59 pm
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Thanks Becky Very Happy

#48: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:03 pm
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Beautiful

Thanks, Becky Very Happy

#49: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:22 pm
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How wonderful Becky, thank you Very Happy

Kathryn

#50: Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:38 pm
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That was lovely! Thank you very much Very Happy

#51: Author: La Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 4:54 pm
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They are so perfect together!
Thanks Fatima- this is magical Very Happy

#52: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:36 pm
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Thanks, Becky. It was so wonderful to see their 1st kiss.

#53: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:50 pm
—
In her room, Genevieve was sitting on the windowsill smoking a cigarette and gazing out across the darkened city, her thoughts on the young man she had spent the afternoon with. She still could not believe how lucky she was to have met him; he was a very different sort of person from the likes of Mario, and she liked him an awful lot already. Over the year and a half she had been in Milan, Genevieve had had several boyfriends, but they had all been attracted by her beauty and her glamorous friends and had been, without exception, very shallow. She had ditched them all as fast as possible, and concentrated on getting her work done and enjoying herself with her female friends. Now, though, she had found someone who she definitely wanted to spend time with. Antoine had been perfectly charming once he had got over his initial shyness, and Genevieve admired him for telling her that he thought she ought to give up smoking. As she thought about that, Genevieve smiled ruefully at the cigarette she was about to light and decided that she might as well start as she meant to go on. She pushed it back into the packet and threw it into the bin, knowing that Antoine would approve of any attempt to give up smoking.
She was amazed by the way they had slipped into an easy friendship; she had felt completely comfortable with him and he had been interesting to talk to. He had also been a good listener and had shown respect for her opinions, which Genevieve was not used to. Her usual sort of boyfriend generally considered himself an authority on just about everything and thought that most of what Genevieve said was to be treated with an indulgent smile. Antoine was very different from them, and Genevieve was glad that she had finally found someone pleasantly normal to go out with.
She slid off the window sill and climbed into bed, already thinking ahead to the next day. She could hardly wait to see Antoine again, and was already wondering what to wear. They might only be going to study together, but she hoped that he could be persuaded to meet her for lunch again and maybe they could go somewhere in the evening if they got enough of their work done. Genevieve smiled to herself in the darkness as she recalled the lovely afternoon they had spent together, how they had held hands and how he had put his arm around her and held her so tightly when she had been scared by the film. He really was quite the nicest man she had met since coming to Milan.

#54: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:53 pm
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Awwww - this is so, so lovely Very Happy

Thanks, Becky

#55: Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:53 pm
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So lovely. Thanks Becky.

#56: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:18 pm
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Thanks Becky.

#57: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:26 pm
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Thanks Becky, this is wonderful Very Happy

Kathryn

#58: Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:39 pm
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Aww soooo lovely!! Thank you Very Happy

#59: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:14 pm
—
Genevieve found Antoine already waiting outside the library when she arrived the next morning, and as soon as he saw her he could not stop smiling. Aware that she was also grinning like an idiot, Genevieve hurried over to him and greeted him joyfully.
“Let me take your books,” he suggested, and he added the two slim volumes she had brought to the three he was already carrying.
“Thank you, Antoine,” she said, sliding her hand through his free arm. “I’m so glad to see you,” she added unnecessarily.
“Me, too,” he assured her, smiling down into her vivacious face.
They went into the library, found themselves a quiet table where they could sit together and they set out their books. Antoine pulled a brand new pencil from his pocket and turned to Genevieve with a smile. “I didn’t know if you’d need this,” he told her with a smile.
Recalling the first time they had shared a table, Genevieve smiled back. “How sweet of you!” she said, taking it from him and feeling a frisson of excitement as their fingers touched.
Glad that she appreciated the gesture, Antoine settled down to his work and soon appeared to be deeply engrossed in his books. Genevieve opened her own books and tried to concentrate on her translation, but she kept finding her eyes straying from her books and across the table to Antoine’s bent head. He seemed to be working hard, scribbling away furiously and constantly referring to the open books beside him, but Genevieve just could not concentrate. She could not regret having agreed to meet Antoine, though, for it was wonderful to be sitting there with him, able to glance up and see him whenever she liked, to watch his slim fingers pointing to key words in the text and, every now and then, to catch his eye as he glanced across at her.
Finally Genevieve abandoned her work, sat back in her seat as if she was reading one of her books, and just gazed at Antoine. He seemed to have done a lot of work, and Genevieve admired his dedication. After a while, though, he sat back, too, and grinned at her. “Maybe this was a very bad idea,” he said, sounding singularly unregretful.
“You’ve worked hard,” she reminded him.
“Not really,” he admitted. “I’ve very little clue what all these notes are about!”
“I’ve got a lecture to go to soon,” she reminded him.
“Me, too. And a whole afternoon of them.” Antoine looked miserably at Genevieve. “I’d really just like to sit and talk to you for hours,” he said despondently. “But when will we ever get the chance to do that?”
“Maybe it’s for the best,” she suggested philosophically. “At least we won’t get bored of one another too quickly!”
“True,” he agreed, cheering up a little. “Genevieve, would you like to come to my place for dinner tonight? I’ll cook and then I’ll walk you home afterwards. We could have an evening without thinking about work and then perhaps we’ll be able to work tomorrow.”
“You can cook!” she said in surprise.
“I’m Italian,” he reminded her with a grin. “I can make spaghetti!”
“I’m impressed,” she told him. “Yes, I’d love to have dinner with you.” She reluctantly closed her books and pushed them into her bag, and Antoine followed suit. They strolled out of the library and into the sunshine and once they had arranged to meet again for a quick lunch, they headed off to their classes.

#60: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:19 pm
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Oh, this is lovely.

#61: Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:20 pm
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May I have an Antoine? Please?

ETA - can/may - *slaps wrist*

#62: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:28 pm
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Aww this is so gorgeous!

Thanks Becky - feeling all luffly and fluffy now.

#63: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 3:42 pm
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They make such an adorable couple, thank you Becky Very Happy

Kathryn

#64: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 11:15 pm
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Thanks, Eilidh. It was lovely to see Genevieve's thoughts as well as Antoine's thoughts. I'm glad that Antoine is going to cook Genevieve a meal.

#65: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:58 pm
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How lovely - hope they enjoy their evening Very Happy

#66: Author: Rosy-Jess, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:01 pm
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LizB wrote:

How lovely - hope they enjoy their evening Very Happy

She took the words right out of my mouth. This is gorgeous! Thankyou *sends bunny treats*

#67: Author: La Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham

Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 12:17 pm
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They're so lovely and natural together!!
Thanks Fatima Very Happy

#68: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 2:16 pm
—
Thanks for all your comments about this. Here's the final installment.

Once their classes had ended for the day, Genevieve and Antoine met outside the library and joined the throng of students heading away from the university. Antoine took Genevieve’s arm and they strolled along quite happily, talking as easily as they had done the previous evening. Antoine stopped at a little shop near his flat, where he bought all the necessary ingredients for their dinner and then he led her to the elegant building in which he lived. His flat was on the third floor, and it turned out to be both tidy and clean; Genevieve gave a wry smile when she thought of her own room, which was always in a mess. Antoine went into the kitchen and Genevieve followed him, watching as he unpacked the shopping and got out some pots and pans.
“I think it’s great that you can cook,” she said. “It’s usually only girls who can cook. My brother is hopeless in the kitchen.”
“I learnt from our cook at home,” he told her. “I used to enjoy helping her in the kitchen and she showed me how to make spaghetti, as it was my favourite when I was younger.”
“My mother makes that sort of thing,” said Genevieve, “But it never tastes the same as it does here.”
“I’ll teach you the secret,” he said, and they spent a pleasant hour in the kitchen preparing the bolognaise sauce and making a salad and finally cooking the spaghetti.
They ate at the kitchen table and Genevieve was very impressed with Antoine’s culinary skills. He laughed as she complimented him on his cooking, and admitted that it was the only dish he could prepare. Other than spaghetti, he usually settled for a sandwich or ate in the coffee shop at lunchtime. After the meal they cleared up together, then Antoine made them coffee, which they carried out onto the tiny balcony. Antoine had two chairs out there, so they sat side-by-side, gazing out across the city in a companionable silence.
Antoine sighed contentedly. He could hardly believe how well they were getting on together. He could not remember the last time he had enjoyed himself as much as he had when they were working together in the kitchen. And he had been thrilled when Genevieve had eaten most of the tiny portion of food he had put on her plate. He longed to tell her that she ought to eat better, but was still worried that he would upset her if he mentioned her eating habits. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and saw that she was gazing dreamily into the distance, so he allowed himself to gaze equally dreamily at her. She was so beautiful and he could hardly believe that she had actually agreed to see him again. They had spent another wonderful evening together and she seemed completely relaxed and happy in his company.
Genevieve suddenly remembered her coffee, and she abandoned her daydreams, reaching for her cup and looking across at Antoine. He was gazing at her, admiration in his face, and she felt herself blush, realizing that he had been watching her all the time. Feeling suddenly shy, she sipped her coffee and then glanced at him again. He was still watching her, but now looking mildly amused.
“Stop staring,” she told him, with a smile that took the sting out of her words.
“Sorry,” he said unrepentantly. “I don’t get many pretty girls sitting out here with me,” he added. “I just have to take advantage of the ones I do get.” Realizing how bad that sounded, Antoine turned scarlet. “I didn’t mean…” he said, “I’m sorry…”
Genevieve chuckled at his discomfiture. “That serves you right,” she told him sternly then she relented. “Antoine, I really like you. I haven’t had much luck with boyfriends since I came to Milan, and I’m so pleased I’ve finally met someone I feel…contented with.”
“Really?” he asked, a note of disbelief in his voice.
“Really.”
Antoine reached out and took the cup from her hand, then he drew her to her feet and stood beside her, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close to him. She slid her arms around him and rested her head against his shoulder. Aware of a feeling of deep happiness, they watched the sun go down, knowing that they had both found something that they had not even realized they were looking for. They had found someone with whom to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, such as sitting out on the balcony in the evening, or cooking a pleasant meal, and they both knew instinctively that what had started so gently would become something very important in each of their lives.

#69: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 2:31 pm
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Thanks Becky Very Happy

#70: Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 2:32 pm
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Thanks Becky - so nice.

#71: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:32 pm
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It must be my evening for happy tears.

#72: Author: La Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:33 pm
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*sighs happily* Awwwwww!!
Thanks Fatima Very Happy

#73: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:57 pm
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Thanks, Becky. That was so lovely.

#74: Author: Rosy-Jess, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 10:30 pm
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Awww. *snuffles quietly*

#75: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:54 pm
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That was really, realy lovely Becky. I feel all warm and fluffy inside Very Happy

Kathryn

#76: Author: Alice, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 10:00 am
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That was lovele, thank you Becky.

#77: Author: Karoline, Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 12:31 pm
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Aww how sweet, thank you Becky

#78: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 6:15 pm
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Awwww I feel beautifully mushy after that

Thanks, Becky Very Happy

The CBB -> Ste Therese's House

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