2.4 Disaster

While i had been away at University, there had been a few changes to the family. Hans had moved in with Linda after getting her pregnant. Rie and Linda didn't exactly see eye to eye. She, like the rest of us, didn't understand why she was so much against the supernatural. The only one who seemed to be on her side was Hans. It split the household into two. Hans and Linda against the rest of us. He didn't visit much and when we talked over the phone he seemed miles away. I had thought that since she was pregnant they wanted to get married, but neither of them believed in such things, so they decided to just live together as a couple, with no rings or anything. This seemed a bit strange to the rest of us. We weren't exactly Christian, but we did believe in marriage and the connection you create from with it.

Malinda had given birth to a healthy baby boy they  named Diego. He looked so much like James, except for his blonde hair. Nobody knew where that came from.

The day after i got home from University, i called Jerry to come visit me. He came the next day and we started talking about our future together. As we had already decided he was going to move in with me, he had brought all of his belongings. It wasn't much though. It fit in a small suitcase.
"I love you," He told me for the first time ever.
"I love you too." And then he kissed me.

As he moved in i found out he was very athletic. He loved nothing more than to be on the treadmill, so we had that in common.
As he had a degree in Business, he went downtown and got himself a job.
I too had gotten a new job, in sports. I worked out daily so i could move further and further towards my first promotion.

Life seemed perfect for me, though i felt something was missing. Not from every things, but from my relationship with Jerry. He was sweet, almost too sweet. He hugged and kissed me often and i loved it, but it could be too much sometimes. I wish he was a bit more macho and didn't get tears in his eyes when watching romantic comedies. I needed something else. And what better way than to travel?

"Honey i feel like i need to travel. I want to explore new things in life instead of feeling trapped here in the house, in this town." I was never good at expressing myself.
"You don't need my approval to go see the world, honey. I know you need to experience new things. Just, i can't go with you. With my new job, they need me to fill out their paperwork every day."
"I know, i know. I will have to go alone."
"Wait, why don't you take Rie with you? She could sure use some fun."
"That's a great idea!" I ran out to find Rie. "Hey!" I yelled when i saw her on the water slide. "What would you say to a vacation to France?"
She stood up and looked at me. "France? Really?"
"Yeah. You could use the vacation, couldn't you? And we would have so much fun together, visiting museums and getting to know the locals. Maybe you could find someone there." I winked at her.
"Hmm... maybe you're right! Okay let's do it!"
We started planning immediately. We were to take a flight on the next Friday night. We took a few days off work so we could go shopping for clothes and accessories.

We arrived Saturday morning at 08:00 o'clock.

The first thing i did was checking the adventure board to see if anything interesting was happening. It said "Report to Jolene Montaque". Apparently she needed help with something. But first we wanted to visit the market.
It had taken a long time flying to France from Moonlight Falls, but when we finally got there it was all worth it. Beautiful boutiques, shops and cafe's owned the city. It was clear that they had a lot of tourist and what attracted them.

First we went to the General store. We needed some stuff to survive on if we were to be adventurers. As we entered the store, we were met by an elderly man with a walking stick.

"That's Laurent Durant," said the woman behind the cash register.
"What's wrong with him?" I asked.
"He's was blinded during the World War II. That's all i know. Now, I'm guessing you are here for the post i put up last night?"

"Oh you're Jolene Montaque? Yes, well actually we were just going to buy some essentials for exploring, but.."
"Yes, exploring! I have just the stuff for you guys, for a price naturally."
We ended up spending quite a bit of money in there on a tent, multiple shower-in-a-can's and morsels. I also bought a chest. I thought i could put my valuables, that i found on the trip, inside it when i got home.
"Now for that poster. I'm guessing  you are here about that as well, yes?"
"Yes, of course," I smiled, my curiosity awakened.
"A while ago i was at the Celtic Ruins exploring a bit. When i left i found out i had dropped something valuable to me in there. I need you to go get it for me. This is of the highest importance."
"Alright, i'll try and see if i can get it for you."
"And remember your tent, morsels and shower cans. You need it to survive if you should be so unlucky to have to sleep in there."
I walked out of there, feeling rather unnerved. Would i have to sleep in a tomb? I hoped not.
"Come on," I called out to Rie, whom was talking up a nice young, attractive man. She was a real man-eater. She had been with more men than i could count, but apparently wasn't interested in any of them for more than a few weeks. "Alright," she said, coming after me. "So what now? Are we going exploring?"
"Yes we are."

We quickly found the Celtic Ruins using the navigations Jolene had given us. It was a mount of grass covered dirt. And on the one side there was a pair of stairs leading downstairs. I was a bit skeptic about going down someplace i wasn't sure i would be able to get out of again, but Rie convinced me to go ahead, since, as she said, Jolene had been there and gotten back, so why couldn't we? As we descended the stairs i was met with stone walls and concrete floor. I was nervous but the excitement of the adventure soon took over. I found out that to open a door you have to step onto a special floor tile. As i did a door opened out of nowhere and i entered it. Rie at this point decided, that she didn't want to explore with me, so she went upstairs into the fresh air. She someone up there who seemed lost, or just in deep thoughts. She went over to talk to him.

As i went further into the tomb, i was met with more obstacles, like for instance you had to put your hand into a whole in the wall or the floor and pull at something. Sometimes i would get bugs all over my arm. And i hated bugs!

I also found out you had to hack your way through piles of stone in order to get further. Fortunately there had been a pick axe at the beginning of the tomb.

Everywhere i found piles of little golden coins. Jolene had explained to me that if i collected enough of them Laurent Durand, whom was the blind man i saw at her store, would trade them for something valuable. So i collected all the ones i saw.
Then suddenly i was in a hedge maze!

How did anything grow down here? Or was it not real hedges? In the middle was a tomb. It read: "Thomas LeGuard, Born 1641, Death 1720". I wonder who this Thomas LeGuard was since his tombstone was placed down here?
I found little valuables spread around the place in edges of the hedges.
I stopped and looked at the tombstone again. I felt my eyelids fall down a bit. I opened my eyes more, but the same thing happened again. I could feel pressure on my limbs, they started to become heavy and slowed me down. Even my mind was slowed down now. I had to get to bed somehow.

There was no room in here to set up a tent, but maybe i could make it outside to put it up. I hurried up the stairs, expecting to see sunshine and Rie talking to some guy, but i was met with pitch darkness. I used the light on my phone to set up the tent and then went to sleep. It was a long time since i had last slept so far into the day. I had been down there for longer than i thought. When i woke up i was starving. Thank goodness i had bought enough morsels.

A morsel is a dried piece of food. It tastes deliciously but cost a fortune.  I bought the best on the market. I didn't want the cheap version of it, since it has a weird taste and i'm actually not even sure it is meant for humans to eat.
I went directly downstairs into the tomb once again and continued where i left off.
I went further and further and soon i found myself in this magnificent room full of tombstones and statues. In the middle of the room there was a hole in the floor, just like the others i had found in the walls.

It was clear that i was supposed to put my hand down there. But why? I did so and i found what i was looking for. A base ball!

Why she had me searching for a seemingly non-important baseball was beyond me, but it was not my job to judge. I was here only to do my job and find her stuff so i could get a reward.
I went back to her at the general store and got my reward. A lot of old golden coins and the honor of being a real explorer! Though was  i really? I had explored one tomb, but i knew there were more out there. More to explore, more rewards and more challenges.
I went back to the hotel we were staying at to tell Rie the good news. She was excited and demanded that we celebrated tonight. "How exactly do you want to celebrate?" I looked at her, a bit alarmed. When Rie said "celebrate" i knew it involved a bar. And i was right. "I've been talking to a bunch of cute guys. I know i know, i shouldn't be looking at guys when we are only here for a week." "No it's fine. I mean you're single and you said it, we are just here for one week so have your fun." I smiled at her. "Oh. Okay then. Well as i was saying i talked to these guys and they all said they were going to be at this bar tonight. It is the only bar in town, so i think we should go there tonight. Have a couple of drinks, chat with guys," she saw the look on my face and said, "and girls. And just have a good time. That's all." I thought about it for a little while. "Fine, if you want to we can. But just remember as I am in a relationship, and you are not, i am the one who calls it quit. Got it?" "Yeah sure! Yay! My first French bar! Woohoo!" Oh god, what have i done?

"Oh my god i can't believe how good this is! Have you tried it?" I was getting drunk. I knew it, i could feel my body go limp for every drink i had. What was is now, six? Seven drinks? It was definitely more than i could count at this moment. "I know what you mean!" Rie yelled to me. Did it have to be this loud in here? You would have thought that a bar in this tiny french town would be a quiet place for older people. Not old people, just older than us. But here were all ages, young as old, and the music was incredibly loud. There were even a dance floor. It was huge! The place was packed with people like Rie. She was flirting with a  lot of guys, almost at once. She went from one guy to the next, and they didn't even seem to care. "Woah!" As i had tried pushing my way through the crowd to get outside for a bit, i almost fell over my two own feet. Luckily someone held on to me not a second too soon. "Are you okay?" a worried voice reached my ears, quieted down by the high music. "Wh-what?" As i looked up, i looked into the most beautiful eyes i had ever seen. A sudden urge to kiss somebody totally random came over me. I made a move to do it, when he gently pushed me away. I felt ashamed, but not sober enough to really care. "Are you okay?" he asked again. "Yes", i slurred to him. "Come on, lets get outside." "Okay..." He had still a a firm grip on my arm as he helped me stand properly and get me outside into the fresh air. This was nice. It was more quiet out here so i could actually hear what he said. He showed me to a chair and we chatted for a bit. Even though the brisk air freshened me a bit up, i still felt drunk and i slurred as i spoke. "Do you need anything?" He asked as i stood up. I had suddenly felt an urge that i didn't know was possible in this state. "Bathroom. Now." I staggered towards the bar entrance, and he hurried up to help me get to the bathroom in time. I was in there for quite some time, but he stood by me no matter how gross it was, as he held my hair so there wouldn't get vomit on it. When i had literally emptied my stomach of any food i had had through the day, i stood up and staggered for a moment, light headed. I washed my mouth and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like a mess. "Here." he handed me a tooth brush and toothpaste. With no thought as to why he was walking around with this in a bar full of drunk people, i took it and freshened up my mouth. "Thanks," I said as i handed it back to him. He threw the toothbrush in the trash bin, smiling at me. "No problem. Now i think we should get you to bed." The way  he looked at me... was it lust? I couldn't exactly put a finger on it. I was still pretty wasted and a bit lightheaded from throwing up so heavily. I pretended to fall, and he grabbed me, again asking if i was okay. I stood up and then i kissed him.

He stood there for a moment looking at me with this weird look on his face. Then he grabbed hold of me and held my head in his hands as he whispered to me: "I want you," in a thick french accent.

We hurried to the hotel, trying to find an empty bedroom, all the while him pulling at my hand, us laughing quietly, running around. We found an empty room, undressed quickly and got under covers. What happened between then and 2 hours forward is not for the sensitive to hear. All in all, it was very satisfying. We fell asleep immediately after. When i awoke light was pouring in through the window, hurting my eyes. I sat up and then my head started to throb with the worst headache in my life. "Auuuhh." I said slowly and quietly. I hold my hands to my head, trying to keep my head still. Suddenly i felt something beside me. Someone was in here with me! and then it all came back to me. All the drinking, throwing up, kissing some stranger, sleeping with some stranger. Rie! She was the one behind this! She might not have forced either one of us to do anything, but she is the reason i was at the bar to begin with. I will never listen to her again. "Mmmm hm?" i heard him move around then turning his head towards me. "Good morning gorgeous." He said blurry, sitting up. I looked around at him. Wau, he looked amazing even when he had just woken up. I wish i did the same. "Good morning," i simply said looking away. Was it regret i felt? Ashamed? guilty? I couldn't quite define the horrible feeling i felt inside my stomach. "Could you not look?"
"Sure. Even though we don't have anything to hide no more," he winked at me, but i didn't see. He looked away and i got up and went to the bathroom to freshen up. I looked in the mirror to be met with a horrible sight. My skin was pale, my eyes puffy and i stank of alcohol. I brushed my teeth, splattered water in my face and then headed to take a bath. While i was washing the guild off of me, Rie entered the bedroom. "Hi honey, i was just.." Then she stopped looking chocked to see someone else in the room. "Oh my, what have you done," she said mostly to herself. I came out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around my body. "Rie!" I exclaimed. Oh no! She was going to tell Jerry! I knew it. Everything was over! "Camille can i talk to you for a second. In my room?" The look on  her face was hard to describe. Was it anger? Disappointment? I didn't know what was worst.
I was caught first handed with a lover i had no idea who was, what his name was, how old he was. "Yeah sure, just one second." I picked up some new clothes and went into the bathroom to change. When i got out, Rie was sending the guy dirty looks. I followed her out into the hallway and into her bedroom next door. As i closed the door behind me she instantly turned to look at me. But instead of yelling and scolding me for sleeping with some random guy, her voice was soft and caring. "Camille, what have you done? Have you any idea how worried Jerry is? He called me this morning when he couldn't get a hold of you. You didn't call him last night did you?" Call Jerry? "Not that i remember. Hold on." I found my phone in my pocket and searched through it. Seven calls were made to Jerry between 02:00 and 04:00 in the middle of the night. Oh no! What had i said to him? Had i even talked to him? "Do you know if i talked to him?" I had never been so scared in my life!
"No you didn't. He said he was sleeping at the time and that he was worried something was wrong when he saw this morning all the calls you'd made to him during the night. Apparently you have left a lot of messages that suggested you had a lot to drink. Camille, this will kill him. I mean literally kill him. Have you any idea how much he loves you? He would do anything for you and then you go and do this!"
"Thanks but i don't need you to beat it down in my throat. I know how deep shit i'm in right now." I thought for a moment. "What if i didn't tell him? I mean, it was just a one-night-stand. It didn't mean anything. I mean.... you aren't going to.. tell.. him, are you?"
She sighed. "As much as i want to, no i'm not going to tell on you. It is not my place to tell your boyfriend what a skank his girlfriend is. If you don't want to tell him, then don't. But i know it will eat you alive. I'm so disappointed in you Camille. I would never have thought this about  you." I was left alone, watching her walk out of the room. I felt worse than before. She had made the guilt even worse. I knew i had to tell Jerry some time, but did it have to be right away? Couldn't it wait a while? I wanted to enjoy his company as long as i had him. I loved Jerry. Even though i had been unsatisfied with our relationship when i left, i could now not imagine a life without him.
I went back to my room where the guy had gotten dressed and was now in the bathroom. I sat down on the bed thinking about what i should do. What if i got to know this guy more and then. We could be friends. He could be that French friend i stayed at when ever i went to France.
When he got out of the bathroom he looked at me and then decided to sit next to me on the bed. I buried my head in my hands rocking back and forth. "What am i going to do? I have a boyfriend at home, a loving caring boyfriend who loves me. And here i'm sitting with a gorgeous French guy who i just had sex with though i know nothing about you. I don't even know your name!" Tears were streaming down my face now, running into my mouth and nose.
"Shhh darling, shhhh..." He held his arms around me rocking me back and forth. "Everything will be alright. Do you want to know my name? It's Henri Fouchier."
"It doesn't matter. My life is ruined!" I cried out.
"No silly. Your life is not ruined. It might feel like that right now, but your life will go on. Even if your boyfriend do not forgive you." When i started to calm down, we ended up talking most of the afternoon. We talked about a lot of things. Mostly of his upbringing and how it was to live in this town in France. How he was all alone. He told me he had always been a bit of a flirt with the girls though it had never evolved to anything serious. Then the subject went on me. I told him about my upbringing. How my mother had left my father when i was little because he cheated on her. About how i had always missed a father figure in my life. About my siblings and how Hans had become distant from the rest of the family. It was so easy to talk to him, like breathing. Like it was with Jerry when we first met.
Then it was time for him to leave and we said our goodbyes, promising to stay in touch.