Tossing and turning in bed that seemed a bit too small for me, I finally sat up, glancing at the clock as I did so. Damn the oppressive humidity. I was a California boy; born and bred to deal with dry summers and this humidity was killing me. The lively LEDs screamed at me, 2:30am. It was late and I had to be up early to go do the touristy thing.

This was supposed to be an educational and cultural experience for me. At least that’s what my parents had hoped for. But hey, I was 13, going into high school, and spending my summer in France of all places. What did I care about culture and education? It was all about interesting people, exploring new places and having a bit of fun. Instead, I had been pretty busy running around with my family, checking out different places on my uncle’s itinerary, seeing how he had everything perfectly mapped out.

Sighing inwardly, I reached over toward the nightstand and grabbed the waiting bottle of water. Taking a couple of long pulls from it, I spun the bottle absentmindedly in my hands. My thoughts wandered back to Stephanie, that girl I met while checking in a few days ago. I hadn’t seen her since then, and I couldn’t get her out of my mind. I had to see her again.

Her visage popped into my head, smiling and laughing, eyes full of mirth. Smiling to myself, I lay back down, rolled over and pictured her, as I drifted back to sleep.

Waking with a start, I found myself staring at the underside of a pillow my cousin had thrown at me to wake me. Typical. Just wait, I’ll get her back soon enough. I was probably the last one up, so I needed to hurry before I got into trouble. Rolling out of bed and half stumbling to the bathroom, I grabbed a change of clothes and hit the shower.

Coming out of the shower, I heard Lynn say something through the door that got muffled underneath the towel covering my head.

“What? I can’t hear you,” I yelled out from under the towel.

“Come on, we’re going to be late for breakfast,” she called to me.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

“Okay, but hurry up, or else you’ll be late.”

Hearing the heavy door close shut, I hopped on one foot and attempted to put on my shorts, half stumbling around the room in the process. I must have sounded like a herd of stampeding bunnies hopping around like that.

Grabbing my shirt, I slipped my shoes on and bolted across the room, careening into the hall, slamming the door shut behind me with a loud bang. “Whoops,” I thought to myself. I really needed to pay more attention to my surroundings. One of these days a door would come right off its hinges with my carelessness.

Just like the last couple of mornings, I hoped that I’d run into Stephanie so I could ask her to hang out. Lost in thought, I shuffled down the stairs as fast as I could. Paying attention to my feet so I wouldn’t stumble, I shuffled along faster. At the very last second I looked up and saw her staring at me, wide-eyed, like a deer caught in the headlights of a 175lb mac-truck bearing down on her.

Spinning left, I twisted my body out of the way and jumped the last 2 steps to the bottom, sliding to a stop a few away from her. Looking at her sheepishly, I got out a breathless, “Sorry ’bout that.” As she gazed at me with those dark shimmering pools that made my stomach knot up with nervousness.

What the hell was I thinking doing something like that? I almost felt like hitting myself in the face because of my recklessness. I could have ended up bowling her over. That would have been a great way to say hi.

“Are you ok?” I finally managed to blurt out.

That’s when I heard her sigh.

Part: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, to be continued…

Straight black hair fell to her shoulders, glistening like dark, watery obsidian reflecting the moon’s soft smile. A sudden gust of wind blew errant strands of hair across her eyes. She tossed her head and tucked her hair behind her right ear, letting the hair on the left frame her face. There was enough ambient light to illuminate her elegant features; noticeable even at her young age. She was probably as old as I was, her demeanor expressing a graceful shyness that held me, spellbound.

Mesmerized by her countenance, my eyes dried up causing me to look away, blink rapidly and rub my eyes. She was stunning by any standard; her features were Asian, but not wholly so. I pretended to look around, so as to not stare, as I consciously tried to place her ethnicity.

“‘ello,” she said lightly, a discernible English accent in her voice.

“Oh, hey, errr…hi,” I replied, stammering, unsure of what else to say. Her voice was light and breathless, like whispering leaves playing tag across a meadow. She smiled at me, her sparkling eyes flashed with inquisitive interest. I fidgeted a bit more under her gaze.

“Hey, you’re really pretty,” Lynn said, popping up out of the corner of my eye.

Flushing a slight pink, she tilted her head while looking away and said a quick thank you. Looking back toward us, she smiled and I felt myself getting warm, as if a flash fever had come over me. Feeling a jab in my shoulder, I looked over to see Lynn lean over and look at me,”She’s really pretty isn’t she? Say something,” she whispered fiercely.

“uhmmm…,” I hummed, desperately chasing the tenuous words that floated just out reach.

Saving me from a fate worse than death, her brother bounded out ahead of his family and grasped the handle of the door and heaved. Struggling with the door, his face screwed up into a grimace as he tugged unsuccessfully. Moving quickly to his side, I pulled the handle to help him out. With a gentle whoosh, the door yawned open and I continued to pull till it was wide open.

“Pardon,” he piped up, “Can you hold the door, please? I need to get my bags.”

“Sure, I can do that,” I told him, watching him scamper back behind his sister and grab two small bags that were out of sight.

Their mother came up the walkway, with a bag on wheels in tow. Looking from mother to daughter, I saw the family resemblance, and it was striking. Definitely Asian, with jet-black hair pulled into a pony tail, exceptionally tall and almost regal looking. She was beautiful; slender and graceful, with delicate facial features like her daughter, that radiated contentment and compassion. Overhearing her son ask his question, and seeing me stand there holding the door, she quickened her pace.

“Bobby, you don’t ask other people to hold the door open for you,” his mother scolded, when she got near the door.

“But Mum, he already opened up the door for us,” he protested loudly.

“Don’t argue with your mum, Bobby,” his dad said, “just do what your mum tells you.”

“Alright,” he mumbled.

“Thank you so much for helping out. You didn’t have to,” she said warmly, as she reached out to grab the door handle.

Finding my tongue, I responded quickly, “It’s ok, I’m glad could help.” Taking a step back, I opened the door as wide as it would go, to let her by.

“It’s so very nice of you to hold the door open, but I’m going to leave this suitcase here to prop it open. So you needn’t worry.”

“You’re welcome,” I said, tilting my head in inclination. It was always much easier dealing with adults. At least I knew where I stood with them, after all, I was merely a kid. As long as you were courteous or respectful, most of them treated you kindly.

She went back to grab a couple more bags. “Hurry along now, Stephanie,” she called out, looking at her daughter. “Make sure you’ve everything, and don’t lose your brother.”

One by one, the family filed past me into the hotel. Bobby grabbed the suitcase propped up against the door and pulled it inside. Putting my foot down to stop the door from closing, I watched him pull the suitcase inside, running along as it trailed behind him. Pulling up the rear, Stephanie hesitated and stopped when she got to me.

“May I ask your name?”

“Oh…it’s J,” I replied, looking into her face, gaze transfixed on her wondrous eyes. Those eyes! I had never seen such eyes before. They were dark brown, with green flecks, something akin to hazel, but darker, smokier. But how could it be? I wondered. Asians don’t have green in their eyes, did they? It was a question I’d have to ask her later, if I ever got the chance.

Her eyes resonated with life and excitement, shielding the touch of subdued innocence underneath. They cradled my attention in delicate hands, like precious stones. Smiling, she shyly held out her hand and I automatically reached out and shook it. Soft and warm to the touch, I gulped as the simple touch of her hand made my stomach turn end over end. Oh how I wish I could just hold her hand forever, I thought to myself.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she breathed. “Thank you oh so much for helping.”

“Nice to meet you too. And it was nothing, not a problem really.” I shrugged, regaining my composure.

Looking inside, we saw her parents at the check-in counter, side-by-side with my aunt and uncle.

“I have to go, but you’re staying here right?” she meekly inquired.

“Yeah, that’s my aunt and uncle in there,” I said. Jabbing my thumb toward Lynn, who was hanging out in the distance, “And she’s my cousin.”

“Well, maybe, I’ll see you around…later?” she asked haltingly. She seemed more nervous than I was, which only made my breathing slow to a crawl, fearing that the slightest movement would shatter this moment, impossible to piece back together.

Her cheeks turned red and she quickly turned away, her lustrous hair concealing her face from view. It acted like a momentary buffer, popping the bubble that we were enclosed in. Turning around, she quickly disappeared through the doors before I could say anymore.

Perplexed, I was left holding the door, the image of her face hovering in her wake.

Part: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, to be continued…