NOLA
"Emily, that dress is gorgeous. Can we go already?"
I leaned against the rack while she twirled in front of the mirror like she was auditioning for a magazine cover. Sunlight hit the sequins just right, making her look like she'd stepped straight out of a fashion editorial. "Honestly, Em, Monaco won't know what hit it," I said, trying to sound impressed, even though I was mostly impressed by how effortlessly she drew attention.
She stopped and gave me that look, the one that said don't even try it. "I'm the star, Nola. Your job is to admire and applaud, okay?"
I rolled my eyes. "Fine. But I swear, if you keep spinning like that, someone's going to get whiplash. Or you'll knock over a mannequin. I do not want to be responsible for breaking Armani."
Emily laughed, a bright, musical sound that made the air in the store feel warmer. "Jealousy suits you. Now, pick some shoes before we miss our flight. You don't want to be stuck in Monaco with flip-flops, do you?"
I groaned. "Speaking of Monaco… I haven't told my dad about this trip. Actually, scratch that. I haven't asked. And if you're wondering how I got the permission slip signed… let's just say my handwriting is excellent. Totally illegal. But when your adoptive father spends more time staring at stock tickers than noticing you exist, sometimes you do what you have to."
Emily froze mid-step, her hand hovering over a sparkly silver heel. "Wait… you didn't tell him? Nola, that's insane!"
I shrugged, trying to look casual, though my stomach did a little flip. "Maybe. But honestly, he wouldn't care anyway. I'm not really his daughter. Just… decoration. A nice accessory for his picture-perfect life. My mom? Platonic at best. Polite. Sweet. But she's never been the kind of person who makes you feel like you belong anywhere. I've learned to float on my own."
Emily tilted her head, frowning. "Wow… that's… harsh."
"Welcome to my world," I muttered. I grabbed a pair of black sandals from the rack and held them up. "Functional and boring. Perfect for me."
She nudged me. "So… illegal signature and all, you're really going on this trip? Alone?"
"Well, not exactly alone," I said, smirking. "I have you, my personal hype squad. And trust me, Monaco is the kind of chaos I've been waiting for. Culture, beaches, glitzy parties, probably someone driving a ridiculously fast car past us just to be dramatic…" I let the thought hang there, smirking at her wide-eyed expression.
Emily grinned, her eyes sparkling. "Chaos? This is a school trip, not a spy mission."
"Spy missions start small, Em," I teased. "Just wait. Something tells me this trip won't be ordinary."
She snorted, tossing the sparkly heel into the cart. "You're ridiculous. Fine. Lead the way. But if you end up glued to the window the whole time staring at anything remotely handsome, I will tease you relentlessly."
"Deal," I said with a grin. "But of course I won't be staring. Not me. Totally cool and casual."
Emily rolled her eyes but laughed anyway. "Sure, Nola. Totally casual. You're going to embarrass yourself."
We wandered over to the accessory section. Emily grabbed a wide-brimmed sunhat, holding it against her head with a dramatic flourish. "Ugh, I wish I had someone like Sherlock Holmes in my life."
I blinked. "Sherlock Holmes? You mean, like, the detective?"
"Yes! The dark, brooding, brilliant type. You know, ruthlessly clever, slightly dangerous, speaks in riddles, and somehow knows what you're thinking before you do. He's the perfect combination of infuriating and irresistible. Imagine having someone like that on a school trip to Monaco. I would die."
I laughed. "So, let me get this straight… you want a real-life Sherlock Holmes to follow you around while you shop for hats and eat pastries?"
Emily gasped in mock offense. "Exactly! And don't underestimate the appeal of mysterious geniuses who solve problems you didn't even know existed. He'd probably figure out I need a new hat before I even say it. That's romance, Nola. Pure, high-stakes romance."
I smirked. "You're ridiculous. And I'm officially glad I'm not in your crosshairs. I'd be too busy trying not to trip over my own shoes while this Sherlock guy brooded at me."
Emily nudged me, laughing. "One day, Nola, you'll understand the appeal. Until then, just let me dream."
I glanced at the clock. "We should probably head out. Traffic's going to be murder if we leave too late."
Emily slung her bag over her shoulder. "Fine, fine. But we're getting pastries on the way. French Riviera, here we come!"
We walked to my car, the city glowing golden in the late afternoon sun, the streets buzzing with people wrapping up their day. I slid into the driver's seat while Emily buckled in beside me, earbuds dangling.
"Ready for Monaco?" she asked, eyes bright.
I took a deep breath, the smell of coffee, perfume, and possibility filling the car. "More than ready. Let's see what kind of trouble this trip brings."
Emily leaned back in her seat, staring out the window with a dreamy smile. "I just hope I run into some mysterious, brooding type. Like Sherlock, obviously. Someone who's dark, complicated, maybe a little dangerous…"
I chuckled. "You and your fictional men. You'd probably swoon if he solved a math problem without using a calculator."
"Exactly," she said with a dreamy sigh. "Intelligence is so sexy."
I laughed, starting the car and pulling into traffic. "Brace yourself, Emily. Monaco has a way of making everything feel… bigger. Louder. And yes, more dramatic."
She grinned, leaning her head back. "I can't wait."
And honestly? Neither could I.