Leaving for Paris

"Faye," Julian called out, knocking on his neighbor's door for the third time already. He had been standing in front of her door, waiting for probably the longest time for Elise to finish dressing up. Julian himself was ready, dressed in a black button down shirt and grey cotton twill pants. His shoes made a rhythmic series of taps on the corridor tiles, while his right arm flew up every now and then to check the time.

She was taking too long, especially for someone who's excited for the dinner. He had heard her hurried and muffled answer earlier on, bidding him to please wait for a minute. A minute. More like half an hour had passed since she asked him to do "this little favor".

"Faye?" he called out again, "If I have to break down the door, then I will," he warned casually.

Elise smoothened her off-white embroidered mesh strapless dress for the last time, satisfied with the way she looked. She wore light make-up despite attending an evening gathering, wanting to look as natural as she could. Her shoulder length hair were gathered in a loose knot on one side, and she impatiently brushed off a lock or two that clung to her cheek.

She giggled as she heard Julian's warning, taking a peek through the peep hole to see how Julian was doing. My, wasn't he looking handsome tonight. Of course, he was wearing the stuff she bought for him, so it would be thanks to Elise if he was going to get compliments later on.

"I love my door," she called out before finally opening it for Julian. She immediately stepped outside and closed the door again, not wanting Julian to see how messy the whole living room was, filled with various notes, music sheets and bags of dresses that she had pulled out from her crowded closet.

"Shall we?" she asked sweetly, wrapping both arms around Julian's left arm.

"Of course," Julian replied with a pleased look, his eyes reflecting what he was thinking. Elise looked very pretty to him, and she was very close too, having clung to his arm the way she usually does. He had immediately forgotten how long it took him to wait outside her door, because as far as he was concerned, it was well worth his time.

Julian took her hand and held it steadily before turning on the spot, Apparating both of them outside Maria's doorstep in Paris.