People don’t take trips, trips take people - Antoine 29

It was Antoine’s third day in New York City and having finally gotten over his jetlag, he was slowly starting to acclimatize to the more hectic pace of life. Finding it fascinating, in just how different it was to back home in Paris, everything in America seemed so much bigger, from the towering building looming overhead to the food portions served at every restaurant, not to mention the speed at which people seemed to move about their daily lives, always seemingly in a rush to get somewhere.

The day had started with a buffet breakfast in the hotel before heading out to explore some of the city's most famous sights. The highlight of the day, being the Staten Island Ferry. 

The feelings he felt as the boat circled the Statue of Liberty had reminded him of the excitement he had experienced as a child approaching the Eiffel Tower for the first time. He had the same butterflies in his stomach and the same sense of amazement, even if he was struggling to keep his balance on the choppy water in his platform sandals.

Returning to Manhattan, the three companions enjoyed a light lunch before deciding to head up Empire state building, another building Antoine was looking forward to seeing. As a child he had always loved the film, King Kong, imagining himself to be the mighty ape scaling the iconic building, so it was quite ironic as he felt the wind blowing around his pantyhosed legs and up the short skirt of his dress, only to realise that having finally made it to the top of the building, he had more in common with the woman King Kong had carried to the top than the ape himself.

but thoughts of old movies were not in Antoine's thoughts for long as It was on top of the building, that Fifi decided to drop a bombshell on the group, “I received some amazing news earlier today, “she announced as the three gazed out over the city skyline, “It’s going to solve all your problems, Netti”.

Both Lily and Antoine turned to face her, intrigued by what she was about to say, “Well, don’t keep us waiting”, Lily said after a slight pause.

“Oh sorry”, Fifi said with a giggle, “Well, here’s the problem right, the real Zara, is about to return from her trip to find out that Netti has been sleeping in her room, using her things, and living her life, but what if I told you, that you didn’t need to return”?

“What”? Lily and Antoine both blurted out simultaneously, “not return to Paris”? Antoine added surprised.

“Exactly”, Fifi replied, “As you know, the shop continues to expand, I’m about to open a new store in Milan, and I want you to go over and get it started”.

“Me”? Antoine stated loudly, “But I don’t know anything about opening a store, and what about Lily?  I wouldn’t want to be so far away from her”.

“Netti, you would be perfect for the task and I’ll be making frequent trips out in the first couple of months to see how things are going”, Fifi stated confidently, “and as for Lily, I want you to go too, with the two of you over there, the store is bound to be a success, please think it over, you don't have to give me an answer straight away”.

The group then fell into silence as they turned to look out over New York City, Fifi happily taking in the sights of the sprawling metropolis beneath her, while Antoine and Lily, still stunned by the announcement, were trying to imagine what moving to Italy would be like.

The slightly awkward atmosphere continued as they returned down to street level to search for a cab. “Hey, love the pink hair, babe”, a man commented while walking past, giving Antoine a wink “how about I give you my number and I’ll show you a good time”?

Antoine ignored the comment, already having noticed since arriving in America, that men on the street there were much more forceful than back in France. It also didn’t help that he didn’t understand what they were saying, only picking out the odd word, like the word babe and pink.

“Get lost creep”, Lily shouted in English, “go harass someone else”.

The man shrugged his shoulders and walked away before Lily turned to talk to Fifi about how obnoxious the man had been. Antoine lost in his own thoughts, still thinking about the comment and how he looked, spotted his reflection in a nearby shop window. 

Tottering over, he stared into the eyes of the pink-haired fashionista looking back at him, “how did I end up here”? He thought to himself, “Is this who I am, now”?

(See image 54)

The next morning, Lily didn’t have much of an appetite as she sat struggling to force down some food at the breakfast buffet, that she had enjoyed every other day of the trip. She couldn’t stop thinking about Fifi announcement the previous day,

She looked over the breakfast table at Antoine, her boyfriend, who these days looked and acted more feminine than her most of the time and felt a strange mixture of emotions. Love, jealously, hate, pride, but the one overriding them all was guilt.

It had been her crazy plan for Antoine to assume Zara’s life and at first, she had encouraged it, the excitement and thrill of it had rekindled some of the passion in their relationship, but now she didn't know what she wanted, could she be with Antoine long term if he was going to continue living as Netti? Could she imagine Netti being the father of her children?

The thoughts continued as the three finished breakfast and left their hotel heading to a fashion show, one in which Lily had been looking forward to all week. She should have been ecstatic, front row seats at New York fashion week, something she had dreamed of for years. But now they were actually going, she found herself just feeling numb.

She walked on ahead to where their cab was waiting, opening the door before looking back to see Antoine strutting up the street in his cute little outfit, consisting of, a short blue mini skirt, that showed off his sexy pantyhosed legs, a pink jacket that matched his coloured hair, and the tall platform sandals, that he had been wearing for most of the trip without any issue at all.

She smiled thinking about how beautiful he looked in the morning light, his makeup a little heavier than usual, having glued on fake eyelashes to give his eyes a dramatic look, but still somehow achieving a sweet and innocent look,

Seeing her waiting by the taxi, Antoine looked over while brushing his hair out of his face in a very feminine way, Lily smiled, but inside she felt completely lost and confused, she wasn't sure what she wanted anymore, but she was certain about one thing, as much as she loved Antoine, she had no intention of moving to Milan.

(See image 55)