Retrospective: Paris - How we started
1.10 MaeWest - Say hello
Summer 1993, Mae's apartment
Summer 1993, Mae's apartment
Mae couldn't focus on the magazine she was reading. It wasn't because of the language, she had to do quite intense French classes in high school and she spoke it fluently.
Her mind kept drifting back to her home in Newcrest.
She was a bit worried about Linda taking care of their mom alone, because her sister was usually quite absent minded and forgot a lot of things. But recently their mother seemed a lot better, and Linda had been better too.
It would be fine, Mae convinced herself.
And despite that she would miss her family a lot, she didn't leave anything else behind that she would miss.
Not her friends that had turned her back on her, nor Roy, who she was rather happy to get rid off.
She had met Roy in her second year in high school. He was a senior, had a bad reputation and incredibly good looks. She was craving his attention, and he willingly gave it to her and even made her his girlfriend. Which didn't stop him from seeing other girls, though.
Mae didn't really mind, but apparently he did mind when she started seeing other boys, too.
And weirdly enough, others seemed to mind it, too. A lot more than they minded when it was Roy.
"You're such a slut!"
"Do you spread your legs for anyone?"
"Hey baby, you do it with everyone, why not me?"
"Do you spread your legs for anyone?"
"Hey baby, you do it with everyone, why not me?"
Mae didn't understand why her private relationships should be anyone's business but hers.
It was so unfair.
Still, slowly she found herself being all alone, except for occasional calls from Roy for another hook up, which were so hard to resist for her.
Mae wasn't too sure if Linda knew that moving here meant so much more for Mae than just opening a future of a prospering career in gastronomy.
Just finishing high school wasn't enough to avoid her school mates, they still lived in the same neighbourhood and would go to the same university as her.
But Paris was far away from everything.
She was able to start fresh in this tiny appartement, make new friends, and learn professional cooking and nutrition in one of the best schools in the world.
She had another chance to be happy.
Hello, new life.
That Roy sounds like a real Prince Charming *eyeroll* It looks like Mae was once again running away from a problem but this time it was probably for the best that she did. Not only did she get away from that asshole she went to work on her career. When she arrived back home we didn't see or hear about Roy so it was the best decision.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good decision, as her life at home clearly dragged her down. Lucky enough, Linda figured that, and made sure Mae gets the distance she needs, while doing something she loves.
DeleteInteresting. I don't think we often see the younger sibling in the role of a caretaker. Usually the older one takes over. At least in most stories I read. I don't know how I feel about that yet, though. Because on one side we have Mae who runs away from problems and on the other side is Mae who was responsible and took care of the household and her mother. It's like she had a sense of responsibility and then lost it somewhere along the way. I can't help but wonder when and why? Why did that responsibility not kick in when she lived with Herbert and cared of him and his daughter? Herbert wasn't Roy to have to be run away from without a word. When did the running started? With Roy? But she wanted to study in Paris anyway, so escaping him and all her former classmates was just a bonus. There was clearly a responsible Mae once, more responsible than Linda. I need to know what exactly changed her.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the long and thoughtful comment!
DeleteIn this case, Linda was not ready to take care, as she was hit by the loss herself too hard. Mae just naturally took over, trying to make the best out of everything, and maybe being afraid everything would go worse.
The difference between taking responsability in one case, and not in the other, lies more in the nature of the relationship she has with them, and her feelings towards them. I don't want to spoil too much yet, but I hope I can make the difference clear in the present chapters after the Paris interlude.
OKAY.
ReplyDeleteHm.
Mae, you interesting creature, you.
Still heartbroken from her future self abandonment, but curious to see more of her personality.
Haha! Mae, the maybe most controversal character of NBHT! :D
Deleteyou will, don't worry c:
Mae...it’s time to get out and meet your future love...
ReplyDeleteShe's almost there! xD
DeleteOof.. go for it Mae! And while you're at it maybe help Fran! Don't get pulled under though. 😦
ReplyDeleteFirst they have to meet! XD (that they do, is obvious, ofc )
DeleteYeah, the double standards on men and women are rubbish. And things get so blown out of proportion in high school. Between the immature people to deal with at school and all the responsibility she had to assume at home, it's definitely a good move for Mae to move somewhere brand new and finally get to focus on herself.
ReplyDeleteYeah high school can be such a pain! 😆 kids change their opinion daily, and one says something and the rest runs after them /sigh
DeleteMae had a lot to deal with for a teenager.