Retrospective: Paris - How things happened
3.2. Mae West - ShotsFall 1993, Streets in Paris
Before she caught her composure, Mae was already heading backwards. Her guts were telling her to run to the opposite direction, but her fear for Francesco was stronger.
Relief washed over her, when she saw him standing in front of a corner. He was unharmed.
But he didn't react to her call, and instead kept staring in front of him. She followed his view around the corner.
A few meters further, the crazy man was lying on the floor. Blood came out of a hole in his head, and two in his chest.
He was dead.
And Mae's guts took over.
She was running as fast as she could, all the way back home.
Something hindered her speed.
She noticed she dragged Francesco behind her.
And everything spinned, this was not real.
This was a bad movie, that had started the moment she had left her home this morning, and it got worse every second.
What happened next in movies? People would open their windows, and they would see them. Then the police would arrive, and ask questions.
They had to get away, as fast as possible. With Francesco being found in front of his dead ex-boyfriend, and without any witnesses that saw what happened in the still empty streets, Mae knew what would happen then. She couldn't let him get locked up for a murder he didn't commit.
Because that's what happened in movies, they always thought it was the ex-lover.
But he didn't react to her call, and instead kept staring in front of him. She followed his view around the corner.
He was dead.
And Mae's guts took over.
Something hindered her speed.
She noticed she dragged Francesco behind her.
And everything spinned, this was not real.
This was a bad movie, that had started the moment she had left her home this morning, and it got worse every second.
What happened next in movies? People would open their windows, and they would see them. Then the police would arrive, and ask questions.
They had to get away, as fast as possible. With Francesco being found in front of his dead ex-boyfriend, and without any witnesses that saw what happened in the still empty streets, Mae knew what would happen then. She couldn't let him get locked up for a murder he didn't commit.
Because that's what happened in movies, they always thought it was the ex-lover.
They had to run.
Ah, yes, they were running already.
Good.
She almost stumbled.
Francesco had stopped abruptly.
Ah, yes, they were running already.
Good.
She almost stumbled.
Francesco had stopped abruptly.
"Francesco?"
He was quiet for a few seconds, looking confused. Then he found her face.
"I can't go with you... if he finds out where you live...", he said, but he was completely absent minded.
He was in shock.
He was quiet for a few seconds, looking confused. Then he found her face.
"I can't go with you... if he finds out where you live...", he said, but he was completely absent minded.
He was in shock.
But they couldn't waste time. They had to get home.
He furrowed his brows, and touched his forehead, trying to process what just had happened.
"Dead...", he repeated.
"He got shot... oh god, I'm so sorry", she added, remembering that that man must have meant something to Francesco, no matter how crazy he was. She gently stroked his arm, hoping he would find back his composure.
And she lost her breath when he suddenly pulled her in a tight hug.
"He's dead", he whispered.
Her heart raced.
"He cannot hurt you anymore", he added.
She tried to relax, but she couldn't. His quiet deep voice vibrating from his chest, the warmth of his body that made her realize how cold this morning was, and his scent, comforting and exciting at the same time, were overwhelming. She thought that the effect of that damn alcohol should have been gone already after everything that had happened, but her mind was spinning again. The dead crazy man didn't matter anymore.
"Dead...", he repeated.
"He got shot... oh god, I'm so sorry", she added, remembering that that man must have meant something to Francesco, no matter how crazy he was. She gently stroked his arm, hoping he would find back his composure.
"He's dead", he whispered.
Her heart raced.
"He cannot hurt you anymore", he added.
She tried to relax, but she couldn't. His quiet deep voice vibrating from his chest, the warmth of his body that made her realize how cold this morning was, and his scent, comforting and exciting at the same time, were overwhelming. She thought that the effect of that damn alcohol should have been gone already after everything that had happened, but her mind was spinning again. The dead crazy man didn't matter anymore.
The noise of the police sirens brought back the urgency to get away from the crime scene, and Mae pulled back.
"Let's go home, we need to be safe first", she said with all the determination she could pull up.
"Home? Wait - "
"It's safe there, but not if we stay here. We have to go", Mae insisted. First, she needed to take care of him. He had to calm down, get some rest, and probably some food.
He calmed down a little.
"Okay", he said, and followed her.
It hurt her to see him still so upset. And the shock of seeing his ex-boyfriend shot had his impact. But she was grateful that he didn't have enough willpower to contradict her now because of that.
"Let's go home, we need to be safe first", she said with all the determination she could pull up.
"Home? Wait - "
"It's safe there, but not if we stay here. We have to go", Mae insisted. First, she needed to take care of him. He had to calm down, get some rest, and probably some food.
He calmed down a little.
"Okay", he said, and followed her.
It hurt her to see him still so upset. And the shock of seeing his ex-boyfriend shot had his impact. But she was grateful that he didn't have enough willpower to contradict her now because of that.
"I'm sorry... for everything", he added quietly.
"It will be okay", she smiled.
They continued their walk in silence while Mae tried to sort out her thoughts. But the appearance of her friends set her on high alert again.
Charlotte and Arthur came towards them, just in front of Mae's appartement block. Her best friend had already changed from her party outfit to something more moderate.
Oh damn. Mae had completely forgotten she had company at home. How would she explain Francesco's sudden presence?
Charlotte and Arthur came towards them, just in front of Mae's appartement block. Her best friend had already changed from her party outfit to something more moderate.
Oh damn. Mae had completely forgotten she had company at home. How would she explain Francesco's sudden presence?
"Mae! Thank god you're okay!", Charlotte cried out. She jumped into her arms.
"When you didn't come back for a while we went looking for you", Arthur said. "Then there was some noise like shots..."
Mae pulled herself together in an instant. Behave normal, this was crucial now.
"Oh yes! We got so scared when we heard them a few streets further! Did you see anything?", she asked her friends.
"No, we were far from them, too", Arthur replied.
"When you didn't come back for a while we went looking for you", Arthur said. "Then there was some noise like shots..."
"Oh yes! We got so scared when we heard them a few streets further! Did you see anything?", she asked her friends.
"No, we were far from them, too", Arthur replied.
Be calm, Francesco, she prayed. Don't let them see anything is wrong.
"No way. You ran away to pick up that bar singer!", Charlotte switched her attention to him. She was checking him out, Mae noticed with a grin. How disappointed she would be to find out he was gay!
"Oh - this is Francesco! I almost forgot, but we wanted to meet up tonight after his shift. That's why I bailed on you guys. Franny, these are my friends, Charlotte and her brother Arthur", she introduced the other two.
"Uh - nice to meet you?", Francesco said, somewhat insecure.
Thank god, Mae thought.
"We kinda lost time while walking around", Mae added with an apologizing smile.
Charlotte pulled a sceptical face, but didn't say anything. Good girl.
"Uh - nice to meet you?", Francesco said, somewhat insecure.
Thank god, Mae thought.
"We kinda lost time while walking around", Mae added with an apologizing smile.
Charlotte pulled a sceptical face, but didn't say anything. Good girl.
Arthur took Francesco's hand and shook it with his typical enthusiasm. "Nice to meet you!", he beamed. Mae could see pain flash over Francesco's face for a second while he tried to smile.
Artie's handshake was strong, but she wouldn't have expect a flinch like that.
Oh god, did he get hurt, too? But there was nowhere blood on his clothes...
She'd have to make sure he wasn't, but she couldn't now.
"Okay, I guess you two need a little privacy", Charlotte might have picked up Mae's tension, but her smug smile showed she had a different interpretation why. "We dropped Dante and Celine off their homes already, and Arthur and me will be almost late for family brunch anyway."
Did she just wink at her?
"I just hope work won't call me to duty now because of the shots...", Arthur sighed. "Maman will be heart broken."
Oh no. No no no nonono.
Mae had almost forgotten that Arthur was a freaking cop! He probably wouldn't smell anything fishy, he was a little bit – slow. But what if he talked about them, and his partner did?
Crap.
Smile.
Act normal.
But luckily the subject was dropped quickly by the siblings, and they just said their good byes after bickering whether or not Arthur could leave their family brunch in case of a call from the police.
Mae took a deep breath when her friends left. Thank god, this went smoother than she had expected. And noone was at her place anymore either.
Good.
"Franny? Really?"
Artie's handshake was strong, but she wouldn't have expect a flinch like that.
Oh god, did he get hurt, too? But there was nowhere blood on his clothes...
She'd have to make sure he wasn't, but she couldn't now.
Did she just wink at her?
"I just hope work won't call me to duty now because of the shots...", Arthur sighed. "Maman will be heart broken."
Oh no. No no no nonono.
Mae had almost forgotten that Arthur was a freaking cop! He probably wouldn't smell anything fishy, he was a little bit – slow. But what if he talked about them, and his partner did?
Crap.
Smile.
Act normal.
But luckily the subject was dropped quickly by the siblings, and they just said their good byes after bickering whether or not Arthur could leave their family brunch in case of a call from the police.
Good.
"Franny? Really?"
He almost smiled again. Like the Francesco she knew.
"What's wrong with that?", she smiled back.
"Let's go up"
They were just around the corner of her apparement and she had a new friend to take care of.
They were just around the corner of her apparement and she had a new friend to take care of.
OKAY.
ReplyDeleteI'm really, really relieved it wasn't our bean Franny <3
(As fun as possible body snatched alien Fran would have been, kekekeke)
Oh man, it SEEMS like they made a lucky get away there (I hope they did?) but damn, there's definitely going to be some emotional fallout from all that adrenaline (eep!).
Aww, Mae, you think he's gay! (Mahahahaha, surprises, they be coming); not the time for boom boom wishes now (unless it's trauma-therapy boom boom?).
Well, I do know a few things for certain:
1. Frannypants got some explaining to do
2. Charlie and Artie (lol!) look 10/10
Okay, that's only two things, but, in my defense, it's hard to know anything for certain! :O
Yeah, after your comments... I was considering alien Franny! But naw... Mae would have smelled the difference in the present!
DeleteThat adrenaline got some things kicked, for sure! Like, hugs. c: I think they had enough of boom booms... maybe a different kind might be more compelling, though.
Franny for sure has a lot to explain to poor panicking Mae... after the brains start working again, there'll be a lot of questions!
More Questions and only one answer.
ReplyDeleteStarting with the answer is the faster way to go, Diego is the victim.
Now the many questions, What actually happened and why? It didn't look like Franco had a gun but why was he dazed by the whole thing? Did he witness it? Did he know what was going to happen which is why he told Mae to go home last time or was he really trying to protect Mae from Diego finding out about her? Does Franco know who the shooter is? Did Franco snap and really doesn't know what he did if he did it? (Sorry it is a possibility even though I don't think Franco did it) Why did Mae help him run away from the situation without knowing the details? My guess is she wasn't really thinking. If he didn't do it running makes him look even more guilty.
The biggest question is Diego really dead? I didn't see Mae checking for a pulse.
This scratches the surface but there are more questions to be answered here.
There's definitely too many questions!
DeleteMae didn't really think. To her it looked like he didn't do it, also she heard the car passing. She just snapped and acted instinctively.
And yes, IF someone saw them, it could be really bad for him! Depending on what the possible witness saw, and how much.
I wonder who killed Diego. She heard a car tyres screeching in the last chapter, right? Sounds like a gang. It wouldn't surprise me if he was a drug dealer. He always had drugs for Franco. For a moment I was thinking he may still be alive, they didn't check on him, but then again, he was shot both to the chest and to the head. There's not much of a chance to survive a headshot. So much for Diego ever coming back to cause more trouble. He could still have a relative, though.
ReplyDeleteInteresting speculations! :D Those gang leaders might have been sent from heaven, though. Who knows what Diego would have done to Franco? Diego had a gun, after all!
DeleteDiego will never cause trouble - alive ;) But if he WAS involved in crime, it still doesn't look good for Franco, being involved with him!
Diego might have been hit for some reason...it could even be Suzette was pissed at him....but I don’t think it was Franny...And if it was someone he knew, maybe that’s why he’s nervous. Who knows. Next chapter!
ReplyDeleteDiego for sure was hit for a reason. Franny doesn't know, tho.
DeleteOnward :D
Still waiting with bated breath for Franco to reveal he had the gun this whole time.
ReplyDeleteHa! You think so? :D
DeleteArtie, huh?
ReplyDeleteOh my, I can't even get started about that chapter. And I sure can't wait to find out what really happened. You mean person. Introducing a plot twist by making us think Franny is wounded just to tug another one and - whoosh - Diego is dead. I am *almost* sorry for him. Um, no. That's a lie. I'm only sorry that Franny had to watch.
Mae is incredible. Someone was killed and she runs straight back, she hides Franco *and* she lies to her friends without even blushing. I am impressed. And she has managed to make Franny smile again only so shortly after a tragedy. What a woman!
Aren't you glad you didn't have to wait at that cliff hanger xD
DeleteMae would do anything for the people she cares for. And that includes stuff bordering legality
Wow I really like how you conveyed her heightened emotional state. I feel panicked alongside her. Maladi and Froot's sims are so hot <3 Diego dying. OK good. Very good. But no, died right in front of Fran gosh... and now Mae is an 'accomplice' At least I see them successful in the future but this is still gut wrenching!
ReplyDeletethank you! I tried something new here, I am glad it worked 😅
DeleteHehe. I thought you would enjoy his death! (I admit I didn't find any other use for him anymore v.v) But you're right, this is gonna end up waaaaaay more complicated than they could think of now ! >_<
Ok, he's totally called Franny now.
ReplyDeleteWonder what Diego did to get himself shot!
Mae surprised me by how collected she stayed about the whole thing. Francesco's shock is very believable.
:D A friend of mine started calling him like that and I thought it fits him perfectly! Or rather, fits perfectly what Mae would call him xD
Deleteyou know that by now xD
well it may be a bit different, but Mae has learned already in different situations to be rather practical (like with her sick mom, the bullying...) and it may have helped that she loves to watch all sorts of movies 😅