А/N : The pictures you saw in the previous chapter are pictures taken at my own birthday party. I knew I wanted to throw a party as Francy would throw. So I used the opportunity and created some aesthetic moments I can place in the story ❤

Francy's p.o.v

5:30 am

Tuesday

My whole body hurt as I was carrying my last bag to the car. Getting up this early was always a hassle. But if I wanted to get there at a reasonable hour and have time to settle in the house, this was a must.

I had prepared everything the night before. The only thing I had done this morning was smooching the hell out of Dorian Pierre and Momo who I was going to miss very much.

"Ready?" Dad asked.

"Yes. Except for Remi...."

I looked at my watch. Where was she?

Remi had spent the night in my house so we can head out on time, but this morning after putting all her bags out, she ran to say goodbye to Kai.

Dad was leaned on the car drinking the cold brew that he got for himself earlier today when he went to prep the car.

I tapped my lips. Should I get myself one too when we head out.. nope. those were too many bathroom breaks I can't afford.

"I'm going to look for Remi."

I ran back into the house and tiptoed upstairs. I saw Kai's door half-opened.

When I went inside, Remi was on Kai's bed, backpack still on, napping next to him.

They were so cute I can't..i almost left but then it hit me, she's not supposed to be sleeping.

"Gurl.." I shook her. She wiggled unwillingly and then fell off the bed.

"Ouch" She whispered.

"We're supposed to be leaving." I started signaling to get out.

Kai suddenly started muttering something in his sleep and as a reflex, I ran out of the room.

Did not want to be there when he goes off.

I tried to signal to Remi to run and hide, before he opened his eyes.

He peeked on one eye and then stretched his whole body smiling. He reached his hand out and pinched Remi's cheek.

I cannot believe what I was seeing.

No yelling? No complaints why she woke him up?

"Why are you so pretty this early?" He told her grinning.

I sighed. I have no time for this.

"I'll miss you." She told him.

"I'll see you next week." He smiled at her.

"Can't wait."  She smiled back and took his hand kissing it.

She glanced back at the door realizing I'm still there waiting.

"Five minutes," I told her and got out of there.

As I ran back outside I saw dad talking to someone. Then I saw the rover.

"Elric." I ran over to hug him when I saw he carried two large cups of coffee.

"I love you.." I told him and took the coffee.

Guess many bathroom breaks it is.

He was still puffy in the face from sleeping.

"Sorry I made you wake up early to come and see me off," I told him.

Dad got into the car, putting his shades on and rolling the windows up.

"Nah..I wasn't even sleeping." He lied so innocently.

"Please make sure to check on Momo Piere and Dorian. They will probably be distressed once I'm gone for longer than a week."

"I will. Don't worry."

"And as for you. I will miss you very much. I'll text you after we settle in." I told him with a smile.

"Of course." He leaned over and gave me a warm sweet kiss over my lips.

I wrapped my arms around him. His hoodie was so warm and smelled of a worn-out wash and my favorite cologne.  I want to remember this smell.

"I'm coming." Remi ran out of the house red in the face, breathless with swollen lips.

Elric and I both chuckled.

"Are we going?" She asked.

"Bye." I pressed one last kiss on Elric's lips and opened the car's door.

As dad drove off I plastered a big smile on my face.

I'm not going to cry. This is only the beginning of an adventure.

***

We arrived. We arrived.

I had lazily watched out of the window when dad started honking at people to say hi. That's when I knew. We're here.

I woke up Remi who had dozed off with her book in her lap, hanging on by a thread from falling.

"What?" She complained. "I don't need to stop for the bathroom."

"We're here," I explained.

She instantly rose up, dropping her book sunglasses and her hair all over the place.

I pointed out the window. We were passing by a beautiful field of sunflowers. The tall sunflowers hugged each other in a sea of gold and green. It was so calming, so beautiful.

I rolled down the window and Remi scooted over to see as well. We could hear the little crickets hiding somewhere in the field. Ah, it was indeed summer.

Few minutes later, dad turned his car up a hill street and parked in front of a beautiful huge house.

Once he got out, Remi and I kicked off pillows and everything around us, put on our shoes to get out of the car.

Indeed the house was far greater than we imagined. It had two floors and it was mostly wide rather than tall. It had those vintage open-on-the-outside windows standing out from the rest of the house.

The small porch out front was green but empty and lifeless. I could already imagine it as a canvas for my ideas.

Oh my god. It was happening. My aesthetic house dreams are so close...

"Let's go inside," I told dad.

He took out his keys and opened the front door.

A wave of dust and stuffy air hit my nostrils.

Remi coughed out whatever she inhaled while I waved my hand in front of my face.

"This is it." He took a step inside.

The entrance hall was long and tight in width. There was a giant mirror which I loved and a place to leave the shoes. Hm.. I wonder how we can elevate this place..

The living room was huge. In fact, it was part living room part dining room. It was so rustic and old-looking. My senses started tingling.

But maybe I should open a window or two first.

I was headed for the window when Remi yelled out. "Wait."

"Why?" I asked and then it hit me. Right, the first impression pictures.

"I have my polaroid camera in the backpack. Let me go get it."

She ran out of the house.

"Polaroid camera? Dad asked. "Normal phones and cameras won't do the job?"

"No, they will but the thing is that when brainstorming ideas for our presentation at the end of the project, Remi and I decided to make a scrapbook journal of everything we're going to do. We'll add paintings, pictures, polaroids, stickers and so on ..The idea is still in progress but we wanted to take the first impression picture with a polaroid."

"Got it." Dad sighed at loss.

Remi ran back inside breathless. "I think we need to put the bags with us as well. You know, to prove this is the first impression.

Dad just chuckled to himself like he was pitying himself and went to take the bags.

I put an arm around Remi and pointed at the house. "Look at all the work we have."

She hugged me back. "I can't wait to see the second floor."

Dad walked back in the suitcases and handed us the bags. Remi gave him the camera.

We posed and he took a picture of us. Click

"Perfect."

Dad gave us back the camera and then went to get the rest of the things out of the car.

Including the bikes strapped on top of it.

After checking the house and making sure everything was okay he was ready to leave.

We walked him to the car. He hugged me and kissed me on the head. "Now you have a few days to get settled. On Monday my friend's daughter will come by around five to get you so you can do the deliveries."

"Five?" I gasped. "I thought you meant seven in the morning or eight. But five."

"I don't do well that early," Remi complained.

"Sorry. Did I forget to tell you?" Dad smiled and got in the car.

"This is something my parents would do." Remi shook her head annoyed.

"You'll be fine." He told us.

We waved goodbye and headed back inside.

It was time to get to work.

I took a good look at the living room and dining room.

The dining room side had a lot of the light dimmed as there were many untrimmed trees on the outside that covered the sunlight from entering the room. The overall colors were dark and smothering. If anything I wanted to make it brighter and breathable.

The living room side was a bit brighter. The walls had a floral pattern paper and the couch and armchair were in the same fashion. The other furniture wasn't so bad but I definitely could see a way for improvement. The curtains had an interesting lace and the plants placed next to the window were really bringing life into the whole atmosphere.

https://youtu.be/uRQUaHsv_fE

The fireplace was lovely and a lot could be done with it though the art hanging over it had to go. The carpet was interesting but it all depends on the theme we might go with.

Well, it needed work but I don't mind the aesthetic for now.

There were a lot of old books on the shelf and things that added to that vintage vibe.

But we should give it a good dusting first. We pulled out all the cleaning products we brought and found the broom where dad said we'll find it.

Remi placed the broom down. "Wait. Let's go check upstairs too. We need to sleep there and use the bathroom so it will be best if we know what's waiting for us."

We went up the stairs and there were three rooms spread out.- one on the furthest left, one right in front of us and one on the right.

I opened the first door in front of us. It was one of the bedrooms.

"Oh my god." Remi covered her mouth laughing. "No wonder your grandmother hates this house. It's really too kitsch."

The room had yellow walls, a floral bed frame with the same pattern curtains and the same pattern tablecloth. It wasn't that bad... I think..

"It's like a cottage summer fairy threw up in here." I tried to find the right words.

Remi couldn't stop laughing.

"We indeed have work." I sighed "Let's go to the other room."

Yaaaay.. we are finally at the house and my god, it only gets better from here. I love the upcoming chapters. Had so much fun writing them.

You'll love what's ahead.

For the updating schedule, I'm going to slow down a bit now, to give myself the time to be a bit further away from the last chapter I post. So instead of every day, it will be every three days.

Have a great one everyone 🥰