"Here, have my jacket." Taehyung offered as they strolled up a cobbled stone street and past several stacked apartments housed in beautifully old and interesting buildings.

"No thanks, I'm not really cold." Des tuned. She lifted her chin leading him to the left and down another narrow street while Taehyung focussed on heaving the heavier of the luggage the two carried behind him.

"How much longer 'till we actually get there? I thought you said your place was central..." He puffed, feeling his shirt starting to cling to his body despite the cool temperature.

"It is!" Des chirped. "Now," She said some-what bossily, "I've been meaning to mention something."

Taehyung wrinkled his brow.

Des stopped to check her text messages on her phone. She smirked, tapping a quick reply in before turning to look at him again.

"I live with a friend," She began, "You might have seen her with me back home before at the beach....kinda short, blue eyes, brunette, long fluffy hair....well not as crazy as mine, but..." She laughed tossing a strand out of the way. 

Taehyung looked at her blankly.

"Uh, yeah that's fine."

I guess

"Its a cosy little town house. You are going to love it. Didn't you say that you liked really antique-y old stuff, Tae?" She carried on breathlessly, "I bet you're gonna' really like it here. It's not exactly our house, its more like my friend's dad's house..."

Taehyung looked momentarily terrified.

"Oh, but don't worry. He's never here." Des grinned seeing the expression on his face. 

Taehyung wasn't sure how he felt about meeting Desiree's friend for the first time and then instantly becoming new roommates. It would be fine for a night or two but surely, he'd begin to look for a new place of his own once they got settled in the city. He and Des hadn't really talked about living arrangements before making the trip over here and Taehyung wondered suddenly why he had never thought to talk it through beforehand. Things like that were important. Perhaps a part of him just assumed they would find some place to stay together, not realising that Des had lived here for an entire year already and might have her own situation figured out to suit herself living as a student. Not, as a couple.

The disturbing question dawned on him like a summer solstice.

And where exactly do I fit in?

"So... say hello to your new home," She trotted up to a thickly painted blueish-green door and rapped on the wooden surface practically bouncing with anticipation as if she couldn't wait for something to happen.

Taehyung watched as the door wrenched inwards after hearing some rattling and a rosy-cheeked girl just as Des had described popped around the opening to greet them.

"Eeeeeee!" 

The two girls squealed with delight and hopped up and down in a jovial embrace.

"You look so tan!" Shayla stood back to take her in making a sad face, "I'm so fucking jealous. Just look at me..." She stuck her arms out at awkward angles.

"Pale as a ghost..." Des giggled.

"It's this bloody weather," She complained, "Summer lasted just about five seconds and since August its rained almost everyday."

Taehyung felt a surge of resentment watching them together, a bit like bile rising in his throat but instead he managed to hide it under a smile. 

"So!" Shayla finally greeted him, "Welcome to our bespoke, petit maison..." Her grin was infectious and playful. The type of girl that was always up to no good and knew exactly how to get away with it. 

"Des, let's show your dishy beau around..." She turned to Taehyung, "Sound good?"

"Uh, alright."  Taehyung looked apprehensive.

Shayla flung the door wide and the two girls sauntered naturally through the house leaving Taehyung to follow up the rear.

He learned very fast that 'a cosy townhouse' was a description a lot less grand than the reality of what was the building he had stepped into.

 Shayla led the way briskly through the house, Taehyung could feel the blood pumping in his veins. The newness of it all, overwhelming and fascinating him at the same time. 

Natural light poured amply through stained glass, floor-to-ceiling windows. Crown moulding framed every room. A marvellous view of the river Seine shone to their right and Taehyung could have sworn he'd seen the Eiffel Tower before scurrying after the two girls again to keep up. 

"The location is perfect because we are really close to your school, aren't we, Des?" Shayla chattered linked arm in arm with her friend as they showed Taehyung around.

There were four good sized bedrooms and a small tiny tea room connected to a larger living room but only one bathroom which was okay with Taehyung, given that the rest of the house was so appealing. 

Shayla let them pause for a few moments to put their things away and Des took the opportunity to pull Taehyung to one side as the bedroom door behind them closed.

"So?" 

She eyed him expectantly.

"I think its... awesome." Taehyung said, meaning to only be polite but then realising that he actually meant the words coming out of his mouth. 

The house was definitely comfortable and charming and Shayla, was nice after all. Nothing like Desiree's sisters had been who made him feel like a captured extraterrestrial held in a lab for examination.

"Now, for a little de-stress activity after your long flight?" Des gave a look that made Taehyung prickle with desire. It was astounding, the power she had over him. He ran his palm down her soft leg grabbing it from behind the knee to wrap it tightly around the side of his torso. 

He smirked burying his face in her hair.

Des whined and pushed herself in closer to him.

Suddenly, a loud flapping noise beat against the window startling the pair apart.

"Fuck, what was that?"

Desiree clutched her chest and began laughing.

"Its just Jean Paul," She kipped over to the attic window fumbling the latch with an excited grin.

"Jean- who?"

"Jean Paul." Des enunciated, sliding the window open where a large downy brown pigeon landed cooing and ruffling its feathers.

It was much larger than a usual pigeon and Taehyung stared at the creature, flummoxed as Des darted back to her drawer taking from it a small pouch and going back to the window where she fed the bird a few nuts from it.

"He's a great big thing, isn't he? Shay's Dad keeps threatening to get rid of him but he can never find the time or bring himself to do it." She laughed as Taehyung moved closer to have a better look. "He's not much trouble, old Jean Paul, he's a good tempered little beast." She said stroking its feathers, "Forget I said that, he is a bit temper mental though...and lazy sometimes."

Taehyung wondered how Des knew whether an over-sized pigeon was lazy or not but decided on not bothering to ask.

She looked so cute. Her freckles washed in the light of the sun and her ringlets spilled, dark- golden and untamed down between her bare shoulders. He loved the sound of her laugh as she teased the bird and played with it by the open window and at that moment, he thought-  it was a sound he always wanted to hear.

Now, forever...

How nice it was to finally have, somebody to love.

A/N: Aww, isn't this cute!

But let's not forget Tae's initial reaction to Shay and Des' tight bond. And can anyone guess why he felt that way towards it?

Also there's something verrry....  interesting, coming up in the next chapter ;)

Don't fear! I'm already half-way done with it so it won't be a long wait. Hopefully the next update will be live tomorrow! xxxx

Love you and thank you!

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✨ BJF ✨