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Catherines Addiction By Jesse Hawkin Guthrie ISBN: 978-0-6151-6526-4Introduction

Animated pages turn in open book(Difficult)

Tip: You will need to use drawing guides and the ruler to position the objects on this slide. For instructions on animating an opening book cover, refer to the previous slide (Custom animation effects: open book) for instructions.

To display the drawing guides and the ruler, do the following:On the Home tab, in the Slides group, click Layout, and then click Blank.Right-click the slide background area, and then click Grid and Guides. In the Grid and Guides dialog box, under Guide settings, select Display drawing guides on screen. (Note: One horizontal and one vertical guide will display on the slide at 0.00, the default position. The spine of the book will be aligned to the vertical drawing guide.) On the View tab, in the Show/Hide group, select Ruler.

To reproduce the first shape in the Inside-left page 1 group on this slide, do the following:On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Shapes, and then under Rectangles, click Rounded Rectangle (second option from the left). On the slide, drag to draw a rounded rectangle.Select the rounded rectangle. Under Drawing Tools, on the Format tab, in the Size group, do the following:In the Shape Height box, enter 4.5. In the Shape Width box, enter 3.33.On the rounded rectangle, drag the yellow diamond adjustment handle to the left to reduce the amount of rounding on the corners.On the Home tab, in the bottom right corner of the Drawing group, click the Format Shape dialog box launcher. In the Format Shape dialog box, click Fill in the left pane, select Gradient fill in the Fill pane, and then do the following:In the Type list, select Linear.Click the button next to Direction, and then click Linear Left (first row, fifth option from the left).In the Angle box, enter 180.Under Gradient stops, click Add gradient stops or Remove gradient stops until two stops appear in the drop-down list. Also under Gradient stops, customize the gradient stops that you added as follows:Select the first stop in the slider, and then do the following:In the Position box, enter 0%.Click the button next to Color, and then under Theme Colors click Red, Accent 2, Darker 50% (sixth row, sixth option from the left).Select the second stop in the slider, and then do the following: In the Stop position box, enter 100%.Click the button next to Color, and then under Theme Colors click Red Accent 2, Darker 25% (fifth row, sixth option from the left).Also in the Format Shape dialog box, click Line Color in the left pane. In the Line Color pane, select No line. On the slide, drag the rectangle until the right edge is against the vertical drawing guide.On the Home, tab, in the Drawing group, click the arrow under Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align to Slide.Click Align Middle.

To reproduce the second shape in the Inside-left page 1 group on this slide, do the following:On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Shapes, and then under Rectangles click Rectangle (first option from the left). On the slide, drag to draw a rectangle.Select the rectangle. Under Drawing Tools, on the Format tab, in the Size group, do the following:In the Shape Height box, enter 4.33. In the Shape Width box, enter 3.15.On the Home tab, in the bottom right corner of the Drawing group, click the Format Shape dialog box launcher. In the Format Shape dialog box, click Fill in the left pane, select Gradient fill in the Fill pane, and then do the following:In the Type list, select Linear.Click the button next to Direction, and then click Linear Left (first row, fifth option from the left).In the Angle box, enter 180.Under Gradient stops, click Add gradient stops or Remove gradient stops until five stops appear in the drop-down list. Also under Gradient stops, customize the gradient stops that you added as follows:Select the first stop in the slider, and then do the following:In the Position box, enter 0%.Click the button next to Color, and then under Theme Colors click White, Background 1, Darker 35% (fifth row, the first option from the left).Select the second stop in the slider, and then do the following: In the Position box, enter 5%.Click the button next to Color, and then under Theme Colors click White, Background 1 (first row, first option from the left).Select the third stop in the slider, and then do the following: In the Position box, enter 18%.Click the button next to Color, and then under Theme Colors click White, Background 1, Darker 5% (second row, first option from the left).Select the fourth stop in the slider, and then do the following: In the Position box, enter 38%.Click the button next to Color, and then under Theme Colors click White, Background 1 (first row, first option from the left).Select the fifth stop in the slider, and then do the following: In the Position box, enter 93%.Click the button next to Color, and then under Theme Colors click White, Background 1 (first row, first option from the left).Also in the Format Shape dialog box, click Line Color in the left pane. In the Line Color pane, select No line.Also in the Format Shape dialog box, click Shadow in the left pane. In the Shadow pane, click the button next to Presets, under Outer click Offset Right (second row, first option from the left), and then do the following:In the Transparency box, enter 60%.In the Size box, enter 100%.In the Blur box, enter 4 pt.In the Angle box, enter 0.In the Distance box, enter 3 pt. On the slide, drag the rectangle until the right edge is against the vertical drawing guide. On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align to Slide. Click Align Middle.On the Home tab, in the Editing group, click Select and then click Select All. On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, and then click Group.On the Home tab, in the Editing group, click Select, and then click Selection Pane. In the Selection and Visibility pane, double-click the group to edit the name, and then enter Inside-left page 1.

To reproduce the first shape in the Inside-right page 3 group on this slide, do the following:On the Selection and Visibility pane, select the Inside-left page 1 group.On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the arrow to the right of Copy, and then click Duplicate.On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Rotate, and then click More Rotation Options. In the Format Shape dialog box, click Size in the left pane, in the Size pane, under Size and rotation, in the Rotation box, enter 180.On the Selection and Visibility pane, double-click the duplicate group to edit the name, and then enter Inside-right.On the slide, drag the Inside-right group until the left edge is against the vertical drawing guide.On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align to Slide.Click Align Middle.

To reproduce the text box in the Inside-right page 3 group on this slide, do the following:On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Text Box. On the slide, drag to draw the text box. Enter text in the text box, and then select the text. On the Home tab, in the Font group, do the following:In the Font list, select Bodoni MT Condensed.In the Font Size list, select 16.Drag the text box onto the right-side page to the right of the vertical drawing guide. If the text is wider than the page, drag the adjustment handles on the text box to decrease the width, and then repeat the previous step to reposition.

To reproduce the page edges in the Inside-right page 3 group on this slide, do the following:On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Shapes, and then under Lines click Line (first option from the left). On the slide, press and hold SHIFT, and then drag to draw a straight, vertical line.Select the vertical line. Under Drawing Tools, on the Format tab, in the Size group, in the Shape Width box, enter 4.32.Under Drawing Tools, on the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click the arrow to the right of Shape Outline, and then under Theme Colors click White, Background 1, Darker 15% (third row, first option from the left).On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the arrow to the right of Copy, and then click Duplicate. Repeat this process until there is a total of six lines.On the slide, drag the lines until they are bunched together in a dense group, no wider than 0.5. In the Selection and Visibility pane, press and hold CTRL, and then select the six straight connectors (lines).On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, and then do the following:Point to Align, and then click Align Selected Objects. Point to Align, and then click Distribute Horizontally.Point to Align, and then click Align Middle.Click Group. On the slide, drag the group of lines until the right edge is touching the right edge of the white rectangle to the right of the vertical drawing guide.On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align to Slide.Click Align Middle.In the Selection and Visibility pane, press and hold CTRL, and then select the group of lines, the text box, and the Inside-right group.On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, and then click Group.In the Selection and Visibility pane, double-click the new group to edit the name, and then enter Inside-right page 3.

To reproduce the first shape in the Inside-left page 2 group on this slide, do the following: On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Shapes, and then under Rectangles click Rectangle (first option from the left). On the slide, drag to draw a rectangle.Under Drawing Tools, on the Format tab, in the Size group, do the following:In the Shape Height box, enter 4.33. In the Shape Width box, enter 3.15.On the Home tab, in the bottom right corner of the Drawing group, click the Format Shape dialog box launcher. In the Format Shape dialog box, click Fill in the left pane, select Gradient fill in the Fill pane, and then do the following:In the Type list, select Linear.Click the button next to Direction, and then click Linear Left (first row, fifth option from the left).In the Angle box, enter 180.Under Gradient stops, click Add gradient stops or Remove gradient stops until five stops appear in the drop-down list. Also under Gradient stops, customize the gradient stops that you added as follows:Select the first stop in the slider, and then do the following:In the Position box, enter 0%.Click the button next to Color, and then under Theme Colors click White, Background 1, Darker 35% (fifth row, first option from the left).Select the second stop in the slider, and then do the following: In the Position box, enter 5%.Click the button next to Color, and then under Theme Colors click White, Background 1 (first row, first option from the left).Select the third stop in the slider, and then do the following: In the Position box, enter 18%.Click the button next to Color, and then under Theme Colors click White, Background 1, Darker 5% (second row, first option from the left).Select the fourth stop in the slider, and then do the following: In the Position box, enter 38%.Click the button next to Color, and then under Theme Colors click White, Background 1 (first row, first option from the left).Select the fifth stop in the slider, and then do the following: In the Position box, enter 93%.Click the button next to Color, and then under Theme Colors click White, Background 1 (first row, first option from the left).Also in the Format Shape dialog box, click Line Color in the left pane. In the Line Color pane, select No line.Also in the Format Shape dialog box, click Shadow in the left pane. In the Shadow pane, click the button next to Presets, under Outer click Offset Right (second row, first option from the left), and then do the following:In the Transparency box, enter 60%.In the Size box, enter 100%.In the Blur box, enter 4 pt.In the Angle box, enter 0.In the Distance box, enter 3 pt.On the slide, drag the rectangle until the right edge is against the vertical drawing guide.On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click the arrow under Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align to Slide.Click Align Middle.

To reproduce the page edge in the Inside-left page 2 group on this slide, do the following: On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Shapes, and then under Lines click Line (first option from the left). On the slide, press and hold SHIFT, and then drag to draw a straight, vertical line.Select the vertical line. Under Drawing Tools, on the Format tab, in the Size group, in the Shape Width box, enter 4.32.Under Drawing Tools, on the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click the arrow next to Shape Outline, and then under Theme Colors click White, Background 1, Darker 15% (third row, first option from the left).On the slide, drag the line near the edge of the left-side page (white rectangle to the left of the vertical drawing guide). On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align to Slide.Click Align Middle.In the Selection and Visibility pane, press and hold CTRL, and then select the rectangle and the straight connector (line).On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click the arrow under Arrange, and then click Group.In the Selection and Visibility pane, double-click the new group to edit the name, and then enter Inside-left page 2.

To reproduce the first shape in the Inside-right page 2 group on this slide, do the following: In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the Inside-left page 2 group.On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the arrow to the right of Copy, and then click Duplicate.With the duplicate group still selected, on the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Rotate, and then click More Rotation Options. In the Format Shape dialog box, click Size in the left pane, in the Size pane, under Size and rotation, in the Rotation box, enter 180.In the Selection and Visibility pane, double-click the duplicate group to edit the name, and then enter Inside-right.In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the new Inside-right group. On the slide, drag the selected group until the left edge is against the vertical drawing guide.On the Home, tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align to Slide.Click Align Middle. On the Insert tab, in the Images group, click Picture. In the Insert Picture dialog box, select a picture, and then click Insert.Select the picture. Under Picture Tools, on the Format tab, in the bottom right corner of the Size group, click the Size and Position dialog box launcher. In the Format Picture dialog box, resize or crop the image so that the height is set to 1.4 and the width is set to 2.1. To crop the picture, click Crop in the left pane, and in the right pane, under Crop position, enter values into the Height, Width, Left, and Top boxes. To resize the picture, click Size in the left pane, and in the right pane, under Size and rotate, enter values into the Height and Width boxes.

To reproduce the text box in the Inside-right page 2 group on this slide, do the following: On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Text Box. On the slide, drag to draw the text box. Enter text in the text box, and then select the text. On the Home tab, in the Font group, do the following:In the Font list, select Bodoni MT Condensed.In the Font Size list, select 16.On the slide, drag the text box until the left edge of the text is 0.5 to the right of the vertical drawing guide and the top edge of the text is against the horizontal drawing guide.If the text is too wide for the page, drag the adjustment handles on the text box to adjust the width, and then repeat the previous step to reposition.

To reproduce the page edges in the Inside-right page 2 group on this slide, do the following: In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the Inside-right group you just created. On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, and then click Ungroup.In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the straight connector (line) that you just ungrouped from the page. On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the arrow to the right of Copy, and then click Duplicate. Repeat this process for a total of six lines. On the slide, drag the six lines until they are bunched together in a dense group, no wider than 0.5. In the Selection and Visibility pane, press and hold CTRL, and then select the six straight connectors (lines). On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align Selected Objects.Click Distribute Horizontally.Click Align Middle. With the group of lines still selected, on the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, and then click Group.On the slide, drag the group until the right edge of the group of lines is touching the right edge of the page.On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align to Slide.Click Align Middle.In the Selection and Visibility pane, press and hold CTRL, and then select the new group of lines and the rectangle. On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click the arrow under Arrange, and then click Group.Also in the Selection and Visibility pane, double-click the new group to edit the name, and then enter Inside-right.Also in the Selection and Visibility pane, press and hold CTRL, and then select the Inside-right group, the text box, and the picture. On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, and then click Group.In the Selection and Visibility pane, double-click the new group to edit the name, and then enter Inside-right page 2.

To reproduce the first shape in the Inside-left page 3 group, do the following: In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the Inside-left page 2 group.On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the arrow to the right of Copy, and then click Duplicate.In the Selection and Visibility pane, double-click the duplicate group to edit the name, and then enter Inside-left.On the slide, drag the rectangle until the right edge is against the vertical drawing guide.On the Home, tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align to Slide.Click Align Middle.

To reproduce the picture in the Inside-left page 3 group, do the following: On the Insert tab, in the Images group, click Picture. In the Insert Picture dialog box, select a picture, and then click Insert.On the slide, select the picture. Under Picture Tools, on the Format tab, in the Size group, click the Size and Position dialog box launcher. In the Format Picture dialog box, resize or crop the image so that the height is set to 1.4 and the width is set to 2.1. To crop the picture, click Crop in the left pane, and in the right pane, under Crop position, enter values into the Height, Width, Left, and Top boxes. To resize the picture, click Size in the left pane, and in the right pane, under Size and rotate, enter values into the Height and Width boxes.On the slide, drag the picture until the left edge is 0.5 to the right of the vertical drawing guide and the top edge is 0.25 below the horizontal drawing guide.

To reproduce the text box in the Inside-left page 3 group, do the following: On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Text Box, and then on the slide, drag to draw the text box. Enter text in the text box, and then select the text. On the Home tab, in the Font group, do the following:In the Font list, select Bodoni MT Condensed. In the Font Size list, select 16.On the slide, drag the text box until the right edge of the text is 0.5 to the left of the vertical drawing guide and the bottom edge of the text is 0.25 above the horizontal drawing guide.If the text is too wide for the page, drag the adjustment handles on the text box to decrease the width, and then repeat the previous step to reposition.

To reproduce the page edges in the Inside-left page 3 group, do the following: In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the Inside-left group you just created. On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, and then click Ungroup.In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the straight connector (line) that you just ungrouped from the page. On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the arrow to the right of Copy, and then click Duplicate.On the slide, drag the duplicate line until it is very close to the original line. In the Selection and Visibility pane, press and hold CTRL, and then select the two straight connectors (lines). On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align Selected Objects.Click Align Middle. With the group of lines still selected, on the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, and then click Group.On the slide, drag the group until the left edge of the group of lines is touching the left edge of the rectangle.On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align to Slide.Click Align Middle.In the Selection and Visibility pane, press and hold CTRL, and then select the new group of lines, the rectangle, the text box, and the picture. On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click the arrow under Arrange, and then click Group.Also in the Selection and Visibility pane, double-click the new group to edit the name, and then enter Inside-left page 3.

To reproduce the first shape in the Inside-right page 1 group on this slide, do the following:In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the Inside-left page 2 group.On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the arrow to the right of Copy, and then click Duplicate.In the Selection and Visibility pane, double-click the new group to edit the name, and then enter Inside-right.In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the Inside-right group. On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Rotate, and then click More Rotation Options. In the Format Shape dialog box, click Size in the left pane, in the Size tab, under Size and rotation, in the Rotation box, enter 180.On the slide, drag the group until the left edge is against the vertical drawing guide. On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align to Slide.Click Align Middle.

To reproduce the text box in the Inside-right page 1 group on this slide, do the following:On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Text Box. Drag to draw a text box on the slide.Enter text in the text box (Introduction in the example above), and then select the text. On the Home tab, in the Font group, do the following:In the Font list, select Vivaldi.In the Font Size list, select 18.On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click Center to center the text in the text box.On the slide, drag the text box until the left edge of the text is 0.75 to the right of the vertical drawing guide and the bottom edge of the text is 0.5 above the horizontal drawing guide.If the text is too wide for the page, drag the adjustment handles on the text box to decrease the width, and then repeat the previous step to reposition.

To reproduce the page edges in the Inside-right page 1 group on this slide, do the following:In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the Inside-right group you just created. On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, and then click Ungroup.In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the straight connector (line) that you just ungrouped from the page. On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the arrow to the right of Copy, and then click Duplicate. Repeat this process for a total of six lines. On the slide, drag the six lines until they are bunched together in a dense group, no wider than 0.5. In the Selection and Visibility pane, press and hold CTRL, and then select the six straight connectors (lines). On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align Selected Objects.Click Distribute Horizontally.Click Align Middle. With the group of lines still selected, on the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, and then click Group.On the slide, drag the group until the right edge of the group of lines is touching the right edge of the page.On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, point to Align, and then do the following:Click Align to Slide.Click Align Middle.In the Selection and Visibility pane, press and hold CTRL, and then select the new group of lines, the rectangle, and the text box. On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click the arrow under Arrange, and then click Group.Also in the Selection and Visibility pane, press and hold CTRL, double-click the new group to edit the name, and then enter Inside-right page 1.Right-click the slide background area, and then click Grid and Guides. In the Grid and Guides dialog box, under Guide settings, clear Display drawing guides on screen.On the View tab, in the Show/Hide group, clear Ruler.

In the Selection and Visibility pane, the final arrangement of the six groups of objects should be the following (from top to bottom):Inside-right page 1Inside-left page 3Inside-right page 2 Inside-left page 2Inside-right page 3Inside-left page 1

To move a group of objects up in the Selection and Visibility pane, do the following:In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the group of objects.On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, and then click Bring Forward.

To move a group of objects down in the Selection and Visibility pane, do the following:In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the group of objects.On the Home tab, in the Drawing group, click Arrange, and then click Send Backward.

To reproduce the animation effects on this slide, do the following:In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the Inside-right page 1 group. On the Animations tab, in the Advanced Animation group, click Add Animation, task pane, click Add Effect, and then click More Exit Effects. In the Add Exit Effect dialog box, under Basic, click Wipe.Also on the Animations tab, in the Timing group, do the following:In the Start list, select With Previous. In the Duration box, enter 1.00 seconds. Also on the Animations tab, in the Animation group, click Effect Options, and then click From Right.In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the Inside-left page 2 group. On the Animations tab, in the Advanced Animation group, click Add Animation, and then click More Entrance Effects. In the Add Entrance Effect dialog box, under Basic, click Wipe.Also on the Animations tab, in the Timing group, do the following:In the Start list, select After Previous.In the Duration box, enter 1.00 seconds. Also on the Animations tab, in the Animation group, click Effect Options, and then click From Right.In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the Inside-right page 2 group. On the Animations tab, in the Advanced Animation group, click Add Animation, and then click More Exit Effects. In the Add Exit Effect dialog box, under Basic, click Wipe.Also on the Animations tab, in the Timing group, do the following:In the Start list, select On Click.In the Duration box, enter 1.00 seconds. Also on the Animations tab, in the Animation group, click Effect Options, and then click From Right.In the Selection and Visibility pane, select the Inside-left page 3 group. On the Animations tab, in the Advanced Animation group, click Add Animation, then click More Entrance Effects. In the Add Entrance Effect dialog box, under Basic, click Wipe.Also on the Animations tab, in the Timing group, do the following:In the Start list, select After Previous.In the Duration box, enter 1.00 seconds. Also on the Animations tab, in the Animation group, click Effect Options, and then click From Right.

To reproduce the background effects on this slide, do the following:Right-click the slide background area, and then click Format Background. In the Format Background dialog box, click Fill in the left pane, select Gradient fill in the Fill pane, and then do the following:In the Type list, select Linear.Click the button next to Direction, and then click Linear Down (first row, second option from the left).Under Gradient stops, click Add gradient stops or Remove gradient stops until two stops appear in the drop-down list.Also under Gradient stops, customize the gradient stops that you added as follows:Select the first stop in the slider, and then do the following:In the Position box, enter 63%.Click the button next to Color, and then under Theme Colors click Black, Text 1 (first row, second option from the left).Select the second stop in the slider, and then do the following: In the Position box, enter 100%.Click the button next to Color, and then under Theme Colors click Black, Text 1, Lighter 50% (second row, fifth option from the left).

Chapter 1

On the west side of Paris, sitting on an old wooden bench, she turned toward the fountain and stared vaguely at some children that were playing with the ducks. It was a cool misty morning in April. The sky was grey and gloomy and the air wet with humidity. There was light dew on the grass around the park where she sat. The spring came late that year, the trees were just starting to turn a yellow green, but there was still the sense of winter in the air. She wore a knee-length, black wool coat, cotton scarf, burgundy beret and an old pair of ripped and patched blue jeans. Catherines eyes had a piercing blue tint that drew attention at first glance. Her hair was a radiant auburn, long and frizzy with a soft scent of lavender. She was very attractive, most would say beautiful. She leaned her back against the bench and took out her sketching pad, the images were dark and sad, it was not just the weather that influenced her mood, it was the children playing at the fountain, there was a sadness she felt about her own childhood, she was an only child growing up in a small farm town outside Boulder Colorado. At 24 years old, she had experienced very little in life, until she went to University, there with all the influences that a young girl in a progressive collage town could be introduced to and not wanting to miss out on anything. She was willing to experiment with everything, and she took them all on! The morning sun slowly burned off the layers of grey clouds, and the blue sky poked through the mist, the streets started to fill with people on their daily tasks. Losing the mood, she stood up, put her sketch pad under her arm and walked back past the sidewalk cafes. She had a class at 10:00 am and although she was intent about her art classes, today she felt a bit at a loss. Hesitating at a cafe on the way, she stopped for a coffee and a cigarette, but the feeling of guilt was too strong for her to ignore, and not wanting to be late, she made her way to class. Sitting on the steps outside was Ren, a fellow student in her art class, a bit older than Catherine. Ren was a very stereotypical French art student, with all the arrogance and style one would expect in Paris. He was infatuated with this American girl, but was still unsuccessful in his endeavor to persuade her to go out with him. His ability to paint was not lost on Catherine, she knew he was good and had an imagination to match, there was something missing, she could not put her finger on it, but it was enough to make her stop and think about it. However, today, when Ren ask her to go out for coffee after class, she decided to say yes. She didnt know why she had said yes, maybe because she was in a melancholy mood and felt indifference about going out with him. They went into their class and as she sat in front of her canvas and stared, lost in the blank white that confronted her, she remembered her sketch pad from the morning and took them out. The drawings took her a bit aback because it suddenly dawned upon her, the sadness and loneliness that the sketches projected and she wondered how she had became so sullen lately. The colors and images just were not coming to her, she was very unsettled, with neither patience nor resolve, the day was a wash and she knew it. They walked out of class together; mostly because Ren was afraid she would forget or change her mind about going for coffee. They walked and talked vaguely about class and the pieces they were working on. She always noticed Ren in class, but never really talked with him. He spoke a little slower, knowing that Catherines French was good, but not that good. That was in itself unusual for a Frenchman, especially a Parisian. Catherine appreciated it and was herself a bit surprised at his attentiveness; slowly she began to pay more attention to Ren. He spoke about the wonders of the city, the lifestyle of Paris from an artists perspective, the design of the buildings; how the architects of that period created beauty from stone, things that she never really spent much time thinking about. Suddenly she found herself fully engrossed in their conversation, smiling and laughing every now and then. Seeing Ren in a new light, she thought his perspectives on the variety of subjects they spoke about, were at the least, intriguing. They found a quaint little sidewalk cafe just around the corner from the University and took a table in the cobblestone courtyard, underneath a large tree, facing a park. There were some other students sitting nearby, it was a favorite cafe for writers and painters, a bit trendy, but still the classic beatnik atmosphere and Catherine and Ren fit in, to a tee. The waiter came deux, caf au lait, sil vous plat Ren ordered, without asking Catherine. She didnt really take much notice of his inconsiderate attitude, he didnt ask her first what she would like to have, and instead he just ordered. It was normal for him! They talked for a couple of hours, then Catherine said she had to get back to her apartment, she was expecting a friend to come by at 3:00 that afternoon. She told Ren that she would see him on Wednesday,( they only had the one art class together, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday). She walked back toward her flat, thinking about what it was that she found so intriguing in Rens demeanor. He was tall, with long black hair, dark complexion, (he came from Marseilles originally), very handsome, with an armband tattoo and 2 earrings in one ear. He was 34 years old, but seemed to be inherently younger. As she turned down the small street to her building, she saw her friend Michelle walking toward her. She was shorter than Catherine and had curly black hair, hazel eyes and she always wore makeup. Catherine had met Michelle in her first semester and they became friends right away. Michelle was a writer and took a few art classes on the side. She was a Parisian and knew her way around the city and for Catherine it was not only comforting to have someone she felt close to, but also someone who was familiar with all the night clubs and art galleries in town. They greeted each other in traditional French Parisian style, with three kisses on the cheek and headed upstairs to Catherines flat. It was a small, one bedroom apartment with a nook for a kitchen, a small sitting room and a small but awesome balcony overlooking the west side of the city. Michelle sat down at the old wooden table while Catherine put the kettle on to make some tea. She slid the half full ashtray and dirty wine glasses to one side and set the milk, sugar, two mugs and spoons in front of Michelle. She sat down while waiting for the kettle to boil and told Michelle about her afternoon with Ren. She spoke rather vaguely at first, not sure herself about her feelings for Ren, but as she started to explain to Michelle about the way he spoke and the things they talked about. She found herself becoming more absorbed in her own thoughts. It was becoming clear to her that she was attracted to him, but it wasnt what she had expected to feel, it was the contemplation of what he said that began to sink in and at that moment she started to understand the depth of his thoughts, or what she perceived he was saying, which left her feeling a bit blown away by the simple fact that she felt she understood him. The kettle started whistling. Catherine stood up and got the kettle and poured hot water into the mugs. She sat down and started dipping her tea bag in the water. There was a short pause of silence in the room. She pictured Rens face in her mind Michelle asked her what she was thinking about. The silence was broken. Oh, I was just thinking about class Catherine said, it wasnt true and she wasnt sure herself why she was daydreaming about Ren. She decided to just blow it off, instead of discussing with Michelle. Catherine pulled out a small tin box from the wooden shelf just above the table. She got her rolling tobacco out and took a small chunk of hash from the box, then held her lighter underneath the hash and heated it up, slowly breaking off pieces and mixing it in with the tobacco. She carefully rolled up a joint and lit it, inhaled deeply and then handed it to Michelle. She got up and went over to the stereo and put on a -Nina Simone- CD. She came back and took the joint from Michelle. What did you do today? Catherine asked. I had a writing class this morning.... and, oh yeah! I ran into Nikkei outside my class, she said there was a rave going on this weekend! Michelle told her. Awesome! Catherine said, still flashing back to her coffee with Ren that morning. The room filled with a sweet smell of tobacco and hash. A soft blues was playing on the CD player and the light outside was slowly starting to fade. They finished smoking the joint. Michelle sensed that Catherine was not in the mood to party or chat. She stood up and told Catherine that she would call her the next day, she wanted to meet up with some friends at the Bar National it was a couple of blocks away. Do you want to come with me? Michelle asked, knowing the answer. No thanks, I have some sketches I need to work on...... But Ill talk to you tomorrow..... have fun! Catherine said. Michelle opened the door and shut it quietly behind her. Catherine flung herself down on the futon next to the stereo. She closed her eyes and thought about Ren, art, her home and where she was going in her life. The joint was slowly kicking in, she felt a bit more relaxed and at ease. The CD ended. She opened her eyes; it was dark in the room. She stood up to light a candle and find some new tunes to listen to. Tuesday morning, the sun was shinning early, since there were no grey clouds or fog to block it out and it was warmer. Catherine opened the doors that led to the balcony. The air was fresh and crisp. The birds were chirping and there was a slight breeze, it really felt like spring in Paris. She made some coffee, put some Tom Waits on the CD player and stood on the balcony, leaning against the iron railing and looking out over the city. She felt lonely that morning. She thought about Ren and how comforting it would feel if he were standing next to her at that moment, with his arm around her, the touch of his hand on her waist. Simply to have someone to hold! It made her feel a bit sad and it was little comfort to her that her thoughts were completely occupied with Ren. She was slowly becoming aware of why she had been a bit down lately. These feelings were all so sudden. She wasnt looking to get involved with anyone in Paris, because she came to study art, it was her passion and she wanted to concentrate completely on it. There was no room for a relationship and yet this one was becoming her focal point. She finished her coffee and got dressed. She wanted to go to the studio at the University and paint since it was her free day. No classes or work. Catherine worked part-time in the kitchen of a nice restaurant not far from her flat. Mostly she helped prep food, make salads and help mix batter, it wasnt hard work and she was learning a lot more French as well as earning her some extra spending money, which she definitely needed considering how much Michelle and her friends party and how much she loved hanging out with them. She walked along the sidewalk, smoking a cigarette and dodging the dog shit that was overabundant in Paris. Heading for the studio, her head down, staring at the stone sidewalk, she walked slower than usual. She didnt feel any compelling urgency about painting or for that matter, anything. The day seemed to be a very emotional one. She found herself missing the States and her friends from college, she hadnt thought about them for a long time, also she wasnt happy with her sketches, they were all so depressing. She felt alone and disheartened. She wanted to see Ren, to hold him and for him to stroke her hair and comfort her, simply to ease this aching feeling of loneliness! A tear rolled down her cheek. She stopped along the sidewalk and squatted down and put her back up against the wall a building, with her arms crossed and resting upon her knees, she lowered her head on her arms and cried. After a few moments she pulled herself together, stood up, wiped the tears from her face and walked on toward the University. There were two other students in the studio when Catherine walked through the door. Her eyes were red and her face still damp from the tears. She walked over to an area in the room that was sunny, laid out her colors and canvas and sat cross-legged on a white tarp. She arranged her colors and prepared to start painting. She looked at the canvas and didnt know where to begin. She dropped her head and closed her eyes, feeling that she might start crying again. She stopped herself and opened her eyes, looking at the canvas, she saw Rens face. She painted for hours. Her concentration on detail was amazing; even she recognized that there was something special happening. The room had been empty for quite a while and Catherine hadnt even noticed. She was lost in her creation. Finally one of the University janitors came in and told her she would have to leave. She was astonished at how quickly the time passed. She gathered her things and started back home. Feeling content and satisfied with the progress that she had made, she decided to stop in at the small grocery store around the corner from her building and buy a few things to make dinner. She had her concentration back and felt a sense of relief from the state of despair she had felt earlier that day. She chatted a bit with Madame Bouchet, the old lady that owned the small store. Catherine had been buying her food there since she moved to Paris and she had gotten to know the old lady over the past year. Madame Bouchet took to Catherine and enjoyed talking with her. She too had moved to Paris to study Art when she was a young girl, and there met her husband. His parents owned the little store. When they died her husband took it over, now she ran the store by herself. Her son also died an artist. He was a poet and had written some beautiful poems. He had died three years earlier in the park near the University. He was found leaning against a tree. Next to him were an unfinished poem and a syringe. He died of a heroin overdose. Catherine said goodbye to Madame and went home. Catherine just set the bag of groceries on the table when the telephone rang. It was Michelle. Were all meeting at the Bar National in an hour; do you want to meet us there? Michelle asked excitedly. Yeah, Id love to! ..see you there. Catherine hung up the phone. She walked over to the stereo, put on some tunes, made a quick salad and bread, had a glass of wine, then rushed to get ready. She arrived at the bar early. Michelle was already there. Catherine went over and sat next to her. They talked about the day and Catherine told her about the painting she was working on but not that it was a portrait of Ren. Just then Ren walked in! She couldnt believe it. Ren! What was he doing here? Catherine didnt say anything. She watched Ren walk across the room and sit down next to a beautiful woman. Michelle watched Catherine observing the table across the room. Whats up Catherine? Michelle asked curiously. Oh, I thought I saw someone I knew, but I was wrong. Catherine replied nonchalantly, trying not to show any interest. Nikkei and a few other friends showed up. They all ordered drinks and started talking about all kinds of things. Mostly the conversations had to do with the University. Catherine glanced over toward Ren every now and then. She didnt want Michelle to see that she was interested in what going on across the bar. Just then someone played the jukebox. Catherine smiled a little. It was a Marvin Gaye song she really liked called Whats going on. It just seemed to be the ultimate irony at that moment. Michelle caught her smile out of the corner of her eye and saw that there was something a little sad in Catherines expression. Ren got up from his table and left the Bar. He hadnt noticed Catherine sitting at the table with all the other students. Catherine wasnt taking it so hard, that Ren was out with another girl, besides she didnt know him that well. She tried to put it out of her mind and enjoy the evening with her friends. She was still happy about her painting and she didnt want her friends to start asking about the mysterious man. They sat and talked and drank. It was getting late and Catherine knew she didnt want to be late for class the next day, not only because of her painting, but she wanted to see Ren. She was curious about the woman in the Bar but not discouraged. She didnt want to think about it too much. Bonjour! Catherine said to Ren when she walked into class the next day. She had a beautiful smile and Rens face lit up when he saw her. It made her feel good seeing Rens face, she recognized that spark in his eyes and it comforted her. The class went well. She worked on a new piece in class, because she didnt want Ren to see her painting of him. She didnt want him to think that she was that interested in him and she was a little self-conscience about that particular painting, it was turning into something very special for her and she wanted to keep it a secret. Catherine put her brushes and paints in her leather backpack and started to head to the door, Ren was still putting his things away when he looked up at her, she stopped and turned to look at Ren with an expression of are you coming? Ren smiled and walked over to her, she held on to his arm as they walked back to the same cafe. This time Catherine asked for a glass of Merlot. Ren looked a bit surprised but he ordered a glass as well. They drank their wine and had some bread and brie. It was a lovely day and they sat and talked for hours. Catherine was elated. She was starting to understand those extreme emotions she had been feeling lately. She wasnt ready to admit it to herself that she was falling in love. How could this possibly be she thought. I cant be in love. I dont even really know him, but she knew he was having a big impact on her daily life and she couldnt avoid that fact. As they were getting ready to leave the cafe Ren asked her if she would like to go out for dinner that evening. Catherine was scheduled to work that evening and she didnt want to blow work off. It was important for her to keep her job and she didnt want to chance it. Im sorry but I have to work this evening she said with regret in her voice. Ren looked disappointed but said he understood. Im free tomorrow night she said cheerfully. Again Ren had a look of disappointment on his face. Im sorry but I have something I must do tomorrow evening he said but I would like very much to go to the park on Sunday and have a picnic! Would you like to do that? he asked anxiously. Catherine hesitated, then a smile came across her face. Id love to. What time? she asked. Ill come by your flat at noon Sunday Ren said with a big smile on his face. Heres my address Catherine said as she wrote it down on a napkin. Ill see you Sunday. She said smiling. Actually it worked out well for Catherine. She was invited to go to a rave with Michelle, Nikkei and some other students on Saturday night, so noon Sunday was just right. She wouldnt have to get up so early after dancing until late. Raves were notorious for going on the whole night. She had it all planned out and was really looking forward to Sunday. She woke up early that Sunday. She had gotten in about 3:00 am after dancing with her friends. It was a really enjoyable evening but it was this afternoon that she was genuinely looking forward to. It was about 10:00 am. She took a shower and made some coffee. The weather was gorgeous, it was warm and the sky was a deep clear blue. It was exactly what she had wished for. She put some van Morrison on the CD player and got dressed. It was almost 12:00 when she heard a knock at the door. She looked in the mirror to make sure she looked good. Out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of Rens portrait leaning up against the wall behind her, she ran over quickly and covered it up with a white tarp, then answered the door. Ren was looking sharp. He wore faded blue jeans and his long black hair flowed down over his leather jacket. Come in Catherine said a bit out of breath and she knew it wasnt all from running to cover up the portrait. Merci Ren said, he felt a bit short of breath himself after seeing Catherine. Ill just grab my sweater and we can go Catherine said as she walked across the room. Ren saw the canvas that was covered up in the corner. Whats this he asked as he walked toward the portrait. Catherine hurried to intercept him before he could uncover it. Its just something I started working on last week Catherine said as she took his hand and headed back to the front door. Ren didnt say anything, he was taken by surprise that Catherine was holding his hand and he didnt want to let go, so he just followed. They walked along the street in the direction of the park. Ren had a wicker basket. Inside was an expensive bottle of wine, Camembert cheese and a Baguette. He also brought a red and white checkered blanket to sit on. It was what Catherine had always imagined a picture perfect picnic would be like and she smiled at herself as they walked along. She was happy. Ren was very perceptive, he knew this was good and feeling confidant that he was getting closer to Catherine, what hed been trying to accomplish for some time, he too smiled. The streets were busy with people and cars, but as they walked along with their picnic basket talking and smiling, Catherine caught the stares of some of the people as they passed by them. What are they staring at? Catherine asked Ren with a bit of concern. Its spring in Paris! Ren answered with a grin. Catherine didnt get it at first and she looked at Ren again, with a sort of blank look on her face. Ren looked back at her, reached over and held her hand and smiled. Catherine looked into his eyes and it dawned upon her. Spring in Paris! Young couples in love! Oh! she said, a warm smile lit up her face. It was the perfect day for Catherine. They spent the afternoon sitting underneath an enormous oak tree with their blanket laid out in the grass. They sipped their glasses of merlot and nibbled on cheese and bread. Ren lay back on the blanket. Lying on his side with one arm supporting his head, he faced Catherine. He had a long piece of grass between his fingers. He reached over with the stem of grass and stroked Catherines arm, as he talked to her about his home town of Marseilles. He told her of his childhood and how he missed the smell of salt water in the air along the Mediterranean. They talked for hours and as the wine was gone and it was starting to cool off, with the sun slowly setting in front of them, they decided to make their way back. When they reached the door to Catherines flat, she stopped and turned toward Ren and thanked him for a lovely day. Ren looked at her and reacted quickly, saying it was the nicest day hed spent out in a long time. He was trying to hide the fact that he was disappointed that she didnt ask him to come in, but after all, it was their first real date and he didnt really expect otherwise from her. He leaned toward Catherine and kissed her softly on the lips, it was a subtle kiss. Au revoir Ren said as he turned and walked back down the steps. It all seemed to happen so quickly, that Catherine was still standing in front of her door looking down the stairway before she realized that Ren was gone. She unlocked the door and went in. She felt a bit giddy standing in the middle of her flat, confused about what she should do next. There was all this energy inside her, she almost let out a scream of excitement but caught herself. She dropped down on to the futon, leaned her head back against the cushions, closed her eyes let out a big sigh and smiled. Monday morning. Catherine was up early. She wanted to look good for class that day. After dressing and having some coffee, she put some Eagles on the CD player and listened to A peaceful easy feeling it seemed to her, that the way she felt that morning, it had been written especially for her. She walked to class, feeling an excitement she hadnt felt for a long time and couldnt help but smile. When Catherine walked into class and looked around, she didnt see Ren. It was still a bit early and she thought to herself that he would be there soon. As she started setting up her paints and canvas, she kept glancing at the door, but still no Ren, maybe hes running late today she thought. For the next half an hour she kept a watch on the door, and then she gave up. He wasnt coming. I wonder what happened? she mumbled to herself. She was disappointed that Ren wasnt in class but just as worried that something had happened to him. Catherine wanted to call him but she never got Rens phone number or he had never offered to give it to her. She couldnt remember. It was starting to get cloudy and a mist was rolling in over the city. Catherine left class and walked to the cafe that she and Ren had gone to the week before. She walked by but there was practically nobody in the cafe and no Ren. She walked back home. It was starting to drizzle and she didnt have an umbrella with her. By the time Catherine got back to her flat, she was thoroughly wet. It was amazing; she thought to herself, that when she had left the flat that morning, she had felt on top of the world. The sun was shining and she had felt a content, warm feeling inside. Now she was drenched, standing alone in her apartment and the weather was absolutely dreary. She was completely confused as to how it could all suddenly go so wrong. She got out of her wet clothes and put on a wool sweater that was two times to big for her. It was her favorite and it made her feel warm and secure. She made some coffee and put on some music and got the portrait out. She painted for an hour or so but she couldnt shake off the feeling of confusion that was running around in her head. She put her colors away and called Michelle. All Michelle answered. Hi, Michelle its me. Catherine said with a hint of disgust in her voice. Whats the matter, you sound upset? Michelle asked. Can I come over? I need to talk Catherine asked. Mais oui, Ill see you in a few minutes Michelle answered. Catherine got her umbrella and headed over to Michelles, it wasnt too far to walk and she felt the need to get outside. She walked along passing shops and restaurants, looking in every now and then. She happened to look into one of the restaurants and stopped dead in her tracks. She backed up a little so as not to be noticed. Ren was with the same woman from the Bar National the other night. They were sitting at a small table in the corner, drinking wine and talking. Bastard! Catherine said in a quiet mumble. She stood there for a few minutes with her umbrella cocked down to hide her face. It had gotten considerably colder and there was a steady drizzle. The mist from the cars that drove by soaked her pants. She hadnt even noticed, she was concentrating on their facial expressions. Ren was smiling and laughing and so was that woman he was with. Damn it!....... Whats up with that shit! Catherine said out loud. She turned suddenly as she became aware that people were staring at her as they passed. She raised her umbrella back up and walked on toward Michelles. She stopped as she reached the other side of the big glass window in front of the restaurant and turned to get a better look at the woman that Ren was apparently having a good time with. She was beautiful. Catherine turned and walked away from the restaurant. Her eyes were watering up with tears, then her face turned red with anger. She thought about the two of them sitting together, laughing. God, Im such an idiot she said to herself. She suddenly felt like the biggest fool in the world. She was embarrassed with herself. How could I have believed that he was really interested in me? Damn it, Im such a fool! she kept saying to herself as she walked along. She was extremely mad. She stopped where she was and kicked the lamp pole in front of her. She lowered her head and started crying. It was all too much and she hadnt had time to understand what she had just seen. Catherine completely forgot about going to Michelles, she was simply in a daze. She went back to her flat, took her wet jeans off, threw them across the room toward the bathroom, grabbed a bottle of red wine from the shelf and sat down in her underwear at the table. She poured a tall glass, pulled out her tin box and rolled up a fat joint. She lit up and walked over to play a CD. The telephone rang. She pushed the start button and walked back to the little wooden table. All she said coughing from the smoke as she answered the phone. Catherine, what happened, I thought you were coming over! Michelle asked a bit agitated. Oh, shit! Im so sorry, I......, fuck! Catherine broke down and started bawling on the phone. Catherine, whats wrong, whats wrong! Are you o.k.! Merde! Ill be right over! Michelle hung up. Catherine hung up her phone and sat down at the table. She put her elbows up on the table and held her head in her hands and sobbed. She walked into the bedroom, put on some warm pants and back to the kitchen table. There was a knock at the door, she got up slowly and wiped the tears from her face and went over to let Michelle in. Ren Catherine exclaimed and stared at him in disbelieve. Catherine, oh god!, whats wrong, what happened? Why are you crying? Ren asked her with a serious look of concern on his face. But what are you doing here? I saw you a little while ago at the restaurant with some other woman! she said to Ren without thinking. She realized what she had just said and turned red with embarrassment. She turned around and walked back over to the table and sat down, Ren still standing at the door, watched her for a moment, he was completely dumbfounded as to what was going on with Catherine. Then it dawned upon him, the restaurant, the other woman. He walked in and shut the door behind him and sat down across from her. He said nothing as he took another glass from the shelf and poured himself some wine. He took a sip and put his glass down. Catherine, its not what you think! he said very softly. The woman you saw, shes..... he stopped, she looked up at him. There was a knock at the door. Shit! Catherine said quietly. She walked over to the door and opened it, it was Michelle. Catherine stepped out into the hall and shut the door behind her. Im sorry Michelle, I have Ren here and I really need to speak to him! she told Michelle with a trembling voice. Michelle could see that Catherine was very upset and had been crying a lot. Thats all right Catherine, I understand, can I do anything? Michelle asked, with a look of pity for Catherine. Nobut thanks... Ill call you in the morning Catherine kissed her on the cheek and turned and went back in. She sat down at the table across from Ren and she stared at the tin box on the table in front of her. She felt helpless at that moment. Ren reached across the table and took Catherines hand in his, she looked up at him. That woman you saw with me was....., my wife well, she was....well, she still is...., merde! Ren said completely frustrated. Ren dropped his head down for a moment and was quiet. He gathered his thoughts and looked back up at Catherine. She was looking right into his eyes. Those were definitely the bluest piercing eyes Ren had ever seen. He spoke very softly and with the most honest sounding voice Catherine had heard. I should have told you about Marie, but I was afraid. I wanted to spend time with you first. We have been separated for over a year. Were still good friends but she wanted to do other things. I didnt want you to think the wrong things about me. He stopped talking. Catherine didnt say anything. She needed time to think. Ren stared at her, waiting for her to say something. She looked at him. He saw the pain in her eyes. Im sorry Catherine he said as he stood up and walked toward the door. He stopped at the door, turned around to her. Ill see you tomorrow in class he said. Catherine shook her head slowly indicating yes. Ren turned and walked out the door. She sat at the table, staring blankly across the room, trying to comprehend everything Ren had said. ud Effects - Birds,Rural,AM,Sweet,Constant,Faint BG Crows and Cow BellsDownload Sound Effects - SoundDogs - Matt Temple _MT _SDChttp://www.Sounddogs.com, track 02007SFX - Birds; Countryside1943927.2 - Royalty Free Sound Effects - Sounddogs.comXXX - Royalty Free Sound Effects - Sounddogs.com