1. 16. Although friendship exists far less at night.

56

I wanted to get off the rollercoaster, so I went back to my desk.

I’d summoned enough energy to do my duty, to stick to the rule I’d set myself: noting down the latest news on my book every evening.

WHAT I KNOW ABOUT MY CHARACTERS (3)

Madeleine Tricot. Showed surprising boldness, coming to my apartment to see me. She asked me to go with her to Los Angeles. I exchanged a few messages with Yves Grimbert on Facebook, then booked our flights: I was taken aback by how simple this whole process seemed. Though I’m less optimistic about other aspects of the book, I remain very enthusiastic about witnessing this reunion. And finding out the reasons for Yves’s departure.

Patrick Martin. Two contrasting tones in our conversations today. A pleasant, almost friendly lunch when he cooperated fully with my enquiries, telling me about his career and his current professional difficulties. Tomorrow (a few hours from the time I am writing this), he will be in a meeting with his new boss, Jean-Paul Desjoyaux. He fears he is going to be fired. After talking about work, Patrick and I moved on to the subject of his marriage. He thinks I can’t understand. That is probably true. He concluded our interview with a declaration of love for Valérie. Unfortunately, the trust between us was shattered this evening when he saw me coming back late from dinner with his wife. Seeing her like that – tipsy, on my arm – sent him into a rage. Our brief friendship is clearly over, and he no longer wants me to write about his family.

Valérie Martin. I love this character! I really enjoyed her company at dinner. She asked me far more personal questions than I was comfortable with, but she also answered all my questions with unflinching honesty. Particularly regarding the long and painful story of her relationship with her sister. Thinking back, I find it really strange that Stéphanie kept the delivery receipt. I remember a similar story where the culprit acted in the same way. There is perhaps a feeling of omnipotence in certain crimes, driving the criminal not to destroy the proof of their misdeed. Chaotic/dramatic end to the evening with Patrick. Their marriage is going through a complicated, painful period. I don’t know how things will end between them.

Jérémie Martin. Used me as a private tutor. Gave me a chance to reread François Villon, confirming my suspicion that medieval poetry is really not my thing. Give me Paul Éluard any day! Still not much to say about this character.

Lola Martin. Against all expectations, she confided in me about a very personal subject: her first time with a boy. This seems strange, but reflecting on it now, I think I understand what she’s up to. Why would Lola trust me with such information when, up to that point, she had shown nothing but contempt for my project? Perhaps, by asking me to meet her boyfriend, she is bringing him into the cast of my book. Which will force him to act more responsibly. You can do things in life that you would never do if you knew they might be publicly revealed in a book. Lola realised she could use my status as a writer to serve her own interests. For the first time in my life, I am being manipulated by one of my characters.