I'm back with more!
So, I saw one or two of you seem a bit confused at the pairing. Yes, I know Christine considered Jacques as gay, but it's not legitimately official. Besides, there are many pairings in the same sense. (i.e. two straight people being gay) I mean, it's okay if you don't ship certain things, I just happen to have a liking (obsession) with Jacsee. I definitely consider Tom gay, but Jacques is more on the cusp in my opinion.
Anyways, back to the story.
Jacques never felt more excited to go to practices after meeting Josee. He had a mission to be just as good as she was. It would be fun to be a little bit of a competition, but also a lot easier if he wasn't being outshined by a little kid. Especially a little girl.
Sometimes, just for his own sake, Jacques would beg his mother or father to go and let him practice extra. As loving and supportive of him as they both were, they couldn't always let him. But on the occasions that they could, they took him until they knew he was tired. Even if they literately had to drag him out.
Today was one of those days for him. As his mother and he neared the rink, the grin on his face grew. "Hurry, maman! Drive faster!" he exclaimed, almost bouncing in his seat.
She glanced into the rear view mirror, amusement playing in her eyes. "We're almost there, chouchou. Don't worry."
Jacques's mother Grace was a woman of patience and understanding. Having four children would have had to do that to anyone. But out of all of her children, she saw the most of herself in Jacques. Even as the youngest, he held a certain ambition the others didn't. She knew he was going to go far in whatever he did, and be there for anything.
Just as long as he didn't try to make her crash into other cars, of course.
.
Entering the doors of the rink, Jacques quickly pulled out his ice skates. Hearing a voice, he walked to the normal practice rink curiously. He was surprised, yet excited, to see Josee and her mother.
By now, he had known Josee for a few months. But usually she was quiet and held back, never talking to him as much as she did on the first day. She had become too focused, seeing as her mother started coming and watching during lessons, She was also never here the same time he was on his extra days. The little girl already looked out of breath, a certain look of stress on her face.
He looked at her mother, who looked the same as usual-strict. Never once did she smile at anyone. Just stood with crossed arms.
Pulling on his ice skates, he yelled out "Josee!" He quickly slid on the ice, trying to get over to her.
Forgetting to look what she was doing, Josee crashed into the wall after seeing him. Her mother only shook her head. Jacques was the one to skate over and help her up.
"I'm sorry! I just was surprised to see you!" he explained fretfully. "Are you okay? I'm really sorry, Josee!"
She stared at him, face red from the wall. "Yeah, yeah. I'm okay. I was surprised to see you too though." She didn't look mad at all, just frazzled. If anything, she was trying to look professional.
"Josee!" her mother hissed from where she stood. "Concentrate on what you are doing, you échec!" She glared at both children, but mostly at her own daughter. Jacques knew échec was a French word, but he never heard it before. Josee, however, seemed to look crushed.
"Yes, mama," she replied, eyes hardening into concentration once again.
But Jacques skated after her, not done talking. "I never see you here besides days we have to be here." He wobbled himself into a "Y spin" position, proud of himself when he got it.
She didn't look at him. "I come here all the time with Mama. I'm trying to get good enough to get a partner. I'm going to start ice dancing soon, so if I wanna find anyone good enough, I need to get good myself." She did a Besti squat.
Jacques had never heard of ice dancing. "What's ice dancing?" He tried doing a lunge.
She giggled, almost as if she thought he was stupid. "It includes dancing while you skate. Mama says it's bald room dancing or something. It's one of the best sports, she says."
She did a layback spin, finally seeing him as he skated into a camel position.
"I didn't know you could do that," she said, falling onto her butt.
As Jacques went to stop, he crashed on top of her. "I just learned- oops."
Josee shrugged it off, looking pretty impressed with him. "Well, it's really good. I've been trying that but didn't get it yet. Are you trying to be in the Olympics someday?" She pushed him off of her as she stood.
He shrugged, looking a little nervous. "I don't know. I don't think I'm good enough for it. I want to. . .ice dancing seems fun."
She beamed. "I'm sure with more practice you'll do good enough. Hey, maybe we could learn to ice dance together. We could be partners for it if Mama thinks you're good enough." She glanced at her mother. "Mama knows best about those kind of things. You're not ugly either, so you probably could."
He didn't take offense to it. He was too busy grinning at the idea of being part of something even cooler. "Really?"
She nodded. "Yes. I wouldn't lie about that. Let's ask!" She grabbed his hand, skating towards her mother.
.
Grace walked in as she saw her son skating after little Josee. Seeing a brunette woman, she guessed it was her mother. She walked over to her with a smile.
"Bonjour, is that your little girl?" she asked kindly, holding out her hand to shake.
The other woman glanced at her looking unimpressed. "Yes. Is that clumsy boy your son?"
Grace's smile felt from her face, dropping her hand. She knew Jacques could be slightly wobbly, but not totally clumsy.
"Yes he is- magnefique, Jacques!" she cheered, clapping for him as she saw him do a Y position. She looked at Josee in her Besti squat. "Your daughter is amazing at skating, as well. My son has commented on it."
Josee's mother rolled her eyes. "Josee's skating is adequate. She should be doing better if she going to be in ice dancing. Our goal is the Olympics. Right now, she's not even getting bronze."
Grace looked at the woman with surprise. She couldn't believe someone would show no pride in their child's accomplishments. Especially a child with amazing ability like her daughter. "Well, I think she's wonderful, cher. A true natural."
The two children fell after trying new moves. The other mother scoffed. "A natural loser," she mumbled. "So clumsy."
Grace glared at her, feeling pretty bad for Josee putting up with this witch. She sighed with relief when she saw the two children come over.
"You were perfect, mon amour!" she told her son, kissing his head.
"Maman, Josee wants to ask you and her mama something!" he bounced, looking at the girl.
"What is it, Josee?" her mother sighed with annoyance.
"I would like Jacques to be my partner in ice dancing, Mama. I want him to practice with me and everything. I think he's good enough, do you, Mama?" Josee squeaked, shaking in fear of her mother's reply.
Her mother observed him. "He's clumsy, Josee."
Grace glared at her, seeing both children's sad faces. "I think they will do great together. They're still learning. Jacques, I say yes."
Jacques was quick to hug her. "Merci, maman!"
Josee's mother frowned. "The boy isn't the star in skating anyways. He'll do for now."
Josee smiled, but stood still. "Thank you, Mama."
"Yes." She looked at Grace. "We will discuss this on Monday during their practice. Josee, we're leaving. Skates off." After the skates were put away, she grabbed her daughter's arm tightly.
Josee looked behind at Jacques. "'Bye, Jacques and Jacques's maman." Jacques waved back, hearing her mother mumble angrily. Something about a cellar closet and the word "pathetic." He looked at his mother, who just looked sad.
Confused, he grabbed her hand. "Let's go, Maman. I wanna tell Papa the good news!"
And there you go! I didn't want to focus too much on the first couple of months because I feel like Josee's mother would tell her that making friends wasn't the plan. Or something along the lines, at least. I also think both of Jacques's parents would be supportive because . . .I felt like it. Hope you enjoyed!
Note- échec is apparently the word for failure, which is pretty sad, but seems pretty much like what her mother would say.
There's also a ton of foreshadowing that I hope you picked up.
Thank you for reading!