Author's Note: Hee, you didn't really think that was
the only chapter, did you? Part two is here!
She tentatively takes her hand away from his, unable to tear her eyes away from
his face. 'What's wrong with me'? She wonders.
He smiles at her again, and turns to leave, but is stopped by her arm this
time.
Taking a deep breath, hoping that she doesn't sound as nervous as she feels,
she quickly spews out, "You know what? The school can be confusing for someone
who's unfamiliar with it. I'm not doing anything, I have a free period, then I
get to go home, so why don't I take you?" She holds her breath, hoping he won't
think she's being too forward.
His eyes twinkle, and he grins. "Sure, I'd like some company."
She smiles back, and tilts her head towards the direction they'd have to walk
in.
As they start on their way, heading under a covered walkway to hide out from
the rain, Sydney racks her brain for something intelligent to say. But every
single time she turns towards him and opens her mouth, her mind goes blank.
Finally, she turns towards him, and says the first thing that comes to her
mind.
"So, are you a new student here?"
He laughs slightly as he walks around a big puddle.
"Sort of." He turns to look at her. "My mom and I just moved here, actually.
We're staying with my aunt and uncle for the time being." He grabs her elbow
and pulls her away from a giant puddle she had been about to walk straight
into. She blushes, but he just smiles and continues walking.
"My mom decided that it would be a good idea for me to temporary attend class
with my cousins, while she figures out where we're going to live, where I'm
going to school, etc."
"Oh. Um. Okay." Sydney's slightly confused, but doesn't want to show it.
Finally, after a moment of silence, she asks, rather embarrassedly, "I'm sorry,
I don't get it. How does that work? Why would you only be here on a temporary
basis?"
"The thing is, I attended private school back in France." Michael's mouth
quirks slightly in an amused chuckle. "My mom's a little wary of the American
public school system, and wants to find a good private school for me to attend.
But she doesn't want me to stay out of school for a long extended period of
time, so she's arranged for me to temporarily attend classes with my cousin."
"Oh. So...you're French then?" Sydney instantly regrets the words as soon
as soon as they leave her mouth, 'What a stupid observation to make', but
Michael laughs good-naturedly.
"I'm half, actually. My dad was American, and my mom's French."
Sydney notices the use of the past tense in reference to his dad, and she notes
the way his eyes grow sad for a minute, but decides not to pursue the topic.
'If he wanted to tell me, he'd tell me. Besides, I'm a perfect stranger.' She
rationalizes to herself.
They grow silent for a minute, as they walk past rows of brightly lit
classrooms. The rain is pouring by now, once elegant silvery ropes, transformed
into prickly needles of water.
Michael pauses as he passes a classroom with a picture of the Eiffel Tower
posted on the window, but quickly resumes walking, noticeably faster.
"So...um. Do you speak French then?" Sydney asks, trying to regain
the easy comraderie that had been flowing between them up until the break in
conversation.
Michael turns to her again, with a slight smile on his face. "Oui,
je."
"Are you fluent?" Sydney can't help but ask.
"Mais naturellement."
Sydney's impressed. She's been learning beginners French and has been wanting
to practice on someone who spoke it fluently. She tells him so, and Michael's
smile grows larger.
"Pourquoi est-ce que, je peux demander, est la belle fille prenant des
Français?" He asks, a mischevious glint in his eyes.
Sydney pauses for a moment, head bent, frantically changing verbs and
translating words in her head. She finally figures out what he says, and
responds, "Oh! Well, French seemed like a fun language to learn. Everyone
else is taking Spanish, because it's 'easy', so I decided to be different and
take French."
She pauses for a moment, and then it dawns on her that he called her
"beautiful." She blushes, and sneaks a look at Michael, who's looking
at her with an amused look on his face. She blushes again, and turns away from
him, embarassed that he'd notice the pink flush staining her face.
The silence returns, but only for a moment. Michael clears his throat, and says
in a conversational tone, "So, what grade are you in, Sydney?"
'An easy one. I can't embarass myself.' Syd thinks, before responding.
"I'm a freshman, actually. What about you?"
She turns to look at him again, relieved that her blush seems to be fading.
"Oh. So you're the same age as my other cousin. I'm a senior."
Michael shrugs slightly before adding, "Yeah, I know. I'm old."
They walk companionably for a few minutes, before Sydney gets up the nerve to
ask the question she's been wanting to ask.
"So…who's your cousin?" Sydney inquires.
They had reached the end of the hallway, and Sydney gestures to her right. The
covered walkway has ended, and Michael pulls out an umbrella, while Sydney
tucks her hair back into her macintosh hood.
"Amy Adams."
Sydney blanches, and turns to him.
"You're related to Amy?"
* First French phrase* : Yes, of course.
2nd: Naturally
3rd: So tell me, why is the beautiful girl learning French?
