Hiya! This took me a long time to write, so you people better appreciate this!! Just kidding ^_^ Sorry I didn't write a Christmas one-shot like so many other people did, but I wanted to finish this chapter before New Years was over. I hope this will be able to live up to the expectations Vanessa's last chapter put up. Does that make sense? If it does, tell me. I'm kinda out of it right now. Sorry. This is my Christmas present to everyone, even if it is too late! ^_^

Merry late Christmas!!!! Happy New Year!!!!

Chapter 3

Meet the Cheerleaders

Joe looked around the bustling classroom looking for Françoise. He wanted to talk to her; she was very quiet at lunch and in class.

'It could just be that she's a very shy and quiet person, I mean, I've only known her for a day!' He reasoned with himself. But somehow, no matter how hard he tried; he just couldn't stop worrying about her. Joe was too absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't notice where he was going and bumped into the girl in front of him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there." A girl with black hair, green eyes (A/N: Don't any of you readers dare say that black hair and green eyes is impossible, Harry Potter has black hair and green eyes!!!!!) and a very disgusted expression on her face turned around and started to say something nasty, but she stopped as soon as she saw Joe. She fluttered her eyelashes and rubbed her arm where Joe had bumped (A/N: That doesn't sound right either) with a faked look of pain said,

"It's fine. Joe Shimamura, right? My name's Victoria Silver."

"Nice to meet you, Victoria. How do you know my name?"

"It's all over the school. Word travels fast here but for some strange reason I've only heard of a French girl Françoise Arnoul, an American transfer student Jet Link, and you. I don't think there are too many new students this year. I mean, I would've heard of them by now."

'Jet Link..another familiar name. What's wrong with me? Am I going crazy?' Joe slapped himself mentally and he realized that Victoria was talking to him.

"What did you say? Sorry, I spaced out for a moment."

"I said, since you're new here, I'll give you a tour of the school and after that, we can go to the movies together!"

"Uh, Victoria? Don't you think that's a little sudden? Plus, I need to find Françoise. I need to talk to her about something."

"No! Joe, stay with me!" Victoria grabbed his arm and attempted to pull him back. Joe managed to break free and walked off to the nearest staircase, thinking,

'What kind of girl is that? God, France is so weird.'

*~*~*

Françoise flopped onto her bed in her new dormitory and surveyed her surroundings with satisfaction. Jean Paul had been right. College wasn't that bad, especially if you made friends quickly. Françoise had finished her homework early, so she could have some time to get to know her new home. She gazed out the window and found that she had a great view of the large lake that was in the center of an even larger garden. The sun was hidden behind a huge, puffy cumulous cloud but a sudden gust of wind blew the opposing cloud away, revealing the bright merry sun. The sunshine bounced off the water, making the lake sparkle like a precious gem. Françoise decided to have a look around the garden that had captured her attention.

As she was running down the stairs, Françoise saw a spiky-haired redhead with a huge, aquiline nose wandering around at the bottom of the stairs. He looked lost.

"Excuse me, do you need directions?" The redhead looked up to her with mild surprise, and then regained his haughty look.

"Who said that I needed instructions? Who are you, anyway?" Françoise discovered that she wasn't offended by the redhead's rudeness at all because she knew that he was very proud.

'How did I know that?' Ignoring the little voice inside her head that said that she had known him before, Françoise replied,

"My name is Françoise Arnoul. What's yours? Oh, by the way if you're looking for the administrator's office, it's right down the hall, second door to the left. Nice meeting you.?"

"The name's Jet Link. Thanks." Jet said gruffly and walked hurriedly down the corridor.

"Now where did I hear that name before?" Françoise mused to herself as she made her way to the ground floor.

*~*~*

She walked through the garden, inhaling its many fragrances. There were so many colors in the magnificent garden, so many different types of flowers and trees. She saw geraniums, lilies, daisies, begonias, marigolds, petunias, violets, coral-bells, lavender, fuchsia, tulips, pansies, cherry blossoms, daffodils and so much more. Françoise reached the side of the lake and sat down, under a willow tree. She felt so peaceful, sitting there in the shade with not a care in the world. She looked dreamily at the sparkling body of water before her.

"Great view, isn't it?" Françoise was jerked back to reality by a soft voice behind her.

"Joe, it's you! I'm guessing you wanted to check out your new home also."

"You took the words right out of my mouth." He said with a smile.

"This place is so wonderful! Everyone says that collage is so difficult and stressing, but here, I feel so peaceful. It's almost like magic! When I was little I lived in the outskirts of Paris and I would go to a nearby pond every day. It was beautiful there, and I loved playing with the animals. I was so happy!" Françoise blushed. 'Why did I tell him all that? I barely know him! It's so weird, I feel as if I've met him before, but that can't be, I've never known a person named Joe in my life!'

"I know what you mean. Here, I found this on the stairs. I think it belongs to you." He handed her a bright red headband.

"Thank you! It must have fallen off when I was running down the stairs! Thank you so much! My best friend gave this to me for my fifth birthday. I know it must seem silly to you but it serves as memory of my childhood, and I like to look back on it and remember my old friends. " Joe sat down next to her.

"No, I don't think it's silly at all. In fact, I'm envious. I wish I had a wonderful childhood like you did." He grimaced, "My father's a business man, and for some strange reason, he always gets better deals in some part of the world than the current country we're in so I've spent my life traveling all over the world. I never stayed in one place long enough to make such good friends." Françoise saw that Joe had a sad expression on his face so she tried to cheer him up.

"But it must be really exciting to go to all different places and meet new people!"

"Yeah, I suppose. You get tired of it soon. I'm always on planes going to some unknown place where I don't know anyone except my parents." His shoulders slumped and he looked down at the grass.

Joe's P.O.V:

I was beginning to wish that I had never come out here. I felt awful inside, listening to Françoise's wonderful life, while my own life was so horrible.

"Joe.. I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?" I looked up. Françoise was looking at me a truly sorry expression in her cerulean eyes. It was so strange, whenever I looked at her I thought that I had known her before in my life, I just couldn't place it. It could be possible that I had seen her in another country but I trusted my memory. She was so nice and understanding, I couldn't help but feel better.

"Thanks, I'm fine. I'm sorry if I bored you with my personal life. It just spilled out. I'm sorry."

"There's no need to apologize." She said with a smile, "I know! Why don't I show you around this neighborhood? Come on, it'll be fun!"

"Why not? I'd love to get to know Paris! Plus, I want some proof that it is really the City of Lights!"

"Don't worry, you'll get as much proof as you want." She's so amazing! She knows exactly what to say when I'm down, and what to do to get me back up! She's so pretty, too. wait, am I falling for her? I've only known her for a day! Well, this is Paris, the City of Love! Note to self: Find out how many names are there for Paris.

End P.O.V

Françoise dragged Joe to his feet and pulled him, laughing to the collage gates.

Unbeknownst to them, a figure was watching them and heard the whole thing. Her face was contorted in a scowl as she watched them run out the gates.

"No way is Françoise Arnoul going to steal Joe from me. He is mine, and mine only! Who does she think she is, anyway? Doesn't she know that no one takes cheerleaders crushes? I will get revenge, if it's the last thing I do!"

*~*~*

So how did you like it? Sorry I put so many authors' notes in the third paragraph, I just couldn't help myself. I love putting authors' notes!! Please review!!! I love getting reviews!!!!