CHAPTER 8 – PART 2:

When she felt a little okay again Ashley walked to the class room next door. This time checking the number of the class twice, and peeking trough the little window, before making her way in. She plumped down in a seat next to Seth's and mumbled once more an excuse in the direction of the teacher. This time indeed a mister.

"What took you so long?", Seth whispered to her when he leant towards her.

"Ugh don't ask", she whispered back.

"Young lady", Duport interrupted her. "First you come in ten minutes too late, then you start to talk and distract everyone around you. If this wasn't your first week… O well if you don't mind we're going to have French class now. That's the only language I want to from your mouth for the next two hours."

"Oui monsieur", Ashley silently said as she tried to hide herself behind her books.

"Okay class", Duport went on. "Take your book on page 21. We are going to do some pronunciation first. We will read this poem together and I'll pick a few of you who are going to read it out loud. Okay you there", he said as he pointed to Ashley. "I want to hear at what level you can speak, will you please start?"

"Ehm yeah sure. I mean oui", Ashley said as she quickly flipped to the right page.

"Venez sous cette lampe amie et près du feu.
Parlez-moi du Berri, de la mousse câline,
De l' étang lumineux sur qui le jonc s'incline,
Paupière de velours où brille un regard bleu."

When Ashley said the last word the teacher turned to her and said "magnifique". Right after he pointed to a girl behind Ashley. "You read further."

When they were almost done Duport pointed to Seth. "Mister Cohen if you want to finish this round."

"Ehm yeah sure", Seth said as he leant a little more to Ashley so he could read the words better:

"Un mirage en nos yeux met sa lueur qui tremble,
Et nous rêvons, muets, avec le sentiment
D'être moins exilés quand nous sommes ensemble."

"Okay then", Duport said when Seth was done.

Ashley looked surprised at him. Seth's French was horrible, but the teacher didn't say a word about it. The next of the class they mainly practiced their verbs and reading and within no time the bell rang to say class was over. They all stood up and made their way out of the room when the teacher started to talk.

"Seth, Ashley can I talk to you two before you go?"

"Great", Ashley mumbled, thinking he was still mad at her for being late and talking to Seth.

But he wasn't it, he started to talk about something else. "Well your pronunciation didn't improve much since last year did it?", he said as he looked to Seth. "I think it's time you get some extra lessons. Now and who better to do it than you", he said as he pointed to Ashley. "I mean by your talkatively it seems you get along with Seth so. And to be honest what you just read out loud was really good, so I think you can actually help him. What do you say?"

"I don't really have a choice do I?", Ashley asked carefully.

"Nope not really."

Ashley didn't mind. She liked Seth and she heard he really needed some extra lessons. And she liked French so it wasn't even a punishment to her. "Okay then", she said. "I no time he'll be speaking fluently French she said as she smiled to Seth.

"Seth?", Duport asked.

"Sure sir, who would turn down such an offer?", Seth said as he laid an arm around Ashley's shoulder. "Especially from such a lovely girl", he added with a wink.

Thanks to Kiss for pointing out to me I spelled 'Oui' wrong (kills her spelling check)