"Wait," Gaston said after a moment, "You said… 2006?"

"Indeed. 2006."

"That's… really weird."

"If you say so. So," she continued, thinking to herself that she couldn't believe she was doing this, "Are you just going to stand around here all day? Let's go DO something. It's not every day someone shows up from the past."

"Especially someone as good looking as I am," Gaston added.

"If you say so," replied Gali dismissively. She turned towards a store. "Ooh, a bookstore!"

"Didn't you just COME from a bookstore?" Gaston asked in a bored voice, gesturing to her book.

"No, I bought this one at a different bookstore," she replied. Gaston rolled his eyes. Gali began to playfully argue with him for a few moments, going "Please…" and he replying, "No, I don't want to."

However, the argument cut to a close when Gali spied something from over Gaston's shoulder.

"Oh, crap," she grumbled, pulling a hold of him and attempting to pull him into a clothing store.

"Hey!" he snapped, brushing her off, "Get off me. Touchy. I know everyone finds my biceps irresistible, but please warn me beforehand."

"Oh, don't flatter yourself," Gali replied, rolling her eyes, "And just come on." Shrugging, he stepped inside the store with her. From her position of safety, Gali pointed a finger across the mall. "You see that guy over there?" She was pointed to a short, teenage African-American boy who was dressed in an Aeropostale hoodie and black jeans.

"Yeah?" Gaston replied.

"He's the most annoying person ever to walk the face of the Earth. Maybe even more annoying than you."

"Well, that's very diffi…Hey!" Gali snickered.

"His name is J.C. Roslyn. He's fifteen and believes he is God's gift to the stage, not to mention God's gift to women. But of course, you wouldn't know anything about THAT, would you, Gaston?" Gaston ignored Gali's ribbing and sized up the competition. J.C. was shorter than Gaston, less muscular, not nearly as good-looking, PLUS this guy had a skin tone that resembled whole-grain toast that had been sitting out for a few weeks. (Not, Gaston thought to himself, that one race was superior to another – but, as Gaston WAS the best-looking person in the entire world, he had to by definition be better looking than the best looking African man. And this guy was not even close to being the best-looking African man, even though Gaston hadn't seen a terribly large about of Africans back in France.)

"He's not as good-looking as I am," Gaston summed up simply.

"He's not as good-looking as a tin can," Gali replied, "But try telling HIM that. Oh God, he's turning this way." And, indeed, he was.

Sighting Gali, J.C. Roslyn exclaimed eagerly, "HI, GINA!"

"Gina?" Gaston asked, confused, "I thought your name was Gali."

"It is…" she replied, sarcastically noting, "One of J.C.'s most endearing traits is his absolute inability to remember anyone's name. Hide me, Gaston, hide me."

J.C. walked over to them, grinning widely and laughing a laugh that sounded like a vague cross between the laugh of Barney and the sound of a vacuum cleaner.

"Hi, Gina!" he said again, stepping in to her. "How are YOU today?" He continued speaking, going on about the new play he was in at school. Gaston watched him in confusion, growing more and more frustrated and angry. Gaston couldn't figure out what this guy was saying, but he could tell he was getting on Gali's nerves and that he continually emphasized every other word.

"This lady is mine," Gaston said angrily, putting a hand on Gali's shoulder. J.C. ignored him, not understanding French, and Gali brushed his hand away.

"Who's the guy?" J.C. mumbled in an annoyed tone, "Is he an actor? Has he been acting for as long as I have? Come on, Gina, you know you love me. But I only like you as a friend, I'm sorry."

"My name is GALI," Gali snapped.

"Really?" J.C. asked incredulously. Gali stepped forward and smacked herself in the head. "Now, why are you getting hype?" J.C. snapped, "I come over here and try to be friends with you, and…"

"I'm not getting hype!" Gali protested.

"Yes you are! You ALWAYS getting hype, Gina! Why?"

"I am not getting hype! YOU are getting hype!"

"You need to quit with the boojy act! You always get your friends to come in on the sidelines!" Now, Gaston still had no clue what he was talking about, which was well and good since Gali didn't have much of an idea, either.

"Please save me," Gali mumbled to Gaston. Gaston was glad to oblige. He picked up J.C. by his collar and walked a few paces across the mall, over to the fountain. With no words spoken in either French or English, and with no precursory action, Gaston dropped J.C. in the water. Gali burst out laughing. "HAHA!" she exclaimed.

"GINA! Why did you DO that?" J.C. whined, "You always getting hype!"

"Yes, I guess I am!" Gali gave in, snickering. "Why, thank you, Gaston."

"Glad to be of service."

"Learn anything from this?"

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, forget it."

Author Note: This chapter is somewhat of an inside reference. Lest anyone misconstrue this chapter: J.C. is NOT a stereotype or anything like that. He's based on someone I know… and he was asking for it. LOL And he actually does talk like this.