School Chapter 4. This time, we will mostly focus on the things that happened aboard the FS Loire. Or in other words, what was happening with Perrine after the America Libre.
So, without longer extent, let's begin.
Chapter 5
,,Dating problem"
July 28, 2022
18:29
Laura & Perrine's room
Perrine was sitting at the desk, doing homework. Although the operation ended just four days ago, the headmaster didn't decided to do a break from studying. But, honestly, she wished that headmaster could order a break.
"It seems that there's no option for that"she stated in mind.
Although all that, she even liked studying after the operation. This could help in taking care of something else, than only all these deaths and destruction which she saw in South America.
But her thoughts were quickly cut off, when suddenly, someone opened the room's door and slammed them closed. When Witch turned, she saw Laura with her back pressed to the door.
"What happened?"Perrine asked.
"I need your help!"Laura replied and literally jumped towards Perrine.
She grabbed her by arms and started to shake her. Perrine felt her glasses falling off her face and luckily managed to grab them, before they landed on the floor.
"Laura, what's happening?"she asked"And stop shaking me like that!"
Laura stopped and looked at Perrine.
"Please, forgive. It's just…"Laura started"It's Jacques. He said 'Hi' to me today!"
Perrine put her glasses back on and looked at Laura with confused expression on her face. Jacques was in their class, but she actually didn't payed attention on him.
"That's it? A boy said 'Hi' to you and you're so concerned about it?"the Witch asked.
"But Jacques is not a simple boy"Laura gulped"I…I like him".
"So why don't you just say him?"
"But…I like like him".
Witch then understood, what her roommate was talking about.
"Oh. That's actually can be a problem"she stated.
"That's why I wanted to ask you a question. Will you help me with it?"
"I actually don't know anything about getting to boy's heart"Perrine replied"So I don't know what to do".
But then, idea popped in Pererine's head.
"But I think I know someone, who can help you"she stated.
Laura looked at her with hope.
"Really? Who?"she asked.
Perrine came off her chair and walked up to the door.
"Come with me"she said.
Her roommate didn't hesitated long and followed the Witch.
18:47
Near Crystal's room
"Why are we going to lieutenant Le Fem's room?"Laura asked.
"Because she is the one, who can help you"Perrine replied.
Laura tilted her head left.
"Why do you think she'll help me?"
"Because she likes to help the others, isn't she?"Perrine asked.
Girl thought about it for a moment and finally nodded, agreeing.
Soon after, the two stood in front of the room's door. Perrine knocked, but there was no answer. Witch looked at Laura.
"Maybe she sleeps?"girl proposed.
"At this time?"Perrine asked"I don't think so".
She again turned towards the door and knocked again. Once more, there was no answer.
"Okay, it's not funny"Witch stated.
Perrine grabbed the handle and pressed it. The door opened and the two entered inside. How big was their surprise, when they saw Anton laying in Crystal's bed, with Crystal herself nowhere to be seen.
"Anton? What are you doing here?"Perrine asked.
The German tried to escape with his eyes.
"Well. Crystal sometimes let me sleep in her room, if I want"he replied.
This time, both Laura and Perrine tilted their heads.
"Oh, come on. Really? That's the best what you can say to get rid of people?"Crystal asked.
For a moment, Laura and Perrine didn't knew, where Crystal's voice was coming from. But answer came quickly, as the quilt on Anton's chest started to move and Crystal's head appeared from under it.
"What do you need?"Crystal asked.
But Laura and Perrine simply watched Crystal.
"What was you doing under there?"Perrine asked.
"What do you think girlfriend can do to boyfriend under the quilt?"Crystal replied with question.
When the two understood, they knew what was happening here.
"I don't know if I would be able to sleep tonight now!"Laura said.
"Is it everything you wanted to know?"Crystal asked.
"No"Perrine said"Laura wants you to help her with something".
Crystal sighed.
"Okay. Wait outside. I'll dress up and come to you"she said.
The two nodded and left the room.
Crystal looked at Anton.
"Wait for me there"she said.
"I'm not going anywhere"Anton replied.
"And don't try to do anything without me. Understood?"
Anton saluted.
Crystal came off the bed and grabbed her dressing gown. She dressed it and left the room, where Laura and Perrine were waiting for her in the corridor.
"So"she started"What is the case?"
"Tell her"Perrine turned to Laura.
Laura looked at Perrine and then at Crystal. She scratched back of her head.
"Well…Um…"Laura started"There is a boy…And me and this boy…"
"You love him and you don't know if he loves you?"Crystal asked.
Laura looked at her and blinked few times.
"Exactly"she replied"How did you know?"
Crystal just threw up her arms.
"Woman intuition"she said"So. I have to help you with him?"
Laura energetically nodded her head.
"Well then. Who is he?"Crystal asked.
"It's Jacques Loraine"Laura replied.
Crystal nodded.
"The one from class 2E?"she asked.
"Yes. How did you know?"Laura asked.
"We often work with 2E. Joint trainings between our classes are pretty common"Crystal explained.
"Okay. So, where do we start?"Perrine asked.
Crystal looked at Laura. She eyed her from up to bottom.
"I think you need something to dress, if you want to go on a date with him".
Laura's face became pale.
"Something to dress? Something like?"she asked.
"Something like elegant dress"Crystal replied.
Girl looked at down.
"But I don't have any elegant dresses"she said.
Crystal put her hand on Laura's shoulder. Girl looked at her.
"You can be calm about it"Crystal said"I can make you one".
"Really?!"Laura exclaimed with big smile on her face.
"Really. I'm good at designing clothes and making them".
Before Crystal saw it, Laura threw herself on her and hugged.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! How can I return this favor?"Laura asked.
"First"Crystal said"stop hugging me. I don't have anything under this dressing grown and you're about to tear him off me"Laura stopped"Thanks".
"And second favor?"Perrine asked.
"I always wanted to fly the Rafale".
Laura smiled.
"I can reserve one 2-seated version for that"she said.
"Great. So. See you tomorrow. Dress should be ready in the evening"Crystal said and entered her room.
Perrine and Laura went to their room.
"I just hope that Jacques won't laugh"Laura said.
"I'm sure not"Perrine provided.
Meanwhile, back in her room, Crystal looked at Anton.
"Can we continue?"he asked.
Crystal's dressing grown immediately landed on the floor.
"Of course"she said and entered the bed.
The next day…
Laura and Perrine woke up and dressed. They started to prepare for lessons, when they heard the knock to the door.
"Who can it be?"Perrine asked.
Laura threw up her arms.
"Better let's see"she said.
She came up to the door and opened them. Outside, she saw smiling Janette, with backpack in her hand.
"Janette?"Laura gave confused look"What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to help you"Janette replied.
She entered the room, came up to Laura's bed and put her backpack on it. She looked at Perrine.
"You can go. I just want to talk with Laura".
Perrine gave asking look.
"Alright"she said and left.
Witch left the room and Janette looked at Laura.
"So, you want help with Jacques?"Janette asked.
Laura's jaw dropped, when she heard that.
"How did you know?"she asked.
"You know. I know every rumor that spreads around the ship"Janette replied"And friend always know, what is other friend's problem".
Laura simply tilted her head. She shook it and looked at Janette, unpacking her backpack. Inside, she had various cosmetics, including lipsticks, powders or creams. She gave asking look to her.
"What do you want to do with this?"Laura asked.
"Well"Janette took one of powders"If you want to look good for Jacques, you should take better care of yourself".
Girl looked at herself, wanting to know, what Janette meant.
"Take better care?"she asked.
Janette simply nodded.
"Listen. Man always prefer woman, which take care of herself. For example, you should get some tan. I always wondered, why are you so pale?"
"I'm not pale"Laura protested.
However, Janette didn't listened anymore. She grabbed Laura by arms and forced her to sit down in front of a desk.
"Okay, we can start"Janette said with smile.
She grabbed powder and started to powder Laura's face. Next, she took some eyeshadow and painted Laura's eyelids. Then, she used lipstick to make Laura's lips more red.
When she ended, Janette looked at her work. A smile formed on her face.
"Sweet"she said"Now, let's show new you to the others".
When she said that, the two left the room.
07:23
Maths classroom
Perrine was sitting in front of the desk, playing with the pencil. Others in the class were simply talking and walking around, or doing their homework in the last second.
"Hey, Perr"Lucien, one of their classmates, said"You know where Laura is? Lesson starts in seven minutes".
Witch simply threw up her arms.
"Janette stopped her in our room. I don't know why, but for something"she replied.
Suddenly, everyone became silent and looked towards the classroom door.
"What's going on?"Perrine asked.
But when she looked in that direction, she understood.
Laura and Janette were standing in the door. But everyone were looking only on Laura. She had more tanned skin on her face, more red lips and eyeshadow on her eyelids. In short, everyone noticed the change Janette made to her.
"Wow"Lucien sighted"She looks better than before".
Perrine looked at him and back at Laura, which was now making her way towards the desk and sat down.
Jacques, which was standing in the back of the classroom also noticed Laura. He made his way towards her and stood next to her.
"Hey"he said.
Laura almost jumped from surprise, but managed to hold herself. She looked and Jacques and smiled.
"Hi…Jacques"she replied.
He scratched back of his head.
"Listen…I wanted to tell you something…"Jacques said.
There was a moment of silence, as Jacques was preparing to say what he wanted. Finally, he took a breath and asked:
"Would you like to eat a dinner with me tomorrow?"
Another moment of silence. Everyone simply looked at Jacques and Laura looking at each other. Then, a smile appeared on Laura's face and there was a flash in her eyes.
"Sure…! I mean…"She thought for a moment and calmed herself down"Yes. Why not. Thanks, that you asked".
"Well then. Tomorrow at 18:00?"
"Yeah. That's fine for me".
He then came back on his place in the back of the classroom.
Laura, in the meantime, was simply happy about this what just happened. Jacques really proposed a dinner to her! This was probably the best day of her life.
"I need to thank Janette for this!"she thought.
In that moment, Perrine came up to Laura. Girl looked at the Witch ans smiled.
"It happened!"Laura whispered"It really happened!"
"I'm really prod of you, but what Janette did to you?"Perrine asked.
Laura tilted her head, like she didn't knew what she was talking about.
"She just used some of her cosmetics on me. That's all"Laura replied.
Before Perrine could ask another question, the bell rang, marking the start of the lesson. Soon, after the teacher entered.
"Good morning, students"he said"Let's start our today's lesson".
16:05
Bar&Grill
DeGaul Squadron, except of Henri, was sitting in Bar&Grill, resting after the school day. Everyone were looking at Laura, but only Janette was doing it with satisfaction on her face. Others looked at her with confusion.
"It's a long story"Perrine said.
Charles looked at her sister.
"Laurie. Why did you…?"he wanted to ask, but Laura already answered:
"Jacques proposed me a dinner! Tomorrow! And I agreed!"she exclaimed.
Charles stopped in his asking position, while others looked at Perrine.
"It's true. I was there"she said.
Janette then laid back and put her legs on the table.
"I told you that my make up will work for him"she said with confidence.
In that moment, Hneri entered the bar and walked up to the rest of his squadron. He sat with them said:
"I still hate biology and I won't change my mind!"
"What happened?"Saddam asked.
"Until now, I was correcting the last biology exam. It was a hell!"
He then looked around, like he was looking for someone.
"Where's Laura?"he asked.
Others simply sent confusing look to him and pointed on Laura sitting next to him. Henri looked at her and almost fell off his chair.
"Whoa, what happened to you?"he exclaimed.
"It's thanks to Janette"Laura said, pointing at her.
Henri looked at Janette with bigger confusion.
"Why did you changed her into such colorful monster?"he asked.
After hearing this, both Janette and Laura looked at him with shock on their faces. And soon, it changed into simple anger.
"Who do you call a monster?"Laura asked.
"I don't know"Henri threw up his arms"I never liked painted girls. I prefer natural ones."
"So I want to let you know, that thanks to this make up, Jacques proposed me a dinner"Laura said.
Henri whistled.
"Well. Nice"he said and sat down.
Not long after, Crystal entered the bar and started to look for Laura. When she saw her, she approached De Gaul Squadron's table. In her hands, she had a gray, square box. She handed it to Laura.
"The dress, as promised"Crystal said.
"Thank you"Laura exclaimed.
"Three hundred Euros."
All pilots at the table looked at Crystal with mixed feelings on their faces. Especially Laura, which had not enough money to pay.
"But I don't have! Please, I promise, that I'll get this money! Please!"she exclaimed.
In response, Crystal only laughed. Laura send her asking look.
"I wasn't been serious. I never take money for things I sew"she explained"Unless someone really want to pay me for this."
"Anyway, thank you"Laura said.
"No problem"Crystal replied and walked away.
Others looked at the gray box Laura now had in her hands.
"Open"Saddam said.
"Yeah, I want to see it"Janette said.
Laura didn't waited more. She simply took the box's cover and opened it. Next, she took the dress, that was inside.
"Wow"Janette said in awe.
The dress was in shade of dark blue, the same was their aircraft. It had numerous triangular embroidered on it and adding several fake roses attached to it, everything looked perfect in Laura's opinion.
"Beautiful"Laura stated.
"Well. I'm sure that now, no man will resist you"Charles said.
His sister hid the dress back and closed the box. She looked at the others.
"But I'll dress it only tomorrow. Especially for Jacques"Laura said.
"So I only hope, he won't do anything stupid to you Laurie"Saddam said"Otherwise, he would have to talk to me."
"Easy. He's a good one"Laura stated and then added"I hope."
"So. Better prepare for tomorrow"Janette said"It's gonna be a big day."
"Yeah. I know. I know"Laura said.
Next, pilots simply ate what they had to eat and returned to their rooms.
20:07
Laura and Perrine's roommate
Laura was still admiring the dress Crystal made for her. He tried it on and now stood in front of the mirror.
"Hope Jacques will like it"Laura said.
"I'm sure he will"Perrine said.
"Yeah, but…"She looked at her roommate"Perrine. I have something to ask."
Witch put down the biology coursebook and looked Laura.
"What is it?"she asked.
Laura came up to her and sat on the bed.
"Can you go to that restaurant tomorrow, too?"she asked.
Witch looked at Laura, like she asked to spend night with her.
"What do you mean by this?"she asked.
"I want you to be there and enter the action, if…something wrong happens"Laura expalined.
Perrine thought about it. Tomorrow, at the time of Laura's date, she planned to study for approaching maths exam. But she didn't wanted to let Laura down. She was her roommate and friend after all.
She finally made her decision.
"Alright. I'll be there"Perrine said.
A big smile appeared on Laura's face. She wrapped her arms around Perrine's neck and hugged her tightly. Witch started to lose her breath.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you SO MUCH!"Laura exclaimed.
"No problem…but…I can't breath!"Perrine said.
Laura immediately let Perrine go. Next, she took off her dress and put it down on her bed. Then, she started to wash the make up off.
"You're washing it off?"Perrine asked.
"For now. I'll ask Janette for new one tomorrow"she replied.
She ended washing the make up off and laid down in bed, with smile on her face.
The next day…
18:42
La Basque Restaurant
Restaurant was filled with customers. Waiters were walking from table to table, giving and getting orders. Cooks were preparing food, which was letting the delicious smell into the main hall of the restaurant.
Perrine was looking into the menu. Saddam was sitting in front of her. He still didn't knew, why she wanted him to come here.
"Can you finally tell me, what are we doing here?"Saddam asked"Because I'm sure it isn't a date, right?"
Witch put the menu down and looked at Algerian.
"Okay, you got me. I came here because of Laura"Perrine replied.
Saddam tilted his head, don't knowing what to say.
"She asked me yesterday to come here and enter the action, if something bad happens"she precised.
"Oh, when it comes to this, I can be helpful"Saddam provided.
He started to look around the restaurant. Finally, his eyes stopped at one of the tables.
"Look who's there"he said.
Perrine followed his sight and her eyes widened.
At one of the tables, they saw Janette, also looking into the menu. What was most interesting, she was there with Charles.
"It can't be coincidence"Saddam stated.
And then, Perrine's eyes landed on another table. This time, Anton and Crystal were sitting there.
"You, me, Charles and Janette can be coincidence. But Crystal and Anton? I don't think so"she agreed.
"There they are"Saddam said.
Perrine knew, who he was talking about. She turned around, to look at the entrance. There, she saw Laura and Jacques.
Jacques wore a navy blue suit, with red tie and combed hair. Laura had the same make up, that she had yesterday and her hair were untied.
"Well. Better be ready for anything"Perrine said to Saddam.
The two walked up to their table and sat down. Jacques pulled the chair, so Laura could sit down.
"Thank you"Laura said.
"Your welcome"Jacques replied.
He then sat down too. Waiter came up to them.
"Hello, what can I get you?"waiter asked.
"A spaghetti, please"Jacques said.
"Right on it. And for you?"Waiter turned to Laura.
"The same"she said.
Waiter nodded and walked away.
Laura and Jacques looked at each other. They both didn't knew how to start conversation. Jacques tried few times, but stopped.
"So…How is it?"he finally asked.
"How is it what?"Laura replied.
"To be a pilot. I mean…I'm simple ground guy. I never been in front of pilot stick"Jacques explained.
Laura nodded in understanding.
"Oh, you should try it someday. It really is awesome. Especially, when you feel like plane reacts on what you order it to do"Laura said"I can even reserve two-seat Rafale and show you how to do it."
After hearing this, Crystal, sitting few tables away, tightened grip on her menu card.
"What is it?"Anton asked.
"She promised me this first"Crsytal replied.
"Come on, it's their date. Just let him have the first one. You will ask her for it another time"Anton replied.
Crystal rolled her eyes.
"Okay, whatever"she said. She really wanted to fly the Rafale first.
Meanwhile, at Janette's and Charles' table, Janette had a smile on her face.
"She's doing well"she said.
"True. Hope she won't run away in the middle of the date"Charles stated.
Janette send asking look to him.
"What do you mean?"she asked"Why would she run away?"
"She did it a few times."
After hearing this, Janette widened her eyes.
"It's not her first date?"she asked.
"No"Charles replied"She had two dates earlier, back in elementary school. But it ended with her running away in the middle of the date."
Janette looked at Laura and Jacques.
"Let's pray she won't do it this time"she said.
Right then, waiter brought the spaghetti for Laura and Jacques.
"Thank you"Lara said.
"No problem. Thirty two Euros, please"waiter said.
Jacques reached his pocket and took his wallet.
"I'll pay"he said"Here you are."
He gave the money to the waiter, which nodded in response and walked away. Meanwhile, Jacques and Laura started.
"Everything is going good currently"Perrine said.
"Hope it will keep like that, Per"Saddam said"He probably will start telling her some stories from his life."
Perrine looked at him.
"Why do you think like that?"she asked.
Saddam threw up his arms.
"I would do it"he replied.
And Saddam was right. Not long after, Jacques started to tell the stories from his life. When he ended, Laura started laughing.
"Wait, really?"she asked.
"Yeah. I still don't know, how he did it. One time he was with us and after a second, he was standing on of the church"Jacques said.
"What happened next?"Laura wanted to know.
"We told him to get off of that roof. And you know what he did?"Jacques said.
Girl shook her head.
"He jumped"he replied.
This made smile disappear from Laura's face.
"Oh God, did he…"She was unable to end.
Jacques shook his head.
"No, he didn't hit the ground"he said"His belt hooked up on the flag pole."
"Phew. So it was close"Laura stated.
"Well…No actually."
Laura tilted her head.
"What do you mean?"she asked.
"This belt was pretty elastic. It worked like bungee and he flew all the way to the lake. Fortunately, he managed to swim out of it"Jacques ended.
Again, Laura started laughing.
"What kind of party was that?"she asked, when she stopped.
"Communion"Jacques said.
This time, they both erupted with laughs.
Bu they didn't noticed, that Perrine and Saddam are laughing too.
"Pretty interesting story, I must say"Perrine said.
"And funny"Saddam added.
Next few minutes were pretty quiet, as Laura and Jacques were eating their spaghetti. The ones who came here to watch their date were eating too.
Laura then noticed, that Jacques is looking at her with, as she stated, strange look. She sent asking look to him.
"What is it?"she asked.
"Well…"Jacques said, putting his fork down.
Laura did the same and they looked at each other.
"I wanted to talk about your make up"he said.
"Oh, my make up, huh?"Laura said coquettishly.
Jacques gulped.
"Well. You see…"he started"I…"
"You what?"Laura asked.
Boy didn't knew how to say. But finally, he stated, that he should tell it straight. So he took a deep breath and said:
"I don't like it."
There was a moment of silence between them. Not around, because whole restaurant was filled with voices of other people talking.
Not soon after, tears appeared in Laura's eyes. Her make up started to smear, as tears went down her cheeks.
"But…I thought that…you would like me more with it…"she whispered.
She then hid her face in her hands and started crying. Saddam and Charles, seeing it, wanted to come up to the two and tell something to Jacques, but were stopped.
"Wait"both Janette and Perrine said.
Jacques grabbed Laura's hands and looked in her eyes.
"Please, don't cry"he asked.
"Why?"Laura asked"You said you don't like my make up."
Boy squeezed her hands.
"And this is the reason to cry?"he asked"I was wondering, why did you put on this make up anyway."
Laura managed to take her hands out of Jacques grip. She looked at them and saw, that they were painted in the mix of colors of her make up. Jacques reached her pocket and gave a pack of wipes.
"Here you are"he said.
"Thank you"Laura replied"I put this make up on, because…I wanted you to notice me and ask me out…"
But before she ended, Jacques was already shaking his head.
"This make up is not the reason why I did it"he said.
"No?"Laura asked, not hiding surprise.
"No. You don't need make up"Jacques stated"You're beautiful without it. And I asked you out yesterday, because…I wanted to do it for a long time."
Girl was really surprised by what she just heard.
"So…why didn't you done this earlier?"she asked.
Jacques threw up his arms and replied:
"Because I was afraid, that you will reject me."
"Very funny"Laura stated"Because I was thinking the same."
"Really?"
"Yeah. That's why I didn't asked you out either."
There was a longer moment of silence between the too, but also others fell silent. Finally, Jacques and Laura started laughing.
"So it seems like we didn't had to be worried at all"Laura stated"I probably look like a big mess right now, aren't I?"
"No"Jacques replied and hen added"You look much worse."
And the two laughed again.
"Okay. Let me help you"Jacques said and took one wipe, to help Laura cleaning her face.
"Thank you"she said, when they ended"So. Wanna stay here?"
"Not at all. I spent all money I had for this spaghetti"Jacques said"Let's go."
They stood up and walked out of the restaurant.
Meanwhile, Perrine and Saddam came up to their table. Janette, Charles, Crystal and Anton joined them.
"I can't understand"Janette said"He doesn't like my make up?"
"This is what you shocked you the most?"Saddam asked.
"But…he doesn't like MY make up?"Janette asked again, not paying attention on Saddam.
Perrine then turned to Crystal:
"What are you doing here anyway?"
Crystal only threw up her arms.
"Nothing. I wanted to know, if he'll say something about that dress"Crystal replied.
"I just wanted to visit such prestige restaurant"Anton said.
Crystal hit his arm.
"You want to prey on my money like that?"she asked.
"No. Not at all"Anton replied.
"And you?"Perrine asked Janette.
"I wanted to know, if my make up will actually work"Janette replied"But he doesn't like MY MAKE UP?"
Charles patter her arm.
"Janette. Make up is not everything"he said.
Janette looked at him, like he was mentally sick.
"No shit, man"she said.
"You know what? Let's go too"Crystal said"We probably all ate or found out, what we wanted to know."
"Yeah. We can go"Anton said.
"Doesn't like MY MAKE UP!"Janette continued.
But all of them left the restaurant, just like Jacques and Laura did.
XXX
And here another story ends. But of course, more school chapters are on their way, so be ready. In the next one, we visit JSDF High School.