So...someone left me a very nice review asking for french translations for all my non-french readers and...that's pretty smart! So for all the complicated french words/sentences/phrases - there are translations at the bottom of the chapter!
Chapter 4: Socks Can Keep Me Warm
The mall was a small one. It was one floor with one bookstore and a few clothing stores. There was the odd jewellery store and store for hygiene, but it was nothing outrageous. Ali took note of the few stores she would be willing to go in on a later date. However, right now, she was on a mission – she needed new ankle socks. If there was one thing in this world that Ali cared about dearly, it was her ankle socks. So she sifted through the many pairs of socks that were hanging on the wall. She wanted the cutest pair that she could find, so she would have some sort of comfort with her wherever she went.
"Well well well, if it isn't our hard ass British bombshell." Ali turned around to see Reggie walk up to her. His hands were in the pockets of his leather jacket while he wore a plan white shirt underneath.
"And isn't it our local pervert or should you be renamed to stalker?" Ali asked as she smirked at the tall boy in front of her.
"Maybe it's fate. Maybe we're meant to be together." Ali looked up at the 6'1 boy in front of her. Reggie stood there with his perfectly sculpted hair that sat on top of his perfectly sculpted head.
"I fairly doubt that. I'd like to think that God has bigger plans for me than someone like you." She retorted as her eyes scanned his body.
"My plans are big enough, don't you worry." Reggie smirked at Ali after making his sexual innuendo. Ali stood – unimpressed.
"So you're into socks with stars and bows on them, huh? I would've never guessed that." Reggie pointed out the socks that Ali was holding in her hand.
"They're comfy. Didn't know I needed your approval on my socks."
"You don't have to be so mean to me. I just want to be friends." Reggie tried to show the girl in front of him that he meant no harm. It was purely by chance that he had seen her at the back of the store. He had walked in to just see if they had any new sweaters for him to buy.
"I know what your intentions are, Reggie and I don't want any part of it." Ali tried to step around Reggie, but once he moved a little over to the side, she was blocked once again.
"Come on Ali, you're making me sad now. Come have lunch with me." Reggie offered.
"I would rather starve, but thanks for the offer though." Ali said before finally pushing past him, so she could pay for her socks. Reggie stood there and watched as Ali paid for her socks and left. He had now been rejected by the same girl three times, but instead of feeling frustrated – he felt nothing but excitement. Reggie looked in front of him and saw a pair of socks with tiny Korean flags all over them. With a smirk on his lips, he picked up the socks and quickly made his was to the cash register.
Ali walked into her house with her new socks in her bag. Once she dropped off her stuff in her room, she went to change into some comfortable clothing. Ali made her way back downstairs and saw her parents cuddled on the sofa, watching TV.
"I have something to tell you guys." Her parents paused their program before turning to their daughter and giving her their full attention.
"Oui, mon chou?" Ali sat down on the chair that was beside the sofa before speaking,
"They're closing down Pop's." Cecile quickly sat up at this news with a shocked look on her face.
"Quoi?" Cecile could not believe the information that she had just received. Pop's was the diner that housed her for her teenage years while being in this town. She went there after every practice, date, argument, game and so much more. She had met all her friends there. That was the first place she had gone to when she arrived here and it was the last place she had gone to before she had left.
"A man named Mr. Andrews was shot there or something, I don't know the details-"
"Fred Andrews?" Cecile practically yelled out the mans name. Her husband and daughter looked at her with quizzical looks since they did not know what was happening at the moment.
"He was a friend of mine from high school. He was so nice and gentle, I can't believe that anyone would ever want to hurt him."
"Well…he was shot." Ali stated.
"You could try to be a little more empathetic, mon chou." Theo suggested to his daughter. With a roll of her eyes she leaned back into the chair and sat with her legs open.
"There's no easy was of saying it, papa."
"Essayer." Ali leaned forward and now rested her arms on her thighs as she looked at her parents.
"Well, the good news is, he's alive and back at home apparently. That's not what I'm here to tell you though." Theo made a gesture for Ali to continue speaking.
"We're having a get together to help save Pop's-"
"I'm in." Cecile jumped the gun with her answer.
"That's great, anyways…we're all heading to Pop's tomorrow to show him soutien. The Vixens will be helping to serve tomorrow and everyone is encouraged to come and eat. Nous voulons que les gens s'amusement." Ali explained tomorrow evening to her parents.
"Of course we will be there, vous n'avez pas besoin de demander." Cecile told her daughter. Ali nodded her head at her mothers eagerness.
"You will also be able to see some of your old friends, maman." Ali told her mother. Cecile grabbed her husbands hand and gave it a pat while she looked at him.
"I'm so excited for you to meet some of my high school friends. They're so incredibly nice!"
"I'm sure they're lovely, mon amour." Theo said as he patted his wife's hand. Ali made a gaging sound from her chair before standing.
"Since you two are going to make me sick, I'm going to go upstairs."
"Ne t'inquiète pas, you'll find someone one day." Cecile told her daughter before kissing her husband again. Ali continued to make gagging sounds as she walked out of the room and back upstairs. Her parents were still so incredibly in love with each other that it really did make her sick sometimes.
At school the next day Ali went to open up her locker like she did every morning. However, she was met with a surprise inside. There was a pair of grey socks that had small Korean flags scattered all over them. A note was attached to the socks that read,
Maybe I can help keep you warm too?
Ali shook her head as a small smile played on her lips. She placed the note on her locker door before closing it and heading to class.
soutien = support
Nous voulons que les gens s'amusement = We want people to have fun
vous n'avez pas besoin de demander = You do not need to ask
Ne t'inquiète pas = Do not worry
So I'll put up the french translations for the more complicated sentences/phrases for you guys here from now on, okay?