As you have noticed, I have changed the names. :) I had to so I could follow the guidelines. Nick= Nate. And Shane=Joe. That's all.
Tippy, sorry gid ya. Haha. Hay may nagremind sakon nga daan. Then I was like "Whaaat? Really?". Anyway, sorry for the confusion. :)
CHAPTER 6 (I CAN'T SPEAK FRENCH)
Great.
Just great.
Superdidooper great. Nothing could stop my ecstasy.
"Come on Norah, it's not that bad," Nate put on an encouraging smile and began perusing through one book.
I could only scowl. "Oh. It's not okay… I don't like books, remember?"
He shrugged. "Well, can't do anything about that now."
I sighed and rubbed my temples. This is seriously causing me a major headache. I feel like I'm having a brain hemorrhage.
So this is what happened… Rewind please.
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Two hours ago:
"You can't put me there!! I hate books! I abhor them! I detest them!"
"Sorry Norah. The Photography Club was filled up first and I think the other students had better reasons than you."
"Having fun IS a plausible reason!"
"I don't think so. Besides, you put the Book Lovers Club as your second choice."
"It was a joke! Really! Please not the Book Lovers Club!"
"Well, you shouldn't have treated it like one. Sorry Norah. Book Lovers it is."
"B-But…"
"No."
So that's what happened. I'm stuck here at this… infernal, bestial, malevolent club… The only positive thing about this was that I was with Nate.
But not even that could elate my spirits.
So I did put in the Book Lovers Club as my second choice. But it was purely a joke. And… Okay. So my reasons were quite lame. But isn't having fun a good enough reason?
"Here. Maybe you'd be interested in Quantum Chromodynamics," Nate smiled as he held one dusty book that had 'Guide to Quantum Chromodynamics' printed in fading, gold letters.
I grinned a bit. "Yeah right Nate."
He shrugged and put the book back in it case. "Well, it IS an interesting subject. It tells you what we're made of."
"Quarks?" I asked as I began running my finger on the books on the shelf.
"Well, quarks, yes. But we're also made up of something else. The protons have this gluon thing inside them."
"Is that like glue?"
"Yup. Bingo. The gluon contains most of the energy of the proton but it's just a sticky thing that holds things together. Funny, huh?"
I smiled. I was starting to like this topic. "I suppose so. Did they find out where the protons came from?"
He shook his head, his eyes still focused on his book. It was a wonder he could still pay attention to our conversation.
"No. So far, not yet. It's only the year 2003 anyway. It's hard," he replied and turned one page.
"Mm-hmm. Did they ever think God made it?" I asked, trying to delve even deeper into the topic.
He smiled. "I think they're skeptical about that. But I think so."
I chuckled as a thought occurred to me. "God's a quantum physicist now?"
"I suppose so. Genius, right?"
I smiled. My mood was being uplifted now. I liked Nate. He seemed like a smart guy too. He's kind of different from Shane.
Shoot. Shane. Erase Norah. Don't ever fall in love with Nate.
"You really hate books?" he asked.
I shrugged. "Of course. I don't like stuff like that I guess. I never tried. Seems boring."
That would've offended any book lover. Probably even enraged him to the point that he would be strangling my neck now.
Instead, his mouth curved into a smile, something I didn't expect. "I used to think that way. But then I tried. It's not so bad."
I gave off a snort. "Yeah right."
"Try Norah. It's nice to try new things. You can't be a xenophobe."
I smiled this time. "I guess so… Okay. I'll try. But only because you FORCED me. I will not like it and it won't be my hobby."
He smiled and stood up. His book lay in the table. He shut it. "Nice. I think you'll love this book."
He led me towards the teenager section of the library. It was a long, yellow shelf where the books were neatly arranged. He pulled out one book from the shelf. I looked at it.
It was a bit tattered from old age but it looked okay. It was still useable. The pages had faded into a light, brown color.
"'A Walk to Remember?'" I said as I read the title. "Sorry. I've seen the movie already."
He placed the books in my hands. His hands curled around mine. I started to get a bit nervous inside as my heart hammered.
Okaaay. This is too close for comfort!!!!
I stood frozen in my spot. Like a statue, I was immobile.
"The book is pretty much different. You should try it. Not that I'm insulting the movie," he smiled at me and let go of my hands.
That was a relief. I was panicking inside a while ago…
But why did I like the feeling?
Aaargh! Shut up Norah!
I nodded and looked at the back of the book. "Okay. I'll do that."
He smiled. "Thanks. I'm sure you'll love it."
"Okay. Let's get these now."
Nate picked up his book and we went to the librarian's counter. She had the books scanned and had us fill up something. Suddenly, my eyes fell upon one book displayed on the counter:
'A Guide to the French Language.'
Hm… Maybe I could fool Nate.
"I can speak French you know," I grinned at him.
He looked surprised, but there was no trace of suspicion in his face. "Really?"
"Yeah. I was in Paris for a while. I'm pretty fluent."
He only nodded and looked at me in awe.
Hah. Nate's so cute when he gets duped! Well, I told one truth. I was in Paris. Anyway, this was just for a laugh.
"Let's go," he smiled as we got our books.
"Oui," I replied.
I seriously do not feel good. My hands shivered as I lay in bed, my legs curled up in a feline-like position.
"Honey, you okay?" my mom asked me.
I nodded. "I'm okay. I just need bed rest."
"Nate's here to give you today's homework."
"Okay. Let him in. Thanks."
So I got sick for a few days. I had the flu. But I'm sure I'll be better by tomorrow. In fact, I was feeling better compared to yesterday. Yesterday, it was like hell inside of me.
Nate's been really nice and he's always stopped by to give me the homework for the day. He'd ask my classmates what the work was. That was really nice of him. It was enough to make any girl fall for him.
Except me. Because of Shane.
Ooohhhh…
"Hi Norah," Nate's head popped out from the outside. His bag hung limply from his shoulder.
"Come in Nate," I smiled.
Oh gosh.
Why do I suddenly feel like my temperature has risen?
He sat down beside me and placed his bag on the floor. He began rummaging his bag. "You don't have homework today."
I stared at him and gave off a sigh of relief. "Whew. Good one. Er… Why are you here then?"
He pulled out one book. "Aha. I've got it. Well, you've been chosen to welcome the French Prime Minister's daughter Astin when she visits our school. She and her dad are going around. Now, we'll review your French. I'm sure you know but I wanted to check on you."
For a moment, the whole world stopped spinning as my brain processed what Nate was saying.
Me??? Welcome the French Prime Minister's daughter??? I have to speak FRENCH????
OH NO!!!
"B-But… I can't speak French!!!" I protested, throwing off the covers of my bed and sitting up.
Nate stared at me. "What? You told me you could. You've been chosen. And it's tomorrow."
I rubbed my face. "Whose bright idea was this?"
"Apparently the librarian tipped off the principal. You sure? You seemed pretty convincing back at the library."
"That was a joke!" I cried out in frustration.
I feel like crying now. Really. What have I gotten myself into???
See! It's the book's fault! If it hadn't been there, I would've never have gotten that idea to say that I spoke French! I really hate books!
Calm down Norah…
"Norah. I'll help you. I brought a book. I know how to pronounce words," Nate said, trying to soothe me.
I held his hands. "Really? Will you really help me???"
"Of course."
I squealed and hugged him. "Thanks Nate!"
"No problem," he patted my back.
Hm… Why do I get so friendly around him? This wasn't like me at all. Isn't this easy? I wasn't this friendly when I first met Shane…
Shoot. Shane.
I let go of Nate, feeling ashamed of myself. "So… Um… Let's start…"
Okay. So I've managed to learn important French terms…
Nate was really helpful. I don't know what I'd do without him…
Okay. Review now.
'Welcome to our school'.
Bienvenue à notre….
à notre….
Shoot. What was the last line again?
à notre….
Enfer!!!
Jeez. I know the French term for hell but I can't complete an important opening remark.
Bienvenue à notre école.
Aha! That's it!
Now I'm fine.
I sighed as I turned on the television. I flipped through the channels.
Maybe South Park is on.
All of a sudden, one channel caught my eyes. I stopped right there.
It's the French Prime Minister!! And he's with his daughter!!
They were on a talk show. I forgot the name of the show. The French Prime Minister looked nice but his daughter looked scary. She had this bored expression on her face, as if she had better things to do. She tossed her curly blond hair over her shoulder.
"So, Astin, you like it here?" the host smiled. He was a friendly-looking thirty-year-old with receding hairline. Nevertheless, he didn't look that old.
Astin yawned. "Eet eez okay 'ere… Je devine ainsi. Genre d'alésage cependant."
The audience laughed, as if she had uttered the most adorable word. It was too fast for the audience to understand anyway. Her father looked reproachful and prodded her. She only raised an eyebrow, as if to say 'Well it's true'.
But I managed to get what she was saying. It was hard, but I could list down the words.
I wrote her words down on a piece of paper and began decoding what she said.
Okaayy…
'Je devine ainsi…'
I got the translation of each…
Oh dear… It means 'I guess so'.
Next one. That wasn't too bad though…
'Genre d'alésage cependant…'
Okay…
It means…
'Kind of boring here though…'
I froze and felt goosebumps.
I'm supposed to welcome that brat??? How could she say that??
I was starting to feel nervous. She could insult me in French and probably ask her dad to have the French government chase after me!!
OH NO. OH NO. OH NON.
'Je suis un idiot retardé stupide.'
Translation:
I am a stupid retarded idiot.