Chapter 19: When it Sizzles
Chapter song: "For Once in My Life" - Stevie Wonder
Time: November

"But I've always wondered," Quinn said. "What kind of animal is Goofy?"

"A dog." Gus answered.

They were both sitting on the floor with their backs against the chaise longue.

"How do you know?"

"Because in France, we call him 'dingo'. You know, like the wild dog."

"Oh. I wonder what translator was responsible for that."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, anyone who's just the slightest bit acquainted with the English language will know that the name 'Goofy' has absolutely nothing to do with dogs. So who ever came up with the French name just assumed Goofy was a dog and called him Dingo."

"Why is it wrong? He is a dog. So it is okay for Frenchmen to call him a dog name, no?"

"No," Quinn replied. "Goofy isn't a dog. He can't be."

"Why not?"

"Because he's Mickey's best friend."

"So?"

"Gus, can't you think of any other dogs in Mickey's life?"

"I do not know so much abo-… oh, you are speaking about Pluto."

"Exactly. How can Goofy be a dog, and Mickey's best friend, when Mickey has a dog as a pet?"

"But dog is man's best friend?"

"Yeah, but I doubt Goofy would like it if Mickey put a leash on him and told him to sleep in the dog house."

"You are right," Gus said, scratching his neck. "Très étrange."

Quinn nodded her head. "Très étrange in deed."

Then there was a knock on the door, and it was opened, revealing Judy Fabray on the other side.

"Quinnie, are you-… Oh, hi honey," she said. "I didn't know if you were home or not."

"Hi mom." Quinn knew her mother would like to see her get up from the floor (and away from that uncanny European boy), but Quinn was comfortable on the floor… next to Gus. "You're home early."

"Yes well, I got off a little earlier than usual."

There was a moment of silence, before Quinn remembered what she had forgotten to do so far. "Oh mom, this is Gus."

At his cue, the French boy stood up and walked over to Quinn's mother.

"Augustin Prideaux," he said putting out his hand.

"Judy Fabray," Judy replied and took his hand a little hesitantly.

Then Gus gave her a big toothy grin, as he said with his best American accent "I can now see where Quinn get her beauty."

Suddenly Quinn saw her mother turn 180 degrees. Her face went from anxiety and angst to complete and utter joy. "O-oh," she giggled like a school girl. "Well, aren't you the charmer."

God, she's so intolerant towards other people until they compliment her… then she's practically ready to kiss their feet, Quinn thought. She then snickered at the idea of her mother kissing Gus' bright red All Stars.

"Would you like to stay for dinner, Gus?" Her mother asked with blushing cheeks, still holding his hand.

"Very much, yes please thank you." Gus answered and kissed Judy's hand.

Jesus, Quinn mused.

"All right then," Judy chuckled. "It'll be a couple of hours, and I'll come up and get you." She smilingly left the room, closing the door behind her.

Gus turned around looking somewhat proud.

"What was that all about?" Quinn asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Your mother is enchanting. How old is she?"

"Euw, Gus!" Quinn whined. "Way too old for you!"

"No no no, not that." He began to laugh and sat down next to Quinn again. "I just think she is very young to be your mother."

"Maybe she is. I don't know, she was 26 when she gave birth to me, but of course she was barely 21 when she had Frannie." Though that's still four years older than I was when I had Beth, Quinn thought. "But I guess she is pretty young compared to your mother?"

"Yes, compared to ma mère américaine, but not my maman."

"Your real mother?" Quinn asked. "Is she young?"

"Yes. Very young and very beautiful… like you," he gave her a charming smile.

"Compare me to your mother again and I'll break your nose," Quinn said, playing deadly serious.

"Pardon," Gus laughed. "But she is very beautiful. And so are my sisters."

"How many have you got?"

"Cinq."

"Five sisters! God, no wonder you came here, that must be hell." Quinn said, thinking about how much she used to fight with her own sister. They didn't fight anymore, but they didn't talk anymore either.

After she had gotten married with that fanatic Christian preacher, she had grown even fuller of herself and then she had completely shunned Quinn, when she discovered that her little sister was pregnant. Judy was still in contact with her, but as with her father, Quinn had no intentions thereof.

"No," Gus said. "They are very very sweet girls and very clever girls too."

"What are their names?" Quinn asked, detecting something in his voice.

"Corinne is the oldest. She is 15 and very beautiful, she has lots of boys."

Quinn couldn't help but smile. Did he just call his sister slutty? "Lots of boys?"

"Yes, you know, lots of boys who like her."

"Oh," Quinn said still smiling.

"Then there is Thérèse, she is 13. Pauline and Margaux are 8, elles sont fausses jumelles. And then there is little Annabelle, she is only 4 and, how do you say, cute as a button."

Gus was still smiling, but Quinn had discovered what it was she could hear in his voice. Sadness.

"You miss them?"

"Very much, yes. But it is okay because I can speak to them over the telephone and that helps. It is worse with Paris."

"Paris?" Quinn asked a tad confused.

"Yes, I miss Paris terrible."

"Terribly. You miss Paris terribly."

Gus nodded.

She knew she shouldn't correct him in a situation like this, but that was just how they spoke to each other.

"But when you say you miss Paris… Gus, are you un parisien?"

"Oui, bien sûr." Gus said looking a bit confused at her indignancy.

"I had no idea. Here I've been blabbering on about my summers in Paris, and you live there! Why haven't you told me?"

"You have not ask." He shrugged.

Wonder what else he's been keeping from me that I haven't asked him about. "Where do you live?"

"Le septième arrondissement. In a wonderful neighbourhood. I have lived there my whole life and I miss it so much. You see, Quinn, when you live in Paris, Paris become a part of you. You have Paris in your blood. So when you leave, you feel like you miss a part of yourself."

Quinn just nodded and put her hand on top of his. She didn't feel like that about Lima at all, in fact she couldn't wait to get out of there, but having spent a little time in Paris, she had a pretty clear idea of what Gus was talking about.

"I'm sorry Gus," she whispered softly and put her head on his shoulder. They sat like that for a while, until Quinn got an idea. She grabbed his hand and pulled him up on his feet.

"Maybe I can help you," she grinned. She pushed him onto her bed and went over to her TV. "I know it's not even half as good as the real thing, but I figured we could watch "Paris when it sizzles", if you want to."

""Paris when it sizzles"? I know it, but I have not see it. Is it any good?"

"It isn't all that famous, actually. You see, it kind of flunked at the box office. It's an untidy mess of a movie, but it's got humour, Parisian environment and Audrey Hepburn in a love scene, so I think you'll enjoy it," she winked.

"Ah, you know me so well," Gus replied.

I sometimes get the feeling that I don't, though I'd love to… Quinn mused at she got back on the bed.

She lay down next to him, but he quickly wrapped an arm around her, and as if they'd been doing nothing else for their entire lives, she snuggled up to him, resting her cheek on his chest.

"I'll try not to fall asleep on you this time," Quinn snickered.

"Don't. I like it when you sleep on me." Gus said softly

A moment of silence passed by.

"…but if you fall asleep, please try not to drool," Gus then said chuckling.

Quinn gently slapped his stomach, and then the movie began

…

Quinn felt a soft hand caressing her cheek and a warm breath in her hair, as she woke up.

"Quinn, are you awake?"

"Hmmm," Quinn groaned and stirred a bit.

"I hate to wake you up, but your mother is not happy when she see us, no."

That made Quinn sit up. "Has she been up here yet?"

"No, not yet. But I can smell food, so I am afraid."

"Oh, I understand. Sorry I fell asleep again." She wiped her mouth, but luckily she didn't feel anything wet. "Was I out for a long time?"

"No no, only ten minutes, I think."

"I'm sorry I keep doing that though. I haven't even been that tired today."

"It is no problem. You look beautiful when you sleep. And you are very hot,"

"Excuse me?" Quinn said defiantly.

"You know, when you sleep, you are very hot. I am never cold because you are so hot." Gus replied innocently.

"Oh," Quinn laughed. "You mean I'm warm, when I'm sleeping."

"Warm, hot, it is the same thing, yes?"

"No, well yeah, but, not really."

She was still smiling at his choice of words when Judy came knocking in the door.

…

At the dinner table, Quinn was once again surprised at how well Gus and her mother got along. They were chatting and laughing, him complimenting her cooking skills, her giggling like a school girl at his flirting manor. Quinn wasn't even participating in the conversation; she just sat there and stared at her mother and her best friend, not being able to believe her eyes. Did I just call Gus my best friend?

Her mother was completely swallowed up by the French boy, but Gus would every once in a while cast a glance across the table over at Quinn, looking for a smile. And even though she found her mother slightly annoying, she couldn't help but smile back.

"So Gus," Judy Fabray smiled. "Tell me why you force my little Quinnie out on the roads late at night whenever you're here."

Gus looked confused as Quinn shot her mother an angry glare. "She wants to know why you don't drive."

"Oh," Gus sighed relieved. He'd been fearing Judy was referring to something completely different. "I do not have a driver's license. You see in my country, you have to be 18 to drive. And I turn 18 when I move here, so that is why. But do not worry, Quinn is always so careful in the car," he said, smiling to assure Judy of her daughter's safety.

Quinn couldn't help but let out a big grin as Gus said that. Remembering how he had told her the exact same thing almost three months ago, though he hadn't been able to describe the problem with any verbs, she was now so glad with the progress he had made with his English. I spend so much time talking with him, that I sometimes forget where he started out.

"I do take a temporary driver's license though," Gus continued. "I will get in one week."

"Well, that sounds great. Do you have a car?" Judy chirped.

"Mes parents américaine have a car, but they will not make me borrow. They think I will ruin it," Gus said a little ashamed. "Only one time they will make me borrow and that is November 25th." He was now obviously winking at Quinn, who immediately looked up at him, suddenly interested in the conversation.

"What happens on November 25th?" Judy asked, looking back and forth between her daughter and her guest.

"Th-the winter dance," Quinn whispered, keeping her eyes locked with Gus'.

"Oh. Well, are the two of you-"

"Actually that is why I am very glad to finally meet you, Mrs. Fabray," Gus interrupted her. "For long time I have want to ask you if it is okay that I take Quinn to the winter dance at McKinley." Gus said now offering Judy the sleaziest smile Quinn had ever seen.

Oh my god, he just asked mom if he could take me to the winter dance. Oh my god, he cannot possibly get anymore cliché, Quinn mused as she slowly shook her head in disbelief.

"Well," Judy began. "Usuallly I wouldn't encourage this, but I remember how important all dances were to me back when I was in high school. And knowing my little Quinnie cares almost as much about etiquette as I do, and since you are offering her a ride, I can't see anything wrong with you taking her. You have proven yourself to be quite an impressive young man, Gus."

"Is that a yes?" Gus asked nervously.

Judy regarded him for a couple of seconds, before answering "That's a definite yes, dear boy."

Then Gus turned slightly to face Quinn who was still starring at her friend in disbelief.

"Dans ce cas, chérie: Will you like me to take you to the winter dance?"

"Y-yes, of course" Quinn gasped, a huge smile breaking out on her lips.

She had an extreme urge to hug him, but that wasn't quite possible with their current seating positions at the Fabray's dining table. Quinn then did something that she usually wouldn't be caught dead doing, but she figured she'd had already been kissed by Gus numerous times, she had already been dancing with Gus numerous times, hell she'd even been sleeping on top of Gus numerous times. So she did what she felt like doing. Quinn leaned a bit down in her chair and gently nudged her own knee against Gus' knee, her lower leg affectionately stroking his. Thank god for his goofy long legs, Quinn thought. Otherwise I had been pushing my leg at nothing but empty air and I would have been forced to go over and hug him. Mom would hate that… maybe I should do that.

She didn't mean anything sexual by touching his leg; she just couldn't help herself because of the happiness and excitement she felt at that very moment.

Gus looked surprised for a moment before smiling at Quinn. He then looked a bit uncomfortable and Quinn couldn't really blame him, since her mother was sitting at the end of the table, so she withdrew her leg with a teasing smirk.

Gus and Quinn stayed downstairs the entire evening, eventually moving into the living room, where Judy popped open a bottle of wine.

She must be enjoying this too, Quinn mused as she watched her mother get comfortable on the couch.

They talked about a lot of different things, mostly Quinn and Gus telling Judy about school, Gus entertaining the girls with his observations of Americans, and the three of them exchanging Paris memoirs.

It was half past ten before Gus said that he'd better head home now, much to Judy's sorrow.

So much for not having boys over at this hour on school nights, Quinn thought, amused by her mother's indifference.

At the door, Gus kissed Judy's hand and said he was looking forward to seeing her again, making the older woman blush and giggle. Quinn just rolled her eyes with a smile on her lips and went out to the car.

They were both silent on the drive towards Gus' house, Quinn daydreaming about the upcoming school dance and Gus relaxing after the hours of playing prince charming. After 20 minutes of silence, Quinn pulled over on the street outside Gus' little house.

…

Sam was lying wide awake in his bed thinking about school, girls, the future, girls and football, when he once again heard noise from the next door neighbor. Usually the road upon which he was living with his family was silent as the grave after 9 o'clock, but every once in a while he would hear a car pull over and then drive away again shortly after a lot later than 9 o'clock. Tonight he heard that car again, so he decided to go downstairs and look out the window.

He leaned in over the kitchen zink and squinted through the slightly dirty windows. Is that… is that Quinn's car?

He then put on a sweater and wearing nothing but that and his pajamas, he snuck outside.

…

Quinn and Gus sat silently in the car, the atmosphere incredibly tense.

"Quinn," Gus finally said, trying to catch her eyes, though he didn't succeed. "I have to go inside now."

She just nodded and reluctantly he stepped out of the car.

He only got a few feet up the path towards his house, before he heard a car door slam and a soft voice.

"Gus, wait…"

He had barely turned around before Quinn jumped into his arms. Luckily Gus had hoped for a reaction like this, so he gladly swung her around three times, before finally putting her back down on the ground. He then looked her deep in the eyes and pulled her close to him, hugging her tightly.

"Thank you so much," she whispered into his shoulder. "I can't wait."

They stood like that for a moment, before she pulled away and looked him into the eyes again. Then Gus bent down and kissed her cheek, murmuring into her cheek rather than her ear:

"De rien, ma chérie."

He then skipped up to his house, and Quinn stood still watching him. I can't believe he's taking me to the winter dance.

Then she turned around herself, only to see a shadow approaching her car. She stepped a little closer, and then the light of a lamp-post hit the shadow's golden hair.

"Sam?" Quinn said confused. "What are you doing here?"

Sam was wondering if she'd be able to see his cheeks blushing from jealousy, when he snapped out of his thoughts upon hearing her call his name. He took a few steps closer and so did she, so they were now standing on each side of her car.

"Uh, I live here." He said a little too sharply. "The question is what you're doing here."

"What, here? Oh that's right, you told me that you'd moved to a row house closer to school! I had no idea it was here though, here where Gus lives," Quinn exclaimed remembering their conversation at the Dairy Queen. She was way too bubbly to notice Sam's current state of mind. "Actually I was just dropping off Gus, we've been-"

"Yeah, I could see that. He's been at your place until now?"

"Uhm, yeah," Quinn answered quietly, this time slightly taken aback by his unfriendly tone of voice.

"You don't think that's a little late on a school night?" Sam snarked.

"Well, we've just been dining with my mother, and…" Quinn paused, tilting her head. How dare he judge me like that? "Why am I explaining you this?"

"I don't know, maybe because it's a little weird you're driving your boyfriend home at 11 pm."

"Frankly, it's none of your damn business, Sam." Quinn spat angrily. And he's not my boyfriend, though right now I kind of wish he were.

"It is my business 'cause it's my siblings you're waking up, when you have make out sessions out on the street in the middle of the night." Sam said a little too loudly.

Make out sessions? What is he talki-… oh, our hug. He saw that? "Oh, grow up, Sam. Stevie and Stacey are heavy sleepers. You're forgetting I used to be their babysitter. Fact is the only thing that's going to wake them up, is their immature brother yelling at his ex-girlfriend for absolutely no reason at all!" Now Quinn was almost yelling as well.

"Whatever Quinn. I just thought you'd learned your lesson, you know being around boys, after your experience in sophomore year…" Oh fuck, I did not just say that.

"Oh my god," Quinn whispered almost inaudibly as she cringed. "I cannot believe you just said that."

She then went around to the other side of the car, so she was standing with her back to Sam and opened the car door.

"You weren't there, Sam. You don't know what happened." Except I've told you. And cried on your shoulder too many times about Beth. You should know this.

She then turned around and gave him a death stare. "I don't know what your problem is, but don't take it out on me and don't, under any circumstances, take it out on Gus." She then got in her car and drove off panting slightly.

And Sam just stood there, sighing heavily while thinking why can't I just keep my big mouth shot?

Thank you for reading!
And thank you so much for all the reviews, 'twas truly wonderful to see read your kind words :-) I promise I'll speed up the process!
For Annie, I'm sorry it's dragging out. I kind of have the story figured out, but I just keep thinking of funny, romantic, awkward, whatever scenarios which I have the most urgent need to write down; thus the many chapters. However, I will try and control my imagination and my fingers... they just tend to cooperate sans my rationality!