A/N: The beginning of this chapter is a bit of a throwback to Chapter 1 :)
Chapter 40- Toronto
As it has been said, Josée was rather cold and domineering, and had a specific mindset on how to do things.
Jacques was more of a free spirit, and liked to go with the flow.
She assumed that their partnership wouldn't last a week.
He liked to tease her on how wrong she was.
She was irked by him.
He was intimidated by her.
She cherished her bond with him, as he did with her.
Here and now, Josée and Jacques were standing outside their brand new apartment building in Toronto. These thoughts were running through their heads as they boarded the plane. Throughout every heartbreak, tragedy, fight, and moments of doubts and separation, Josée and Jacques managed to find each other again. The olympics wasn't helpful, the Ridonculous race especially wasn't helpful, but here they were, moving in together in a brand new province - determined to have a fresh start. They knew that how they came to be the people they were today, and now, they could only heal from it and move on.
They had no clue on how many doors would open in Toronto, and that it would be considered the biggest change of their lives. They had no clue that it was the beginning of a special journey, of how two people came to be, and realized that they were in love. They had no clue about the controversies that would arise in the future, nor did they have a clue on learning about who would be there for them, and who would not. Some friendships made were not surprising at all, while others rose a few eyebrows.
In Toronto, Josée and Jacques would get the biggest wake up calls of their lives. There will be screaming, tears, and deep conversations that were designed to test them; conversations that get into the root of issues that should've been talked about a long time ago. And something Josée and Jacques would learn, was that they weren't alone.
Far from it.
"Thank gold we finished packing," Josée remarked tiredly, collapsing on the sofa behind her. "I'm exhausted." There were so many boxes, it was ridiculous.
Jacques chuckled, sitting across from her. "It's so strange not to hear people speaking French everywhere."
Josée hummed to herself in thought. "I mean, Toronto isn't that foreign to us. You make it seem as though we're experiencing culture shock."
"It isn't culture shock," Jacques said, shrugging. "It's just strange not living in Quebec, you know?"
"Mmm, I guess so," Josée agreed. Comfortable silence passed between them for a few seconds. "So what do you suggest we do now?"
Jacques shrugged and got up. "Ah... I guess I could make dinner. Or we could order something?"
It seemed normal enough; the way they were having a conversation about what to eat for dinner like they would back in Quebec. The odd feeling wouldn't change, however, because this was more different, it was hard to explain. "Nothing too crazy," Josée warned lightly. "I'm trying to eat healthy." Jacques sent her a look, one that asked whether or not he should be concerned with that answer. Josée scoffed and crossed her arms. "No, Jacques. Not like that. I'm okay, honest." She was and she looked sincere enough.
Jacques seemed to believe her. "Okay," he settled with saying. "I'll order in ten minutes."
Beat.
"You know what I've been thinking of lately since arriving here?" Josée asked. Jacques shook his head. "I've been thinking about how most of the race contestants live in Toronto... including Tom and Jen, and... we haven't told them we're here."
Jacques pressed his lips together in thought. "...Should we?"
Josée thought about it for a minute, frowning deeply. The reason why she wanted to move here was due to helping her career, which included teaching, and eventually being able to compete in the next olympics and achieve gold. She wanted a fresh start, away from all the drama, and she suspected that Jacques felt the same. The last thing either of them needed was to interact consistently with their former cast-mates; it was already enough calling Tom and Jen every now and then.
But to her surprise, she didn't say no. Instead, she asked her partner: "What do you think?" Which was strange, because normally she made the decisions.
"That's up to you, Josée."
Case and point.
"Not now, at least," Josée answered, rubbing her thumbs along bun-bun. "Should we really get sucked into other people's dramatic lives? It'll only lead to distraction, and if we're going to get our ban lifted from the ISU, we cannot afford to be distracted." It was like she was her old self again; focused and determined to get the gold - except there was a bit of a distraction, no matter how much she tried to deny it.
Jacques smirked. "Mais oui! Winning would be nice."
Josée matched his smirk, as well as his excitement. "It'll be different with competitions, now. We have a new coach who Isaac said was very good and nice. I looked her up, and she had won a fair amount of gold medals... not as much as him, but still good!"
"The strange part will be teaching students wanting to compete," Jacques added. "Now we'll really see what it's like for Isaac." They knew it was far different from teaching primary school aged children.
"God, maybe it is culture shock," Josée supposed, which made Jacques giggle. Shortly, Josée couldn't help but let out a smile of her own. "The new landlord is something else."
"I think he was stoned," Jacques replied wryly. "Is everyone in Ontario stoned?"
"Non, I think that's British Columbia."
Jacques giggled again. "Do you think he'll be nicer than our last one?"
"Mm, it's hard to tell," Josée mused. "Right now, I just want to settle in and relax." They had a long journey ahead of them...
The skating rink was lovely. It was slightly wider in comparison to the one that Josée and Jacques had back in Quebec, which was wonderful. What especially was wonderful was that there were hardly any people there, which meant that it was perfect for private lessons. This was their fourth day in Toronto, and they were already going to start teaching their brand new students. Josée felt butterflies in stomach, just like she would before a performance, and Jacques felt similarly. Teaching a preteen team would be far different from teaching students who were beginners at skating under the age of ten.
"Hello!" Josée and Jacques looked over to see their brand new coach, also known as the woman Isaac spoke highly of. "I'm so happy you arrived! I'm Anya." The woman named Anya eagerly shook Josée and Jacques' hands. The pair exchanged an odd look; she was very overly friendly - it was much different from Isaac's sarcasm. Though she seemed bubbly and nice, Josée and Jacques wondered if she had seen the show, assuming that she had to work with two difficult people. "It's very nice to meet the both of you."
"It's nice to meet you too," Jacques offered politely. Josée gave the woman a curt nod to indicate she felt the same.
"I'm sure Isaac told you about the ISU's decision to lift your ban?" This time, Josée and Jacques nodded. Anya clasped her hands together excitedly. "Excellent. I firmly believe that the ISU is on your side, especially Skate Canada, so they took the opportunity to let you coach one of the most promising teams out there. And between you and me..." She winked at the two. "The ISU shouldn't act like they have moral compasses, they can be particularly nasty." Josée and Jacques couldn't help but grin; it was refreshing to hear skaters bash the institution every now and then, but of course they couldn't do that publicly.
"Today's also the day you'll meet Logan and Miranda," Anya filled in. "They should be here any minute. School had ended not too long ago."
"So..." Josée started off awkwardly, "How is this going to work?"
"They have a routine prepared for you. You'll observe; see their strengths, see their weaknesses - you'll obviously work to their strengths while improving with their weaknesses. Then on, you can help choreograph new things for them, and so on." Anya let out a smile. "They're very excited to meet you."
"Oh?" Jacques asked, lifting an eyebrow. "They are?"
Anya's laughter filled the rink. "Of course. Why wouldn't they be? You are champions, after all."
Josée couldn't help but frown. Part of her thinks that they're excited because of how she and Jacques acted on the Ridonculous Race, and would have more questions related to that rather than the art of ice dancing. They were preteens so Josée wouldn't be surprised if they made a joke or two. She remembered when there would be people recognizing her and Jacques; but for the wrong reasons that had nothing to do with ice dancing.
"Logan, I cannot believe you!" shrieked a feminine voice from outside. Josée, Jacques, and Anya ceased their discussion to look toward the double doors that lead to the rink. It was quiet for a few seconds, then she continued: "Clare and Eli are so much better than Clare and KC. I firmly believe that Clare and Eli will get together, I'm telling you-"
"But Eli is so unstable now," the boy - presumed to be Logan - argued back. "He should not be focusing on a relationship when he should be working on himself. He's only going to drag her down, kind of like Maya and Zig-"
"Do not insult Maya and Zig."
"You know Miranda, I think you just have a thing for toxic relationships."
"I do not!"
"Do too. And who the hell names their kid 'Zigmund' god-"
The doors flew open, revealing two preteens, whom were assumed to be Miranda and Logan. They were wearing very bright colors and had a flashy appearance to them. Josée and Jacques made eye contact with them, blinking slightly at them staring back. Logan and Miranda waited for a few seconds, before breaking into huge smiles and squealing with delight - startling the professional ice dancers. Josée and Jacques became even more alarmed when the preteens rushed over and shook their hands eagerly.
"It is so nice to meet you," Miranda gushed. "I'm Miranda, and that's Logan. You have no idea how much you two mean to us... god, we've idolized you since we were seven."
Josée blinked at the sudden kindness. "Oh... well, merci... um-"
"So imagine six years of worshipping," Logan chattered on. "We had no idea how to make costumes before we cast our eyes on you. We've watched several interviews where you talked about it, and it encouraged both of us to do the same. Which was insane, really, because neither of us knew how to sew or design - Miranda is a lot better than me, but then I remind her that I'm the one with extravagant taste when it comes to fashion. By the way, question... how did you manage to perfect your camel spins? I mean, obviously you could say that practice makes permanent - oh, I don't like saying practice makes perfect, it's highly inaccurate - but I'm sure you can give us a few secrets, no?"
Josée and Jacques stared blankly.
Miranda chuckled lightly and put her hand in front of Logan. "Forgive my partner, his mouth is faster than his brain."
"It's called being inspired, Miranda-"
"You're my best friend and I love you, but you have got to stop covering seven topics within seven seconds-"
"I-"
"Um..." Jacques cut in unsurely, which made Miranda and Logan stop their bickering to hang onto every word Jacques was about to say, "So I heard you had a routine for us?" He and Josée were not prepared for the excited gasps that followed. Josée and Jacques watched as the preteens got their skates on in record time and slid across the ice easily.
"We've been working on this for months," Miranda said giddily. She and Logan got into their position. "We hope you enjoy!" Josée and Jacques kept their eyes locked on the young skaters, observing each and every graceful move that landed. The two of them raised their eyebrows, mildly impressed. Of course there were some things here and there that were flawed, but the moves that Logan and Miranda were doing were on par for someone their ages. Josée and Jacques remembered doing things like that, perhaps a little more.
Miranda and Logan finished with a striking pose. That definitely reminded Josée and Jacques of themselves; they were pretty flamboyant.
"That was... good," Jacques settled with saying, and watched as the preteens' faces lit up excitedly.
"However," Josée interjected, "There are some things we can fix." They expected a strong reaction from them, but instead they nodded eagerly.
Josée and Jacques couldn't wait to get back to their apartment.
"They talk... so much," Jacques said breathlessly, taking up all the room on the sofa. Jacques let out a high-pitched squeal when Josée lightly nudged his head to make room for her. Jacques did, letting Josée sit cross-legged on the sofa, her head laying on the backrest. Jacques got back to the original discussion; their new pupils. "They're fans, alright."
Josée hummed in agreement, looking slightly disheveled. "How on earth were they able to name a specific move I did back in 2008 that won us gold in Sweden? You know, it's funny, you would think they would bring up the 2010 olympics, or the race we were on, but no... and I was waiting for it to happen, dread was inside of me waiting, thinking, 'just please say it and get it over with' but it never came."
Jacques let out a scoff mixed with a giggle. "So it wasn't just me worrying about that?"
"Oh god, no," Josée said, as if it were absurd. She smiled as Jacques let out a sigh of relief and muttered out a, 'Thank God.' She went on, "Considering how others have approached us about the olympics and then the race, how could you not be worried it would come up?" But then, she added, exasperated: "But the way that they bicker... god, I know they're best friends, they wouldn't shut up about it, but it's a miracle that their partnership lasted more than a week."
Jacques smirked teasingly from his position on the sofa, staring up at her. "You said the same thing about us, remember?"
"Oh god..."
"And you were so wrong, chouchou."
"Jacques-"
"So, so wrong - ow!" Jacques' taunts were cut off by Josée hitting his face with a pillow. He sent her a mocking pout. "You're mean." Josée couldn't help herself. Without thinking, she playfully messed up Jacques' hair. For a few seconds, she let her hand linger in it - his hair was always so soft, really. "Uh, Josée...?"
Josée quickly retracted her hand away from his hair and grew red. "I'm sorry. It's that... your hair is softer than usual, is it new product?"
"...No. Not really," Jacques replied, thinking about it. It grew awkwardly quiet for a few seconds, before Jacques said: "You know, um... I don't mind it, Josée."
"Oh I know," Josée added for good measure, her face still flushed. "It's just..." Just? Just what? Josée didn't have a clue. It was just instinctual, not even thinking twice about it. She shrugged and let her hand rest in Jacques' hair, shrugging. "It feels nice." She watched as Jacques hummed a tad and closed his eyes in delight.
"You know what we should do," Josée went on, her hand still in Jacques' hair. "We should go to a gay bar. Tom recommended one to me a while back and I need alcohol."
Jacques lifted his head up - causing Josée to remove her hand - eyeing his partner skeptically. "We're not gay, we're bisexual."
"Tom said it still counts," said Josée. "Besides, you never took me to one before."
"You've never been interested in partying," Jacques said, shrugging. "I guess we can go." He got up from the sofa, ready to head out. He stopped when he felt Josée's eyes cast on him strangely. He turned around, frowning. "What?"
"Aren't we supposed to get dressed up for a party?" Josée asked curiously. Jacques had a black tank top and jeans.
Jacques burst into laughter. "Oh no. The lack of trying, is all the trying."
Josée blinked confusedly. "So... um... what should I wear?"
"What you're wearing now is fine," Jacques told her. Then, he held his hand out for Josée to take. "Now let's go." Josée took it and joined walking alongside Jacques to the bar that Tom had referred Josée to. Right before entering, Josée was starting to have her doubts.
"But what if I can't talk to women like that?" Josée asked anxiously, biting her lower lip. "I know because I'm on the aro-spec it's harder... but I'm still attracted to them in other ways... what if they approach me?"
"Trust me, they'll be nervous around you too," Jacques replied. "Whenever I saw women at gay bars they'd make panicked eye contact with each other the whole night and end up not talking to each other."
"Wha...?" Josée didn't have time to finish her thought, as she stepped inside with Jacques into the bar. Josée was starstruck and could barely hold back her shock. The pop music blasted at such an unbelievably loud volume that it hurt her ears. Though when she looked around; she was amazed by what she saw. Men were openly holding hands with other men, and vice versa for women. Josée recognized a few drag queens dancing in the crowds, which were packed. Josée, who was nervous moments before, relaxed slightly.
"Is it supposed to be so loud!?" Josée couldn't help but shout over the music, grabbing a seat at the bar.
Jacques sat beside her and shouted back, "Oui!"
Josée cleared her throat; it already hurt to yell so loud. "Okay! Should we order our drinks?!"
"We should!"
"That's great!" Josée turned to the bartender, who was wearing a tank top similar to Jacques', and ordered their usual drinks. Josée loudly thanked the bartender and handed Jacques his drink while she took a sip of her own. Josée cast her eyes on a man that seemed to be checking Jacques out. "I think that guy likes you!" She shouted to Jacques.
Jacques openly gave the man a once over and then turned to Josée. "He's okay." The music was lowered just a bit, enough where Josée and Jacques could hear each other.
"I think he's pretty attractive," Josée remarked. "Maybe you should go talk to him." She really, really, really wished she hadn't said that.
"Non, I just make aggressive eye contact with him and maybe he'll come over here, or we'll go the bathroom."
"Why do you go to the bath - oh..." Josée cut herself off when Jacques gave her a knowing look. "Wha... is this how you picked up men?" However, case and point, the man that was checking Jacques out had strolled over to them.
"Do you want to dance?" the man asked Jacques.
Jacques got up from the stool and smirked in Josée's direction. "I'll be right back!"
"Jacques, you can't just leave me here, I..." Josée let out a relenting sigh once she realized that Jacques couldn't hear her. Scowling, Josée began to sip her drink a little more. She didn't think she would be alone at the bar, though she couldn't have been too surprised at her partner's extroverted nature. She wouldn't be alone for long, however. A very pretty woman that looked to be around her age sat next to her. Josée wasn't uncomfortable, but she wasn't comfortable either. "Hi."
The woman smiled in a friendly manner. "Why don't I know you? Have you been around here before?"
Josée took another sip of her drink. "It's that obvious, isn't it?"
"Mhm, I'm here all the time," the woman replied cordially. "It seems like this is your first time being at a gay bar."
"...Yes," said Josée. Her eyes linger over to see Jacques dancing with a man. "It is. Well... I'm not a lesbian." Then she realized her mistake and turned to the woman. "I mean, no! I'm not a lesbian, or heterosexual... I'm bisexual, okay?" Her heart was pounding; maybe she was going to get kicked out and Tom was lying about bisexuality counting.
"Cool, so am I. You don't have to explain yourself to anyone here," the woman said, chuckling. "I'm Maxine."
"Josée," the ice dancer said politely. Then, she almost gasped in realization. This was the first bisexual woman she had ever met, at least to her knowledge.
"Nice to meet you," said the woman, now known as Maxine. Josée looked away from the woman and to Jacques and let out a weary sigh. "What's wrong?"
"I'm bisexual, but I feel like I'm not," Josée explained, uncertain as to why. "I feel like I should be with a woman since coming out as bisexual, but I currently like a man." She wished she hadn't suggested going to the bar, now she felt foolish.
"So? That's part of bisexuality," Maxine told her.
"Well, yes, that's what a friend of mine said, but that doesn't make me feel less guilty," Josée admitted.
"You shouldn't, as long as you've shown attraction to a woman then that definitely counts," Maxine said. Then, she looked in the direction of which Josée was staring. "Did you bring him with you?" Josée gave a small nod. "Is he the blonde? You know... the both of you look super familiar, now that I think about it." Josée's eyes grew wide in fear, looking over at Maxine, who had already connected the dots. "You're those skaters from that race show."
Josée bit her lower lip. "Yes. Well... I developed some feelings for him."
"I only watched two episodes and I thought you were a couple," Maxine said. "He was all googly eyed at you."
"No, it's complicated."
"Is he gay?"
"No. He's also bisexual, and... well... he did like me, but then I said no because I didn't know what I wanted so I told him to move on, but that's when I realize that I do like him once he gets together with a woman, and eventually he broke up with her and... it seems like he was able to move on so quickly. And..." Josée checked herself; realizing she was saying too much to a complete stranger. "It's a very long story-"
"Can you move?" A man slightly older than Josée sneered at her. "I sit there." He appeared to be quite intoxicated, or under a substance of some sort.
Maxine frowned at him in disapproval. "She's new, she doesn't know any better."
Josée didn't care whether or not that this was this man's seat; it reminded her of back in high school when Michelle would yell at Josée for taking the front of the barre in ballet class. Josée's nostrils flared; she thought people were long past the high school drama, but apparently not. "I was here first," she said assertively.
"Learn your place, honey," the man snapped, and took a long drink.
"Don't call me honey," Josée spat. "I was here first."
"Do you want me to push you off?" he slurred.
This was not how Josée expected her night to go. "Get lost."
"Um, Josée, is it?" Maxine asked, a bit timidly. "I would get up-"
"No, I was here first," Josée interrupted, then addressed the rude man: "Sit somewhere else."
"Is everything okay here?" Josée looked over to see Jacques. He must've noticed from afar that Josée seemed to be in an altercation, and rushed to her aide. He set his eyes on the man that was giving her trouble. "What's the problem?"
"Oh, nothing's wrong, Jacques," Josée was quick to say, glaring at the man. "This asshole was just about to leave, wasn't he?"
"Not a chance - wait a minute..." the man paused, and squinted at the two ice dancers. "You're from that TV show you got third in..." he burst into hysterics. "Embarrassing."
Josée pressed her lips together to keep her temper intact. "You know nothing." She wasn't going to give this jerk the satisfaction; she simply wasn't. She could feel Jacques' eyes setting on her, with a pleading look that said not to start anything, and she would do everything she could to keep herself calm. This was only their first week in Toronto, and wanted their fresh start - they weren't about to ruin it.
"No, no, no, wait! It's funny," the man said, grinning. "Are you going to get mad? Like you did in the show? Where you threw shit everywhere in Central Park?" It was getting increasingly difficult for Josée to contain herself; especially when someone made a remark on a event she couldn't even remember. Her fists began to curl up...
"Josée, let's just go..." Jacques said, no - almost pleaded to his partner. "The last thing we need is another altercation in a bar." He remembered back in high school where they snuck to a bar and Josée had swiftly punched Liv in the nose. While rightfully deserved, it planted a target on their backs.
"Tell him to leave," Josée snapped.
"No, actually. I have an interesting question regarding you both on the show!"
"Really? Neither of us are interested in answering it," Jacques retorted desperately. He really just wanted this to be over, but now onlookers had arrived, interested in the possibility of drama occurring - or something far worse.
But then man kept his eyes on Josée, ignoring Jacques. "Does this mean your skating career is over?"
Josée's eye twitched. She felt her nails dig into her palms; trying to count down from twenty, but it wouldn't work. Her eyes snapped open and, in one swift shattering motion, punched the man square in the jaw - which earned the attention from all the onlookers. Adding a final touch, Josée spat in his face.
The man groaned from the pain, but then got up and spat, "Fucking bitch." Though moments ago Jacques was adamant on staying away from fights, he found himself tackling the man to the ground, and the two men began to brawl on the floor. Josée's eyes grew wide in shock - he was doing quite some damage, and while she wanted that man to pay, police sirens were heard in the background; which were probably reserved for them. People managed to get the two off each other. For a second, Josée was relieved - but then winced when one of the bouncers pointed to her and Jacques. One second they were in a bar having a good time, next there was a fight, and then, they were arrested.
Josée and Jacques were roughly grabbed by guards and thrown into a holding cell. "Hey!" she shouted. Jacques let out an exasperated sigh and buried his face in his hands while his partner continued to argue with the guards who were ignoring her. "He started it! Why isn't he in trouble? Is it because he's one of the regulars? Stupide." Once she realized she wasn't going go to get anywhere, she huffed and stalked away from the bars, standing beside Jacques. "Stupide, stupide, stupide..."
After ten minutes, Jacques spoke.
"You shouldn't have punched him, chouchou..." he chastised lightly. "We would've never been stuck sharing this holding cell with an ugly poor person!"
Josée whirled herself around to face Jacques, unable to believe her ears. "Oh, I'm at fault? You're the one that escalated it!"
Jacques huffed. "I was defending your honor!"
"Well defending my honor got us arrested!" Josée snapped. "I thought gay bars didn't have any fights." She looked around in the holding cell; trapped. This was similar to the holding cell she was in back in Australia - and it brought all the bad memories back. "I think prisoners don't get air, after all..."
Just like that, Jacques' anger diminished. "What's wrong? Is it your...?" Josée cut him off with a frantic nod. Jacques was at her side quickly. "It's okay, chouchou. Just squeeze my hand - ow!" Josée tightly gripped his hand, making Jacques wince from the pain. Therefore, he shouted to the guards: "How much longer do we have to stay in here?!"
Josée let out a shallow breath. How could things get worse from here?
She and Jacques were about to find out.
"You can't just do that!" A familiar voice sounded, "We're lucky that we were able to become cops after everything, and you're making it worse!"
"C'mon, lighten up a little," another shockingly familiar gruff voice replied, "Do you have to be such a stick in the mud, Sanders?"
Oh, God.
They were getting closer and closer...
"I am not a stick in the mud! And... oh my god," Sanders remarked, staring at Josée and Jacques in utter disbelief. "How did... what?"
"Sanders, what's the matt - oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me." MacArthur hadn't noticed yet until she turned around to face the ice dancers. Josée and Jacques resisted the urge to roll their eyes at those pigs. "What the hell did you two do?! Wait, what are you even doing in Toronto?"
But maybe, just maybe, MacArthur and Sanders could assist them.
"We'll tell you as long as you get us out in here," Josée retorted, through gritted teeth. "In case you don't remember, I don't do well with tight spaces." It was a miracle that she wasn't having a severe panic attack over the issue. What was probably helping was Jacques consistently squeezing her hand in reassurance.
Sanders raised an eyebrow. "So you're going to assume that we have some extra pull around here?"
"Yes," Josée and Jacques answered collectively.
Sanders was about to object, until MacArthur stopped her and smirked in the ice dancers' direction. "We'll see what we can do." And left shortly after. Josée and Jacques scowled; they were right back where they started.
Twenty minutes later, there was no sign of MacArthur and Sanders, and Jacques said: "Would you be surprised if they just left?"
"Not in the slightest," was Josée's response. At that moment, MacArthur and Sanders decided to grace them with their presence. "What took you so long?"
MacArthur scowled. "You know, I wouldn't be an asshole to the cops that can bail you out of here."
"Well, can you get us out of here?" Jacques snapped.
"We can. On one condition..." MacArthur started off, smirking in Josée's direction. "You have to say that Sanders and I are the best police cadets in the world."
Beat.
"There are no words to describe how much I dislike you right now," Josée stated, glaring at the cadets.
"Say it," Sanders chimed in playfully, "And make sure you speak up." Josée knew what this was; it was a little jab from the race - when she had MacArthur admit that she was the best ice dancer in the world, and that ice dancing was the best sport in the world. She really didn't want to say it; but the walls were getting smaller...
"You are the best police cadets in the world," Josée spat out reluctantly. "Can we go now?"
MacArthur chuckled and unlocked the holding cell. "You didn't have to say that; they were going to let you out anyway." Josée practically launched herself out of the cell and took a few breaths of air - almost as if she was being suffocated to death. "You alright, princess?" Josée gave her an odd look, but nodded. "Good. You wanna grab something to eat?"
Jacques gaped like a fish out of water. "What?"
"We're done for the day," Sanders replied. "You have to tell us about what you did, remember?"
Josée and Jacques were about to interject and say no, and were hoping to never run into them again, up until Sanders added: "We'll pay."
"Sanders!" MacArthur exclaimed, horrified.
"What?! It's called being welcoming, MacArthur, something you should try sometime."
"...Fine."
Josée and Jacques found a place outside to sit and eat while telling Sanders and MacArthur the story about going into their first gay bar together as bisexuals. One second everything was fine, and the next second fists were flying. Josée mentioned the man was taunting her and Jacques about their placement on the show, and that it probably meant their skating careers were over. Josée proclaimed that she had punched him in the face, and despite Jacques saying not to get into an altercation, he finished the guy off.
It was silent when the two finished telling the story.
And then Sanders burst into hysterical laughter.
Josée blushed furiously. "It's not funny!"
Sanders wiped a tear from her eye. "Hold on, give me a moment. I need to store this in my brain, it's hilarious. I need to store this moment forever. Everything about this is funny. No, it will never not be funny. How do you manage to get arrested in a gay bar?"
"It just happened," Jacques answered, frowning deeply. "I don't understand why you're laughing."
"Nah, don't worry Blondie, she isn't laughing at you," MacArthur filled in. "She's laughing at the fact that Josée punched someone in the face and then you joined in."
"You end up... getting arrested... in Toronto," Sanders said, in-between laughter. "And then we... we got back at you from Australia - oh, it's so funny! C'mon, you have to laugh at least a little..." Then she turned somewhat serious. "...up until the part where you mentioned you were feeling claustrophobic, sorry about that."
Josée rolled her eyes and shrugged; it was nice enough for the cadets to pay for their meals, so they couldn't be too angry. "Whatever."
"So what are you doing in Toronto?" MacArthur pressed. "It can't be competition stuff, since you're banned and - what?! I don't mean to be rude, it's true!" Sanders had shot her a glare upon mentioning Josée and Jacques not being able to compete this season. "So why are you here?"
"New job coaching," Josée reluctantly admitted. "We don't want anyone to know that we're here."
"Permanently?" Sanders asked, perking up.
"That's what happens when you get a new job," Jacques stated, rather sarcastically.
"Hey Blondie, don't be rude to my girl!" MacArthur snapped, then smirked at Sanders, who was sighing. "Love ya, babe." And pecked her on the cheek. Sanders couldn't help but smile as she did so. "So, you and Princess over there..." She jerked her thumb in Josée's direction. "...you're staying in Toronto permanently."
"That's what we said, you... oh hold on," Jacques said, interrupting when his phone began to ring. "My parents," he told Josée, then got up. "I have to take this-" and then left, despite Josée's protests.
"No, wait! Don't leave me with..." Josée groaned, since this was the second time today he abandoned her. She hesitantly looked back at the cadets. "...pigs."
"Hey, we're supposed to not dislike each other, remember?" MacArthur remarked.
Josée crossed her arms and frowned. "You kept us stuck in a cell."
"We also got you out," Sanders pointed out. "And we also paid for food."
"Which is precisely why I don't despise you," Josée replied curtly. "...and among other things."
MacArthur perked up. "Did you just say something nice? About us?"
Josée narrowed her eyes at the cadet. "I..." She groaned, rolling her eyes and began to tap her fingers on the table. "Could Jacques get back here already?"
"Jesus, when are you and Blondie going to get together?" MacArthur blurted out, earning a look from Sanders.
"...What is it with everyone in that stupid race asking about our business?" Josée asked, annoyed. "You know what, I think I would rather have everyone hate us."
"Oh god, you like him."
"I do not!"
"Then why is your face all red?" Sanders chimed in teasingly.
Josée glared at her. "I thought you were supposed to be the nice one."
"Hey, at least she didn't tell you that you're probably stuck in the Carrie Zone," MacArthur added, chuckling.
"I am not in the - wait, did everyone know about the Carrie Zone but me?"
Sanders shook her head. "Not just you. Jacques doesn't know."
"Neither does Carrie," MacArthur chuckled.
Josée couldn't help but snort in amusement. "You're mean."
"You're calling me mean?"
"You're not exactly nice."
"...Again, you're calling me mean?"
"What MacArthur is trying to say," Sanders interjected amusedly, "Is that you're the last person to call anyone mean."
"Fair enough," Josée allowed. Still, she wished Jacques would return. Her fingers began to tap impatiently on the table. "You make me sound like some... some lovesick puppy."
"Which is weird as hell because usually he's the lovesick puppy," MacArthur said bluntly. She was unaware of the heavy glare from the ice dancer and asked, "Are you gonna eat that?" Josée gazed down to where MacArthur was pointing, which was some leftovers - a bag of chips that had come with her meal. She shook her head and scrunched her face up, unable to even try to hide the disgust when MacArthur snatched the bag and began to munch on the chips. Sanders let out a heavy sigh while MacArthur was clueless. "Also, I totally think you're lovesick, which is so gay, dude." MacArthur began to chuckle and nudged her girlfriend's arm. "Right Sanders? So fucking gay..."
"MacArthur, we're dating..."
"I know, but it's gay."
"...That's the point."
"Anyway," Josée cut in, hoping to god that Jacques would show up any second, "I'm not a lovesick puppy."
Sanders merely stared at the ice dancer, then shrugged. "If you say so."
Josée glared at Sanders. "I'm not."
"Okay, I believe you."
"Then stop staring at me like that."
"You're the one that's glaring at me."
"...What's going on?" To Josée's relief, Jacques had returned and took his seat beside his partner. He frowned deeply and looked between the police cadets and Josée. "Your face is all red, chouchou." Josée reached up to touch her face instinctively and kept her eyes on the cadets, who grinned teasingly.
"So that was a day to remember," Josée remarked, after arriving in their apartment. "Jacques, this was our first week."
"Oui. What is your point?" Jacques asked, shutting the door behind them.
"It was chaos," Josée marveled, letting out an exhausted sigh. "We moved to get away from it all - remember? And somehow... somehow... it managed to follow us."
Jacques shrugged. "I don't think it was that bad, chouchou." Though he was feeling a little homesick. His parents called him, and admittedly, he missed them a lot. He didn't want to tell Josée, however, because she didn't have anyone back home - it wouldn't be fair to her at all.
"Not that bad?" Josée asked incredulously. "Let's see; we were stuck with the biggest chatterboxes in the world, had a less-than-positive first experience at a gay bar, got arrested and forced to stay in that awful holding cell, and had to rely on the cadets to bail us out."
"Hmm, maybe it is," Jacques found himself to agree. "But-"
"I guess I can't say that all of it followed us," Josée interrupted unknowingly. "Because we did move to Toronto, where almost everyone from that race is from... but to find the cadets there... of all places."
"Maybe it was fate?"
"Don't even try to be funny; it was not fate." Jacques couldn't help but giggle at Josée's annoyance. "I'm just nervous that they'll blab to everyone... oh, great." Mid-sentence, Josée's phone began to ring. She glanced at the caller ID and visibly groaned.
"Who is it?" Jacques inquired.
"I spoke too soon," was Josée's vague reply, but picked up the phone. "Hi Jen."
"Heyyy!" chorused two voices, belonging to not only Jen, but also Tom. "Welcome to Toronto!"
Josée sighed and pressed a button. "You're on speaker. Jacques is here beside me. So I'm guessing that MacArthur and Sanders-"
"Told us everything," Tom cut in eagerly. "Including the address..." Thus he recited it, word-for-word.
"How did you find that out?" Jacques asked, slightly weirded out, while Josée would remark that 'slightly' was an understatement on her part.
"MacArthur claimed that she had 'connections,' her words, not mine," Tom replied. "Don't shoot the messenger."
Jacques scowled. "Whatever."
"Blondes have the worst attitude, I swear." Josée tried not to snicker at Tom's comment. "I cannot believe you wouldn't tell us!"
Josée was overcome with guilt. Out of all people, she could've at least told the Fashion Bloggers. "We... sort of wanted to keep it a secret, at least for a while."
"Lameeee," Jen drawled out, "Also... totally heard what happened at the gay bar. The cadets bailed you guys out? Yikes. Tom, stop laughing... they could've been hurt!"
"Wait, wait, wait! It's so funny, though!" Tom exclaimed, through laughter. "Getting arrested? At a gay bar? Hysterical."
"Anyway..." The tone in Jen's voice indicated that she was rolling her eyes on the other end, "We just wanted to welcome you."
"...Thanks," Josée said after a few seconds of awkward silence. "Is that all - what they just hung up on me!"
Jacques couldn't help but laugh. "Not surprising, coming from them." A brief pause. "You alright, chouchou?"
"...Oui, but like I've said... it's a bit much," Josée admitted. It was tense between them; and she knew it. She desperately wished that the Fashion Bloggers hadn't hung up on them, because at least that way she wouldn't have to face Jacques. The way he looked at her - it was like he knew something critical, as did she. "I want to get ready for bed."
Jacques frowned. "Okay?" He wasn't entirely sure what she meant by that.
Josée tapped her fingers awkwardly on her knee, avoiding her partner's eyes. "Right, so..." she trailed off and went to the bathroom to change, while Jacques did the same in the living room. As Josée returned back to the living room to see that Jacques was ready, she bit her lower lip when that obvious tension returned. It wasn't necessarily bad, per se... it was just... unusual and painfully there. "...Do you miss your family?"
"Of course I do," Jacques said at an instance. "...wait, it depends-"
"Your immediately family only."
"Oui," was Jacques' reply. "Maman's extended family is..."
"Weird?"
"Extremely."
Josée let out a little grin. "That's where we got the plastered TV smiles from. You have to give them some credit."
"Of course, chouchou."
Josée's grin faltered after Jacques met her eyes and smiled at her, instead she resorted to staring down at her hands. "This is the part where you ask me if I'm homesick." Silence passed for a few seconds, and then Josée dared to meet Jacques' eyes, who looked sympathetic and kind - as usual.
"Well, are you?"
Josée looked down and swallowed a lump in her throat. Every time she met those sympathetic eyes of Jacques, her heart would pound in a mix of excitement and fear. It was no secret that she hated being vulnerable in front of others, but she long accepted that Jacques would be her only exception. Given how complicated things were (though lets be honest, things haven't been not complicated since that stupid race started) it was difficult to express her feelings out of fear that it could lead to something more.
She slowly nodded. "Very." Jacques waited for her to explain, he knew she would: "I shouldn't, though. Not a lot of good memories there... and some of these moments that I have... it's so foggy, I can't understand it. But there are other things I miss, like, Isaac for instance. And I feel like..." She soaked up those tears. "...crying isn't going to do any good. I've cried too much lately. It can't be healthy."
"It's also unhealthy to keep your tears inside chouchou," Jacques pointed out knowingly. At that, Josée didn't sob, but a few tears did escape from her eyes. She found herself sitting on Jacques' lap on his bed leaning against his strong chest, while he held her head with one hand while embracing her with the other.
Within those few minutes, Josée had a horrifying (yet comforting) thought. She removed herself from Jacques and sat beside him on the bed. "Jacques... I was wondering..." Jacques lifted a curious brow. "...And you could say no..." Josée swore she saw his eyes widen a little. "...Can I... can I sleep with you?" Jacques' eyes went wide as saucers at that revelation. Realizing how that sounded, Josée shook her head. "No! No... not like that, I mean... Can I share the same bed with you, and er... cuddle? I just... don't want to be alone tonight."
They both knew what this could lead to. They had kissed...
Oh, Josée couldn't reiterate that enough - same with Jacques.
But they knew better - Jacques especially did, he would never make a move unless Josée was comfortable.
Jacques nodded. "I understand, chouchou." And he gently motioned her into a comforting position on the bed. Josée felt herself relax instantly when she was on her side with her partner wrapping his arm around her protectively. Josée leaned into his touch and sighed comfortably. His heart was beating, as was hers - but it lulled her to sleep.
As it has been said:
Josée and Jacques had no clue on how many doors would open in Toronto, and that it would be considered the biggest change of their lives. They had no clue that it was the beginning of a special journey, of how two people came to be, and realized that they were in love. They had no clue about the controversies that would arise in the future, nor did they have a clue on learning about who would be there for them, and who would not. Some friendships made were not surprising at all, while others rose a few eyebrows.
In Toronto, Josée and Jacques would get the biggest wake up calls of their lives. There will be screaming, tears, and deep conversations that were designed to test them; conversations that get into the root of issues that should've been talked about a long time ago. And something Josée and Jacques would learn, was that they weren't alone.
Far from it.