A/N: Song in parenthesis by Avril Lavigne. Yes, I love her music.

Chapter 11- Crash and Burn (Slipped Away)

Josée woke up the next day at nine in the morning with her body aching all over coupled with her stomach churning. It was understandable, since yesterday night she had received one of the worst news of her life. This was, debatably, just as bad as getting silver - though she didn't want to admit it - or that time when her rabbit bun-bun died when she was four. Josée wasn't sure which of all these was worse, but she knew that finding out Claude was cheating on her was definitely up there.

Her eyes darted around the room to see that it was somewhat destroyed; she couldn't help but sigh in defeat. She didn't want to get up today. Part of her just wanted to go back to sleep and hope this was just one sick twisted nightmare that would end. Or maybe she could go to sleep forever so the memories of yesterday would fade away. Maybe if she pinched herself several times she would forget about the pain.

Maybe she... maybe she could-

Oh, god.

Josée felt bile rising in her stomach and felt a bitter taste in her mouth. She could feel herself growing paler by the second and her heart pounding through her ears. Suddenly her stomach shifted abruptly, Josée puffed her cheeks out and held a hand to her mouth as she ran to the bathroom. Luckily she made it to the toilet in time, knelt over it, and threw what little contents of her stomach into it. She began to breathe heavily; feeling unusually hot and tried to steady herself back on her feet.

He didn't love her.

He had gone to Clara because she couldn't love him quick enough.

Josée felt like crying. She didn't even have the energy to throw another tantrum since yesterday's was pretty bad - hell, it had to be the worst one she's had other than that senior competition loss from a year and a half ago. In a way, according to Claude, she was the consolation prize. She was silver. Claude wanted Clara, not her. But, Josée thought, she figured this was what she deserved, right? Maman was right. How could anyone love her? Also, she couldn't love him quick enough.

She felt tears prick at her eyes.

Silver...

It was like when she was eleven and Liv had written that on her forehead in permanent marker.

Silver...

Josée felt hot anger again, only this time, she couldn't take it out on anything around her - she was still so tired, and understandably so. Besides, she wasn't a baby. Instead of punching the nearest object, Josée - like she had many times before in her life - slapped herself across the face, in hopes that it will make the tears go away. "Stupid baby," she talked down to herself. "You're pathetic." It was true. Crying over a boy, which was stupid. If her maman was here, she would be able to talk some sense into her.

But it... but it hurt so much. Josée wasn't prepared for this aspect of a relationship; the heartbreak. Her maman was right - these things always end up in heartbreak. Josée wondered had she broken up with him earlier that she wouldn't feel this feeling of despair? Why did it have to feel so awful? This isn't something Alice ever talked about-

Josée stopped thinking and stood up abruptly, her hands on the edges of the sink as looked in the mirror above it to see an unhappy girl staring back at her. Unhappy, she thought mentally. A massive understatement. She hoped she would never feel this low again in her entire life. Hopefully she wouldn't have tantrums quite as bad as last night. She realized that Alice - though she wasn't particularly happy with her at the moment - did in fact tell her about Clara cheating on her, so she owed her that much.

Rachel and Clara however were a different story. Especially Clara. Clara was dead to her. The bitch. She got angry just thinking about her.

Josée figured she could use Alice's advice, she supposed. She can stop by her house before she went to Claude's to confront him. Another sad thought came to mind; before this mess started, she was going to ask her for advice when it came to her first time with Claude. Josée began to brush her teeth, hoping to get the smell of vomit off her breath. Once she was finished, she got dressed and afterwards messaged Alice saying she was getting ready to stop by. Alice messaged her that it was okay to do so.

When Josée opened the door, she felt like crying all over again. She was caught off by the sight of her ice dancing partner standing there, smiling at her. "Allo, chouchou!" Jacques cheered. This didn't help cheer her up in the slightest. Jacques' smile faded at an instant. "What's wrong?"

Damn him for knowing her so well.

Josée shook her head rapidly. "No, it's nothing, okay? Please don't do this."

Jacques' frown deepened. "Do what?"

"This," Josée said, gesturing to him. "The questions. The caring. I just... I can't do it right now, okay?"

"Josée-"

"Please don't," Josée said softly, almost begging. "I'm sorry. I have to do something, and if I talk about what happened, I'm only going to burst into tears again. I'll... talk to you later, okay?" She didn't wait for him to confirm that it was okay, she ran off to the direction of Alice's house, leaving a concerned and anxious Jacques behind.

Jacques was confused. He figured he and Josée could get some extra practice at the rink this morning and then catch a late brunch, but she denied it in favor of doing something else that he knew nothing about. Part of him wanted to run after her and get her to tell her what was wrong, because she sounded like she was going to cry, but then he remembered the advice Gabrielle had given him yesterday that Josée needed to figure things out on her own.

But then again, this could very well be Josée realizing that Claude was an awful person and it's hurting her too much, and that would hurt him. Yes, Jacques couldn't protect her from everything, but he could at least comfort her in her time of need - she did the same for him.

Instead of following her, Jacques went back home. He was shocked to see that his father was up at the kitchen table, focusing intently on some paperwork. It was normal that Sunday's his father would be off from working, but usually he would sleep in. "Your mother went shopping," he commented, without looking up.

Jacques sat on the sofa and started the surf the channels on the television. "That's great. Did she get my..."

"Yes, she got your list."

"Merci."

It was noticeably silent for the next five minutes, other than the sound of paperwork being shuffled around or Jacques flipping through television programs.

Hector cleared his throat awkwardly. "So uh," he said uneasily, "How are you?"

Jacques looked away from the television and raised a skeptical eyebrow in his father's direction. "Fine," he stated cordially. "How are you?"

"Alright," Hector answered, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "So uh, I heard you were seeing some... guy," he began, "How's um... how's that going?"

"It's fine," Jacques replied, a bit colder than usual. Since when did his father ask about his love life? "It's going well."

Hopefully that would be the end of it.

"Well that's good," his father went on, "It's good that you're uh, happy in a... relationship."

The ice dancer couldn't take it anymore.

"Papa, stop it."

"Stop what?"

Jacques rolled his eyes. "Stop trying to act like you want to have this conversation, you hate that I'm with another man, it's embarrassing for you."

Hector looked away from his paperwork and frowned at his son deeply. "When have I ever been uncomfortable with you being with men?"

"All the time."

"That's not true at all and you know it," Hector said sternly, "I'll admit I wasn't in love with the idea of you being with another man but I never loathed you for it, nor would I tell people that you weren't my son." Jacques rolled his eyes again as his father continued, "It was either that, or I lose you forever... and I can't..." Hector averted his eyes back to his paperwork, with a noticeably softer expression, almost haunted, even, like he remembered something suddenly: "...and I can't do that. Especially after Bernadette-"

"Oh don't even bring that up-"

"It's true! It changes people, son." Hector looked back at his son with an almost shocked expression: "I already lost her, I can't lose you too."

It was uncomfortably silent for a moment. Jacques wasn't sure what to feel.

"And I'm still proud of you, even if you are a pansy sometimes."

Now he remembered.

Jacques groaned in annoyance. "Papa, you never told me you were proud of me..."

"I shouldn't have to!" Hector suddenly exclaimed. "I showed it. That's how it should be. You know, with the ice dancing stuff... I never understood it... but I supported you, didn't I? And when you won all those trophies and medals I would say to my colleagues, that my son won another championship! So don't ever tell me I'm not proud of you, alright?"

Jacques was speechless, it was almost like... his papa was hurt by what he implied. He rarely was hurt by whatever he said, hell, whatever anybody said. "...Okay."

"Okay."

"Great."

"Fantastic."

Then it was quiet for a few seconds, until his father started up again: "And whatever you are, I don't know how it works... Whatever it is, it's okay with me."

Jacques groaned. "Papa," he said through gritted teeth, "Did maman make you have this conversation with me?"

"No. I mean, yes, she did, but-"

"I knew it," Jacques hissed angrily, rolling his eyes. He rose from his seat on the sofa. "I should've known-"

"Oh would you stop it?" Hector snapped, groaning. "This is important. Your mother... she's not wrong, you know. I personally would rather not talk about these things, but she insisted, and she's right... it's... important. Because you are my son."

"And part of me being your son is asking about my love life that you don't support?"

"I never said I didn't support it," Hector cut in, "Just that I don't understand it."

Jacques couldn't roll his eyes any harder. "What's hard to understand about it?"

"I don't know what two men do together!" Hector exclaimed, with a shrug. "I mean, I know colleagues that have kids like that. Some like girls as girls, guys as guys, guys and girls who like both guys and girls..."

Jacques grew uncomfortable. "That last part isn't a thing." Hector raised his eyebrows, like he intended to challenge him on that, but said nothing. "What is your point?"

"That I'll support you, whatever you like, whatever you don't like - it doesn't matter. Because family does have to stick together."

"Well I'm not straight, papa, no matter how much you want me to be," Jacques said coolly.

"I'm not saying you have to be," Hector replied, then, he got back to his paperwork. He assumed that the conversation would end there.

Jacques heard his phone chime once, indicating a new text message. It was from Adam. "I have to go," he announced, before leaving the house. When he was gone, Hector rubbed his eyes and let out a sigh.

Alice smiled awkwardly at Josée's arrival at the front door of her house. "Hi."

Josée smiled back, just as awkward. "'Allo."

She put her hands in her pockets. "How are you doing since the..." Alice stopped talking, letting the unfinished sentence hang in thin air.

"I'm managing," Josée replied. "I'm going to talk to Claude after this, and... I was wondering if I could have some advice."

Alice thought about it for a moment, then stepped to the side: "Come in." Josée looked at her skeptically. "It's fine. My mother, step-dad, and my little sister went away to Toronto for the weekend. No one else is here." Josée nodded and stepped inside and immediately went to her room, with Alice following behind. The first thing Josée's eyes went to was a teddy bear that was on a shelf facing it instead of the room. She felt a chill go down her spine, and had no choice but to correct it, making the stuffed animal face her. Once she fixed that, she sat down on Alice's bed, and the redhead sat beside her. "Alright, dish."

"It's like my heart had been shattered," Josée told her, sighing deeply. "I've never... I've never experienced anything like this, and I never want to experience it again."

Alice put her hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. Clara was such a bitch."

Suddenly Josée full remembered what happened yesterday and grew cold, shrugging Alice's shoulder off of her. "How long have you known? You never mentioned this."

Alice biting her lower lip told Josée all she needed to know. "Um..." she let out an uneasy smile, "...it's hard to say, really."

"You know what Alice," began Josée, fire in her eyes, "You don't care that I was hurt, you just wanted to get back at Clara for stealing your stupid solo."

"It is not a stupid solo," Alice retorted. "That's my solo for twelfth grade! I've been planning on getting that solo since ninth grade. What's Clara ever done?"

Josée wouldn't hear it. "I promised that I wouldn't help you two again, and stupide Rachel brought me back into it, and I ended up getting caught in the crossfire, and my emotions were toyed with. How is that fair?"

"Then why aren't you yelling at Rachel?" Alice countered, groaning. "And also, you can't really be surprised that Claude cheated on you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Alice smiled at Josée like she was a child. "Oh sweetie, no offense... but you're kind of a prude."

"...I don't understand," Josée muttered in disbelief, more to herself. She glared at Alice. "So because I wasn't ready for something that's considered a big deal to me, that makes me a prude? I'm sorry that these things take time for me! I can't sleep with anyone I like, I have to be in love, and I felt I was ready recently! Why am I being blamed?"

Alice crossed her arms. "I'm not blaming you," she snapped, then she thought about it some more. "...at least not entirely. What Claude did was wrong, and he shouldn't have cheated, but I get why he did. Word of advice, since you've been giving us advice for so many years," began Alice, ice in her tone: "You're not going to get anywhere with a guy with how you treated Claude. Goodness, you hardly liked him! You... you lead him on. You spent more time with Jacques and treated him more like a boyfriend than you treated your actual one for two years!"

"I liked Claude a great deal, and I told him that I think I was ready be with him."

"Too little, too late..."

"These things take time for me!" snapped Josée. "I told you I can't just sleep with anyone I just like, like you can! Hypothetically I could've been with him like that, and maybe I would've felt something because of it, but I just can't! I need to be in love, I need to feel... that thing you've always gone on about, and I have been feeling it so much lately with him, and how is it fair that now it gets ripped away from me?"

"Can I ask you something?" Alice cut in, "Did you ever feel the spark - because that's what it's called, Josée - during the first year of your relationship? Or did you simply like being around him? Did you notice the little things? Did you notice things about him that no one else noted? Or did you just want an intellectual relationship with someone?"

Josée was quiet, then: "No... no I didn't feel it at first, but I felt something after, because it just takes a while for me! That's all..."

"But that's not how relationships work," Alice pointed out, matter-of-factly. "You're supposed to feel the spark right away when you're with someone."

"Well I can't do that, Alice," Josée remarked coldly. "I don't get crushes with the way someone just looks... I have to get to know that person, I guess! I can't just fall in love with the drop of a hat like you do."

"I'm not saying you should fall in love with the drop of a hat," Alice stated. "I'm saying I find it very, very odd that it took you two years to feel a spark with your boyfriend."

Josée pressed her lips together as if to keep her temper inside. "You know," she started hotly, "I'm all of a sudden wondering why I'm taking advice from someone who has relationships that never last longer than a few months."

Instead of Alice attacking her like Josée suspected she would, she let out a sorrowful sigh and buried her face in her hands. "I'm not trying to be mean, I'm sorry. I'm still as hell frustrated from yesterday."

Josée wanted to be mad. She really, really, really wanted to be mad at Alice, because really, she knew that the redhead could be rather selfish. She only did this for herself, and she insulted how her relationship was with Claude. She knew she wasn't the best girlfriend to Claude, but... was it truly as bad as Alice was saying?

She didn't know.

Josée stared down at her lap. "Everyone's frustrated, I guess. Just... watch what you say sometimes, alright?"

Alice shifted on her bed uncomfortably. "So well, now would be the perfect time to say that I'm dropping out."

Just like that, Josée's head snapped up revealing a bewildered expression. "I'm sorry, you're what?"

"I have to leave this house," Alice explained, almost pleadingly: "My only regret is not taking my little sister with me tomorrow. I need to go to the States or something, get a real acting job-"

"Wait, you're leaving tomorrow?" Josée asked incredulously, her eyes wide. "There are many decisions of yours that I haven't approved of over the years, but this has got to be the dumbest one you've ever had. This is over a solo-"

"What else do I have left, Josée?!" Alice cried out desperately, "I'm not going to achieve my dreams by staying here, you know exactly why I have to leave this house! I'm taking my chance, and now is my chance! My maman is clueless, and my stepfather is... well, you know how he is, we just never talk about it..."

"What about your little sister-"

"I'll find a way to take care of that," Alice cut in sharply. "Colette will be fine."

"Alice," Josée began uneasily, "Are you sure you want to do this? What about the school? How are they going to know you're gone?"

This time, the redhead laughed at Josée's concern. "Oh Josée, you're so rational about all of this."

"Because nothing is rational about your plan!" Josée countered in utter disbelief, but then, let out a heavy sigh. "Again, are you sure you want to do this? Are you going to let your parents know?"

"Of course I am," Alice said. "To both. I'm positive I want to do this. A note should be fine. Besides, I'm not going alone. I'm going with a few other girls that went to acting classes with me." Her eyes glimmered with hope. "Josée, we're going to be stars, I can feel it. And the only way we could do that is if we go somewhere, like in California... or New York... You and Jacques loved New York, and you talk about how it's the most beautiful place to go, especially for the performing arts. You did tell me to follow my dreams."

Josée held her hands up in defeat. "You're right," she stated. "It's just... the rest of twelfth grade is going to be rough without you. I'm going to have to see Claude and Clara, knowing what they've done."

"Speaking of which," started Alice, "Shouldn't you be going over to Claude's and confront him about all of this?"

"Oui. I'm just stalling at this rate - oh!" Seemingly out of nowhere, Alice pulled Josée into a hug of hers. This left the ice dancer bewildered, because it was rare that Alice would ever hug her. Once she let go, she smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. I know you don't like hugs unless it's from Jacques or from..." Her smile faltered when she realized why Josée showed up in the first place. She left the sentence hanging there, and cleared her throat. "...Anyway, Josée - I guess this is goodbye? I've never been good at these things, but I can give you some amazing advice before I go."

Josée gave her a sad smile. "And what's that?"

"Well, it's like I always say," Alice's face darkened considerably. "Beware of creeps in the business. They're everywhere. The reason why I'm telling you this is well... I just know you're going to make something of yourself." She let out a little smile. "You and Jacques, you're already sort of famous, but I just have this feeling you'll both be known around the world - it could be anything, really. I just know your names will be out there. I hope you don't go mad with all the fame, oui?"

"I would never," Josée replied, her smile a little brighter this time. "Where did that idea come from?"

Alice waved it off. "Oh, just a gut feeling." Silence shortly followed. "Au revoir, Josée."

Josée looked at Alice and felt her stomach sink. She knew she should've been more mad at Alice, and that she really shouldn't have let Alice off that easily. Part of her was mad at Alice, and rightfully so, but at the mention of Alice leaving she couldn't help but get a little upset. They were friends for over five years, and they were friends for a reason - both of them were dedicated performers that would do anything to get to the top. Josée had no choice but to respect that, and, because Alice was following her dreams, Josée couldn't really complain about that. It was unlikely she would ever see Alice again, unless it was on the stage or the big screen.

With one last smile, Josée said: "Au revoir, Alice." And she left.

Adam had called at the right time, because Jacques had been getting annoyed with his father. What did he know about these things? After many years of 'tolerating' his son, he thought he had the right to speak up about this? No, Jacques didn't want to hear it. And what was that about his father being proud of him? He never, not once, told him outright that he was proud of him, why did he have the need to be so quiet about it?

Jacques, truthfully, didn't know if he was being honest or not. It was all confusing, god, everything was confusing nowadays...

Well never mind about that. Jacques didn't want to think about that anymore. Right now, he was at Adam's cuddling on the sofa, Jacques' head in his lap as Adam ran his hand through his hair. They were supposed to be watching a movie, but, they spent more time cuddling and whispering sweet nothings to each other rather than paying attention to it. All was forgotten about the issue regarding his father. Jacques suddenly lifted his head and pulled Adam into a kiss, entirely grateful - Adam was nice. He helped him forget. Adam leaned in back eagerly, putting as much effort into the kiss as he, before they both broke apart for air.

"Jacques," Adam breathed, smiling at the ice dancer earnestly. "This has been really nice."

Jacques felt his heart flutter. "Really?" God, why did he have to sound so surprised for? Adam chuckled a bit. "O-oui. I agree. It has been nice."

"Oui, it's been so nice... that... I've been thinking..."

Josée knew no fear. She was in front of Claude's house right now, ready to confront him. She had long ago cried all her tears - so she thought, but more on that later - and was ready to put on a brave face and let him know how assertive she could be. She hadn't texted him at all since the incident, and it was unlikely that he didn't know that she knew. Josée wasn't going to knock on the door, she was going to text him that she was outside - that would let him know that she knew.

Once that message was sent, Claude appeared a few minutes later and shut the door behind them. He was avoiding her eyes. That told Josée everything. She was right.

"So Clara must've alerted you that I knew?" Josée spat coldly. Claude nodded silently, without saying a word. Josée closed her eyes in utter annoyance, trying to prevent herself from lashing out at him. "I just have one question... why? Why, why, why would you do that?"

Claude's eyes finally met hers, utterly stony. "Oh there are many reasons why."

Josée was appalled, it was a sudden shift in emotion from him - it was like he wasn't guilty for what he's done. "I would like to know what they were, please."

Claude smiled at her. "You can't really blame me, mon chaton-"

"Don't call me that!" Josée snapped angrily, letting her temper slip a little. She took a few breaths to calm herself. "You know... you just know you could've told me."

"Thinking what?" Jacques pressed, his heart racing. Could it be what he thought it was? His hopes began to skyrocket.

"Well if you'd let me finish..." Adam cut in, amused. He let his forehead touch Jacques'. "I haven't been really seeing anyone else lately besides you."

Jacques knew it. He could feel it coming, he broke out into a huge smile. "I... I haven't really been with anyone this past month, either."

"I really like where this is going to the point where... well..." A blush went across Adam's cheeks. "I'd like to have something more with you, Jacques. Like... an actual relationship instead of us messing around." He bit his lip nervously. "What do you think?"

Jacques released his forehead away from Adam's, just so he could properly see his smile. "I'd love to." It was perfect. Nothing could be more perfect than this. Jacques felt his stomach fill with butterflies from excitement; this was what he needed. He hadn't been in a proper relationship since Nathaniel, and well, Adam was the next step. It felt right.

Adam smirked. "I knew you would, but..." His smirk faded a little. "I have a condition."

"You know what it is, Josée?" Claude retorted, glaring at his... well, presumably ex-girlfriend. "Let me tell you what our relationship wasn't. It was never about me! It was always about you, and ice dancing, and all of that-"

"Please, Claude! You knew that came with the territory. Ice dancing doesn't just play a big role in my life, it is my life!"

Claude huffed. "It took up all of our time!"

Josée rolled her eyes. "Oh it did not. I always managed to make time for you, not like you have been doing that lately but you have been making time with Clara, haven't you?!" She could feel her blood boiling, but it wasn't going to be lost, at least, not yet. "Considering you're a musician I thought you'd be more understanding!"

"It's different! Your sport, if you could even call it that-"

"DON'T YOU DARE INSULT ICE DANCING!"

"-is where you spend time with a guy dancing and touching you."

Josée, who had screamed just a few seconds ago, felt herself simmer down. Her anger was replaced with total confusion at the implication of his words, "...What?"

"I'm sure it's not a big deal," Jacques remarked easily, waving it off. He was still smiling. "What's the condition?"

It was true that most conditions in relationships were probably small; little things that really wouldn't affect the way a relationship would function. Jacques was sure that almost anything Adam said was going to be accepted by him, and they would move forward. because Jacques really, really liked him. There was nothing more in this moment that he wanted than to make things official with Adam, and because of that, Jacques was willing to do almost anything, and almost anything Adam would suggest wouldn't surprise him.

The key word being almost.

Adam bit his lower lip, then dropped the ultimatum: "You have to stop being friends with Josée."

Jacques froze.

"You mean Jacques?" Josée asked incredulously. She couldn't roll her eyes any harder. "No. Not this again... Jacques is gay."

"Is he? Is he really?"

"If that's what he says, then yes!" Josée sneered. "Why is everybody so obsessed with this? It doesn't matter at all!"

"Because people aren't blind."

Josée shook her head. "Surely you're not blaming me and Jacques' strictly professional partnership for our relationship failing." She nearly laughed at the absurdity of Claude's accusation. "I cannot believe you are jealous, of a gay man, who could not possibly have romantic feelings for me whatsoever. That's so pathetic."

Claude scowled. "You've known this guy for most of your life, how am I supposed to compare?"

"That sounds like an issue you have," Josée pointed out. "We're best friends. Jacques isn't just some guy, he's..." her eyes softened. "...he's... I don't know... he's Jacques."

"You realize this doesn't make me feel better."

Jacques had been frozen for what felt like an eternity, but in reality, it was only several seconds. Within those several seconds, all the feelings that Jacques had for Adam had been wiped away at an instant. Jacques was willing to do almost anything, again, almost anything and would accept almost any ultimatum that Adam had for him. But as soon as Adam mentioned that he had to get rid of his best friend, his feelings regarding Adam went from infatuation, to shock, to cold stone anger.

"Absolutely not," Jacques stated coldly. He shook his head adamantly. "I would never get rid of Josée. Not only is she my partner, but she's my friend." He wasn't going to lose her. He wasn't going to lose her again like he almost did last time. Little did he know he would in time, but more on that much, much later. "Is there anything else?"

"No, that's the only thing I wanted," Adam said assertively, crossing his arms. "I don't understand why you can't just get a new partner-"

"It's not like that," Jacques seethed at him. "Why is it so hard for you to understand?"

"That's not what I meant, and you know it!" Josée shrieked under Claude's implication. "And by the way, why should I consider your feelings, since you completely disregarded mine by sleeping with Clara?" Josée took a few breaths to calm herself again. "Jacques and I... our 'relationship' consists of winning competitions, ice dancing, and smiling for the cameras."

"It seems like it's more than that."

"Yes it is, but not in the way you're suggesting it!" Josée countered. "We're best friends. Is that so hard for you to grasp?!"

Then Claude lost it. "I don't understand why you're wasting time with that pèdè!"

Just like that, Josée's temper was gone. She raised her hand...

"That's the thing, Jacques!" Adam retorted frustratedly. "I don't understand! She treats you horribly, Jacques."

"No she doesn't. Friends argue from time to time, that's normal."

"I still don't understand why you need to be with her all the time, even outside of ice dancing! Unless..." Adam's face darkened considerably as an awful thought - according to him, anyway - came to mind. "...unless there's something else going on."

Jacques' eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What?!"

"Jacques," Adam said stealthily, "You know that you like men, right?"

Not this again. Jacques rolled his eyes. "Yes I know that, everyone tells me that! I know I like men, thank you very much!"

"It seems like you're ready to tiptoe back into the closet the way you talk about her sometimes! God, she is such a bitch!"

Jacques saw red.

Smack!

"HOW DARE YOU!" Josée screamed at Claude as he rubbed his cheek that was red from Josée slapping it. "Do you even know him?!"

"Do you even know her?!" Jacques yelled angrily. "How dare you speak about Josée in such a way! Again, do you even know her?!"

Adam only blinked in surprise.

"No you don't," Jacques hissed. "Don't act like you know what you're talking about; you don't. If you can't handle my relationship with Josée, then you don't deserve me."

Claude rubbed his cheek, trying to hide his shock. His shock, in return, came back to calm and controlled anger. "You know, it doesn't even matter anymore. You were never able to love me properly. You were never a good girlfriend, and well, you can't be shocked that I lost feelings for you. I feel bad for you, because it would be a miracle if you could. And well... it would also be a miracle if someone loved you like I did."

...Being told this, Josée thought, was definitely the feeling of getting silver, there was no question of it now. "And to think that I was ready to give myself away to you!"

Claude smirked a bit, and said: "Hurts to not have your affections returned, doesn't it?"

Josée couldn't stand it anymore. She felt the tears welled up in her eyes. Without saying goodbye, she took off.

"Fine." Adam crossed his arms, all dignified. "Then you're free to leave."

"Gladly," Jacques spat, and gathered his things.

"And don't ever come back again!"

"Fine by me!" And Jacques left without saying another word.

Josée didn't bother taking transportation back, she didn't want people to see her crying. Well, it wasn't like running all the way was much better, but at least no one could stop and ask her what was wrong. Then again, there was the risk of the reporters, press, and paparazzi seeing her, but she doesn't think any cameras saw her. Hell, it's not like she really cared at the moment, she felt absolutely terrible and Claude's words stung; it stung hard.

She was almost at her house, until she accidentally bumped into someone - she didn't see who it was, at first.

But then the figure spoke. "Josée?"

Josée recognized her partner's voice easily and wiped her face quickly of remaining tracks of her tears. "Allo, Jacques." She stared at his gloomy expression. "You look upset. Are you okay?" She leaned against her house.

Jacques leaned against it as well beside her and sighed wearily. "Adam and I are no longer seeing each other."

"...Oh," was all Josée could say. She didn't know what to say, really.

"Oui," Jacques went on, and Josée could tell he was getting more uncomfortable. "We... We had a discussion, and he thinks I like women too."

Josée shrugged. "Okay, so? There's nothing wrong with that. Like Alice said-"

"What does Alice know?" Jacques suddenly interrupted, fire in his eyes. "Chouchou, I told you Alice isn't an expert on all things romance, she's only been with men! Think about it, if Nathaniel was upset with this possibility, if Adam was upset with this possibility, then there's something wrong with me, that I'm not... enough for them, I don't know. But never mind, I don't like women so..." he trailed off awkwardly.

"Jacques..."

"Enough about me, I don't want to talk about it," Jacques cut in sternly, but his voice started to radiate concern as he said: "You've been upset all morning. What's with you?"

Josée looked away from him. "I promised I'd tell you later, and it's later now, so I might as well," she figured. "Yesterday, I found out Claude had been cheating on me with Clara. Alice mentioned it because she was upset over a solo Clara stole from her."

Beat.

"I'm sorry," Jacques said earnestly. "That's terrible, Josée... why would he..." His worst fear came true, she must've been hurt.

What he didn't expect to see was Josée rolling her eyes like it was nothing. "Whatever. Maman was right. Relationships are a waste of time when we should be focusing on being in the olympics in less than a few years."

"Oui, the olympics are important," Jacques agreed.

There was unpleasant silence between them for at least a minute.

Then, Josée sunk to the floor. "Something's wrong with me," she admitted softly at last. "It took me too long to love him. He would've been perfect for me, or so I thought... I just couldn't say those words back to him for the longest time. I would have to mean it, wouldn't I? And there's something about me, something wrong, because it took me so long to feel it." Josée went on, staring down at her hands. "And I should've meant it then, because I thought he was a good boyfriend. I thought he waited for me patiently because I wasn't ready to be... intimate with him like that, but it's a lie." Jacques realized her eyes were starting to water. "I meant it at the last possible second, it's like being punched in the stomach."

Jacques knew she was upset, but still, it didn't mean he wanted her to be - but it was understandable. "Josée..."

"I've lead him on for almost two years, Jacques!" Josée interrupted angrily. "It's awful! And I didn't mean to, I really didn't! Because I liked being around him. I enjoyed his company. I liked the way he tried to show interest in ice dancing. I liked listening to him go on about the oboe and I liked that we could talk to each other about things. I liked that maman approved of him. I liked kissing him. I even fantasized about being intimate with him and got happy knowing it would come when the time was right. Even with all of that... I still couldn't feel the way people did like Alice explained to me for the longest time. That... that you're supposed to have butterflies in your stomach when being with someone. And I kept waiting, I kept waiting for that stupid spark you're supposed to feel in relationships, thinking to myself, 'I should really want this,' but I didn't. But then we connected, we actually connected for real, and I felt something amazing and I knew what I wanted but it was too late."

Josée let a few tears slip, and added: "I can't blame him for cheating."

"Non," Jacques said at once, his voice firm. Josée stared at him in disbelief. "Don't blame yourself. There was no reason for him to do that. He should have talked to you."

Josée shook her head. "I was waiting like an idiot. I wanted to feel that... connection with him, or something. Anything. I figured because I liked spending time with him, that he asked me out, that I should want this, but really, this was just mostly another friendship except we kissed a lot." She blinked back some tears and rolled her eyes at her own attitude. "God, this is so difficult to explain. No one understands it, hell, I don't even understand it."

Jacques knelt down in front of her and wiped her tears with his thumbs. "You don't have to explain yourself, chouchou," he said softly. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Josée swatted his hands away frustratedly. "How could you even say that?"

"Because you said you did like him," Jacques pointed out, unfazed by her anger. "But you didn't love him. You told him that you weren't ready for anything more, that you needed time... that for you it does take time, but he didn't understand that so he was with another person, which is his fault. I know you cared for him a lot."

"He told me I couldn't," Josée muttered under her breath, uncharacteristically quiet.

Of course Jacques didn't quite hear her. "Quoi?"

Josée tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, not bothering to look up at Jacques. "Well, he told me I could never love properly. That it was strange that it took me so long, and that it was too late, and that I would probably never find happiness... or love..." Her eyes were filled with shame. "He said, and I quote, 'It would be a miracle if you could.'"

Jacques' jaw clenched so tightly that if he did it any harder his teeth would break. "That's a lie," Josée merely stared at him as he went on. Jacques figured that she was bewildered by the harsher tone in his voice; he was not bothering to hide it. "I'm sure you love perfectly, you just take a while, and there's nothing wrong with that. And even before that, you show that you care about someone in your own Josée way, because I know you cared about Claude."

"I told him about the closet, Jacques..." Josée said, through her tears. She sniffled loudly. "How could I be so stupid?"

Jacques could feel himself growing angrier at her ex-boyfriend. "You're not stupid, Josée. You trusted him with something personal and he just takes that like it's nothing. Claude needs to be taught some manners," he said icily. He got up from his position on the ground, with his fists noticeably clenched. "Tell you what, chouchou. We could go skating, oui? Practice our magnifique routine for the olympic trials."

Josée smiled a little at the attempt to make her feel better. "O-oui. I'd like that." She got up as well. "Let's go."

"Wait," Jacques told her. Josée noticed there was a cold look in his eyes as he said, "There's something I have to do first. I'll meet you there."

Josée blinked. "Alright then, just... don't take too long."

"Aw, don't worry chouchou." Jacques waved it off. "It will be quick." Indeed it would...

Jacques was very, very lucky that he had to pick up Josée from Claude's house once, otherwise he wouldn't know where he lived. Although his sister was right about not being able to protect Josée from anything, Gabrielle didn't say anything about picking up the pieces. And in this case, confronting the person who caused the pieces to break in the first place. So here he was, at Claude's house, banging on the front door.

And the smug bastard answered. The oboist rolled his eyes. "Did she seriously tattle?"

"You hurt her badly," Jacques stated lowly, narrowing his eyes.

"That's not my problem."

"What are you talking about? It is your problem! You made her upset!" Jacques bellowed. He chuckled bitterly. "I knew it. I knew you were a problem, and yet..." he trailed off, breaking into more bitter laughter.

Claude scowled. "You always meddled in our relationship," he remarked coldly. "But something you don't get is, well..." he paused, then he gave Jacques a venomous smirk. "If she wasn't able to love me after so long, what makes you think she'll love you?" Then his eyes lit up, like an idea popped into his brain. "And you... you'll never be able to love her, you know. The way you want to. But you can't, because you're gay. You needed to pick a side, and it's clear what side you've been on this whole time."

Jacques wasn't normally a violent person - usually that honor belonged to Josée - but in this case, he was willing to make an exception. Jacques pulled his fist back and struck Claude across the face, sending the musician stumbling backward and onto the ground. Jacques shook his fist out from the recoil, wincing just a bit, before composing himself.

Claude touched his nose and was shocked to see a good amount of blood, and then looked at Jacques with fury in his eyes. "She'll never love you," he snapped, almost desperately even. "She will never ever love you, and... you won't ever love her."

Jacques took his words into consideration and nodded, almost resigned. "That's probably true. But her happiness means everything to me, and you got in the way of that." Then, he knelt down beside him, his eyes still red: "If you try to get into Josée's life again and hurt her, I'll bury you."

Then he wordlessly got up and walked away. Josée needed him, after all.