A/N: Here we are, something big. We're due for a new chapter.

Chapter 39- Girl Talk, Guy Talk, and New Offers

"But whyyyyyy."

Josée and Jacques sighed and resisted the urge to roll their eyes at the chorus of students whining about rehearsing new steps again. Endearing as they were - and neither professional ice dancer would admit that they had grown a soft spot for them - there were moments like these where the children could get under their skin.

"Because the last time you did it, your legs weren't straight at all," Jacques said calmly.

High-pitched groans followed shortly after that.

Josée sighed. "Come on. You can do a better job than that. From the top."

"Will you tell us another story about the cop people?" one of the six year olds asked.

Jacques crossed his arms. "We already told you one yesterday."

The child pouted. "But we want another!"

Josée and Jacques exchanged a look. They don't recall ever being like this as children, but Isaac would insist that they were far more chatty and bratty in comparison. Since then, Josée and Jacques had been especially apologetic to Isaac, considering that he had to deal with their bratty sides more than once. Isaac didn't mind; he found it a little amusing, of course. It offered some reassurance to the ice dancers, because he claimed that he adored them anyway, despite their moodiness.

Speaking of Isaac...

"Allo, Josée, Jacques..." Avril greeted, arriving beside them. "Isaac wants to talk to you."

"We're in the middle of teaching-"

"He told me to take over for the rest of the day," Avril interrupted, then shooed them away. "Go."

Josée and Jacques eyed Avril suspiciously, but nonetheless, made their way to Isaac's office. Knocking wasn't entirely necessary - it's not like they ever did it anyway - and barged into his office and took the two seats across from him. "You called?" Jacques asked.

Isaac, who was in the middle of some paperwork, looked up and grinned. "Ah, Josée. Jacques. It's great to see you. How's teaching?"

Josée raised an eyebrow. "It was going well... then you called us in here. You know, for somebody who was adamant on us teaching, you sure are taking us away from doing so, which could hurt our chances from the ISU letting us compete again in time for the 2014 olympics-"

"Oui, so... about that," Isaac began, but then he was rudely interrupted.

"What do you mean? Are you saying that they're refusing to?! So we did all of this for nothing-"

Isaac pinched the bridge of his nose. "Josée-"

"I knew it! I just knew it. We did our time, why on earth would they expand it more? It's like they're trying to sabotage us. You know what, I'm convinced that Leo and Liv played a major role in that... those vultures."

"If you could let me finish," Isaac said sternly. Josée huffed in her seat and leaned back, crossing her arms. "Thank you. Your ban is going to be lifted, first of all-"

"Thank god-"

"Jacques," Isaac interjected warningly. He shook his head. "I swear, the both of you don't let anyone get in a word-wise. It is common knowledge that interrupting others is obnoxious and rude." After that, Jacques and Josée murmured apologies and became quiet. "Merci. And second of all, I called you in because of a job offer."

Josée and Jacques perked up in their seats, but said nothing.

Isaac frowned. "Do you have a response to that?"

"You told us to stop talking. Which is it?" Josée replied cheekily, with a grin. Jacques snorted beside her in amusement.

"...Alright, then. Here's the job offer: It's a much higher pay for teaching older students entering competitions. The ISU expressed their interest in you coaching an ice dancing team that's planning on entering junior competitions. They're the cream of the crop in their group, and they want you both."

"Us?" Jacques asked curiously. "Who's the team?"

"Logan Oak and Miranda Foster," Isaac named. Josée and Jacques blinked, the names being unfamiliar. Usually, they knew the upcoming figure skaters in their area. "They're still young - both of them are twelve, but they're very talented and got a lot of recognition in their area."

"Wow, actually getting to work with students who want to be professional figure skaters?" Josée asked, grinning. "It's much better than teaching beginners. I wouldn't mind teaching future champions, and I'm sure Jacques wouldn't either."

Jacques nodded in agreement, but he wasn't smiling like his partner was. "There's something you aren't telling us."

Isaac chuckled a bit. "Oui, so... so it's in Toronto."

Josée's grin disappeared, and exchanged a nervous look with Jacques. She looked back at Isaac. "Toronto? Why Toronto? Can't we teach the best team here?"

"Leonardo and Olivia had gotten that job already."

"Merde," Jacques swore bitterly.

"But also," Isaac cut in gently, "Think of this as a fresh start in your lives. I imagine the Montreal press could be tiring. In Toronto, it would be less hell for you. Or you know, you could move onto different chapters in your lives. Whichever works for either of you. Both of you don't have to go, it could be just one of you."

Josée fearfully looked over at Jacques, who looked to be in deep contemplation over the sudden news. She absolutely knew what she wanted; she wanted to take that offer. There were too many painful memories associated with being in Montreal, and moving to Toronto would admittedly be a fresh start. She had no one here and would be able to leave without looking back.

But Jacques...

Jacques had his family here. He had his mother, his father, and his sister Gabrielle. He had friends there, such as Lucas, and most importantly, he had Michelle. Josée knew very well that Michelle would not be happy over hearing such news, and would fight tooth-and-nail to keep him here. Or worse, Michelle would insist on coming with him and they would make a further step into their relationship. Josée knew it was horrible to think such a thing, but part of herself couldn't help it.

"...I can't imagine doing something like that without Josée," Jacques said, after a long while. Josée's heart skipped a beat, staring at her partner in utter disbelief. Isaac looked between them, awaiting their answer. But Jacques looked back at Isaac, still unsure. "I don't know. I need time to think about that. How much time do we have?"

"Exactly three weeks," Isaac supplied. He turned to the other ice dancer. "Josée?"

Josée was positive that she wanted to do it. She would leave in a heartbeat. But would she leave without Jacques?

She couldn't imagine.

But maybe this was the universe's way of telling her that she and Jacques were meant to go their separate ways.

Maybe this would help her get over him.

"I... I don't know either," Josée lied quietly. She got up from her seat. "Is that it?" Jacques stood up as well when Isaac nodded. "Right. So Jacques and I will get back to teaching for now-"

"I ordered Avril to teach the rest of the day, remember?" Isaac told her. "There's only ten minutes left, anyway." Josée and Jacques quietly thanked Isaac and went outside the rink with their belongings.

Jacques stopped in his tracks. "So Josée, what's going through your head?"

"I want to go," Josée blurted.

"What?" Jacques asked, surprised. "But you said you weren't sure."

"I don't want to stay in Montreal forever," Josée admitted. "Too many memories; most of which aren't good." Her heart sunk to her stomach when she saw Jacques' expression and quickly looked away; she was unable to tell what he was thinking. Part of her wanted to get over him, but another part would be heartbroken if she went alone. This was another test to their partnership. "But I..." Don't say it, don't say it, don't say it... She hesitantly met his eyes. "I would be devastated if you didn't come with me." Damn it.

"...I need to talk to my parents about it," Jacques told her, after a while of silence. "And Michelle. You understand, chouchou."

Josée nodded, trying to hide her disappointment. "Oui. Of course."

Jacques furrowed his brows. "You're not going to fight me on this?"

"Why would I fight you on this?" Josée asked.

"Because ah, well... if I didn't go with you, then we would be going our separate ways," Jacques answered.

He was right.

She hated that he was right.

Josée nodded solemnly. "It's a big decision," she told him. "And I..." She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I think you should do what's best for you."

"But we're the perfect team," Jacques insisted. Josée eyed him skeptically; he almost looked disappointed. She felt a pang in her chest. It was almost like... like he was trying to fight for something, but he couldn't put it into words. He looked away awkwardly and shook his head. "I need to go to my parents. Are you going to stay here?" She usually did.

"Oui. Au revoir," Josée called after him as he walked away. She hoped to god that he didn't notice her voice cracking. She sat down on the steps leading toward the rink. Her elbows were on her knees with her chin resting in her hands. Staring at the floor, her mind was swarmed with thoughts of the possibilities of this sudden offer. If he didn't go with her, that would end their partnership. If he did go with her, then it would mean that things would get much more serious, and that it would interfere in Jacques' relationships. But what if he said no and she decided to stay? Then what? What if-

"So you're still here, huh?"

Josée froze, and her eyes widened in disbelief at the painfully familiar voice that made her heart briefly stop. Still staring down at the floor, a wave of memories filled Josée's brain that was associated with that voice. It reminded her again of what those bad memories were. But then again, there was still so much good associated with that voice. Despite the goodness that came with it, Josée couldn't forget the bad. She couldn't forget the first person that broke her heart.

Josée stared up at the oboist and finally uttered his name: "Claude."

"So let me get this straight, other than the fact that you aren't-"

"Papa, that joke isn't even funny."

"It will never not be funny."

"I think it's hilarious!"

"Shut up Gabrielle, you're ugly and no one likes you!"

"Jacques, don't talk back to your sister like that!"

"Maman, she started it!"

Hector had enough. "Alright, stop! Jesus, you make one joke and it starts this chain reaction..." Everyone around him quieted as he turned to his son. "You were offered a job in Toronto, alongside Josée, to teach students that are planning to go professional in ice dancing."

"Oui."

"And you're asking if that's okay with us," Hector went on, "...because you feel like you would be abandoning your family, despite the fact that you're twenty-three years old and can make your own decisions, even if most of them haven't been wise-"

"Papa-"

"-and you're worried about your girlfriend, and how she is going to take it that you're going to Toronto."

Jacques frowned. "I never said that I was going to go to Toronto, only that I haven't decided yet."

"But Josée decided she is going," Fleur clarified.

"Oui."

"Then he's going."

"Gabrielle, no. I said I haven't decided yet!"

"Oh, you are," Gabrielle cut in, "I can't believe I had to leave work for this. We all know you're going to end up going."

"And why do you say that?" Jacques retorted.

"Because Josée is going."

Jacques scowled at his older sister. "Do you assume that I'd just drop everything for Josée?" His family just stared at him, refusing to answer that rhetorical question. Jacques huffed and crossed his arms. "All of you are ridiculous!"

"You can't exactly blame us," Fleur pointed out. "We're going by what you've done in the past. You've always been there for that girl, you had feelings for that girl."

"Had?" Hector interjected incredulously, then snorted. "I think not."

Jacques glared at his father. "Oui, had."

"He's lying, papa, don't fall for it."

"Shut up, Gabrielle!"

"Don't worry, I'm not."

"Papa!"

"Look," Hector cut in, unfazed. "You're an adult. I think this would be good, not only for you, but for Josée-"

"Does everything I do have to be connected with Josée - do not answer that question!"

Gabrielle smirked. "See, he already knows the answer... deep down inside."

"Mamannnnn," Jacques whined.

"Gabrielle, stop teasing your brother," Fleur stepped in. She turned to her son. "What about Michelle? Is she going to come with you if you decide to go?"

"Obviously not," Jacques answered. "She has the ballet company."

"Then how are you going to...?"

"I don't know!" Jacques exclaimed frustratedly. "That is if I am going, but I don't know!"

"How much time do you have to decide this?" Fleur pressed gently.

"Two weeks," Jacques replied, then sighed: "I'm still... I'm probably going to go," he admitted. "But I'm nervous about what I'm leaving behind."

Silence.

"It's not about us, is it?" Gabrielle piped up. Jacques merely stared at his sister, who continued: "It's not even about Michelle, or your friends, or Isaac. It's about Bernadette."

And there lies the root of the problem.

Jacques shrugged carelessly, though when it came to Bernadette, he was anything but. "It just... feels wrong to leave her here," he admitted, sounding afraid. "Josée is so adamant on going, and part of me understands why she wants to leave, but part of me doesn't - and this is why. She wants to leave to move forward, because of a lot of painful memories, and I get that... but what about Rachel? And her maman? They're buried here, it... it doesn't feel right, even if her maman was awful."

"Oh I see," Hector interjected, "Bernadette's death has been hard on all of us; it still hurts to think about sometimes." Jacques met his father's eyes, which were haunted. "But I think what Josée is doing is the right thing, and I think you should follow that. It's called growing up and moving on. But again, it's your decision, you have time."

Jacques let out a heavy sigh. "Alright, then. I have a lot to think about." He was about to leave, until-

"Son, wait..." Jacques stopped in his tracks and turned around to see his father was catching up to him. "...I'll come with you, to talk outside." Jacques bit back a groan; he figured it would be a jab at him, but he didn't say anything as Hector followed him. Jacques wasn't sure what his father would say at the moment, but it sure as hell wasn't this:

"I worry about you sometimes."

Jacques raised his eyebrows. "Why?"

"I saw the way you reacted when Gabrielle mentioned your sister."

"...And? It's been a very long time."

"I'm just worried something like that - the way you reacted after she passed - will happen again. Almost like you did in one of those episodes of that race show-"

"I'll be fine," Jacques said firmly, trying not to snap. Once he saw his father's solemn expression, he backtracked and cleared his throat. "So you still worry since that day?"

Hector took a steady breath. "Jacques, every time the phone goes off, my first immediate thought is wondering whether or not you're still alive."

Beat.

Jacques was stunned. "I didn't know you worried. You said maman worried too much."

"Yeah, well..." Hector grumbled a bit, refusing to look his son in the eye and crossed his arms. "The lack of alcohol coursing through my body has turned me soft."

"To be honest," Jacques started off, and dared to slightly grin. "It's better that way, papa."

Hector shrugged. "I guess so," he agreed. It was comfortably silent for a few seconds, before he continued: "But my point still stands. I think this is something that could benefit you, but... understand that we're still going to worry. Talk to Josée about it. And I know, I'm the last person you'd expect to say something like this-"

"Because our family doesn't like to talk about these things."

"...Nonetheless," Hector continued as if his son hadn't interrupted, "It's important. Talk to her. Now."

"Okay."

Jacques was set to leave, that was until he swore he heard it. He didn't imagine it; he knows that he heard what he heard.

"Son, I love you."

Jacques stopped and turned around to see his father looking rather sheepish; this only confirmed that Jacques was correct on what he heard.

"...I love you too, papa."

Josèe thought her eyes were deceiving her. She didn't hallucinate as far as she knew, but there was a first time for everything. She blinked a few times, thinking the figure in front of her would vanish as if to prove the point, but he did not. It was Claude, in the flesh - staring at her as if nothing had happened between them, as if he didn't take her heart and throw it to the ground, as if he didn't make her feel worse than getting silver.

Josèe stood up to get a closer look at his face and let her eyes wander over his features. He was still handsome, of course - he was always handsome. But he was staring at her like he was indifferent entirely to her presence; like they hadn't laughed together, or watched movies together, or have intellectual discussions together about their passions on the phone late at night. He was cold, not unlike her, but she knew that she couldn't contain her emotions for too long, at least not like he could.

This was proving one of those times.

Josèe had to look away from him. "What are you doing here?" she asked quietly. Why did it still hurt?

"I'm back from Quebec City," Claude answered. "I'm the principal oboist for their orchestra. It pays well, too. They let me go on vacation, so I decided to visit my family... and I thought I'd speak to you again."

"Why?" Josèe asked sharply, glaring at him.

Claude wasn't glaring at her, in fact, his eyes softened considerably. "I heard about your mother, I'm sorry for your loss."

Josèe's glare diminished only a little. Her frown, however, was still full of suspicion. "...Thank you."

"You know I liked her."

Claude was right. He was one of the few people that did. Josèe remembered that very well; it was another reason why she thought Claude was great for her. And Josèe felt that Claude would've been good for her; but then she remembered what he did. He made her feel like a consolation prize.

Like silver.

Speaking of...

"So you and Clara aren't together anymore, right?" Josèe asked, quite bitterly.

Claude let out a heavy sigh. "Josèe, you know we broke up in our final year of school. That was almost four years ago, mon chaton."

"Mon chaton?" Josèe cut in incredulously.

"Sorry, it's a habit," Claude said, chuckling a little. "But really Josèe, I am sorry. I know how important she was to you. She wanted you to be a champion, and I understand how that feels."

He did. He understood so well. Josèe remembered Claude talking about his own mother, the way she had gotten him into music at a very young age. The way she would yell at him to practice, and get better. Josèe let the pet nickname he reserved for her slide. "It wasn't just her that died. Rachel died too. Of an overdose." Her heart sunk to her stomach when Claude apologized for Rachel too. Josèe fiddled with her fingers and stared down at her lap, unintentionally continuing: "I think you're the only person that actually understood my maman. She... she wanted me to be the best. She died during the show, you know. I don't know if you've heard about that."

"Oui, I have," Claude said, nodding. "I watched it. Are you okay?"

Josèe chuckled bitterly and looked to him. "Absolutely not." It was the first time she admitted it aloud. She forgot how easy it was to talk to him.

Claude offered her a half-smile. "You will be, I think. You're Josèe. You've always been high-spirited."

"Did you see how I acted in the show?" Josèe let out another bitter laugh. "Definitely high-spirited, not in the best way."

"I feel like you were provoked," Claude said honestly. "It sounds like something fishy happened behind-the-scenes. That always happens in reality shows." Josèe sat up straighter in disbelief. It was the first time someone from home had actually pointed that out. His intuition was always amazing. "You don't have to tell me, but I know."

Josèe stared back down at her lap. "I don't think I'll ever be prepared to talk about that."

"I'm assuming your maman told you to compete despite her illness?"

"Exactly," Josèe answered. Then, she spoke about it some more, taking a steady breath: "I sometimes feel regret. If I... If I had ignored her and took care of her before her final days, I would've never been on that stupid race. I would've never have gotten the reputation I got. I never would've been banned from the ISU for a season. I... I could've saved Rachel in the process." She could feel the tears welling up. Again. But no... she refused to cry in front of him. "It seems as though I'm always letting everyone down."

Josèe took out her ponytail and let her hair roam around her shoulders. She caught Claude staring at her like he used to. "What?"

"You should wear your hair down more," Claude said, smiling fondly. "You always looked good with your hair down."

Josèe raised an eyebrow. "Merci," she said curtly. "Jacques says the same thing." She eyed him to see the reaction of mentioning her partner.

Claude hardly gave one. "Well, he's right." There was a noticeable pause, then: "How is he? I heard he came out as bisexual."

"Oui, and he has a girlfriend now."

"You?"

"No." Josèe's tone was bordering on harsh, and sounded slightly defensive. "It's a dancer... she's very nice."

"Ah, good for him." Josèe said nothing in return. Claude continued, moving slightly closer to her: "I'm sorry for everything I did to you."

Josèe turned to him, shocked to see that he genuinely appeared guilty.

"I was a stupid seventeen-year-old... I've grown by now, I've changed. I remember the things I said back then." So did Josèe, very clearly. "They were cruel. You didn't deserve any of that, especially when I got in-between your friendship with Clara." Still, it was debatable whether or not there was an actual friendship. Josèe kept her eyes on her ex-boyfriend, who's eyes were fixated on hers. "I was a terrible boyfriend to you, and you... I was wrong about what I said. You did love me properly. It was in your own way, and I'm sorry that I didn't appreciate you not only as a girlfriend, but as a person."

"...You remembered saying that?" Josèe remarked quietly.

Claude looked distraught. "Of course I did... and I'm sorry that I'm apologizing to you now for it."

Josèe couldn't help but grin. "You have apologized at least three times already."

"Because I feel bad," Claude insisted.

She wanted to be angry at him. Claude was the start of it all; the obsession of finding out her romantic orientation and why it took her so long to feel things for him. The four years of total confusion - it was one of the few things that stumped her mentally, because her feelings were devoid of any fact or logic. When she did finally feel things, only then was it ripped away from her. It simply wasn't fair. So yes, she had every right to be angry at him, or even throw a tantrum over this matter. It was frustrating.

But she didn't, and she just couldn't be angry with him.

Josèe stared down at her lap. "...It was a long time ago, like you said," she said softly. "The past is in the past."

"No. It was terrible," Claude cut in. "I want to make it up to you, somehow."

Josèe smiled earnestly; she couldn't help it. "That's nice of you, Claude, but your apology is enough."

She was going to be at the rink, Jacques thought to himself.

Yes, he was going to speak to Michelle after, but he promised himself that he would meet with Josèe first.

Jacques let out a little smile.

He would always get so excited to see her.

"No, I mean it," Claude said seriously. "I want to."

Josèe felt her breath caught in her throat as Claude moved closer.

Though Jacques didn't know what his decision was yet, he had time to figure it out.

For now, he just wanted to see Josèe.

He was getting closer.

Perfect.

Josèe knew what was going to happen.

She tried to tell herself no; that she shouldn't give in, and that he was probably going to manipulate her in some way shape or form. But for some reason, her body moved closer to his, and she smiled a little weakly. She didn't understand why she was going to let him...

Then she thought of Jacques; and how he was perfectly happy in his relationship. She thought about how he didn't want her. Claude moved closer to her. Josèe felt her eyes close instinctively - she might as well experience being loved by the only person who loved her. If she wasn't going to have Jacques, then maybe, just maybe, she could still experience that feeling with Claude again.

The irrational side of herself was thinking about the possibility of giving herself away to him.

She leaned in to kiss him.

Jacques smiled as she spotted Josèe's figure, but it dropped when she saw another person beside her.

Frowning, he moved closer.

...He wished he hadn't.

Right then and there from a distance, Jacques stood still and watched as Claude's lips were locked with Josèe's, embracing the other close. Jacques felt a wave of shock overcome him, and had to run in the opposite direction so he wouldn't be seen. He closed his eyes behind a tree. The mental image of Josèe with someone else, especially Claude, made him sick to his stomach.

It made him so sick, that he finally acknowledged something.

Jacques sent a quick text and went to his apartment.

He needed to do this.

Josèe wasn't unfamiliar with Claude's kissing in the slightest. That's probably the sole reason why she wasn't as uncomfortable, because she liked familiarity. So for while, she let Claude kiss her. But it didn't feel like anything. It was... okay, she thought. It wasn't earth shattering. It wasn't anything like she experienced with Jacques.

Jacques...

Of course that's what it came down to.

"Claude..." Josèe had let go of his lips, and had spoken his name softly. "I can't." She looked at Claude, wondering for any trace of disappointment on his face. She couldn't read it, so she took this as a chance to continue, "I'm... I'm planning on moving to Toronto very soon." She didn't think she would admit it aloud, but here she was. "And to be honest, I will never forget what you did. Ever."

Claude frowned. "But we were having so much fun." He leaned in to kiss her again, but Josèe stopped him.

"No," she said firmly, suddenly angry. "You think I don't want to enjoy this kiss? I want to, I desperately want to feel something for someone other than..." she let it trail off.

"Jacques," Claude stated, it wasn't a question.

Josèe stood up. "Oui. Now you know. It's everything you suspected. You win."

Claude stood up as well. "It's fine. I don't care."

He did, Josèe could tell. "I have to go." And to be frank, she wasn't even going to say goodbye.

She swerved on her heel and left.

He wasn't worthy of one.

She kissed him.

She kissed him.

Jacques was at a total loss.

He wished that he had stopped them. He wished that he could go back and give Claude a piece of his mind. After all, he remembered what happened after Claude broke Josèe's heart. He had shown up to Claude's and socked him across the face. Jacques wouldn't mind doing so again.

Sitting on the sofa at his apartment, he ran distressed hands through his hair.

All he could do was wait for her.

It wasn't fair to her to keep lying like this.

"Allo, Jacques," Michelle greeted cheerfully, entering the apartment. Jacques couldn't even offer her a smile, he knew that this was going to hurt. Michelle shut the door behind her and walked over to her boyfriend and chuckled. "Uh... do I even get a hello?" Jacques remained quiet. Michelle blinked at him. "Why do you seem so upset?"

"Because we're not going to be together anymore."

Jacques wouldn't look at her. His body wouldn't let him. He knew that he would sever romantic ties with Michelle at some point, but he didn't think it would be so soon, nor did he think that it would be for the reason he was doing so. When Jacques had walked back from the startling sight of Josèe and Claude kissing, he was trying to mentally prepare for this breakup, but now that it was here, he wanted to retreat.

"I have just one question," Michelle said quietly, breaking the silence. "Is it because you don't feel anything for me, or is it because of Josèe?"

Both of them knew the answer to that.

Jacques didn't want to say it.

Instead, he took a breath and alluded to it: "I was offered a job in Toronto to teach students ice dancing who plan on going pro."

"And she just so happens to be going too, right?" Michelle put bluntly, hardly able to hold back her anger. He knew very well who 'she' was in this case. The way that Jacques couldn't answer only confirmed her suspicions. Jacques hesitantly met Michelle's eyes, which were cold and distant. "Right, of course, because it's always been her-"

"Can you stop it?" Jacques interrupted. Michelle was taken aback by his sudden coldness. Michelle exhaled stressfully as Jacques went on, "Is she all you ever thought about in our relationship? Was that your biggest insecurity?"

Michelle glared at him. "It looks like I was right in the end though, wasn't I?" she retorted. "Besides, I wasn't completely alone in thinking about her. Isn't that why we're breaking up? It's always been about her. You've always chosen her, over me." Jacques didn't deny it. "I should've known. I was completely stupid in thinking you actually cared about me while we were together, that you actually had feelings-"

"Stop!" Jacques snapped. "Say what you want about how I feel about you now, but don't tell me that I didn't have feelings for you before!"

Michelle shook her head in disbelief. "So you're saying that you had feelings for me while simultaneously having feelings for Josèe?" She let out a bitter laugh. "Jeez, I heard the stereotype that you guys were greedy, but... I didn't think it would be true."

Jacques narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

"Oh you know what I mean by that!" Michelle shouted. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about."

"Wait, wait, wait! I got it. It's because I must be a whore, I must be sleeping around!" Jacques exclaimed furiously. "That's what being bisexual means to you, doesn't it? When I came out to you, you didn't seem to care, but when we started dating-"

"No, what you're not going to do is play the sexual minority card," Michelle sneered. "You don't get to act like you're the victim here."

"You're the one that's telling me about my sexuality!" Jacques yelled back. Oh, he could feel his blood boiling. He took a few breaths to calm himself. "I thought I would be honest with you, because it's not fair to lead you on like this. How is this making me the bad one?"

"God, you are unbelievable!"

"You're horrible!"

"I can't believe I ever thought I could date a bisexual man!"

"THIS IS WHY WE DIDN'T WORK OUT!"

"...What's going on?!" Josèe exclaimed, arriving in the apartment. Jacques and Michelle turned to face her, unaware that she had seen the altercation between them. Jacques couldn't handle it. He sabotaged the one relationship he had, and now, the woman he still harbored strong feelings for had arrived, though she had been kissing her ex-boyfriend not too long ago. Running a distressed hand through his hair, he stormed out of the room and made sure to slam the door extra hard.

SLAM!

Josèe and Michelle collectively flinched at the door being slammed so hard that the former swore that the room shook for a moment. Josèe hesitantly looked over at Michelle, who had angry tears forming in her eyes. To Josèe, Michelle looked like the Michelle she knew from high school. And, though Josèe knew it was her own prejudices talking, it very much felt like the incident that took place had to do with Michelle acting like her high school self.

This time, Josèe asked quietly: "...What happened?"

Suddenly, Josèe wished she had never spoken at all. Michelle whirled her whole body around to face her, emulating fury. "He'll always choose you, it's ridiculous."

"I..." Josèe didn't know what she meant. "What?"

Michelle smirked venomously. "Do I need to repeat myself? Are you deaf?" This was very much like high school Michelle, Josèe realized.

Josèe crossed her arms. "I don't know what you're talking about-"

"Stop. Playing. Stupid," Michelle articulated, very carefully. "It's time for some girl talk, Josèe. Something you're probably unfamiliar with because you hardly have any friends. He's always chosen you, over me. That's something that never changed. It's obvious that him breaking up with me has to do with you, he couldn't even bring himself to say it. That's cowardly behavior. And you... god, you are just so..." Michelle paused, chuckling at Josèe. "...so, so insufferable. I don't understand how... how even after that stupide race, the way that you treated him, that he could stand to be around you, let alone actually like you! Even in high school, I had always wondered that. I knew... I knew from watching that show that the way he looked at you, the way that he... god, it was so obvious." Then, her smirk vanished completely and grew very cold. "You were eating it all up, weren't you? You enjoyed every little moment where he paid attention to you, and not me. Because you knew, there was a part of you that was hoping for this relationship to go south, and once it did, you were going to cease your chance! Because you knew how he felt about you!"

Michelle had started to shout toward the end, leaving Josèe speechless, staring wide-eyed at Michelle. Josèe, though she wouldn't say it, suddenly felt horrified being in the same room as Michelle. Because Michelle, on the other hand, was seething with anger after her little speech to Josèe. When the ice dancer tried to interject, Michelle wouldn't have it.

"Don't look so goddamn incredulous," Michelle sneered.

Josèe's face faltered. "I didn't..." she paused. She hated sounding so weak, but really, she was genuinely scared of how Michelle would react. "I wouldn't... Jacques seemed so happy with you, and... and I wouldn't want to get in the way of that."

"Stop lying," Michelle cut in angrily. "You hadn't changed a bit since high school, in fact, I think you're worse. That race only seemed to prove it. Be honest, you sabotaging Jacques' happiness for your own benefit is something you would do, as long as you would feel good because you're so miserable and rotten to the core that you have to take people down with you. Let's face it; you are selfish. You always have been."

Josèe felt tears prick at her eyes. "You haven't changed since high school either," she muttered bitterly.

"You're right, I haven't," Michelle agreed coldly. "But at least I'm honest with myself. You try to act like you're a better person, that you're changing and healing since the race, but it's all a lie. It's so you can back in good graces with that ice dancing organization you had always squawked about."

"I never said I was a better person," Josèe snapped.

"'I'm going to be a better person, starting now!'" Michelle mocked, referring to the interview the ice dancers had on the race after they were eliminated. "Remember that?"

"That was months ago."

"And nothing has changed, except you have gotten more sneaky and careful about your selfish side... making sure it doesn't seep through." Josèe quickly wiped a tear that had managed to escape from her eye. "It's obvious that you like him too, but... but you shouldn't be dating him." Josèe looked at Michelle, startled. Michelle, however, wasn't phased in the slightest. In fact, she looked determined. "I think that you have the potential to be a good person. If you were a good person, you would let Jacques move on to someone else... someone that isn't you, or even me."

"...Why are you saying this?" Josèe asked, her voice cracking.

"I'm only looking out for you," Michelle remarked, smirking. "Call it sisterly love, or whatever. Someone like you... wouldn't be a perfect match for Jacques. I mean, you guys would argue as friends, so what makes you think you would have a healthy relationship?" She even laughed at the thought. "It would be incredibly toxic."

It fell silent for a minute, other than the sound of Josèe trying not to fall into a panic attack.

"Well, I should get going," Michelle remarked, unusually cheery. Before exiting, she flashed a smile at the ice dancer and added: "It's for the best, and deep down, you know it. Try not to burden him with your problems anymore."

Then she left.

Everything that Michelle had said was imprinted on Josèe's brain. The ice dancer had to sit down in order to take all of this in, trying to compose herself with several breaths. She gripped the sofa very tightly to try and get herself out of a potential panic attack. She closed her eyes and shrunk into the sofa, putting her knees to her chest. Then, she did something she hadn't done since she was a small child. She found herself biting the string attached to her beloved bun-bun after a few minutes. Gasping aloud, she smacked herself across the face as hard as she could and threw bun-bun across the room. "Pathetic baby," she spat, referring to herself.

Michelle had to be right. Did she truly change? She wouldn't lie; finding out that Jacques and Michelle were no longer an item brought some comfort to her.

Josèe shook her head.

No matter how many times Jacques tried to tell her she wasn't selfish, she couldn't believe it, because of moments like these.

Why would he put up with her?

Speaking of Jacques...

"Chouchou, are you okay?"

Josèe opened her eyes to see Jacques staring down at her in concern. He must've come back after cooling down for a while. She relaxed her grip, nodded, and pulled her knees away from her chest. "Oui, I'm fine. My..." She stopped her train of thought. She was about to spill about what this past day has been for her, such as seeing Claude again, and how she longed and wished for Jacques to come with her to Toronto, and eventually, to tell him how she felt about him.

But the last words Michelle said were ringing in her brain - try not to burden him with your problems anymore.

"...my stomach hurts," Josèe lied easily. "I'm probably going to rest."

Jacques looked like he didn't believe her - at least, not fully. Nonetheless, he moved onto the subject Josèe really didn't want to get into. "So you heard about Michelle and I?"

"Oui," Josèe answered. "I'm sorry, Jacjac."

"Don't be," Jacques told her, then shook his head. "She just doesn't understand how important my career is."

Josèe raised her eyebrows in alarm. "What are you saying?" Her heart began to race.

"I'm saying," Jacques started off, then looked at her: "I'm saying I want to go to Toronto with you."

Beat.

"...Are you sure?" Josèe asked hesitantly. "Jacques, you have a long time to think about it. We have a long time to think about it. What about your parents-"

"They know, and they're okay with it," Jacques replied. "...Why? Are you planning to stay here? Maybe you ah... found a reason to stay here? Or..." Josèe furrowed her brows at her partner's strange behavior. It's like he... he knew something. "Or someone?"

"No," Josèe said firmly. "I know that I want to move to Toronto."

"Then I'm sure that I want to go," Jacques insisted.

Josèe blinked a few times. "You're... going because of me?"

"I wouldn't want you to go to Toronto by yourself," Jacques said.

"I don't need a babysitter."

"Non! That's not what I meant. I mean..." Jacques hesitated briefly, then met his partner's eyes. "I can't imagine separating from you... especially when we have come so far. From the olympics incident, to the stupide race, to the..." Jacques trailed off, but Josèe knew what he meant.

The kiss. The kiss that they shared between them.

Jacques cut himself off and continued, "I want to be able to compete in the next olympics with you, chouchou. Take what we've worked hard on. And I... I know we can do that from here, but like you said, I think it's time to move forward."

Josèe nodded. "Of course. For our careers." And something else much more, but time could only tell.

Jacques bit his lip. "Right."

"So you've decided?" Isaac asked Josèe and Jacques in his office, five days later.

Josèe and Jacques exchanged a look with one another, and nodded. Josèe was the one who spoke up. "Oui."

"And?" Isaac pressed.

Jacques smirked. "We're both going."

Isaac blinked, surprised. "Wow. I didn't think you'd decide so early."

"Well..." Jacques started off, casting a glance in Josèe's direction. "I can't imagine not being with Josèe in ice dancing; we're the perfect team."

Josèe stared back at him, wanting to scream. She wished there was a way to tell him how she felt; he was much more expressive than she was - and she couldn't help but be a little jealous. She longed to tell him how much he meant to her, how much he changed her life, how the little things that he did meant the whole world to her, and - to put it in simpler words - how much she loved him.

Isaac looked between his two students, well... former students, and smiled - almost knowingly. "So this is it," he remarked. "It's been an honor to teach you for fifteen years."

Josèe and Jacques barely held back their gasps. While they understood that moving to Toronto meant they would get a new coach - like Isaac promised them - it only occurred to them now that Isaac would no longer be teaching them. It was such a foreign concept; because while they have had other coaches come and go over the years, Isaac was the one that stayed - likely because he could handle and knew them the best. He was always there, and he had done so much for them - even if they drove him crazy.

"Merci," Josèe said, smiling. "You've always been there for us when we needed you the most." Jacques nodded in agreement; it was so true.

"You know it's funny," Isaac went on amusedly, "There are many students I've taught over the years, and none of them made my hair more grey like you two did." Josèe and Jacques' jaws dropped. "Oh don't look so shocked. But I wouldn't change it, you know. You make me proud; you always have." Josèe and Jacques offered him half grins.

In a rare display of affection, Isaac hugged the each of them. "I know I'll see you before you go, but..." he let go. "...you've got this. I know you'll do well."

"Of course," Josèe added, then turned to Jacques. "As Jacques said, we're the perfect team." Jacques smiled back at her. Josèe felt fuzzy. She knew this was the right choice.

"So..." Jacques began, "...what happens now?" Josèe knew what this was about. It wasn't just regarding their future, but it had to do with the current students they had.

"You'll be going in a few weeks, and..." Isaac went on: "You'll have to say goodbye to your current students." Now that was going to be hard. Isaac had said that it was best to do it now, and that would be their last lesson with them. It would seem very out of the blue, and they were almost positive that they wouldn't take it well.

When Josèe and Jacques did, a few of them started to cry.

"You're leaving us?" one of them cried out.

Josèe and Jacques bit their lower lips apprehensively.

"...Oui, but..." Jacques started, then knelt down beside them. "It was very fun teaching you!"

Josèe watched Jacques comfort their former students and smiled. How she wished she could do that. As it has been said, Jacques was much better with children in comparison to her. Josèe felt a tug on her pants. She looked down to see one of her younger students smiling up at her and then hugged her legs. Slowly, Josèe knelt down and carefully wrapped her arms around the girl. "Merci," she piped up happily. "You're the best teacher ever!"

Josèe felt the corners of her lips go up. "...Merci," she said, rather awkwardly, then let go.

"You're not scary like the TV says you are," the little girl said. "You're really nice."

"Uh... thanks," Josèe said, unsure of what else to say. If only the world thought like her.

After saying a few more goodbyes to their students, Josèe and Jacques went back to their apartment - still shocked by it all. It seemed too unreal that they were going through with this. It was all so sudden. To think that they would be packing their belongings shortly, and that they would move on to bigger - and hopefully better - things.

"I never thought we would get out of Quebec," Josèe admitted softly to Jacques, after it had been silent for several minutes. Jacques looked over at her, sitting beside her on the sofa. Josèe continued, not making any eye contact with her partner. "I mean, I've had dreams about moving somewhere, like New York or something, but..." she trailed off awkwardly. "...New York just feels strange to go to, especially since... you know."

Jacques didn't say anything, Josèe took it as an invitation to go on: "But going to Toronto? That's new. But there are still some mysteries here I'll never know about, I guess. Like Rachel's issues with drugs. Or what it was like for maman's last moments on earth... it feels weird to move on from all of that, but not forgetting it, you know?"

("I've lived a long life. I decided that I can stop it.")

Jacques would never forget it. "...Oui."

("A long life? You call forty-six years a long life?")

The conversation between Jacques and Josèe's mother was imprinted on his brain.

("I'm expecting you to keep this from Josée.")

And upon the mention of Josèe's mother, it played over and over again like a mantra.

("...and with the way it's progressing quickly, give or take a month. Maybe two.")

Each time, the guilt welled up inside.

("I'm probably going to be dead before you two get back.")

And now, for the first time, Jacques acknowledged one of his biggest fears when it came to moving to Toronto. He would be taking a huge secret with him, that he had yet to tell his partner about. He wanted to tell her eventually, but he never got around to actually doing it. Now, because they were moving to Toronto, he was hiding one of the major truths in regard to Josèe's mother for good. If she were to find out such a thing after leaving her gravesite permanently, she would absolutely despise him, without a doubt.

Jacques blinked rapidly when a hand waved in front of his face. "Jacques!" Jacques turned to see that it was Josèe. "Are you alive?"

"Oui! I'm good, I'm... also thinking," Jacques said. Well, he wasn't lying. He would just prefer not to talk about what he was thinking.

"About?"

Shit.

"Um..." Jacques hesitated, then: "...about how I'm excited to be with you, chouchou. Toronto... oui."

Josèe remained slightly skeptical, but didn't press further. "Right." Her eyes softened. "But... but it is true, Jacques." She scooted closer to him and laid her hand on his, which sent his heart into a frenzy; the good kind. Her eyes met his, smiling genuinely. "I'm happy that you're coming to Toronto. I don't think I could do it without you, either."

Sometimes, it was very difficult to read his partner. Jacques was reminded of when Josèe had gotten sick, and mumbled that she had liked the kiss and couldn't forget about it, and it had sent him shock waves throughout his system. Part of him was happy, part of him was terrified. This could just be Josèe being friendly, not really reading much into it, and if he were to make a move like he did last time, he was scared he would lose her forever. He had gotten lucky then, but now, he wasn't taking his chances. At least, not yet.