Anna and the French Kiss: Etienne's POV

9

Shite.

There are many things in my life that I could say are worse than having feelings for someone I shouldn't. That night when I left Anna to go with Ellie won't leave my mind. When I looked back she was looking back as well, what does that mean? Maybe she was just upset that I didn't really leave with the best manners. But Anna wouldn't care, so what was it?

She's friendly. She makes me laugh in every other sentence she says, and she's smart. I've been hanging out with her a lot because my best friend Josh is all over Rashmi. And Mer hasn't really been around since she's busy with her studies and football.

Since our night out, I've sat with Anna for every meal. I tease her about sneakers, ask her about her favorite films, and conjugate her French homework. I defend her. In physics last week Amanda called Anna a la moufeutte in a snarky tone, and held her nose as Anna walked by her desk. I told her to "bugger off" and threw tiny wads of paper into her hair for the rest of class. La moufeutte translates to "skunk."

Although I could say that I kind of like Anna, I'm always going to Ellie's. I walk to the métro most days, and I spend a lot of time with her.

And with Mer, I think she's jealous of Anna. I'll catch her watching Anna and I at lunch and when Anna asks for her to pass a napkin she chucks it at her instead. Or when I'm doodling bananas and elephants in the margin of Anna's notebook, Mer grows rigid and silent.

Oh, bugger. I can't help it. When most girls talk to me they laugh too hard at my jokes and find excuses to gently press my arm. Instead, Anna argues with me and rolls her eyes and acts indifferent. And when she touches my arm, she shoves it.

We're waiting for La Vie to begin. Last week we learned about the importance of eating locally grown food, and before that, how to write a college application essay. Meredith and Josh are the only ones not here, Josh because he's a junior, and Mer because she's taking that extra language, advanced Spanish.

"Rashmi what are you doing tonight?" Anna asks.

Rashmi taps her pen on her notebook. She's been working on her essay to Brown for two weeks now. It's the only one she wants to go to. "You don't understand," she said, when Anna asked why she didn't finish it yet. "Brown turns away eighty percent of applicants."

"Nothing I guess," she says, in response to Anna's question about this evening.

Anna takes an odd deep breath. "Wanna go to the movies? They're showing It Happened One Night at Le Champo."

"They're showing what? And I'm not gonna tell you how badly you just butchered that theater's name." Rashmi says.

"It Happened One Night. Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. Won five Academy Awards. It was a big deal." Anna groans.

"In what century?"

"Ha ha. Honestly, you'll like it. I hear it's great."

Rashmi rubs her temples. "I don't know. I don't really like old movies The acting is so, 'Hey buddy ol' pal. Let's go wear our hats and have a big misunderstanding.'"

"Aw, come off it." I look up from my thick book about the American Revolution. I'm sitting on the other side of Anna. "Isn't that the charm? The hats and the misunderstandings?"

"So why don't you go with her?" Rashmi asks.

"Because he's going out with Ellie," Anna says.

"How do you know what I'm doing tonight?" I ask, not recalling ever telling Anna. She probably assumed.

"Please?" Anna begs her. "Pretty please? You'll like it, I swear. So will Josh and Mer."

Rashmi opens her mouth to protest just as the teacher arrives.

Every week it's someone new--sometimes administration, sometimes a professeur. This time, it's our dorm advisor Nate. He has dirty blonde hair, but it's a buzz-cut. He's really young, early 20's. I don't see why someone his age would want to watch kids at a boarding school but I guess he doesn't mind.

"How do you know what I'm doing tonight?" I repeat.

"Pleeeeease," Anna says to Rashmi.

She gives a resigned grimace. "Fine. But I'm picking the next movie."

Nate clears his throat and we all look up. "All right, people, enough. Amanda, enough." In his quiet but firm way, Nate shuts her up. She flips her hair and sighs, with a glance toward me. Gross.

I ignore her.

"I have surprise for you," Nate says. "Since the weather is turning, and there aren't many warm days left, I've arranged for you guys to spend the week outdoors."

Finally, we get to go outside for class-credit.

"I've organized a scavenger hunt." Nate holds up a stack of papers. "There are two hundred items on this list. You'll be able to find them all in our neighborhood, but you may have to ask the locals for help."

Ugh.

"You'll be taking pictures of the items, and you'll be working in teams. The winning team will be determined by the total number of items found, but I'll need to find photos on everyone's phone or camera, if you expect to earn credit."

NOO.

"There's a prize." Nate smiles again, now that he finally has everyone's attention. "The team that finds the most items by the end of Thursday's class. . .gets to skip class on Friday."

The classroom erupts in whistles and clapping. Nate picks captains based on who begs for it the loudest. Steve Carver-the guy known for his surfer hair--and Amanda's best friend, Nicole, are chosen.

The selecting begins, and Amanda is chosen first. Not surprising. And then Steve's best friend. Rashmi elbows Anna. "Bet you five euros I'm picked last."

"I'll take that bet. Because it's totally me."

Amanda turns in her seat toward Anna and lowers her voice. "That's a safe bet, Skunk girl. Who'd want you on their team?"

Anna's jaw unhinges. The only thing keeping Amanda going is her humongous ego. How could someone like her have friends?

"St. Clair!" Steve's voice startles Anna. I'm staring down Amanda. "Me," I say, in answer to her question. "I want Anna on my team, and you'd be lucky to have her."

She flushes and quickly turns back around, but not before shooting Anna another dagger. What has Anna ever done to her?

More names are called. More names that are NOT Anna. I try to get her attention but she pretends not to notice. She looks humiliated. Soon the selection is down to me, Rashmi, and a skinny dude who is called Cheeseburger.

"Rashmi," Nicole says without hesitation.

Anna sinks down in her chair, her cheeks red. She's focusing her attention to her desk, trying not to make eye contact with anyone.

Amanda whispers into Steve's ear. She's smirking at Anna, and her face burns.

Steve clears his throat. "Cheeseburger."

I want to punch Steve in the face, but I'm afraid that'd be animal abuse.