Anna and the French Kiss: Etienne's POV

24

Mum and I are eating the wretched hospital food. My dinner consists of pudding, and what is supposed to a sandwich. My father came in 20 minutes ago, checked on Mum, and left again. We have no idea where he went. Just the way I like it. 

"I've gotten used to the food here," Mum softly laughs at my disgusted face.

"I don't think I could ever get used to the food here."

"You'd think a cancer hospital would have good food here," she says, "especially because most of us are dying."

I raise my eyebrow at her. "Mum, you're not dying."

She breaks into a smile. "It was a joke. A bad one, I do admit." 

We talk for awhile, about her treatment and about my senior year in Paris. I tell her all about Rashmi and Josh and how Josh is going to have to cope with us leaving him alone during his senior year. I tell her about Mer and her football. I don't want to talk about Anna--I'm far too embarrassed. But I do need the advice.

I clear my throat. "And. . .uh. . .I met Anna the first day of senior year. She was leaving Mer's room and we smacked into each other."

"Sounds like something I saw in one of those high school movies," Mum teases.

"I know. That's the worst of it. I bought her a book full of love poetry, and I bought her a Canadian flag so she wouldn't feel American in Paris. I have indirectly told her how I felt about her many times. I have a girlfriend, so maybe that's why she's not reading the signs. And I'm pretty sure that she is off somewhere with this bloke she likes in Atlanta right now."

Mum shakes her head. "If you care about Anna this much, you should just ask her how she feels." 

"I told Josh this. It isn't that simple."

"That's thing, sweetheart. It is simple. To us woman, guys are confusing. We don't know if the signs men give us are real," she sighs, "Trying to decipher these signals is a waste of time. Just ask."

I ignore her advice. 

I take a seat on my single bed. My father and I had to leave mum because we can't be exposed to the radiation for too long. The walls of my bedroom are royal blue, the furniture is all dark wood. I have a bookcase full of more history books that I've already read, and my desk is full of dust. I can't remember the last time I used it. 

I pull out my phone and decide to call Anna. Beeeeeeeep. Beeeeeeep. Beeeee--

"Hey, St. Clair. How's your Mom?" She sounds stuffy.

I smile, although she can't see me. "Hey. She's doing good. How did the show go?"

"Br-Bridgette and Toph are dating," she says, her voice reveals that she's crying, "Ican'tbelievethatthisishappening. Idon'tknowwhattodo!" 

I furrow my brow. "Anna. Anna, slow down. Bridgette's dating Toph?"

Anna sniffles. "Since Thanksgiving. She's been ly-lying to me this whole time!"

"I need you to take a deep breath. All right? Take a deep breath and start from the beginning."

I stare out my window at the buildings that scrape the sky as Anna tells me the story. She says that at the end of the Penny Dreadfuls' song (the Penny Dreadfuls is Bridge and Toph's band) Toph said over the mic that no one can screw Bridge, because he already is. Then Anna confronted Bridge in front of everyone and told her that she thinks Bridge is trying to steal her life. 

I don't know Bridgette, so I can't judge her for this. But, what kind of friend would do that? She should've just told Anna she liked him, and maybe Anna wouldn't of been so upset. "Are you there?" she asks.