La Vie En Rose

L E P O I N Ç I O N

Taylor's a bastard, Jordan thinks to himself, what kind of dude does that to girls?

But then, Shreya did agree get to be his girlfriend.

She didn't know. Neither of them knew about each other.

His grandmother, Joséphine asks, "Chèri, is everything alright?"

"Oui, grandmère, everything's fine. You know that today is my last Thursday shift, right?" Jordan replies.

"Oui, oui," the elderly woman says smiling, "Your coach phoned me earlier and he said that training for the college soccer championships start next week."

Jordan frowns his leaf-green eyes assessing the frail but strong and proud woman, "Grandmère, you're sure you can manage here all by yourself?"

"Boy," Joséphine grins, "I've managed here by myself once, I sure as heck can do it again. Besides, I have Vere, Peter and Taylor."

Jordan bites his lip, "If you say so."

His grandmother tip-toes and ruffles his hair, "I'll be fine. Besides, you wouldn't want to loose your scholarship to something as silly as non-participation, would you, mon cœur?"

Jordan smiles at the old endearment, "No, I wouldn't."

At around seven, Josèphine decides to close up the shop. It's then that Jordan remembers something. Something that Taylor had once told him proudly.

You'll never believe this, Jordan, I banged a hot little Indian chick last night and Caroline found out, he'd said, And Caroline nearly kicked her sweet little--

White-hot rage explodes in Jordan's body. He eyes Taylor, who was stocking up coffee mixtures.

Jordan cracks his fist menacingly as he stalks over to Taylor.

And he has no regrets when he gives a wide-eyed Taylor Johnson a bloody, broken nose.