The French Girl

Chapter 2: Haven

I walk out of the store and into my friend's car. Once the door is shut, I pull the bag of chips and cans of pop out of my backpack.

"Piece of cake. Guy behind the counter never suspected anything." I say, handing him a can. This is the third time this week that we've been in that store and left without paying for anything. They really need to up their security. I open my can and start drinking, opening my phone as a text from my mom comes through. I read it and roll my eyes.

"What?" Ryan asks, noticing my disgust.

"Mom says I have to get my room ready for this chick that's staying with us." I tell him, responding to my mom at the same time.

"Why do you say that like you don't know her?" He asks, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't. She's some girl that's part of this exchange program." I take a sip of the pop and open the bag of chips.

"Remind me why you're doing this?"

"My mom thought it'd be a good idea. She thinks this girl will have a good influence on me because she's from some fancy French school." I say, rolling my eyes. I haven't even met the girl and I can already tell that we're not going to get along. "On the plus side, I get to skip two months of school and go to France."

"Ooh, fun. Who knows, this girl might be cute." He teases, winking at me.

"Jesus Ryan. Keep it in your pants." I tease back, hitting his arm. He takes a drink from his pop can, flipping me off in the process. "Besides, I don't think she's either of our types."

"What makes you say that?" He questions.

"I know she's some straight-A student. She's also a ballerina." I tell him, reluctantly admitting the last part.

"See? You two have something in common already."

"No, that's one of the worst things. We're the same level. She'll join my class while she's here." I shutter once I say it out loud. I was not thrilled when my mom told me that. Apparently that was one of the things that made them put the two of us together. "Ryan, I'm going to be stuck with her, literally 24/7, for two months."

"Don't forget the two months you're in Paris!" He adds and I throw back my head and groan.

"You have to come with me tomorrow to pick her up from the airport." I inform him, offering him a chip. He takes it and puts it in his mouth, chewing it before responding with,

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? Your French is better than mine and I have no idea what her English is like." I look down at my phone. "Alright. We better get going before my mom has an aneurysm." He nods and starts driving towards my house. He parks a few houses away to avoid seeing my mother. I open the door and climb out.

"See you tomorrow. Frenchie's flight comes in at 11 am." I tell him, shutting the door before he can reply.