New Beginnings - Christophe (open tag)

[christophe]

Renard soaked up Lia's attention and Christoph watched him in fond amusement. The pup had honestly saved his sanity as the move from Canada had been most definitely unwanted. That was, until now. He glanced up at Lia and smiled at her. Perhaps coming to California hadn't been so bad after all? If all the girsl at school were as warm, welcoming, friendly... and attractive as her then there was most definitely a silver lining behind the darl and dreary clouds that had been gathering at a rate of knots.

He'd ordered a cappucino, plus a slice of apple strudel. He'd been sorely tempted by the croissants but he knew he'd regret that as they would be nothing like the ones he was used to in Paris. God, he missed croissants.

"I haven't surfed," he admitted. "But I love to be out on the water. I used to patrol the waters around Lake Vancouver," Christophe added. "Sort of like a game warden on water. I'm happy to see how close we are to the ocean and hope to be able to buy a cheap boat before too long. We could maybe explore the coast or something. I mean, if you like the sound of that idea?"

[Lia Juarez]

Lia smiled and nodded, her eyes shining with excitement at the thought of exploring the coastline via boat with Christophe. She would be exploring land side with Taki on Saturday also. She couldn't believe how lucky she was. "If you ever want to learn to surf I would be glad to teach you. You would need a wet suit at the moment though, it still is too cold for just a pair of trunks."

When their order came, she set the bowl of water she had ordered for Renard on the ground with a piece of her danish. It disappeared almost immediately and she laughed softly. "Will you get him a doggie life jacket and bring him with us? I think he would be a good boat dog. He really is well behaved, especially for a puppy."

[christophe]

Christophe laughed at the idea of Renard in a life jacket. "He'd probably
eat it before we reached deep water," he replied. "He's actually a great
swimmer. I used to take him with me each time I went out on Nanaimo Sound.
The French boy reached down to tousle the Husky's ears and Renard seemed to
almost grin up at Christophe, a morsel of pastry poking out one side of his
mouth.

"I would love you to teach me to surf, Llyria," he added. "I really would
appreciate you taking the time to do that." If it was an activity related to water then he was most definitely keen to try it out as his mother had always claimed water ran through his veins rather than blood.

He sipped some of his cappuccino and then bit a small piece from the
strudel. "You mentioned your had brothers and that your older one... Saint,
I think?" Lia nodded. "That he is blind. Has he always been that way?
Malamutes are wonderful dogs. Very intelligent." He looked down at Renard.
"Who would have believed this idiot is a close relation?" Renard panted
comically up at Christophe in response. Of course, he was joking as he adored the pup. Plus Renard was a lot brighter than he looked.

[Lia Juarez]

"Renard would have to be trained for it, but it really would be a good thing, the waters around here have some nasty under currents, no matter how strong a swimmer, dogs or even humans shouldn't boat without life jackets," she said, almost lecturing and then Lia laughed at herself. "Sorry... I am a life guard, sometimes I get kind of preachy, but the areas that aren't marked safe to swim can be dangerous.

"I am at your disposal for surfing lessons. I think you will learn quick, you proved to have good balance by keeping all three of us from falling over when Renard introduced us to each other," Lia giggled, imagining telling people they were introduced to each other by a puppy.

"Saint has only been blind for a couple of weeks. We had a gang shooting at school... he had to have surgery. The doctor does not believe his eyesight will come back. He is adjusting quickly, but he is having problems because he is an artist. Coco is amazing. I am constantly surprised by the things she can do. We will have to introduce Renard to her. She will probably try to mother him." Lia sighed quietly, that would mean Jandro would meet Christophe. You could never tell if her twin would like someone or not. Either could be bad. Jandro wouldn't even think twice about flirting with someone she brought home and if he didn't like him then he might threaten him to leave her alone.

[christophe]

"I would hate to risk his life so I think we should leave him safely at home when we go out exploring. Besides, that way I get all your attention instead of having to share it with him!" He threw her a broad smile as he spoke. He laughed with her when she spoke of the manner of their meeting. It had been bizarre beyond belief but also most welcome.

Christophe leaned closer as Lia told him about her brother and how he had lost his sight. It was shocking... to put it mildly.

"Your poor brother!" he exclaimed. "That's terrible... I trust he recovers and regains his sight in time..." Christophe had a feeling he was wishing in vain, though, as already a few weeks seemed to have past and any return of his sight would surely have happened by now. "I would love for Renard to meet Coco and also lovwe to meet your brother... Both of them, in fact. Your twin is like you to look at? Are you identical ones?" The more he chatted with Lia the greater became his desire to get to know her in more depth. She had a sadness about her that was in some part now explained but he had a feeling there was a lot more to discover beneath her somewhat fragile exterior.

[Lia Juarez]

"It might be best to leave him at home, we can take him running on the beach instead," Lia suggested with a grin. She liked to run. She was the most athletic of the kids, but she preferred to do things on her own rather than join a team.

When Christophe leaned close, Lia had a hard time refraining from touching his cheek with her tiny fingers. "Saint seems to be accepting his loss. He met his boyfriend in the hospital which helped. Jonah is now acting as his assistant so they get to spend more time together," she said trying to hide her envy of their closeness.

"Well Jandro and I look a lot alike and if we try we can look identical, but he is male... kind of," Lia said with a laugh for her twin really was more feminine than she was at times. "With make up and a dress it is hard to tell us apart when his hair isn't dyed." She pulled out her wallet and showed him pictures of her family, including her model mother which explained her pale looks. "And this is Coco," she said showing off the Malamute who was giving Saint a huge kiss in the picture. "The boy behind him is Jonah, his boyfriend." There were also pictures of her unusual home.

[christophe]

Christophe's left eyebrow lifted slightly when Lia told him her brother was 'kind of' male. She went on to explain what she'd meant. "Aaah I see... He is..." Christophe wasn't able to think of the right words, not realising how close the French version was to English... "Un homme efféminé? Such boys who like to dress that way are called 'gibelin' in France. A lot of our age like to use such clothing and make-up. It is not so unusual but the appearance wasn't allowed inside school. They are very strict in Paris. We had to wear full uniform." Chrsitophe grimaced at that, remembering all too well the revolting clothing they'd all been forced to wear. "I am glad to know no such uniformas are in force here in California!"

"Your mother is very beautiful... I can see who you take after, Llyria." Christophe looked at the next image, laughing at the Malamute. "He looks affectionate," he added with a grin. It was a terrible shame her brother had lost his sight, though, but he had found love and companionship - if nothing much else.

"I have no photos to show you," he said when she'd finished showing him hers. "I left the house with nothing more than my phone and a handful of money. Most of it appears to be Euros as well," he said with a good-humoured frown. "Aha! I have some dollars too so I can at least treat you to your drink."

He placed a couple of notes beneath a plate, relieved he hadn't had to ask Lia to cover the bill. "Have you finished?" he asked. "I would be more than happy to walk with you a while... Unless," he said after a slight pause, "... you are sick of me already." He adopted a hopeful look...

[Lia Juarez]

Lia chuckled. "Jandro is not a full out drag queen, but he does have more feminine features and is a bit light in the instep as my mother calls it. He tends to dress rather unisex. Things either gender would wear and he does enhance with a bit of make up, mainly eyeliner. I would say he is more Emo than anything else," she explained further for Jandro would be upset to think she had called him a queen. In his mind he was a fighter and he kind of was. Enough to worry her and their mom that he would end up getting seriously damaged someday. "My twin is a mass of contradictions."

Lia blushed when Christophe compared her to her model mom and said she was beautiful. "Thank you, I hope I am as beautiful when I get to be her age," she said in a low voice. Actually their mom had been very young when she had her kids and as such had just turned thirty, but Lia still thought that was old, she was too young herself to have age perspective.

"I am not sick of you at all," Lia protested and looked out at the rain slicked streets. "We could go back across to the mall and window shop or I could treat you to a movie," she offered, glad for the opportunity to spend more time with the rather fascinating Senior. She had left out that she was a sophomore and only hoped he would not turn away when he found out.

[christophe]

"Bon!" Christophe stated with a broad smile. "Some shopping, a film and then I can walk you home." He started to stand. "But first I must return Renard home as we can't take him into the cinema. My house isn't far... I can either meet you at the mall or..." He left the question hanging, pleased when Lia stood to join him.

Lia seemed happy to come with him and the pair chatted amicably as they walked the two blocks back to the Broussard home. He deposited the Husky pup indoors and grabbed some more US bank notes. Euros wouldn't get him very far - of that he was positive.

He was soon back out with Lia who had decided to wait on the front porch step. "No one is home so I left them a note saying where we are going," he explained, giving her the reason for the slight delay. "Now... let us hit those shops!" he added on a short laugh and he was relieved to see the rain had opted to retreat. What better way to spend his first evening in town? A walk, a movie... and a beautiful girl at his side. The day had most definitely taken a turn for the better!

(We can either wrap it there or play out the rest of the evening - I honestly don't mind so you choose )

[Lia Juarez]

LOL Normally I like to wrap things at the end, but with as ill as I have been, I think I would like to let it go for now. Though it leaves questions as to how far along the relationship track they got lol He's French after all.