Close calls (Christophe - tag Addison)

[christophe]

Christophe's comment about retaking his sophomore year had been said as a way of flirting with Addison... In other words, he'd happily ro-do that year if it meant seeing her each day. He wasn't honestly sure his words had come across in that manner but being foreign he'd like as not said it wrongly.

"Bien! Then we shall rememdy that situation!" he declared when she said she'd never been on board a boat before. "You will be perfectly safe as I have been fully trained in boat operation." It came hand in hand with his work up north in the cold Pacific waters off the west coast near Vancouver.

They started to get ready to leave and Christophe left way too much money on the table for Madame Clemenceau. He knew times were hard for teh French family and that little Simone - her 6 year old daughter - was desperate for that pair of ballet slippers. If he could help in any small way then Christophe felt happy.

He waved to the woman as they headed outside. "I am in no rush either," he told Addison. "I mean, I leave school soon anyway so what will they do? Expell me?" He laughed at that thought and the pair wandered slowly back to the school campus. Christophe made sure any soreness in his leg was well masked, not wanting to limp and upset his new found friend. The fault lay at his own doorstep anyway, of that he was sure!

"You have a phone?" he asked as they ambled slowly back. "If so we could maybe exchange numbers. Then we can stay in touch and work out a day to go out on the water." Then again, maybe she had been just being polite earlier and would run a mile in the opposite direction as soon as his back was turned! It had happened before...

[Addison Graham]

Addison too waived to the french owner as they left the cafe. Her pastry and coffee had been a wonderful stress reliever and now they would head back to school, hopefully it would be a quick day leading them into the weekend. Cristophe mentioned her phone number and it was a good thing, she was supposed to go to the store after school and have it fixed. She was so thankful he reminded her because she had already long forgotten that.

" I do have a phone. " she joked. It was rare for someone in high school not to have a cell phone for one, and for two anyone usually had a house phone. " Granted from my collision yesterday my cell phone is out of order at the moment. I can hear you calling but can't pick up. I take it tonight to get it fixed so hopefully I have it back tonight too but no promises." she said slowing her speed just a little bit more to pull out a scrap piece of paper and pen. She wrote down two numbers simultaneously and then handed it to him.

" The first one is my cell phone. If you happen to call it and I don't answer it is probably just because I don't have it back yet. Then you can call the second number, my house phone. " She hadn't figured out yet what she would do if her phone had to be sent off, she was really hoping for an easier fix like insurance but she wasn't sure they had it.

[christophe]

Christophe took the piece of paper and pushed it into his pocket, accompanied by a word of thanks. "I will call you and then when you get your phone back you can store my number." It sounded like a good plan to him as he didn't know his own number off by heart. He never had to call it so didn't see the need in remembering it. Logical... perhaps... but it made writing the number down to give to someone pretty tricky.

They were close to the school gates by now and he glanced down at his companion a little reluctantly. The interlude had been fun and engaging... even taking into account their initial encounter. The bruises would be a small price to pay for making a new friend in Addison Graham. Plus she seemed keen to try boating with him. A point very much in her favour!

He glanced at his watch. "Twenty minutes late. I hope you won't be treated harshly for this." He knew he'd be fine as he only had a short time left at high school but she had more time here yet.

"Blame me if you need to," he reminded her. "After all, the accident was my causing... and no one needs to know that we went off for a coffee... except... you have a little pastry flake on your cheek," he told her with a slight laugh. "That would have given us away for sure, non?"

(tag for a wrap? Or wrapped?)