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Post by christophe on Aug 29, 2010 3:37:57 GMT -5
Christophe was tired that morning. All the excitement up at the reservation... Sarissa's accident... having to carry her out again... had left him unable to sleep last night. As such he walked to school in something of a daze. The elbow he'd landed on was a pretty shade of purple by now and his grazed forehead wasn't going to fade before the weekend's prom. Ella would find that most amusing, he felt sure!
He yawned for the fifth time in as many minutes and ran his fingers through his hair as he started to cross the road just a little way down from the main school entrance.
He didn't even see the car until it was almost upon him. A horn blared and brakes screamed, seeing the car slew sideways. Christophe staggered back a couple of paces... and not a moment too soon. The offside wing stopped a scant inch from his body and he leaned forwards to rest his hands on the car in stunned shock.
A brunette got out. Not overly tall. Not petite either.
She didn't look too happy and how could he fault her for that? Far better to get in first and before she could have a shot at removing his head.
"Mon dieu," he began. "Je suis si désolé! I didn't even see you coming. I was.... aaah... on another planet. A million miles from here. I hope no damage has been done to your car." It looked ok but it seemed polite to ask and make sure. "And you... Are you injured?" It struck him then just how pretty the girl was.... even when angry as she seemed to be right now.
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Post by Addison Graham on Aug 29, 2010 7:47:52 GMT -5
Addison stumbled out of bed that morning early. She wasn't usually a huge morning person, though she could get up early and not be unbearable she just never saw the point. Her jeans slid onto her body fairly easy and she did a turn in the mirror before grabbing her faded blue American Eagle t shirt and pulling it over her head.
Students that walked lined the streets as she got closer to it and the masses thickened as it came into view. She was about to press her foot on the break to slow down and make the turn into the parking lot when one of the guys walking stepped right out in front of her. Her foot instead slammed on the break as her hands braced on the wheel trying to avoid him but control herself from hitting anyone or anything else either. When it finally came to a complete stop her front right side was up on the opposite corner of sidewalk then the guy had stepped out from and she took a deep breathe before jumping out of the car to make sure there was no damage and he was okay.
When she saw him standing just fine she turned to the car checking to make sure it was okay as well. There was no obvious damage which made her happy but she knew she would be a bit sore from the stiffness later. Turning around with flames in her eyes she looked at him furious.
" What were you thinking? Did you not see me coming." she said trying to remain calm. It wasn't so much that she was mad at him as it was she was scared and he had to have seen her coming. She took a moment to take a breath and ran her hands over her face before looking back up at him her face softening a bit.
" I'm so sorry. " she said as she walked towards him shaking her head. " I dunno what happened, one second you weren't there and then you are. Are you okay?" She would die if her parents found out about this. Her luck this far at the new school hadn't been so lucky after all. First her phone when she met Mikasi after crashing into him yesterday and now she almost hit a guy. Best case scenario she would have her car taken and grounded for the rest of her natural born life. " Please tell me you are okay."
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Post by christophe on Aug 29, 2010 11:18:12 GMT -5
"I wasn't thinking at all," Christophe replied. "And for that I am deeply sorry." He'd almost caused an accident after all. Christophe looked down at his boots, unable to miss the anger in the girl's eyes. It seemed all he did lately was piss people off.
"I stepped out," he continued when she tried to explain. "None of this is your faulk and the blame is entirely mine. "But you can be absolutely assured I am fine. Your car did nothing more than graze my leg."
He peered more closely at the girl. "You are new to school?" he asked. "Even more new than I am, perhaps." This last was added with a wry grin.
"I am Christophe," he added. "Christophe Broussard." He threw the girl a smile. "I wouldn't mind knowing the name of the driver who almost took me out," he finished on a wink. He was, of couse, teasing. After all, the close call had been his fault entirely!
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Post by Addison Graham on Aug 29, 2010 11:43:17 GMT -5
Addison listened as he quickly was ready to take all the blame. She wasn't sure it was all his fault but she had apologized and it really wasn't worth arguing since there was no damage to their bodies or the car. When she let herself calm down enough to listen to him asking her questions she realized he had an accent. French perhaps? She wasn't positive but he surely wasn't from here.
" Today is only my second day. I haven't had much luck." she said awkwardly. " Again I am sooo sorry. " she said an embarrassed smile on her face. When he spoke again and told her his name though her thoughts were reaffirmed.
" Addison Graham. " she said looking around at all the people looking at them and her car still on the corner. She didn't want to leave him there, he was trying to be friendly and apologize and she genuinely wanted to talk to him but she needed to move her car off the sidewalk before the cops were called and it turned into a bigger ordeal. She turned to him with an almost confused look in her face.
" I think maybe we should move the car to the parking lot and talk there? I feel like a sideshow right now with everyone standing around and since there is no damage I don't wanna get in trouble for where the car is at. You can jump in with me? Or I can just move the car up the street a bit and come back?" she felt more horrible then words could explain and hoped he would go with her.
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Post by christophe on Aug 30, 2010 2:14:51 GMT -5
"Mon plaisir, Addison," he replied with an easier smile. Easier now that the shock of the near accident had started to pass. "But yes, moving your car seems senmsible," he agreed and he jumped (for jumped read limped) into the passenger seat, his pack dropped onto the floor between his boots.
"Only your second day? And an adventure so soon? Who would have believed it to be possible," he commented on a short laugh. "I would welcome you to the school but... I think I did that already and in my own way, non?" Christophe laughed slightly again. Now that th tension had passed he was finding it easy to talk to Addison. She'd had every right to be as pissed as hell with him... but hadn't been. Gracious beyond any expectation.
"There is a larger parking area just past the one at the side," he told her. "I sometimes use it when I borrow my mother's car. Far less people use it as it means all of a minute longer walk to the front entrance." He grinned dryly as he spoke.
She drove past the main lot and to where he'd suggested. "So two days you said? Where are you from before that? And are you liking it here in California? The weather's good if nothing else, eh?"
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Post by Addison Graham on Aug 30, 2010 7:56:56 GMT -5
Addison was more then glad when he agreed to go with her. She was surprised he would after what had just happen, maybe afraid of her driving. He wasn't though and quickly obliged getting into the car. She thought she had seen him limp but it really wasn't enough of a distance for her to tell, maybe she was just paranoid. She wouldn't say anything just yet but when they got out of the car if this was still happening she would make sure he was okay. If she had honestly hit him and done something she would be a wreck.
" This is definitely the bigger adventure, but if it counts I or he, I am not really sure whose fault it is but we collided and my phone is now in pieces. Only I could be so lucky two days in a row. " she said with embarrassment written all over her face.
Following his directions around to the second parking lot she pulled into a spot and put the car in park before shutting it off. She supposed had she really cared enough to look for it she may have known it was there but since she had parked in the first lot the day before it was just easier. Now that she knew of this one he was probably right in saying it was worth the extra minute's worth of a walk.
" I moved here from Texas. California isn't bad so far. I hear there is a lot to do which is nice, I love that the beach is so close. I love the weather, Texas was far too humid I don't think if I had to I would choose to ever go back. " she said honestly. You could walk out the front door and within seconds be drenched in sweat. It wasn't that she hated the heat, it was just different.
" You said you were fairly new too?" she said finally pulling her keys from the ignition and holding them in her lap as she reached into the backseat reaching to find her bag and setting it on her lap. " How long have you been here and where exactly are you from?" she could have made a guess out loud to him but she didn't wanna sound like a complete retard.
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Post by christophe on Aug 30, 2010 9:48:38 GMT -5
"Reasonably new, yes," Christophe replied. "I started here right at the end of February." So much had happened since then and it definitely felt as if more time had passed than just two and a half months. Loves found... and so quickly lost. Was that going to be the way things would go for him here in the USA? Maybe university would see him fare better? Hell, he could hardly fare worse, could he?
"Before this I lived in Canada. British Columbia," he continued. "A small ski-ing village north of Vancouver by the name of Whistler. Is beautiful there... but earlier than that I was in Paris. I was born there. We moved to Canada when I was 10 years old." He lifted his shoulders slightly. "It was hard to leave all of my friends behind and didn't think I would ever settle in Whistler... but of course I did." He threw her a wry smile. "Then to move again? It's hard to keep having to start over again. Have you found it easy to settle here? I know its only been a couple of days but I trust you have managed to make some friends already. Ones that you don't have to run down to get their attention," he said in a teasing tone.
He would find it hard to believe she'd not managed to make at least one friend (one other than himself of course as he thought of them as friends already) as she was a friendly girl. If not then it was only a matter of time!
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Post by Addison Graham on Aug 30, 2010 10:19:23 GMT -5
Addison didn't feel as stupid now since her assumptions had been right. Paris was a beautiful city, she had the amazing opportunity to see it while they were stationed overseas. She was sure living there was even more amazing. At least she didn't feel like the only one who had moved a lot anymore. Everyone else seemed in awe of where she had lived and now there was someone who had done not only the same thing but in some even more beautiful places.
" I suppose I am settling well. I don't for see there being a problem it is just a matter of time. As far as friends go I have met a few people but not really "befriended" anyone I guess. " Mikasi and her had crashed into each other and he would be a nice familiar face to see around school. She had pizza with Haden the night before but there was no plans to really be friends or see each other again just another passing in school probably. Not that she was bothered by it, she had moved enough to know sometimes these things didn't come easy and true friends usually took even longer to find.
" I suppose we have a bit of time but we better head in." she said opening her door and stepping out making sure to lock the car behind them. She walked around the car to meet him at the front of it watching carefully and when seeing the limp again she thought that she saw the first time stopping in concern.
" I thought you said I didn't hurt you! " she said now feeling more horrible then before. He was limping, she had actually hit him even if just a graze, and he was in some sort of pain. " I'll take you to the nurse. " she wasn't about to let him go walking around like that all day. He needed to get it looked at first just to double check.
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Post by christophe on Aug 31, 2010 13:28:32 GMT -5
Christophe listened intently as Addison told him about her friendships so far. It seriously sounded to him as if she'd fared better in her two days than he had in his ten weeks! That said, his track record was beyond poor. Maybe things were starting to look up?
The French boy glanced down at himself when Addison commented once more about the near accident.
"Bien sur," he assured her, "... I really am unhurt..?" He threw her a wry grin, adding, "... For the most part but as it was my own stupidity that caused it please don't worry. Really, it is no more than a bruised knee."
Perfect, in fact, to match the similarly bruised elbow and scraped forehead he'd picked up in the caverns yesterday evening when carrying Sarissa back out to safety. "No visit to the nurse is needed," he quickly added. "Do you have time for a cup of coffee or something before you head for your first class?" It would be shame to part on such uncertain terms!
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Post by Addison Graham on Aug 31, 2010 22:59:58 GMT -5
Bruised knee or no bruised knee she knew it was her fault. Addison couldn't make him go to the nurse but she knew she was going to feel horrible about it for a long time and the look on her face could tell anyone that. She would have to let it go for now though, she had apologized again and again, she didn't want to get annoying about it. It would be different if she saw it get worse or something. Besides when he gave her a small grin she couldn't have dodged it's contagiousness as she too smiled back.
Addison glanced down at her watch when he asked about time for a coffee. Luckily enough she usually left a little early and they did have some time to waste if they were careful about it. She had everything she needed for first period with her so she wouldn't have to stop at her locker either.
" Yeah I think we have time for that. Where were you thinking?" she wasn't sure if they sold coffee somewhere on campus or if he meant in one of the small shopping centers around the school somewhere. She used to love stopping and getting a coffee on the way to school in the mornings and since they moved she really hadn't bothered trying to find a new place. It was nice to have been there only a few days and she was starting to have some real conversations with people, hopefully a few friends soon as well. It would be a nice change for a while anyways.
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