OH, IT'S AMOUR

The French exchange program that will change Ash's life forever.

& - & - &

one

I tapped my pencil on the edge of my desk with a tap, tap, tap. My eyes scanned blankly around the room. My peers were chatting away with their friends while I sat in my usual seat in the corner, alone. The bell hadn't rung yet and I was already sitting there, notebook open, waiting for the day's vocabulary to be taught to us.

It made me wonder why I was always alone. Why didn't I strike up an interesting conversation with these people? Yes, I was dreadfully shy and I had only come here about two months ago, but that didn't give me any excuse what so ever not to befriend them.

Well, at least I had Jamey in this class. She was one of my best friend's here at Oakdale High School. I was grateful to have her, and some of my various other friends, who sadly, were not taking French Class. Apparently, Spanish was much easier and more of a universal language than French was. I could name off why French was so much better than Spanish, I had told them. Of course, they wouldn't listen. Spanish is only good when you're in California or traveling to Mexico, anyway. I guess that was just my opinion though.

Ashland Johnson is my name. Also known as "Ash" or (sadly) "Ashy" by the ladies. I am eighteen years old and I just moved from my cozy small town in New Jersey to San Francisco, California. My dad worked a lot, so I had to move from place-to-place every now and then. I guess I didn't mind much, besides moving away from… Well, I guess I won't get into that now. Now my appearance isn't much. I had almost-white blonde hair, I dyed it, and turquoise eyes that were always outlined in black. I had a slender frame, and I was kind of wimpy looking, but that didn't bug me much. I liked being so slender, though I was commonly mistaken by my senile grandparents as anorexic.

I looked up as another bell rang, the one-minute bell, signaling people to get ready for their class or they'll get their asses chewed by their teachers. I smirked at the though.

Where was Jamey? I wondered, then frowning. Sadly, I had forgotten that she wasn't sitting next to me. No wonder it was so quiet at the moment. She better be here because I wouldn't make it without her infectious laughter and explicit sexual misunderstandings of the vocabulary. Examples of that was as when she told me the time learned the words for "mouthful" and "salty" on the same day in first year. We're both taking AP now.

Luckily, God was smiling down on me and Jamey was rushing in the room, sitting down in her seat next to mine. I peered over at her and smirked just as the tardy bell rang.

Madame Smith, or Madame S, as we called her, walked up to the front and smiled at us as she began her announcement. It must have been important or she would have already written up today's assignment on the whiteboard. I sat up in my chair now, from my usually slouched position. This would be interesting, I hoped, so I gave her my full attention.

"Bonjour class!" She said with her usual, excited attitude. "Well, I've been working on something very important and I'm going to need all of your help."

We listened.

"In about two weeks from now, French exchange students are coming and we need host families. If you're interested, you won't have to do culture points for the rest of the year while they're here. All you need to do is take them around, show them places, give them a wonderful experience. They will come around with you to school, then after they will go with you to places. I know what you're thinking 'what about homework?', well I'm going to all your teachers if you're hosting and excusing you from your lessons." Everyone cheered.

"Here are the French students. Girls host girls and guys host guys. Remember to ask your parents if you can host and if you want a form, come talk to me."

She passed out their information, and I looked through all of the males. None of them seemed that interesting until I landed on the last person. I picked up his form and passed the rest down the isles.

Jamey leaned over my shoulder, "Patrick Thomas, huh?" She read his name and smiled. "He's a cutie, that's for sure." She nudged me in my side and giggled.

He was the most adorable thing I have ever seen in my entire life. He was eighteen as well and lived in Champagne, a region in France. He was slender, had somewhat messy black hair and gorgeous hazel eyes. He was only slightly shorter than me as it said on his information sheet. It also said his favorite music was "American rock music". He loved the beach, too and the sunset. Oh god, was he the most beautiful, interesting French boy ever! I really hope I can host him, I thought to myself, even if he wasn't interested in guys. I wouldn't know that.

I sighed and walked up to my teacher, "Can I have a form?" I asked. She looked up and smiled.

"Oh good, Ash! I was hoping you'd be interesting in hosting. You're one of my best students, after all!" She smiled over-enthusiastically and I wanted to gag. She turned and grabbed a form, handing it to me.

"Which one are you interesting in?" She asked as she gave me the paper. "Huh?" I asked, looking at her oddly. I almost paled.

"I mean, which one do you want to host?" I eased up. Of course that's what she meant. I was just nervous she'd see right through me. I mentally wiped the imaginary sweat off my forehead.

I held up Patrick's information sheet and she smiled, "Ah, yes." She nodded. "He knows a lot of English. Very smart boy. Would you like to see his letter?" Mme S asked. "I'm sure you'd take quite an interest in him."

"Sure," I replied and she gave me the letter. I moved back into my seat and read it, ignoring what Jamey was asking me. I was too excited to even think about what she was asking. God, I'm a bitch.

Hello there-

My name is Patrick Thomas and I can't wait to be visiting your country. I am seventeen years old, a junior as you call it, and I have been studying English since I was a young child and have always be interesting in the language, especially after my sister met and married an American man, and moved quite near where you are. Perhaps I'll be able to introduce you to them (I haven't seen her in quite some time)!

One of my interests have to be music, especially American rock and metal. It's very different from what we consider to be music. The rap music is definitely not the same compared to yours. Another one of my interests is drawing. I am in AP drawing and painting; two separate classes. I am very passionate about my artwork and perhaps I can show you some when I get there.

Anyway, I hope to see you soon,

Pat.

Oh! He definitely was my type! What was my type, anyway? I shrugged my thoughts off and looked back up at Jamey.

"What were you saying Jame-sters?" I asked.

"Oh, it was nothing. I read the letter when you were." She smiled. "Like I said, Ashy, he is super adorable! I really hope your parents say yes and let you host!"

& - & - &

I strode into my house and threw my backpack carelessly to the side when I entered the kitchen. My mom looked up from the table while she sat there and did her taxes.

"Hey mom," I began, sitting down in front of her. "Can I ask you a favor?"

"Sure, hon. What is it?" She looked up, taking off her reading glasses. Anyone could easily tell where my odd turquoise-colored eyes came from. Hers were striking.

"Could I host a French student? And before you say no, hear me out," I looked at her and she nodded. "It's an amazing opportunity and I get to learn so much about the French culture there and I just really think it'd be good for me."

I closed my eyes tightly and waited for her to say no.

She smiled, "I do too." She agreed.

I opened one of my eyes, "Really?" I asked, looking at her bewildered.

"I do." She said. "You're really interested in France and stuff, so yeah. Why not? How long are they staying?"

"For the rest of the school year and about two weeks into the summer, so about…" I counted. It was April. May, June… Three months and a week?"

She raised a brow, "But isn't this person a senior? What about his graduation?"

I smiled, "Oh, he's a junior. Seniors come in the middle of Summer." She nodded.

"Well, I don't see why not."

I smiled wider and jumped up, "Awesome!" I showed her the form and she filled it out quickly, knowing how speedy she was with paperwork, being a secretary and all. "You're the best!"

I was so excited to have Patrick come and stay with me, I think I was going to explode. I went on AIM name and smiled when I noticed Jamey was on.

MedicDroidx: Jamey!
wtfmate001: ashy!! wat did ur mom say?
MedicDroidx: She said yes!!
wtfmate001: im happy for u.
wtfmate001: yay!
MedicDroidx: I'm happy too! Aw yay! Patrick's gonna be my wittle french boy!
wtfmate001: ya he is! lol.

& - & - &

"Here's the permission slip." I thrusted the sheet towards the teacher and she took it.

"Oh, that's great, Ash! I'm really glad you're doing this." She told me.

I merely smiled and nodded, thinking in my head, yes, I know already, stupid bitch. If you couldn't tell, the teacher annoyed me. I missed my old teacher, she was smart, and definitely not-so bubbly.

I sat myself back down as the teacher gave the people who are hosting a sheet with a list of things you will do.

Jamey looked at the paper before I could, swiping it off my desk. I shot her a glare. She read out loud.

"Hello student, I'm glad you will be participating in this activity. It is a great experience for you and the French student, blah-blah-blah…" She paused, reading through the lines, rolling her eyes along the way. "Here we go… You will be told the e-mail of the student you will be hosting and you will be taking to him or her throughout the course of the two weeks until he or she arrives. See me for the address."

She looked down, "Looks like you'll be talking to your lover sooner than you expected."

& - & - &

I stared at my computer, "Shit." I mumbled, my fingers twitching over the keys. I didn't know what to say. 'Bonjour' wouldn't cut it, I wouldn't have hoped. I guess it would help to introduce myself.

Hello Patrick -

Bonjour, Haha.

I'm Ashland Johnson. I'll be the boy that's hosting you for a few months.

Well, I guess I should start saying stuff about me; I'm a eighteen years old and a senior. I'm pretty shy at the most-part, but I warm up to people really quickly. I hope we can get along well, because we seem to have a lot of the same interests. You like the same music I do and stuff, so it's all good, right?

Sorry if you don't understand parts of this email, but I assume you know a lot of English since you've studied it for so long. Um, I really don't know what else to put.

Any questions?

Ash.

"I sound like an idiot and a jackass." I mumbled, deleting the "any question's part." I ran my fingers through my hair, causing it to be in disarray. "I guess that's as good as it's going to get though, for now."

I pressed the send button, sucking in a deep breath.

God, I hope everything goes smoothly. I did not want to give a good impression. Too late for that now, I'd expect.

& - & - &

Sitting down at my computer, it was the next day. My eyes shifted over the power button to my cp and pressed it. The computer came to life and I sucked in a breath.

Once everything was loaded, I clicked the Internet Explorer button and went on Yahoo. There was one new message in my inbox. Shit.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

RE: bonjour

Yep, that was him.

One double-click from the cursor made the screen popup, causing the page to start loading in a few seconds. The email was now revealed.

Bonjour Mon Ami,

I'm Patrick Tomas (as you know) and I'm pleased to have made your acquaintance.

I'm really excited to be visiting the United States and I hope you don't think ill of me for whatever reason. I am just a simple French boy wanting to come here. Don't worry, I'm no terrorist.

Ah, I sound lame.

I'm sorry. I'm pretty much horrible when it comes to formal writing. I honestly don't know what to say. I'm nervous (after all, you're super cute).

Anyway, please don't take me the wrong way. Eeee, now I'm ten times more nervous that you'll be a homophobic prick.

Don't hate me!

Pat.

Wow, this kid had better English than I do after all the years I have been speaking! Jesus, he could probably pass off as an American if he didn't have a French accent (which I assumed he did).

That's when realization dawned on me and I re-read a sentence. My heart stopped.

He called me cute. Cute! And he just friggin told me he was gay! Me! A total stranger! For all he knew I could be some faggot-hating bitch (but obviously that's not the case, lucky him).

Quite an odd French boy.

Nevertheless, I responded, joy in my heart.

Patrick,

Oh, I don't think about you in anyway that's bad! Actually, the opposite.

You're quite cute yourself!

Uh, anyway. Yes, I hope we can be really good friends and all that jazz. I hope I don't come off too strongly either. We haven't really formally met.

I can't wait, though.

Er, yeah.

See you soon,

Ash.

Shit, I wondered how he could be nervous! He's not talking to a hot sexy French boy! Of course, I'm American so French people must dig the American accents, right? Ugh, I don't even know! I'm so nervous I'm sweating. I definitely can't wait until I meet this guy in person. I wonder if he looks as good in real life as he did in that picture.

But hey! I shouldn't be sweating. I'm cute!

Right?

& - & - &

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yep, well that was the first part. I wonder if this story is too lame to continue. Don't worry, they're not going to pounce on each other the first day they meet. There are going to be some problems, for those of you who are hardcore FictionPress critics and have to have the people take it slow. Yay! (-Insert Sarcasm Here-) Please review!