Parfait!
8:09 pm
Dorcas: Hey Mars
Marlene: Hi Dorc!
Marlene: I’m writing my French essay rn
Dorcas: Oh sorry am I bothering you?
Dorcas: I’ll stop
Marlene: nonono
Marlene: don’t worry ur fine
Marlene: I could actually use some help if ur free
Dorcas: That would be great because I actually need some help for my English essay
Marlene: parfait!
Dorcas: Perfect !
Marlene: actually can I call u?
Dorcas: Yeah sure just give me five minutes to grab my stuff.
Incoming FaceTime call from Marlene
Dorcas leaned back against her headboard with a sharp breath in as she saw the call. Marlene's profile flashed on her screen. It was a selfie of Marlene. You could see the ice rink in the background and Marlene's smile shone bright and happy. Dorcas pressed accept and her screen immediately showed Marlene’s face.
Marlene had a red shirt on that was slightly oversized with the neckline cut out. It dipped down slightly leaving one of her shoulders exposed. Her blonde hair reached her shoulders and she pushed it out of her face anxiously, “Dorc? Can you hear me?”. Her voice was beautiful, enthralling. Dorcas realized she had to speak and she pushed her braids away from her face, “Yes. Hi. Sorry, I’m Dorcas. Well you know that. I don’t know why I said that. Hi.” Marlene giggled and Dorcas didn’t want to hear anything but that laugh ever again. “Ca va bien?”
Wow. She sounded better in French even with the terrible accent.
“Ça va bien, et toi?”
Marlene grinned, “Ça va bien, mieux maintenant que je t'ai vu.” Dorcas laughed before switching back to English, “You tricked me! You said you didn’t speak French well”. “I don’t”, Marlene protested, “My accent is atrocious. My teacher told me so. ‘Tu as un terrible accent Marlène. Je peux à peine te comprendre.’ She always says that to me but she’s this tiny French woman so she’s terrifying.” Dorcas found herself laughing again, how did Marlene make her laugh this much? “Your teacher’s right, but I thought you were beginner level.” Marene smiled, “Je suis”.
“Non, tu ne l'es pas”
“See, I didn’t even understand that”.
“Yes, you did.”
“Yeah, I did”, Marlene paused, “But I swear- I mainly know simple conversation words. Your English is way better.” Dorcas shrugged, “I’ve been learning bits and pieces since I was young, all French kids do. As you said, general conversation is easy, professional writing is hard. That’s why I don't like essays like this one.” Marlene nodded, “Right the essay- what’s it about?”
Dorcas looked down at her notes, “We got to choose from a list of topics and I chose how the media affects the government in England. I know nothing about your English government.” Marlene smiled gently, “I think I might have written an essay about this in secondary school. I can send it to you if you want- “ Dorcas’s door flew open all of a sudden and Barty walked in, Evan in tow.
“Cassiepoo, nous sommes à la maison”. Marlene's eyes opened wider. Barty saw Dorcas, and then he saw her phone and last of all, Marlene.
“Cas, qui est-ce ?” Dorcas frowned at him, “Sortez de mon visage, connard. C'est Marlène. Elle m'aide avec ma dissertation pour le professeur Laurent.” Marlene let out a breath, “Woah. I have no idea what you just said.” Barty turned towards the camera, “You’re English.” Marlene nodded, “Since I was born.” Barty turned towards Evan, “Evan she’s English.” Evan nodded, “Je sais”. Barty grinned and grabbed Dorcas’s phone, “Oh this is great. Christ, I’ve been the only English one here for years. Had to teach all these boogers English.” Marlene laughed, “Dorcas is helping me with my French.” Barty’s eyes widened, “Wait.” Dorcas felt her heart drop, “Barty no”. He grinned, “Barty yes.” Marlene looked back and forth. “Is this the girl-” Dorcas cut him off with a long stream of French curse words. She had told Barty about how pretty Marlene was, and that she was helping Marlene with her French. She had never mentioned Marlene’s name or shown Barty her picture, despite much pleading from Barty. Marlene’s voice brought Dorcas back to reality, “Now I want to know what it is you told him.” Barty grinned wider, and before Dorcas could stop him he spoke, “Dorcas told me about how pretty you are and-.” Dorcas tackled him and Barty fell backward onto Evan who was sitting on the couch on his phone with a bored expression on his face. Marlene looked at Dorcas, “Aww you think I’m pretty Dorc.” Barty called out, “DORC? She already has a nickname for you?” Dorcas muttered under her breath, “I’m going to kill you”. Barty continued, “It took years for her to let us even call her Cass. She barely tolerates our nicknames now”. Marlene smirked, “Dorc?”
Dorcas looked over at her, “Yeah?” Marlene looked at her through the screen, “That true?” Dorcas rolled her eyes and looked away, “Maybe.” Marlene grinned, “So I shouldn’t tell them you have a nickname for me?” Dorcas’s eyes widened. Barty burst out cackling, “Meadowes this is too good to be true.”
Evan looked up from his phone amused, “What’s the nickname?” Barty and Evan both looked at Marlene who smiled, “No can do there. Not giving any more away or I think Dorc would pass away”. Dorcas rolled her eyes again but she felt a smile creeping onto her face. This girl was going to kill her someday. Barty groaned and tilted his head back onto Evans's lap, “Evan the gays are being mean.” Evan cupped Barty’s face in his hands, “Oh you poor baby. Whatever will you do.” Barty grinned mischievously, “A kiss might make me feel better.” Evan tilted his head while looking down at Barty, “I can do that.” Evan brought his head down and kissed Barty and Dorcas looked at Marlene, “This is what I have to deal with all the time.” “I see”, Marlene said, leaning forward on her elbows, “So Dorc. What’s this I hear about you not letting people nickname you for years”. Dorcas sighed with her head in her hands, “Barty wasn’t supposed to say that.” Marlene looked gleeful, “So it is true!”
“Yeah, it is.”
Marlene grinned, “Wow Dorc, seems you’re growing fond of me.”
Dorcas scoffed, “In your dreams Mars”.
A voice resounded from behind them, “MARS?” Dorcas sighed and grabbed the phone, “I have to go, Barty’s not going to stop giving me shit about this. Sorry that we couldn’t work on our essays.” Marlene nodded, “Don’t worry, we’ll do it another time. Bye Dorc.” Dorcas smiled softly, “Bye Mars.” As she hung up the phone Barty started talking to her loudly again but she just tuned him out. She had no idea what had just happened.