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I s to school now?" For reasons unknown to oes by his last na a job at a movie theatre, but I didn’t believe hirab the final escalator "He’s never worked a day in his life"

"Have you?" Because not many people who’ve been to our school have

Josh frowns He’s ashamed of his answer, and it comes out like a one-word confession "No"

"Me neither" We both hold the guilt of privilege

Josh glances at his phone again I lean in and exaly uniforood in maroon polyester?"

He cracks a smile

The escalator ends Josh types a quick reply, silences his phone, and returns it to his pocket I wonder if he told St Clair about our date I wonder if I’alleries, but the ives us pause The tables have been res, white lipstick, andtrays of chah the swarm of bodies Josh turns to me and cocks his head "Shall we?"

"Why, yes" I respond with atwinkle "I believe we shall"

We slip inside, and he grabs two flutes as the first tray whizzes by We’re the youngest people here, by far It must be a private party The clamour of excited voices and the outlandish, kaleidoscopic music make the room unusually loud for Paris "It’s like New Year’s Eve in here," I shout

He bends down to shout back "But not the real one That glamorous, fake one you see in fil television alone in lass and nods towards one of the restaurant’s giant decorative-aluminium shells We duck underneath it The noise becolass "To the new year? Our new school year?"

He places a dramatic hand across his heart "I’h "Okay, how about…comics? Or Joann Sfar?"

"I propose a toast" – Josh raises his glass with s"

"And Joann Sfar"

I laugh again "And Joann Sfar" Our glasses clink, and his eyes stay carefully fixed upon rin "Ha! I knew it"

"Knehat?"

"You held eye contact with o around here, but you do know I knew you knew You’re too good of an observer" I take a triune The pristine fizz tickles the tip of rows so enorhter

Thank you, France, for allowing alcohol to be legal for teenagers

Well, eighteen year olds And we’re close enough

Josh is a at you simply because I want to look at you?"

"I’ll bet you speak French better than you let on, too You never use it at school, but I bet you’re fluent People can play duive themselves away in actions In the so down the wrong hole He coughs and sputters "Play duht? You’re fluent"

Josh shakes his head "Not all of us grew up in a half-French household"