**bolded is French (because I’m too lazy to translate)

Tuesday mornings are almost as bad as Monday mornings.  Especially when my nosey best friends find out I went somewhere, without them.  Apparently going to an arcade with a boy who was also their friend without them was the worst kind of blasphemy. 

“Why would you pick him over us?  You like us better right?”  Daniel whined and tugged on my jacket sleeve.

“Of course I do.” I spoke soothingly while patting his shoulder.  With a heavy sigh, I leaned against the door next to our classroom and looked back and forth between Jisu and Daniel a few times.  “It’s not like I wanted to go guys.  He just showed up where I was and dragged me there saying that I wasn’t living or something by sitting inside the library alone.”  They of course didn’t know about the café and I don’t think they ever will.  Dongrim was sworn to secrecy.

Jisu sighed and poked my shoulder, “Just tell us that it was terribly boring without us.” 

Laughing I pushed off the wall and wrapped my arms around both of them.  “Don’t worry it’s near impossible for me to have fun without my best friends around me.”  This seemed to please them and they hugged back.  Of course I wouldn’t admit spending time with Dongrim was actually kind of nice expect the fact that he beat me at every single game, but I digress. 

They moved back a bit and Jisu spoke, “Good and we’re having pizza and our movie night tonight right?”

He really shouldn’t even have to ask anymore.  Tradition will never ignored in the Fournier household.  “Yeah of cou-”

“Nope sorry guys Celine is all mine tonight.”

I couldn’t decide if I was embarrassed, annoyed or confused when I turned to see Dongrim standing there, smiling.  “Excuse me?  I don’t remember inviting you to my house.”

“You said that we would work on the project today at your house when we were at the arcade.”

Pouting I glanced over at Daniel and Jisu who seemed to be just as surprised as I was.  I had expected him to forget about that just as I had until early this morning.  “But…but…pizza-and movies!”  We hadn’t missed a single pizza Tuesday since we became friends.

Dongrim, unfortunately, does not understand the need to have pizza Tuesday at my house and he just scoffed, “Is that more important than your grade?”  When I didn’t answer right away he sighed and tried again, “then you shouldn’t have blown off working yesterday.”

“I didn’t blow anything off I was busy and then you dragged me to the arcade.  And I’m not giving up my pizza Tuesday for Charlotte Corday,” I snapped, stamping my foot.

Dongrim smiled and shook his head, probably confident that I would change my mind.  “But you will.”

“And why should I?”  I challenged with a scowl.  At this point, I just wanted him to go inside and let me talk to Daniel and Jisu in peace.  Actually, I need to hit Daniel and Jisu for not helping me out of this; they loved pizza Tuesday more than I did.

“Because the project is due next Friday and we have to write a speech or make a video.”

“Oh.”  He had mentioned the other day that he wanted to make a video instead of giving a speech but I didn’t think he was serious.  Before he could make a remark I added, “I’m still not giving up my pizza though.  So you can come by after and we can work then.” 

I turned back to Jisu and Daniel who shuffled nervously for a second before Daniel spoke, “He can come with us Celine it’s not like-”  Before Daniel could finish the warning bell rang. 

Glancing up at the ceiling, I sighed and gave Daniel and Jisu quick, one armed, hugs.  I wanted to debate with Jisu about Dongrim never being allowed to stay at my house ever but when I spotted our teacher walking down the hall I let the subject go for now and darted inside. 

“So does that mean I’m invited?”  Dongrim asked as soon as he sat down in his seat that aggravatingly adorable smile on his face.

“Pft not if I can help it.”  However, I had a feeling that I would not have much say in the matter.  Having friends, that are friends with someone you may or may not want to kiss senseless, was painful.

~~~~~~

Just as I expected, Jisu the sweet person that he is, happily invited Dongrim to pizza night and my brother was actually excited to make pizza for him as well.  Traitor, I will smother you in your sleep. 

So here, I was, walking with Daniel, Jisu and Dongrim to my apartment and they were talking about something, I could not bring myself to pay attention.  Especially when they started talking about dancing three blocks back.  I am about as coordinated as a baby.  So is Jisu actually but at least he tries I always give up and throw a tantrum.    

Just as I was about to open the door I stopped and turned, pointing at Dongrim.  “I have two little brothers they’re twelve and they’re twins and they’re going to run away every time they see you.  They don’t like new people.”  Before he could respond, I turned back and opened the door, letting all three of them in first.

As expected, there was a chorus of hello from my two younger brothers and my older brother from the kitchen.  My younger brothers ran out to greet Daniel and Jisu who they loved but stopped abruptly when they spotted Dongrim.  Watching the three of them size each other up I nearly started laughing.  “Marc, Michèle, this is my friend Dongrim say-” Marc was the first one to dart away and Michèle followed right on the older twin’s heels.  They will never change. 

“You weren’t kidding.”

“I told you, you should know my sense of humor isn’t very good.”

Before Dongrim could say anything my brother walked out of the kitchen and laughed, “You don’t have any sense at all.”

Scoffing I started to throw my bag at him before deciding that was too much work.  “Sleep with one eye open tonight.”

As always, he didn’t believe any of my threats and walked right up to Dongrim offering his hand.  “I’m Richard.”  He stepped back and nodded to Daniel and Jisu, “It’s just going to be the five of us tonight guys’ grams is out with her friends and David is over at his friends and Marc and Michèle are leaving for some school trip in about an hour.” 

Daniel shook his head a bit and jutted his thumb towards the door, “Actually me and Jisu are leaving after pizza so it’s just you three.” 

“Oh really?” He turned to me and before he even said a word, I knew he was going to make fun of me.  “Now I almost feel bad, almost, just remember to actually work on the project, okay?”  He turned back to the others and clapped his hands twice, “Well Dongrim I hope you like pineapple and sweet corn.”  Before Dongrim could respond though, Richard walked back to the kitchen humming softly. 

I wanted to shoot myself.  I might as well be home alone with Dongrim.  Richard would be in his room playing StarCraft all night.  I know that it should not bother me but as much as I would like to deny it there is something about the boy that attracts me and the last boy I had feelings for that I brought home, was first year.  And that did not end well.  Not to say that I have feelings for Dongrim no, he is just attractive.  That’s all.

Once Dongrim recovered, he placed his bag in the corner with Jisu’s and Daniel’s.  “You have four brothers?” 

Why does everyone sound so surprised when they say that?  And I could have sworn I told him before.  Oh well.  Chuckling I held up my hand, “Five, but my oldest brother Alan doesn’t live with us anymore.”  We stood around awkwardly for a second before I clapped my hands together, “Alright pizza won’t be ready for a while so what are you standing around for?  We have some shows to watch.”  When they still didn’t move I sighed and walked over to the couch slowly, “If you don’t sit down before I get there we’re watching We Got Married.”  It’s really amazing how fast boys can move with the right motivation.  Before they could fight for the remote, I snatched it up, squeezed myself between Daniel and Jisu, despite their protests, and the TV to an old episode of Star King.

One episode turned into three and with it, two pizza pies were devoured before Richard retreated into his room.  I thought for a second Daniel and Jisu had forgotten they were supposed to leave.  That was until I went to the kitchen to get the last slice of pizza and came back to just Dongrim sitting on the couch, grinning.  I didn’t even hear the door open and close, those boys are getting it tomorrow.  I blinked hard a few times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming and when he was still there alone the nervousness set in all over again.  “I’m…going to get something to drink.”  But that something to drink turned into me eating in the kitchen as well.

When I finished Dongrim wasn’t on the couch.  However, once again, I didn’t hear the door open and close, and I doubt that Dongrim knows how to avoid the creaky spots in the apartment floor.  I checked my room first and actually sighed in relief when I saw he wasn’t there.  I was not in the mood for him to tease me about my UKISS posters.  And he wasn’t in any of my brother’s rooms either which left me with the bathroom as the final option.  I shifted around awkwardly for a second and before I could even knock Dongrim spoke nearly making me jump out of my skin, “You can come in.”  I hesitated for a bit thinking that he was trying to play a trick on me but.  I did not expect to find him sitting in the bathtub though. 

But he was.

Lounging in the tub, tossing a washcloth in the air casually, his ankles crossed and he was humming a tune I didn’t recognize.  “I don’t even have words you are so ridiculous.”  I snorted, trying to hold back my laughter.

He threw the washcloth at me and I didn’t bother catching it as it hit my shoulder.  “Now you just need to come kill me with the knife hidden in your shirt.”  His grin is infuriating sometimes, how am I supposed to properly tease or be mad if I keep smiling? 

Biting the inside of my cheek, I fought the grin off my face and leaned against the doorframe.  “Oh so you’re Marat now?”

He nodded curtly and shifted against the tub.  “Yes.”

I nearly scoffed and took a few steps forward pretended to reach for my knife.  “And I’m Corday?  Not sure if I should be offended or not she’s a bit childlike.” 

“Well…” He trailed off and shook his head before smirking and looked over at me again, “Or you could join me it’s quite comfy.”  I surprised myself when I didn’t dart away but actually walked forward though I knew I was blushing there was no way around that.  His smirk grew as I reached the tub and I don’t even know what possessed me as I knelt next to the tub and leaned forward.  I think I surprised him as well because his smirk disappeared and I swear I saw a blush on his cheeks.  Right before our noses touched I stopped and smirked as I poked his chest and whispered, “You’re dead.”  It wasn’t until I looked in his eyes again that my senses came back to me and I realized how close I was and how good he smelled and did his lips always look that attractive?  How was it possible for someone’s eyes to be that gorgeous?  And I couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking as well.  But neither of us moved forward or back, and I don’t know if I’m excited or nervous about the way he’s looking at me.  His tongue ran over his bottom lip and I just about lost my damn mind.  Just as I felt myself start to lean forward a shout came from across the apartment.    

“God damn it all!”

The spell was broken.  Thank you Richard.  Smirking and trying to fight off a blush I flicked his forehead and moved back, standing once again.  I stuck my tongue out at him and forced myself to walk away slowly.  As soon as I closed the door behind me, I sighed heavily and placed my hand over my chest nearly laughing with contempt.  It was pounding, my face felt like it was on fire and my chest felt heavy.  As much as I wanted to deny it I wanted to know Dongrim, I wanted Dongrim.  Jisu is going to kill me. 

With one more glance at the closed door, I cleared my throat, “I’ll be in my room when you’re ready to start the movie.” 

What they didn’t know wouldn’t kill them.