Discover Love-Innocence

Chapter 1

The great bell of the Collège Sainte-Thérèse echoed throughout the courtyard, announcing the end of classes. In the second class was a young girl, sitting a little in the back, jotting down her homework at the last minute for next week, while her classmates put their things away and her teacher left the classroom. She hadn't seen the time pass, too busy secretly reading a novel she had borrowed a few hours earlier from the library.

She hurried, thinking that her driver was in front of the barrier like every other day. When she left her classroom, the school yard began to desert and the manager was going to close. Like the other students who were still hanging out, she left. However, the car that always came to pick her up was not there. She looked at her watch, it was almost 3 p.m. By this time, she should already be home. The young girl therefore went to sit on a bench on the sidewalk of her school to wait for the latecomer. At the same time, she decided to continue the novel she had started while the last students paraded back home. Further on, in the same street, a young boy was in a hurry to go to his house because large gray clouds were forming in the sky. It was raining and he didn't want to be soaked. Even though no drop was falling yet, he was speeding up his steps and it looked like he was running. Arrived a few meters from the young girl who was lost in the lines of his book, he stopped for a moment and sighed in front of his tranquility. She looked so carefree. Seeing her uniform, he immediately understood that she attended this school for young girls. He looked away from her and just as he was about to continue on his way, a trio of boys - one of whom preferred to come home without a driver the better to hang around on the way - from another school, came in front of him. He didn't pay them too much attention and continued on his way. He should not linger especially in this corner occupied by many pretentious students.

Nothing seemed to exist around her. This book captivated her, the form as much as the content. She greedily devoured every line that didn't ask her to stop reading. This writer had a real talent and one would have said that it was him, the "god of words". He had totally transported the young reader into his world.

"Hello !"

A masculine, uneasy voice suddenly pulled her out of her reading. She lifted her head and saw a young boy with regular features standing in front of her, accompanied by two others. She didn't answer, just closed her book to put it in her backpack.

"I'm talking to you. Are you mute ?" he snatched the book from her hand to throw it away.

Her eyes widened in surprise at this sudden and outraged behavior. Who did he think he was? Why did he seem so angry? She looked at him and got up to go and retrieve this novel so precious to her.

"Where do you think you're going ? he stopped her, taking her wrist.

He was very cheeky, though. It was the first time a boy had addressed her so boldly.

"Do you know who I am ? he added.

Should I ? she said back.

She can speak but she does not know me, he laughed false. Mademoiselle, I am Rigaud, the son of the mayor of this town. And you are ?

The one who doesn't care about your identity, she abruptly withdrew from his grip."

He took his wrist back and squeezed it more this time. She frowned and winced slightly in pain at the pressure this manless boy was exerting.

"Don't pretend you're not interested in me, pretty. Most girls like you ...

Get off your little cloud. I won't repeat it, take your hand off my wrist.

Stop pretending you're not the easy type of girl,” he gritted his teeth."

This remark made her wince. He was exaggerating, he didn't even know her and he dared to tell her that.

"Looks like someone needs a gallantry lesson around here, a passerby said calmly."

Indeed, it was the boy who was rushing. He was far enough away when a few snippets of the conversation reached him. He didn't like the way the other spoke to the girl. He had felt compelled to retrace his steps. And, in a single sentence, he had caught everyone's attention, especially Rigaud, who was looking at him with disdain.

"Who are you ? he asked, still holding the girl.

You better leave her alone. It is not because you are supposedly the son of the mayor that you have to allow yourself everything.

You don't have to tell me what to do. And where do you come from? Where did you find these outfits? In the famous pèpè, I suppose ? He scoffed as he released her to confront the newcomer."

The others laughed and the mocked did not take the height of him. Instead, he went towards her while trying not to meet Rigaud's gaze.

"Do you think you're a super hero? continued the one who claimed to be the mayor's son, pushing him on the back.

"And you ? Who do you think you are to come bother my girlfriend? he got angry in hopes that he would go away.

The young man's words surprised her. Rigaud stared at him, taken a back before laughing with his companions. He couldn't believe these two were dating. They didn't look alike. He was about to pull out another mockery when it started to rain. He hated the rain.

"You are lucky. Pray not to meet again, he warned before leaving followed by those who were with him and followed the scene without really taking part"

He wanted to go home quietly but probably just had made an enemy. He glanced at the young girl who was watching him without daring to speak. He picked up the book which was suffering from the drops of rain. He read the title with his eyes and an amused smirk stretched his finely drawn lips.

"If I were you, I would go home and protect ... that book that seems to have cost a fortune, he handed it."

She still didn't say a word. He arched his eyebrows not quite understanding why she was staring at him so much; she made him feel weird. Did he have something on his face?

" Take it. I don't think you're a statue", he tried with an embarrassed smile, snapping his fingers.

She pulled herself together and picked up the book, confused. Suddenly, rain poured down on them to drench them completely. At the same time, a black car appeared at their height. A smartly dressed young woman stepped out, face firm, with an umbrella over her head and a second in her other hand. She was coming in their direction, more precisely towards the young girl to whom she handed the object she was holding.

" Are you O.K ?" she asked, neutral.

The concerned responded with a positive nod of the head. When the young woman noticed the boy, she looked him up and down.

" What do you want with my daughter? she threw him without a touch of kindness. Come on Marie-Anne, let's not stay here, I don't want you to catch a disease."

She grabbed her hand and dragged it behind her. This lady, especially his mother, had looked at him badly without knowing that he had just helped the young student. He hadn't even received a thank you from her. He had only been entitled to her silence and her insistent gaze which had embarrassed him. He was soaked by it now. He cursed in his native language and resumed his journey, not without muttering.

Inside the car, the adult berated the driver, who was not even present, for not having come to pick up the teenager on time. She even swore to fire him if the same mistake was repeated despite the explanations he had provided. The car had broken down, he had to go to a mechanic and it had taken longer than expected. When her boss noticed her daughter's absence, she called him and then decided to go get her, herself.

Marie-Anne, for her part, observed the flow of water on the glass while smiling softly, without showing any interest in what her mother was saying. That boy said she was his girlfriend, she reminded herself. She blamed herself for not having opened her mouth to ask for his name and thank him. He had beautiful eyes and his voice was so complacent. One thing was sure, she wasn't about to forget it. He was not like that other boy who was really a bully, who was sorely lacking in courtesy. She wondered what could have happened without this saving intervention. For a short moment, she imagined herself in a novel. She let out a mad little laugh that caught the driver's attention.

"What's wrong ?" she asked.

Nothing, she smirked.

By the way, who is this boy?

I don't know. He was just passing by.

Are you sure ? Didn't he tell you something ?

It’s the first time I’ve seen him." she replied.

She doubted a little of the veracity of his words. She had just seen them on the sidewalk together and they seemed to have been in the middle of a conversation despite the rain. Plus, she saw her smirking dreamily.