Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 59

(Bundah's POV)

I hadn't planned on running into anyone that day. I was hoping to catch Cylan alone and maybe ask her how she was handling the stuff going around about her sexuality and Emily. But instead, I spotted Charlotte sitting on a bench just outside the dorm. She sat with her head buried in her phone and tapped her fingers rapidly. Her brow was furrowed in concentration and she seemed to be muttering under her breath. She was probably practicing English again.

I stopped and hesitated. I knew her story, or at least some of it. She was the quiet foreign girl who had ended up in this place by mistake and her struggle with the language barrier made her seem even more isolated. Most of us didn't bother to speak to her because no one knew what to say. But seeing her sitting there and looking so lost, I figured, why not? Besides, I needed a break from all the drama around Cylan.

"Hey," I said and sat beside her.

Charlotte jumped a little and her eyes widened before she offered a hesitant smile. "Bonjour," she replied softly.

I scratched the back of my neck and felt awkward. "Uh, that means 'hi,' right?"

She nodded as she watched me with her curious eyes. I felt like she was studying me and trying to figure me out.

I tried to remember the bits of French I'd learned from random movies. "Uh... Comment ça va?" I asked and tried to sound smooth but probably failed miserably.

Charlotte's eyes brightened with amusement. "Bien, merci," she replied and then paused as she seemed to search for the right words. She slowly added, "You... speak French?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "Nah, I just know like two phrases. You can teach me the rest if you want."

She tilted her head and a shy smile appeared on her lips. "Okay." Then, as if something clicked, she fumbled with her phone and opened her translation app. She tapped the screen and let the robotic voice speak for her, "Why... you want... learn my language?"

"Well," I began and leaned back against the bench, "if we're going to be friends, I figure I should know how to say more than just 'hi.' Plus, it'd be cool to impress everyone else when I start speaking French."

She giggled and the sound was light and sweet. "You... funny," she said as she tried to speak without her phone. "Very... funny."

"Merci," I said and grinned, proud that I remembered that one. "So, Charlotte, tell me more about you. I feel like we've never actually talked."

Charlotte's smile faded a little and she took a deep breath as if preparing herself. "I... from France. I come here... for school. But... I make mistake." She pointed to her phone and continued with the app again, "I was sent here because of a mix-up. I wanted to study art but now I'm stuck here. I try to leave but no one listens."

heard that. "That's tough," I muttered.

"No. I... want to

I said and shook my head. "I had no idea it was that messed up for you. This place really knows

eyes grew

leaned forward. "Well, how about you teach me some French and I'll teach you some English slang? You know, so when you finally escape this place, you can blend right

first time, I saw genuine excitement in her expression. "Yes!" she agreed eagerly. "I... teach

lesson. How do you

and tapped on her phone before it

grinned. "I'm gonna use that on

...

(Charlotte's POV)

I looked forward to seeing Bundah again. He was different. Most people here, except my girls, treated me like I was invisible or some strange creature they couldn't understand. But Bundah, he saw me.

at the same spot and just as I hoped, he showed up

replied and felt

"Alright, today's French lesson. Hit me

phrase and let the app do its thing. "Comment dit-on... um... 'good friend' in

then grinned. "You can say 'bestie' or

repeated

laughed. "I mean, do

I... understand," I said

he nodded. "And hey, tu

beat when

hour exchanging words, laughing at his terrible pronunciation, and sharing bits and pieces about our lives. He told me about how he grew up in Detroit and

the vineyards, and how I used to paint by the river. I even shared a little about my parents, how they'd saved up for years

of here," Bundah said confidently. "I'll make sure of

me?" I asked, genuinely

leaned back. "Because you're my 'bestie' now. And besties

was the first time in a long time