2

From the top of the high-heeled shoes that I was practically forced to put on, I drag my feet reluctantly, pulled by Clémentine and Marion who also forced me to go to the birthday party of a girl from my language course that I barely know. Supposedly letting me spend the night in class on a Saturday night wasn't even an option for them.

- You're not soon finished sulking, Clem sneers, noticing the pout that I'm just exaggerating. It will do you good to get out Cam for a bit. You never set foot outside, you'll end up old maid.

-I'm preparing my partials, excuse me for having other priorities, I defended myself by stamping my foot like a kid.

Damn, those heels are scissoring my toes. I had bought them on a whim because they were on sale but unfortunately they were also half a size below mine. This is why I had never put them on before my two tormenting best friends forced me to.

-We are also preparing for our exams, sweetie, that's no reason not to decompress from time to time, replies Marion, without me finding anything else to say to plead my case.

Clem pulls me against her, giggling, already tipsy from the vodka/apple juice mixture they brought home. They emptied it while I prepared myself under their quasi-military command, while I refrained from drinking it despite their sighs and their insistence.

-I'm sure you'll have fun, Clem continues in a cheerful voice. There will be all the players of the rugby team.

- Yippee, I was ironic.

I force an unconvincing smile, not hiding my lack of interest in them. The players are far from frequent, not even the moment of an evening in my opinion. They spend their weekends drinking, smoking, and trying to get as many girls as possible like it's a contest. Surely even for the sole purpose of being lauded by their teammates. To believe that as athletes, constantly sending each other everything that moves is an obligation if we want to honor tradition. Anyway, not really the kind of person I like to spend my evenings with.

Although if I listened to myself, only Baudelaire would be good company.

-Speaking of the players of the Rugby team, look who this is... asks Clem, finally releasing my arm.

We stop in front of the driveway of a pretty suburban house where Kylian Etienne, the very stereotype who perfectly reflects my silent reflections and Kévin Thavaut, his lifelong sidekick whom everyone calls Rabbit for reasons I prefer. ignore, seem to be in a strugglefiercely against each other.

Even in the dim light of the streetlights that line the sidewalks of the housing estate, it's easy to see that Kylian's gaze is angrier than ever. And yet, he already looks constantly mad with rage for no reason.

-Since when are you two fighting? Clem throws at them without hiding his amusement at their childish behavior. Aren't you supposed to be like the two fingers of the hand, like life and death BFF?

His mockery makes Marion giggle at my side, while I refrain from rolling my eyes and begging my friends to have a TV night instead.

-Take care of your ass Clementine! Kylian repacks her, getting up, holding her shoulder in her hand, her face contorted in pain.

-Always as kind as I see, sends him back this one, with her most beautiful smile of plague.

-Kiss my ass.

Without getting out of her mischievous smile, my best friend walks up to him, falsely naively placing her hand on his shoulder. He swears in pain as he pulls away, making her laugh.

-Does it hurt Kyle?

He insults her, which only makes her roll her eyes blasely.

-Come on, we'll let you play whoever has the biggest. Are you coming girls?

I mechanically follow Marion's steps to the front door, discreetly inspecting the way Kylian glares at his best friend. But there is something else, it seems... Sad? I would even say dejected. Unless it's the lighting.

The girls rush inside the house, from which resounds music and a deafening hubbub, and Kevin hastens to follow them, to my great surprise.

It's obvious that Kylian is hurt, I bet they would make peace in no time and that he would stay to take care of him. Clémentine was telling the truth, they are like the two fingers of the hand, these two, always stuck together.

-Hi, whispers Kevin, with whom I had a common subject last year, with a tight smile when he passes in front of me.

I politely send him back before realizing that my friends obviously didn't realize that I hadn't followed them, since I now find myself alone with Kylian, who tries in vain to remove his jacket, grimacing.

-Everything's good... ? I ended up asking him, out of pure patriotism.

I know he won't, but it would suit me if he told me yes, so that I could quickly get away from him and face this cursed evening before going back to my revision sheets.

- Yeah, I probably have a dislocated shoulder but everything is fine. Are you dumb or what? he rants in response.

Really very friendly.

-Excuse me for asking politely, stupid.

I take a step inside, determined to let him fend for himself with his loose shoulder, but he lets out a cry of pain that stops me.

I hold back a sigh of frustration at the choices I have; either ignore him because he's the latest jerk, and join the girls who must have had three shots by now, or help him, because I'm a nice, well-behaved girl. I could also just go home and crash everyone...

-For God Sake ! angrily coward Kylian between his teeth, his face sweating, as he still tries to pry his arm out of his sleeve.

And shit!

I finally release my sigh and decide to go and help him.

Really, I was brought up too well.

-It's okay, leave me alone, I can manage, he pushes me away coldly.

- Oh yeah, do you believe that?

I cross my arms over my chest, point to his shoulder, and arch an eyebrow.

He thought for a second, apparently in turn taking stock of his options, then finally realized the obvious. He nods weakly.

Slowly, I slide the sleeve of his biker jacket down his hard biceps, most likely in pain, then manage to pull it out completely as he stifles a cry, pursing his lips.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

"Thank you..." he stammered, examining his wound.

-I think you should go to the hospital to put it back in place, I grimaced, examining his bone, much too visible under his T-shirt.

- Yeah well, as you can see, I would have a little trouble driving, he replies cynically. Fucking motherfucker!

-Why were you fighting? I can't help but question him.

- How does that concern you?

Not false.

-And what the hell are you doing here? he asks, checking the condition of his cheekbone with his fingertips. Since when are you friends with Meg, I've never seen you guys hanging out.

Well, he may be a little smarter than he seems after all.

-To tell the truth, we are not really, I confessed. We're together in foreign language classes but we don't see each other specifically, it's just that my girlfriends dragged me here... I didn't particularly want to come if you want to know everything.

- Do you have the permit? he continues, obviously not having listened to a word of what I said.

- Uh, yes, but I came on foot.

-I have my car, drive me to the hospital, he orders me more than he asks me, throwing me his keys.

Without moving, I watch him join the car parked near the house, stunned by his lack of good manners and politeness.

-What are you waiting for ? he groans when he realizes that I haven't moved. It hurts, move your pretty little ass princess!

-I beg your pardon ?

Shaken, I come out of my torpor and send him back his key game with a free throw without masking my annoyance. He catches it with his good arm, frowning.

-Please, is that optional, you asshole? I exclaimed, furious. If you need help, ask nicely or fuck off!

I await his answer, which does not come, without much surprise. He remains stoic, his eyebrows mixed between frown and astonishment. I turn around towards the entrance but surprisingly, he stops me.

- No wait, I...

He mutters something incomprehensible, glances around the house, then lets out a curse before resigning himself and walking towards me.

Obviously, I see it, it's costing him his pride.

-Rabbit banged Mégane, he lets go of me suddenly, his voice hoarse.

-Megane? Your Megane?

I hadn't seen that one coming.

-It's not my Megane, he grumbles. But yes, that Mégane.

-Oh I see...

-Look, I don't want to go in there to ask someone for help and risk running into them now, I don't want to talk to them and anyway, if I meet them again right away, it's going to be a carnage so it's better to avoid.

-I understand...

Obviously, it amazes him that this could be the case. He frowns as his caramel pupils stare at me for a moment, then he finally looks away first, suddenly looking uncomfortable.

"So..." he continues after clearing his throat. Would you mind dropping me off at the hospital?

- Apologize first.

-I'm sorry, he does it immediately, sincerely. Please Camilla...

Without further hesitation, I take the keys from his hands and go around him to go to his car.

- Do you remember what my name is? I wondered as I sat down at the wheel.

-Like forgetting the first name of the one who helped me finish my math homework in first year. Assignment that earned me the best mark of all my schooling, he laughs, attaching himself.

-That's because you refused to do anything about it and I clearly did everything for you.

-The Good Lord thanks you Camille, he smiles at me, recovering his cell phone from the dashboard, turning it off and throwing it in the glove box.

He knows I saw him do it, but we just exchange another brief smile without my asking any questions. Well, not on that.

-Why do you say it's not your Megane? I kept on this side. You are dating, right?

-We just sleep together. I'm not the type to be in a relationship.

"That's right," I sneered as he squints as he waits for me to elaborate. I know your reputation. Everyone knows her...

"Hmm," he stammers before turning to me, holding his arm, a weird smirk. And you, what is your reputation Camille?

-If you don't know it, it's because there isn't one. Labels are not for me. Unless there is one for "serious student".

He winces as if it were an end in itself. Which it certainly is for a guy like him.

- You have to know how to have fun too.

-I'd think I heard my girlfriends... I laughed.

- Your girlfriends are right, it's not at thirty that you can have fun like now, you have to have fun while you still have time. One night with me and believe me, you'll already feel a lot lighter darling, he tells me the most natural thing in the world.

I glance at him, forgetting for a second that I'm driving and my foot sinks, nervously, on the accelerator pedal. Which makes him react.

- Hey princess, I would like to have my shoulder put back in place, not all my bones.

- Seriously, who do you think you are? I exasperated myself.

-What ?

I giggle annoyed as I enter the deserted expressway, which allows me to accelerate further.

- My God, you really are a moron! Is that how you get to fuck the whole campus?

- "Like that" how, exactly?

-You simply offer them a night with you on the pretext that it will relax them and, poof, they jump into your bed?

-Angel face darling... he whispers to me, rubbing his chin, his eyelashes fluttering.

What egocentrism!

I look away from his, shaking my head blasely, unable to understand what all his girls find him, apart from being well done and rather cute I want to admit it. But that's the only pleasant thing about this guy.

-And for the record, I didn't hit all the queues on campus., he continues.

-That's not what they say over there anyway.

-Stop me if I'm wrong, but we're both in the same college and unless my memory fails me, we've never slept together, he jokes with a nailed teasing smile lips, bringing out a slight dimple on his left cheek. TRUE ?

-True, do I have to admit.

-So gossip is only gossip. On the other hand, if you heard that I was a super shot then that, darling, you can believe it, he sells himself.

-Sorry but I only believe what I see, I add without thinking, only wanting to nail his pretentious valve.

The second I realize what I just implied, I want to hide six feet under. Even more so when he raises an eyebrow in defiance, clearly amused.

-When you want, where you want princess. I'm ready to prove you anything you want.

My cheeks heat up, probably turning peony red, while his vicious laughter rises in the cabin and makes me roll my eyes. For the smooth running of this journey, and the good, let's say cordial understanding that reigns there for the moment, I prefer not to continue this conversation and kill myself in silence.

I don't see any players from the rugby team, but I'm pretty sure this is definitely the worst of them all. I only knew of her reputation which was already not glorious but obviously she doesn't even seem to live up to the real character yet.

He spends part of the rest of the trip laughing like a fool listening to a guy blathering on his best ass plan on the radio, despite my blasé looks and my disillusioned sighs.

-Are we coming soon? restarts after a long time by lowering the sound of the car radio. I'm starting to feel my fingers more...

I subtly take my eyes off the road to check her hand, feeling my body tense at the color her hand has taken, which has turned almost completely purple.

-Shit... I think it's more serious than expected, I couldn't help but comment. I think it's broken...

"Fuck it," he moaned, closing his eyes, sweating again. When do we arrive ? I really don't feel good here...

He opens the window and leans his pale face there for a breath of fresh air, swallowing, mouth twisted, then grumbles about things I don't understand.

-Stop the car, he orders me, leaning his head heavily against the headrest.

-What ? For what ?

-I think I'm going to pass out, he mutters, on the verge of fainting. Please stop, he repeats almost in a whisper. Now Camille...

I quickly park a few meters away on an emergency lane, slightly panicked by the turn of events. He shoves the door open as I untie him, then literally drops to the ground screaming from the impact, his shoulder visibly waking up.

- Kylian! I rushed at him, this time completely freaked out. We're still a good fifteen minutes from the hospital, do you think you can hold out until then?

In response, an indecipherable growl.

-Okay, I'll call an ambulance, I decided.

I rush to retrieve his cell phone from the glove compartment, not having taken mine for fear of losing it or someone accidentally dropping it during the evening, and turning it back on while pacing around Kylian for that I explain the situation to the Samu.

"I really don't feel fucking good," he tries to articulate, slumping onto his back, screaming louder when the pain seems more acute. Camille?

-Yes ? I squatted, the phone to my ear since I was asked not to hang up until the emergency workers will have joined us.

"I…" he swallowed, pulling his hand away from his face, planting his livid gaze on mine. Please stay with me.

The agony in his voice is surprisingly overwhelming. He shyly slides his frozen, trembling hand into mine without taking his eyes off me, which I can't do either.

"Please..." he whispers.

- I stay here, I'm going nowhere. Samu is coming, ok? They will be here soon.

-THANKS...

I watch him weaken over the seconds, without even masking his fear.

He is far from the image of the strong and impassive rugby player he marries perfectly at university. Lying half on the gravels, half in the grass, body shivering, lips blue, sweating. I swear the second I pull away to set up the warning triangle, I hear him moaning in agony between his lips. My name.

He is in a total trance, inevitably frightened. He mumbles that the coach is going to kill him, that the season is over for him and that he screwed up, his sweaty hand still clinging to mine that he didn't let go for a second until help arrived. .