NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 19
We couldn't decide on a pizza so I decided to just buy us two separate pizzas. Gwen didn't like the idea of me paying for both but I was slightly ahead of her in line so I was able to make it to the register before her. While we were bickering, a brown haired worker in the kitchen dropped something. The woman who was on the register cursed and traded places with the clumsy girl who I assumed was a new hire. She seemed nervous as she called us to take our order.
When she saw me walk up to the register she sighed in relief.
Maybe she's glad I'm around her age?
"¿Hablas español? (Do you speak Spanish?)" She asked.
I was surprised since I rarely hear Spanish in this town. "Si. (Yeah.)"
The girl clapped her hands "Excelente! Mi inglés no es muy bueno. (Excellent! My English isn't very good.)"
"Oh, veo. (Oh, I see.)"
I guess I looked surprised because she started explaining herself.
"Mi familia inmigró hace un par de meses, así que todavía estoy aprendiendo el idioma. (My family immigrated a couple of months ago, so I'm still learning the language.)"
"¿De dónde eres? Si no te importa que pregunte. (Where are you from? If you do not mind me asking.)" I asked while adjusting the strap of my pochette.
"Está bien. Soy de Guerrero, México. ¿De dónde eres? (It's ok. I'm from Guerrero, Mexico. Where are you from?)"
"Aquí. Pero mis abuelas de Ecuador. (Here. But my grandmothers from Ecuador.)"
The clumsy cashier seemed excited after hearing that. "Oh! Cómo es- (Oh! How is-)" She was interrupted by the older worker cursing loudly in the kitchen. She seemed to be angry at a different worker.
The brunette sighed "Me distraje ya que es muy raro ver a otros hispanos aquí. Debería volver al trabajo... (I got distracted since it is very rare to see other Hispanic people here. I should get back to work...)
I nodded "Está bien. Lo entiendo. (It's ok. I get it.)"
"Bienvenido a Little Caesars. ¿Puedo tomar su orden? (Welcome to Little Caesars. Can I take your order?)" She said in a formal tone.
"¿Puedo pedir una pizza vegetariana con masa rellena y una pizza Hot-N-Ready de pepperoni? (Can I order a Veggie Pizza with Stuffed Crust and a Hot-N-Ready Pepperoni Pizza?)"
"Sí. La corteza rellena lo hace más. ¿Estas bien con eso? (Yes. The stuffed crust makes it more. Are you okay with that?)"
"Si, esta bien. (Yes that's fine.)" I said while taking my Louis Vuitton wallet out of my pochette.
I opened it and looked inside.
I cursed.
*
Gwen ended up buying both of the pizzas and it was all because I left my credit card in my dorm room. After picking up the pizzas we went across the street to this turnaround right next to the apartment complex across the street. This little residential area was pretty worn down but I decided to not complain as we sat down on the curb. We opened our pizza boxes. My pizza looked so good and I wasn't even a big fan of pizza.
We ate most of it in silence. I think both of us were hungry. My mood went up after my second slice. It wasn't like it was good, it was painfully mediocre but at least I wasn't starving anymore.
Gwen looked at me. "I didn't know you knew Spanish, Jocelyn."
"Yeah. My mom didn't teach me so I learned through a class freshman year." I explained.
She took a bite of her pizza while I was talking. She swallowed her food and asked. "Was it important for you to learn?"
I thought about it for a little.
"Sorta. I barely know my mom's side of the family so Spanish makes me feel connected to them in a way."
The academic nodded "Interesting. It's good you went out your way to learn it."
"I mean it was a class that I had to take anyway so it's not like I did much." I admitted.
"You could've taken French."
"What would I do with French."
"Go to France. If you wanna do somethin' with modelin' in the future isn't France a big place for that."
"Yeah, France is big for that..."
I forgot Gwen knew about that. I'm so used to hiding it...I don't have much to say about that part of my life though.
"What language did you learn in school?" I asked and took a bite of another slice of pizza.
"French." She said in between chews.
"Why'd you take it?"
The academic swallowed and answered "Well I wanna go to Sciences Po for college."
"Sciences Po?"
"The Paris Institute of Political Studies."
"Oh."
"Yeah. They do have English classes but if I move there I'd wanna be able to talk to people, you know."
"I get it." I said and took a bite of my pizza.
There was a bit of an awkward silence after that.
"...Also, I think the language hot." Gwen admitted.
I looked at her. I was surprised she wasn't blushing.
A certain green haired 'senior's' cheeks would definitely be red after admitting that.
The academic was about to take a bite of a new slice of pizza but the end flopped in her hand.
My stuffed crust veggie would never.
"Flirt with me in French. I want to see for myself." I jokingly said.
Gwen laughed but still turned towards me on the curb. Her legs were still in the street but now they hugged the side of the curb. She put her pizza in its box and looked me in the eyes.
Erm...I didn't think she'd actually do it.
"Vous êtes cheveux. C'est beau...Comme un ange. Ça t'a fait mal...quand tu es tombée du ciel?" She said...hotly.
Is that a word? I don't know but her voice got hot. It sounded deeper and a little breathy. Er...I need to respond!
I cleared my throat. "Wh-what did you say?"
"I said 'You're hair. It's beautiful, like an angel. Did it hurt you when you fell from the sky?" She explained, her homely Southern accent back.
I blurted without thinking. "Really? That's kinda lame. You need to step it up if you want the guys falling for you."
The academic rubbed the back of her head "I guess I do."
She picked up a slice of pizza out of her box and looked at me.
"And girls. I'm gay."
"..."
She took a bite of her pizza.
"Ehhhh!" I blurted again without thinking. I was genuinely surprised.
Gwen swallowed her bite and looked at me confused. "Why are you surprised?"
"The few times I saw you at school you were hanging out with a big group of guys so I just assumed you were straight." I explained.
"Those are just my baseball buddies. Guys are just friends to me."
"Aren't you on the softball team though? I'd think you'd hangout with them." I asked now calmed down.
The academic looked embarrassed. "Well I joined up Sophomore Year and the softball team is very clique-y and very pretty...It makes it hard talk to em' when we're not playing."
"I see." I said and took a bit of my pizza
She gets nervous around pretty girls. I guess that's understandable. I could say something stereotypical but this is NOT your average, run of the mill rom-com.
Gwen waved her right hand. "Don't worry, I think your pretty too. I'm just kinda used to you."
"..."
Maybe this is your average, run of the mill rom-com...