Darn Stupid Brother You Are

(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."

My heart sank when I heard that. "That's tough," I muttered. "So, you didn't come here willingly?"

She shook her head. "No. I... want to go home."

"Damn," I said and shook my head. "I had no idea it was that messed up for you. This place really knows how to mess with people's lives, huh?"

She nodded and her eyes grew misty. "Oui... it is... difficult."

Trying to lighten the mood, I 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 in?"

Charlotte's eyes lit up and for the first time, I saw genuine excitement in her expression. "Yes!" she agreed eagerly. "I... teach you."

"Okay, first lesson. How do you say... 'You're awesome'?"

She blushed and tapped on her phone before it translated: "Tu es génial."

"Tu es génial," I repeated and grinned. "I'm gonna use that on you from now on."

...

(Charlotte's POV)

The next day, 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. He tried. And that made me feel happy.

I waited for him at the same spot and just as I hoped, he showed up with that big goofy grin of his. "Bonjour!" he greeted and sat beside me again.

"Bonjour," I replied and felt more confident.

He smirked. "Alright, today's French lesson. Hit me with something new."

I giggled and pulled out my phone. I typed in a phrase and let the app do its thing. "Comment dit-on... um... 'good friend' in English?"

He thought for a second and then grinned. "You can say 'bestie' or 'bro.' But if it's a girl, you say 'sis.' You feel me?"

"Feel... you?" I repeated with my accent thick.

"No, no," he laughed. "I mean, do you understand?"

"Ah! Yes, I... understand," I said and smiled.

"Cool, cool," he nodded. "And hey, tu es génial."

My heart skipped a beat when he said it. "Merci," I whispered.

We spent the next 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 always got into trouble, and how his family thought sending him here would 'straighten him out.'

I told him about my home in France, the little town near 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 to send me to America and believed it was my dream. But now, that dream felt like a nightmare.

"You'll get out of here," Bundah said confidently. "I'll make sure of it."

"Why... you help... me?" I asked, genuinely curious.

He shrugged and leaned back. "Because you're my 'bestie' now. And besties look out for each other."

I felt warmth spread through my chest. It was the first time in a long time that I felt safe.

...

A Different Day...

It was during another one of those chill moments that I saw it-the way Ava's minions moved toward me. I recognized the look in their eyes and the sneers on their faces. They were coming to taunt me again, like they always did when Ava wasn't satisfied with herself.

"You know, you're not even supposed to be here," one of them hissed. "Why don't you just leave already?"

I tried to move past them and avoid the confrontation but one of them blocked my path. "What's the matter, Frenchie? Can't understand English?" She laughed with her friend.

Before I could even respond, Bundah appeared out of nowhere and stood between me and them. "Y'all got something to say?" His voice was calm but there was a warning edge to it.

The girls exchanged looks before scoffing. "Whatever," they muttered and backed away. "She's not worth it."

I let out a shaky breath and my heart was still racing. "Merci... thank you," I said and clutched my phone tightly.

Bundah shrugged and flashed that easy grin of his. "No biggie. I'm always gonna have your back."

And just like that, I felt something shift between us. It wasn't just about being friends anymore. It was more.

"Bundah," I said, "you... tu es génial."

He laughed and the sound was warm and contagious. "I told you I'd get it right." Then, in his terribly broken French, he added, "Vous êtes incroyable."

I couldn't help but laugh. It was the worst pronunciation I'd ever heard but somehow, it was also the sweetest.

Just maybe, this place wasn't as lonely as I thought.