#bergen_county

"Well, yeah.... I mean it -is- a lie but if you play it right you can make it, like, a joke? Tell her the truth?"

"Hell, I'll tell her I made you do it."

"You'd be wililng to bite the bullet for me? Zane's right, you are cool"

A shrug. "No big, man."

"No, how can I repay you?"

"Hey, let's get this right first. She's still out there."

"Fair.. so what name should I take? Francois? Louis?"

"What's French for Jimmy? Or James, I guess?"

"James in French is James" he says "Yeah, I'm a blender"

"Perfect! We can keep it, makes things easier."

"Oh wait, it's Jacques...though I thought that was Jack?"

"Close enough? Whichever one you like best." Magnanimously.

He says with a french accent "here in ze ocean depths, there is a beauty unparralled, but even here, zere are signs everywhere of man's enroachment" A blink "Oh yeah, I can do Jacques"

"Jacques it is!"

"Ok, so..." He scrapes up the last of his ice cream. "When does this happen?"

"Tonight I guess is when I can first meet her? But maybe not? I mean.. if I need time to create the alias.. or should I improv?"

"Improv." Decidedly.

"Then tonight it is!" He says "Jacques is on!" he says

"Better than Jacque-ing off!" Adam laughs.

"On second thought, Renee is looking good" He groans

"Nah...." Adam jostles him good naturally. "Where?"

"The skating rink my friend. You ever been?"

"Not here but Yeah! You ready?"

"Sure..let's go!" He says and starts to carry a napkin holder with them as they leave

"Dude, you think the napkins are going to help?"

"oh..sorry" He sets it down and walks out "Pisky have sticky fingers"

"Focus....." and off they go, Adam driving!

"I'm trying.. " He coughs and practices his french accent as they drive "Le singe est sur la branche."

And so they arrive at the rink.

The rink seems to have become so uncool it's cool again... these things happen with the youth.

As Abba and other bands far older than anyone here play, teenagers circle about as they come in.

Adam is happy to spring for skate. "You see her? What does she look like?"

"Kind of like... " He looks over, then gestures, "her"

Jimmy sighs "She's not fae, but she should be"

"Tell me about it." Adam sighs as he laces up.

He glances over, nods. "Nice, man."

Jimmy is already laced, "I know. Did I already tell you her name?"

"It's Casey" he goes on anyway "She's perfect"

"Casey. Gotcha. Ok, let's make this happen!" Adam stands and, balancing carefully, heads out to the ice.

And the two move out rolling along. Jimmy rolls agily enough

It takes a moment for Adam to find his balance but he manages well enough.

And casually, Adam and Jacques skate up closer to Casey.

Casey has two other girls she's talking to as she skates.

Adam breezes up and past. Casual. But, he makes sure they notice HE noticed them.

The three girls notice him noticing but try to pretend they didn't notice because, you can't encourage that

He flashes them a charming grin and skates on.

Jimmy skates by....and..

"Jacques, dude, catch up!" He motions to his friend.

they continue to pretend they don't notice Adam