4 Second Intentions

Second Intention: A tactic in which a fencer executes a convincing, yet false, action in hopes of drawing a true, committed reaction from their opponent.

The apartment complex Cécilia resided in was in the least seclusive area of Paris; the 7th arrondissement known as septième. Her building complex was beyond the standard brick rectangle as Paris was famed for its magnificent architecture. Though, Cécilia couldn't even comprehend in thinking of nothing else but her sweet, sweet bedroom.

Stumbling up clumsily to the top floor of her maison, fencing gear dragged lifelessly up the stairs, Cécilia eagerly threw herself at her door.

The young teen chucked her gear disregardingly to the side as she plummeted into the softness of her pillow; and just as she felt an overwhelmingly blissful sleep overtaking her senses, the ringing of her cellphone pierced into the tranquility of her room. As the second ring blurred out just as ajaringly, she began contemplating if she really had the motivation to pick up the call. Ultimately, Cécilia conceded by the fifth ring and slammed her thumb against the accept button.

"Uh, hello?" was the only response that fumbled clumsily out of her mouth as Cécilia anxiously wished for the call to end.

"Cécilia! I've been texting you since your fencing practice ended! Didn't you remember that you were supposed to meet us at the Ice cream parlour?" A girls voice flared, Cécilia's eyes widening as it dawned upon her what she had so mistakenly forgotten.

"Alissa I am so sorry! I completely forgot after my mom nagged me on the car ride home, I'll be there soon!" Ending the call abruptly, Cécilia frantically replied as she hustled out of bed and forcefully snatched her sneakers that were once disregarded on the floor.

Alissa considered herself a patient girl. Calm and rational in hectic situations and taking deep breaths even during her intensest tennis matches. This was the result of having Cécilia as a best friend. If Alissa had to guess how many times Cecilia had forgotten a meet up, or came late to an event, her estimates would reach well over the thousands.

Eventually, about seven minutes into the wait Alissa began turning towards the entrance of the glacier when she heard a familiar voice yelp behind her.

"I made it!" Cécilia panted as she closed the distance between herself and Alissa, her face flushed. After desperately begging her parents to let her leave the house, Cécilia ran just short of a mile, thanking her lucky stars that her body was even capable of going that fast.

"Alright girl, let's just get our ice-cream before it all melts," Alissa tittered, draping her arm over the brunettes shoulders as she guided her into the shop. Cécilia mentally sighed in relief, glad that her friend had not been disgruntled by her tardy appearance.

Upon entering the parlor, Cécilia was greeted with many familiar faces as the entrance chimed open, revealing Lucien, Marionette, and Gabe all seated by the nearest booth.

"Look who finally decided to show her face," Marionette quipped light heatedly. Her cerulean eyes glimmering with excitement. The primary cause of her giddy had his hand clasped with hers in open display on the table.

"But it doesn't seem like my company is the one you craved," Cécilia countered, gesturing to the PDA sprawled out on the countertop.

"You should try sitting with these two," Lucien added ludicrously, blond bangs hanging lowly over his eyes as he laped up on his first fudge-chocolate swirl.

"Well, at least we all had the decency to wait for Cécilia to come instead of gorging on the ice-cream like pigs," Gabe pointed out. A smirk pasted on his face when Marionette chuckled under her breath.

"Hey, when you do football, come back to me with that statement," Lucien challenged, slurping the bottom of the cone.

"I don't know which is more disgusting, Lucien stuffing his face, or the sickenly sweet sight known as Marionette and Gabe," Alissa whispered disturbingly, earning herself a laugh out of Cécilia.

"You would think with how often we see this, it would get better, you know?" Cecilia fathomed, sliding into the empty spot that she had designated to herself, the seat next to Lucien. She never really ever got over her elementary, school girl crush for him. Alissa, instead of attempting to sit with Marionette, opted for the chair across the booth instead.

French Terminology

Maison: a residential building, in particular a dwelling inhabited by a family or a small group of people.

Septième: directly translated in English as the number seven. Also what the 7th arrondissement is referred to as.

glacier: a shop or cafe selling ice cream.