CHAPTER THIRTEEN
J ean
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J ean s first week at USC was a bit of a mess, but at least it was an eye-opening experience. Laila had secured them a pair of private security guards to watch the house and escort them to class in the morning, but there was always one or two reporters following along. They couldn t approach, but they snapped nonstop pictures just to be aggravating and called their intrusive questions over to Jean the whole walk.
By Tuesday the hungry press had figured out campus was where they were most vulnerable, and they started camping outside of Lyon to follow the Trojans to class. Rhemann immediately filed a complaint with the university. By the following morning half of the campus entry points were barricaded and security desks guarded the rest. Anyone needing entry to campus needed a written invitation from the faculty or a student ID. It successfully locked the reporters out, but the extra steps for access were unpopular with Jean s teammates.
Around that bit of chaos, Jean was learning how to be a college student. It was a curious thought to have when he was starting his senior year, but it wasn t until Wednesday afternoon that he truly understood how narrow his view had been. The Ravens lives had been tightly controlled, with dedicated instructors and compact classes tailored to work around their shortened schedules, so he d never really spent time on campus. He remembered towering buildings and boring lectures, the shuttle that would rush the Ravens back to the Nest, and little else. Now Jean was trapped on campus from six to half-past two five days a week.
Monday and Wednesday were a series of easy hand-offs, Shane to Jeremy to Cody. Jean always had a lunch prepared, since he and Cat put together a week s worth of meals, but Cody sought out one of the on-site dining halls for their own food. Afterward the pair found a sunny spot to settle down, and Cody drifted between easy conversation and comfortable silence until it was time to head to the stadium.
Tuesdays and Thursdays proved to be a bit more complicated, but Jean hoped it would get easier with time. Now that the school year was underway, Jean s permanent schedule with Dobson settled into place. It was a wretched way to start the day, having to call her right after morning practice, but at least it got her out of the way. Somehow every single one of the floozies had a class during that period, but Tanner was free and willing to study at the library while Jean holed up in one of the study rooms for his call. As soon as Jean was free Tanner had a million questions for him about the Ravens, most of which Jean ignored unless they had to do with drills.
Jeremy had gotten permission to sit in Jean s business microeconomics class so long as he wasn t disruptive. He didn t have to pay attention, but on Tuesday he gave it a good attempt out of some semblance of curiosity or solidarity. By ten minutes in his eyes had glazed over from boredom, and five minutes later he was fast asleep. Since he was quiet at rest and he was only attending for Jean s sake, Jean let him sleep and focused on his own notes. Jean s next class was in the same building, so he sat tense in his classroom until Shane caught up with him. Afterward Cody came by to snatch him up.
On Thursday Tanner thought to bring his laptop and a headphone splitter to campus, so he and Jean watched part of a Raven match after Jean hung up on Dobson. Tanner pointed out every instance he spotted the kind of shot Jean s drills were slowly teaching him. Seeing it in action and knowing what he was working toward pulling off seemed to light a new fire in him. Tanner wouldn t have any court time this year, as the USC Trojans recently started red-shirting their freshmen, but he was trying to cope by looking ahead.
No one s going to see me coming, Tanner said, sounding pleased. They ll know my high school stats only and not that I was getting one-on-one training from the perfect Court.
Assuming you can ever learn the drills, Jean said.
I can! Tanner made a face at him. I m trying.
Sometimes you do. Most of the time you are a walking disaster.
Rude! Sorry I wasn t born creepily gifted, or something? But I can do it. I m not gonna stop until I figure this one out. He checked his watch before shoving his laptop into his backpack, and he hesitated to turn a serious look on Jean. Hey, I was talking to Lucas about your drills. You sticking him on a light racquet, and all, I wondered if these would help him figure it out, but he said he couldn t come. You two still fighting?
My personal opinion of Lucas is irrelevant, Jean said. He is a Trojan.
Tanner kicked idly at the leg of Jean s chair before getting to his feet. That s not really a yes or no, you know.
The drills do not have an invite list.
That s still not- Tanner gave a disgruntled sigh as he started toward the exit.
Jeremy was coming from class, so they reached Hoffman first. Tanner had another open period, since he d stacked most of his classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, so he was in no rush to leave. Tanner practiced swings while he waited, complete with unnecessary whoosh sound effects. Jean tried not to hold his form against him, since Tanner was obviously doing this more for entertainment than proper study, but it was still irritating enough he had to look away. Luckily Jeremy was by to save him only a couple minutes later.
He really likes you, Jeremy noted as they got settled in their classroom.
He likes the muzzle you have put on me, Jean returned. If I could treat him honestly, he would have walked out weeks ago.
And would that make you happy? Jeremy asked, studying him with a steady look. Treating him like a Raven, I mean, with your contrition and anger and perfectionism. Would you enjoy it? Because I don t think you would; I think you re just so caught up on the results that you ll accept whatever process will get you there fastest. He s a kid, Jean. He s got five whole years ahead of him.
Jean was saved from answering when the teacher stood up from his desk to start class, but the question chased him as he filled his pages with notes. Would you enjoy it? He imagined driving the butt of his racquet into Tanner s back or hitting him across his padding hard enough that Tanner would feel it for days, and he drew agitated circles in the corner of his page. It would be for Tanner s benefit, obviously; a couple good hits and the man would either step up or give up. Jean was doing him a grave disservice being so tolerant with his mistakes. Tanner s future and the Trojans success were more important than anyone s individual happiness.
And yet.
The Trojans placed second in the nation more often than they did third, and they d given the Ravens a good run this spring. Slow and steady and unserious was working for them, for the most part. With a little more grit and a little more blood, maybe they could have already closed that gap and seized the victory they claimed they wanted. Instead, they d settled into their role of being second place. Objectively, they were a failure of a team, a squandered collection of phenomenal talent.
Even still . Jean curled his fingers into a slow fist, looking for pain that had long since faded. When the season started next week and he could see firsthand how they handled their opponents, he would know for sure how wretched this year was going to be.
-
F riday was the messiest day of the week to handle, as the only one of Jean s classes to carry over was his eight o clock business writing class. He had nowhere to be until afternoon practice started at three. The absence of ceramics meant Jeremy was also free, except he had to leave campus for therapy on Friday. Cat should have been available for at least part of the morning, but she had meetings with her advisors to discuss changes to her program. Shane left Jean with Xavier and Min instead, who turned him over to Nabil an hour later, and then Emma and Mads came to steal him away. Jeremy returned only ten minutes before Cody could stake a claim on Jean s time.
You showered again, Jean said as Jeremy got settled at his side.
Jeremy stared blank-faced at him. Uh?
Different cologne. Jean dragged a highlighter over a relevant section of his notes. This one does not suit you whatsoever.
Jeremy tugged at his shirt to sniff it. Oh, I didn t even notice. Not mine, he explained when Jean glanced his way. I bumped into a friend on my way back to campus. Is it really that offensive?
Knowing it had come off another man s body made it twice as terrible. Yes.
Sorry, Jeremy said, sounding more amused than apologetic. He scooted out of Jean s space, then moved again when he realized he was upwind of Jean. His smile was irreverent when he asked, Better? and Jean refused to humor him with a response. Jeremy didn t press him for an answer but flopped back on the grass with a satisfied smile. Jean highlighted the same section again with a little more force.
Jeremy looked at peace, but Jean found the silence grating. Cody s arrival a few minutes later finally broke the tension, and the older backliner dropped into the empty space at Jean s side. Today they had a little carton of strawberries with them, and they held it up in offering. Jeremy made a face at the sight, and Cody rolled their eyes before divvying it up between just the two of them. Jean ate his slowly, savoring the tang, and was only halfway through when Cody looked between him and Jeremy.
Ready for tomorrow? they asked.
The western district followed the same schedule as the northeast: the first weekend of the year was reserved for the fall banquet. It was an easy meet-and-greet before the season got underway, a chance to assess one s opponents without the sourness of a first game already muddying the atmosphere. The south and central districts put anywhere from one to three matches on the schedule first, which Jean had found annoyingly backwards last year.
This year the University of Arizona was hosting. Laila guessed it would be an eight- to nine-hour drive once breaks were accounted for, and she d taken him out last week to find something appropriate to wear.
Yes, Jean said, before adding, I do not know these teams except on paper.
Oh, I guess you wouldn t. Most of them are pretty cool-to us, anyway. Quite a few have serious issues with each other. The only one who wants to beef with us in public is White Ridge. Cody hummed thoughtfully and tugged idly at the grass. Normally we just kill em with kindness until someone else intervenes or they embarrass themselves by being awful, but I don t think it s gonna work this time. Not if Jeremy s going, I mean.
Jean stilled with his last strawberry halfway to his mouth. If.
Cody misunderstood and flicked Jeremy a keen look. Unless you changed your mind?
No, Jeremy said, staring up at the sky. I m still going.
Jean frowned at them both. It is a mandatory event. Attendance is required.
Cody looked at Jean like he d grown a second head; Jean stared back and waited for someone to explain this new insanity. After a few uncomfortable beats Jeremy finally pushed himself up on his elbows and explained, I haven t been to a banquet since my freshman year. Coach has always excused me.
If the ERC finds out you ve been skipping-
They know, Jeremy cut in, with a smile Jean didn t believe for a second. Jeremy didn t explain but tugged at his shirt and said, Didn t notice this cologne until you drew attention to it, but you re right, it s unbearably strong. I m going to go scrub it off and put on something that doesn t smell. You mind getting him down to the stadium later? he asked Cody.
Cody s mouth thinned to a hard line, but all they said was, Yeah, I ve got him.
Thanks! Jeremy hopped to his feet and left.
Cody watched him walk away, and Jean studied Cody s serious face for any clues. At length Cody gave a sour, Bright as a broken bulb and still in the running for valedictorian. I will never understand it, and scooted so they were facing Jean. You really don t know? Even if he hasn t said anything, it was all over the news a few years back. Oh, wait. They hesitated and counted years on their fingers. I guess you weren t in college yet. We wouldn t have been on your radar.
It was only half-true. Jeremy had started his freshman year one year ahead of the perfect Court, but Kevin tracked the Trojans seasons too obsessively to miss his arrival. Maybe Kevin knew what Cody was dancing around, but Jean had never bothered to read the articles Kevin shared with him that year. Like he d told Kevin, his reading hadn t been strong enough to try. And like Kevin had accused him, Jean had been ultimately more interested in the accompanying photographs than whatever the text might have said. Jean pushed such thoughts aside as useless and forcibly focused on Cody.
You weren t, he lied.
Cody muttered unintelligibly as they scrubbed at their face: stalling, Jean guessed, as they figured out what to say on the matter. At length they gave an explosive sigh and dropped their hands to their lap. Well, most of it is public record. I can give you the press-friendly story now, or you can wait to see if Jeremy is feeling truthful later. Either way, we at least need to talk about Noah. There s a non-zero chance some asshole will bring him up tomorrow, and I know Jeremy won t want to talk about him.
Former Trojan, Jean guessed.
Cody winced. Jeremy s baby brother.
A new name; the missing piece. Jean remembered the child who appeared in only one photograph in Jeremy s house; he remembered the hoarse edge in Jeremy s voice as he confirmed his brother s death. Four years this August, he d said, and Jean knew how this story would end. He almost told Cody he didn t want to hear this story, but Cody was already picking through an uncomfortable explanation.
Noah was Jeremy s plus-one at our freshman banquet-not by choice, but I missed a couple details on how he got saddled with him. Polite enough kid, but very obviously not okay. Any time Jeremy got distracted by anyone or anything else, he just kind of... Cody passed a hand back and forth in front of their face and affected a vacant stare before finishing with, ...checked out. Jeremy said he was just tired and bored out of his mind, so I let it go. Not the kind of guy you wanted to get in an argument with back then, you know?
Jean had no idea what that was supposed to mean, but this wasn t the time to get sidetracked. He tucked that comment aside for later as Cody continued. Jeremy got invited to an exclusive afterparty, so he sent Noah back to the hotel alone. Probably figured he d watch TV or go to sleep early, but Noah went up to the roof instead. Security footage had him at the rooftop lounge for about three hours. Cody rubbed away a sudden chill before saying, When he finally got up, it was to go over the railing.
He d known it was coming, but Jeremy s jagged, He s gone, echoed in his thoughts as Jean stared at Cody. He jumped.
Officially, no. The press release said he was trying to get a picture of the skyline and leaned too far, or some weak excuse like that. Since the footage was never released, the Wilshires could spin the story however they liked-and what they liked was to farm his death for pity points and privacy. Needed something to counteract Jeremy s disastrous evening. Coldblooded, if you ask me, Cody added. Jeremy needed help, not damage control. I really thought we were going to lose him for a while there.
It was so unexpected Jean could finally shove Noah and Elodie from his thoughts. Cody grimaced at the sharp look Jean sent them and gave a helpless shrug. To really get into that, we d have to talk about the rest of the night. Do you want that story from me or Jeremy?
He said I can ask, Jean said. I will ask.
Your call, Cody said. They checked their watch and collected their trash. Just promise me you ll keep an eye on him tomorrow. Most everyone who was a problem back then should ve graduated by now, but I know at least one who s still around. These kinds of grudges don t go away so easily.
He is my partner, Jean said. I will protect him.
He d gotten Neil through three weeks at the Nest; dragging Jeremy through one banquet would be easy. Having to behave would be the only difficult part.
-
T he west-coast fall banquet was a dinner affair, scheduled to start at six mountain time. Rhemann wanted his team in Tucson an hour ahead of time, which meant they were due at the stadium by half-past eight for a nine o clock departure. A charter bus and its driver were waiting for them in Exposition Park. Loading their overnight bags and dinner clothes into the storage compartments was easy work. White and Jimenez took a head count in the parking lot, and Rhemann and Lisinski did another once everyone was on board.
There were enough seats that the coaches could each sit alone and a few of the Trojans could similarly spread out. Derek and Derrick, unsurprisingly, packed in side-by-side. Jean s four students sat together, one pair in front of the other. Jean s satisfaction was short-lived, as there were also five strangers in their midst.
Dates are allowed, Jeremy reminded him when Jean voiced his disapproval. Despite his reassuring tone, there was a telltale smile tugging at his mouth. Jean scowled at him and slid into the next available seat. Jeremy settled in beside him and said, Fair warning: there ll be more of them this December. It s just rough finding people this early in the year. First weekend, you know? Everyone s still getting settled.
All the more reason to forbid it, Jean insisted, but Jeremy only laughed.
With Jean, there were nine bodies in the so-called floozy group. Cody was the odd one out, but they were quick to fill the empty space beside them with a bag of snacks. Pat and Ananya had the seat behind them, and Cat and Laila the one in front. Jeremy and Jean were across from the girls, and Xavier and Min claimed the spot behind them.
Jean was content with his spot on the outskirts, and he only paid their cheerful conversation half a mind as he watched Los Angeles slide by out the window. He d loaded a few matches onto his laptop last night, but it wasn t likely to do him much good. He d learned early on that reading or watching anything while traveling made him wretchedly carsick. He d spent most away games with the Ravens simply sleeping away the hours, desperate to make up for time lost at the Nest.
The first few hours were easy, sliding in and out of a doze while his friends laughed and chatted about anything under the sun. He woke to find Cat and Cody now sharing a seat, both hunched over handheld game devices, while Laila solved a crossword puzzle. Jeremy was on his knees facing backwards so he could talk to Xavier and Min; trust the man to never run out of anything to say.
Jean planned on going back to sleep, except he was too rested to drift off. That was annoying and unexpected. He wasted half an hour trying before he gave up and started counting teams on his fingertips. He named as many strikers as he could think of, half-heartedly quizzed himself if they were right-handed or left, and mentally assigned them his best-guess at jersey numbers. He was halfway through the list when Jeremy realized he was awake, and the captain broke off his conversation to settle down at Jean s side.
Good news, he said, with a touch too much cheer. Three hours down, six to go.
Jean flicked him a withering look. I will leave you behind at the next rest stop.
Jeremy s smile was radiant and unafraid, and Jean had to look away even before Jeremy said, You wouldn t.
Maybe not, Jean said, but I ll think about it.
Jeremy laughed. Did you not bring anything to do? Jeremy asked. When Jean only waved that off, Jeremy said in French, Hello! My name is Jeremy Knox. What is your name?
The sound of his language on Jeremy s lips was enough to give Jean pause. He counted his heartbeats as he studied Jeremy s face, committing the textbook-perfect sounds to memory, and finally said in English, I am not an ideal practice partner for you. I am from Marseille, he added, when Jeremy looked ready to argue. You are learning Parisian French.
It took Jeremy a moment to catch on, and he looked delighted. You have an accent.
Yes.
So do Cody and Sebastian, Jeremy pointed out.
You already understand the language they are speaking, Jean said. You know how to compensate for unexpected pronunciations without risking your own progress.
Jean took one look at Jeremy s stubborn expression and swallowed a sigh. Explaining the difference between his mother s nasal proper French and the twang of his father s dialect was not how Jean planned on spending this ride, but with six hours ahead of them Jean would make an exception. He broke it down as simply as he could, explanations followed by examples, and Jeremy listened with unwavering fascination. Jeremy tried sounding a few words out despite Jean s best attempts to discourage him. The self-study course Jeremy had settled on would contradict these lazy vowels and lingering sounds; practicing it Jean s way would only set him back.
Jeremy shrugged off Jean s warnings. Maybe I can find a tutor from Marseille.
No one will take you seriously if you learn French with a southern accent.
Does that really matter? Jeremy asked, studying Jean with a stare that felt prying. I m not learning French for anyone but you.
Getting kicked in the chest would be a little less painful. Jean desperately wished he d sat with Cody; sitting thigh-to-thigh with Jeremy while he said such things so seriously was cruel. When Jean took too long to answer, Jeremy leaned into him to dig his phone out of his pocket. He dictated his message to his butler as he typed it out, perhaps buying Jean time to argue with him. Jean should, but the words caught somewhere between his lungs and teeth. He wanted to trace the memory of Jeremy s weight down his side.
Rescue came from an unexpected corner: a hollered Hey, bro! from near the back of the bus jarred Jean from his frozen contemplation. He refused to believe it was for him until it came again in French, and he muttered darkly under his breath.
I did not teach them that, he said when Jeremy sent him a sideways look. Derrick was the next to call him. The last two voices Jean wasn t sure about; he was too busy being offended by how terribly they butchered the pronunciation to sort it out.
We do have French instructors on campus they could have asked, Jeremy reminded him as he moved into the aisle. Good luck!
Jean made his way to the back of the bus. Shawn and Shane were in the very last row, each with an unfamiliar girl in tow. Derrick and Derek were in front of Shane, with Ashton and Emma across from them. Lucas group was next, Lucas alone and Travis with Haoyu opposite him. Jean let his gaze slide right past Lucas without hesitation and turned a disparaging look on the so-called double-D line.
Do not mangle my language, he said.
Derrick immediately pointed past Jean at Sebastian. That was him. Anyway, look. He elbowed Derek, who was already turning his laptop so Jean could see the screen. Derek had a photo album open, and he tapped to bring up a picture of him with two other people. Neither of the strangers was wearing Trojan colors, but Jean had only a moment to question their relevance to him when Derrick stabbed a finger at the beautiful woman tucked under Derek s arm.
That s my future wife, he said proudly.
The oft-touted Cherise, then. Jean understood in a glance why Derrick was keen on her, but he wouldn t give the man the satisfaction of agreeing. He turned a steady stare on Derek and said, This is not why you called me back here.
That s about it, yeah.
Jean turned to go, but Derrick came off his seat to snag Jean s sleeve. They get you all the time. You should stay and gossip with us. It was a ridiculous demand when there was nothing to gain from his company this far from a court. Jean flicked him a suspicious look, but Derrick was already motioning wildly to Lucas. Move your stuff, man, let him sit down.
There was no chance Lucas would allow this, except after a brief hesitation he pushed his bag to the floor. Derrick turned a winning smile on Jean and said, I won t even talk about the Kings. Cross my heart, hope to die, pray the Sharks all up an die, et cetera et cetera.
What do you have against sharks? Timmy asked.
Why is everyone on this bus so uncultured? Derrick complained.
Shane ignored him to address Jean: We ll be stopping for a break in an hour or so. I know you can tolerate us for that long.
Jean couldn t guess an ulterior motive, but they were his teammates. He would go along with this for now. Jean obediently sat in the spot Lucas had cleared for him, keeping his back to the other man and putting his legs in the aisle. Derrick hung off the back of the seat to ask, What do you want to talk about?
This was your idea, Jean reminded him.
What do you normally talk about with them? Derrick tried.
I mostly listen.
Derek s dry, That works, because Derrick loves to talk, only made Derrick laugh.
He wasn t lying; as soon as Derrick had permission to speak he was running his mouth without any breaks for breathing. Jean was content for now to lean against the back of his seat and listen.
Save for Shane, who was in three of Jean s classes, Jean rarely saw these Trojans outside of practice. With Jean living off-campus and no Nest to bind them together, perhaps it was inevitable, but this was a rare chance to see how they interacted without Exy in the mix. There was an easy familiarity to the way they treated each other as they bounced from topic to topic without cease. They were quick to tease one another, but it lacked the biting edge and sly grievances that stained too many of the Ravens conversations.
What re you thinking about? Derek asked, poking at the top of his head. You ve got a serious look on your face.
There was no point lying, so Jean said, The Nest.
Y all s Away locker room is horrible, Sebastian said. Can I say that now?
Y all nothing, Shawn spoke up. He s not a Raven.
Sebastian grimaced. Yeah, I just-the point stands. I hated it. Did you really live there?
Jean thought of dark walls and red lighting, rows of identical rooms, and the way his blood looked black on Riko s bedroom floor. The same few meals over and over, the same callous faces day-in and day-out, and the court where the Ravens could finally spread out and breathe. Harsh laughter, wild violence, and the crick-crack of fracturing bones. Jean flexed his fingers, needing to know they worked, but the lack of pain was as unsettling as it was comforting.
Yes, Jean said, because they were still watching him.
Dillon leaned past Sebastian. What was it like?
A living nightmare, Jean thought. Aloud he said, The Nest was a critical factor in our success as a team.
Stronger than me, Sebastian said, looking to Dillon for agreement. I d ve gone mad.
Who says they didn t? Lucas asked.
It was the first thing he d said since Jean sat down. Shane stood, looking ready to intervene if needed, but Jean wouldn t deny it.
He considered it, then sent a sidelong look over his shoulder. What is it in English, the colored glass at church? Lucas hesitated before answering, and Jean couldn t fight back a faint scowl at the sound of it. Stained glass. English continues to be a hideous invention. Stained glass . He flicked his fingers, trying to erase it from his memory, but said, That is what the Ravens are: sharp-edged and shattered, and fused together into a new whole. You cannot take them apart again.
You and Kevin left, Derek said.
Kevin was forcibly broken off and Jean was stolen, but there was no point getting into that with these people. We are perfect Court, he said. He was closer to the Ravens than Kevin and Riko had ever been, as the King and his brother existed on a pedestal, but his entire tenure at the Nest he d been a half-step apart. Jean dug his fingers into his tattoo until his cheekbone ached. We are not the same.
Jean hadn t realized the freshmen were paying attention, but Chuck popped up in his seat to stare at Jean. Are you going to keep that? he asked, pointing at his own face. Isn t it a little weird? All the others being gone, I mean.
Ignore him, Derek said. His mama didn t raise him right.
Chuck made a face. I m not the only one who wants to know!
You could probably find a better way to ask, Nabil said from a row or two up.
Haoyu hissed at Chuck to get his attention. His stage whisper wasn t quiet enough for Jean to miss his Riko! warning, and Jean glanced over in time to see Haoyu slice a finger across his own throat. Chuck blanched at the reminder and dropped out of sight as soon as he realized Jean had seen them. Haoyu glanced over, warned by Chuck s reaction that something was wrong, and dropped his hand to his lap as quickly as he could.
Pop, and he was gone.
They weren t at a rest stop yet, but Jean wasn t staying back here any longer. He pushed out of his seat and started for the front of the bus. Chaos followed in his wake: forced cheery farewells from Derek and Derrick, and a flurry of hushed accusations and frantic self-defense: What did you do? , Why would you say that? , I m sorry, I didn t mean it!
Jean tuned it all out in favor of reclaiming his spot at Jeremy s side. Jeremy got up to let him back into the seat, and his smile dimmed a bit as he got a look at Jean s face. Jean didn t miss the way he glanced toward the back of the bus, but Jeremy stayed with him rather than investigate.
Hey, Jeremy started as he settled at Jean s side.
Jean didn t want to hear it. I will teach you a phrase, he said, digging in as hard as he could against the memory of Riko s hands on his throat, in his hair, clawing lines into his face. You will use it at the banquet if you need to leave. Yes?
The speed at which Jeremy s expression went from concern to delight to caution was almost impressive. He half-expected Jeremy to ask him what he knew, but after a minute s silent contemplation Jeremy finally nodded. Jean sounded it off for him: first at a normal speed, and then in bits and pieces as Jeremy echoed it back to him. Jeremy stumbled a bit over it as he tried putting it all together, but Jean mercilessly bullied him until he got it right. Only when Jean was satisfied did he turn his stare out the window.
He and Jeremy didn t talk again for another three hours.