Chapter 9: Meeting Marinette

                                    

                                          
Joe walked into Paris, France with great energy like the flight from Austin, Texas didn't matter to him. Energetic as he could be as he roams around and finds a house his new principal given to him after his previous principal given him the map towards the city and around the school campus.
The Filipino walked around until he bumped a French-Chinese girl, saving her from falling to the ground.
"Are you okay, miss?," Joe asked worriedly.
"Yeah, I'm okay.," the girl answered before just so happens to stumble again. This time however, Joe helped her from not falling down again.
"You really saved me there. Thanks.," the girl said. "Say, are you new here in Paris?," she now asked.
Joe thought about it for a second before answering, "Yes. Yes, I am."
"Great! Then I need to show you the historical and most important landmarks of the city?," the girl prompted, trying to tour Joe to the city of Paris.
"Thanks, but no thanks.," Joe declined. "Besides, I already got a touring guide brochure with me."
The girl was curious about the brochure Joe was holding. Turns out that his former principal gave him that same brochure back at the airport.
"Mr. Gibson! Mr. Gibson! I have one more thing to gave to you before you leave.," the University of Texas–Austin principal called.
"What is it, Mr. Principal?," Joe asked, curious. The principal then gave the Filipino a brochure, alongside the map of Paris and the Collége Françoise Dupont campus grounds.
"This brochure will guide you in every step of your way in Paris. Hope that helps."
"Thanks, Mr. Principal.," Joe gave his remark before leaving but before he can leave, the principal also had a final remark as well.
"Thank to you too, Mr. Gibson. Now, good luck in Paris!"
"My former principal gave me this to guide me towards this city, and I already visited some of them.," Joe stated.
The girl then looked at the Filipino's eyes, trying to be not suspicious about his condition after a long flight. "Are you okay? You look tired right now.," she asked.
"Tired? Yeah, it was a very long flight going from my previous place to here.," Joe answered.
"Where are you from actually?," the girl asked again. "I was born and rasied in the Philippines but I just got here from Austin, Texas in the United States of America.," Joe answered again.
The girl then remembered something. Something that relates the United States in her memory. "United States?," she stated. Joe just nodded afterwards.
She was that for minutes until she finally remembered it in the back of her head.
"We once visited the country before but we were at New York when we visited.," the girl answered.
"Wow! You're lucky to see the Statue of Liberty from your visit.," Joe happily said. "Some said that the statue was France's gift of friendship towards the United States.," he added, stating some facts.
The girl was shocked upon hearing that fact but noticed Joe's very much tired face once again. This time, however, she would not let that slide.
"Say, you really look tired and it's no joke. How about some sleep or coffee?," the girl prompted.
Upon hearing the word coffee, Joe nods in agreement. "Sure! Coffee is much be my confort drink after all.," he said.
But the before the two walked, Joe got very much curious about the girl. He might want the girl to become his new friend.
"What's your name by the way?," he asked. The girl looked at the Filipino with a smile in his face.
"I'm Marinette. Marinette Dupain-Cheng."