I set foot in the Vietnamese society with Lee and Vy came over. "Hi Stacie." she said and smiled at me.
"Oh hey." I said out loud. Meanwhile in my head I'm trying to figure out how to ask on Richard's behalf about the homecoming dance.
"I want to talk to you about something." said Vy with a fidgety bounce to her demeanor.
"Uh sure." I said and Vy grabbed me by the wrist and brought me to the back of the clubroom.
"It's about the Dance..." she said with a little pinkness to her cheeks.
"Oh yeah, I'm going with Marie and Karen." I told her.
Vy smiled "That sounds nice...but I wanted to ask about a friend of yours...his name is Richard. We ehh...share 3rd period together. I wanted to know if he had a date?"
I just about sighed in relief. "You like him?" I asked.
"I do...I have been studying French more because I know he speaks it best. Plus he makes really good....eh....gumbo? He let me try it once and I've liked him since."
I sometimes forget Richard speaks 2 languages. He doesn't have an accent but he is Cajun. He usually is the envy of the Lunch table with his mom's cooking too.
"Well actually, Richard asked me at lunch about you too so I think the feeling is mutual." I told her.
Vy suddenly started glowing from within "Really? He like me?"
"Yeah. You should join us at lunch tomorrow so you two can chat." I told her.
"Oh! That sounds great!" By suddenly gave me a full body hug.
I was a bit surprised but I hugged her back. She pulled away.
"I don't think I've ever thanked you before." she said.
I shrugged. "What do you have to thank me for? It's just lunch."
"It's not just lunch...you...have always been so kind to me. You beat up girls that bully me when I first came here. You eat my food. You come to the meetings. You help all of us fit in here. You are an angel." she said getting a little misty eyed.
"It's really no big deal..." I said getting uncomfortable. I'm not used to this kind of praise.
"It is! Not everyone is kind like you. You may be quiet and have hot head but..." she taps her chest "You have good heart. If not for you, moving here would have been much worse. Thank you."
I fidgeted a bit and Vy ran back to the front of the club room. I caught Lee staring at me again. I made a come at me motion and he smirked and started chatting with the group.
I noticed there was Goi Cuon spring rolls lined up on a tray with closed mini containers of fish sauce and a stack of plates next to it. I filled up my plate, grabbed some sauce and went to the front of the room. I listened to them speak as I gorged on spring rolls.
I don't understand why she needs to thank me for eating her food. It might be different than what I grew up eating, but it is still delicious.