"...I am slightly envious."

"I mean, I've spent a while learning French at school, it wasn't just an instant thing, and I did a bit of German, and I picked up a few other bits from other languages by reading about them online, it's not just an instant thing, but yeah, it's nice to know I wouldn't be completely lost if I found myself in one of those countries."

"Makes sense. I can't really learn more than the minimum to pass, most of the time."

"Yeah, I think most people are planning on dropping French at the end of this year."

"I dropped it last year. I don't think I know anyone who didn't."

"How old are you? You know, if it's not too rude to ask," he says, smirking a little.

"I'm sixteen. You?"

"Fifteen."

"Awww you're a baby!"

"My birthday's in like two weeks' time."

"Baby!"

"There's max of a year's age gap between us. I'm hardly a baby."

"No but you make cute faces when I nettle you."

"Exactly!"

"Whatever. Anything else you want to know about the mysterious Theo?"

"I don't think so! I'm sure other stuff will come up while we're battling cards and saving the world."

"I'm sure."

"Wow, such enthusiasm, you would think I was some dirt under your shoe."

"Hey, I'm not being rude back, I'm just not talking much," says Theo defensively.

"Fine, then, not dirt, just a slightly contemptible blade of grass."

He looks a bit guilty at that. "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to make you feel like a slightly contemptible blade of grass. I just don't really know what to talk about."

"Relax, I'm just messing with you."

"I'm wondering when I'll be able to say I won the challenge."