High School Populaire

Chapter 9

The next morning, Angel was the first to wake up. The rays of sunlight disturbing her light sleep and causing her to move. Having nothing else to do and not wanting to roam the big manor, she made her way towards the balcony. Now that the rain was over, the sun had risen, and it spread its warmth. She found some peace at the relaxing scene of the green grass and the singing of birds, only to chuckle when the image of her father popped into mind.

Unlike her, he had a certain dislike for bright sun and warm days. However, it never stopped amusing her how he gave in her pleases to go out in the park. She smiled sadly at the sweet childhood memories she had and sat on the railing of the balcony.

Thankful that it had dried up, she made herself comfortable on the marble and leaned her back on the wall. One knee bent and the other straight, she started to hum the lullaby from yesterday. Her fingers tapped on her knee on the slow beat of the song, as her little hum turned into a faint whisper. However, the small-time for herself was interrupted when someone decided to join her.

With a simple white robe, Christine walked towards her with a kind smile on her rosy lips. Angel would agree that the woman was beautiful, even if she waked up an hour ago or less.

"Madame de Chagny" she greeted, remembering her manners.

"Please call me Christine," the woman said as she stood next to her. Angel withdrew her legs, and she took a seat on the marble railing in front of her. "You have a very nice voice Angel."

"Thank you, Madame."

Christine smiled at the manners of the girl and placed her hand on her knee. "Esmé has talked a lot about you. She admires you."

"I am not someone to be admired," she said in a slightly cold tone which was too familiar for the woman. "She is a kind girl, very caring. She needs a proper model."

"That lullaby you sang last night," she asked as she decided to change the subject only for her words to cause a change of emotions to the girl across from her but were only visible in her eyes, the rest of her face keeping a neutral mask. "It was a lovely one. Did you write it?"

"No... my mother used to sing it to me... when I was younger."

"What happened to her if I may ask?"

"She died from pneumonia" Angel admitted and turned her attention to the garden, trying to keep a stable grip on her emotions. Her mother's subject was never an easy one, and she refused to let it affect her more than it already had.

"I am sorry for your loss. I didn't mean-"

"It is fine. No harm is done. It is in the past."

Christine felt a little unsure of what to say next, not failing to notice how cold her tone had turned to. Thinking of something to change the mood, she brought her hand beneath her chin and made her turn so she could see her face.

"Thank you for looking after Esmé, Angel. I am thrilled to know that someone does when I am not around."

Angel didn't say anything, not being certain how to reply. She never truly looked after her, only did once the pranks started and had formed their little group. She was thinking to tell the truth or deny such a statement, but her mouth didn't want to move for some reason.

Instead, she kept looking straight into the brown dove eyes of the woman, feeling a certain calm aura coming from her. Christine smiled and pushed some hair behind the girl's ear while her hand caressed her cheek in a mothering way.

However, their small moment was interrupted when the giant glass windows were pushed open, and Raoul moved towards them.

"There you are Christine," he said and came to a halt a few feet away from them, his face showing that he was displeased seeing his wife in the company of Angel.