Felix paced back and forth across the room as Blanchevelle elaborately described his plan. Felix wasn't sure why, but something in his friend's tone made him feel uneasy. Blanchevelle sounded almost like he was plotting an evil crime rather than planning a romantic date.
"So, after she comes over, you'll begin reading to her a romantic story by the light of candles," Blanchevelle began, his crooked grin returning to his thin face. "After a while, you will suggest that she try reading a passage herself. She will of course struggle with the words, so you will use this as your excuse to get very close to her in order to help her. Then, without moving away from her, you will suggest that you take a short break. She will put down the book, and then you will tell her how lovely she looks in the light of the candles. Shower her with compliments until her defenses are completely broken down. Then, when she is vulnerable, put your hand on her cheek and give her a light kiss. Slowly ease into the kiss until it becomes very passionate. Then, you will be able to take advantage of her-"
"Hold on!" Felix interrupted, horrified at what Blanchevelle had just implied. "This is just a date! I don't want to take advantage of the girl. I just want to let her have a good time and see if she feels about me the way I feel about her."
Blanchevelle laughed. "My friend, you are so naive!" he exclaimed, chuckling. "There is no such thing as love. Women are good for one thing and one thing only."
"Stop it," Felix growled. "You will not speak that way in front of me. I will treat Fantine with the respect that she deserves. From now on, you will stay out of my love life, got it?"
"Fine," Blanchevelle said, still grinning crookedly. "But if you were a real man, you would take my advice."
Felix glared at him but didn't respond. He knew it was useless to argue with such a terrible man. However, he also had to admit that some of Blanchevelle's advice was very good, especially reading in the candlelight. He knew Fantine would enjoy that. Hastily, he took out a pen and jotted down a quick letter to the girl who had stolen his heart, asking her to come to dinner tomorrow for a reading lesson. He didn't even stop to remember that she would not be able to read the letter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Fantine received a letter in the mail, she was shocked. No one ever wrote to her. Her only literate friend was Favourite, but Favourite knew she would not be able to read any letters given to her. Fantine frowned at the paper, wondering whose hand had written these squiggly black lines that she could not decifer. She brought the letter to Favourite to read, very curious as to who had sent it to her.
"It's from Felix," Favourite told her, and Fantine squealed with delight.
"What does it say?" she asked excitedly.
"He wants to know if you would like to come over to his house tomorrow evening for a reading lesson and dinner."
Fantine couldn't keep the smile off her face. "That sounds wonderful!" Fantine exclaimed. "Will you write him for me and tell him yes?"
"Sure," Favourite replied. "Would you like me to ask him to buy you a present?"
"I don't want to use him for his money," Fantine said, shaking her head.
Favourite rolled her eyes. "You're so naive, Fantine. If you don't take advantage of him, he'll take advantage of you.'
"I believe in love," Fantine replied firmly. "People who are in love do not take advantage of each other. Besides, Felix is a good man. He would never do anything to hurt me."
"There's no such thing as a good man," Favourite said.
"I don't believe that," Fantine retorted.
"You will soon enough."
(Author's Note: I'm so sorry that it's been so long since my last update. I've been very busy and I've also had some writer's block with this story. Sorry this chapter is short but I don't have that many ideas yet for this story.)
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There Was a Time
Fanfiction"He took my childhood in his stride, but he was gone when autumn came," she said. But who is "he"? And why did he leave? There was a time when Fantine was just a plain, ordinary girl who dreamed of romance and love. There was a time when Felix Tholo...
