Chevelle's Story

chapter 10

At breakfast the next morning, Chevelle told her family that she was staying until after New Year's, and so her mother insisted on having a birthday dinner.

Chevelle, who had been planning on spending the entirety of this extra time with a certain someone, was very opposed to the idea.

"Manman, please no," she begged. "I really don't want a celebration."

"Tch. Chevelle, don't be selfish," Nadègine said. "Not everything is about you."

"It's my birthday!"

"And what of me who spent seven hours pushing that big head of yours out?" her mother demanded. "Do I not deserve a celebration?"

"You absolutely do, Manman," Josephe said, clearly enjoying the entertainment Chevelle and their mother were providing. There was a cheeky smile on his lips as he took another bite of his oatmeal. "Also, I've been craving cake."

"See?" Nadègine said, motioning to Josephe. "This is not just about you, Chevelle. How often do we have the whole family together in one place? Sa'a fou! We must celebrate."

"This isn't the whole family though," Chevelle said, turning to Josephe with narrowed eyes. "What about Seline? She'll be marrying Josephe soon, should she not be around for this?"

At the mention of Seline, Josephe grew rigid in his seat, pausing mid-bite with frantic eyes. He looked stricken, like he'd just seen a ghost, and Chevelle felt kind of guilty for taunting him like that, but not guilty enough to stop herself. If he wanted to get involved in her shit, then she could play that game just as well as him. And Josephe had much more to hide than her since all Chevelle's secrets had already been exposed.

Chevelle turned back to her mother. "Manman, have you even met Seline?" she asked. "It's kind of overdue, non?"

"Wi, Chevelle, it is quite overdue," her mother agreed, turning to Josephe with a frown. "Why are you keeping my future daughter-in-law away from me and your father?" Nadègine demanded.

Josephe squeezed his eyes shut and took a deep breath, trying to buy himself some time to think of a new excuse. "Manman, I'm not keeping Seline from you," he finally said. "Of course you'll meet her."

"When?" Nadègine asked.

Josephe clenched his jaw, looking up at Chevelle with a resentment that made her take a step back. She'd known that Seline was an off-limits topic around their parents, but she hadn't realized bringing her up would make Josephe this angry.

Chevelle felt bad about what she'd said, but still, she'd be lying if she said there wasn't a part of her that found joy in seeing Josephe so outraged.

She was still hurt by the way he had chased her away from his home when she'd come to visit him, and deep down, there remained something in her that wanted to hurt him back the way he'd hurt her. He never even apologized for what he did—even though Chevelle knew that he knew it was wrong of him. He'd just moved on, as though it never happened. As though Chevelle was just supposed to forget.

And how could she forget? Josephe had been the last remaining person in her family that she could even talk to after everything that happened this year. The only person she thought she could still trust. That's why she'd been so eager to go and help him through his sickness, and as a thank you, he'd just spat in her face.

So yeah, damn right she was going to bring up Seline. Make him squirm a little. Show him how it felt to be on the receiving end of all this bullshit for once.

Steeling her jaw, Chevelle refused to back down and instead, returned Josephe's glare, full force.

She folded her arms across her chest, her eyes icy, and reluctantly, Josephe looked away from Chevelle and to their mother, sighing. "Soon," he said. "I promise."