Tears slipped down Fantine's cheeks as she ran down the streets and away from Felix's house. The night had been going so well. The dinner had been amazing, the reading lesson had been very productive, and they had kissed. They had actually kissed. It was Fantine's first kiss, and everything had felt so right. She had felt like she was floating on a cloud! But then Felix had pushed her away. Why? she wondered. Didn't he feel the same way about her as she did about him? If he did not have feelings for her, then why had he kissed her in the first place? She couldn't understand it. She took a shaky breath and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Hello, little lady," a voice from behind her said. Fantine turned around and saw that Blanchevelle was standing behind her, giving her a crooked grin. "Where are you off to? I thought you would still be with Tholomyes for your reading lesson."
"I must be on my way home," Fantine said, trying hard to fight back her tears.
Blanchevelle took a few steps towards her. "Do you need me to walk you home, Mademoiselle?" he asked, still giving her that sickening grin. "You never know what some people might do to a defenseless young lady walking alone."
Although Blanchevelle acted like he was being chivalrous and kind, something about his demeanor made the hair on Fantine's neck stand up. To her, he seemed like a cunning snake closing in on its prey. "No thank you, Monsieur. I'll be fine," she said, turning around quickly and stepping away from him. Suddenly, she felt his hand on her arm. She let out a small yelp of surprise, her heart pounding.
"Are you all right, Mademoiselle?" he asked in a smooth, greasy voice. "You look as if you've been crying."
"I'm fine," Fantine replied, her heart pounding nervously.
Blanchevelle reached out and lightly touched a lock of her hair. "Has anyone ever told you that you have the loveliest hair?" he said.
Rather than being flattered, Fantine felt repulsed. "Monsieur, I really ought to get home-"
"You and I ought to spend more time together," Blanchevelle continued, acting as if he had not heard her. "I'm sure we would get along famously."
"Monsieur, please let go of me," Fantine said, pulling her arm out of his grasp. "I don't mean to be rude, but you are the lover of my friend Favourite. I wouldn't want to get in between the two of you."
Blanchevelle chuckled. "Favourite and I aren't exclusive," he said. "I know she only goes with me because I buy her nice gifts, but those gifts could easily be given to another person."
"I must go," Fantine said firmly, walking away from him determinedly.
"Suit yourself," Blanchevelle called out after her. Fantine felt a shiver run down her spine as she picked up the pace and sped away from him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Felix sat on the couch with his head in his hands. He had really messed up. He felt guilty for giving Fantine false hopes and then pulling away at the last moment. He hated himself for being tempted to take Blanchevelle's horrible advice. Firmly, he resolved not to get involved with a woman ever again.
As Felix continued to sit on the couch and brood, he heard the door open and the sound of Blanchevelle's footsteps. "Hello, my friend!" Blanchevelle called out, entering the room. "How did the evening go with Fantine? Did she give you a good time, if you know what I mean?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Felix snapped.
"Oh, it appears the evening did not go as well as you'd planned," Blanchevelle said. "What a pity. You know, Fantine is a lovely girl. If you don't want her, maybe I can have my turn with her."
"Don't you dare touch a hair on her head!" Felix yelled angrily, standing up and making a fist. Blanchevelle held his hands up in surrender and backed away.
"It was just a thought. Don't get your underwear in a twist," he said, grinning.
Felix sighed and collapsed back down on the couch. "Just leave me alone," he said. "I need to get back to work. This entire affair with Fantine has distracted me from my true purpose here in Paris."
Blanchevelle shook his head. "You never know how to have fun," he pouted. "I thought maybe this girl was different. I thought she had finally gotten past that thick shell of yours and reached your heart, however tiny it may be. I guess I was wrong."
Felix almost protested. Truly, there was something special about Fantine. When he was around her, he had feelings he had never experienced before. He hadn't known her for very long, but something about her innocence and sweetness made him want to spend every waking moment with her. And when he had kissed her, everything had felt so right. Still, he knew he could not be with her. She was only a distraction from work and a temptation to do things that he would regret in the future. Moreover, he was terrified of hurting her. He had no experience with women. He did not know how to make one feel happy. Fantine deserved someone better than him. Felix sighed, his emotions overwhelming him.
"I'm going to bed," he announced.
"It's seven o'clock," Blanchevelle said, raising an eyebrow.
"Good night," Felix said unpleasantly, marching over to Blanchevelle's spare bedroom, where Felix was staying.
He laid his head down on the pillow and closed his eyes, but he could not sleep. The thought of Fantine haunted his mind.
YOU ARE READING
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...
