Fantine spent the next day at Zephine's house. She was too mortified to tell Favourite and Dahlia what had happened with Felix for fear that they would make fun of her, but Zephine was very understanding and kind. She made Fantine a cup of warm tea and let her cry on her shoulder.
"I just don't understand it," Fantine said, sniffling. "He seemed so nice. Why would he push me away like that?"
"Maybe he just isn't the one for you," Zephine suggested.
"But he is!" Fantine protested. "I know he is. I felt it in my heart."
Zephine sighed. "I'm sorry, Fantine," she said. "Why don't you come with me and Fameuil to the cafe? It'll help you forget about Felix."
Fantine nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes. "That's sounds nice," she said. "Thank you, Zephine."
The two girls headed to the cafe, where Zephine had planned to meet her lover, Fameuil. Fantine couldn't keep her mind off Felix the entire time. She hardly even payed attention when Zephine and Fameuil tried to include her in their conversation. Only when Zephine prodded her hard in the side did Fantine look up. "Fantine, that man is trying to speak to you," Zephine told her.
"Huh?" Fantine said. She looked around and saw that there was indeed a young man trying to engage her in conversation. He was quite handsome, but Fantine did not notice his good looks. All she noticed was that he was not Felix, and therefore was not worthy of her attention.
"You have the loveliest hair, Mademoiselle," the young man said. Before Fantine had met Felix, she would have been flattered by his compliment, but now she felt only a dull ache in her heart.
"Thank you, Monsieur," she muttered politely.
"Call me Prouvaire," the man said. "Jacques Prouvaire. I am a poet."
"My name is Fantine," she said. Fantine decided to try flirting with this man. She was not at all attracted to him, but she thought that maybe it would help keep her mind off Felix. She leaned forward and twirled her hair in her fingers. "A poet, you say? And what kinds of poems do you write?"
"Love poems," he replied, then produced a long-stemmed rose from behind his back. "For you, Mademoiselle Fantine."
Fantine let out a fake giggle and accepted the rose. "Why thank you, Monsieur le poet," she said, batting her eyelashes. "And would you mind reciting one of your love poems for me?"
"It would be my honor," Jacques said, clearing his throat loudly. "Hair as bright as the rising sun. Teeth as white as pearls. I think you may be the one-"
Then, Jacques Prouvaire was interrupted by someone completely unexpected.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Felix spent the entire day in the spare bedroom of Blanchevelle's house. He sat at his desk and stared blankly at the large stack of work he was suppose to do. He tried to focus on his work, but his mind was whirring. All he could think about was Fantine. He could not eat, he could not sleep... Why couldn't he keep his mind off that girl? He anxiously rubbed his thumb on the back of his pocketwatch. Then, he heard a light knock on his bedroom door.
"What do you want, Blanchevelle?" he snapped testily, putting his pocketwatch down.
"You've been in there all day," his friend replied, opening the door and letting himself in. "Why don't you come out and grab a bite to eat?"
"I'm trying to work," Felix responded curtly.
Blanchevelle walked over to him and stole a peek at the blank papers strewn across the desk. "Looks like you're being very productive," he observed sarcastically.
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...
