𝐋𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐘 & 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐒 | 𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞

𝟎𝟐. 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐃 up against the far wall, arms crossed and disposition calm. She couldn't help but smile as she watched the others dance. The room wasn't inherently large, but had enough space for more than a dozen couples to comfortably swing dance along to the jazzy tunes that had been playing all evening.

From across the room Lorene released a melodic laugh free from the cloud of stress and depression that rained down on their day-to-day life. Things were hard, she couldn't sugar coat that, probably because there wasn't enough sugar going around in the first place. Between the limited rations and the shortage of wages from the Depression, it was easy to fall into a slump. Which is why she didn't discourage evenings like that night, the distraction was good at times, especially since their mingled little family had seemingly taken it the hardest.

Their father had died during the Great War; however, at this point people were starting to call it the first world war. Meanwhile, their mother had fallen ill during the early years of the Depression. They didn't have the ends to meet their needs and suddenly she was scraping by at sixteen to take care of her siblings. Sure the Barnes family offered to help, but they were struggling more than they let on and she refused to take anything from them that they might need for themselves. However, just a few years later, the Barnes siblings were stuck in the same predicament. It suddenly felt like she had five younger siblings and she wasn't willing to lose any of them.

Charlotte took a breath to clear her mind and just for a brief moment forget about the trouble she'd be returning to tomorrow morning. For now, she'd tap her foot to the tune of "I've Heard that Song Before" by Harry James and his orchestra as if everything was well in the world. Sure, it'd come out last year, but it had risen in popularity over the past few months. Lorene seemed to be enjoying herself as the tempo of the swing slowed and her partner twirled her under his arm then back to her original spot.

Whether the younger Rogers sister wanted to admit it or not, she'd been looking forward to the evening as a dance had already been arranged between herself and the boy she was smitten with. She'd deny it, but Lorene wore her heart out on her sleeve and adored the personal attention she was given. John Smith had moved into the house just down the street a few summers ago and that's when the two really started to hit things off. Recently, they'd been stuck sending love letters through the post due to the war while receiving a telegram was considered a special occasion. However, for a brief moment Corporal Smith was home recovering from an injury. Back on his feet, he'd be on his way back to the Allied camp in London with the rest of the boys in the morning.

The song ended with an impromptu riff from the pianist accompanying the record from the corner. Lorene practically floated across the room to rejoin her sister, leaning against her shoulder with a dazed sigh. She wasn't the only one to make her way back though, Rebecca and David soon joined, each sharing a different attitude. While Rebecca was flushed with a few stray hairs fallen from her usually neat bun, David crossed his arms and slumped against the wall.

"I had Lori in sight, so I know what she was up to, but the rest of you disappeared," Charlotte noted with a sly raise of her brow, poorly concealing the amused look that crossed her face.

Lorene nudged David as if trying to pry. "Yeah, where'd your date run off to? The powder room?"

David shook his head, only growing more bitter as he muttered between gritted teeth. "She wasn't very fond of the idea that I was only seventeen."

Lorene laughed giddily, but it was clear she was still on an energy high from her time spent with the corporal. Charlotte then directed her attention toward Rebecca expectantly. "Becky?"

"I was... learning French." From her hesitation and the smug smile that tugged at the corner of her lips, it was clear she was omitting some of the truth, but Charlotte ultimately decided she didn't want to know.