𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐘 | 𝙅𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙝 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙨

4: you should never cross my mind

Mrs. Bellanger, the nurse, was super sweet. I had hung my blouse on the radiator to dry and sat down on one of the beds, waiting for it to at least go from wet to damp. In the meanwhile, I wore a spare white shirt Mrs. Bellanger found. Michèle chose to wear the spare boys clothes they had, and I admired her for it. I would have never done that - who knows where it's been.

I remember glancing back into the classroom before leaving, seeing how Descamps didn't even look slightly apologetic. He was smiling with his friends, and it enraged me. How could he not feel any remorse for what he had done?

"Best first day ever, huh?" I asked sarcastically, looking over at Michèle with a half-smile. "Descamps and his friends are morons, but we can't do anything about it..." She responded, taking the dry button-up and pulling it over her head.

Suddenly, the door to the infirmary opened and Laubrac stepped in. I was surprised, even more so when I took in that he had blood on his forehead. We were hardly gone for long, and something already happened again. "Is that-... Are you okay?" I questioned, and Laubrac just chuckled.

"It's not me," The brown-haired boy responded, Michèle letting out a grin at his words. "I feel like it's never you."

"If it's not you, then what happened?" I curiously asked, hopping off of the bed to get my blouse. It was damp now, at least. "Did a fight break out or..?"

Laubrac sighed, leaning against a wall. "Some older guy from the other class ran into ours, and Descamps got beaten up. He might lose his eye." My eyes widened at the news, not really believing it. Losing an eye... Sure, he was a misogynistic dick and definitely deserved karma, but wasn't losing one of his 5 senses a tad bit too... intense?

I knew that Mrs. Descamps was definitely going to react badly to that. Her beloved son, hurt and on the verge on going blind in one eye. That wasn't going to end well. 

I'd send my condolences to her later on in the afternoon. No use pondering on the idea now. 

-

The bell rang, indicating the end of the hellish day. I almost groaned out in relief as I went outside, breathing in the fresh air. It wasn't as if I wasn't outside for today, but the fresh air suddenly smelled more like freedom and less like air. 

"It's so brave of you guys to continue on with the day- Especially you, Michèle." Simone remarked, smiling proudly as we walked out of the schoolyard. I laugh, pointing over at Michèle. "I only waited for my clothes to be damp, I wouldn't even be able to pull off what she did."

Michèle blushed, giggling at Simone's compliments. I stop when we reach the front of the gates.

"Anyways, I'm going this way. See you tomorrow?" I asks, fiddling in my pockets before fishing out the keys for my bike. They both bid me goodbye, and I make my way to the bikes.

I spot Dupin and Vergoux, stumbling my way over to them. Funnily enough, their mother's were also in my mom's prayer group and bible study. "Any news about Descamps?" 

Dupin looks at me with something I could only call faux surprise, and I could tell that Vergoux was pressing down the urge to roll his eyes. Interesting reaction for someone who's known you their whole life. "No news yet, we only know he's being sent to the big hospital." 

I sigh. That sounds dangerous, and I could only hope that none other damage was taken. Sure, he's my lifelong enemy but c'mon, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Nevertheless, I nod and bid them goodbye, walking over to my bike. 

---


"I'm home!" I shout as I take off my Mary Janes, trying to tune in for any possible sound. No TV noises, no pots and pans banging, no off-key humming... That's weird. I walk into the kitchen first - Maman was always in the kitchen, no matter the occasion, but she wasn't there today. I look around and find a note on the fridge, stuck with a magnet:

'I'm at church, praying for Susanne's son.
There are pastries in the oven.
I'll be home shortly, or join me.'

Ah right, sounds like my Maman. I open the oven to grab a half-cold pastry, stumbling up the stairs to my room as I munch on it. Did Maman change the recipe? She probably changed the flavour of jam she put in, or something. 

With nothing much to do at home, I change my clothes into a more comfortable dress and put my hair down, brushing it out briefly before going downstairs and grabbing a few more pastries to put in a small basket. If I was going to church, might as well have something to distract me in the meanwhile. 

I put the basket in the front basket of my bike, fastening my Mary Janes as I start to make my way to the church. 

Half-way there, I didn't expect to see my Maman in a taxi, a frantic expression on her face as she sees me on my way to church. The taxi stops abruptly, and Maman steps out to grab my bike and halt me. "Madeline, put your bike in the Church's shed and come with me to the hospital. Susanne had just called me to come be with her, as Joseph's father is still at work. Now that you're here, you might as well come along now," 

I didn't even get to react before Maman was ushering me off, making me put my bike in the shed and then shoving me into the taxi. Jesus Christ, was it really that serious?

"Susanne told me on the phone that he's lost his eye, Madeline, isn't that scary? Oh God, please bless this poor boy..." There it was, Maman with her usual prayers. I couldn't even get a word in before she started, and when she's reading her prayers, you better not interrupt her. I've learnt the art of successfully blocking her out when she does that by now. 

I look out of the taxi, watching as the roads disappeared behind me, and my town was soon out of sight. The road wasn't all that long, maybe a good 30 minutes with a cab. Taxi's aren't even common in our town, I don't know how my mom got one here so quickly. Ah well, no use dwelling on it. 

My eyes droop slightly, and before I know it, I was knocked out for the rest of the ride. 

- We get to see a bit of Madeline's family and backstory now!!! Oh em gee I am so excited for what I have planned

- ALSO 200 READS LIKE GUYS!??!? IM SO HAPPY FGHEDNBFHDJ TY SO MUCH FOR GIVING THIS FIC YOUR TIME OF DAYYYY I LOVE YOU MUAH MUAH