𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐘 | 𝙅𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙝 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙨

15: in the right place and time

Winter break goes smoothly.

I visit some family in Normandy before Christmas, and sooner or later, the night comes and goes.

Papa's side of the family gave me a bunch of small gifts - makeup, hair gel, accessories and some notebooks. Maman's side of the family decided to collectively raise a fund and buy me a huge gift, being a new bike. I was outgrowing the other one anyways.

The new bike was very pretty, with it's simple white designs. It also has a basket in the front that I've decorated the rim with pink ribbons, giving it my own little style. But nothing compares to the gift Papa had personally got for me.

It was a Marilyn Monroe inspired dress, and as much as Maman hates it, I love it. The dress copied the same style of dress Marilyn Monroe had in the scene where she sings 'Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend' in 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' (a blasphemous movie in Maman's eyes).

It even had the tube gloves to match!

I personally love Marilyn Monroe and 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes', and having the copy of my favorite dress in the whole entire movie is just...

I've also tried it on, and have Maman make some adjustments to it. I did indeed watch over her shoulder every minute she worked on the dress to make sure that she doesn't do anything to the collar to try and make it less revealing. In the end, I had a dress that was easy to walk in, thanks to the help of a slit at my mid-thighs made by Maman.

The pink of the dress was also toned down compared to the movie scene, making it a baby pink hue instead of the bright pink color.

Being so in love with the dress, of course I had to wear it to the Christmas party. You might be thinking that you would rather keep the dress for safe-keeping and to not wear it to such events, but I want this dress to be loved, not stocked away in my closet forever.

And plus, there were no other events that were going to let me wear the dress. I might as well boast to everyone I see about my new gift.

And that's how I end up here, at 19:00 at night, applying my makeup and doing my hair with my new products. Maman and Papa obviously don't know about the party. They'll never let me go if they did, so I'm opting on sneaking out instead.

I finish taking out the last curler in my hair and get up, trying to not make much noise as I sneak down the stairs. I make sure to skip the steps that creak loudly, and to avoid the planks on the floor that squeak whenever someone treads on them.

Finally, I reach the backdoor. Putting on my white kitten heels as soon as I've gotten outside, I walk down the street, the cold wind nipping at my skin. I've prepared for that though as I wrap my leather jacket around my body.

God, I feel like an actual celebrity in this dress. I might be overdressed for the occasion but who cares? I'm just a girl.

The address that Joseph gave me was a mere 5 minutes away from my house, and I recognized it to be the small cabin near the lake. Let's just hope that no one pushes me in the water with this dress on.

I arrive, and I could already tell that the boys went all out for this. From the fairy lights hanging on the walls and poles to the table with at least 10 different types of alcoholic beverages on it, I'm impressed.

My eyes meet with Jean's as he walks over and wraps an arm around my shoulders, drink in hand. "Hey Maddy, didn't think you'd actually come," He muses, eyes following the curve of my body. "And nice dress as well."

I let out a giggle and we walk over to the mass of people dancing to the music. On the table with booze laid a high-end turntable, and I could already tell that it was the one from Joseph's room.

"Thank you Jean," I murmur, grabbing a paper cup and pouring my own drink. My eyes wander over the group of people, and I could recognize Charles Vergoux with presumeably his new girlfriend, Applebaum and Lamaziere (though I thought Joseph told me they didn't want crybabies at the party), and Héloïse Pichon.

No sight of Joseph Descamps, but that's okay. It's not like I was in a hurry to try and find him or something.

I take a sip of the alcohol in my cup and start taking my rounds, freeing myself from Jean's grip as soon as he's got his eye on some other girl from one of the all-girls schools. I talk to some girls, say hi to some of the boys, and not long after, I see the one-eyed pirate that invited me to this whole party talking with some other guys.

"Well, well, well," I say, trying to seem as menacing as I can as I saunter my way to him. "Look who we have here,"

Joseph turns around, and his expression was one of pure delight as he sees me in the dress.

"Maddy," He retorts, smiling back at me. "You're... Well, I can't even describe you,"

The compliment makes me all giddy inside, and Joseph wraps an arm around my waist when I get close enough to him. He gestures something to his friends, and they start dissipating into the crowd right after.

"So," Joseph starts, giving my dress a once-over. "You look like a celebrity,"

I smile and brush him off, blushing unabashedly. "Oh stop. Papa just got me it since he knows my obsession with Marilyn Monroe,"

He raises a brow at that, taking a sip from his cup as he plays with the bow on the back of the dress. "Marilyn Monroe? You're just as pretty as her in this dress," He murmurs, and I can't help but smile widely at his fidgeting. "If you're Monroe, then I can be Elvis Presley,"

The suggestion makes me laugh, and I run a hand through Joseph's brown curls. "You're gonna need darker hair and better dance moves than what you've got now, pirate boy,"

"Better dance moves?" He asks me with an offended tone, and I can't help but chuckle as he pulls me out on the dance floor. "Oh, you're undermining my dance moves, missus,"

"Am I? I didn't notice, Josie," I tauntingly say, and he smirks smugly at the nickname.

Forget about getting home early, or getting caught fraternizing with the enemy by your best friends, I'm having the time of my life tonight.

- did you guys know that fairy/string lights were invented in 1882??? bcz I didn't

- anyways party party yeah