Fantine hid in her small apartment for the next few weeks, afraid to show her face to the world. Zephine came over a couple times to check on her, bringing her cakes and pies in an attempt to cheer her up.
"Thanks, Zeph," Fantine said the second time Zephine came over. She wiped tears from her eyes and tasted the delicious apple pie Zephine had baked.. "I just can't believe both Felix and Favourite think I willingly slept with Blanchevelle! First of all, I would never willingly cheat on Felix, and second, Blanchevelle and I didn't even go that far."
"I know," Zephine said, stroking Fantine's golden hair. "Just give them time. They'll realize soon enough that it wasn't your fault."
Fantine blew her nose on her lacy handkerchief. "I hope so," she said with a sigh. "So why hasn't Dahlia come over to see me?"
Zephine bit her lip hesitantly. "Fantine, dear," she said, taking a breath. "Please don't take this the wrong way, but... Favourite told Dahlia and me that you had been sleeping with Blanchevelle. Of course, I knew that you would never do such a thing, but Dahlia... Well, Dahlia believed her."
Fresh tears poured from Fantine's eyes at this news. "Does everyone think I'm some sort of harlot?" she sobbed.
Zephine shook her head. "Of course not," she said soothingly. "Dahlia and I are the only two people Favourite told. Favourite has her faults, but she knows better than to spread that kind of gossip around."
Fantine nodded. She knew that if a girl lost her purity before marriage and the town found out, she would be shunned and disgraced. A shiver went down her spine when she realized what would happen if anyone found out that she had, in fact, slept with Felix once.
Zephine put an arm around Fantine. "Don't worry, honey," she said. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what happens."
Fantine gave her a watery smile. "Thank you, Zephine," she said. "That means so much to me." She let her head rest against her only friend's shoulder, enjoying what would be one of her last moments of happiness in her life. Finally, she lifted her head, and looked into Zephine's eyes.
"I have to tell you something," she said.
"What is it?" Zephine inquired.
Fantine took a shaky breath. She could feel her heart pounding as she prepared to speak. "I think... Oh, Zeph, I think I might be pregnant with Felix's child!" And then she burst into another fit of tears.
Zephine's face grew pale with shock. "Oh," she said simply. "I see."
Fantine looked sheepishly at her friend. "Do you hate me now?" she asked.
"Of course not!" Zephine said. "A baby is a blessing, no matter how it is conceived. It's just... the rest of the town won't be as understanding as I am."
"I know," Fantine said sadly. "I'll be shunned. No one will buy the clothes I make. No man will ever be willing to date me. I'll be treated like a second class citizen."
"Unless..." Zephine mused thoughtfully.
"Unless what?"
"Unless you go to Felix, convince him that nothing happened between you and Blanchevelle, and get him to marry you!" Zephine said excitedly.
"Oh, Zeph, I couldn't do that," Fantine said, shaking her head sorrowfully. "I couldn't bear to face Felix after our fight."
"You love him, don't you?" Zephine asked.
"Of course!" Fantine replied.
"Then you have to learn to face him, even during hard times."
"I can't," Fantine cried.
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...
