All I ask Of You

Chapter 1.

Paris, April 1832

The small street was fairly busy, but one girl stood out in particular.

She had her nose in a book, walking down the middle of the street not looking where she was going, already knowing the way to the market like the back of her hand. 

She carried a small basket and wore a blue pinafore dress with a white shirt underneath it.

She was a beautiful girl with wild brown locks that were pulled in a twisted plait at the back of her head, tied together with a beautiful blue ribbon.

She had enticing hazelnut coloured eyes that stared longingly at the book she carried.

As she walked through the small street, she earned strange looks from other locals.

This wasn't unusual to the girl. She heard other women gossiping about her, saying things like she'll never get a husband if she just read books, or that she needs to dress better for the men's attraction.

But in her eyes, she didn't need a man. She believed if she married, she'd be unhappy, they would fall apart and she would be trapped away in an unhappy marriage forever. She didn't want that. So she payed no mind to the onlookers or the gossip.

The girl used her books as an escape, especially after her mother passed. They were her comfort. She could get lost in one so quickly that it was hard to get her out of it.

Her favourite book consisted of a collection of fairytales. Though, she was considered too old to be reading silly fairytales, it was the book her mother used to read her before bed, therefore it held a sense of comfort, memories and love.

When Christine made it to the bakery, she picked up a loaf of bread and handed the money to the store owner, who smiled in return, and she left.

She headed straight for the bookstore, which lay directly opposite the market.

As she entered the quiet shop, the bell rang above her head, notifying the owner that he had a customer.

A man with greying hair turned to greet the customer and his face lit up noticing it was his most frequent visitor.

"Ah, Mademoiselle Christine." He greeted the girl, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I had some money left over and was wondering if you have anything new that i haven't read before?" She asked, her soft voice ringing through the empty store.

"You know, I have something that came in just this morning." The man said, retrieving a book from behind his counter.

The book was titled 'sense and sensibility'. The girl took it from the man's hand and admired it.

She opened the front page, and flicked through the soft paper, deciding to purchase it.

"I'll take it." Christine told him, getting her money from her purse and leaving some on the counter for him before she swiftly turned and left the shop.

As she walked home, she had her head stuck in the book she just bought and wasn't watching where she was going.

This was clearly not a good idea as she collided with another body.

"Oh, monsieur, I am so sorry." She quickly apologised, she bent down to pick up her fallen book, but her hands brushed with the stranger's who already grabbed it, "I wasn't watching where I was going."

The mysterious man handed her the book and said, "No, it's quite alright. I wasn't watching either."

Christine looked at him and noticed he had magnificent copper coloured curls that fell in a mop on top of his head and mesmerising blue eyes that she could get lost in.

He was also admiring her. He could feel his heart pick up speed just at her beauty.

"What are you doing walking alone anyway?" The man asked, still admiring the girl in front of him.

"I was just making my way back home. My papa sent me out for bread." The girl replied.

The man nodded and said, "Well, let me escort you home as an apology."

"You really don't have to do that. I'm fine walking on my own." Christine said, "Besides, I don't even know you."

"Well, in that case, my name is Enjolras and it's a pleasure to meet you..." he awaited an answer.

"Christine." The girl told him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Christine." He said, grabbing the girls hand and giving it a light kiss.

"Well, lovely to meet you too Enjolras but I really must be going. And I can walk myself home but thank you for the offer." She thanked the boy and turned, walking away from him, leaving him with and unknown feeling in the pit of his stomach.

The boy could do nothing but watch as she disappeared into the dimly lit streets.

'What is happening?' He thought to himself, 'you don't catch feelings like this. It's nothing, just ignore them' he told himself, 'but she's so different. I've never seen anyone like her.

And with his thoughts consumed by her face, Enjolras left the small street and continued his way to meet his friends.