L'Etoile Rose

Chapter 15

Friday night was another evening concert of Dominique and his band on the coast of the continent, in one of the beach restaurants, and we went this time also all by bike in the late afternoon for a long ride by the seaside to the restaurant. 

Even though Chantal and Anne had said that I would be happy to have my new dress for this evening, I chose to wear my new light canvas trousers and my "Dolce Vita" T-shirt, more practical for the journey by bike. 

"hmm, you're gonna keep your dress for the end of the stay, well calculated!" Anne said, with a slightly mocking smile. She knew that I was more comfortable in pants. 

Before leaving the hostel, our preparations, on the girls side, had lasted all afternoon, between showers, fittings and makeup, exchanges of jewelry and accessories ... Sophie had spent a long time smoothing my hair with her personal dryer that worked a bit like an iron, then she put hairspray on me. And it was Delphine who had done my eyelids, a little pink, a little white and had finished with a touch of powder on the face and arms, to better "catch the light," she said. I suddenly looked a little Asian in the mirror, thin, tanned, long hair, straight and smooth.

"Your father won't be able to come and get you at the end of the month," warned my mother on the phone; "you will have to take a bus, to Bordeaux, and from there, the train. Do you have any money left?"

"Yes, of course I had answered a little too quickly ... Why, what's going on?"

"Nothing, nothing at all! But it's the week-end of the sporting festivities, here, you know, like every year in the summer ... There are a lot of Pala and Rugby matches planned, your father can't miss that!"

"Ah, yes of course! Well, I'll manage then. Tonight, we're going to dance in a café on the beach, it's our supervisor who plays the guitar. We're all going there. We're getting ready, with the girls."

"Take care of yourself then ... Don't go to bed too late, I'll be giving you a call in the week!"

At the restaurant, I was already starting to take on some habits. We went there several times, in this one or in another, for a drink at the mid-day break or in the evening. The others drank alcohol, I was satisfied with a fruit juice. From time to time, one of my friends would suggest I taste what she drank, to get used to it, they'd say, and I did it once or twice, to please them because they insisted, but I didn't see the point of these alcoholic drinks, with the odd smell and taste. I couldn't be peer pressured  to the point of doing just like the others without choosing. I loved eating donut shaped seafood, crab toast, or the small pink or gray shrimps we were served each time in beautiful coloured bowls, mussels also sometimes, which we ate like marshmallows on a stick.

That evening, I listened to Dominique's repertoire with pleasure, because I now knew his songs, having heard him often repeat with his guitar, at the inn, at the beach or in the garden. So I waited quietly for the one on which I had danced with Laurent, and for the rest, I watched the others do their thing, observing them interested me, to see them drinking, talking, laughing and dancing. Laurent obviously was also waiting for his turn, because he had appeared in front of me at the precise moment when the voice of Dominique announced the song of Elvis. I had laughed to see his face light up when he had seen me get up before he'd even invited me. 

We were therefore in favor of this dance, and it was more cheerful than the first time, when I knew little of Laurent and I was proud of his invitation but also a little shy. He was dancing now while chatting constantly with me, making me tell him, here and there, how I'ld found the summer course so far, complimenting me on my hair, and I had made him laugh by evoking the iron of Sophie. "Maybe I should try it," he joked, his hair a little too long, soft and falling into his eyes. Then the song stopped and he was back on the stage to replace a musician.

A little later, it was Dominique's turn to take a break, while one of his friends replaced him at the microphone. He had come to sit at Serge's table, to have a drink with us, just for the duration of a song: "stay a little after the concert, we'll have a last drink before the restaurant closes," he proposed with his charming smile making it round our group, and my heart tightened when he caught my eye.

"Where are Anne and Julien? They went away in love? " He shouted a little later, and as no one answered:" come, "he said, leaning towards me," we'll look for them at the beach, come with me, little girl. . "

"I'm coming, just a minute" ... I answered without looking at him and I had almost fled to the bathroom to think. How can I escape? I was out of the toilets after five minutes, without any plan of action, but not daring to go through the bar to go out, in fear that Dominique would see me, or the kitchen where there were still several employees cleaning before closing. 

I had then aimed for another door, hesitating between the apprehension of being stopped by Dominique and the fear of doing something wrong by perhaps passing through a private area. I had finally dared to open this door to go out quickly and I happily found myself in the parking lot of the restaurant, while Dominique was waiting for me at the bar, beach side. There were people there too, customers saying goodbye happily, getting ready to leave.

"Betty! What are you doing here?" It was Laurent, busy putting amps and guitars in a white van.

"I'ld like to go back to the hostel ... I don't know where my bike is!" My voice sounded melodramatic despite myself.

"Hop in! I'll take you back if you want, we'll come back for the bike tomorrow. Come on, let's go!"

I was in the van immediately, slamming the door behind me forcefully. Laurent had finished loading the equipment and then climbed in the driver's seat. A silence followed. Laurent looked at me and I supported his gaze without lowering his eyes. He had started the car without a word, turning on the radio on a classical music channel.

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You guys ever been in a similar situation? if I got a coin for every time I escaped a party, ild be rich XD

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