A Franc or Two - Les Misérables [IN EDITING]

Corner - Chapter 4

You were walking around town the next day. As per usual, not many of the men recognized you- and that was because you were no longer scantily clad or wearing a whore's makeup.

While you walked the streets, dress tucked under your arm as you kept your gaze on the floor, you felt your stomach sink...

Was this really what your life had amounted to?

You saw one of your regular costumers from the corner of your eye, and if humanly possible, you began to walk even faster.

If there was a God, why would he force you to sleep with countless men just to make enough money to live?

Unlike many of the girls you knew, you had no family- and one job's worth of wages was most definitely not enough... But nobody asked.

You'd rather keep it that way.

Completely out of nowhere, you felt a hand placing on your shoulder. You gasped- and, after a moment, you were face-to-face with a good friend of yours, Halette.

She wasn't particularly the most beautiful girl in the world, but, like you, managed to make a living as a whore. Was she as popular as you? Not exactly- but she had been nothing but kind since you had arrived... hell, she was the one you would go to for advice for literally anything.

"Hey, [Y/N]," she said, flashing you a slightly crooked-toothed smile as she pulled up her dress (with a plunging neckline that left almost nothing to the imagination, mind you). "Listen- rumor's going around that you're sleeping with Timeo..."

You shifted uncomfortably... That wasn't a lie.

"That's why the other women say that you're his favorite," she said. "And why so many men are coming up to your room!"

Your heart sank.

"Halette, that's-"

"Absurd, I know," she sighed, shaking her head as she noticed a few of the not-yet-busy prostitutes looking over at the both of you. You opened your mouth to speak up again, but she held a hand out and glanced back. "One moment, please..."

She pivoted on her heel and cupped her hand around her mouth.

"Listen up! For those of you who find it entertaining to gossip about the lovely [Y/N] 'ere, why don't you use your mouths in other ways? You know- ways that get you paid?"

She went back to face you.

"I've got to go- my second costumer is waiting for me," she said. Business would often go better for everyone else when you were taken for a whole night. "See you around then, yeah?"

"Erhm... yeah," you said.

With that, she jogged off, leaving you with an even emptier feeling than before.

"Hey! Mademoiselle!"

You figured that this was just some man calling after a whore, but you heart footsteps jogging closer and closer to you before you felt a hand on your shoulder.

Slap.

The man's hand flew up to his face as he let out an 'ouch,' but he seemed more shocked that you had slapped him so hard as opposed to slapping him in the first place.

"You scared me, Monsieur!" you said. Upon examining his face, you didn't at all recognize him- but unfortunately, the chances were that you had screwed him at one point or another. You didn't remember all of their faces.

"My apologies," he said while rubbing the side of his face. He was a younger man- quite good-looking, if you were being honest- and he was quick to place a hand on your back and rush to escort you out of there. "But there's a man looking at you from over there, and he doesn't seem to have the best intentions."