It was a quiet day at her parents' bookshop, and Fantine was bored behind the counter. She fiddled with her hair, which she had piled into a bun at the nape of her neck, as her mother had suggested to her before work that day.
After a few hours of solitude, the door to the shop finally opened. Fantine gasped to see Bijou step across the threshold.
"Hello again, Fantine!" Bijou smiled. "When are you free tonight? You should come with me to the pub."
Fantine bit her lip.
"I'm sorry, Bijou, I can't. I promised my mother that I wouldn't go out with you again. She was so angry with me after last time; she even slapped me in the face. I can't let my parents down again."
"So, being friends with a girl like me isn't acceptable to your parents, is that it?" Bijou's cheeks turned bright red. "Well, then, do with this what you like. Sell it and give the money to a nunnery, for all I care."
Bijou turned and rushed out the door, after slamming a chain and locket down onto the desk in front of Fantine.
Fantine picked the necklace off the table. Opening it, she found a piece of paper glued to each side of the locket. Put together, the papers said: "F and B: Two Friends."
Guilt flooded Fantine's heart, as she realized that Bijou must be so lonely amongst all those students. All Bijou wanted was a friend... Fantine certainly could understand that.
* * *
That evening, Fantine's father was busy binding books, while her mother dusted the shelves of the shop. Bored, Fantine balanced the financial records.
"You're such a good and dutiful daughter, Fantine," her father said, kissing her on the head.
"May I go out, Father?" Fantine asked. "I want to go read to the children at the orphanage tonight..."
"Of course, child. Don't stay out too late; I worry about you."
Fantine exited the bookshop. Once she was far enough down the street, she unpinned her hair, letting it flow down her back. Taking a deep breath, she headed toward Pierrot's Pub.
* * *
Upon entering the pub, Fantine rushed to Bijou. Bijou noticed the locket around Fantine's neck, and they embraced like old friends.
"I'm so sorry, Bijou. I didn't mean to insult you earlier today. I'm just so used to doing whatever my parents tell me. I love them, and I don't want to upset them, but I have to live my own life. I'm slowly realizing that. Can I buy you a glass of wine?"
"I'm always game for a glass of wine, dear!" Bijou laughed.
Fantine and Bijou sat at a small table, laughing and sipping their wine.
Neither of them noticed the solitary student watching Fantine from a distance.
* * *
Fantine and Bijou had downed quite a few glasses of wine, and they found themselves surrounded by a boisterous group of handsome students.
Despite Bijou's flirtatious efforts, the students were clearly more interested in Fantine; the praised her angelic smile and played with her flaxen hair. Fantine giggled shyly, quietly enjoying the attention.
"You boys know that she's a virgin, don't you?" Bijou sneered, to Fantine's horror. "You'll never get anywhere with Fantine. She's nothing but a little cocktease."
Fantine leapt to her feet.
"You're jealous, Bijou. You're jealous, because I'm prettier than you are. You're not my friend at all. Leave me alone, all of you!" Fantine spat, rushing off to a table by herself.
"Does that mean we will get somewhere with you, Bijou?" One of the students slurred.
Fantine sat alone, scowling, as she watched Bijou leave with the group of drunken students.
"Did you have a falling out with your friends, Mademoiselle?"
Fantine looked up to see an astonishingly handsome young man standing at her table.
"Yes... I mean, no. They're not my friends."
"Indeed. You're clearly on a different level than them. Please forgive me, but I've been admiring you this whole evening. I'm a student, but I hope you won't hold that against me. My name is Francois."
Francois took Fantine's hand, kissing it tenderly.
* * *
In the alley behind Pierrot's Pub, five students held Bijou down on the pavement, as they took turns with her. She had told them "no," that she wasn't in the mood for that tonight, but they forced her.
Bruised and violated, Bijou stumbled back into the pub, desperately looking for Fantine.
But Fantine was gone.
* * *
On a quiet carriage ride, Francois busied himself by braiding Fantine's hair. Fantine giggled, noticing the butterflies that fluttered inside of her.
"What are you dreams, Mademoiselle Fantine?"
"I want to be a wife and a mother, more than anything," she murmured.
Francois laughed to himself.
"But how could such a bright girl be satisfied by such bourgeois pursuits?"
"You're misinformed, Monsieur," Fantine said severely. "Nothing could be more satisfying than a loving family. A family just like my own... Yes, there's a part of me that thirsts for adventure. But that can be satisfied with exciting novels."
"You have much to learn about satisfaction, Mademoiselle Fantine." Francois' voice was husky.
Fantine felt Francois' lips against the side of her neck, and her entire body grew heated and moist. She turned and kissed him full on the mouth, with an enthusiasm which only adolescents can understand.
* * *