Disclaimer : Still not mine…

Author's Notes : Read and review please!!

Paris

The driver and I didn't talk much on the way. I sat in the back, being knocked into barrels with every jolt in the road. The driver asked me no questions as to why a girl my age was travelling to Paris alone, and I was grateful. We only stopped briefly on the long trip for the driver to feed his horse. He also bought a loaf of bread, which we shared between us.

A few hours later we arrived in Paris. The city was so busy compared to the little villages I was used to – the streets were full of people wandering back and forth. The second the cart stopped I leapt out, trying to get rid of the stiff sensation in my legs. Looking to the sky I saw it was going dark. And I had nowhere to sleep.

I couldn't dwell on this very long however, as someone knocked into me – sending me stumbling into a man who caught hold of my waist.

"Where are you going my lovely?" he asked, smiling a horrible toothless grin.

"Get off me!" I screamed, freeing myself and taking off through the streets.

I pushed my way through the crowds. Men whistled, one even clutched my hair. Women clutched at my skirts and at my locket. I kept on running until I finally reached an opening.

The opening led out on to a grassy bank, which sloped down to a bridge with a small stream under it. Just like the one in Montreuil-sur-mer where I had spent my first ten years. I stood still for a moment staring at it, then fell to my knees – crying. I cried as though my heart would break, I was alone. Completely alone for the first time in my life. Marie didn't know where I was, Marcelin would have forgotten me soon.

I spent the night under the bridge. Gone where the days when I'd enjoyed the urchin life, now I just wished for my warm bunk in the barn.

Trying to find a comfortable position I told myself "I must look for a job tomorrow. And then a room. I can't sleep here again.

As soon as dawn broke, I was up. I combed my hair – which now fell past my waist -, tidied up my dress and went out in search of somewhere to work.

Paris really wasn't so daunting early in the morning. There weren't many people around and I was able to take in the full beauty of the place.

I stopped in every shop on the street, but was turned away.

Then, as if by fate, I came to a lady's dress shop with a note in the window advertising a placement.

I stepped inside, a little bell sounding my arrival. It was a tiny shop, but very colourful- with fabrics hanging on the walls and many dresses hanging up on racks.

There were three girls chattering in the corner who all looked up when I entered.

"Can we help you?" the tallest one asked.

"I'm here about the note in the window" I explained.

"Oh, I'll go and get Philip for you" she said.

She disappeared through a door, and reappeared with a man. He was tall with dark brown hair and grey eyes. His face was kind and he walked carefully.

"I've come about the job" I told him.

"Aaaah" he said in a soft English accent. "Yes we've been looking for work. What is your name?"

"Fantine"

There was a pause as he waited for my surname, but then he continued. "Have you worked before?"

"Five years on a farm in Montreuil-sur-mer" I replied.

"I'll work you here for a week" he said, almost to himself. "See if you're suitable. Come here tomorrow. Eight o'clock sharp"

I smiled broadly, showing off my teeth. "Thank you monsieur" and then I left the shop.

In my happiness, I jumped off the step, straight into someone coming the other way.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" I exclaimed. "I didn't see you!"

The person I'd walked into however didn't seem to upset, instead thrusting their hand into mine and shaking it.

"Felix Tholomyes" he said. "And you are?"