As Madame excused herself from the room, there was a collective sigh heard from our small number.  I turned to Sarah and Ann Marie, "Sarah, would you mind terribly if I asked for you to leave us some privacy for a few moments? Perhaps until the end of morning devotions?"  A small nod of acquiesce was had, and soon enough Ann Marie and I were sitting in silence one next to the other.

"So, mind telling me what you've been doing this past week? I mean, I know what you've been doing, but I'd like to know who you've been doing a lot more."

Ann Marie gasped at my bluntness, she never could get used to my loosely used language when it came to our liaisons.  I thought that the gratification derived from the relationships, while short, were worth the while, and although I did not condone loose living, I certainly did not discourage young women my age to not experience the pleasures of the body that men had to offer to us.

"It was that boy we saw two weeks ago," I gave a small noise of understanding as she continued, "The one who sold us a newspaper, do you remember Jeana?"

I racked my brain; I thought Ann Marie had meant the young boy we had met in a shop whilst on a trip to the bakery.  He had been working behind the counter, and winked at me suggestively when I entered the store.

However, the boy she was speaking of, I also remembered much more permanently in my mind.  Who could forget the way he looked into my eyes as though he could see into my mind. His soulful and mischievous eyes beckoned me to investigate him; this… enigma of flesh and timeless good looks.

He intrigued me to no bounds. Peaked my interest, both intellectually and physically; but, I could tell in close proximity that he was not interested in me, he wanted someone who wasn't as problematic as I could be. 

He wanted the weaker of the two, the one he felt he could easier win over instead of having to investigate his prey. 

He was short with words, but lavish with praise of gazing.  His eyes seemed permanently attached to Ann Marie's body the whole time we were within twenty feet of him.

I left Marie alone for two minutes while I investigated another buy in the bakery.  When I came back, the newsboy was still there, chatting up a storm with my easily persuaded companion. 

When he saw me approaching, he left quickly.  When I came to Marie, she had a newspaper clutched in her left hand, as her right had was fanning her face, so suddenly flushed.

"Ann Marie, who was that boy? And what were you doing consorting with such… filth?"

She grimaced at my harsh words, but turned to me with her eyes alight with something akin to enamoration. "He said his name was Spot Conlon, and that I was one of the most beautiful girls he ever had the pleasure to converse with!" 

She had a smile the width of her face firmly in place.  And all I could do was sigh and congratulate her on a wonderful encounter, but we needed to get back to the academy.

"Yes, I remember him Marie, what does he have to do with your nightly outings?" I inquired softly.

She looked lost for a moment, reminiscing most likely.  "I neglected to tell you that during our short encounter, he invited me out to a poker night at his lodging house."

I gasped. So this was the reason for her wearing old street clothes that she had owned when she came to the Academy.

"How deplorable Ann Marie! Lowering yourself to his social class for a bit of earthy fun? I am appalled Marie, honestly—that must have been so degrading."

Throughout my short rampage of scolding, Ann Marie calmly sat and listened, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

She continued her explanation, "Not so degrading as you would think, they were rather nice to me.  And I also have a confession to make before I continue my story. That which being… I am no longer allowed to consider myself a respectable girl worthy of marriage as of last night."

I gasped, my entire body felt like lead. She… had relations… with that… waste of society. 

I couldn't breathe, but I managed to gulp a breath in to say softly, "Oh my Marie, what have you done?"

After which I truly for the first time in my life collapsed on the bed in a dead faint.

How shocking.