Chapter Three: Les Fleurettes

For the next week, the most intolerable week of her short life, Babette simply did what she was told to do, which was mostly the cleaning and dirty work. Maybe because no one else wants to do it, she thought bitterly, watching the other girls laugh, talk, and practice for the evening festivities.

The first day was the worst. All day listening to D'Araignée giving orders to be done daily and scolding every tiny mistake Babette made.

"You are to make sure these floors are mopped, swept, and spotless," the old witch had said. "At night, when the customers are here, stay in the kitchen, ready to wash everything that is brought back there, then head straight up to bed when you are dismissed for the night. Whatever you do, don't you dare let me catch you walking about outside; the last thing I need is some little urchin scaring off the men! That should not be too difficult for your small mind to comprehend."

On certain nights, however, when D'Araignée was "feeling generous," as she put it, Babette was allowed to stay downstairs, out of sight in the wings, to watch the girls in action.

It was the same small speech every time. "Just because you are far from what I want wandering about out there," D'Araignée would tell her, "that is no reason why you can not learn what you are here for. Just stay put right there, watch, and learn, understand?"

And of course, Babette would nod and obey, blushing the entire time at the very thought of having to "entertain" one day.

But as time went on, and she grew accustomed to what she saw, sitting there was not torturous, but boring. After a while, she had most of the girls' movements and tricks memorized, and watching seemed pointless. But she did not hint at this, not at all; the day D'Araignée saw that she knew how to do anything would be one closer to being forced out there herself. Therefore, Babette remained silent, every now and then subtly mimicking what she saw when no one was watching her.

Or, when she thought no one was watching her, that is.

"What is Madame putting you through now? Training?" a voice asked from behind, startling her. When Babette turned around, she saw the redheaded girl, the same one that she had seen the night she arrived, smirking at her.

Babette immediately stopped what she was doing and went back to watching, not saying a word.

The redhead raised an eyebrow indignantly. "The cold shoulder? What did I do to deserve that?"

Babette shrugged, and the redhead shook her head with an amused smile.

"Well, if you have to watch, I might as well teach you a few things worth remembering."

Babette glared at her, clearly not wanting to be spoken to, then returned to watching the stage. The girl simply walked to her place to begin. That was their first encounter.

The second was later that night after Babette had been sent back to her room. Her cold room, she realized as she stepped inside. It was December already, after all. Winter. A time of death in so many ways.

Shivering, Babette crawled under the thin blankets with Lisette close by, trying to keep warm when there was a knock on her door. With a frustrated groan, not caring who it was, she shouted, "I am sleeping, go away!"

"If you were sleeping, you would not answer, would you?"

Babette bolted upward in bed, frowning as she found the redhead standing in the open doorway.

"I am done for the night," she growled at her unwanted visitor. "Leave me alone."

"Well, well, she actually talks!" the redhead laughed, walking towards the bed before she sat down, much to Babette's obvious displeasure. Handing over a blanket, she added, "Here, thought you may need an extra one. Downstairs can be hotter than hell, but for some reason, that is not always true for the upstairs, especially in winter." When Babette eyed the blanket warily, the redhead laughed again. "Go on, take it, this is my spare. It's not like I took it from Fifi's room; then you would have to worry!"

Babette took it slowly. "Fifi?" she asked softly, shyly.

The redhead smiled kindly, almost like Maman used to, Babette noticed. "You have not been introduced to anyone yet, eh?"

Babette shook her head.

"I did not think so," the redhead said. "Ah well, it is too late now, and Madame will have our heads if I bring you downstairs. But tomorrow, she is out for the day, goes to do errands every Saturday, all day. After you finish your chores, I will see to it personally that you meet the others. Having a few friends around here will do you good. Is that all right with you?"

Babette looked thoughtful for a minute. The girl was right; maybe having a few friends in this place would help make life bearable at least. Slowly breaking into a smile, she nodded. "Oui, merci."

The redhead grinned. "All right then." Before she left, she asked, "By the way, what's your name, kid?"

"Babette."

The redhead nodded with a smirk. "I guess it will do." Then, before heading for the door, she added seriously, "I'm Odette, just in case you were interested. Now get some rest; I will see you in the morning."

Babette nodded, grinning from ear to ear, more comfortable than before with a possible friend in sight.

ooo

Although Babette excitedly raced to put away her mop and broom, she found herself shy and nervous once again as she opened the door to the main room a crack. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she was crazy as she listened to the girls' resounding laugher. Should she really be here? She was only the new girl, and a cleaning one at that; they would not accept her as one of them, would they?

Despite her nerves, however, Babette took a deep breath as she pushed the door open entirely and walked into the room.

"Ah there you are, finally!" Odette laughed behind her, leading her by the shoulders to a corner of the room. "Sure took you long enough."

Babette glanced up at her. "Did you have to do chores when you first came here?" she asked.

"Of course," Odette answered. "We all did."

"Then you should remember how long it takes," Babette countered, with a tiny smile.

Odette raised an eyebrow as she smirked. "Madame was right, a quick tongue indeed!"

Babette winced, clearly remembering that a quick tongue was not something that was appreciated around this place. Odette merely grinned.

"Keep it, kid," she said reassuringly, sitting down at a small table. "Just do not use it too much, especially in front of Madame."

Babette sat across from her with a sigh. "Is there anything we can do around here?"

"Absolutely," Odette replied, crossing her feet on the chair next to hers comfortably. "Keep the men and Madame happy. Then on Saturdays, namely today, make our own enjoyment before she gets back."

"What fun," Babette sulked, folding her arms.

"Better than living with Adrien, oui?"

Babette gazed into space, pure hatred in her eyes. "Anything is better than that."

Odette laughed gently. "If it helps, none of us like him either; not exactly every girl's dream."

"You do not have to tell me that twice."

"That bad at home?"

Babette looked at her. "At home?" she asked. "He was never home. He did not even live with us, and when he visited, he made my mother's life miserable. He only wanted her for one thing, you know."

Odette looked at her curiously at that comment. "How old are you anyway?"

"Twelve."

Odette smiled at the child warmly. The poor kid, losing the innocence of youth and forced into this life at such a young age.

"Ah well, do not give him a second thought," she said reassuringly. "If he shows up here again, and bothers you in any way, you let us know. We will take care of him."

"Damn straight you mean 'we,' but I want the first punch!"

Odette and Babette looked up, and Odette laughed as another woman approached them.

"Well the plan was to let you tear him limb from limb, of course!" she agreed, gesturing an invitation to sit with them. When the blonde sat down, Odette continued, "Aubrey, this is Babette, our latest addition."

Aubrey gave Babette the once-over, frankly frightening the child a bit. The woman was quite intimidating; tall in stature, even when wearing flat shoes, and on the strong, built side physically. But after a moment, Aubrey smiled, relieving her fear a bit as she held out her hand to Babette.

"I wish I could say 'welcome aboard' like it is a good thing," she said. "But this place does take a lot of time to get used to."

"I saw that when I stepped in here last week," Babette agreed.

Aubrey nodded. "That's right, you are Adrien's little girl, oui?" When Babette nodded solemnly, Aubrey shook her head. "You have my sympathies, sweetie; in fact, I think you have the sympathy of every girl in this place because of that."

Sensing the ill feelings approaching, Odette interrupted quickly, "And Babette, this is Aubrey, the 'Blonde Ruler' as men ever so affectionately call her."

"Easy 'dette," Aubrey warned, although she grinned proudly. "Not in front of a kid."

"Oh, please!" Babette offered, smirking. "I know more than you think!"

Aubrey laughed. "Ah, in that case, I can say I rightfully earned it!"

Odette added, "Any man gives you a hard time, kid, she is the one to see! She will take care of them faster than you can say 'oh la la.'"

"And that roughhousing attitude is exactly why she can not keep a man's attention."

Odette and Aubrey rolled their eyes before putting on the biggest false smiles Babette had ever seen in her life. The new girl approaching only continued to speak.

"If anyone deserves that title, it is me," she added, snootily, twirling her golden hair. "The whole lot of you know I can keep a man at my side the longest."

"Oh absolutely, right up until breakfast the next morning every time!" Aubrey agreed, clearly intending to mock their unwanted guest. "Such an achievement, Fifi!"

"Josephine!" the girl snapped angrily. "I have told you a hundred times not to call me that!"

Odette looked at her, as if curious. "A hundred? Really? How many fingers and toes did you need to count to that?"

Fifi narrowed her eyes at her. "Once a former rich girl, always a former rich girl, Odette?" she asked, tauntingly. "Madame's little favorite who thinks she is so wonderful just because she can read?"

Aubrey stood up from her seat, threatening death with her eyes. "Watch your mouth, if you know what's good for you."

Fifi did not retreat, but only smirked snidely. "And still can't stand up for herself, I see," she concluded before turning on Aubrey. "Luckily she has her precious, trained bulldog to protect her."

"Why you little…!"

But as Aubrey made her lunge towards Fifi's throat, wanting to wring it like a wet dish rag, Odette jumped from her seat to hold her back with a bit of effort.

"That's enough, both of you!" Odette demanded, a warning tone in her voice. "The last thing we need is you two ready to kill each other, especially in front of the kid, got it?"

While Aubrey backed down unwillingly, Fifi sneered at her before turning her attention on Babette. "This?" she asked. "This is the newest pickings?" She circled Babette's seat as if inspecting her, and Babette averted her eyes at the uncomfortable feeling that had not filled her since D'Araignée had done the same evaluation a week ago. "Little scrawny if you ask me."

"Quelle surprise, no one did," Aubrey growled sarcastically.

Fifi flashed her a deadly look before looking at Babette again. "Madame should have taught her from the beginning to stay away from the wrong sort and learn from the ones can help her survive around here." She grinned, proudly. "Like me." At last addressing Babette directly, Fifi put her hand on the girl's shoulder, as if she was genuinely concerned about her and said, "Remember, if you ever need someone to turn to, ma petite…"

"She will most assuredly not come to you, Fifi," Aubrey finished.

"Josephine!"

"Like I care. Now do us all the biggest favor, and get lost."

Tired of being ridiculed from those below her, Fifi turned on her heel to oblige the request, muttering heatedly about how "Madame will hear about this!" on the way back to her little circle of followers. Odette and Aubrey simply turned up their noses in a silly imitation of their colleague, while Babette snorted a laugh under her breath.

"That bad, huh?" she asked.

Aubrey shook her head. "That was Fifi in a good mood; you do not want to see her otherwise, trust me."

Odette nodded. "To become a part of Fifi's merry little band is the same as sending your soul to hell," she warned. "She will be there for you until she figures out what she can use you for. Kindness to her is only bait to reel in the idiots who do her bidding. It is best to just stay away from her altogether."

"Will do, I promise."

With the tension eased, the trio became better acquainted as Odette had intended. For the remainder of the afternoon, Babette eagerly listened and learned, meeting and greeting everyone until D'Araignée returned, as always in the worst of moods after a full day of errands. Unfortunately as expected upon seeing the child in the main room, D'Araignée ordered her back to her bedroom, reminding her of her place and scolding her disobedience. But as Babette solemnly made her way upstairs, regretting having to leave the fun and lively atmosphere the girls had created, she found that Odette and Aubrey had followed her.

"Feel a little better about this place?" Odette asked.

Babette smiled gently. "I am not sure if I will ever get used to it, but I do feel much more welcome than I did before, merci."

Aubrey grinned warmly. "Well, you can come to us for anything you need, we promise."

Odette nodded in agreement. "Absolument. Right now, however, I suggest getting some rest. Saturday can get pretty insane around here; you are going to be washing a lot of mugs and plates tonight!"

"Oh, joy!" Babette laughed, rolling her eyes. Her smile growing, she said seriously, "Thank you again…mes amies."

The girls made a playfully sweeping bow before reflecting her expression and heading downstairs, and Babette once again found herself alone. But for the first time since she had arrived last week, she could honestly admit that she felt at home, and truly looked forward to being downstairs with them again. Curling up under the blanket, she beamed as she slipped into a soothing, peaceful nap.