A/N : You, the one reading this, are amazing. When I started thinking about this idea at the water park I wouldn't dream of more than 1k peeps would read it in less than a month. The change in chapter names is thanks to the guest reviewer, who considerately enough pointed out that what for me is just abstract and messy is even more abstract and messy for you, my readers. Now you can check before starting reading a chapter which pov it is.
I know that I promised a chapter about the "assembly" before the holidays. I realized that it was written in Charlotte's pov and hence it's not going to be published as a part of this story. I might publish it as a separate story, but it's not going to be a part of AHE.
Last, but not least. This story is now completed. Maybe someday some other character will inspire me to write another chapter, only time will tell. But this is going to be marked as complete. I publish this in publishing order now, and in some weeks time I'll change the order of the chapters chronologically.
###A.H.E.###
Why did it always end up like this? How could she find herself abandoned time, after time, after time and still want to try again? Jeanne held her reading glasses, rolled the etui in her red striped blue shirt, looked absentmindedly into space and let out a deep, heavy sigh. Marie told her she was too gullible, Benji told her she was just looking for attention and France pitied her. Luckily she was invited to stay with her uncle and his girlfriend over new years. She couldn't stand going to another party with her classmates. What would they think of her now? Now it was not a beginner's mistake anymore. She fell for the wrong guys. It was as simple as that.
"I don't want to be that person, but aren't you supposed to be packing?" Jane saw her little sister bobbing her head at the doorframe, looking mischievous. "Last thing I heard your flight leaves at five tomorrow" The slightly raised eyebrow took the edge of the harsh words. Elisabet had been a treasure during the last few weeks since the holiday party at the Bingleys'. Jeanne couldn't count on her fingers anymore how many times Elisabet had aided her when she went into the labyrinth of thoughts that only led to misery. "I don't know Lisa" She resumed the folding, continuing with her frilly shirts, and her crop tops. "I'm not sure that this is such a good idea"
"Nonsense!" If one didn't know Elisabet she could be mistaken for pole dancing with the door. Jeanne knew for a fact that Elisabet had this restlessness in her body that couldn't be tamed. This was as still as one could get Elisabet. "Who would mère et père send otherwise? Me?" Both girls tried to hold their giggles, but did not quite succeed. "Lisa, you have enough energy within you to last for two. You don't need more." She winked and gave her baby sister a grin that did nothing to calm the giggling fit. "It was ONCE." If her sister didn't stop being such a prima donna she would be really sore in the belly tomorrow morning. "And how would I know that it the punch was off limits? Aunt Yasmine should have looked out for me better."
Speaking of her host for the holiday mad Jeanne sombre all of a sudden. Elisabet had almost made her forget her worries. Almost. "You can't trick me Lisa" The heavy mood fell like jell-o around their bodies. "What if he's there? I mean we obviously won't go to the same parties or anything, but what if I meet him in the piste?" A sudden chill spread through her bones, like fog. What if they met, but he didn't recognize her? Or worse, he did?
"Jeanne Felicia, sister dearest" Elisabet looked serious for a moment, which surprised her. She was always bouncing around in one way or another. This made Jeanne really pay attention, because she knew the moment was of great importance. "You are a strong, independent, beautiful, smart woman, who only let men in her life if they bring the silver lining." Jane felt something heavy on her shoulder, and was surprised that the hand that rested there was steady and reassuring at the same time. When did her little sister grow so old?
"...but" something felt fishy, as if Elisabet herself had had an experience of one kind. It could not be; Elisabet would've told her right away. "Shhhhhh" The finger that closed her mouth was an incarnation of the idiom "steel hand in silk gloves". "You will go to Aspen, you will ski all day, party all night and have late night talks with aunt Yasmine." Jeanne felt herself shrink under the steady gaze of her sibling. "That's that. Now be a good girl and continue packing." Jeanne saw Elisabet bounce back to her usual self from her half sitting position. It was so comical she couldn't suppress her smile. "Ciao et bon courage!" As her little sister's ponytail bobbed out of her sight she let out the sigh she had hold for almost the whole conversation.
Elisabet was right. She would have a great time at new years. It was just so hard to not think about him anymore. Out of all the heartbreaks Jeanne have had this must've been the hardest. The others she left because she realized they were no good for her. Each time she promised herself to be more cautious with whom she gave her heart to. This time he left her. He left her because she was too guarded in her feelings. And now, now when he was gone, she realized that she had opened her heart to him. Too late. It was too late for regrets. She had to have fun at New Year's. She would have fun at New Year's. That he probably was in the same village, kissing some young heiress at midnight should not bother her at all.
The packing was finished around midnight. Jeanne wasn't really sure was she had packed. Her mind had been elsewhere during the whole process. She went to bed exhausted and waited for sleep to avoid her and the thoughts to come. Tomorrow, no, today, she would cross the Atlantic Ocean and she would enjoy her holidays and not think about handsome younger men. She would not.