The confirmation brought a tilt to Odileâs lips, a snort falling from her lips, although it fell flat. âWhy donât we throw a couple of dangerous shots in there too, yâknow, just because no fucks are going to be given once Iâve sank a coupleâŠâ or one too many. She laughed, head falling backwards as she attempted to match the energy,
Her tone wasnât the same tempo as her usually light, high-pitched, excited voice. This was a party after all, wasnât it? Where she flourished and excelled. Instead, it came out lower, less enthusiastic. But the comfort of her hand intertwined with Lisetteâs allowed her to keep her head high.Â
Odile had been brought up in a socialiteâs spotlight; she knew how to work a crowd. Her ability to mask had been one of her strongest skills. But this? It felt off-kilter, different from what sheâd moulded herself too. She wanted to be the spit of Laurent, but even she had limits. She was still struggling to put the pieces together.Â
Walking, she didnât realise how tightly she held onto the woman who was her family. But there was something in the way Lis commanded herself that it rubbed off on the blonde. Odile felt confidence bloom in her where itâd otherwise lacked moments ago.
Reaching the bar was a blur. Lisette talked, and Odile turned â staring back towards the ring. Before she snapped herself out of it, and came to look at the man who now looked flustered under the star of a St. Clair. Donât worry, my dude, it happens to most people, she wanted to say. âSame, uh, please,â she managed, though her face had paled once again.
This is when she wished they could leave. No phones, no exitâŠstuck.Â
âNope,â she hadnât, and she wondered if itâd been for the best. âI always avoided it, honestly. I just thoughtâŠmy image, there were certain things I should stay away from.â And itâd always made sense for her to do so. But Laurent being hereâŠafter everything heâd been through. âMaybe I thought I could handle more than I canâŠâ Maybe she wasnât as strong as she thought, though she didnât voice that out loud.