IMPORTANT HEADLINES
"Performing Arts School is holding a concert in memory of Fantine De'Changy . The concert is going to be held during the senior graduation Monday, June 26. The teenage prodigy attended the school and sources say her family is planning on attending. Many famous artists are heard to be performing."

This is the paper I watch Derrick read while I shiver under a blanket, "What is that?" I ask.

"My mother handed this to me when we walked in. She says that she is performing there and that I'm coming too," Derrick explains. I nod.

"What's your mom's name?" I want to make sure that I'm correct trust I know him.

"Carlotta," He says, looking at me with a smile. He is my best friend.

I never realized how perfect his face was. His light grey eyes softly reassuring me that everything's going to be fine. His broad shoulders, showing his strength and kindness. And his heart unknowingly loves me and doesn't know much trouble I've caused.

"You're beautiful," Derrick states, gently caressing the disaster that I call my face with his hand. I can feel his fingertips touch the large holes in my skin, brushing the raw muscle, "I know who you are," he claims. I don't say a word because I know he will be right.

"I just.......I've seen so many pictures since we saw each other last," Derrick tries to explain, "You are nothing like how they describe you. You're so much more. I can't believe how long it's been since I've seen you," he shakes his head. "I wish you would just came with us when we left....I hate that our reunion is like this...."

We sit in silence for a while, just looking at each other, thinking. But I break the quiet.

"Why don't you hate me?" I ask. If he has read what is in the paper, he should despise me.

"I don't believe everything that I read in the paper..." he says this, setting the object of discussion aside.

"Me neither," I smile as a nice warmth spreads across my face. Derrick has always made me so happy. He doesn't say anything about my change, he just stares at me.

"Who do you think is spreading the lies about you," Derrick ask. I chuckle. It's pretty obvious to me. I forget that no one knows how my father really is at home.

"I know exactly who is spreading them! It's the Vicomte De'Changy. He doesn't particularly like me," I'm making an drastic understatement. Derrick's eyes widen as he revenues something.

"Really? He sent us a package a little while ago. We haven't opened it yet." he grabs a box off the table next to him and starts opening it. Derrick hands me a letter and continues looking through the box. I start reading the letter out loud. It's in Raoul's hand writing.

"Our Dearest Friend,
It has come to our attention that Fantine has been sending letters to your son. We try to limit what she writes, but it seems the letters keep getting sent. I advise you forbid him from writing to her. You don't want them getting too close.
In Apology,
Vicomte De'Changy"

"Wow, that hurt didn't it?" Derrick asks, referring to our understanding of the letter. I nod. It actually hurt so much that I didn't feel the blood dripping from a small cut in my face, "I need to show my mother this, is that okay?" I nod again as Derrick stands up to get a wet wash cloth for my cut. Handing it to me, he finally yells for his mom, "Mother! You have to see the letter the Vicomte sent us!" Derrick's voice is not full of enthusiasm, but of urgency. He turns to me, "Mom adores you. She'll understand why we're upset."

Now that we are quiet, my brain focuses on the letter. Raoul talks about me like I'm a burden. He didn't want me to have any friends.

Everyone should be treated the same.
I can feel the pain rising as I continue thinking. "What's wrong?" Carlotta asks running into the room.

Then, she sees me.

"Fantine?" Her face lights up, "Is that really you?" Derrick wasn't kidding when he said that his mother adores me.

"Yeah, it's me," I uncover my wound to show my her my deformity.

"I-I thought you were dead! I told your parents that I'm performing at your concert! How-?!" Carlotta stops abruptly and hugs me. My mother has never hugged me like that since I was little.

I hug her back and my face returns to it's perfect look. I guess the changing will be a daily occurrence, always being a problem, "Mom, the letter?" Derrick reminds us.

Derrick's accent is much different than Carlotta's and mine. His is more American than Spanish, when Carlotta has her Spanish accent and I have my British one, "Oh, what about it? You sound upset."

"Raoul sent it," Derrick shows it to her.

"I know that. Why are you upset about it?" Carlotta sits by us and looks genuinely concerned.

"It's what Raoul means by it," I say passing her the letter to let her read it. As she reads it, Derrick hands me the box that the letter came in. Inside the box, a brand new box of French chocolates. Derrick gestures for me to open it and I do.