Chapter 38: a saturday well spent

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: a saturday well spent

The moment they stepped out of the Ashford Foundation, the atmosphere seemed to change.

Gone was the quiet formality of volunteer orientations and introductions.

In its place came the easy warmth of a Saturday afternoon.

The streets around St. Albion’s were already lively. Couples strolled along the stone-paved avenues, students wandered in small groups, cafés overflowed with conversation, and shop windows displayed the latest autumn collections as summer slowly drew to a close.

Claire stretched comfortably.

"So..."

"Our first week is officially over."

Amelia smiled.

"And we actually survived it without embarrassing ourselves."

Claire laughed.

"Speak for yourself."

The four girls shared an easy laugh before Claire suddenly looked toward the shopping district.

"...Since we’re already here..."

"Shall we?"

Vivienne followed her gaze.

Elegant boutiques.

Bookshops.

Jewellers.

Perfumery windows.

A department store occupying nearly an entire corner.

She smiled.

"I don’t see why not."

—

Their first stop was a boutique displaying the newest seasonal collection.

Almost immediately, Claire disappeared between the clothing racks.

"I found something."

She held up a soft sage-green dress.

"What do you think?"

Amelia tilted her head.

"I love the colour."

Eleanor nodded.

"It’s elegant."

Claire looked toward Vivienne.

"And you?"

Vivienne studied it for a moment before smiling.

"I think you should try it on."

A few minutes later, Claire stepped out of the fitting room.

The dress fit beautifully.

Amelia clasped her hands together.

"Oh, that’s lovely."

Eleanor smiled.

"It suits you perfectly."

Vivienne nodded.

"It really does."

Claire looked at her reflection once more before smiling.

"I’ll take it."

The sales assistant smiled politely.

"Excellent choice, Miss."

—

Not long after, it was Amelia’s turn.

She emerged wearing a pale peach dress with delicate embroidery.

She turned once.

"...Well?"

Claire smiled immediately.

"I like it."

Vivienne nodded.

"The colour suits you."

Eleanor stepped a little closer before gently adjusting one sleeve.

"There."

"Much better."

Amelia looked into the mirror again.

"Oh..."

"You’re right."

She laughed.

"I almost missed that."

"I’ll take this one too."

—

The afternoon continued much the same way.

One boutique led naturally into another.

Sometimes they admired dresses.

Sometimes handbags.

Sometimes shoes.

Occasionally they tried on hats simply because they looked amusing.

More often than not, none of them left empty-handed.

When Vivienne paused before a display of pearl earrings, Claire wandered over beside her.

"Those are beautiful."

Vivienne held them against her ear.

"I thought so too."

Amelia leaned in.

"They’re a little smaller than the ones you’re wearing."

Vivienne smiled.

"Exactly."

Eleanor nodded.

"They’re understated."

"They’ll match almost everything."

Vivienne laughed softly.

"I was hoping someone would tell me to buy them."

Claire grinned.

"We’re doing exactly that."

The four of them laughed together.

A few minutes later, the earrings were neatly wrapped inside another shopping bag.

Not every choice earned immediate approval.

At one boutique, Amelia picked up an oversized feathered hat.

"What about this?"

The other three stared.

Silence lingered for a heartbeat.

Then Claire laughed first.

"...No."

Vivienne tried very hard not to smile.

"I have to agree."

Even Eleanor let out a quiet laugh.

"I don’t think that’s the look you’re going for."

Amelia looked at herself in the mirror.

Another second passed.

Then she laughed too.

"...All right."

"That one’s staying here."

—

By late afternoon, their shopping bags had multiplied considerably.

Claire carried two.

Amelia somehow carried four.

Eleanor carried only a single elegant bag.

Vivienne wasn’t entirely sure when she’d accumulated three of her own.

"I blame all of you," she said with a laugh.

Claire looked positively innocent.

"We merely encouraged good decisions."

—

Eventually, they found themselves inside a quiet café overlooking the shopping street.

Warm pastries and freshly brewed coffee soon occupied the table between them.

For a little while...

No one spoke.

It was simply pleasant to rest.

Amelia sighed happily.

"I needed this."

"So did I," Claire admitted.

Eleanor wrapped both hands around her cup.

"It has been quite a week."

Vivienne smiled.

"It really has."

Their conversation drifted easily from one topic to another.

Their professors.

The Ashford Foundation.

The first week of classes.

The surprisingly thick Community Outreach and Development handbook.

Claire laughed.

"I still can’t believe we’re already planning fundraising projects."

"It sounds exciting," Amelia said.

"I think so too," Vivienne agreed.

"It feels like we’re actually building something."

Eleanor smiled.

"I liked that part as well."

A comfortable silence settled over the table.

Then Claire suddenly remembered something.

"Oh."

"I need to ask Mother whether my gown is progressing."

Vivienne looked up.

"...Gown?"

Claire blinked.

"For the Founder’s Ball."

"The Founder’s Ball?" Vivienne echoed.

Amelia nodded.

"My brother mentioned it before I moved into the dormitory."

"It’s one of the university’s oldest traditions."

Eleanor added quietly,

"It isn’t until after the prelim examinations."

"So there’s still plenty of time."

Claire stirred her coffee.

"Most families have dresses commissioned weeks in advance."

"I nearly forgot."

Vivienne listened quietly.

She remembered it now.

The Founder’s Ball.

Every student attended.

It wasn’t merely a dance.

It was one of St. Albion’s oldest traditions.

In the novel...

Anthony had escorted the original Vivienne.

Not because of romance.

Because they were formally engaged.

The thought lingered for only a moment.

...Will that still happen?

She honestly didn’t know.

The story had already begun changing in ways she had never expected.

Claire looked across the table with a teasing smile.

"I suppose you don’t have to worry about finding an escort."

Vivienne blinked.

"...Why?"

Claire laughed.

"You already have one."

Warmth quietly crept into Vivienne’s cheeks.

"...That’s assuming he’ll still want to escort me."

The words escaped before she could stop them.

For a brief moment, the table fell silent.

Then Amelia smiled reassuringly.

"You’re his fiancée."

Claire nodded.

"And besides..."

"We still have nearly a month before the ball."

"No point worrying about it today."

Eleanor lifted her teacup with a small smile.

"I think today should simply be about enjoying ourselves."

Vivienne looked at the three girls sitting around the table.

Only a week ago...

They had been strangers.

Now...

Sharing coffee, laughter, and an unhurried Saturday afternoon somehow felt perfectly natural.

She smiled.

"...I think you’re right."

The conversation soon drifted to lighter topics once more, and before any of them realized it, the afternoon had quietly slipped into evening.

As they stepped back onto the street, the setting sun cast long golden shadows across the old stone buildings.

Claire looked around with a contented sigh.

"I didn’t expect university to begin like this."

Amelia nodded.

"Neither did I."

Eleanor smiled softly.

"I’m glad it did."

Vivienne looked at her three friends.

For just a moment...

She forgot about the novel.

She forgot about destiny.

She forgot about everything waiting in the weeks ahead.

"...Me too."

Together, the four girls walked back toward St. Albion’s, their laughter lingering in the warm August evening as the first week of university quietly came to a close.