Chapter Eight A Quiet Change
The door clicked shut behind them as they stepped into the room.
It was quiet for a second, they didn’t speak.
Just occasional looks.Camille slipped her shoes off near the door, smiling to herself as she walked further inside.
“I’m not going to lie,” she said, dropping her bag onto the couch.
“That was a lot.”Simone laughed, just a little, setting her things down on the chair.
“In a good way?”Camille turned to her.“Yes,” she said.
“In a very good way.”Camille moved her suitcase and unzipped it.
“I need to change,” she said, glancing down at herself.
“There’s no way I’m going to dinner like this.
”Simone nodded.“We have ti me.”Camille looked up.
“How far is it?”“About a ten-minute walk.”Camille paused.
“Okay, I don’t mind a small walk.”She started going through her clothes, pulling out a couple options.
Simone walked over to her own suitcase, opening it and pulling out something neatly folded.Camille looked over.
“Okay”Simone looked up.“What?” “You came very prepared.”Simone was still looking in her bag when she responded.
“I always do.”Camille shook her head, smiling as she turned back to her suitcase.
But then she paused.Holding a dress in her hands.
She looked over at Simone again, longer than necessary.
Then looked back down. She stood there for a second, holding the dress in her hands.Then she looked over at Simone again.
“Which one you like?”Simone looked up, then paused.
Camille was standing there in front of the open suitcase, one dress draped over her arm, the other still half folded in her hand.Simone couldn’t help but to stare.
Camille noticed. She smiled, just a little.
“What?”“Nothing.”Camille narrowed her eyes a little, stepping a bit closer.
“No,” she said. “What?”Simone shook her head, looking down for a second.
“It’s nothing.”Camille didn’t move. She was still watching her.
Still waiting on her to answer. Then Simone looked back up.
“You’d look good in either one.”“That’s not helpful.
”Simone laughed.“Well, it’s true, you’d look great regardless.
”Camille looked down, blushing, the compliment felt different.
She shook her head slightly, like she was trying to brush it off.Then she looked back at Simone.
“Well?” she asked. “Help me.”Simone looked then pointed to the right.
“That one.”Camille looked down.“The dress?”Simone nodded.
“Yeah.”Camille looked at it again, then back at Simone.
“You sure?”Simone’s face softened, but her voice stayed steady.
“Very.”The tone of her voice was enough to throw Camille off completely.
She wasn’t expecting it, but she felt it.
She tried to brush it off, but she started blushing again.
“Okay”She turned toward the bathroom, the dress hanging from her fingers.
As she walked past Simone, she stepped a little closer than she probably should have.She didn’t touch her, but they were close enough that Simone could smell her perfume.Simone didn’t move.
Didn’t speak. She just watched her disappear into the bathroom.
Trying to stay composed, even though her knees were weak.
The door clicked shut. Camille stood in front of the mirror, the dress still in her hands.She exhaled slowly. “Get it together,” she murmured.
Then she changed. The fabric slid over her body smoothly, hugging her waist, her hips, falling just below her knees. The long sleeves fitted perfectly along her arms, the high neckline giving it that clean, effortless elegance.
The soft brown tone against her skin? Yeah.
She looked good. Really good.She reached for her necklace, placing it carefully around her neck, the simple gold bar resting just above her chest.Then her heels.
She slipped them on, standing a little taller now.
Camille looked at herself again.“Okay,” she whispered.
But it wasn’t just about the dress.Back inside the room, Simone stood near the bed.
She had already changed.The deep green suit fit her like it was made for her, tailored pants flowing clean and structured down her legs, paired with a fitted black top underneath that contrasted sharply against the green.The long coat added weight to the look, giving her presence, authority and confidence.She adjusted the sleeve, then her collar.
Everything was precise. Intentional. But her focus wasn’t on her outfit.It was on the other side of the bathroom door.
She exhaled slowly, running her hand along the back of her neck.You need to relax.But she couldn’t.
Not now. Not after everything that had already happened.
Her eyes lifted again toward the door. Waiting.
The bathroom door clicked softly.Simone looked up.
And then, she paused.Camille stepped out slowly, one hand brushing lightly along the side of the dress as she walked into the room.
The fabric hugged her perfectly, smooth, fitted in a way that accentuated every curve without trying too hard. The long sleeves framed her arms, the high neckline giving it that effortless elegance.
Her heels lifted her just enough. The gold necklace caught the light as she moved.
Simone didn’t speak. She just looked at her.
Simone couldn’t think of anything to say.Camille noticed.She stopped, her fingers brushing lightly against the fabric of the dress.
“Well?” she asked, trying to sound casual.But the small smile on her lips gave her away.
Simone exhaled slowly, like she was trying to find her voice again.
“You”She stopped. Then, softer“You look beautiful.”The words came out differently this time.
Not playful or light. But real. This time, Camille’s heart was pounding.She looked down for a second, her fingers adjusting the hem of the dress as a soft blush rose across her cheeks.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.Simone was still looking at her.
Still not hiding it. Camille looked back up.
They didn’t say much after that.Simone grabbed her jacket.
Camille watched for a second. Then she turned, reaching for her bag.
“Ready?” Simone asked.Camille nodded.“Yeah.”They walked toward the door together.
Simone opened it, stepping aside slightly to let Camille go first. Camille passed her, smelling the perfume, soft and warm with a hint of vanilla.Simone followed behind her, pulling the door shut.
The hallway was quiet, softly lit. Their footsteps echoed lightly as they walked side by side toward the elevator.A couple passed them in the opposite direction.
The woman looked at Camille.Then at Simone.
Then back again. A small, knowing smile before she kept walking.
Camille smiled. The elevator doors opened with a soft chime.They stepped inside and the doors closed behind them.
The mirrored walls reflected them from every angle.
Camille looked up. Her eyes moved from her own reflection t o Simone’s. The outfit. The way it fits her.Simone adjusted her sleeve, unaware she was being watched. Camille’s gaze lingered. Longer than it should have.
But she didn’t look away. Not this time.
Something about Simone looked different.Or maybe it wasn’t Simone.
Maybe it was the way Camille was seeing her now.
The way Simone carried herself. How she looked at her.The way she paid attention to her, like what she wanted, mattered.
Her eyes flicked back up to the mirror again.And this time, Simone looking back at her through the reflection.
Camille didn’t look away. Not at first, but after a few seconds she did.The elevator hummed softly as it went down.
Things were starting to feel very different for Camille.
She turned her head slightly, breaking the moment.She was starting to see Simone differently.
And she didn’t know what to do with that yet.The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.
They stepped out together and walked through the lobby side by side.Camille adjusted the strap of her bag.
Simone looked at her as they stepped outside.
They started walking, and for a minute, it was just the sound of their steps against the pavement.Then Camille spoke.
“I’m really excited about dinner.”Simone looked over.
“I am too, this restaurant is really popular.”Camille smiled.
“Is that why you choose it?”She looked ahead for a second, then back at Simone.
“Yeah, and I thought you might like it.”Simone’s expression softened.
“I’m sure I will.”Camille slowed just a little.
Then looked at her again. “You look really pretty.”Simone stopped walking.
Like the words caught her off guard.“What?” she said, a small smile forming.
“You’re allowed to get compliments too.”Simone blinked, her composure slipping for the first time all day.
“I”She let out a small breath, shaking her head slightly.
“Thank you.”Her cheeks were warm now. Simone was the one blushing, something Camille didn’t see often.
“You’re blushing?”Simone laughed softly, running a hand lightly along the back of her neck.
“I’m not.”“You are.” Camille said.Simone shook her head again, trying to play it off.
But the smile on her face gave her away.
Camille turned forward again, still smiling to herself as they continued walking.After a few minutes and small conversation, they reached the restaurant.
The hostess looked up as they stepped inside.
“Bonsoir, mesdames.”“Bonsoir,” Simone replied.
“Reservation?”“Yes, it should be under Simone.”The hostess nodded, looked down briefly stepping out from behind the stand.
“Right this way.”Camille followed beside Simone, she looked around at the soft glow of the candles, the neatly set tables, felt both lively and intimate at the same time.
“This place is so nice,” she murmured. Simone looked at her and smiled.
The hostess stopped at a small table near the window.
“Here you are.”“Merci,” Simone said.She stepped forward, pulling out Camille’s chair without thinking.
Camille paused for just a second. Then sat.
“Thank you,” she said softly.Simone gave a small nod before taking her seat across from her.
The hostess placed menus on the table and stepped away.For a moment, neither of them reached for them.
They just sat there. Looking at each other.
The noise of the restaurant faded into the background.Camille rested her hands lightly on the table.
Simone leaned back slightly in her chair, but her eyes didn’t leave Camille.There it was again.
That look. Only this time, Camille didn’t question it or look away.
She held it. Longer than she had all day.
"There it is," she murmured.Simone frowned slightly.
"What?""That smile, and blush."Simone looked down, trying to hide her face.
Camille looked entirely too pleased with herself.
"I like that one."Simone smiled harder, she couldn’t help it.
Neither of them said anything after that.Because somewhere between the river, the walk, and this moment right here, both of them felt that there was something different here.