A gorgeous Paris Ball, and Amy is lively and everyone's favourite at the party. She dances with Fred Vaughn most often, gossips with his sister and her friends, and is charming to everyone.

Lottie sits alone at a table admiring it all, the party, the room, the dresses, the music and even a certain March.

Suddenly Amy sees something that makes her look sour, and Lottie follows her gaze to see Laurie entertaining: he is loud, drunk, and has two girls with him. They fall into a sofa, laughing loudly. Lottie gets up and approach's her brother as Amy frowns and does the same. They stand before him annoyed. Lottie goes to speak but Amy gets there first " Laurie" Laurie bleary looks up " Amy, Lottie " Amy was annoyed she had every right to be both of the girls did " we waited an hour for you" Laurie just looks at them " I feel caught." Laurie clumsily makes a space for her while the other ladies depart. Amy does not, instead she grabs Lottie's hand, and walks away, forcing him to follow them. " Amy please" Amy and Lottie stop abruptly " do you want to know what honestly I think of you?" Laurie looks at her "what do you think of me?" Amy walls towards him " I despise you." Laurie almost laughs at her comment " why do you despise me?" Amy just looks at him. Lottie turns to her older brother " because with every chance for being good, useful and happy, you are faulty, lazy and miserable. Laurie laughs at his little sister " oh this is interesting" Lottie turns back to him this time " selfish people do like to talk about themselves." Laurie looks at Amy " am I selfish?" Lottie keeps going " yes, very selfish. With your talent and beauty and how you mope around all sad because Jo didn't want to marry you, I understand that it hurts to not be loved back Laurie I really do but you can't do this to Amy or me not here in front of all these people." "Beauty?" Lottie sighs "of course that's all he hears me say." Amy pipes up again " ah you like that, you old vanity, with all these good things to enjoy, you can find nothing to do but dawdle." He drunkly puts his hand over hers. He wears a ring on his pinky finger which he never takes off. Laurie starts to make fun of Amy " I'll be good for you, Saint Amy, I'll be good!" Amy looks at his hand " aren't you ashamed of a hand like that?" Laurie looks down too " no I'm not." Amy looks back up at him " it looks like it's never done a day of work in its life. And the ring is ridiculous." Laurie's face changes as well as Lottie's of courses she didn't like him mopeing around over Jo but that ring meant more to him then just Jo, it was his little tie to the March family when he couldn't see them." Jo gave me this ring" Amy considers him seriously " I feel sorry for you I really do. I just wish you would bear it better." Laurie looks up at her " you don't have to feel sorry for me Amy. You'll feel the same way to one day." Lottie goes and stands by her brother Amy turns to them both " no I'd be respected if I couldn't be loved." Lottie feels hurt by this Laurie was respected they both when but for her best friend to question it struck a nerve and Lottie defends her brother "And what work have you done lately, oh great artiste or have you been to busy imagining how you'll spend Fred Vaughan's fortune?" Laurie then shouts " FRED VAUGHN ladies, and gentlemen." Amy looks dumbfounded at Lottie, Her comment cut her to the core and she suddenly felt like a child again arguing with her best friend Laurie and Lottie take their very messy leave and Amy looks towards Fred " Fred, I'm, I'm so sorry."

Third update word count 554