"Oh," Mabelle frowned in thought, aware the his alternative plans didn't include her even though they were originally scheduled for a painting lesson that evening. "I guess you could have. I meant the food," and while she had been careful to eat a little bit at a time the entire evening not to look like the starved cat that lived outside Michel's window, it really wasn't the highlight of her evening. "But the best part was leaving."
She liked the dress he picked out well enough, glad that he hadn't gone with anything too dark for her as he usually wore himself. "How much do I owe you?" she asked quietly, both glad he hadn't gone for something too low quality so it'd hopefully last longer than her other dresses, but worried it was also out of her already strained budget. "I have more work next week, and if I get full payment, then I should be able to pay you back soon." She didn't like the idea of having debts hanging over her, especially when it was preventing other people from having money.
As their approach toward Michel's apartment quickened, so did the beating of Mabelle's heart.