Chapter One — The Opera Populaire

"Avriellea?"

"Wha..." I blearily opened my eyes. The figure of a young blond woman in a white tutu stood over me. A girl ran up to her, long brown hair flowing in tight ringlets. She was wearing a similar outfit.

"Meg! Is she alright? Oh," Christine's face softened when she saw me. Meg stepped aside to let her friend approach me. The young woman cupped my face in her hands, concern filling her eyes.

"Christine, please, the poor thing," Meg reprimanded her friend.

"How on earth did you do this to yourself, Avri?" Christine asked me, more out of worry than anything else.

"I didn't do anything. It was the Phantom," I scoffed, as though it were obvious.

"The Phantom? Avri..." Meg gasped.

"I really don't get you, Megan Giry," I sighed, exasperated. "One minute you're totally enthralled by the idea of a handsome ghost haunting the theatre, and then the moment a backdrop falls, you're paranoid!"

"I would be less worried if they would stop falling on you!"

"Meg, you have no sense of adventure. Éponine says she'd be thrilled if she was me. She'd have the Ghost's attention. God knows how much 'Ponine loves attention."

"Éponine? How many times, Avri, she's just a street rat!"

"She is my friend, Meg! I refuse to let you speak about her like that." I crossed my arms and huffed as Christine gingerly wiped blood from the gash on my forehead.

I winced and Meg grimaced apologetically at me. "I'm sorry, Avri, it's just, well, the Phantom's not exactly the most approachable person you could try to look for."

"If only Éponine were here," I pouted. "She wouldn't tell me I was being rash, or impulsive, or a stuck-up prat."

"Your wish is my command, Mademoiselle Casper."

Éponine Thénardier entered the Opera house, sweeping her cap off her dark curls with an over exaggerated bow.

"Epi!" I laughed and embraced my friend, who furrowed her brow and gently touched the long cut on my forehead. When I winced, she quickly jerked her hand away.

"Hey girls!" Éponine called to Meg and Christine. "Go get changed, we're going out."

"Good thing I'm already changed," I mumbled so that only Epi could hear me. Christine scurried off to her dressing room, closely tailed by Meg.

"So," Éponine whispered conspiratorially, pulling me down off the stage, "How did this happen? Did the Opera Ghost get royally-"

"Éponine," I interrupted her, danger coloring my tone. "You are not a sailor. Stop cursing like one."

"Fine then. If they aren't coming, let's go already."

I rolled my eyes. "There's the Éponine I know and love."

"You've lost some of your spunk today, Avri. What's the issue?"

"Oh, nothing, a mysterious man in a mask tried to kill me with a backdrop is all."

"Really?" Éponine raised her eyebrows and grinned. Her gaze wandered to the cut on my forehead, and her smile faltered.

"Really, Epi."

"Okay, okay, I'm ready!" Meg yelled, pulling on a jacket over her dress. Christine came out as well, a little less exuberantly.

"C'mon, Christine, why all the fuss?" I joked, shoving her playfully.

"Do you have a lesson with the illustrious 'music tutor' today?" Éponine grinned, playing off my comment.

"No, it's not that," Christine protested, her voice flustered.

A slap of crisp autumn air hit my face as Meg opened the door. I could see the sun beginning to set in the distance.

Not far off in the street ahead of us, a group of undeniably attractive young men were handing out flyers to random passers by in the street. Éponine ran up to one of them and started a conversation.

Christine turned to Meg and I. "What do you two say we follow her lead?"

Meg grinned. "That sounds like a fabulous idea. The blond one's mine."

Christine glanced shyly at the boy Éponine was talking to. "Maybe I'll just stick with Epi."

"You go ahead. I'll be right behind you," I reassured them as I nudged the two of them into the crowd.

The truth was, I had zero intention of following them. Although I had made nearly instantaneous friendships with Éponine, Meg, and Christine, I was still nervous about meeting- boys.

"Mademoiselle! A moment of your time?"

I turned around to see— the most beautiful young man I had ever laid eyes on. He had dark curly hair and a red vest with a red, white and blue pin on it. His eyes were a warm golden brown. His voice was deep, and sounded like— mmm... molten chocolate?!

Curse you and your tendency to freeze around handsome guys, Avriellea, I reprimanded myself. Say something, you idiot! "Uh, yes?"

"I was..." His eyes met mine for the first time, and he faltered for a millisecond before clearing his throat. "My name is Enjolras. I am a student. I would greatly appreciate any funding you might be able to provide?"

"Of- of course!" I dug into the pocket of my skirt before handing him a couple dozen francs. His eyes widened at the amount of money. "Take it!" I hissed, looking around. His hand moved towards mine, and our fingertips brushed as he took the coins.

I felt my face growing hot despite the frigid air. And suddenly, he was gone. Just like that.