Eponine stood at the door of the ABC café. Every breath she took felt like she was being stabbed in the lungs. The previous night she had been out delivering love letters for Marius. When she had arrived home, her customer had just left. Her father decided that he would beat the stupidity out of her. She closed her eyes even if it was for a second, she could see her father's dark eyes and the belt he had in his hand. Eponine leaned in towards the warmth of the door. It was mid-December and all she had on was the threadbare dress that was nearly falling apart.. Her hair stuck to her face in frozen clumps, her swollen lop was beginning to crack from the cold, and her toes she could hardly feel them. Hoping that her brother would be in the café hanging about with the Les Amis boys she turned the knob and went inside.
Enjolras stood proudly in front of his friend on the makeshift stage in the café. The talk of revolution stirred them all, even lovesick Marius seemed to be in awe at his friend's words. Just as he was about to start up another sentence a small voice cried out "'Ponine!" Gavroche the youngest of the revolutionist ran to the girl who had just walked into the café. From what he could see she was hobbling a bit. HE squirmed past the crowds of students gather in the cafe and gave her a tight squeeze around the waist. She stumbled backwards toward the wall The pain at her sides were blinding Eponine. Gavroche was the first to react; he grabbed his sister by the arm and sat her down on the nearest char. During that time most of the Les Amis boys were now surrounding the Thenardier siblings. They heard quiet murmurs from them. "Was it Papa?" Gavroche whispered. Eponine chewed at her bottom lip and looked up towards the ceiling of the café. "It wasn't too bad 'Vroche, you know I've taken worse beatings." Enjolras who had been watching the pair closely shuddered at what the older Thenardier had just said. "These are the people I fight for" he thought quietly to himself. Joly was the first of the boys to speak up. "Mademoiselle I would appreciate it if you would let me take a look at you, it doesn't seem like your very well. Eponine blushed slightly; she was not accustomed to being called a lady. "I'm no lady Mousier Joly." She looked down at her feet as she tugged at her skirt. Eponine began to get up only to be told to sit back down by her younger brother. "Please 'Ponine … Let Joly fix you up. If not for you do it for me." Enjolras looked at Eponine. Everything about her appearance screamed tired, depressed, forgotten. A look of concern spread across the marble statues face. Not realizing how long he had been staring he was caught off-guard when Eponine was angrily staring back at him. "I do not need your pity Monsieur" she spat at him. Enjolras temper flared. How dare she, after all his friends were willing to do for her even if she was just Pontemercy's shadow. "It is not pity if it is genuinely from the heart Eponine" he said through gritted teeth with as much venom in his voice. The boys tensed up. Eponine muttered a few profanities under her breath before agreeing for Joly to take a look at her. Once again as she started getting up she was told to sit back down, this time by Enjolras who more like gave her a forceful shove into the chair. He and Joly began to discuss were to take her while Gavroche sat lazily at his sisters feet playing with the threads at the bottom of her skirt. Joly turned to face her "We're going to have to take you to Enjolras apartment" he said waiting for a reaction from the girl. Eponine scrounged up her face much to the delight of a nearby very drunk Grantaire. "Don't worry Ponine-" he said as he clapped her on the back. Grantaire leaned closer into her ear "-His bite isn't as bad as his bark." Enjolras rolled his eyes at his drunk friend. Eponine tried to ignore Enjolras who was in the corner, trying to not think about how handsome he looked with his shirt tucked out and how she would be going home with him. Eponine caught herself staring and directed her words to Joly "I'm sorry to be a bother Mons- I mean Joly but I don't think I can walk all the way to his apartment. Grantaire who seemingly came out of nowhere said to Eponine "Do not worry Ponine, I do not think that my friend here-" he gestured to Enjolras "-will miss up the opportunity to carry a beautiful girl like yourself all the way to his bed." The whole café erupted into laughter except for Enjolras who was trying not to strangle that stupid drunk. Eponine spoke what was on her and Enjolras parts "You bastard" she laughed. "You know you love it" he slurred as he tried to plant a kiss on her. Eponine swatted him away with her hand. Joly shouted from the back of the room for Enjolras to go on and take Eponine to his apartment, apparently he had to head up to the university to get some supplies. Enjolras hesitated for a moment and so did Eponine. "Come Eponine" he whispered. She slid her hands behind his neck slowly, as he took on her full weight he was surprised to feel that she weighed no more than a child. Eponine flinched as one of his fingers grazed her ribs. "I'm sorry 'Ponine" he said in a hushed voice against her ear. Eponine shivered as his voice trailed down her spine. She wasn't supposed to be feeling this, she was in love with Marius. This boy, this oh so handsome boy with his cold eyes and warm hands shouldn't be doing what he was to her. "Were almost there Eponine, it shouldn't be long now." She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead onto his shoulder hoping that the moment when she had to let go would never end.
