Eponine meandered around town, totally engrossed in her own thoughts. She had just finished speaking with Marius who now made his way to the ABC Cafe. Every word he said she clung to, listening intently. How she adored him. Of course, he could never know that; he was content with having Eponine as his friend. Besides, Eponine admitted begrudgingly, Cosette is a much more worthy lady of his love. She sighed. The tables had turned sharply. Eponine suddenly found herself thrown into the slums of France, while Cosette ascended above the horrid sewers to live in high society.

"'Ponine. Eponine. Hey!"

A sudden voice shook her out of her thoughts, bringing her backto the wretched streets. It was Montparnasse, her favorite of her father's gang. Urchin though he was, he always had friendly words and a joking tone.

"Oh. Hey there 'Parnasse."

"What're you doing with your head in the clouds all the time, eh?"

"Jus'...thinking."

"About that boy? Best stop dreaming; you aren't what he's after."

Montparnasse regretted his words when a hurt look spread across Eponine's face. But he had spoken true; the boy was madly in love with another well-to-do. And Eponine...well, she wasn't exactly in that bracket. Montparnasse pitied the poor girl. She so longed for someone who did not in turn return that love. He himself found a great friend in Eponine. The girl was a good person, smart for Thenardier's child. She was pretty, in her own way. Yes, Montparnasse liked her plenty. But if she wanted to pine after the Pontmercy boy, he would let her. A friendly gesture.

"Ah, don't let it get to you, 'Ponine. If you want my advice, don't go chasing something you can't catch."

"But I love 'im so, "Parnasse, you know that."

"Yeah, I do," Montparnasse replied with a tone of distaste. But Eponine was too love sick to notice it.

"'e jus' doesn't see me, no matter what I do."

"What do you do?" Montparnasse was both worried and intrigued.

"Anything, anything to make 'im happy. I'd do anything for 'im."

"Seems a bit rash."

"'ave you ever even been in love, 'Parnasse? 'Ave you?"

Eponine's words came as a shock to Montparnasse; she had never dragged him into her own little world of romance. Had he ever been in love? He'd always been busy with crime, too busy to think about love.

"No. Love's a stupid thing and I leave it to the lovers." With that, Montparnasse turned to find Thenarider, leaving Eponine alone in her thoughts once more.

"Oh 'Parnasse...You jus' need to see..."