"I don't like the way your friend looks at me." Eponine muttered to a distracted Marius, trying to draw his attention back to her. He was sitting at a desk, penning down petty declarations of love in a letter for Cosette.

"Hm? Who?" He asked absentmindedly. The Corinth wine-shop, filled with loud, boisterous students just an hour ago, was on it's way to being completely vacated. Marius wasn't sure who had left and who was still hanging around, drinking themselves into a stupor or flirting with the barmaids.

"That Enjolras fellow." Eponine nodded toward a man standing by the entrance, shaking hands and exchanging uplifting words with departing friends. Marius quickly glanced in his direction and frowned.

"Enjolras? What problem do you have with him?" He asked before getting back to his letter writing, doubting the leader of this rebellion would even notice someone like Eponine.

"He looks at me like..." She kept her eyes trained on the young man, who was busy saying his farewells.

"Like what?" Marius impatiently asked.

"Like I'm some sort of charity case." She finally found the right words to describe the occasional look he gave her when she would stick around to listen to his rousing speeches.

Marius tried to suppress a chuckle, but the sound hadn't escaped Eponine's well-trained ears.

"What? I don't like to be looked down upon." She defended herself against his mocking smile.

Marius refused to say anything in reply, thinking it better not to mention that Enjolras kind of had a right to look down on her. He was, after all, the mastermind behind this entire movement. Not to mention the fact that he was of noble birth, whereas Eponine was only a simple, pretty street urchin.

"I like the way you look at me." Eponine cooed, picking up the ink pot he was using to dip his feather pen into.

"And how does my look differ from that of Enjolras'?" He asked. Eponine peered over his shoulder, reading descriptions of his beloved's flaxen hair and eyes that reminded him of the sea...or something along those lines. She felt her heart ache inside of her.

"Like I'm your equal." She said, her voice dropping as she studied the top of his head, memorizing every color and strand of his brown hair. She willed for him to look up into her eyes, to see and finally notice the utter adoration she had held for him all these months.

As if on cue, he looked up, but not with the kind of reaction she was hoping for. Instead, she saw frustration and annoyance.

"Give that back, 'Ponine." He took the ink from her, placing it on the desk and dipping his pen into it. "I'm almost done writing this letter, give me some time to myself so I can concentrate." He shooed her away rather roughly.

She stood beside him a second longer, tears welling up in her muddy, brown eyes.

"I'll be back later to pick it up." She mumbled before turning to go.

"No, don't leave. Stick around the shop for a bit. I won't take very long, I promise. Besides, it's already nighttime. It's too dark and dangerous for you to be out there on your own."

Her heart warmed at his thoughtfulness.

"It seems you don't know me very well after all, Pontmercy. I'm a creature of the night. I flourish in the dark hours of day." She said, her voice coy as she placed soft fingertips at the nape of his neck.

He shuddered at the touch and then let out a laugh.

"Quit being such a tease, 'Ponine." He leaned forward in his chair, concentrating on his letter. "Now, leave me to my writing."

Feeling a tad disheartened, she turned to see the wine shop completely empty, save for one person who's eyes were trained on hers.

Enjolras' gaze swept through her like a wave of heat, and she quickly looked away. Had he witnessed her brief exchange with Marius just now? Had he seen the look of longing and adoration in her face directed at an unresponsive Marius? The young leader must have, for there was that same detestable look in his eyes. Piteous and condescending.

She furrowed her brows, straightened her shoulders, and marched to the bar, ordering herself a drink while she waited for Marius to finish. She wouldn't let one unnerving glance from Enjolras shake her.