She has no idea how she got wrapped into this. Those stupid beauty pageants were nothing but degrading contests to show girls that if you don't win, you're not good enough. Maybe she's just an active over-thinker because the girls who participate seem perfectly fine with winning or not winning. Either way, she was never a fan when she was younger and she definitely isn't one now.
As if standing on this stage in front of around one hundred or so people isn't embarrassing enough, she can't help but feel like she's a fish out of water. Eponine's nothing like the people who surround her: wealthy, upper class socialites whose biggest problems were probably running out of hairspray before the big event. She's being super judgmental right now but considering that she's standing up here and people are getting ready to bid and staring like she's a piece of meat, she doesn't care.
The theme for the night is a masquerade, of course, so behind her mask is a total stranger to these people, and possibly to even herself.
"What's your name, dear?" the announcer asks her quietly before she steps out onto center stage into the spotlight.
The man breaks her reverie and she answers. She considered giving a pseudonym just to switch things up but she realizes that it doesn't really even matter. It's not like she'll see any of these people again in the nearby future. The announcer introduces her and she steps up, seeing people murmuring throughout the crowd.
She can't help but think that they're muttering about her under their breaths-maybe that she just doesn't belong here, her mannerisms not sophisticated enough to really make people believe that she's one of them. Her appearance can't be the issue since Cosette basically spent the entire day helping her get ready.
Her hair is pulled back in a half updo, her long tresses flowing unceremoniously down her back in loose curls. A simple jeweled hair clip keeps everything in place and neat. It matches her deep red dress that reaches the floor and is sophisticated yet simple enough for an event such as this. (When Cosette pulled out a rather large ballgown to lend her for the night, Eponine nearly rushed out of the apartment, before rummaging through her friend's closet and finding this little number that she absolutely adores.) The sweetheart neckline accentuates the shape of her chest and sets up a nice parallel for the waistline that cinches just slightly before letting the dress flow down to the ground in lightweight, almost sheer layers of fabric. A black lace masquerade mask covers her eyes and she's hidden from unknowing eyes.
She makes a mental note to reprimand her friend severely for this later.
Even though Cosette is the sweetest person she knows, Eponine can't believe she talked her into this. She also reprimands herself for being talked into it. If Cosette wasn't such an adorable, kindhearted person and the first one who didn't actually treat Eponine like she was of a lower class, Eponine would be even angrier. But as she glances at her friend who's sitting with Marius at their table and wearing an encouraging, yet slightly apologetic, smile on the sidelines of the dance floor, she decides that she'll just have to suck it up.
She remembers her and Cosette's discussion about why she wasn't being part of the auction herself. "Because we all know that Marius is never going to let anyone else win the bid on me so there's really just no point."
Of course, Cosette isn't the only one to blame here. The Amis were also in on this to her not-so-much surprise. They're standing near the dessert buffet table which doesn't faze her at all. Her eyes quickly flash to them and she can't help the small smile that pulls at her lips. Courfeyrac gives her a small thumbs up with a big smile standing next to Grantaire who does the same before reaching out for another champagne flute. She can't help but be jealous of him drinking the night away; Lord knows she'd like to take his place. The others of the group are scattered throughout the crowd conversing and just socializing. Joly speaks to a man Cosette introduced to her as Dr. Remillard, a renowned surgeon who studies all kinds of bacteria and diseases. She notices how Joly's face turns from interest to slight horror at their conversation and considers that that definitely can't be good for his hypochondriasis. Jehan and Feuilly are talking quietly in a corner; she smiles as she notices the poet's longing sigh after he glances at a couple touching noses and whispering in each other's ears at a nearby table. The one person she doesn't manage to see, though, is Enjolras.
The bidding starts at five hundred. She's so sure that no one is going to place a bid she nearly walks off of the stage out of pure embarrassment; which makes her mouth hang open just slightly when she hears someone call out a clear one thousand dollar bid. She quickly shuts her mouth and gapes out into the crowd, the spotlight shining in her face and keeping her from seeing anything but the silhouettes of the people on the floor.
Then another person whose voice is slightly deeper and raspier calls out a bid for $1,500 and Eponine almost feels faint. The fact that people have that much money to throw away on meaningless auctions like this simply confounds her. (Of course, this event is for charity so maybe it's not so meaningless.)
She can hear Courfeyrac's voice call out, "$2,200!" followed by Combeferre's, "$4,000!" and can't help but snort at them because do they honestly not realize that if no one else bids higher than that they'll have to come up with the money and actually pay?
But her thoughts are broken by the unmistakable, velvet voice she's so familiar with and her heart stops. "$10,000."
The guests are murmuring amongst themselves again at this man's outrageous bid. Before she knows it, the bidding for her hand is over and she's being swept off of the stage by the winner. She catches Courf's grin and Grantaire's not so subtle wink before she's out on the floor for the first dance.
Enjolras looks even sexier in a tux than she remembers. His hair is slicked back but not enough to look greasy. (She originally hated it when he first appeared at the Musain with his golden curls absolutely gone but now she can appreciate how hot he looks with his hair short like this.) His bright blue eyes are even more noticeable now behind his mask, replicating the phantom's from The Phantom of the Opera, and they almost take her breath away. Almost.
"You look beautiful," he says softly as he takes her hand in his and rests the other on her waist. She also gets into position and lays her hand on his shoulder.
She shrugs and teases, "You don't look so bad yourself." Eponine clears her throat and feels her feet start moving as the dance begins and the music starts playing in the background. "Cosette let me borrow some of her things for tonight."
"Red suits you," he responds, sending a rush of pink across her cheeks. Eponine's eyes dart to the floor every once in a while, hoping not to mess up and stab him with her ungodly tall high heels or something. She can feel rather than hear the rumbling of his chest as he chuckles softly and watches her, his eyes on her face the whole time. "Just look at me," he says evenly.
She does what he says and follows his lead, her eyes never leaving his. Thankfully by the end of the song she's managed to not only keep her heels from direct contact with anyone's feet but also keep up proper appearances. They make their way over to their friends and Cosette automatically pulls Eponine into a hug.
The brunette is a little taken aback but understands when Cosette starts apologizing profusely. "Eponine, I'm so sorry for dragging you into this. I know you're not into the whole 'pageant' thing and I could see how uncomfortable you were-"
Eponine laughs softly and shakes her head. "It's really alright, Cosette. It's for a good cause anyhow." The thought reminds her of the auction and the obscene amount of money spent on just a dance and date with her on another night. She quickly glances around for the handsome blonde but cannot find him anywhere throughout the crowd. "Have you seen where Enjolras went?" she asks suddenly, turning to their friends.
"He's probably at the auction table, writing out his check."
"A whole, whopping ten thousand dollars, to be exact," Courfeyrac adds.
Eponine nods and raises an eyebrow behind her mask. "What in God's name possessed him to do that?"
Her friends exchange knowing glances with each other and she can't help but feel so out of the loop. "It's a little obvious, isn't it?" Cosette says quietly with a hint of a chuckle behind her words. At the brunette's lost expression she says, "he's totally into you!"
Eponine's mind sputters for a moment and looks at them like they've all grown two heads. "What? That's ridiculous!"
Grantaire scoffs and rolls his eyes at her playfully. "Oh come on, Ep. Like you haven't noticed him staring at you at the Musain? Just so 'conveniently' finishing his studying at the same time you do so he can walk you home? Are you really that oblivious? Marius isn't even that bad."
The lovestruck man nods at her and matter-of-factly says, "Really, Eponine, even I've noticed."
"You guys are insane. All we do is fight and-"
"A strange choice of foreplay, I must admit," Courfeyrac muses.
"Foreplay? Are you really-"
"Is everything alright here?" Eponine's stopped mid-sentence by Enjolras' smooth voice behind her. She can't help the blush budding on her cheeks at the thought of him so close; he's almost breathing down her neck.
She spins around and nods. "Absolutely. Everything's fine."
"Good," he smiles warmly. They stand there looking at each other a little awkwardly when Combeferre suddenly pipes up.
"You guys should check out the gardens. I heard this place is known for them. Must be beautiful on a night like this."
Eponine glances at him with widened eyes and he knows that if looks could kill, he'd be dead on the floor. "Sounds nice," Enjolras says behind her, making her spin back around again. He nonchalantly raises an eyebrow at her invitingly and says, "Care to join me?"
She responds with an almost hesitant, "sure," before being led off by him. Glancing back at their friends, Courfeyrac gives her an encouraging thumbs up while Cosette mouths a silent "good luck."
The gardens are absolutely stunning, true to Combeferre's words. The event is being held at a state park which is known for their foliage designs and mazes. Strings of lights hang from trees and illuminate their path between the bushes and flowers. The maze is small and the hedges are only waist length so they can obviously see where they are going. They talk about small things like their classes and assignments, and how Eponine's teacher is a complete asshole because he wouldn't let her retake a test after she was in the hospital with a broken leg. That was a few weeks ago but it still nags at her. They fall into a silence that neither one of them are uncomfortable with and it stays like that for a few minutes.
She walks with nervously wringing her hands in her lap while he follows next to her with his hands clasped behind his back and his eyes glancing up at the stars above them. Finally, Eponine speaks up quietly and almost timidly. She for a brief moment, she sounds scared. "Why did you bet so much on me?"
Her question is abrupt, but Enjolras doesn't hesitate to answer. "Because you're worth it." He smiles at her with the corner of his mouth. "Because it's a good cause. Because I was not going to let Combeferre or Courfeyrac win a dance with you."
She actually laughs a little and can't help the blush as she adds, "And possibly have to come up with $5,000. How generous." A quiet begins to settle around them again before she quickly asks, "Why not?"
"Because they're not good enough for you," he says without pause.
Strangely, Eponine is taken aback and even offended. She answers with a scoff and an incredulous tone. "Oh, and you are?"
Enjolras stops in his tracks, effectively bringing Eponine to a halt as well as she challenges him with a look, and shakes his head, his arms at his sides and his hands clenching and unclenching into fists out of nervousness. His tone is not harsh nor too soft; it reigns with confidence and surety. "No." He looks down at his feet before he chuckles wryly and continues. "No, Eponine, I am most certainly not good enough."
She's speechless for not the first time tonight and cannot think of something to say for the life of her. Was she really so oblivious as they said she was?
"But I'm hoping that you'll give me the chance to be." He looks at her with something akin to hope dancing in his eyes. They're so warm and inviting that she can't help but stare back. When they first met, she always felt odd around him, almost like an outsider, though he was never unkind. On the contrary, he was always very welcoming. But as they stand there now, blue orbs burning into brown, she's never felt more at home. "Will you go on a date with me?"
"Well, I can't say no; you've just paid $10,000 for one."
"Eponine."
"Yes," she finally says with a small smile pulling at her lips. "Yes, I will go on a date with you."
Enjolras smiles and they continue to walk amongst the flowers and twinkling lights.
"Enj, am I oblivious?"
"Just a little."
Once they arrive back at the table, Courfeyrac is making cat calls and Grantaire is grinning like an idiot. Cosette is beaming and Marius is so busy watching her being happy that he doesn't even know what the heck they're making a riot for. Eponine can't help but roll her eyes at them.
Maybe this whole auction thing wasn't so bad after all. But she's never doing it again.
Hi! Sorry for posting new stuff and updating things and just everything. I've been really busy with classes and SATs, and I feel like my head is going to explode.
I honestly have no idea where this one came from. It just kind of hit me one day and I started writing. I'd like to say that I was totally productive and had such muse that I finished it all in one day, but I'm a slacker, and it took me probably a while. But I hope you guys enjoyed it, and I'm sorry if it was really out of character. They just got away from me and once I started, I couldn't stop!
I have something in the works at the moment (Enjonine!Beauty and the Beast, anyone?) so I'm still figuring out the kinks. Let me know what you guys think of this oneshot and the idea of that new thing. I'll try to update more, I promise!
See you guys soon! -Sarah