Headlights.

Then suddenly, just after she lost all hope of everything. There was a pool of light flowing behind her. She mock laughed at the irony of seeing the light and turned around to look at the source of it. It was a car, a fancy one no doubt. She laughed and just about turned around, when none other than Benjamin Enjolras stepped out of the car. She watched as his eyes widened and took her in. Her skinny frame, her knotted brown hair that stuck to her face.

"Eponine?" He said walking towards her. She nodded and looked at him.

"Hello, Enj."

i.I'll wake alone tomorrow

Eponine walked back into her apartment. Well, her walls and a ceiling. She threw down the coat and got out of the lingerie she was required to wear for work. She was tired of being pawed and treated as if she was nothing but a toy. She would rather starve than deal with that. You do starve, 'Ponine. You haven't eaten since yesterday. She changed into the old cut off jean shorts she'd been given in her short period of adoption. Before they unadopted you. She put on the old t-shirt she got the one summer, the one from when she'd worked at camp. The best summer.

"Why are you here?"

"It pays money."

"Oh."

"And why are you?"

"I want to be a Political Science major in College. My parents aren't too supportive, they said I need to pay for my College."

She took a look around and looked at everything long and hard. She's never see it again, may as well take it in. She walked across the street, slowly. She just wanted out. A car went speeding by, right after she got out of it's way. She cursed whatever had stopped her and continued on, walking on an old trail.

The walk down to the old creek wasn't too long. She knew it well enough to avoid all the cracks and holes in the old trail. She wasn't trying too, but she still did. She looked at the creek, at the place that she once came to everyday just to feel okay. It was her happy place. This was the only place Eponine could be Eponine. She came here everyday after school, after she left the camp-and him, after she was unadopted.

She got in and just sat there. She wanted to sink, to feel the water going over her. She was done with this life. She laid there, waiting, praying, begging. "Please, take me." It wouldn't though. She screamed and screamed. She couldn't force herself under the water. She gave up. She stepped out of the water, and walked up to the road. Her thoughts echoing how much of a failure she was. She couldn't even kill herself. She looked up at the road. Empty

"Just. Fucking. Perfect." She screamed and looked up at the sky. "What did I do?! Why won't you just let me die! Let me escape this hell! No one wants me here anyway!" She looked around, placing her back to where she couldn't see the cars. Then suddenly, just after she lost all hope of everything. There was a pool of light flowing behind her. She mock laughed at the irony of seeing the light and turned around to look at the source of it. It was a car, a fancy one no doubt. She laughed and just about turned around, when none other than Benjamin Enjolras stepped out of the car. She watched as his eyes widened and took her in. Her skinny frame, her knotted brown hair that stuck to her face.

"Eponine?" He said walking towards her. She nodded and looked at him.

"Hello, Enj."

The two of them stared at each other. Neither one of them knew what to say. He wore a suit, looking all prim and proper. She was in shorts she'd owned for eight years, and a nine-year old shirt. They hadn't seen each other since they were sixteen. Now they were both twenty-five. She was a stripper, he was a lawyer.

"Let me take you out to coffee." His voice suddenly said, breaking through the silence. She wanted to say yes, but she knew to say no. So, when she nodded and took the hand he offered, she was surprised. She got in his passenger seat, the seats were leather, and nice. She was positive, she'd ruin them if they were fabric. She was soaking wet. He handed her a towel and a blanket. She nodded gratefully and wrapped herself in the blanket, she began drying herself up. It was silent before her voice filled the space.

"Did you do it?"

"No."

"Why not?" He looked at her for this one.

"My father won, like he always does." She nodded and he frowned. "What did you do?"

"Nothing to be proud of."

"What about the family?"

"No."

"Okay."

She looked at him as his eyes went back to the road. "Why are you out a 3 a.m.?"

"My friends dragged me to a bar. They claimed I worked too hard and needed to get laid." She laughed and he looked at her with a smile.

"They're probably right. When was the last time you go a little action?" She said as if they hadn't been away for nine years.

"Uhm. College and before that, you." He said honestly, looking at her. She looked at him and nodded. The last time she'd had sex, can you call it that?, was last week. He looked at her. "I know what you were doing, Ep. I heard your screaming and you're soaking wet. You weren't gonna move when you saw the lights. You wanted to die."

Eponine looked down and away. She didn't want this to come up. She didn't think she'd be able to handle it.

"How long?" She said voice soft. "Until we're there."

"I don't know. A diner or my apartment?"

"Whichever is closest." He took the next turn and drove a block, before parking in front of a building. He probably has a penthouse. She followed him in as they went up the elevator. He took her hand. She didn't pull back. They stood like that in comfortable silence. The elevator stopped at floor twelve. Enjolras walked ahead of her, opening the door. Well is isn't a Penthouse, but you were close 'Ponine. It was big, that's for sure.

"I think you could fit my apartment in here five times and still have room." Enjolras chuckled and led her into the apartment.

"Is it really that big?"

"No, mine's really just that small." She smirked as she was bombarded with the smell of books and liquor. Eponine looked around, it was certainly fitting for him. It was clean, the only clutter was a pile of jackets and random books scattered. Then she heard snoring, from the room. Eponine looked over at Enjolras who looked just as confused and walked towards the couch. He rolled his eyes and motioned for her to follow him to the kitchen.

"Combeferre must have brought home some of our drunk friends. That," he motioned to the couch. "Is Grantaire. The drunkard of the group. He's never sober." Enjolras said in disgust. Eponine frowned, she knew he wasn't fond of alcohol but still. He looked at her again, "I didn't know they'd be here. I'm sorry, Eponine."

"It's fine." She shrugged her shoulders and looked around. "So, you have a roommate?" Enjolras nodded and looked at her. The coffee was brewing in the background, she looked at him.

"Jacob Combeferre. He's a political journalist." She smirked and looked at him. He raised his eyebrows.

"What, 'Ponine?"

"Are all your friends in Politics?"

"No, only Combeferre, Courfeyrac, and Pontmercy." Eponine's eye widened and she started laughing. Enjolras knew exactly why and rolled eyes.

"Marcus Pontmercy?" He nodded. "You hated him!" She laughed and looked at him.

"I didn't hate him. I hated how he went on and on about Cosette Foster." She nodded and took the coffee cup he handed her. She murmured a thanks and looked at him again. "Are they still..?" He nodded.

"They're engaged."

"After nine years?" She nodded and looked down. She never expected it though. She always blindly thought that she'd be his. She knew better though. She paused looking at the coffee.

"She's still the same though. You shouldn't let his stupidity get to you." Or mine. He said. She laughed and he looked at her. "What did you say you do?" She looked away. He frowned.

"It's a job, that pays money. "

"Eponine." She shook her head and lied.

"I work at downtown." Yeah, in the strip club on the corner of eleventh street. Enjolras sighed and nodded.

"Okay." The fell into a comfortable silence. She looked at him. He had matured a lot in nine years. Haven't we all? When they were sixteen she wouldn't have believed he would be a lawyer. He was always so headstrong. She wondered what stopped him. She didn't ask though. She wouldn't. How could she ask if she wouldn't even tell him what she did for a living. She yawned and he looked up at her.

"It's too late. Just stay here. You can take the bed."

"No, It's fine. I'll take the floor. " Eponine said looking at him, setting the coffee down.

"No, Eponine, take the bed." He sighed looking frustrated.

"Enj, I told you it's fine."

"No. Just, take the bed."

"We share it.

"Fine."

"Fine. "

He walked with her, leading her to the bedroom. It was white, figures, with only the basic needs. There were more books though, all of his belongings were neatly put together, except for his desk. His desk was a mess of papers strewn around the desk. It fit him rather well. She looked at that simple part and decided it was perfect. This room described him perfectly. He sat on the bed and looked at her. She followed suit and they sat there. It wasn't awkward per say. They had just run out of things to say.

"Sleep. Its late," He said looking at her. She sighed agreeing with him.

"Okay, Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Eponine." She laid back and he turned off the light. He laid next to her. and sighed. What are you getting yourself into?

A/N: Okay, So, I cut this chapter short because I thought it was going on and on forever. Reviews are greatly appreciated, along with constructive criticism. Also, this is unbetaed. So, any mistakes are my fault.