Eponine stared out the misty windows of the cafe watching the final drops of a rain fall slide down them. Looking at her silver watch she realized that she needed to pick up Gavroche from school. Saving the barley started homework assignment on her laptop she shut it down then slipped it into her large bag.
As she made her way through the warm, moist air she breathed in the sweet scent left to waft in the air after it rains. "Gav!" she screamed her brothers name through the chaos of children running around her in the schoolyard. Gavroche looked up from being in the center of a large group then ran into Eponine's arms as stories of the day started pouring from his mouth.
Through his fast talking Eponine stopped him when she heard six words from him- "Then I did what Courf said!" Ep rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh.
"What did Courf tell you?" She questioned to the boy who cherished Courfeyrac, and looked up to him like he was a father. It was true in some sense- their parents never payed much attention or cared about Gavroche. That's why at the first chance she got Eponine took Gavroche to live with her. So naturally, Courfeyrac was the father figure in Gav's life- always being there and helping him with problems Eponine couldn't.
Gavroche started talking about some lesson he acquired and then Ep simply said "Let's try our best not to listen to Courf's advice anymore..." They arrived at the front door of the man they were just discussing so Courfeyrac and Gavroche could spend time with each other. After knocking on the large, dark brown door it creaked open. Eponine's eyes widened as she was exposed to Courfeyrac's bare upper half. "Please put a shirt on..." she pleaded as Gav slid past the two older people into the apartment. Though she thought it was ridiculous to answer the door shirtless, she noticed how impressive his body was.
His arms were muscular, and his tight stomach was appealing. His chest seemed to glisten, so she assumed he had been working out. Eponine never found herself looking at Courfeyrac, but now that she payed a closer attention she found him quite handsome.
"Um..." she couldn't find the words she wanted to come out of her mouth. "Are, you um, coming to the meeting tonight?" She finally stuttered out, feeling butterflies conjure up in her stomach-which was a feeling she got for only one other person whom she cared for greatly.
Coufeyrac nodded his head in response to her question, "Yes, just as usual." Eponine felt a strong want to get out of the situation and the awkward stares being shared between her and Courf.
"Ok, bye then!" Eponine began to rush down the sidewalk before finally thinking of something to say. "Oh," she started, turning around from facing the iron gate that leads people to the walk of the apartment building. "Don't give any more "lessons" to Gav!" she exclaimed, making airquotes around lessons. Her serious expression turned into a sweet- and almost flirtatious- smile.
Courf gave a little giggle in return with a subtle "Will do, Ep." and he started closing the large brown door. Eponine turned around and started walking away as she bit her lip a little.
On the walk back to her apartment, she texted Cosette. "Can you come over?" Her phone buzzed just a few seconds later. "Yep, see ya then!" Eponine slid the phone back into the tight pocket of her denim jeans. She walked slowly through the thick air, enjoying the warm rays of sunlight kissing her bare arms and smooth face.
A few minutes later Ep slipped the silver key into the lock of her apartment-having to jerk and shake her wrist in order to open the sticky door. Upon entering the dim lighted living room Eponine dropped her dark brown bag on her beige arm chair that lays near the corner of the room.
About ten minutes passed before Eponine opened her white front door to see an annoyed Cosette. "Um.. Are you ok, Cosette?" By the time Eponine finished her question, Cosette had already stormed into the living room and plopped onto the larger couch facing a small T.V.
"It's Pontmercy," Cosette sighed out. "He cannot leave my side! He isn't very independent, is he?" Eponine laughed at the remark friend made.
"Well, I suppose not." Ep replied with a smile.
"So why did you want me to come over?" Cosette questioned Eponine politely pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Eponine flopped onto the couch next to Cosette with a groan. "Have you ever looked at Courf? Or seen how much he actually cares about his friends, despite how he can be insensitive sometimes?"
Cosette lifted her head off the couch and craned her neck to give Eponine a curious look. "What are you getting at?" she asked.
"I don't know..." Eponine's voice trailed off. "I suppose I have just seemed him in a new light. He just seems more sweet, and handsome than usual."
Cosette rolled her eyes at the statement. "What did you think of him before? That he was some ugly, wretched man?" She looked into the distance as if she were thinking intently. "Has anything changed between you and Enjolras?" Cosette finally piped up in the brief silence.
Eponine had admired the passionate man from the start, but over time her admiration turned into a lust and love. So caught up in politics and what the school does made him virtually blind to any flirtation or affection Eponine showed toward him. "Nothing's changed..." Eponine replied, her voice seeming less spirited. "He's just so clueless sometimes it makes me sick. I wish his eyes would open up..."
"Don't let it get to you, sweety." Cosette remarked, trying to comfort Eponine knowing that it upset her sometimes.
Eponine smiled at Cosette, and thanked her.