"I can't stand you."

Cosette smiles softly, gracefully hopping up onto the table and swinging one leg over the other, disregarding Eponine's papers that she laid out so carefully. Eponine glares down at her fingers, which are turning white and shaking and she prays that Cosette doesn't have the audacity to point it out.

"Of course you can't," the blonde girl hums, "It's hard to not hate the new girl, who seems to have everything, including everyone's attention." She chuckles.

Eponine shudders as Cosette leans in much too close to her, refusing to look up.

"But you..." Cosette whispers, "You hate me for a different reason."

Cosette takes a strand of Eponine's long hair between her slender fingers and twirls it. She keeps her face so close that Eponine feels Cosette's small breaths on her flushed cheeks.

"You hate me because I make you feel good, and you don't want anyone having that power over you. Do you think I don't see your eyes darting across the room whenever I look at you, or your inability to look at me without tensing up, or how rosy your cheeks look at the moment, sweetheart?"

Eponine sighs and tries to look up at the other girl, freezing when she forces herself to stare into Cosette's faded blue eyes. "You're making this up," she insists, but her voice is shaking, and she slides one hand over her chest, as if to keep Cosette from hearing how obnoxiously loud her heart is beating.

Cosette smirks, tilting her head to the side and pulling away, her eyes shining with pride for having figured it out. "What would you do if I kissed you?" she asks, still playing with the one strand of Eponine's hair.

"You wouldn't, so I haven't considered it."

Cosette laughs, "That doesn't mean you shouldn't consider it," she whispers, letting go of Eponine's hair as she slides off the table.

Eponine's eyes follow Cosette as she comes to stand directly in front of the girl. "You're ridiculous," she murmurs, begging herself to keep from smiling.

"Doesn't that make up for how serious you are?" she coos, sitting down next to Eponine and pretending to examine her nails.

"I don't need anyone to make up for that."

Cosette kisses Eponine briefly on the cheek as she stands up, and Eponine's eyes widen and she feels her stomach turn over. "Cosette?"

"I have to get back to work. You know where to find me."