Author's Note: So I'm really excited to be writing my first Les Mis fanfiction! My main concern for this is getting the dialogue right…obviously the characters can't be saying things like "Dude, she's hot!" So I'll try my very best to keep it realistic but it's probably not going to be perfect. Also, I have read the book and will be including some book characters, but this is primarily musical/movie based. So Samantha Barks and Aaron Tveit are Eponine and Enjolras.
Eponine Thenardier was no stranger to the streets of Paris. She skulked about day by day, sneaking food for nourishment and wishing for the sun to stay in the sky so she would not have to return to her father's house at night. But of course, she could always sneak out, as she sometimes did, just to make believe that she was in the arms of Marius Pontmercy, a bourgeois university student who counted her as a good friend. But today the streets seemed colder, even less inviting than usual.
"Find her for me, 'Ponine, I beg of you."
And now she was relegated to the role of "errand girl" for Marius and this new object of his desires. Not just any object either—but the ragged little girl Eponine and her younger sister, Azelma, had mocked when they were children together in her parents' inn. Cosette.
Eponine had also caught sight of her that day in the square, all dressed up in lace and petticoats. She leaned against a stone wall by an alley, smoothing her tattered green dress. It was one of only three she owned, each more threadbare than the last. The Thenardiers did not have the means for regular bathing, so her dark, wavy hair was often matted and tangled. A thin layer of grime always seemed to cover her skin, no matter how hard she scrubbed. It's no wonder Marius will never see you as a lady, Eponine thought bitterly.
It was late afternoon and the sunshine was beginning to wane. Eponine needed to find Cosette's residence and report back to Marius before it got too late to go home without severe questioning from her parents. When she finally came upon 55 Rue Plumet, and more importantly, the inhabitants of the house, she did not feel any sense of accomplishment. She was torn between the desire to be such a good friend to Marius that he would see her as more than that eventually, and the ache to make sure her love never found a girl who would take him away from her.
The sun had slipped behind the hills by the time she found her way back to Café Musain. She hesitated at the door.
"Eponine!" A small figure suddenly rushed toward her and jumped into her arms.
"Gavroche!" Eponine hugged her little brother. She only saw him on few occasions, since he had had the guts to leave their parents' house. Her little siblings were the only things that kept her sane these days. Don't forget Marius. He keeps you sane, a voice in the back of her head said. She pushed it aside. Marius made her even crazier, if anything.
"What are you doing here?" Gavroche asked, releasing her.
"What are you doing here?" Eponine retorted.
"I'm always here!" said Gavroche happily.
"But isn't this where Les Amis de l'ABC meet?"
"Yes, it is!"
"So again, what are you doing here?" Eponine asked, impatient.
"Eponine, I always hang around Les Amis! They're my friends." Eponine detected a hint of pride in the little boy's voice.
"Wait…" Eponine lowered her voice and whispered, "Do you know Marius?"
"Monsieur Pontmercy? Sure, he's in here quite a lot. I think he's in there right now, I do." He snickered. "The other boys are teasing him for something, I didn't hear what, but he looks almost in tears."
He must be desperate. "Ok, Gavroche, thank you!" She made to leave.
"Wait! You never answered my question! What are you doing here?"
"I have a message for Marius." She replied.
"Do you know any of the other boys in there?" Gavroche inquired.
"Well, no, I might recognize a few by face but I am not acquainted with them." Said Eponine.
"Then let me escort you in!" Gavroche smiled brightly up at his big sister. "I know them and they all know me."
Eponine couldn't say no to his dirty, smiling face. "Alright, Gavroche, lead the way."
Inside the café, the Les Amis were enjoying various evening activities. There were a few at the bar, a few chatting by the tables, and a blonde boy off to the side, writing notes in a book. Eponine caught sight of Marius among the boys at the tables, but he hardly looked in the mood for chatter. His head rested on his elbow in utter melancholy. She saw one of the other boys poke me hard and say something that was incomprehensible for her, but it must have been a joke at his expense because all the others in the area laughed.
"Gavroche!" exclaimed a boy by the bar.
"Bonjour, Monsieur Courfeyrac!" Gavroche smiled as Courfeyrac ruffled his dirty blonde hair.
"I was of the thought that you left a few moments ago?"
"I did, but I found a reason to come back." Gavroche smiled even wider and grabbed his sister's hand. Courfeyrac glanced up into Eponine's face. She smiled, a little shyly.
"Pleased to meet you, Mademoiselle…" He let the introduction hang there, waiting for her to finish.
"Eponine…Jondrette."
"Well, it's very nice to make your acquaintance."
"The same to you, monsieur."
"You can call me Courfeyrac. How do you know Gavroche here?"
"She's my sister!" Said Gavroche.
"Ah! Well then, mademoiselle, you are more than welcome into the lair of Les Amis de l'ABC!" Courfeyrac smiled at the two siblings.
Eponine smiled, a little awkwardly, before a voice behind her rescued her.
"Eponine!"
She turned around to see Marius gazing at her in delight. She felt her stomach swoop. This was the way she wanted him to always look at her. Marius rushed forward, nearly knocking Courfeyrac to the ground. He grabbed one of her arms. "Eponine, please tell me you have found my beloved!"
His beloved? A few hours of never even talking to her, and she is his beloved already?
"Y-yes." She stuttered. "I did."
"Eponine, you are the greatest friend! Will you take me to her?"
"Of course."
And with that agreement, Eponine unknowingly set herself on a path that led her into the arms of someone else.
A/N: So I realize that Enjolras is not even in this, but I wanted to provide some exposition on Eponine first. I promise Enjolras will be featured heavily in the next chapter, which should be up tomorrow! I know this chapter is crummy, but bear with me, I think it will get better!