A/N: Hey guys! So this is my second attempted fic and I'm incredibly excited to begin this. I hope you enjoy the story as I plan to make it a long running one, I welcome any reviews and constructive criticism. Also suggestions are welcome as although I have a lot of ideas for this story I would welcome any personal input. If you want to check out my other current fic that I'm still currently writing it's a Phantom of the opera one so if you are interested feel free to check it out.
Anyway Enjoy! :)
Chapter One
"Goodbye sweetie we'll miss you so much! Make sure to call me when you get there and don't forget to eat properly and get plenty of sleep and-"
Enjolras slowly prised himself away from his mother's constricting hug
"Mum I promise I'll be fine. It's university I'm not moving country" he protested as she continued to fuss over him before straightening the collar of his burgundy jacket with a sad sigh.
"Okay well me and your father are so proud of you Enjolras" she smiled through watery eyes as his father placed an arm around her back patting her comfortingly.
"Have fun son! Don't do anything I wouldn't do hey! Remember me and your mother met at University!" He winked as Enjolras sighed, one thing he wouldn't miss about home was the constant innuendos between his father and mother that would often produce an intense feeling of queasiness his parents seemingly delighted in. After Enjolras climbed into the seat of his new car, a luxury present for his eighteenth, he started the engine and waved goodbye to his now weeping mum and waving dad as a new chapter of his life was about to begin.
0o0
Eponine and Grantaire had been lifelong friends since they could remember. They had grown up next door to one another and had befriended each other after Eponine fell of her bike and a brave five year old Grantaire attempted to carry her back to her house, before actually making the situation worse and dropping Eponine resulting in a sprained wrist. Since then the two had been strangely inseparable.
Now thirteen years later the pair had arrived at prestigious Oxford University, a dream they had shared for years had now become a reality. Although both were from incredibly poor families years of working hard and intense study sessions had paid off as both were offered a scholarship. Eponine's in English literature and language and Grantaire's fine art.
"Well 'Taire we made it!" breathed Eponine as they stood luggage in hand at the entrance amongst hundreds of other fresher's.
"I know Ponine it's crazy! I guess now we find our dorms and everything?" Grantaire replied hauling his battered suitcase from his car boot. It was a rare occasion that Grantaire was actually sober for once. Since hitting puberty Grantaire had discovered a fondness for alcohol, however he figured as the designated driver and it being his first day he wanted to make a good impression.
"Yeah I guess anyway the directions say we should be in a shared dorm flat kinda thing I guess in this college?" Eponine pointed to the map in the leaflet at the tiny marked building, it wasn't too far from where they were.
"Well guess we best meet our flat mates then!" said Grantaire linking Eponine's arm.
0o0
Enjolras had always been incredibly punctual and today was certainly no exception as he realised he was the first to arrive out of his shared dormitory. After asking a helpful if incredibly flirtatious guide where his flat was he eventually found the building which didn't quite live up to the grandeur of the rest of Oxford. The flat was a little shabby and pokey, however there was a kitchen and individual rooms to Enjolras' relief, he always enjoyed privacy.
Figuring that this was ultimately a gain Enjolras quickly surveryed the rooms deciding which was the least offensive out of the four before deciding the one furthest away from the bathroom with the larger window was most suitable. To mark his territory Enjolras pulled out a large French flag and hung it across his bare wall. A strange decoration for any teenage boy but a part of history Enjolras held dear to his heart as since he could remember, 17th century France had been an obsession of his. The room still felt bare so he quickly pulled out a number of classic hardback books. Most were historical and political in genre however Enjolras was a sucker for classic fiction so the occasional Dickens or Bronte was thrown in to the haphazard shelf arrangement.
Just about to rearrange the books into alphabetical order a loud clatter came from the front room followed by an "Ouch!" and several expletives. Walking into the room Enjolras was met by an incredibly handsome young man. He had dark brown messy hair and wore a navy jumper over his shirt and jeans. However he appeared to be currently sprawled out on top of his suitcase looking up a little sheepishly at a now amused Enjolras.
"Are you alright?" Enjolras asked helping the flustered man whilst trying to suppress laughter
"Yeah I'm fine accidently tripped over my case on the way in!" he replied a cheeky smile spreading across his face. "I'm Courfeyrac by the way"
"Nice to meet you Courfeyrac, I'm Enjolras" Enjolras offered out his hand expecting a handshake but was met by laughter at his formality
"Haha! Call me Courf, and we're flat mates for the next year no need for formalities" He pulled Enjolras into an awkward hug before thumping him on the back taking a startled Enjolras of guard.
"So Enj- can I call you Enj? Where's the rest of the team or are we just eager for the fresher's parties to get started?" His attitude was infectious but parties were not something Enjolras was keen on. His idea of a perfect night consisted of deep reading of a history book accompanied by a large black coffee.
Before Enjolras could answer though there was a quick rapping at the door. Courfeyrac bounded over to the handle narrowly avoiding another trip and opened it to reveal their next room mate;
"Hey guys room for one more?" The boy joked. His black glasses slid slightly down the bridge of his nose which he quickly pushed back up.
"Come on in! I'm Courf and this is Enj" Courfeyrac beamed as Enjolras was still trying to process his roommate's positivity wondering if he was always this enthusiastic.
"Nice to meet you two I'm Combeferre but my friends just call me Ferre so whatever's fine by me" Combeferre placed his bags down to the side before walking in and collapsing next to Enjolras on the worn out sofa.
"You two been here long" he asked taking off his glasses and cleaning them on the hem of his black t-shirt.
"Probably too long, nearly got here before the guys before us moved out and graduated" Enjolras joked as the other two laughed.
"Early bird catches the worm though, take it the bedroom furthest away from the bathroom is yours?" replied Combeferre sliding his glasses back on with a grin.
"Possibly" he shrugged, feeling a strange happiness because of these two boys he had only just met who already felt like he had known them for longer. Meanwhile Courfeyrac was rummaging through his backpack for teabags as it was probably a bit too early to start drinking… although it did cross his mind.
"Tea lads?" Courfeyrac asked plugging in the worn out kettle.
"If tea's going I'd love one" a voice chimed from the doorway. More like an elven prince than a man stood at the doorway. He had long, blonde, messy hair revealing tiny plaits intricately woven like a crown around his head. He wore cropped jeans and yellow doc martens with a colourful flowery shirt and denim jacket.
"Sure thing! So this is our family then" Courfeyrac beamed as the man glided over to Enjolras and Combeferre.
"I'm Enjolras by the way that's Courfeyrac and this is Combeferre" Enjolras smiled at the eccentric suppressing the urge to offer out his hand to shake.
"Nice to meet you guys I'm Jehan" he smiled before perching on the arm of the sofa and crossing his skinny legs revealing a tiny flower tattoo on his ankle the size of a coin.
Courfeyrac was about to attempt to carry over four full hot cups of tea before Combeferre spotted and quickly grabbed two of the cups sensing Courfeyrac's clumsiness. The four then sat around the brown battered sofa with Courfeyrac cross legged on the floor. For a moment the excitement of moving in to a new place died out into an awkward silence interrupted by the occasional slurp of tea. Enjolras quickly cleared his throat;
"So what is everyone studying?" he asked partially to alleviate the tense atmosphere but also because Enjolras was mentally evaluating each of these men trying to work them out. It was a habit he had always had but didn't tend to hinder his friendships with other people as it often meant he picked very suitable friends.
"Well I'm studying medicine, hoping that I'll become a doctor one day" Combeferre smiled pushing his sandy hair out of his eyes. "What about you Courf?"
"Music" this surprised Enjolras, he couldn't picture this admittedly charming but clumsy man playing anything.
"I play violin mostly that's why I got in. Although I do love playing guitar … CRAP! My guitar I've left it on the coach" Courfeyrac sprung up tea flying with him before he darted out of the room and down the corridor. The others would have laughed had not half the tea gone over Enjolras' blue jeans leaving a damp patch which looked as though he had had an accident. Enjolras cursed and went to the bathroom, he'd been here less than two hours and already had to change.
Combeferre and Jehan looked at one another and burst out laughing. When both had calmed down and Combeferre had wiped away a tear forming he asked
"So anyway Jehan what you studying?"
"Fine art, it was that or poetry I figured my poetry can be a hobby" Jehan replied fiddling with the plaits in his hair. Jehan was an incredibly introverted young man however this didn't reflect in his flamboyant outfits and hairstyles, his personal form of self-expression. He also had a passion for poetry and spent the majority of his days sitting in the crooked tree at the back of his house with a battered notebook writing poems he would never share. Jehan was never good at anything that involved intense concentration, but flourished with a pot of paint and blank canvas where he would paint the most unusual and colourful abstract art.
"I've always wanted to be good at art could only manage stick figures though" laughed Combeferre, taking a long swig of tea deciding this year was going to be a good one
0o0
"Found it 'Taire it's this block here" Eponine called over to Grantaire. A short journey had turned into an hour long trek through the entire campus trying to find their flat. Eventually they discovered it had been a ten minute walk from where they started out.
"Eventually!" Grantaire huffed a red mist forming over his face. "Let's go I need to sit down before I collapse"
The pair entered the building and began to haul their suitcases up a flight of stairs before a flustered man began to fly towards them. Noticing a bit too late the man hurtled into Eponine knocking her backwards before Grantaire quickly caught her
"Hey watch it!" Eponine shouted
"Sorry! I'm so sorry I didn't see and-" Courfeyrac replied before really looking at the brunette beauty that stood before him. Had it not been for Courfeyrac's panic and also the intimidating man who was staring daggers next to her he probably would've attempted to flirt with her. However now didn't seem to be the best time.
"I'm so sorry I've got to rush I hope you're alright!" hollered Courfeyrac before zipping down the rest of the stairs.
"Twat. You okay Ponine?" Grantaire asked concerned at the welcome she had just received.
"Yeah I'm fine, come on let's just get settled in"