Book II in the "Split Ends" series-
"UNRESOLVED ISSUES"
A/n: this is an interchapter thingie, so it's from everybody's P.O.V, not just one person like in all the other chapters.
Where we last left off: Enjolras decides he must build a Barricade when a soldier warns him of and upcoming fight.
::The Barricade::
Enjolras ran down to the Café. Inside, he found Grantiare, Joly, and Combeferre waiting for him. Grantaire was taking a large gulp of Absinthe, (surprise surprise) and Joly was talking to Combeferre.
"Yes, It's true. A soldier from the other side, here today!" He was saying. He stopped talking when he saw Enjolras walk in. "Ah! There you are, Enjolras. We were beginning to worry." Combeferre joked. Grantaire shook with laughter, then started coughing violently. Joly shot him a glance, and quickly hid the Absinthe before he could notice. "I think you've had enough." He added.
"Men." Enjolras started. They snapped into focus. "General Lamarque worsens. The impending fight is more upon us then ever. We will need to build something to protect us when we fight, to create a barrier between them and us. We need to build a Barricade."
Everyone was silent, except for Grantaire, who mumbled drunkenly, "A Barricade? Out of what?" He chuckled.
"Out of...of chairs, and tables, and anything else that's large and sturdy." Instantly the men got to work on pulling tables and chairs out of the Café. Enjolras followed them, but went in the opposite direction form the center of town and down the street to the town pavilion.
He found Marius sitting on a bench with Cosette. "Marius!" He called out. Marius looked up at him. "I need your help. The fight is upon us and we need to act fast. Take anything large and sturdy that you can find, and bring it to the center of town. We are going to build a Barricade." Marius nodded solemnly and Cosette stood up.
"A Barricade?" She shook her head. "Attack?" Enjolras nodded along with Marius.
"We need all the help we can get. Marius, go and get the others and tell them the news. Joly, Combeferre, and Grantaire already know. They will help you." Marius got up to leave, when Cosette grabbed his wrist.
"I'll help you." She announced.
"No, Cosette, don't." Marius pleaded. "There could be an attack any minute, and I don't want you getting hurt. I care about you, and your safety, and I-"
"You think I'm not fit to fight...a dainty little girl, right?" She felt her face grow hot.
"No...I...you can't go, I'll see to it that you won't." Marius bent down to kiss her on the cheek, but she pushed him away.
"Go." She pointed him in the other direction and huffed. Enjolras sensed her anger, and hastened to try to clear things up between her and his best friend.
"Cosette...I could take you home, if you'd like." (a/n: There is NO romance here between them in case anyone was wondering!! He is just doing this as a friendly gesture!")
She smiled. She knew that what he really wanted to do was to Eponine again, not walk her home, but she hid her feelings and accepted the invite. When they reached Cosette's house, Enjolras bowed politely and walked upstairs. When he knocked on Eponine's door, there was no answer. He turned the knob and opened the door anyway. She was asleep. Enjolras stepped in quietly. He walked over to her and covered her with a sheet.
Suddenly Eponine stirred and wearily opened up her eyes. "En . . .Enjolras?" She yawned. "What happened? You look upset." He tried to smile encouragingly. Eponine smiled back warmly. He was right, her smile was contagious. He sat down on the end of the bed.
"Listen, Eponine. The fight is approaching rapidly. We're building a Barricade in the center of town to protect us when the time comes." Eponine seemed to take the idea of war lightly.
"Does Cosette know?" Eponine asked him. He nodded.
"I'm afraid she didn't find out in the best way possible, but oh well." Eponine sighed.
"I want to help but . . ." She looked gloomily at her leg. Enjolras shook his head.
"Your right. You can't go outside, let alone walk that much . . . I don't want you near the Barricade." Eponine sighed. "I know how you feel, Eponine, I know you want to fight. But look at you. It will be a miracle if you can walk!" She looked down. "Listen, I have to go, the men need my help." She nodded. "Tell me if you need anything ok?" He started walking out.
"You know Eponine, I think I-" Just then there was a loud gunshot outside that caught their attention. "I really have to go, that could have been one of our men shot!" And he ran put the door. She heard yells coming from outside, voicing General Lamarque's death, and Enjolras's distinct yell of, "Fire!" There was a huge explosion, and smoke filled the air.
Eponine threw off the covers and jumped out of bed on one leg. The other throbbed painfully. She limped over to the window and saw smoke rising from a little way off. "They've started already." She thought aloud. All she could think about was Enjolras's safety. "I have to help." She stated, and hobbled out of the room and out the back door. She limped as fast as she could to the Café and stole a gun and some ammunition, and made off towards the center of town.
Two men were lying dead already next to a long strip of tables and chairs, clocks and sacks, in a Barricade formation. Thick smoke blanketed the air, making everything blurry. Eponine crouched below the Barricade, rested her gun on her shoulder, and fired. The force of the shot knocked her over, but she regained balance instantly. A few minutes of fighting passed before Eponine heard a familiar voice in the distance. "Eponine?" It sounded more like a question than a call.
She looked to where the sound was coming from. Enjolras was standing over her.
"Eponine, WHAT are you doing here?" He paused. "Why aren't you in bed, like I told you."
"I wanted to help." She stated stubbornly. "Plus, I was getting stir crazy in there." Enjolras looked at her as if she had 100 heads.
"Eponine, the Barricade isn't a place to come to stretch your legs. You could have been killed!" He sounded worn out. "Look, I appreciate your concern, but I want you to stay inside for now." He stooped down and picked her up.
"What are you doing?" She demanded.
"I'm taking you into the Café, we have a nice little room up on the 2nd floor for you to stay in. And Eponine," He said warningly. "I don't want you near the Barricade again, ok?" Eponine pounded on his back as he walked.
"Put me down!" She yelled. Some of the students grinned in their direction until Enjolras glared at them.
"Will you stop making such a fuss?" He whispered in her ear. "This is for your own good." He said, raising his voice a bit. Eponine finally gave up struggling.
"Good, now let's go upstairs, and I'll set up the bed. He carried her upstairs and laid her down on a cot by the window. "Don't let me catch you down there again, Eponine. I like you too much to see you get hurt." And he walked out. Eponine stared after him.
Had he really just said that?
a/n: I have no idea if there really is a second floor in the café, but my story IS AU, therefore I say there is a second floor, and in my story, that's correct, and there really is a second floor. I don't care if its true or not, I choose it to be that way, and if you can't handle that, then I suggest you don't read any further.
I love every single reviewer!