Chapter 1 Early Impressions from Spring

Author's note: Hey everybody, newbie here. This is my first try at Les Mis fanfiction. Constructive criticism, ideas and reviews are always appreciated. I imagine Eponine to be Samantha Barks and Enjolras to be Aaron Tveit in this story. The setting of the museum is actually the same one from Night at the Museum. Okay, on with the story!

Eponine adjusted her black blazer. She didn't like it very much; it was too stiff for her liking and it was just too boring for her. She glanced at the clock and turned around. The living room was empty; Azelma and Gavroche were still in bed.

"Azelma! If we don't hurry up, we're going to be late!"

A voice came from the hallway.

"Got it!"
Eponine sighed and took a deep breath.

"Gavroche!"

When she didn't hear any response, she walked towards his room and slammed the door open - making a loud bang while doing so – and looked at her brother with her hands on her hips.

"It's time for school."

Gavroche was still lying in bed, hugging his elephant-shaped pillow. Upon hearing his sister's words, he opened his eyes lazily and stared at her with a defiant gleam. He turned over so that his back was facing her.

"I don't mind a few comments on my report card," he said sleepily.

Eponine narrowed her eyes at him. There was no way was she was going to let him win this. She saw the pillow that Gavroche was hugging out of the corner of her eye, that pillow that he was so fond of, and, suddenly, she got an idea.

She snuck up behind him and yanked the pillow out of his hands. Immediately, Gavroche sat up on his bed and held his hands out.

"Hey!"

Eponine held the pillow up in the air with a triumphant smile.

"Come get it," she said in a sing-song voice. Still raising the pillow high up in the air, she walked into the living room. Without second thoughts, Gavroche hopped down from his bed and followed her, running.

"Give it back to me!"

Eponine smirked. She knew this would work. When they arrived at the living room, she put the pillow down the table. Gavroche stared at her to see if she was giving up. Eponine looked completely calm. She took a seat and was beginning to take a bite of bread. Gavroche grabbed the pillow back and held it protectively.

"That was a mean thing to do," he protested.

"That," Eponine said in between mouthfuls of bread, "was the right thing to do."

She leaned towards her brother and grinned.

"Now you're fully awake and at the table to eat breakfast."

Gavroche looked defiant and stuck out his tongue at his sister. At this very moment, Azelma ran towards the table and sat down, taking bread out of its package and started eating.

Eponine looked at her siblings. It had been two years since she got custody for them and frankly, she enjoyed these mornings. Father still managed to find them, yes, but now they had their little haven in an old, modest apartment. Eponine worked as a receptionist/tour guide at the Museum of Natural History and her salary was enough to support her siblings' education. Now, Azelma had graduated and was about to start her job as a receptionist at the museum alongside Eponine. Very soon, Eponine reckoned, they would have enough money to fix some of their apartment's problems, such as the leaks from the ceiling and that one particular tile on the floor that would give a creak whenever one of them stepped on it.

Azelma stoop up and drank the last drops of water in her cup.

"I'm ready," she announced.

"Okay, let's go," Eponine said, standing up as well. She looked around: Gavroche wasn't in his chair.

"Gavroche!"

A fully dressed Gavroche appeared in front of her, looking irritated. He was panting.

"Fast enough for you, 'Ponine?"

Eponine smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Good boy."

"Good morning Eponine, Azelma," Mr. Stiller, the museum director said, nodding to each of them. They had arrived just in time.

"Good morning," they replied. Azelma didn't make eye-contact with Mr Stiller since she was a little scared at facing her boss for the first time. Eponine was more comfortable with him and greeted him casually.

"Eponine," Mr Stiller said, "just reminding you that today our new exhibit, Revolutionaries Through the Years, is opening today. I don't know why they're putting it in a Natural History Museum but I've heard all the other museums weren't available for this exhibit. Anyway, just make sure you know where it is - right next to the Africa section - when people ask you for directions."

Eponine nodded.

"Sure, Mr. Stiller."

Mr. Stiller eyed Azelma and smiled encouragingly.

"Relax. Just learn from your sister."

"Thank you, sir," Azelma said timidly.

Mr. Stiller soon left to go back to his office. Eponine started to brief Azelma over what she needed to do when the museum's first visitor of the day entered and was headed towards them.

"Excuse me," said a male voice.

Eponine looked up. It was a man in his early 20s, though he looked like more like an angel than a human being. His golden curls shone under the sunlight and his eyes were sky blue. His face was angular and perfectly carved, like a perfect statue. He seemed to radiate some kind of power just by his poise and the fierceness in his eyes. She stood up and greeted him.

Enjolras looked at the girl. She had auburn, slightly curly hair and brown, clear eyes so expressive that they could tell a story. Enjolras guessed she's what his friends would have called pretty.

"How may I help you?" Eponine asked.

"I was wondering where the new exhibit is," Enjolras said, taking a pamphlet out of his pocket and unfolded it to show the girls.

"Oh," Eponine said, recognizing that it was the new exhibit. "It's right beside the Africa exhibit. Just walk all the way down there, then turn right."

"Thanks miss," Enjolras said, giving her a nod.

"No problem, Monsieur," Eponine said, joking with him a little. Enjolras didn't seem to realize the joke; he just nodded again and walked away.

"He's so hot."

Eponine turned around to see Azelma with a dreamy looked on her face. Eponine sat down.

"He is kind of hot," she admitted. Azelma looked at her sister.

"Well, I bet you think Marius is cuter," Azelma giggled. Eponine smiled at the thought of him.

"Get back to work," Eponine urged, even though she sound amused.

While Eponine was working, she couldn't stop thinking of Marius Pontmercy, the boy she knew since high school. They were lab partners who went through numerous experiments together. Eponine fondly remembered the one time when they nearly caused an explosion; it was a fun time for both of them and soon they became best friends. Marius was nice to her, gentle and good. He was always optimistic and he often gave Eponine hope through his words of encouragement. Thus, he became one of the few bright spots in her life. She realized she was in love with him a month right after they'd met when he became the only thing on her mind. He was the first thing she thought about in the morning and the one thing she dreamt of when she went to bed.

She had been in love with him for 6 years.

It wasn't as if Eponine never tried to show how she felt. In fact, she thought she was being painfully obvious by the way that she giggled, how she would go out of her way to help him, and how she constantly flirted with him. Marius didn't seem to notice though. He never really made a serious move.

Still, Eponine was, in a way, fine with it because Marius sometimes flirted with her a little and he never had a girlfriend. Just as long as she stayed as the favorite girl in his life (like he once said), she was okay with how things were between them. Though there was still this pain from all this longing…

However, she was convinced that it would be different very soon. Marius just called last night and asked her out. He asked her to have dinner together in a French restaurant because there was something he really wanted to tell her. Eponine had a feeling that maybe; finally her dream was coming true. During these few weeks, Marius had been out of town to do an internship. Eponine missed him dearly, without seeing him so often. Maybe, just maybe… he missed her too, and that made him realize that he loved her. So maybe, tonight he would be telling her that he returns her feelings, in an expensive French restaurant, the most romantic setting they'd ever been in…

Eponine spent the rest of the day stealing glances at the clock, wishing that nighttime could come sooner. Between glances, she had helped Azelma on some documents, answered some visitors' questions and dealing with one old man who had mistaken the museum to be the British Museum. Of all the visitors entering and leaving, however, not one of them was the blonde guy they met earlier that morning. Eponine mused to herself that maybe the man was so obsessed with museums that he planned to spend his entire day there.
She never thought her speculation would turn out to be true.

Soon, it was six in the evening. Mr. Stiller had packed all his documents and was prepared to leave. Just as he walked into the hall, he saw the Theneradiers and remembered that they needed to do something. He walked towards them.

"Hi, Mr Stiller," Azelma said timidly. Eponine looked up and greeted him as well. Mr Stiller smiled kindly at both of them.

"Ladies, do you mind locking up tonight? Our night guard just informed me that he'll be late."

They nodded and bid him goodbye. Eponine led Azelma to the night guard's room and took the spare keys. As they walked out of the room, they divided their labour.

"…so I'll go to the European, Egyptian and miniature exhibits…" Azelma said, playing with the keys.

"…and I'll go to the African and Revolutionaries exhibit," Eponine finished. She looked around and realized she was right in front of the African exhibit.

"See you," Eponine said to her sister.

"Bye," Azelma said as she walked away.

Eponine stood in front of the African exhibit and managed to pull the two halves of the gate together with some effort. She did the same with the Revolutionaries exhibit, causing a loud bang.

The sudden noise and the crisp sound of keys hitting each other brought Enjolras to reality. He turned away from the gaze of Charles Jeanne and noticed the gates that made him feel like a caged animal. He stood up from the bench he'd been sitting on for the last 8 hours.

"Excuse me?" he said.

No response. He took a deep breath and increased his volume, as if he was giving another of his speeches.

"EXCUSE ME!"

The voice echoed through the corridors and reached Eponine's ears.

"Oops," she said before running towards the revolutionaries' exhibit.

There she saw the blonde man she saw earlier this morning standing behind the bars, looking irritated. Eponine took her keys out and opened the gate.

"Thanks," said the man. "Perhaps it would be better next time if you checked if there's anyone in the exhibit first."

Enjolras meant well, correcting her, but his tone made Eponine defensive.

"We close at six," Eponine replied coolly, reminding him that it was his fault for not keeping track of the time. Both of them stood, staring at each other. Enjolras wasn't in the mood to have some sort of argument with a lady right now. He had better things to do.

"Good night, miss."

"Good night, sir."

Enjolras walked away briskly as Eponine watched. What a strange man, she thought.

After Eponine changed into a black dress at the museum and said goodbye to Azelma, she took a cab to meet Marius. She sat inside the taxi, feeling excited and anxious at the same time. Today was her big day and she figured she could indulge herself a little by riding a taxi. During the entire ride, she could only think of Marius, the way he talked and the way he looked.

Finally, she reached her destination.

"It's perfect," she whispered to herself.

The restaurant was lit with candles, with floral wallpaper and Victorian style tables and a live band was playing Bella Notte. She looked around to find Marius.

"'Ponine!"

Eponine turned around instantly when she heard Marius' voice. He was sitting on the table in the corner, smiling and waving enthusiastically at her. Eponine smiled at the sight of him. How she had missed him.

After Eponine sat down, she noticed something was a little bit different about Marius that day. He was radiant, giddy and seemed unusually happy. Was he really that excited to see her? Eponine's heart swelled at the thought.

"I have something to tell you," he said once she sat down.

"I have something to tell you too," she said. She had been thinking about telling Marius about her feelings in the taxi. Yes, she was a little scared of being rejected but she knew that one way or another, six years of longing had to have some closure some time. Whether it was a happy ending or a sad ending, she knew that the ending has to come eventually. Besides, Marius seemed to be making a move now, wasn't he? He might love her back. If so, then she couldn't lose him by missing the chance to let him know she loved him too.

"You go first," Marius said, still very giddy and happy. Eponine took a deep breath.

"Marius," she said, "we've been best friends for such a long time and we always spend time together. But the thing is… I think I want to be more than that."

Eponine was looking into Marius' eyes. He seemed less giddy now and his mouth was hanging open upon hearing his best friend's confession. She knew this was a bad sign, but she carried on anything because there are things she knew she just had to say to him, let him know, regardless of the results.

"I've been in love with you for six years," she continued. "You are so kind and gentle. You are one of the few good things in life. You make me happier than I've ever been in my whole life. Marius, I love you."

Marius still looked shocked. He stared at her and she made an effort to lessen the pain made by his silence.

"If you don't feel the same way, it's all fine. We can still be friends," Eponine said quickly. She smiled at him, though her world was crumbling down.

Marius looked apologetic and avoided her gaze.

"Yes, yes… of course we're friends. Why on earth would you suddenly…" he said, shaking his head. Then he looked at Eponine and sighed. "Are you unhappy? Will you be alright?"

He looked concerned.

You have no idea that what you are doing right now is what made me fall in love with you - your kindness. Please, just stop worrying about me. It hurts even more.

Eponine looked into his eyes and said "I'll be alright."

She did believe what she said at the moment.

"Don't you worry about me," she said, smiling.

Eponine was surprised at how calm she could be. Yes, at some point, she thinks she'll be alright. Yet it doesn't make her feel less of an idiot.

Marius smiled at her. He saw the old 'Ponine again and felt relieved that she seemed alright. He returned to his giddy self again.

"Do you like the restaurant?"

"Yes I do."

"You know why I chose here? I was with my grandfather in his office and this is the nearest restaurant. I was afraid that you might not like it," Marius said.

So it was just for convenience.

"I like it," Eponine said. "It's very… beautiful."

"'Ponine, I asked you to come out here because I do have something to tell you: I think I'm in love!" he said.

"Oh," Eponine said. "Who is it?"

"I don't know, I just saw her on the street today!"

"You met her today and you're in love all of a sudden?" Eponine asked. This was the second dagger to her heart. She wished he could see sense: in love with a random girl on the street?

"Yes," Marius said, looking dreamy. Suddenly, he remembered something and took his phone out.

"See?" he said, holding the phone for Eponine to look at. "She's beautiful."

He passed the phone over to Eponine. As Eponine looked at the picture, she knew the reason why Marius was in love with her. The girl was gorgeous and Marius was only a man after all.

"Yes, she is," Eponine said. Somehow, that face was a little familiar. But she couldn't remember when she saw it, so she just shook it off. She passed the phone back to Marius.

"'Ponine, can you do me a favor?" Marius asked, smiling at her.

She could never deny him anything.

"Sure."

"Can you find her for me?" Marius asked, hope evident in his eyes.

"I know a lot of things," Eponine said proudly, returning to her usual demeanor. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes, something that Marius couldn't see. "But Marius, you can't let yourself fall head over heels for a girl just after one look!"

"Love," Marius sighed, gazing at the ceiling, "doesn't need a reason."

He looked at Eponine and grabbed her hand.

"Please?"

Eponine had always treasured the times when Marius touched her. Yet this time, pain replaced joy. It reminded her that all these gestures meant nothing after all. She forced a smile.

Eponine nodded.

"You owe me big time," she joked. Marius smiled, slightly embarrassed and shrugged.

They filled their dinner with small talk.
*

Eponine walked towards the entrance of Subway. A taxi seemed unnecessary now, as this night wasn't her special night after all. As she walked, she became more and more self-conscious of her dress and her attempts to flirt with Marius all these years. Drowned in her own thoughts, her trip home had never seemed shorter.
Marius voice was still ringing in her head.

We're friends…
I'm in love…
Love doesn't need a reason.
Love doesn't need a reason, all right. She thought sarcastically. Look how illogical I was!

Eponine stared into space while contemplating over his words. She vaguely remembered that she needed a bath when she stepped inside the apartment. Azelma, sitting on the couch watching television, noticed her sister opening the door.

"How did it go?" she asked as Eponine took off her heels. Her sister was still staring into space. Azelma had to call her several times to get her attention.

"Eponine, Eponine?"

Eponine's mind went back to reality. Azelma looked at her curiously, eager for the new update on her sister's love life.

"I'm going to take a bath," Eponine said.

Azelma leaned back onto the couch, looking disappointed at Eponine's response. Eponine wasn't aware of this at all. After she took her bath, her iPhone made a text alert sound. She picked it up.

Sorry, 'Ponine. I forgot to send you the photo. How can you find her if you didn't even know how she looks? LOL That was silly of me.
Thanks 'Ponine, you are my favorite friend. =]

Eponine put her phone down the moment she was done reading the message.

She went to bed early, both calmed and irritated by the sound of the television. Before she drifted off to sleep, Marius' face and words still haunted her. The times they've spent together played like scenes of a movie in her head.

The laugh that Marius laughed, the way he slurs his lines sometimes, the way he looked under the moonlight…

It was too much.

She closed her eyes and forced these memories out of her mind. But as she did so, a fresh, hot tear escaped her.