"You're no longer a child, Marius. I don't doubt you mean it well...but now there is a higher cause! Who cares about your lonely soul, you must focus on the task ahead of you. Ahead of us all!" Marius turned angrily towards Enjolras.

"If you had been there, you would have known how it felt. To suddenly not know what was right and wrong." Enjolras' eyes darkened and he looked away. Suddenly there was a sound and all eyes in the room turned to the stairway where the young Eponine now stood looking around until her eyes fell on Marius. The other men took no notice of her and quickly went back to their drinking and talking merrily as Marius hurried over to her. He whispered something in her ear and she looked at him for a second before leading him back down the stairs. Marius paused and took one last glance at Enjolras who said nothing and only frowned disapprovingly. After a few tense seconds Marius took off down the rickety, cafe stairs after his friend and into the warm night. Enjolras sighed and made his way to one of the tables to sit in an unsteady wooden chair. He's a fool, Enjolras thought to himself. He took a glass from a stack in front of him and poured himself some wine from a half-empty bottle on the adjacent table. The red liquid sparkled in the glass and he found himself remembering a similar night to this one in what seemed so long ago but could only have been a few months or so. He smiled to himself and lifted up his glass, making his own silent toast to one who, he knew, would never share another drink with him again. "To you." He whispered. "And to me."

-One Year Earlier-

"Enjolras!" Courfeyrac walked into the cafe loudly. "In here hiding away again, are we?" Enjolras moved a stack of papers off the table as not to be swept off by the oncoming storm of young men into the small cafe. The day was hot and sticky and the men had all removed their cravats and slung their jackets over the sides of chairs as they moved to the corner where Enjolras was busily working away. "Must you avoid us in here all day?" Courfeyrac laughed clapping Enjolras on the back and propping his feet up on the table. Enjolras' eyes flicked up from the piece he was working on to the papers which his friend had placed his feet upon but chose to say nothing and went on with his work.

"I do not avoid you, Courfeyrac." Enjolras replied, cooly. "I simply want to finish this article before tomorrow and I would prefer to be in the shade then out in the heat of the day and walk around Paris with nothing to do." The other men snorted and looked at one another raising their eyebrows.

"I do not see why you bother, Enjolras." Another man said. "No one reads those pieces." Enjolras frowned at him but continued writing as quickly as ever, trying to not be distracted by their presence. Courfeyrac watched him then leaned back, sighing sadly.

"You are such a bore."

"Do not be ridiculous." Enjolras scoffed still not looking up. Courfeyrac leaned forward, smiling slyly.

"Prove it." He challenged. "Come out with us tomorrow." Enjolras laughed to himself and placed down his quill.

"Why on earth would anyone want to do that?" He asked.

"What have you got to lose?" Courfeyrac asked shrugging. "We shall go around the city and take the girls out shopping. I am sure we will be able to find someone for you to entertain, despite your... engaging conversation skills." He said sarcastically. Enjolras knew he was only winding him up to make him want to prove himself but he allowed himself to be swayed. It had been a while since he had gone for a day out and he had the entire night to finish his article before they would leave in the morning. The others watched him thinking on the edge of their seats.

"Very well." Enjolras replied. "I shall meet you downstairs in the morning." The men cheered and clapped him on the back. Courfeyrac smiled.

"I knew even you were not too boring to refuse a beautiful lady." He winked then turned to another one of the men. "Did not Marie mention that she had a friend in town?" He asked and the man nodded.

"I can ask Analise to bring her along. She doesn't know what to expect of the local men so maybe, if none of us speak to her, she may think Enjolras here is wonderful find." The others burst out laughing but Enjolras only picked up his quill again and continued scribbling. I know I'm going to regret that, he thought as the other prepared to leave, I just know it.