BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS
"He'll never love me! He could never love someone like me!" Éponine sobbed, alcohol crumbling the high walls she had built to hide her feelings. Her tears dripped into the drink in her hand.
"Then why, why do you still pine for him?" Enjolras questioned her, anger and frustration building up inside him at her words.
"I- Well it's not like I chose to! It's not like I chose this! Love isn't something you can control, Enjolras!" Éponine gulped.
There was a pause.
"Then tell me 'Ponine, why do you love him?"
At this, she looked up at him, eyes widening in shock.
"What?"
"Why do you love him?" His electric blue eyes bore into hers, demanding and firm.
"I…I…" Éponine had never bothered to wonder why she loved Marius; she'd long accepted it as simply fact. "Well what does it matter anyway! He'll never love me! He'll never look at me the way he looks at her! He'll never say those words to me! And, and now I've lost him because he'll avoid me after I told him and… I'm ugly, I'm horrid, and no one will want me now, not after I've pined for him for so long…" She lowered her eyes back at her drink, ashamed.
"Éponine."
Wasn't alcohol supposed to help you forget all your troubles?
"Éponine, look at me."
She looked up at him. His eyes held such an intense gaze, like a strong, blue flame. They were so warm.
"You're beautiful."
And then everything went black.
As Cosette went about the classroom passing activity worksheets to the students, Éponine stared out of the window at the birdhouse. Two bluebirds flew by, swirling around each other in the air. Last night's events haunted her.
"You're beautiful."
His warm, warm eyes.
She didn't know what she felt anymore.
A small hand tugged at her sleeve. She looked down and to meet Emilie's kind hazel eyes.
"Miss 'Ponine, are you sad?" the seven-year-old asked.
"No, sweetie, just a bit confused." She smiled. She bent down and lifted the little girl into her lap.
"About what?"
"Well you see, there's a girl who loves a boy, but he doesn't love her back. And now she doesn't know if she loves him, or her close friend, who's always been there for her."
"Hmm." Emilie wrinkled her nose. "That is confusing. Does he make her smile?"
"Yes."
"And laugh?"
"Mmhm." Éponine smiled.
"Does he say her name different? So that she just knows it's safe in his mouth."
Éponine. Éponine, look at me.
"Yes…"
"Does he hug her and make her feel warm and mushy? And happy? Do little stars come out of her when he smiles? My mommy and daddy are like that. It's gross when they kiss."
Éponine laughed. Just then, the bell rang.
"Emilie! Emilie! Let's go and play!" another kindergartener said.
Éponine smiled and set the little eager girl back down on her feet.
"See you tomorrow, Miss 'Ponine!"
"Have fun, Emilie!" She waved.
"'Ponine."
She looked up.
"Mm, I was right. You look like you need to talk." Cosette nodded firmly. "Come on, I'll fix you some cocoa at my place." Éponine opened her mouth to protest.
"No buts. Come on, you look like you could use some cocoa. I'll add cinnamon and marshmallows, just the way you like it. Please, 'Ponine?" Cosette implored.
Bambi eyes. Dammit, Cosette.
"Alright, sure." Éponine sighed, a smile playing on her lips. She did love Cosette's cocoa.
A/N: Wrote this a while ago and about ten minutes ago an idea for a possible continuation of it so I decided to post it up here too. I'd love your feedback on it!