I've Seen Your Face Before
The face haunted Enjolras for the rest of the day. Even the students noticed something was off at the meeting later that day. That girl was so familiar; he knew he had to find out why he recognized her. 'No Enjolras' he thought 'You need to focus, if you aren't giving your full attention to the Amis than why should anyone else?'
"Enjolras, take a break. Drink with me!" said Grantiere, one of Enjolras's best friends. And although he loved him and all his flaws, he still wished the drinking would stop. At the rate he was going Grantiere was more likely to be slayed by the booze than by the revolution.
"No, not tonight Grantiere. I'm not really in the mood." Enjolras replied trying to go back to his planning of revolution.
"What's up with you, you're different than usual."
"What do you mean?" Enjolras asked trying to hide his feelings as best he could. He had always been quite good at not showing his true feelings, but today he couldn't focus enough to do so.
"You're just not as determined, as you normally are." Grantiere said cautiously, trying not to anger Enjolras. Enjolras although he'd never admit it was incredibly loving and cared for his friends deeply with love and compassion, Grantiere knew that, but he also knew that he was very short-tempered and easily angered.
"Don't be silly! I'm perfectly normal!" he snapped back at his friend. But Grantiere saw through this façade.
"Do you need to talk about it? You know bottling up your feelings like this isn't heal-"
"Oh you're the one to talk! Drowning all your sorrows and insecurities with wine and beer. It can't be healthy black out drinking every night but you do it anyways!" Enjolras said, angrily shouting. Thus causing everyone in the café to look up and start paying attention to this side conversation.
"I just… I was just trying to help you" said Grantiere. Feeling defenseless against his friend's temper.
"Well I don't need you helping me! I am perfectly fine on my own!" Enjolras said running down the stairs of the café. In his hazy rush to the exit, he ran into Gavroche.
"Enjolras! Where are you going? I have all these plans to help!" said the little boy very excited to get started.
"Meeting's been canceled!" said Enjolras, running off and leaving behind a very disappointed and hungry little boy.
Enjolras wasn't quite angry with Grantiere, but was just frustrated. He didn't want anyone, not even his best friend, to know that he wasn't focused on the plan of Les Amis. Enjolras rushed into the nearest pub. Enjolras was not one to normal drink to ease his feelings, but it seemed right. He just wanted to blow off steam and forget about the girl, Grantiere, and Les Amis. After Enjolras was quite drunk, he figured he should head home. He stumbled down the cobblestone paths of Paris, which at this time was now full of beggars, thieves, and prostitutes.
"Why hello there handsome, you looking for a champion?" asked one the prostitutes, literally throwing herself at him.
"Ummm no thank you, mademoiselle," Enjolras said. His drunken brain enjoying the attention, he could not see her face, for it was too dark. But by looking at her body he could tell she was incredibly attractive. Quite skinny but still curvy, even though she probably hadn't had a proper meal in days.
"Well, you sure? I can promise you a good time!" she said seductively.
"You know what, why not?" He replied. His judgment quite impaired by the alcohol he had consumed.
"I knew you'd come around, they always do." She said, with a sly smile he still couldn't see her face though. She led him to an alleyway that was more private. She began to remove his jacket. Well doing so she reached around a grabbed all his money along with a watch that belonged to his father. She was robbing him, but little did Enjolras know. She was just about to bolt away with her newly stolen treasures. But Enjolras was too quick for her, and he grabbed her wrist before she could run.
"What do you think you're doing?!" He yelled, incredibly angry that he was almost swindled by this prostitute.
"Let go of me!" she screamed. The two wrestled, as Enjolras tried to get back his possessions. Their fighting led them into a bright light of moonbeam. Enjolras was pinned against the brick wall. Still holding onto her tiny wrists, she struggled hard. He looked up, making eye contact for the first time. "You…." She gasped. Her body went limp and she stopped struggling. Enjolras realized it was her the girl from the market this morning. But it was obvious she knew who he was. "You're the one who saved me…" she said tearing up.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Replied Enjolras, confused. He was now supporting the girl, as she was in shock and could hardly stand.
"I was young, only twelve. And he was going to…" she drifted off, the memories obviously traumatizing. Then it hit him. Enjolras did know this girl.
He was fifteen and just started his phase of rebellion. He was told never to hang out near the café and that part a Paris, so naturally he ran down there alone to cause trouble. Enjolras then heard a girl's scream and a man hushing her. He turned the corner into a small alleyway. Where he saw a strange bulky man, trying to violate a very young, pure, and innocent girl. Enjolras didn't know what to do. He quickly grabbed a large block of wood lying on the ground and hit the man. He dropped the small girl.
"You little shit!" yelled the man.
"There is plenty more where that came from if you stick around!" Enjolras threatened the man, and hit him twice more, before the man could run away. Enjolras dropped the weapon, and he keeled down to the girl, curled up on the floor. "Are you alright miss?" he asked stroking her hair gently. She just shivered. "Did he hurt you?" Enjolras asked, compassionately. The girl nodded tears rolling down her cheeks. Enjolras shook his head, with disbelief, "Did he violate you?"
"No, you came just in time." She said wrapping her arms around his neck and crying into his chest. They stayed there for a bit. She continued crying into his chest and he comforted her. He gently rubbed her back stroked her hair. He picked her up slowly. Her arms were still around his neck grasping tightly to his now tear-stained and muddy blouse. After asking her for directions to her house, he brought her home. And left without getting her name.
"I remember it all now," Enjolras said, coming out of his flashback. The girl just started to cry, reliving one of her worst memories. He hugged her and she began to cry into his muscular chest. It was just like the time several years before. She looked up at him. It was the first time he had gotten a good look at her face. Although it was dirty and covered in mud, she had beautiful facial features. Big brown eyes and long dark eyelashes, she had pale skin like porcelain, although it was far from dainty from all the mud and where and tear on it. Her high cheekbones complimented her gorgeous brown cascading curly hair, although it was greasy and dirty. He smiled at her and she smiled back. She had a dazzling smile, although her teeth, like all the citizens of France were rotting and green colored, her smile still lit a flame in his heart.
"I never did get your name, Monsieur, " she said wiping the tears from her perfect eyes and smiling up at him, while sitting on his lap.
"I'm Enjolras," he said extending a hand to shake hers.
"Éponine," she smiled taking the hand.
Reviews are always appreciated. If you liked it favorite! I will write more probably tomorrow!
