CHAPTER TWO
~Eponine's POV~
As the bus pulled to a steady stop, I push my way past people on the bus, just about getting past them and making it off of the bus. They honestly do remind me more of a herd of mad animals. 'Better than my old school,' I tell myself, desperately suppressing the urge to scream out at them all.
When I get off the bus, I quickly look for my new friend, Enjolras; he is nowhere to be seen. I give a short sigh and walk into the old looking building, which is now my school. I just hope that this is better than my old school, where everyone picks on the new kid.
The school is bigger than I anticipated and I get out a map of the school which I was given –hopefully I won't need it for too much longer- before attempting to find my locker. I walk down the hall, with my head buried in the map and accidentally walk into someone. "Shit," I mutter as I fall back, onto the floor. This is a great way to start the year, I tell myself sarcastically.
"I didn't see you there, forgive me," I hear a voice say. I look up and see a boy about my age, with messy hair that looked like it would only work on him and more freckles than it seemed possible to count. He is quite handsome, but not in the way that most people would think.
"Oh it's fine, it was my fault," I insist. Even though it was my fault, I would usually just let him take the blame and walk off, however, I don't want any enemies on my first day and he looks friendly enough.
"I do think that it was my fault, but I don't think that either of us want to get into a two hour long 'No it was my fault' argument, so let's just agree that it was both our faults," he says with a smile and helps me up.
I laugh and grin at him, "I suppose so Monsieur," I reply, saying Monsieur with a mocking tone.
"I'm Marius," he chuckles, extending a hand.
"Eponine," I reply, shaking his hand.
"Are you new here?" he asks.
I give a slight giggle, "That's the second time that I've been asked that today and I've only gotten into the building a moment ago," I mumble with a slight chuckle, "Oh! And yes," I add with an embarrassed giggle, suddenly remembering the question.
The boy laughs, "What year are you?" he asks.
"I'm a senior, what about you?" I ask.
"Oh cool, I'm a senior too," he replies. "Do you, um… want to sit with me at lunch?" he asks sheepishly, with an adorable little blush.
I laugh, "Sorry, I promised someone else. Maybe you could sit with us?" I ask.
"Maybe, what's their name?" he asks.
"Enjolras, but he said that he's going to bring two of his friends," I say with a dramatic sigh.
"Oh that's perfect!" he exclaims a little too loudly, I see people turn around to give us odd looks and I chuckle. "Enjolras and I have been best friends since we were ten!" he adds excitedly.
"I guess I can sit beside you both then," I laugh, "Well I've gotta go find my locker now."
"Oh me too, see you later then Eponine," he replies.
"Bye," I reply, picking up my map and walking away, this time being careful not to walk into anyone. I see Marius walking right behind me, but I don't say anything.
I eventually get to my locker and I quickly unload my bag's contents into my locker. I turn around and see that Marius' locker is right next to mine. He gives me a teasing wave and I grin at him.
"So what's first on your schedule, locker neighbour?" he smirks, pulling out a piece of paper which I'm guessing is his timetable.
I quickly get out mine and check it, I groan. "Math is first and then P.E."
"Bummer," he says mockingly, "I've got English and then P.E."
"I guess I'll see you there then," I grin, checking my map and walking off hesitantly to Maths class.
If I make any more friends like Marius, then this school will be awesome. Nothing like my last one.
It turns out that this Maths 'lesson' is just a lecture and there's no work. I smile with relief, daydreaming class. I grin to myself.
I feel quite bad that after Enjolras has offered to be so helpful, almost all thoughts on him have been vanquished. He just appears to be so awfully boring compared to Marius.
Maths is over, so now it's time for P.E. I give a sarcastic whoop.
I get my P.E. bag from my locker and rush into the P.E. Hall's girl's changing room, not wanting to be late. I get out of the changing room and almost walk into Marius again.
"We've got to stop meeting like this," I smirk.
"I don't know, I quite like it," he says. I can feel myself going bright red. "But it was most definitely your fault this time," he says with a huge grin.
A give a mock, over-dramatic gasp and playfully punch his arm, "It was not!"
Marius opens his mouth to reply, but is stopped when the coach blows hiss whistle and tells us 'miserable teenagers' to shut up and sit down. We all sit down in a semi-circle around him, like he commanded and he begins a very loud lecture. I sigh and Marius pokes my shoulder and does a huge fake yawn. I don't understand what the point in getting changed was for a lecture, but I don't say anything.
I scoff, holding in my laughter as Marius' failed attempts to make me burst out laughing.
The lecture finally ends and I get changed back. I am seriously starting to wonder if all of the 'lessons' today are just pointless lectures.
Next is lunch, which is longer than usual, because it's the first day back. I shyly walk into the crowded cafeteria and get in line to get some food. I look in my pockets for my money, I only have two dollars, I check the prices and see that I only have enough for either a bottle of cola or a bag of fries. The line is really long and I see Enjolras a little ahead of me.
I try to get his attention without drawing attention to myself from anyone else. "Enjolras," I hiss quite loudly, he turns around and smiles at me, motioning for me to come over.
"Hi," he says once I come over.
"Bonjour," I smirk. "So which of your little friends will I be meeting?"
"What if I describe some of them and you can choose?" he suggests.
"Okay," I agree.
"Well there's Grantaire, who is quite often drunk and is usually sarcastic, but he's a great friend and when he isn't drunk, he's actually very wise, he and my friend Marius are probably my closest friends. And Marius—"
"Oh I met Marius," I smile, "He's my locker neighbour," I add with a smirk. He laughs. "So what about Grantaire and Marius?" I ask. He nods.
We just make casual conversation about nothing important or meaningful until Enjolras gets to the front of the line. I see him pull out a ten dollar bill and order a cheeseburger, a bottle of water and a bag of fries, he walks out of line after he gets it, but waits for me.
I nervously bring out my two dollars and order a bottle of water, the lady working there gives me an odd look but takes my money and gives me the water nonetheless.
"Is that all that you have?" Enjolras asks, sounding concerned, when I walk over to him.
"Uh yeah," I reply, looking down.
"Aren't you hungry?" he asks.
"A little," I reply sheepishly.
We both sit down at a table and he passes me his burger. I try to decline, but he says that if I don't eat it, it will just go to waste. I'm stubborn, so I refuse at the start and the burger sits at the middle of the table.
Enjolras sees me eyeing the burger and smirks, "Eat it, Ponine," he says.
"Ponine?" I ask, confused at the nickname and wanting to change the subject.
"Oh uh sorry.."
I laugh, "Not it's okay, I quite like it."
"Then eat and stop changing the subject," he insists.
My stomach rumbles at that exact moment and I eventually give in and quickly grab the burger and dig in. "You're so stubborn Enjolras," I say, not being able to help the smile that escapes my lips.
"Why thank you, Ponine."
"You're welcome…" I pause, trying to think of an annoying nickname for him, "Enjy."
"Enjy?" he asks, "Well okay Eppy."
I give him a playful glare and he goes to get Grantaire and Marius.
"Bonjour Mademoiselle," the man who I'm guessing is Grantaire greets, kissing my hand.
"Hi, Grantaire," I say, trying not to blush, even though I know that he doesn't really mean it.
Enjolras sniggers when he sees the fake hurt look on Grantaire's face.
We all arrange to meet at a café called the Café Musain later today after school, it's lucky that I know where it is. We all sigh when lunch ends and we have to go to class, but my next class is with Enjolras and he seems to be showing his personality much more and he reminds me of Gavroche in a way. I'm glad that I have such good friends already.
I know that it's more M/E now, but sadly Eponine loves Marius at the start and then he sees Cosette and turns into a *******
Marius: I do not!
Eponine: Sure you don't *rolls eyes*
Cosette: Well who wouldn't over me? *Gives sickeningly sweet smile*
Eponine: *Cough* Most people *Cough*
Cosette: Oh my! Do you need some cough drops? *Hands her cough drops*
Marius: See Ponine? Isn't she PERFECT?
Eponine: No, she's turning into Joly. Right Enjolras?
Enjolras: *Hums and tries not to get involved*
Eponine: RIGHT ENJOLRAS!?
Enjolras: Fine, Cosette is annoying!
Cosette: *Sobs*
Marius: But she's PERFECT!
Me: Okay that's enough. *Locks them back in closet* Uh bye!
Enjolras: Help us! She locked us up and-
Me: Shush! Bye bye!