The cafe wasn't as crowded as it normally was on Saturday mornings, what with all the local college students looking for an escape from all their work. No, this morning, only Eponine and Courfeyrac's small group of friends were sitting around the tables, sharing their morning coffe.
"Courf!" A voice shouted, causing the group to turn their heads. They saw Enjolras and Grantaire sitting at a table for two, mugs of coffee placed in front of them.
"Grantaire! Enjolras!" Gavroche shouted running to the table and pulling another chair up.
Eponine and Courfeyrac chuckled as they walked to the counter to get their coffee, seeing as Gavroche was happily distracted.
"You've sure for your hands full, haven't you?" Courfeyrac asked with a laugh.
"Yeah, but he's a good kid." Eponine said, "For the most part. You know until I send him off to you, then he's in loads of trouble." Eponine teased as they walked back to the table to get Gavroche.
"Ok buddy, ready to go?" Courf asked looking at Gavroche
"Where are we going?" The boy asked
"Anywhere you want!"
Gavroche, who now had a mischievous look in his eyes, knew exactly where he wanted to go.
::
Eponine was pretty sure this place was the loudest place she had ever been in. Save maybe the cafe when all of Les Amis met for coffee and discussions. Of course Gavroche had to pick this place.
"Oh come on Ponine," Courf teased hitting her arm lightly, "at least pretend your having fun."
She could see Gavroche playing some loud game with lights all over it as tickets came flooding out of the bottom of the machine.
"I want to go to the arcade!" Gavroche had told Eponine and Courfeyrac with the biggest smile on his face.
"Sure," Eponine mumbled to herself, plopping down at a table "I'll have fun."
::
When Courf walked past Eponine again, he still saw her sitting at the table looking glum.
"Ok," he told her grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the booth, "you're going to have fun weather you like it or not!"
Eponine was pulled over to where the ski ball game was and Courf was smiling even bigger than Gavroche had this morning.
"Please tell me you've played ski ball before?"
"Never" Eponine replied with a laugh
"This should be easy then." Courfeyrac said looking at Eponine
"Is that a challenge?" She asked, hands on her hips. But Courf didn't reply. Instead he grabbed a ball and rolled it up the ramp into the hole labeled 500 points.
This should be easy.
::
"Beginners luck." Courfeyrac said crossing his arms as Eponine counted her massive pile of tickets.
"Hey, don't be a sore loser!" She laughed, "Where's Gavroche? We should probably be heading home." Eponine said looking at her watch.
Just then, Gavroche came bounding over, a fist full of tickets in his hand.
"Hey bud, ready to go?" Eponine asked
"Sure! Let me just cash in my tickets." Gavroche said going over to the prize table.
"Here," Eponine said handing her brother the pile of tickets she had won. "You can have mine too."
"Thanks Ponine!"
::
To Eponines relief, the three finally left that awfully noisy arcade. Eponine and Courfeyrac talked as Gavroche ran ahead of them, his giant stuffed gorilla on his shoulders.
"Thanks." Eponine said to Courfyrac, "I had fun."
"Me too." He told her smiling as they reached Courfs car.
::
It was pretty late after they had all decided to go out to eat after leaving the arcade. When they finally made it home, it was 7:30.
Courf carried a sleeping Gavroche into the house, followed by Eponine who had Gavroches new toy in her hand.
After placing Gavroche in his bed, Courfeyrac returned to the living room where Eponine was.
"Thanks again Courf." Eponine said "I'm really glad you could come with us."
"I'm glad I could come too." He said smiling
"I guess we'll see you later then."
"Yeah," Courf said walking to the door.
"Bye, Courf." Eponine said with a smile, standing by the door.
"Bye Ponine." Courfeyrac said bending down to kiss Eponine on her cheek and walking out the door.
Shocked, Eponine closed the door and placed her hand on her cheek.
She couldn't help but smile.
