Enjolras didn't like living with the princess of the eleventh grade, but he did really like her house. He took some time to explore in the time before dinner that night. He insisted it was for recon for his plan, and not to see if the Valjean's had an indoor pool (Even though he really hoped there would be one).

Cosette had disappeared to somewhere or another. She wasn't in her room and that was what had made Enjolras wonder how many amazing places there were to see in the new house.

Enjolras's first response as he had emerged from his mom's car that afternoon was that the Valjean's lived in a castle. It had to be four stories tall and it was wide too. Fit for the mayor of the town, and that was because Jean was the mayor of the town. Bottom line: he was rich.

Most of the time, Enjolras hated rich people. Ones who always flaunt around their fancy purses and expensive watches. They always seem to think that they're better than people like Enjolras. He had learned about it in school, classism, it was called.

But after the brief conversation he had with his new stepfather, he had been convinced that Jean was not one of those people. His daughter? Maybe…

As Enjolras walked around the house he made sure to be really quiet. His mom and Jean were downstairs being all lovey-dovey. Even the thought disgusted Enjolras to the bone. He wondered how long that stage would last.

He stepped across a hallway and up a flight of twisty stairs. He opened the first door he saw and realized it was a whole workout room, practically a gym. It was complete with mirrors on the walls and a stereo for blasting music. The entire place was crammed with barbells and there was a treadmill and elliptical. Enjolras couldn't wait to try it out.

Snap out of it, Enjolras thought to himself, You're not going to be staying here for long.

He turned to look at the next room, but was drawn to something above. A thin chain hung from the ceiling that was in the center of a small door, Enjolras had one of these himself in his old apartment. He knew that if you pulled down the chain a the door would open, letting down a ladder that you could climb that could get you to an attic. Enjolras's old house was small which made for a small attic, but Enjolras wondered how big of an attic could fit in this castle.

He was about to pull the chain and find out, but then he heard his stepfather's voice from downstairs, "Cosette! AJ! Time for dinner!"

Enjolras sighed and started to make his way downstairs. He'd have to remind Cosette that he went by AJ when his mom was around. Enjolras was his school name only. It was what his dead dad went by so Enjolras was quick to make that his name at school. But when his mom was around he'd only go by AJ because he didn't want her to know that he wasn't over his father's death, even if he acted like he was.

Suddenly he heard a creak coming from up the stairs. Worried someone was breaking in, Enjolras ran back up where he had come from.

Just in time to see Cosette close the attic door behind her. When she turned around and saw Enjolras there, she looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"What were you doing up there?" Enjolras asked, off put from her expression.

"Just um… trying to find something in the attic." Cosette smiled shakily, "Nope, not there."

Enjolras was about to press more, but then his own mother called again to come down for dinner and Cosette raced by him down the stairs, her long blonde hair flying behind her. Enjolras trailed behind her, not really wanting to get to the dining room. Eating with everyone around the same table would be like eating as a family and Enjolras's family was just fine without Valjean and Cosette. Having dinner together was like sealing the deal that eventually Valjean was going to be Enjolras's father. No one could replace his dad. No one could even come close.

The dining room was a huge place on the first floor, just next to the entrance room. There was a big chandelier hanging from the ceiling, sending twinkly reflections from the glass all around the room. Enjolras compared it to eating in a fancy restaurant.

"What's for dinner, dad?" asked Cosette as she set plates around the table, she had arrived just a bit earlier than Enjolras.

"Chicken with grape tomatoes and fried basil." Said Enjolras's mom with a wave of his hand. She was bringing a dish to the table. Enjolras was aware of how good the air smelled.

"Woah." Enjolras gaped as he looked at the delicious food on the table, "You cooked something edible?" he asked his mom.

Cosette laughed and Mary's cheeks flushed.

"I cooked it." Voiced Jean Valjean as he walked into the room.

"Oh." Enjolras said. He didn't want to tell him how great the food looked or anything so he just stayed silent. He realized that he had no idea what to do. Cosette was setting the table, his mom was bringing over food, and Jean was attending to something on the stove. Enjolras realized he didn't know where the dishes were or where to sit at the table. The unfamiliarly of the Valjean's house put him on edge. Everything about it was well… different. It was darker than his apartment and it smelled like scented candles and it was just too big. All Enjolras wanted to do was run up to his new room that at least had his soccer ball unpacked. One thing that reminded him of home.

He decided to watch Cosette to see how she acted so he didn't do anything stupid. Cosette started walking to the kitchen and Enjolras followed after her. He watched as she grabbed a glass out of the cabinet next to the sink. Then she filled it up with water. Next she opened up the freezer and grabbed some ice out of an ice tray and dropped them in her cup. Enjolras mimicked her every move shortly after.

He watched as Cosette sat down at the head of the table, across from her father. She put her drink next to her plate and sat down.

"Cosette, maybe Mary could sit there now?" Valjean asked his daughter politely. Enjolras saw Mary blush behind his shoulder.

"But father," Cosette protested, "This is my seat!"

Jean sighed, "Now that Mary is here, you can take the middle seat between us. AJ you can sit across from Cosette."

As soon as Cosette found her new seat, she looked like she was hurt that her father didn't want her to sit at the head of the table anymore. It made Enjolras want to roll his eyes that she was acting like such a princess.

Once everyone was around the table, food was served, and the silence began. Before that Enjolras thought nothing was more awkward than trying to open a pull door by pushing on it for about a minute, then texting all your friends you're locked out (that happened when he was at a new school for travel soccer, no one let him live that down for months). But eating dinner with your new family that was forced upon you was definitely worse. Enjolras had a bunch of classes with Cosette, both were considered to be pretty smart and were in all the honors and AP classes, but Enjolras realized that he never really got to know the girl. And he'd never seen Valjean in his life.

"So." His mother started, "How are you, Cosette?"

"Fine, thanks." Cosette said quietly as she picked at her food. She must not feel hungry when she's nervous, but Enjolras kept shoveling food into his mouth, which was what he had always done when he was anxious.

"Good."

Then silence fell upon the group once again, until Valjean started talking.

"How's school for you, AJ?" asked the man.

"Pretty good." Enjolras said through a mouth full of food. Cosette slightly smiled, her first non-scowl of the day.

"I've seen you at a couple of soccer games already this season, you've got quite a talent for the sport." Valjean commented.

Enjolras made an effort to gulp down all his food, "Umph... thanks."

He hoped that his stepfather would just stop there and give up talking like his mother had, but Valjean was not deferred as easily.

"So what do you like to do other than play soccer?"

Enjolras shrugged, wishing he'd end the conversation, "I like to read."

"Reading is great!" Jean exclaimed, "What's you're favorite book?"

Enjolras raised an eyebrow, but his mom kicked him under the table, "I like reading about history, French revolution is my favorite." He said hurriedly.

Valjean clapped, "Well there's something you have in common with Cosette. She always loved the French revolution, she talked all about it when she was being taught it at school."

Cosette blushed, "Father, please."

Enjolras almost laughed out loud, who would of thought little miss princess would be such a history nerd. On second thought, who would of thought little miss princess would have anything in common with Enjolras.

But like it was his ultimate goal in life, Jean Valjean found dozens of things that the two new stepsiblings had in common. They both liked cookie dough ice cream, they both have blonde curly hair, they both hated baseball, and they both liked waking up early in the morning.

All those things were really stupid things to have in common, Enjolras had thought. It certainly didn't mean at all that they were meant to be best friends, which was what it seemed that Valjean was implying.

Then it was time to leave the table and Mary and Jean went to go chat somewhere or another. And just like that, Enjolras was back in his room dribbling his soccer ball back and forth, back and forth. Steady in rhythm, so calming that he could fall asleep right there. At least one thing could stay the same in this new situation, he thought. It was only 8:00, but Enjolras was seriously debating going to bed until he heard a knock on his door.

"It's open." Enjolras called, thinking it was his mom.

Instead Cosette stepped in to the room, her ever-present iPhone gone.

"What do you want?" Enjolras asked. He showed off a bit by spinning the soccer ball in the air before it fell neatly back on his other foot and the dribbling resumed.

If Cosette was impressed, she didn't show it.

"So we talked about a plan to break our parents up today…" Cosette started.

Enjolras then shot up from his bed and shut the door, "Let's not call that plan by what it is… how about Operation

"Well," Cosette started, "When does that whole plan start?"

Enjolras turned his head and actually looked at her for the first time that day. She seemed like a different Cosette than she was at school. Her hair was in a messy bun and there were dark circles under her eyes. Was her mascara smeared? It appalled Enjolras that Cosette would cry over something like this. She must really have been bothered about the whole new family thing. It seemed like Cosette was really close to her father, was she crushed that he didn't tell her about his fiancé?

A new feeling surged through Enjolras. Something he had never felt before. It was a complete overwhelming desire to protect this girl from any harm that could come to her. He shook the feeling from his head; he was starting to act like an older brother. Where did that come from? Thought Enjolras, I'm going to leave as soon as possible. I'll never be her older brother and I wouldn't want to anyway. He convinced himself.

"It'll start soon." He said as he returned his gaze to his soccer ball, "Do you have a really close and trustworthy friend? Because we're going to need some help."

Cosette nodded, "Yes, Eponine. She's been my BFF since first grade."

Enjolras hardly knew Cosette's friend. He thought they had been in some grade school class or another, but they'd never really talked to each other. She seemed nice enough, though, so Enjolras was fine with it.

"Alright then," Enjolras agreed, "Ask to have her over tomorrow and I'll bring Marius. We'll work from there."

Cosette nodded again and this time Enjolras noticed she sniffled. She excused herself and went back to her room.

Enjolras sighed out loud. So many conflicting thoughts swirled around in his head, but he was too tired to sort them all out. At least now he had a tiny formation of a plan rooted in his mind. And with that, he pulled off his shirt and slid under the blankets of his new bed. Everything about it felt wrong, but Enjolras pushed the sensation away and slowly fell asleep.