You could be Happy

Chapter 2:

Nothing was louder than the sound of that plastic cup rolling across the studio floor, resting at expensive polished shoes, the young man bent down and picked up the cup. It was almost in slow motion the way his long legs carried him forward, his arms reached out and swept up a frozen little bird in his embrace.

"Eponine", there's nothing quite like the sound of gasps followed by silence, the young man began pulling away but never letting go, never again.

"let go...", the letters sounded so small and weak they could barely form the words, but the arms fell reluctantly.

"I feel like I'm going to cry… where did you go?"

"later…let's do this later... please Marius", taking a step back, Marius cleared his throat as he walked around Eponine to go to the director. She didn't know how, but Eponine's trembling feet took her to the corridor.

"You're full of surprises", the sudden sharp steely voice straightened her trembling legs.

"please don't",

"Is that how you got this job… by sleeping with boss", the fire that burned in Eponine's eyes, made her hand reach out and grab a clump of Enjolras' shirt.

"You really do have a disgusting way of speaking", grabbing her wrist, Enjolras yanked her arm and swerved her whole body pining her against the wall.

"You're really getting on my nerves... I should fire you", his cool eyes tried withstanding the fire in hers.

"err is everything okay?", both turned to see a bewildered Blake, Enjolras let go of Eponine's hand and backed off, before turning and heading back towards the studio, Blake slowly made his to her.

"ahhh I forgot to tell you the most important rule, don't get into scandal with your client, nothing ends a promising career and a peaceful life like not knowing your place", there was a sinister edge to Blake's voice that Eponine didn't appreciate.

"See you haven't changed Blake, still being uncomfortably threatening towards young women", Blake spun his eyes wide before laughing awkwardly.

"ha-ha ha, you're so full of jok-….and oh yes I'm coming Enjolras…they're calling me", the manager scurried away leaving Marius and Eponine alone in the corridor. Again, as if controlled Marius legs pushed him forward his arms sweeping Eponine into another embrace.

"I'm sorry I'm just trying to make sure you're real", Eponine sighed and her nose was instantly filled with his familiar cologne his warmth and all the terrible memories that came with them. She pulled herself out of his embrace.

"I didn't think we would see each other ever again",

"You've worked hard to make that happen… I've searched everywhere for you", Eponine finally forced herself look at him properly, she regretted.

"Why were you searching for me?", Marius rubbed his eyes.

"because of our history, it- "

"ended a long time ago", Marius pleading eyes were searching Eponine's.

"Not for me"

"It ended Marius, for both of us… in very absolute and final way, don't you remember?", Marius looked away.

"Maybe but I was curious…I wanted to know if there was even a 0.001% chance that we could start again. I was curious", Eponine laughed but that I'm too tired to cry, so please stop kind of laugh.

"I'm a criminal and you're the victim, why would you even want to, after all this time, what right do I….why? why are you being like this?", Eponine's voice was getting that tremble you get when your desperate heart has pushed your tears all the way back down to your throat begging you to swallow them.

"Because I don't know how to not find you beautiful", sighing deeply Eponine steadied herself.

"I know I don't have the right to ask, and I will spend this life living like a sinner, but promise that you'll treat me like a stranger from now on, if possible lets never meet again." Marius eyes met yours.

"If it was a promise I could make, I would. I'll try but I won't make that promise", with those words Marius walked up to Eponine placed his hand on her shoulders before carrying on into the studio.

It was too much as soon as she heard the door shut her knees gave up, and Eponine found herself on the ground and the tears she'd held for years finally came out, they fell fast tickling her pale cheeks, it was one of those life changing cries.

When the shoot was done Eponine was waiting outside the van, as Enjolras came towards her his eyes narrowed at the puffiness and redness of hers , taking the sunglasses from around his neck he calmly slid them on her face.

"People will think it's something I did. Wear these till you look like yourself", without waiting for a reply he climbed into his van she follow. The second Eponine sits he is leaning right in his nose almost brushing hers, he couldn't see how wide her eyes had become

"I don't like drama so end it quickly… go back to being a weird alien. Also if you call the way I speak disgusting one more time, I really will fire",

"You have a joint commercial with Yara in two hours, where do you want to go for lunch?"

"Did you not get to that bit in your research"

"I was watching your first movie again", Eponine watched Enjolras mouth crinkle weirdly.

"I barely remember it", Eponine leaned back in her seat.

"It was called Almosts… you were shining so brightly, even though it was a pretty sad movie"

"It seems you like sad things", Eponine ignored his statement

"what a silly thing to say, no one likes sad things, it's just sad feelings feel more real…happiness feels like a joke sometimes" Eponine trailed off "ahhh that actress was shining too, I really believed in your love, she should be as big as you…I wonder where she went", another on of those strange silences filled the van.

When they finally made it to lunch it was uncomfortably quiet, it had been that way since the van, Eponine didn't know what had happened, or what she could do, when they got to the next shoot Enjolras walked off to wardrobe and make up without saying a word. Eponine sighed she was so deep in thought she walked straight into someone, Enjolras sunglass fell to the floor.

"Watch where the hell you're going!", Eponine looked up to cold unwavering eyes, her own eyes widened in recognition.

"I'm sorry, I didn't me- ", a slap stopped her words short, Eponine was in so much shock she just stood their glasses in hand face burning.

"If I see you again, your life is over", the young woman flounced off, Eponine sighed and rubbed her face wincing. When Enjolras came out of makeup he found you standing a little dazed in the corridor, didn't take him long to notice your bruised cheek.

"The way I talk maybe disgusting, but you always look so pathetic", shaking his head he walked around you. Eponine followed him quietly as soon as she entered the studio, the young woman saw her.

"Make that girl leave, she's an eyesore", the whole room quietened as they followed her gaze, you froze, Enjolras laughed in disbelief. One of the managers came running over and started pushing you outside of the room, Eponine allowed herself to be pushed out of the room, the young manager sat with her in the canteen.

"I'm sorry, she's always like that", Eponine looked at the young fidgety woman.

"it's okay, I still like her", the two young women sat there chatting while their stars were shining brightly in another room.

Eponine stood outside waiting for Enjolras, when she felt a snowflake on her nose and smiled, she liked the snow.

"You're strangely cheerful for someone whose been slapped and pushed out of a room", Eponine jumped.

"I remember watching her when she first debuted, she looked so scared but her voice was the most beautiful thing I'd ever herd, I saw her first interview she talked about her tragic life with such a steady smile, but her eyes were crying...the truth is I'm one Yara's fans so I'm sad I met her like this…but still I'm happy I met her", Eponine looked out into the night the snowflakes lightly falling, as he stared something strange stirred in Enjolras' chest, he reached out his fingers grazing her cheek, Eponine turned her eyes widening, Enjolras other hand came up and he was cupping her face.

"Stop being so pathetic… it makes me want to protect you".

AN: Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging reviews, I'm glad you guys are feeling the story, my aim is 2 chapters a week, and as always reviews and criticism is always welcome .