Chapter 3

Eponine hangs up on me and I run downstairs to get my keys. "Enjorlas where are you going this late?" my mother asks. "Eponine needs my help I'll call you when I know what I'm doing" she doesn't say anything after that and she lets me go. Everyone in our group knows about her family, we just all choose not to talk about it. I get in my car and call Grant to let him know what happening I'm still on the phone with him when I pull up, I jump out of my car and up to the front door and when I walk in I don't like what I see. "Grant meet me at the hospital I have to go". Eponine has blood all over her, her leg is swollen and looks broken, and she has a gash in her head, which knows what else is wrong. I go over and I see she still has a pulse but she is unconscious. I pick her up and take her to my car a quickly run back upstairs to find Gavroche in his room under his desk so I lean down to him. "Enjorlas, I went downstairs but there was too much blood I didn't know what to do" "Gav listen to me its going to be ok, but I need you to come with me, pack a bag your going to be staying with me for a while". He just nods his head and I tell him to hurry and go to the car, I run to Ep's room and grab a few things before running to the car to find Gav already in the car. I quickly get in and start driving to the hospital. When I get there I run in and tell a nurse what happened and she quickly takes her back, I don't argue cause I know I can't do anything for her. Grant gets there with Courfeyrac and they take Gavroche to get food while I call my mom. "Hey mom we are at the hospital, I don't know the full extent yet but it was bad, I have Gavroche with me, I think they need to stay with us for a while" "That's fine dear, your father and I are fine with it, we understand. That poor girl has been so mistreated she deserves a good home. Ok well I'm going to let you go, I love you, let me know when your coming home and such" "love you too mom, bye" I hang up and right after a doctor comes out. "Are you here for Eponine" "Yes I'm her boyfriend" "Any immediate family" "Well her father did this, her mother is no where to be found, and I have her younger brother with me but he is in elementary school" "Alright I'll fill you in then, but before I do is she going to have somewhere else to stay when we release her" "yes she and her brother will be staying with me and my parents" "Alright, so she has a broken leg and several cracked ribs, unfortunately she also has a small concussion and some serious bruising all over her body. We would like to keep her overnight to make sure she is ok but she is awake right now of you would like to go see her" "Thank you so much, if you could have someone bring her brother back, you cant miss him he is with two guys my age, they are all really loud" the doctor laughs at this" ill have a nurse bring them back" "thank you" "of course".

I get to Eponines room and I open the door to find her on her side looking in shock. When the door opens she looks at me and smiles and I go over and sit next to her. "What happened?" I say grabbing her hand. "Gavroche broke some plates on accident. I told Gav to go upstairs and my dad got mad at me because the school called and said I showed up with bruises the other day, said I should try and hide all this now, then he punched my face and I hit my head on the table and he stepped on my leg and kicked me over and over again. I passed out and when I came to I called you and then I passed out again" after she finishes she is crying and I gently wipe her tears away as to not press on her bruised face. "Hey its ok, I got there in time, you have a new place to stay now, its going to be ok" "Enjorlas that's sweet but I don't want to intrude and even if I didn't feel bad, my dad can find us, he will hurt us or even worse you, I cant let that happen" " your safety is more important to me than anything else right now, just let me worry about it, you worry about getting better. Please stay with us, my parents worry about you two, it would make all of us feel better" "Fine, but only cause you asked so nicely" She smiles at me and I lean down and kiss her forehead just as Grant and Courfeyrac walk in with Gav, who runs over to his sister and carefully hugs her. "Ep I am so sorry, I broke the plates, that's why papa got mad". "No Gav its not your fault its papa's, he has such a terrible temper and he is never going to learn to control it. We are just lucky that Enjorlas got there when he did". I look down at her and smile and I realize maybe we should leave the pair alone for a little bit. "Hey Courf and Grant can I talk to you two outside real quick" "yeah". The three of us leave the room for about five minutes. "Alright so I need one of you guys to do my a favor and take Gav to my house tonight, I don't want Ep to be alone and they said I could stay as long as it was ok with my parents, which it is, so they are just waiting for one of you to take him over there". "Ill do it" says Grant. Courf pipes in "When do they think she will be able to leave". "They said they will release her in the morning and that she will need to take it easy over the weekend and if she feels up to it she can go to school on Monday". "So are you skipping school tomorrow" "Yeah, I may show up after lunch but it's not likely, I just want to make sure she gets settled and that she is ok". "Man Enjorlas who knew you could be such a great boyfriend, good for you" "Shut up Grant". "Has anyone heard back from Marius" ask Courf. "Last I heard he was on an amazing date with Cosette and didn't wanted to be bothered under any circumstances," says Grant. "And who said that" I ask. "He did, I called him to let him know what happened but he didn't let me get a word out and hung up" " I'm going to ring his neck next time I see him, One of his best friends gets beat up by her dad and all he cares about is some girl he is just getting to know, what a great guy" 'Calm down Enjorlas, you worry about making sure she gets better", he says pointing to the room "and we will handle Mr. Pretty boy for you, just trust us" Just then Gav comes out rubbing his eyes "guys I'm tired" I lean down and tell him that Grant is taking him to my house and the three of them walk away down the hallway. As I am walking back in the room I can see Eponine is about to fall asleep so I sit down next to her and tell her to go to sleep. "What are you going to do, you cant just sit in the chair all night" "Ill be fine just go to sleep" "come lay next to me, It's big enough for the both of us, Please it feels so empty" "Fine scoot over". She carefully scoots over and I lie down next to her and put an arm around her and she curls into me, for some reason this just feels right.

Eponine

When I wake up at first I don't know where I am, and then I remember what happened last night. I also notice Enjorlas isn't in the room but that is quickly fixed when he and his mom walk in, His dad must have taken Gav to school, they are too good for us. "Eponine I am so sorry about this, I mean I knew it was bad but I didn't know it was this bad, I'm so sorry dear"." Oh no its fine, well I mean its not fine but there was nothing anybody could have done to prevent it. I'm not even sure what to do about him now". Enjorlas pipes up at this point, "Just let us handle him, it will all work out." "Thank you all so much, I really never imagined having people like you guys in my life". Enjorlas's mother speaks again, "its no problem dear. So we have signed your discharge papers so we can take you back to our house now we need to get you changed though". I brought some of your stuff with me last night; it's in the backpack right here. I can help you up and stuff if you want" " yeah that would be great. Thanks". I go and change but not without out it taking a bit of work and then I go out and the three of us walk down to the parking lot, Enjorlas helping me after I refused a wheelchair. Enjorlas and I ride in his car and his mom follows us to the house and when we get there it hits me how tired I am. When we get into the house and I see the stairs and dread having to climb them. "I'm sorry but all the bedrooms are upstairs," says Enjorlas's mother. "Ill carry her up it's fine" he says back I tell him to be careful because of the ribs and he gently picks me up and sets me down when we get upstairs. "So being a swimmer pays off, " I say and we both laugh at that.

We walk into the bedroom and I see the big bed with the fluffy blankets on it and a sense of joy washes over me; I have never had anything like this before. "Enjorlas, this is too much" "don't worry about it, it's the guest bedroom, nobody uses it so now its yours" "What about Gav?" " We are sharing a room, I have always wanted a little brother so it works out great" I look over to him and I kiss him "You are perfect, I don't deserve you". "But see that's where you are wrong, you deserve everything in your life to go well for once, it's I who don't deserve you" I hug him but I forgot about my ribs so I cringe and he picks me up and sets me down in bed. "ok, here is the deal, If you are going to school Monday you do not get out of bed for reason except to shower and go to the bathroom, Gav and I will eat meals with you in here, there is a T.V. in here, we can have a movie weekend and hopefully you can go back to swim as soon as possible, Understood?" " Yes sir" I laugh at him. "Grant is bringing Gav home as well as our homework and I was thinking we could all do it together tonight and get take out" "sounds fine to me" " ok I'll be back im going to shower and grab some food, then we can watch some movies" "Ok, bring me some food would you please" "yes I would love to" He leaves and I lay down to take a little power nap and before I know it im out.