Chapter three: Top of the Class
"What do you want for dinner tomorrow night?" Eponine asked flipping through a magazine.
"Eponine, I've lived here for three weeks now. You don't have to make a three course dinner every night."
"it's how she is mate." Graintaire said talking another drink.
"that's right! I love cooking." she walked over and took his bottle away, "I'm going to have to start rationalizing your money supply again. I thought we went through this before. You can't take up the bottle whenever you have problems."
"I'm not having problems. I just need a break."
She patted his back, "well old habits die hard and I will not let you fall again." she went over to the cabinet and stored the alcohol in there, "So no more alcohol. Not for a while at least." Graintaire huffed and puffed, "Don't give me that look, you know it's for the best."
"I don't know how you live with her Enjolras" he muttered.
He smiled, "Shes a damn good cook,"
Eponine put her hands on her hips, "Well I hope I'm good for more than that!"
Enjolras turned to Eponine and smiled, "Of course you're worth much more than that. Without you we all would die."
Eponine looked at the two of them suspiciously, "What do you want?"
Graintaire put his arm around Eponine, "Why Eppie, why would we want something from you? We merely have some news... We'd like to share with you."
"And that is?"
Both of the boys looked at each other, they waited for each other to speak before Enjolras finally said, "Marius has proposed to Cosette."
"And she said yes." Graintaire finished.
Eponine started laughing, "Well its about time! How long have they dated for? Three years?" she was now rushing to get her phone, when she did she speed dialed Cosette, "Hey congrats!" she laughed, "Enjolras just told me, but I have a question how did my marble statue of a roommate know about this before I did?"
"Well... I was waiting to tell you tonight. I want to ask you to be my maid of honor... We've been through so much and I can't think of anybody but you to help me get married!" Cosette told her
"Oh my God yes! I would love to be your maid of honor, what time are we supposed to meet?"
"In about an hour, that's when we're going to publicly announce it."
"Oh goody! See you there!" both of them stared at her, "What? This is exciting! Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Well... Marius is getting married."
"Oh please, I got over him ages ago! Cosette is my friend! I am happy for her! Plus I get to wear the second prettiest dress at the wedding!" she giggled, "Well come on, let's get ready! They're officially announcing it tonight, which means that we're going to be taking pictures, so Enjolras go and change."
"Why are you addressing me?"
"I don't know." she smiled, "Just to get you to talk, you're always reading those philosophy books!"
He shut his book, "Fine. I'll go change." when he came out wearing a blue button down Eponine looked at him for a while, "What?"
"nothing, I'm just thinking about how all of the ladies will fawn over you."
"They. They will not 'fawn' over me Eponine!" Enolras stuttered. His hands flew to his hair again. She laughed and grabbed her coat ushering her boys out of the apartment. They decided to take Enjolras's car because it was the only one clean enough to drive. The drive there was a peaceful silence, and when they arrived at the restaurant Cosette ran to Eponine and showed her the ring. It was full of diamonds, and one giant sapphire in the middle of it.
"Oh it's perfect Cosette!" she told her.
"Nice rock Bambi." Graintaire said.
Cosette laughed and hugged Graitaire, he returned the welcome by playfully kissing her on the cheek. He only did it to piss Marius off, which worked.
"Enough R." he said sternly. The others cracked a smile.
Cosette turned back to Eponine, "So as my matron of honor your first order of business is helping me choose dresses!"
Eponine laughed, "isn't it a bit early to do that?"
"Maybe, but I'm really excited! And we can go ahead and get your dress out of the way too!" Cosette was so excited about putting Eponine in a dress. None of the boys could remember Eponine ever dressing up, and Cosette was going to use her wedding as an excuse to force her to wear a dress.
"Speaking of the wedding." Marius said (more to the boys than the girls) "It took me a while, but I have decided who my best man will be."
They all stared intensely as Marius said, "Now I want all of you to know that it was difficult for me to decide, you're all my best friend!"
"Out with it boy!" Graintaire said.
Marius chuckled, "Enjolras?" he looked up at Marius, truthfully he had sort of zoned out when they had sat down. "will you be my best man?"
Enjolras was shocked, "Uh, yeah that would be awesome. Thanks man!"
The boys congratulated Eponine and Enjolras on their positions in the wedding, as well as the happily engaged couple. Then Cosette asked Eponine, "Hey, can we meet up at your place tomorrow? You have my big wedding binder and I need it back."
Eponine looked hurt, "Yeah I dont mind! That was a long time ago and I'm not going to need it for a long time." she laughed off.
Cosette grasped her hand, "Im sorry sweetie, don't think that. Its good that part of your life is over. You're much safer now."
"I know, it's still hard."
Enjolras began to ask Eponine what that entire conversation meant when a very pregnant Chetta walked in with Joly. He was watching her like a hawk, blinking every few minutes. He wasn't going to take his eyes off of his wife for anything. "Hello everybody, sorry we"re late! Mr. Worrywart over here over reacted... Again!" Chetta told everyone.
"I'm sorry if i just want you to be safe!" Joly said sitting her down.
"Which I appreciate, but you need to calm down mon amour." she kissed his cheek. Something Eponine always admired was how Joly would blush whenever Chetta showed affection. Even if it was the tiniest peck on the cheek his face would turn bright red.
"So anyway what's the occasion?" Joly asked, "it's a bit fancier than our normal place."
Cosette smiled, "We're getting married!"
Musichetta started clapping and congratulating Cosette, "oh this is so exciting! I'm so excited!"
"Chetta, amour, calm down!" Joly said worried. He turned back to Cosette and Marius, "Congrats you guys! Its about time!"
The rest of the night was filled with food and laughter before the engaged couple made their exit. They had to go and tell Marius's parents about their engagement. They had told Cosette's father over brunch earlier that morning. By the end of dinner Graintaire was too drunk to stand, Jehan and Courf offered him their couch for the evening. "Well I'll be getting Joly home, he's far too worried when I'm out of the house. I pray for our child. He'll never let it leave his sight!"
Joly pouted and took his wife's hand before she led him to the car. Soon it was just Enjolras and Eponine, "You ready to go home?" he asked.
She smiled when he called it home, "Yeah, let's go home."
"Can you believe that they actually fell in love at first sight?
"No i dont believe in that, I believe you can be infatuated with a person when you see them. But I feel like you need to get to know someone in order to fall in love with them"
"it's all about being attracted to qualities that draw you in."
"We are coming up with some excellent theories tonight my friend!" she laughed.
Enjolras helped her into her coat and they walked to his car, "That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." Enjolras admitted.
"See! Weddings can be exciting! And you say that you're never going to get married!"
"no no I didn't say that. I just said weddings were ridiculous. A small wedding would suffice."
"Well in order to have a perfect small wedding you have to find the perfect girl."
"And how do you suppose I do that 'Ponine?"
She stopped for a second and smiled at the little nickname he had given her, "By learning the ways of women, by a woman."
He hung his head and groaned, "Oh no not another one of your 'lessons'"
She playfully hit his shoulder, "Yes. I guess I should really just focus on you because you need it more than the other boys do." she giggled at his glare, "Well the best advice I can give you would be to be open. You're very hard to get to know. On some aspects. For instance I'm your flatmate and I still don't know a lot of things about you and I'm sure you know a lot about me. So if you do find a girl be very open and honest with her. You're spot on with honesty, but you're a bit too honest... Don't be so blunt bout it, be casual if something is wrong. Ok?"
He nodded, "Another rule that can just be for fun is creative. Girls love it when a guy goes out of their way to do something fun and creative for a date. Doesn't have to be the first date it can be like an anniversary or something. Always keep them on their toes, girls love surprises."
He pulled into the parking lot of the apartment complex, "I'll have the rest of the boys over a few more times in the next couple of weeks. I've been so busy lately with all of this school stuff. We're having standardized tests this week and it's completely frustrating!"
Then all of a sudden, Enjolras stopped in he middle of the hallway, "Eponine?"
"Yeah?"
"Who is that?" he pointed to a small shadowy figure curled up on their doorstep. Eponine dashed to his side to see if it was who she thought it was.
"Call Joly now." she said hysterically.
"Eponine, who is this?"
"My brother, Gavroche. And I don't know what's wrong with him. Call Joly now."
AN: yeah I lied and I know it's Sunday and I said Friday. Please forgive me. And I know that the first lesson was short and I hope the mini lesson was fine. It's just something I thought would make the story funny or something. I'm not sure. But yes Gav is here and I told you he would be showing up. And musichetta is just an OC that have been in a lot of stories. But I've never found her in the brick or musical. But I like her and I like Joly. And I'll explain why Graintaire is drinking again later.