A/N: I know it's taken a while for me to update, but thanks so much for the kind reviews- they really motivate me to keep going! If you like this chapter don't hesitate to leave your thoughts, and thanks again for reading :D

'You want to help?' Enjolras repeated. He wasn't so much shocked as intrigued. Eponine nodded solemnly. They were in the courtyard- she had just managed to catch him in between classes- and he put a hand on her arm and gently ushered her out of the throng of students so they could speak in peace.

'What changed your mind?'

Eponine chose her words carefully. 'Well, I'm on the same side of politics you are, and… I was reading our history book last night. I just really don't want this to fail like the uprising did.'

She knew she sounded stupid, and cursed herself for it. But Enjolras was nodding, looking at her now not as another student, but as a recruit.

'And you would risk expulsion?'

'The outcome of this rall- plan will be of far more value than my place here at school. I'm willing to take that risk.'

The corner of his lips twitched, as if poised to unfurl into a proud smile. 'You know we'll be meeting up a lot? You'll really dedicate yourself to this?'

She tilted her chin up. 'Of course.'

And it wasn't a lie. She would do anything for a better future.

Enjolras relaxed and smiled, and she felt as she had been handed the sun. There was so much acceptance in that simple act of smiling, and she had never really been awarded such a gift from anyone other than Marius. It felt nice.

'Alright, well how about you give me your number and I'll let you know where we go from here,' Enjolras suggested, whipping out a sleek blackberry.

Eponine faltered. 'Uh, I don't… I don't have a phone.'

'No phone?'

Her imagination was failing her today, so she went with a shrug. 'Can't afford one.'

'Ok, in that case can you come to the Cafe Musain after school today? It's just around the corner.'

'I know the one.' She had often walked past and hoped to catch Marius' eye in the window. It was where he, Enjolras and the others seemed to hang out all the time.

'Great. I'll explain everything to you and my friends.'

She nodded once more. 'Yeah I'll be there, see you then-'

But he was already amongst the wave of students heading back inside; the bell had rung.

Eponine's bag was heavy with homework as she walked from school to the cafe. She was glad she didn't have a shift tonight, because who knew how long she'd spend with Enjolras and his friends? She was feeling several ways at once- excited for the project, nervous about what Enjolras' friends would think of her, and she didn't even want to consider how she felt about Marius. The cafe came into view and she almost considered turning back. It was an old style one- not one of those modern-polished-floor-and-plastic-table types; it was classic in that it was dimly lit, and there was always someone tinkling on a piano in the corner. It sat secluded in a discreet lane way, but the building itself was large, like it had presence.

Taking a deep breath, Eponine opened the heavy front door and entered, immediately relieved at the warmth inside. Enjolras was wearing his trademark red and she spotted him straight away. He had his back to her, and was discussing something with a pair of his friends.

They hid their surprise and nodded, smiling, as she took a seat at their table.

'Welcome,' Enjolras greeted her warmly.

Eponine didn't know the names of the others, and managed a timid hi. She felt awful; they had been in the same grade for five years and now, in their final year, she still didn't know anything about them. She often wondered what high school would have been like if she had more friends- it probably would have been more fun. But she knew she couldn't get too close to people without them confusing friendship with charity. To her classmates she was 'the Thernadier girl' or 'Marius' friend' and the impression she gave people was probably very cold and very distant. She prayed the boys here had no such pre-conceptions.

Enjolras seemed to sense her uneasiness. 'We're just waiting for a few more before I break the news. Courfeyrac and Combeferre here want to know now, but I'd rather only have to explain things once.'

'Enjolras persists in being mysterious,' one of them joked, grinning.

Eponine was trying to think of something witty to say when Grantaire arrived, and slumped into a chair. His curled hair lent him the constant aura of dishevelled apathy; Eponine was slightly fascinated by him. He didn't seem to have a care in the world, and she wondered if she'd ever be fortunate enough to have that option. Not that it was an attractive lifestyle to her.

'What's this then?' asked Grantaire, though he didn't seem desperate for an answer.

Enjolras opened his mouth to reply when a larger group arrived. Eponine counted: one, two, three four… how many people did Enjolras trust?

They added another table to theirs and everyone assumed their seats. Down the opposite end Eponine recognised Joly from history, who'd made casual conversation with her briefly throughout the years (he was so friendly) and Bahorelle, who she'd seen walking home in the same direction as her.

Enjolras scanned the faces and nodded, lost in thought. 'I can fill Marius in later,' he muttered, before announcing: 'Thanks for coming everyone. You probably already have some idea what this is about…'

'We know it's political,' Courfeyrac joked, and a snicker circulated the table.

Enjolras nodded, but did not smile. 'You know me well, but in all honesty this isn't a signed petition or a quick letter to an MP. What I'm planning is much bigger… and it's serious.'

'You know we're in,' Combeferre said solemnly.

Their leader shook his head. 'I'm planning a student rally. If it works, it will launch our political influence. If it fails, we'll be expelled,' he looked at each face intently, appealing to every one of them. Eponine held his eyes when he came to her, and already she felt part of something life-changing. 'Now I need to know if all of you will be willing to take that risk.'

There was a silence as the idea was considered. Eponine thought they'd all be surprised, but they didn't seem particularly phased. It was almost as if they had expected Enjolras to take his politics to higher lengths at some point or another.

'Well, I'm prepared to make sure we don't fail,' Combeferre said, his voice steady. Others were nodding, all eyes were on Enjolras.

'If it means an end to this government, count me in,' a voice said. Bahorelle, Joly and Feuilly gave their verbal agreement.

'As am I.'

'And I.'

'Yes, me too.'

Eponine was overjoyed: she couldn't believe they had all agreed, and knowing full well what the repercussions might be! As their school was the prestigious type, she had assumed the guys, like the girls, had only materialistic concerns. Yet here all these students were, pledging to a political cause and seeming so well-informed for their age. She felt bad for making presumptions about them. And the more people joined, the more confidence she felt that they would succeed.

Enjolras proceeded to tell them his plans about getting others involved while keeping the whole thing undercover.

'We could hold student nights here at the cafe,' Joly suggested. 'Then inform them of what's going on.'

'As long as no one blabbed at school,' someone else countered.

Widespread discussion unfolded, enveloping them all. Eponine felt her ideas were inadequate, so she just listened.

After a while, Marius entered and she felt her heart leap. Thank god he didn't bring Cosette.

Enjolras pulled him aside and she saw him speaking seriously, before Marius grasped his upper arm and nodded. Marius was in.

The group was getting more and more animated about the whole thing, and naturally Grantaire had ordered a bottle of wine for the table.

After a good hour or so of planning, they were onto a third bottle and the political meeting dissolved into a sort of social thing. Eponine considered leaving, but the wine had given her a nice feeling of content. Plus, she liked these people.

Marius hadn't even noticed she was there, for he was down the other end of the table staring vacantly into the distance. All of a sudden he was thrown into the spotlight by Combeferre.

'Marius what's wrong today? You look as if you're daydreaming half the time.'

A few laughed, and Joly offered him a drink. 'Have some wine and say what's going on?'

Marius shrugged, a slow, sheepish smile on his lips. 'I…I think I'm in love.'

This caused quite an uproar. Eponine however, felt her whole body stiffen.

'Marius in love at last?' Grantaire teased. 'I've never heard him ooh and ahh!'

The others laughed. 'It's better than a soap opera!'

Eponine didn't think she could take it anymore. She wasn't as tipsy as the rest of them, and the slight buzz she had only added to the emotional knot forming in her chest.

'You don't understand,' Marius was saying to his friends. Eponine didn't understand. He met Cosette like three days ago! How can he say he's in love?

'I feel like… my soul is on fire,' she heard him say. With an abrupt screech of her chair Eponine stood up. The table turned to stare and she ducked her head, slung her bag over her shoulder. She had to get out.

'Hey Ep! I didn't realise you were here!' She heard Marius call after her.

The night air was cool and Eponine felt she could breathe again. The stars were streaking like watercolours; she tried desperately to blink the tears away.

'Heading off?'

She jumped at the voice. Enjolras was leaning against one of the front window panes. Eponine hadn't even noticed him slip out.

'It's not really a meeting anymore,' she joked lightly, even though she felt ready to stab someone.

He grimaced apologetically. 'Yeah, sorry about my friends… they really do care about this stuff, but they also care about… wine.'

His laughter was soft.

'And love, it seems.' Eponine consciously omitted any bitterness from her words.

'We have a few romantics,' Enjolras conceded.

'I'm guessing you're not one of them?'

'No,' he said with a brief smile. 'I have bigger things to think about.'

Eponine found herself nodding. 'Me too.'

In the moonlight, he almost looked like a parisian statue- one of those ones made to glorify a French war hero. 'I think we're alike, you and I,' the lips uttered.

Again she found herself nodding, not because she believed it, but because she desperately wanted to.

As she walked home, the stars were in focus and her thoughts as crisp as the night air.

Now there is I higher cause, she thought. In the scheme of things, Marius really shouldn't matter at all.