Happy Barricade Day, mes amis! This is my first barricade day as a Mizzie! ^^ I'm so excited, so here's my Barricade Day update. Today is the day Eponine, Bahorel, and… someone else, I think…die. Excuse me while I die inside. *hugs Bahorel* Devious Azelma is devious.
Randomcat100: I'm so glad you liked the chapter! I'm also glad I'm subconsciously including three of your five favorites. I don't think Javert will show up in this story too much, if at all, but Gavroche will make an appearance or two – just for you, mon ami!
ConcreteAngelRoxHerHalo: I'm glad you think it's realistic. And I know what you mean! Thankfully the email updates started working again, but for about two days, I wasn't getting ANY FanFiction updates and it was making my soul die! ): Glad it's back!
BroadwayActingChic15: I will continue, you don't you worry! ;) Glad you love it.
Weeping-willows18: Glad you loved it! ^^ And don't worry; I love Eddie, and I think he's a lovely singer/actor/person, but his face does look like a foot to me. You're not alone!
SleepingwithinWater: Thank you so much, and I'm sure you're awesome at wording actions. Don't doubt yourself. And thank you for your constructive feedback via PM.
Theatregirls2317: Thank you so much! I actually thought I was sorta putting her out of character, so that really means a lot to me!
Guest: You're probably right, but I had to take some liberties with this story. Hence the term "FanFiction." And I'm glad you liked it!
Camilla Peterson: Thanks so much! ^^ I'm really glad you like it!
Aline: I WILL continue! Thank you so much!
JCBoLt: Oh, I'm so glad you like it! Thank you! I will continue it for the children!
XXX
Azelma listened to her sisters talking in their bedroom as she sat in the garden, weaving a chain of daisies. She was rather unsurprised to hear of Cosette's innocent – if rather rash – infatuation. It wasn't as if her honorary sister wasn't smart. No, it wasn't that. She was just so… so… good. Innocent and pure and ever so naïve. She was quite intelligent, though admittedly, she did seem to use most of her knowledge to write silly love poems or find ways to get closer to God. God is all fine and well, Azelma thought, but if Cosette and Papa make me spend one more second in church, I'll explode! The thought was slightly humorous, and Azelma allowed herself a quiet giggle. She quickly quelled it though, when 'Ponine's next words floated from the open window: "I will go to one meeting with you, and no more."
Azelma stroked her chin thoughtfully. This "meeting" business sounded quite interesting. Something new and exciting in her sheltered, safe life. Of course, the fifteen-year-old was eternally grateful to Papa for rescuing her from the hellish life she had known before. She wasn't sickly, sallow, or bruised anymore, but good God was she bored. Cosette had her charity work and 'Ponine was always slinking off to God-knows-where, so the pretty girl was often left alone. Life could have been more interesting, to say the least.
But the Amis de L'ABC that 'Ponine talked about sounded quite exciting. Azelma decided to make her move. She abandoned her half-finished daisy chain and entered the house, leaning against the doorframe with crossed arms and a smirk. She saw her sisters hugging – 'Ponine looking quite uncomfortable – and grinned, waiting for them to notice her. When they did, Cosette blanched.
"Oh… 'Zelma. I-I didn't realize you w-were here," she stuttered. "You-you heard everything?"
Azelma smirked again. "I heard everything, 'Setta," she said. "And I promise I won't tell Papa." At Cosette's relieved look, Azelma gave a devilish grin. "That is, if you take me with you."
Eponine glared at her younger sister. "Azelma Thénardier-Jondrette-Valjean!" she snapped. She said it so fast that it sounded almost imperceptible. "You are not going to this meeting. It is for adults, not bored young girls who want a bit of excitement in their lives!"
Azelma was taken slightly aback, but didn't show it. Instead, she twirled a ringlet and shrugged. "Whatever you say, dearest 'Ponine… I suppose I'll just tell Papa, then," she said innocently.
Cosette blanched. "No! No, 'Zelma! Please don't tell Papa! You can come, you can come!"
Azelma grinned. "Thank you!" she said with a wink, and sauntered back inside.
XXX
The three girls trouped through the streets, Azelma clad in rusty red, Cosette in pale white, and Eponine in green. When they finally got to a nice little café – the Musain – the three girls were almost hesitant to enter. Finally, 'Ponine got tired to her sisters' antics and shoved her way into the Café. She yanked her sisters inside, and asked a plump woman at the counter where she might find Les Amis de L'ABC. The woman quirked an eyebrow and pointed to the backroom.
"You three mistresses, then? Maybe of M. Courfeyrac or M. Bahorel?" she asked rudely.
Cosette's pale cheeks pinkened. Azelma burst into laughter. Eponine just glared.
"But there's three 'a ya, so I'd bet M. Grantaire is one a yers, non?" the woman continued.
"That will be all, Madame," Eponine snapped, ushering her sisters into the backroom. She calmly surveyed the scene. There appeared to be ten boys, but her eyes only found one. A brown-haired, bespectacled young man with the kindest eyes she had ever seen. They locked eyes from across the room.
At this moment, Azelma was experiencing the exact same thing… with a sun god. Her mind was reeling yet blank at the same time, her brown-eyed gaze caught in the mesmerizing glance of a young blonde man. He crossed his arms and stared at her, looking somewhat confused.
And of course, Marius and Cosette were caught in some sort of time warp-like, impenetrable bubble of love at first sight.
This was interrupted by a bark of laughter from Courfeyrac. He sidled up to the young men and women with a smirk, throwing an arm around Eponine and Combeferre. "Well, bonjour ladies. I assume the blonde lark here is this Cosette that Marius has been talking about." He looked to Eponine. "I've seen you around, mon cher. Who are you?"
Eponine grunted and threw Courfeyrac's arm off of her. "My name is Eponine Thénardier-Jondrette-Valjean, and you?"
Courfeyrac laughed. "What a name! Thénardier-Jondrette, you say?" He tapped his chin. "I believe I've seen your family around town. Are you related to… Gavroche, by chance?"
"Gavroche?" Azelma and Eponine breathed at the same time.
"We haven't seen our brother in ten years!" Azelma cried, breaking her gaze with the handsome student.
"Well here he comes now!" Courfeyrac grinned.
