I stood outside on the lattices kicking and shoving the board in. I got many splinters on my fingers but I didn't care. I kept pushing and kicking but it wouldn't move. I took short breaks and kept going, I did this for many hours until I saw the first sign of dawn. Then I saw Father coming out to the apple tree. I crawled up the lattice and onto the roof, I was careful where I stepped considering the roof was not the best. I looked over the street and there was Marius talking to Azelma. He looked up and saw me I knew it. He pointed me out to Azelma and she put her hands on her hips. They didn't yell or shout, they knew I didn't want father to know I was here.

I scrambled back to the other side of the roof where Father stood at the top of the lattice.

"So you've decided to come back?" He said slyly.

"No-"

"Then why are you here! You've got that rich boy! What did he dump you? Did he leave you behind?" He laughed and leaned up close to my ear, "Did he leave you for being in rags?"

"NO!" I shoved him and then spit at him. He grabbed my arm and twisted it and I screamed. Pain shot through my entire arm, it felt as if my skin were on fire. I leaned back and fell off the roof, Father laughed hard at his daughter falling, falling to her death. I closed my eyes and reached in front of me and by a miracle I grabbed the lattice. I opened my eyes, I had somehow gotten my hand tangled in the ivy on the lattice! How unreal is that! I was for sure to die! I was! Oh God must've heard me!

"EPONINE!" Azelma screamed. My arms and legs felt like jelly. I could hardly maneuver myself down. I did, however, quite slowly and carefully. I finally hit the ground where Azelma wrapped me up in a hug.

"What were you thinking? You knew Father was out for you! Why would you go to all the trouble? You could've died!"

"I was hiding from him up there in the first place!" I said quickly.

" 'Ponine," Marius said touching my arm, and again electricity ran through my veins, "Please be a girl sometimes!" He laughed and hugged me. He hugged me! I was wrapped in his embrace for one long second and he let go, "Lets go home."

"Actually." I said quietly. Marius stopped and turned back towards me, "I don't want anyone to give me financial support." I paused looking for words, "I think that if Azelma is married and I have yet to find a man. Well, doesn't that leave me to live on my own. I believe Monsieur Marius that people believe that we in fact have Wed and I don't want it to hurt your reputation. I believe that I should live on my own, of course still seeing you each day."

Marius looked at me kind of funny, "Have I done something?" He murmured.

"You are willing to fight in the barricade. Well this is a way of supporting you I guess. I'm giving you a sort of freedom, per say. I feel like I have said some things in these days that have hurt you. I think me leaving your care would be best. You are my best friend and always will be, I want you to be happy." He let his head fall and then he looked back up at me.

"Alright Eponine. I will let you do this." He smiled a little and we walked back to his apartment.

He went into the apartment and I stayed outside in the warm spring air. Summer was right around the corner, we were entering the month of June. I smiled solemnly at the sun. I was all alone again.

I began walking into the darkness of the night. Each star came out and sparkled. I smiled and thought of Marius and I laying in the grass. I remembered my fever and how he cared for me. Now I was merely a friend nothing more. I passed Azelma's new house and I watched as Gavroche and the two other boys find shelter in an old statue. I walked through Paris, rethinking the entire day. Finally I was back at Cafe Musain. I we t to the back of the shop and under a old table is where I slept. I slept peaceful on the stone as if I had slept on it my entire life.

Marius brought me food each day around noon. He would retreat to small talk rather than our usual conversations.

"Where do you sleep, Eponine?" He said staring out the window of the ABC Cafe meeting room.

"I've found a suffient area." I smiled and he kept on watching the window, "Marius, why all this small talk?"

He looked over to me and sighed, "I have been thinking about being in love. How you say people believe we have wed. What if I do not find a woman? What shall I do? Shall I grow old alone? What if I find one and die in the Barricade? Would I ever forgive myself? What I am trying to say is, am I making all the right choices?"

I stared at him with kind eyes when inside I was dying, he just stared at me, "Marius what girl could not love you? You are wonderful! Such a wonderful man! You are sure to find a girl." I smiled and looked out the window, "She's waiting right here." I whispered so that only I could here. He stared at me with his bright green eyes and pushed his fingers through his dark hair.

"Thank you 'Ponine." He turned around and left the room. I stared out the window and felt the tears pour down my face. I turned around a fell to the floor and sobbed. I cried for him. I cried for me. I cried for my will to live. I cried for everything.

"No." I said, "It's my life. I'm going to be strong now. I'm on my own." I wiped tears from my cheeks and went into the alley. My Father was walking towards Cafe Musain. I fell under my table and pulled to old table cloth over my face and peeked through the rip.

"Oh c'mon the money first! I'm going bankrupt and it's all because of the ruggad little brat! People see that!"

"Your own kid did that to your little inn?" The other man said with a laugh, "The little girl that was always around her father? The one that helped run the business."

"Your right, dammit. And she's running through Paris with Pontmercy's grandkid."

"Your kidding me! You gotta make up with her if you get married into that family Thenardier you'd be beyond rich! They're all lawyers! It's destiny!

"No she's gonna be dead." He pushed the man ago at the back door of Cafe Musain, "You want me to get to LaMarques. I'll make you a generous deal, you give me half of the original deal. Then find her and bring her to me." He paused, "And the boy." Then they were gone.

I got up and ran to Marius apartment. He answered and stared at me.

"Eponine?" He said.

"You can't see my father. You can't! He'll kill us! The roof incident ruined the inn!"

" 'Ponine. I will. Now go to your home. I will see you tonight—"

"Tonight?"

"An emergency meeting." He sighed, "Enjolras won't say why. I will see you after dusk." He shut the door. I took a deep breath and ran back onto the street.

When I was young, I was known to be just like my father. Smart and witty with a rather strong independence. I looked like my mother though, with long dark hair and dark eyes.

I was daddy's girl. I knew how to trick people and steal. I also knew exactly where every man kept his francs. I also knew all to well how to get the money. I was quick and naive when I was younger but as I grew up I realized what father really did. He lied and cheated people. That's when my independence showed all to well and now I'm walking Paris night to night.

I was good at remembering where I had been and where everything was. I was even better at remembering where stores kept crates of fruit unlocked. I knew where the prettiest houses and gardens were.

I got under the table and laid back on the stone as the sun set. Cafe Musain was beginning to serve Alcohol. I listened to the heavy laughs of the drunk and rich men. I watched the alley grow darker and darker and then I saw Marius shoes peek around the corner. I got up and he saw me.

"A table is your place?"

"No. I was just waiting for you there." I said wiping dirt off my face. Gavroche was running up the stairs with the bartender after him. Courfeyac grabbed him and the meeting began.

"General LaMarque is ill. We shall meet at his house early morning to rally the people! VIVE LA FRANCE!" Enjolras yelled.

"TO THE BARRICADE!" Marius yelled.

"The people will sing all their freedoms and be heard!" a voice said.

"Like the drums of the Revelution!" Courfeyac added.

"They will hear us! We are the angry men now!" Voices piped up from each corner of the room.

"VIVE LA FRANCE!" they chanted. Gavroche was on Courfeyacs shoulders. He yelled with them, and he held a pistol in the air.

"Marius." I touched his arm. He grabbed my hand.

"I remember this morning all too well, but this is something I must do."

"I know." I murmured. He grinned and kept ahold of my hand, as if not wanting me to leave his side. He beamed at Enjolras, who was buying beer for the entire group. Enjolras smiled back and held his rifle in the air.

The group slowly settled down and Courfeyac, Grantaire, Enjolras, and Marius soon had one table to themselves. They began talking over tomorrow morning.

"Gather at the front of his house! While the rich are bringing their final gifts. They say he is losing it fast." Enjolras said.

"We shall meet here and make our journey. Be sure Gavroche leaves his pistol. There will surely be police." Marius put in.

"We will keep rallying until the guard shows his face." Courfeyac added.

"Will we need a chant?" Gavroche chirped coming back into the room.

"Mighty Gavroche of course!" Courfeyac laughed.

"Make a good one! We will need it!" Enjolras shook Gavroche's hand.

"Dusk. We shall meet here at dusk, and make our way there. I say we find an easy route." Marius said.

"Yes! But we only have tonight to learn the route."

"I know a route." I added from the corner, "It simple. Easy to remember."

"Eponine! You are too wonderful for words!" Enjolras said, "Will you give us fair lead at day break?"

"I guess I must." I murmured.

"Thank you! It means a new world!" He added. The boys smiled at the thought of a new world. Enjolras dismissed the meeting.

"Eponine!" Marius grabbed my hand again, "Thank you. I mean it."

"Anything for you." I smiled. He walked on to his apartment. Not even turning around to wave. I crawled under the old table and slept, without watching the stars.

"Regarder en bas et voir les mendiants à vos pieds Regardez vers le bas et faire preuve de miséricorde si vous le pouvez Regardez vers le bas et voir les balayures de la rue Regarde, regarde vers le bas, Lors de votre prochain!" They yelled over and over. I fought my way through the ever growing crowd. Gavroche must have struck gold with the chant. I watched as the carriages began passing by.

Marius woke me up, right as dawn was beginning. He brought me up to the meeting room and handed me a brush. I ended up braiding it then I led them to LaMarques house. The entire poor population in this side of Paris must have been here. It was horribly crowded, so crowded the bishop could hardly get through. I made it out of the crowd but crushed against a carriage. It was Azelma's. I hit the door, and her husband stared out giving me a harsh and disgusted look. Then I saw Azelma, who was listening intently to a comment he was making. She looked out at me and smiled.

"Open the door quickly! It's my dear sister!" I heard her shriek. He looked at me in shock. I then stared at Azelma, "Climb to my side!" She said. I got on top of the carriage and climbed over. She helped me in.

"What is Marius doing?" She stared at me. Her husband was still in shock at my appearance.

"It is time." I murmured.

"It will be alright. It is what God wants." She kissed my forehead, "Go! And visit me as soon as this begins!"

"I will try Azelma." I whispered and hugged my sister, "Nice meeting you finally Monsieur Jean." I hopped out of the carriage and made my way back into the crowd. I tore through and they continued chanting.

That's when the guard showed up. Marius and Enjolras came off the platform and Marius joined me. We tried to get to the front when an arm grabbed him. We both turned and his grandfather stared at him.

"Do you know what shame you are bringing to your family?" He yelled.

Marius stared at him and screamed, "VIVE LA FRANCE!" A new chant began as the people pushed against the guard. Enjolras and the boys went around telling people to come here tomorrow and bring their friends. Enjolras had such a powerful look, it was as if he had been through many battles before when he had never shot a gun. We began our slow retreat back to the house.