"Whoever came up this was a genius."
"I have to agree." Cosette giggled lightly as she and Eponine walked down the busy street.
It was Saturday afternoon and they had stopped for frozen yogurt, courtesy of Cosette – Eponine tried to protest at first but Cosette persisted, and as stubborn as she was, she could not resist the frozen goodness that was fro-yo. Cosette had begun attending West End only a week or so ago but she and Eponine had been fast friends, maybe because in a way they needed each other. Cosette didn't know a single person coming in and Eponine liked having a girl for a friend, the first few times they had hung-out Eponine had this awkward feeling inside of her, it came from knowing that she had known Cosette before, in a time long ago.
It was years ago, Cosette had been Eponine's neighbor and her mother Fantine asked the Thenardiers to take care of Cosette while she worked, eventually she had to move due her having to find a job but she begged them to let Cosette live with them which they complied to, but while Fantine believed that Cosette was being taken care of well, in reality she was treated like dirt by the family. Eponine's parents had forced her to clean and act as a servant to them, she was given hand-me downs that were never the right size and she was always dirty, the Thenardier children in the meantime were spoiled to a t; they always got the best clothes and toys. At first Eponine and Azelma played with Cosette and shared somewhat but soon afterwards their mother scowled them and warned them not to play with her, she was dirty and unworthy, this then caused a lot of teasing on Eponine's part, at first she just did it to please her mother but given time she had enjoyed it too. At that point in her life things had been great, however things changed after Cosette's "father" came to rescue her; when Cosette left she took Eponine's luck with her. Within a year of Cosette's departure her family had gone broke, they lost everything and they never got anything back. Now Cosette was the one in the best clothes with the best things and Eponine was the one who was a servant in her own home and owned nothing that was her own. While the entire awkwardness of the events kept playing through Eponine's mind when she first started being friends with Cosette, the feelings quickly faded as she actually enjoyed having Cosette as a friend. The more she hung out with Cosette meant the less time she had to be home; her home, if you could call it that, was barley a home to her at all, her parents had turned into brutes over the years and they cared very little for their children, and their home was not always safe, especially when her father was in the mist of hatching a plan.
"I mean honestly think about it; frozen yogurt, its tastes better than ice cream yet it is a hell of a lot healthier." Eponine stated as she took another bite.
Cosette giggled again, "Well I doubt it is all that much healthier considering yours is drenched in syrup and covered in candy."
Eponine stopped walking and looked at Cosette awkwardly, not really knowing how to comeback. Cosette laughed which caused Eponine to roll her eyes and stuff another spoonful of yogurt in her mouth.
"Oh like you're always right."
"Well…"
"Either way it's still delicious." She stated, cutting her off.
"I'm going to have to agree with you there."
"Who wouldn't?"
"People without taste buds?"
Eponine laughed, when she wanted to Cosette could be one of the funniest people, even if she didn't know it.
The two girls kept walking, laughing at little things on the busy street and only stopping when they saw a few street performers sing and dance for a large crowd. As they watched Eponine felt her phone vibrate in her back pocket. It was a text from Marius.
Hey 'Ponine what's up?
She quickly responded; Nm just hangin out w/ a friend
Who?
No one you would know, she just moved here
She?
Yea, did you think that you guys were the only friends I had….Eponine paused for a moment, Marius was one of her only true friends, the reason she knew everyone else was because of him, he brought her into his group. Without him she would be attending school full of strangers. She was taken out of her trance by Cosette poking at her shoulder and then pointing at something the performers were doing. Eponine smiled warmly before turning back to her phone. Anyway I g2g, ttfn…she added before locking her phone and sliding back into her pocket. The girls watched the performers a bit more before continuing on.
It was silent for awhile before Cosette began talking, "So tell me about yourself."
"Huh?"
"Tell me a little something about you. Like your family, other friends, interest."
"Well, I...um…." Eponine was at a loss for words; her history wasn't really something she wanted to share with anyone, especially Cosette. She decided to go the safe route, "I'm the oldest of three, you've met Azelma but I also have a younger brother named Gavroche."
"How old is he?"
"10." She said flatly, pondering a moment before going on, "My best friend is Marius Pontmercy he is a junior like us."
"Was he the one you were texting earlier?"
"Oh you saw me doing that." Cosette nodded, making Eponine blush a bit, "Yea that was him, we have been friends since freshman year. He is pretty nice and fun, I'll have to introduce you to him sometime."
"I'd like that."
"Yeah, so tell me a bit about yourself. Do you have a cool history?" Eponine blurted before thinking. Idiot! She quickly scowled herself, I know she does.
"Well, my childhood is kind of fuzzy but for as long as I can remember I've lived with my papa, I don't really remember my mom." She frowned a little and Eponine looked down in sympathy.
"I'm sorry."
Cosette shrugged, "It's ok. I'm an only child so my papa spoils me rotten, though I do wish I had a sister to hang out and share stuff with or a brother to tease."
"Trust me it's not all it's cracked up to be."
They both cracked up and started laughing.
"I can see where you are coming from. Anyway," she continued, "it's nice going to a public school, before now I went to an all girl's catholic school."
"That must have been rough."
Cosette shrugged, "It's defiantly different now, but different is good sometimes, change is good sometimes."
"You're absolutely right." Eponine said sincerely, change was a good thing, though only sometimes.
Eponine neared her house, if you could call a rundown single floor shack-like building a house, but as she got closer she got the feeling that something was off. She approached it more apprehensively, more and more cautious with each step. As she entered she could hear parents fight in the kitchen.
"It's your fault we are stuck here!" she heard her mom belt, "You and your stupid friends."
"Hey those friends are the reason we have the money to afford this place…..even if it is a dump." He slurred, he sounded very drunk.
"Money that we end up losing due to your uncontrollable drinking and gambling!"
She couldn't take much more, Eponine ran as quickly and quietly as she could to the room she shared with Azelma; when she entered she saw that both she and Gavroche were cuddled on her bed trying their hardest not to listen to the ongoing screeches coming from her parents. The Thenardier children were all strong by nature but when hard time hit it was Eponine that had to grow up, she was only Gavroche's age when they lost all their money. Her siblings were a lot stronger than most kids their age but they still relied heavily on Eponine and used her as their rock.
"Hey it's going to be alright." She began, trying to sound reassuring, "Just stay in here until this all blows over and they both calm down. Just like every other time." It was true, as long as they stayed out their parents way when they were angry, or when her dad had his 'friends' over, then the kids were usually forgotten about and safe for the time being.
This time Eponine wasn't so lucky.
After about an hour the fighting had gone down and they all heard the front door slam and the car drive off. Eponine signaled to her siblings to stay in the room, she always checked before she allowed her to come out. She quietly crept around the corner; the living room was dark except for a single lamp that was lit in the corner. She didn't see anything, not even the slumped figure in the nearby chair.
"Well if it isn't little 'Ponine, haven't seen you all day." Her father sneered, as he got up and took a few steps toward her. Eponine stepped back, his walk was wobbly but he was still frightening nonetheless. "What are you scared of your own father?"
"No." she stated flatly
He ignored her answer, "What else can I expect from such an ungrateful brat as you! All me and your mother do is provide for you and how do you repay us? By disappearing and running off."
"I'm right here dad, I didn't run off."
"You're only back because you have nowhere else to go!"
"That's not-"
She was cut off by her father slapping her across the cheek so hard that she fell back. "Don't raise your voice to me! I know you Eponine, don't you forget that, I know how your mind works. You try to leave but realize you can't make it on your own. You expect to come back here and greeted with open arms; well that won't work this time Eponine!"
"You don't know anything." She snarled as she looked up at him from her spot on the ground, venom laced in her voice.
Thenardier responded by spitting on her and kicking her hard in the gut. "Show me some respect I am your father and you are nothing but a useless brat 'Ponine! Don't you ever forget that, you will never be worth anything in anyone's eyes."
Eponine remained silent and kept her gaze on the floor, anything else would result in her father hurting her again. After a few moments Thenardier got tired of glaring at her and stumbled out the door. Leaving Eponine curled up on the ground, her arms caressing her bruised stomach.
"You better learn to hold your tongue and learn your place."
He slammed the door behind him, the sound echoing through the entire house. She stayed lying there for a while, while she knew he was drunk but either what he said hurt, she really was nothing. Her gaze focused in on a mirror across from her and she realized how pathetic she looked curled up on the ground with her old worn out clothes and tangled hair. She imagined Cosette now asleep in a nice warm bed with a loving father while she was lying on the cold ground due to her horrible one.
She lifted herself from the ground and sat up against the wall, pulling her knees to her chest and forcing herself not to shed tears, they would do her no good.
How times have changed…..what's become of me. Sometimes changed isn't good.
A/N; This is the last time im updating in 2012 so let me say HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you all liked this chapter and PLEASE REVIEW! I will love you forever if you do
~~Eponine Daee