"10:38 pm. It's not late yet, he's still got plenty of time." A quick glance at the digits illuminated on her phone confirmed the time for her as she eased a strand of her chocolate hair behind her ear and sent a text "We're all here, except you".

Around her were the sounds of a celebration. Her celebration. Éponine had received news that her tremendous course load, sleepless hours, cram sessions, all had paid off. She was receiving her Masters in social work, what would have taken six years for her to complete she was able to pull off in a little over five. Yes she stretched herself thin and at times felt like she was going to crumble under the work and the pressure, but she pushed through and kept going. She had to, there wasn't another choice. If she wanted to get back her brother and sister, if she wanted to save them from life with their father she had to do it. And she did.

But it wasn't just them that got her through it, he had big part in it. If it weren't for the night her golden haired Apollo, he hated that term of endearment, stayed up with her, made her coffee, even the nights he forced her to stop and ordered her to sleep when she didn't want to because she had work to finish, those nights especially she loved him for. Enjolras could have had a full plate, both being in college together often meant they'd spend their couples time with work in front of them, but he'd see her struggle and drop what he had to do and go to her, even if it meant not getting his assignments finished that night or having even less sleep than her. They balanced each other in a way she never thought would be possible.

But lately he'd changed, gradually those night where he would stay up with her became less and less frequent. He had already finished his degree, law of course, and because of his high grades and his resume landed a job right after his graduation and it took up a lot of his time. She expected it to. What she didn't expect were the night that she'd go to bed alone with him still at the office. The first few times it happened he apologized and made it up to her in some way, usually with chocolate because he knew that was her favorite thing, but after about two or three months even that stopped. She knew he was busy, she couldn't fault him for that, but it was the lack of trying that gradually began to tug at her heart more and more.

11:20 pm. "He's still got time." Another quick text, "I know you're busy but, when will you be here?", as Grantiare, the artist she met her freshman year that always threw great parties, handed her a drink and stood by her.

"Gotta say, when Apollo decides to grace us with his presence he'll kick himself for not showing up sooner. Seriously though Ep, you look hot, and that's coming from me." A grin appeared on his lips as she laughed, he eyed her once again, shamelessly, as she did a quick pose. She had her hair down again, the waves flowing over her shoulders and covering her exposed upper-back, the curves of her slender body being accentuated by the red dress she wore, the dress she knew drove him wild, her favorite pair of black pumps on her feet finished off her attire. She was never one to dress up extravagantly but tonight was special for her.

A few hours after she learned that she would get her Masters, she received a second call. She was gaining custody of Azelma and Gavroche. Everything happened so fast she didn't even have time to tell Enjolras the news. He was the one that helped her through the whole process after all, telling her what she needed to do, what she needed to prove to get them, it was all because of him and she was going to thank him later on that night.

12:02 "It's getting late.."

By now most of her friends were almost stumbling over each other. Courfeyrac was holding onto Bahoral as the latest game of "hide the rum from Grantaire" ensued. Joly was standing by and talking to Combeferre about some new way to keep a hangover away, since they would all clearly need to know. Éponine had yet to finish the drink Grantaire had brought her before, almost an hour ago, another hour he wasn't here.

"Hey, you okay?" A soft, melancholy voice pulling Éponine out of her thoughts, turning her head she was the blond mass of waves that belonged to Cosette, her best friend and lately her sanity. Éponine tried to respond with a smile but the look in her eyes gave away the fact that she was anything but okay.

"Yeah, fine." Her breaking tone betrayed her and Eponine had to look at her feet to hide the water threatening to spill from her eyes at her friend's sympathetic look.

"No show again?" Cosette knew, she was the only one that knew of what had been happening, the only know Éponine had confided in.

Éponine shook her head, "No, he'll come. He promised me." Her eyes still held the hopeful glint that showed how she wished he would burst through the door at any moment. But she held it together, as much as she possibly could. But everyone could tell, there was something wrong, she wasn't herself and it was written all over her face.

1:28 am "I'm going home.."

It was late, the Amis, as they liked to call themselves, were either already passing out on Combeferre's floor, as he volunteered his apartment for the celebration, or heading out to their perspective apartments. Cosette of course appointing herself Éponine's chaperon to make sure she got home safely, but Éponine knew she wanted to comfort her and honestly she needed it.

He promised, he looked her in the eye and held her close as he promised that he would show, that he'd be there to celebrate with her and he wouldn't leave her side the entire night. He promised. Why didn't he show up? She wanted to tell him the news in front of everyone and wanted to see the look on his face when she thanked him in their bed. Her heart was aching more in that night than it had in the almost year that he had been neglecting her. She never wanted to use that word, it never seemed to fit. Until tonight that is. That's when it all hit her, seeing her friends surround her, each giving her a little speech about how proud they were of her, how they knew she'd be able to do it, how she had a brilliant future ahead of her. They each had something to say to her, even Cosette teared up when speaking. She got hugs from each of them. Everyone who meant the world to her, all but one. He didn't give her a speech, he didn't hold her, didn't even reply to her messages.

"Maybe he's planning something, just for us you know? As a surprise?" Her thoughts clung to the hopeful thought that he didn't forget, not this. She could forgive all the other times, but not this. The water was still stinging her eyes and she tried desperately to keep it at bay, she didn't want it to come to that. But walking into their apartment, her heart fluttering with the hope that he had set up something special, it all went away. There he was, sitting at the small table with papers strewn around him as usual, he didn't even bat an eye when she closed the door behind her after telling Cosette she'd be fine and to go home. She kept her back to the door as she watched him, he didn't look up when she cleared her throat.

"You're here." She spoke simply, almost curtly.

"I know you hate when I bring work home with me but this is important." He still didn't look up as he shuffled through the papers.

"It always is." Coming out low, a hint of her hurt coming out.

He finally turned his head, but only quickly to glance at her, "You look nice, where'd you go?"

That was it, that's what broke her. The tears now flowing down her cheeks but sobs being contained so she could answer, "We were all celebrating. I text you."

"Oh I think I left my phone on the bed, haven't checked it."

Without another word she made a beeline for their bedroom, shutting the door behind her once inside. Her eyes falling on the mattress to reveal his phone. She had half a mind to throw at him seeing as he obviously didn't care if maybe something had happened and no one could get a hold of him. He didn't even remember, "Where'd you go?" kept repeating over and over in her mind. How could he not remember? He promised.. She pushed herself towards the closet, practically tearing off the dress a she walked, the dress he didn't even notice anymore. By now her sobs were muffled but unstoppable as was the ache of her heart. The one man who she opened up to, the one man she gave her entire being to no longer was interested in her it seemed.

She dressed in simple shirt and shorts, picked her hair up and wiped off the make up that hadn't been affected by her tears. Looking at herself in the mirror she knew she couldn't handle anymore, this was the final straw. Making her way back to the closet she grabbed a large duffle bag and began to pack, clothes, necessary accessories, small things. In the morning, she'd give him till morning to redeem himself. If he didn't she'd go. Looking around at the room her eyes fell on a picture of the two of them, happy in front of the college when they first officially started dating and the tears came back again, her legs were beginning to tremble and she climbed into bed, wrapping herself tightly up in the covers, his scent wasn't even as prominent as it used to be which only caused her to cry more. And it was with those sobs that she fell into sleep.

Hours later she awoke slowly, her eyes still red and her heart still aching and when she noticed she was still alone in the bed she knew, he hadn't been to bed. The pain of what she had to do now was coursing through her and was the only force driving her out of bed and over to her duffle bag. Slipping on some shoes she began to make her way out until she noticed a piece of scratch paper on the dressed, after finding a pen she wrote to him,

"Enjolas, I love you but I can't do this anymore. I can't be with someone who doesn't care or even acknowledge me. You promised, you looked at me and promised you'd be there, you lied. Of all the things I never expected from you that's the biggest, I never expected you to lie. I'm sorry but it's over, I won't do this anymore. I won't allow you to hurt me anymore. I love you more than I can say, but goodbye.
Éponine

P.S. I got Azelma and Gavroche."

That was it, that was all she could bring herself to write as her hand and entire body were trembling now. Taking the paper she walked out of the living room and that's when she saw him asleep on the couch with one of his law books on his chest. The sight of his peaceful, sleeping form made it harder on her almost causing her to stop and forget about leaving, but his words from the night before still rang in her head and she knew she had to go. Walking towards the kitchen table, where his work was left unfinished, she placed the note on top of all the papers then took her necklace off, the necklace he gave her on their one year anniversary that she had never taken off since. It was his mothers and he gave it to her to show how much he loved her. Loved. Her fingers fumbled with the clasp for a few seconds before finally removing it and placing it on the note. And with a final look at him, and another waive of pain moving through her, Éponine left, closing the door behind her as she left the apartment, as she left him.

AN: I have had this particular one in my head for so long and I finally got it out. I should mention that this is going to be followed by more one shots, how many I'm not sure but it won't be much. This is the first in a few.

To Daisy, I completely agree with you, I have so many started that are Taylor Swift, she is their songwriter. And I will have State Of Grace up once I'm done with this little series. It's been in my head for a while and I just need to get it out but I will have it up as soon as I can.