A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for not posting sooner. I'm overloaded with exams and assessments, but starting late April, I'm going to try posting more frequently. Thank you to everyone who has left a review, follow or favourite, it really keeps me going. I also want to thank OMG-fangirl who has been amazing to talk to and such wonderful support. Go check out her amazing writing! Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Please leave constructive criticism in the reviews, thank you!
"Oh my gosh Éponine! It's been way too long!" Musichetta squealed as she let the door bang open against the wall and ran to meet Éponine. She had a wide grin plastered across her face as she squeezed Éponine into a tight hug.
"Muse... let... me... breathe" gasped Éponine. Musichetta released Éponine, who instantly took a deep breath in.
"I'm so sorry, Ép! It's been what...5, 6 years? Goodness Ép, I can't believe you abandoned us for so long. And I presume that you brought your foster siblings?" Muse asked as she gestured towards Ruth and Seth.
"Yup! This is Ruth Faulkner and her brother, Seth. Ruth is attending college with me this year, and Seth is in Gav's class. You remember Gav and Zél, don't you?"
"Of course!" Muse exclaimed as she reached over to shake both Ruth's and Seth's hands.
"Gav! You've grown so much! And is that Zélma?! Oh wow, the last time I saw you, you were in elementary school, and now you're two years away from graduating senior high? Gosh..." Muse rambled as she shook her head in disbelief.
"Where's 'Zette?" Éponine asked, looking around. The familiar blond was nowhere to be seen.
"She's going to get pizza. Sorry I didn't get to ask you guys, but is Hawaiian and Meat Lover's pizza alright? I think she's gonna get 3 of each?"
Gav and Seth looked at each other, smiles spreading on their faces, and started cheering and jumping up and down. The girls shook their heads while heading over to the front door.
"I swear, those boys have an unhealthy addiction to pizza... "Ruth said with a lilting tone in her voice. "They honestly can't bear a week without it. We once implemented a one-month pizza ban. Let's just say, that did not turn out so well."
"You know, back when we were staying here, pizza was such a treat for Gav. Remember when he dropped that small slice and cried his heart out, Muse?" Éponine glanced towards the brown-haired girl.
"You bet! I'll never forget that. It's amazing how much change time has brought. Actually Ép, could I... "Musichetta was interrupted by a loud beep from a white and pink striped car. The boys instantly ran to Cosette to retrieve their beloved pizza.
A short blond girl stepped out of the car. She had a flowery dress on, complete with a set of high heels. Her hair was done up in a simple ponytail with her fringe twisted and pinned to the side of her head.
"Ép? Zél? Gav? Oh my gosh!" Cosette squealed as she ran towards Éponine. She gave her a crushing hug, turned to Azélma and gave her one too. "How have you all been?"
"Great! I've heard that you've started working in the fashion industry? How's that been?" Ép asked in return. She gestured towards Ruth and introduced her to Cosette. "This is Ruth Faulkner, my foster sister, and the boy next to Gav over there, is Seth, Ruth's brother. Oh, by the way, you might want to open your boot up, the boys look like they might try to kill you if they don't get their pizza."
Cosette chuckled as she turned to see the two boys scowling with their arms crossed.
"Gav hasn't changed much, I see. Still that same obsession with pizza." Cosette commented as she clicked a button on her remote. "It's great to meet you, Ruth! I've heard so much about you. Is it true that you'll be studying medicine? Gosh, you must be extremely smart..."
"No, I just study heaps. I hear that your boyfriend, Musichetta, is studying medicine too? Maybe he could help me around campus?" Ruth turned to Musichetta with a smile on her face.
"I'm sure Joly would be happy to take you around. Come on guys, we better start eating the pizza before Seth and Gav get to them all."
The boys had brought the pizzas in and had ambushed them. Once the girls came in and had taken 4 boxes into the living room, the boys had the whole kitchen to themselves.
"Gav, tell me more about this Enjolras dude. Why was Ép so upset when she saw him?" Seth wanted to know what made Éponine look like a ghost, haunted by old memories.
"They met in grade 4… I don't know the whole story, but after being introduced to Les Amis, the group of boys we saw at the café, Ép became more cheerful and happy, it was amazing. Back then, we didn't have much joy in our lives, so after that day, our lives became much better."
"If all he did was that he made her happier, why do they have such an emotional connection? Why didn't she look as shocked to see any of the other guys as she was to see him?"
"I'm not too sure myself, but apparently, they were expected to be a thing. I remember Ép crying the night we left. She didn't think I could hear her because I was just drifting off to sleep, but I could hear her sobbing. Until now, I haven't really made the connection between that night and Enjolras, I thought that she was just going to be homesick in general, but it makes a lot more sense now that I think about it. Zél often made snide remarks about Ép and Enj, but I didn't think too much about it. Well, she might have been right after all."
"Hmm… We absolutely, positively need to get them back together. Ép has done so much for me over the last 2 years, I feel like I owe her something. If getting Enjolras and her back together will make her happy, I'm willing to do it. What do you say, Gav?"
"You bet! Operation Enjonine is underway! It should be as easy as getting them to meet and discuss their feelings, and then they'll be together!"
The boys fist pumped with grins on their faces, before turning back around and stuffing their mouths full of pizza. Little did they know that getting Éponine and Enjolras back together would be a more difficult task than they signed up for.
"So Ép, you're majoring in visual arts, aren't you? I don't really remember you being a budding artist when you were here." Muse commented with a slight teasing smirk.
"When we moved, I found that it was easier to express myself through pieces of art, whether it be sketches or small portraits, than through words. After mum and dad got arrested, the lady at the foster care system suggested that I take up writing a journal so that I wouldn't feel like I had to carry all my thoughts and feelings around on my shoulders. However, when I wrote, I would drift off and begin doodling. It was then that I realised that I might like art more than I initially thought. I ended up graduating senior high with visual arts being my top subject and eventually I earned the scholarship to study a visual arts course here in Manhattan."
"On that note," Muse interjected, "have you seen Les Amis yet? I think Grantaire is taking the visual arts course at Manhattan Uni too."
"Uhh I may have seen them at Musain and may or may not have run out upon seeing them..." Éponine responded in a sheepish tone.
"Ép!" Cosette exclaimed, "Do you mean to tell me that you saw the boys and you ran away?! Why in the world..." She looked as if she would combust from pure disbelief.
"Are you serious Éponine!?" Musichetta asked as she glanced between Éponine, Azélma and Ruth. "It's not like you have any reason... "
"Guys! We left to cone meet you guys. Ép's phone went off and we realised that if we didn't leave, we would be late to meet you guys." Zélma interrupted.
"Besides, there was tension between Ép and..."
"Ruth!" Ép whispered while nudging Ruth in the ribs. "There was no tension whatsoever. We just had to come here to meet you guys so we left quickly."
"Tension between you and who, Ép?" Muse commented, wiggling her eyebrows. "May I guess Enjolras?"
"I'm done with this conversation, " Ép's tone indicated finality as she stood up from the couch, blushing. "I'll check on the boys." Once Éponine was out of earshot, Cosette turned to the other 3 girls.
"Guys, if I'm not mistaken, they both are still in love with each other. What do you guys say to this?" The 4 girls huddled up in a group, taking advantage of Éponine's absence. Giggles and forced whispers could be heard throughout the living room. 5 minutes later, Ép walked in to see the girls staring expectantly at her.
"What were you guys talking about?" Ép glanced around, suspicious at the sudden cessation of conversation.
"Nothing, nothing at all." Cosette smiled with an overly cheerful tone.
"Surrree..." Éponine said as she decided to drop the subject. "Anyway, what would you guys like to do?"
The girls were glad that Éponine changed the subject. After all, they didn't want to spoil the surprises that were in store for her.