"AXA? Your parents run AXA? That's one of the biggest companies in the world! Literally!" Grantaire shouted as they pulled up to the skyscraper.
"I am quite aware of that Grantaire. There is no need to shout." She growled.
"You led a protest against them last year!" He exclaimed.
"Yeah. If they could only ground me anymore." Enjolras laughed, her cheeks turning pink.
"How'd that work out for you at home?" Grantaire remarked.
"Not well. They were quite cross with me for a long time." She chuckled. "Daddy never got the business heir he wanted in me."
"I would imagine so." He stated.
"No, but they did listen to me when they calmed down. I did have good arguments and some of their underlings were cutting costs for bad reasons so we compromised. I did tell you all I was working with them." She reminded.
"Yeah, you did. You didn't tell us you were working with your parents!" He countered.
"It wasn't necessary!" She defended.
"Does Combeferre know they work here?" He asked.
"No. Well, sort of. He knows they work here but I think he assumes they're lower level employees instead of the CFO and the Operations Manager." She responded.
"You mean to tell me that your dad has the second-highest position in this company? And your mom controls everything else?" He inquired, incredulous.
"No. They work together mostly. AXA has like three operations managers. Mom only handles the financial stuff." She nit-picked.
The door to the sidewalk opened and Reginald announced, "I do believe I'm here to save you, Miss Julia. Your parents will be here momentarily."
She nodded and got out of the car, him close behind. Her right leg was trembling madly, the sound of her shoe constant like the wings of a hummingbird.
"It's going to be okay. I'm right here with you." He whispered, giving her hand a comforting squeeze.
The sound didn't stop but it did slow down.
"Oh Julia!" Came a woman's voice and he saw an older woman run to her and throw her arms around Enjolras.
Her mother was thicker, Enjolras's marble figure nowhere to be found in the broad shoulders and wide hips of maternity, dressed in a striped pantsuit with black flats. Her brown hair was done up in a bun and her face was rounder compared to Enjolras's sharper features. Enjolras's father was close behind. He was broad chested, fit, and at least six feet tall. He had a sharp face, not unlike Enjolras's but while Enjolras's features seemed to be angelic, her father's features had a more diabolical air about them and his bright ginger hair stood out among the crowd. He was dressed in a suit and tie with extremely well-polished shoes. Monsieur Enjolras smiled and hugged Enjolras tightly when her mother released her.
"Such a surprise for you to come home. Do you need anything? How are you feeling? I know you're upset." Her mother rambled quickly, hugging her again.
"I do need something. I need to talk to you. About the funeral." Enjolras pulled back, her face set.
"We're about to go to lunch and I will not talk about such things at the table." Monsieur Enjolras inserted impassively.
"Then after." Enjolras decided, matching his tone.
"Done. Now, tell me about your school." Monsieur Enjolras smiled.
"Now, now, Sebastien, she hasn't introduced us to this handsome young man." Madame Enjolras chided.
"Oh yes. Mom, Dad, this is Grantaire. He's a good friend from school." Enjolras smiled gently.
"Hi." Enjolras's father stuck out his hand and Grantaire immediately shook it, noticing the strength behind the handshake and doing his best to match it. He kissed Madame Enjolras's hand as she offered it.
"Such a gentlemen." Madame Enjolras cooed. "We must have you two out to lunch. Reginald?"
"I've already made the arrangements." Reginald replied.
"Fabulous. Shall we? Our treat." Madame Enjolras smiled brightly.
They entered the Aston Martin and went along their way.
"So, how did you two meet? You're the first friend she's brought home since going off to university." Monsieur Enjolras asked.
"Well, about that-" Enjolras started. He knew what she was talking about. He had met her before she met him. Or rather, before she remembered going off on him.
"I was just coming from my Gen Ed Anthropology class and I overheard her making a speech for the Les Amis. It was on having gender neutral bathrooms, if I remember correctly. I listened to her and agreed with her and when she offered the audience to come to a meeting of the Les Amis the next day, I decided to show up and stayed for the free food." Grantaire finished.
Enjolras groaned. "You said you stayed because you liked my speeches!"
"I did. The first time I stayed for the food. I always take people up on free food. And it was free Italian. I hadn't had Italian for a month." He defended.
Her parents laughed lightly.
"So if I stopped bringing free food to the meetings, you'd leave?" Enjolras pouted.
"Of course not. Courfeyrac would take me out drinking afterwards." Grantaire winked.
The light laughter increased.
She turned away from him, sulking.
"Don't be that way, Enjy." He chastised playfully.
"Don't call me Enjy." She growled.
"Has she always been this way?" Grantaire asked her parents.
"Oh yes. Julia has never been fond of nicknames." Madame Enjolras answered.
"Except from Jack Wimberley." Monsieur Enjolras teased.
"We have arrived, sirs and madams." Reginald announced and parked the car.
They got out and someone screamed.
"Oh my God! Julia?!"
Enjolras turned sharply and screamed back. "Marci!"
A woman Enjolras's age embraced her and they kissed each other's cheeks.
"It's so good to see you!" Marci squealed.
"It's good to see you. How's the nail salon business I want to say?" Enjolras asked in a voice that didn't seem to be coming from Enjolras at all.
"Yeah that's me. And it's great. I've gotten a steady stream of customers in Everton and the branch in Doncaster just opened but it's doing really well compared to others of its kind." Marci answered.
"Well, I'd love to chat but my parents and I have reservations at one forty five and I simply cannot be late." Enjolras excused, using that voice again. Though it sort of sounded like her, it was as if someone else was speaking.
"I completely understand! Text me!" Especially about him! Marci mouthed before giving Enjolras another kiss and going where she originally meant to go. "Goodbye my darling!"
"Isn't that the one who threw the slushie in your face?" Monsieur inquired as they entered the extremely fancy restaurant. He didn't think he'd ever been in a restaurant this fancy. Or expensive. Even the napkins seemed expensive.
"No that's the other one. Heather. She accused me of trying to steal her boyfriend. No Marci was my opposite in Kiss Me Kate." Enjolras replied.
"That reminds me. Tell me everything about her days in musical theater since she has barely glossed over it in our conversations." Suddenly, someone's heel was digging into his foot. "Your foot on mine will not dissuade my curiosity."
The heel went in sharper but Madame Enjolras pursed her lips at Enjolras which thankfully relieved the pressure. "Now, now, Julia, stop it. One of the many jobs that parents have is embarrassing their children. And you were wonderful in theater."
"She was the star of every show she was in. She's always had wonderful presence on stage." Monsieur Enjolras praised.
Enjolras blushed.
"I believe that. I've seen her command a room simply by walking into it." Grantaire smirked.
Enjolras blushed deeper. "Stop please."
"All right, because if you turn any redder, they're going to have to put you on the wine list." Grantaire teased.
Everyone laughed.
"Speaking of the wine list, is there any wine you prefer, Grantaire?" Monsieur Enjolras asked.
"Malbec is a personal favorite. Pinot Nior is wonderful as well though." Grantaire answered.
"Malbec, a man after my own heart. And its Julia's favorite as well." Monsieur Enjolras said.
That surprised him. In his memory, Enjolras had never willingly drunk a drop of alcohol in her life. The only time he remembered her drinking was when he gave her hard lemonade. And she didn't know she was drinking. He made a mental note to ask about that later. A waiter dressed in such formal clothes approached, Grantaire almost thought that he was another guest due to his attire, and took their orders of food and wine.
The rest of lunch passed in good spirits. The food was delicious, but the portions were terribly small compared to other restaurants. He never understood why fancy restaurants always made such small food for such inflated prices. The wine was some of the best wine he'd ever tasted, he could never afford something so refined and what made it taste all the better was that Enjolras sipped it. She poured herself a very small glass compared to everyone else's on the table but she did drink the wine and that was a miracle altogether. He learned that Enjolras was almost valedictorian in high school and was beaten out by some 'distasteful' boy on a scholarship. Enjolras chided them for being biased and that he had the better speech and the better grades. Monsieur Enjolras had just sniffed and muttered under his breath. He also learned that for her physical education was cheerleading of all things. He would have thought that Enjolras would have exploded from the short skirts and the degradation of males in the field as well as the obvious exploitation of female bodies. But Enjolras said nothing about that. Maybe her school wasn't as bad as most others. The most confusing thing out of the whole meal was the name Jack Wimberley. It kept getting repeated but Enjolras always shushed her parents when it was mentioned and Grantaire didn't have the courage to ask. Enjolras's glare was deadly and he was having a good time. He saw why Enjolras always spoke highly of her parents. They were very nice people.
Once lunch was finished, and Monsieur Enjolras refused to hear any protest from him when it came to paying (thank God, Grantaire did not have the money for that), Monsieur Enjolras said, "This was lovely, my dear, but I'm afraid we must get back to work. Somebody's gotta bring home the bacon."
"Daddy, I didn't take a six-hour train ride to go to lunch. We discussed this already." Enjolras said sharply.
Monsieur Enjolras tried for a smile but failed. "I was hoping you'd forgotten."
"When do I ever forget anything, Daddy?" Enjolras asked.
"Um, breakfast yesterday, getting enough sleep, making sure you don't get sick again, should I go on?" Grantaire added, eliciting a laugh from her parents and a glare from Enjolras.
"You made me a deal." Enjolras pressed.
"I did. And, as always, you are allowed to hold me to it. But let's discuss this back at the office. There are too many people here." Monsieur Enjolras offered.
"That I can do." Enjolras said as Reginald pulled up in the Aston Martin.
"Grantaire! I remember where I've heard that name before!" Madame Enjolras suddenly screamed.
Everyone turned to look at her.
"When have I mentioned his name Mother?" Enjolras asked, her voice sounded almost frightened but Enjolras was never afraid.
"This was the boy who got you out of that dreadful jail cell. We called after that rally of yours" She made the rally sound very 'distasteful' "Got out of hand with that awful man and the gun. And you said that your friend Grantaire got you out of jail, especially due to that you have done nothing wrong and that you were bleeding. Thankfully, Combeferre called after you were treated."
"You told them about me? Aw, Enjy, how cute." Grantaire teased.
Enjolras gave him a good punch to the arm.
"Julia, that's not ladylike." Madame Enjolras reminded her.
"Yeah well Grantaire is no gentleman." Enjolras shot back.
"I'm wounded." Grantaire protested.
"Since we never got the chance to say so before, thank you for helping her." Madame Enjolras said genuinely, making Grantaire squirm. He wasn't used to such emotion from older people.
"I'd do it for any of our friends." He said at last.
"Good man. It's always good to have someone very loyal on your side." Monsieur Enjolras approved.
The car stopped as they arrived back to the building they had been at before. Saved by the bell, Grantaire thought. As they walked into the building, Grantaire's hand was suddenly entered into a death grip and he said nothing to Enjolras about the pain. There was a big reason for her to be nervous and he knew that. He would give her what little comfort he could in the little time he had. The elevator ride was silent and since Enjolras and Grantaire had entered the elevator first, he hugged her tightly before letting go almost immediately. Though, she did stand a little taller almost and the death grip eased to mortal torture with a tiny bit of circulation coming back to his hand. When the doors opened, she let go and easily matched her father's strong pace as they entered his office. Which was breathtaking. Brilliants pieces of art hung proudly on the wall, even a fantastic Edward Hopper piece that he would love to study, furniture that seemed to sparkle with polish, extremely sophisticated computer systems, and a glass wall that gave a gorgeous view of the city. This was the high-end of the high-end. He didn't think he'd ever been on an office this nice. And he knew he probably never would be again.
Enjolras steeled herself and he could see her preparing herself for the speech.
"Perhaps your friend should leave." Monsieur Enjolras suggested, but it was really more of an order.
"Grantaire, don't move. You're not leaving. I brought him along for a reason, Father. He's staying." Enjolras stated.
"Now, Julia, I know you're upset-"
"Dad, why are you so against me going to the funeral for Larmarque? He's my favorite teacher-"
"I said it will interfere with your studies and I-"
"The funeral is Friday and I have no classes on Friday-"
"I said no!"
"Why?! Why did you say no? Larmarque did everything for me! He showed me a world you kept hidden from me! He introduced me to literature, beautiful literature that I would never have seen if you had your way! He showed me what it truly meant to question your government, instead of simply knowing all the loopholes in the law. He always made sure that I was okay and making friends and becoming a stronger person. He learned to read me so I could communicate fully in his class. His support in the Les Amis meant so much and he was the one who secured each of my platforms in the early days so I could do my speeches! I couldn't have become what I am today without him! So why? Why can't I pay my respects to the greatest teacher I've ever had?" Enjolras shouted, and if Grantaire didn't know better, she'd burst into angry tears but as he did know her she was far from crying.
Monsieur Enjolras sighed. "Julia, I know. You've told us so much about him but I doubt many students your age will be going to this funeral and I will not have you disgrace our family by speaking of this relationship!"
"You're not making any sense! What relationship? Yes, he and I were very close and his wife was a wonderful woman-"
"Julia! There is no need to bring your relationship to his wife! She doesn't need to know!" Madame Enjolras shouted, though her voice wasn't all that loud. Talk about an oxymoron, Grantaire thought.
"She's known me since he first brought me home! She used to cook while he and I were studying so we wouldn't forget to eat because we were really busy with work!" Enjolras protested.
Madame Enjolras huffed, disapproving greatly of her daughter's actions to the absolute bewilderment of her daughter.
"She knew of such actions and allowed them to continue." Madame Enjolras whispered.
"Oh shut up Mom." Enjolras spat.
"Don't talk to your mother that way." Monsieur Enjolras snapped.
"I am twenty-three years old and I am allowed to make my own mistakes!" Enjolras shouted, her voice strong.
"I will not tolerate such things in my family! I'll not have you cause a scandal like that!" Monsieur Enjolras matched her.
"What scandal? I am going to a personal friend's funeral! It's not the first time! You were there for that one! What scandal could possibly happen?" Enjolras screamed.
"Julia-"
"They think you were sleeping with him." Grantaire realized, unaware he was speaking aloud.
The entire room went silent.
"What?" Enjolras asked him, her voice barely above a whisper.
"He's talking about the scandal of a young woman who's had an affair with an elderly teacher who got especially good grades in his class going to the funeral when she knows the wife is going." Grantaire said slowly, watching as Enjolras turned a deep shade of red. But he knew her well enough to know it wasn't embarrassment. That was pure, unbridled anger.
"How dare you?" Enjolras's voice was low and instilled a type of fear in Grantaire he had only seen once and was satisfied with never seeing again. "He was a great man and a great teacher. How dare you defile his memory in such a way?"
"Julia-"
"Enough. He was just as much my father as you were and you think I was sleeping with him?" Enjolras accused with deadly precision.
Her parents shared a look of unhappiness mingled with confusion.
"The way you spoke of him, of your relationship." Monsieur Enjolras started. "You constantly spoke of going to his house, him showing you new things, broadening your horizons, and you never mentioned his wife to us."
"It was the way you spoke of Jack. It was exactly the way you spoke of Jack." Madame Enjolras finished.
"Do not mention that name to me." Enjolras growled lowly, like a predator about to strike. Suddenly, she calmed herself down and spoke gently. "Now, I'm going to the funeral. It would be best if you didn't join me. Grantaire and I leave on the six forty-seven train. If it's possible, I would love to have dinner with you so the last words I say to you here are not in anger. I'm going to walk over to Afic and have some coffee. Unless, of course, I'm no longer welcome in this family."
"Never, darling." Monsieur Enjolras answered, looking quite tiny. Grantaire was almost breathless after watching two superpowers go into battle and have his beautiful Apollo come out on top. He always knew she was powerful but to shout down her own father who had taught her these things was incredible.
Enjolras went to the door, Grantaire close behind. She stopped, and turned back. "I won't ever understand why you thought what you did and I will always hate that you put a scandal above your own daughter. But I do still love you both."
Then head held high and a confident stride, she left the office. Grantaire followed her after a squeak of an extremely awkward goodbye to Enjolras's parents who looked ashamed of themselves. He said nothing to her as she said nothing to him until they were out of the building.
"Oh good Lord!" She pulled herself into an alley she seemed to know behind the skyscraper, leaning against the wall.
"You okay?" He asked uncertainly.
"I'm not sure. I've never done that before." She admitted breathlessly. She pulled back her dress slightly and grabbed the infamous black ribbon she always wore which had been wrapped around her bra strap. She tugged it loose and tied her hair up in a bow. Having the ribbon seemed to calm her slightly. "Much better. I hate having my hair down."
He nodded, unsure of what to say next.
"You know what? I'm great. I'm fantastic! I feel like I can do anything. If you want, I can fly." She grinned broadly.
"Okay, Buttercup-" He laughed.
Seeing Enjolras on an adrenaline high was something else. Suddenly, she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him in for a kiss. Absolutely stunned, his mind went blank. But his experience acted for him and kissed her back before he realized what he was doing. But when she deepened the kiss, the cogs in his mind started moving again (as did other parts of his body) and he brought her body closer to his. Her fingers tangled themselves in his hair and his hands trailed down her back, cupping her ass tightly. Her lips detached from his and started trailing up his jaw. He whimpered at the sensation and his hands very quickly went back up and found her firm yet supple breasts, though there was something else in her bra. As she started to suck and bite down his neck, she started undoing the buttons of Combeferre's shirt.
Combeferre's shirt.
Not his own.
The dress shirt she made him wear to meet her parents.
Who were in the building in front of them.
In front because they were in an alley.
They were making out in an alley.
And it was quickly progressing to more.
"No, Enjolras, I can't do this." As much as he hated it, he pulled away from her. When she looked slightly horrified, he realized she must have thought she was taking advantage of him, "I can't have sex with you in the alley behind your parent's work."
That relaxed her posture and she gathered herself up. "Of course. My apologies."
"It wasn't that I didn't enjoy it. But here and now is definitely not right. Maybe later?" His joke fell flat as Enjolras turned from him.
"I really am sorry, Grantaire. I don't mean to keep pulling you into this. Whatever this is." She muttered.
"Hey, I kissed you back, remember that. I certainly do." He tried again and this time he elicited a small smile.
"No, you're right. I shouldn't be having a make-out session with you just after my first big fight with my parents." She sighed.
"Wait, you really meant you've never done that before? You've never fought with your parents before?" He pressed.
"No of course I've fought with my parents before! About everything. Bedtime, internet, clothes, manners, all that normal stuff. But I've never fought with them like this before. Not something this big. It's never come up before!" She explained.
"How could it never come up before?" He insisted.
"My parents and I have opposing views, yes, but we never fight about them! We calmly discuss them and if we get too heated we step out of the room until we're calm again. It's the rule of the family." She clarified.
"Then where do you get your passion?" He asked.
"We didn't use to differ as much as we did now. I wasn't as politically aware as I am now and I was content to be that way. But when we agreed on something, we could get really fired up. Daddy used to have long, passionate rants at the dinner table while Mom laughed and I listened. I got my passion from him." She described.
"Makes sense." He mused.
"Here, let's go to Afic. It's only a few blocks away." She tried, and he nodded
"What is Afic?" He asked.
It's a bookstore café. When I didn't have school but Mom and Dad had to work, I'd go there to work on my homework and when I finished I'd buy a book and read for the rest of the day. I can buy you coffee since I'm not cut off." She led him down a few streets until they reached a three story building with beautiful windows and that new book smell.
"It's big." He murmured.
"The third floor is the coffee shop. It makes good sandwiches if you're hungry." She said. "So what do you think?"
"It's a nice store. Very book-y." He said, rather stupidly in his opinion.
"No, of all of here. My parents' office, Descartes." She expounded.
"It's great. Very rich. Very rich." He muttered.
She tensed slightly.
"I knew it! You were actually worried of I'd think of your home!" He exclaimed.
"My home is at school." She corrected.
"You're hometown then. It's not like you and I are that-"
"Well obviously our relationship has changed." She interrupted. "It's changed a lot."
"As terrified as I am to say this, I really think we need to talk. We need to figure out whatever it is we're doing, if only to know what we're doing." He sighed. Thankfully his voice wasn't shaking though all of his inner self was quivering with fear.
"I knew you'd say that." She muttered as she showed him the escalators.
"How? I didn't know I was going to say that until I said it." He asked, then gasped. "Do you have ESP? Telepathy? Have I been consorting with a mutant? Or a meta-human?"
She laughed lightly. "No. I just guessed after that little stunt I pulled in the alley."
"Well, it's just that you're not yourself. You haven't been this whole time. Or at least what I know as you." He said as they got in line for coffee.
As it was a relatively fast line, she didn't answer until they both had coffee (paid with her credit cards which were tucked into her phone case which magically appeared from her bra so that's what that was) and were in a secluded booth.
"So what is me as myself?" She asked.
"Well for one you don't make-out with me. Two, you don't wear dresses. Three, you don't style your hair or wear make-up or squeal. There's more but I'm gonna stop there." Grantaire started.
"I'll admit I have never done these things in the past around the Les Amis. But being here is… different." She replied.
"Why? Because your parents are here? Old friends? What?" He pressed.
"I was a different person before I went to university. I acted different, I had very different ideas, I had expectations of me. Before my senior year, I wanted to be a high school history teacher. I dressed like this every day, even though I didn't really enjoy it, I still used Facebook and I hated doing my homework!" She hissed, contradicting every single thing she was now, leaving him stupefied.
"And that's how these people know you?" He asked.
"Yes. Grantaire, I'm the daughter of some of the highest employees in one of the biggest companies in the world. This is how they know me. This is how I act whenever I'm home. It's why I don't want anyone to come home with me for holidays or summer." She clarified.
"You're leading a double life woman!" He cried.
"Yes I am. I want to keep my home and familial life separate. Is that really such a crime?" She pleaded.
He sighed. "No. It's just… unexpected. I didn't expect to hear about musicals and slushies' in faces or this Jack Wimberley kid-"
"Don't say his name like that!" She shrieked, making him jump back in surprise. Her voice was quiet the next time she spoke. "Please don't say his name like that."
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
They stayed quiet for a long time, merely sipping the slightly cold coffee.
"I'd rather you not ask about him right now." She said eventually.
"I can do that. I understand you have secrets." He had some himself. "But I do have to ask, what are we? I mean in terms of us both being on the same page with each other. Like, are we in a relationship or are we friends with benefits? Or do you wanna forget this ever happened?"
"I told you already I don't regret what happened. As I've said before, yes, we both made a few bad judgment calls but I refuse to regret it. I enjoyed it and I'm pretty sure you did to." At his nod, she continued, "So I see no reason to forget it. I also refuse to be a 'fuckbuddy'. I am not someone you can come crawling to when you're horny."
"I had no intention of that. Don't judge friends with benefits on Courfeyrac. He's not a good example. What it actually means is that when we're both down to have sex, we do. And it doesn't mean anything really. We stay just being friends. It's just sex. Nothing more." He explained.
"Call me old-fashioned, but I don't believe sex is meaningless in any situation." She smiled a bit.
"Well, I can see where you get that." He teased, keeping the smile on for a little longer. "Look, I'll do whatever you want so just name it. We'll do it."
"That's not very healthy for you." She said.
"Ignore that. What you need to do is what's best for you. I can manage. Forgive the corniness, but what does your heart tell you? I've found listening to your heart often leads to the best decisions." He replied quickly.
"I don't know." She admitted. "I genuinely don't know. I know that everything you've done for me is beyond what I ever could've expected from you, but I also know that you and I fight. A lot. And that's not good for both of us."
"Yeah, I suppose." He interjected, knowing she had to think this out.
"But I really do enjoy spending time with you and my parents actually seem to like you, though I know they don't know most of the real you. You drink a lot and I hate that because you're not the best you could be when you're drunk and it drives me up the wall but there are nights when you hardly drink at all and you're a brilliant conversationalist. Maybe you're cynical but you have thoughts that I hadn't thought of and that's always great for keeping an open mind. And you're very cynical when you're drunk. Not pleasant by the way. But you still show up to every meeting and rally you can and you're dirt poor and I've seen you give more help to Eponine than rich oblivious Marius. And yes, I know I miss a lot of things, but Marius is the very definition of obliviousness. I know the others say you love me-"
"What?!" His stomach dropped to the first floor of the building. They were supposed to keep it secret from her! She was never supposed to know!
"I know, that stupid bet is absurd." She agreed, completely missing his fear.
"What bet?" He asked tersely.
"Last semester, I heard Courfeyrac and Bahorel talking about a bet when we'd finally, and I quote 'get our shit together and fuck already'. It was repulsive. I wanted to slap them upside the head but then Joly got my attention and by the time I remembered it later that night they had already left. Then I forgot about it for a bit. I… take it this was the first time you've heard about it." She hesitated.
"Yeah. I can't believe that they would do something like that!" He couldn't believe his own friends would betray him like that. He always thought he could keep his feelings under the radar until the inevitable time when Enjolras kicked him out of the Amis for doing something stupid.
"I would never kick you out of the Amis, no matter how stupid you acted." She said.
Fuck.
"How much of that did I say aloud?" He asked, fear rushing through his veins.
"Um, you said something about radar and the inevitable time I kicked you out for being a jackass. Unless you suddenly turned misogynistic, homophobic or racist there's no reason for me to expel you." She said, confusedly.
"I suppose I was just thinking aloud." He murmured.
She thought for a minute and her facial expression turned dejected. "I really do like you Grantaire. I really do. But I don't- I can't- I'm not sure how to say this."
"You're not ready for a relationship I get that." As he spoke, her shoulders slumped in relief. His heart hurt to say it but seeing her relief made it worth it.
"I'm not very experienced in this area, R, I'm not sure what to do now." She confessed.
"Here. Why don't I take you out to dinner after I get paid on Friday? We'll finally hit the first step in a relationship and we can see where it goes from there." He offered.
She cocked her head to the side.
"We've sort of done this backwards. First, you go on dates, then you meet the parental units, and then you have sex. That's how society portrays most healthy relationships." He explained.
"Ah. Yes." She said. Then stopped.
"Yes what?" He inquired.
"Dinner on Friday. But I'm afraid I must insist on paying, Monsieur Art-Students-Salary." She responded, grinning cheekily.
"But that's not gentlemanly. And, contrary to prior statements, I am quite the gentleman." He smirked.
"Gentlemanly." She scoffed. "What is that but the patriarchal definitions of toxic masculinity and the devaluation of women? Besides, I thought you never passed up on free food."
"Well, if it's to fight the patriarchy, I suppose I can bend just this once." He winked.
She actually threw her head back and laughed. He smiled harder than he remembered doing in the last few months. He couldn't believe it.
Her phone rang from inside her dress, cutting her laughter short. He wanted to destroy the damn machine.
"Hello… yeah sure, we'll be right down." She replaced the phone. "Jeeves is here. Come on."
He followed her to the elevator, trying to keep his bubbling excitement under control. He was actually going on a date with Enjolras. His Enjolras. Apollo. How Dionysius had snagged a date with Apollo was beyond his comprehension.
Reginald was waiting for them, took one look at his shirt and shook his head. Grantaire looked down and saw the beginnings of a hickey and quickly buttoned his shirt to cover it. Enjolras blushed and wordlessly got into the car. He followed. Thankfully, her parents weren't in the car, so at they were spared some embarrassment.
The ride back was quiet and short. He resisted the urge to hold her hand. There would be time for that later. And boy did that excite him.
She didn't bother getting out of the car to greet her parents this time. They simply climbed in and buckled.
"Four thirty is a bit early to be leaving the office." Monsieur Enjolras muttered under his breath.
"Must be a holiday." Enjolras teased.
"Hush, Julia. I would never go into work again if it meant seeing you again." Monsieur Enjolras exaggerated.
Enjolras blushed again.
"I swear I don't know what it is you're doing but you have to teach me." Grantaire added and the car laughed.
"This will be a long ride, Grantaire. Our house is a half an hour ride from work. We live in the 'country'." Enjolras frowned.
She was right, in a way. It was a long ride. For Enjolras. Grantaire asked whatever questions he could while he had her parents' right here. What was Enjolras like in primary school? What were her friends like? How good of a cheerleader was she? On multiple occasions, Enjolras called out to Reginald, "Jeeves, just crash the car. I can't take any more of this. Kill me now." To which Monsieur Enjolras replied after the fourth time, "Julia, you act as if you would not take advantage of Grantaire's parents in such a way." Grantaire shut up after that. Her parents' noticed, they'd have to lose their senses to not, and steered the conversation to their day at work. That Enjolras listened to with interest. Grantaire lost track of what they were saying and nodded when Enjolras did.
Enjolras didn't have a house. Enjolras had a fucking mansion. Three stories, balconies, enormous front yard and garden, and that was just what he could see.
"Wow." He breathed and didn't take his eyes off the landscape until Enjolras called him into dinner. He backtracked and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He snapped a couple pictures for his landscape project that was coming next month. Her mansion was good inspiration. Then he came inside.
If he thought outside was beautiful. High ceilings with chandeliers he knew were older than him, archways with hand-crafted molding, rugs that must have cost more than his life was worth and an Andy Warhol.
"You have an Andy Warhol." He whispered, in completely shock.
"Yep. Nearly cost me forty mill but it was worth every cent." Monsieur Enjolras said proudly.
"Forty million." Grantaire repeated, dumbstruck.
"Come, sirs. Dinner is ready." Reginald interrupted and the smell of food brought Grantaire away from the artwork.
But before they could all sit down, Enjolras's phone buzzed.
"No texting at the table." Madame Enjolras reminded.
"Dad, turn on the TV." Enjolras responded.
Sensing his daughter's tone, Monsieur Enjolras as she asked. A news story was on about how the train station vents were smoking and the station had been evacuated and the trains canceled til further notice.
"Shit." Enjolras cursed.
"Julia, that's not ladylike. Watch your language." Madame Enjolras corrected.
"Momma. What am I supposed to say? Yea, now I cannot return to campus." She faked being excited before rolling her eyes.
"Miss Julia, I could take you back to university." Reginald offered.
"That's a ten hour drive, Jeeves. No." Enjolras sighed.
"I'm confused. What's going on?" Grantaire asked, feeling self-conscious.
"It means we're stuck here until the trains resume." Enjolras sighed. "Which will not be any time tonight."
Hello all! I'm so sorry for not updating sooner, but I can only write when I'm at school so all of winter break I had to go without. And in college, winter break is five weeks. A bit scary, I suppose. But I kept with tradition and stayed up until five in the morning trying to finish this chapter. I was going to post it then but then I fell asleep. So, here you go now.
Leave a review if you can. It inspires me to write faster and I love your comments. Goodbye, everyone and see you all on the other side.