July 13, 2010

"So you and 'Chetta are on for the party tonight?" Cosette was walking around the kitchen every once and awhile glancing at Éponine who was outside next to the pool reading.

"Of course!" Mirabella replied happily, "mission 'Ponine's Secret Party' is a go!"

"Great, I'm glad you're coming!" Cosette replied with a laugh.

"But how on earth did you plan this without 'Ponine finding out?" Mirabella asked.

"I have my ways," Cosette giggled as she walked past the window once more to see Éponine absentmindedly scratching at the scab that remained from the baseball game. Cosette loudly rapped her knuckles against the glass to get her attention, Éponine looked up. "Stop scratching!" Cosette called.

Éponine rolled her eyes and turned back to her book.

"Sorry about that," Cosette returned to Mirabella, "anyway, can't wait to see you; I just have one more thing to do."

"What's that?" Mirabella asked.

"Get Gav out of the way," Cosette answered.

After she finished speaking with Mirabella Cosette went to go speak with Gavroche who was in his room working on some sort of Rube Goldberg contraption. Cosette pushed open the door that was slightly ajar and a flying object almost hit her.

"What was that?" Cosette exclaimed.

"Sorry!" Gavroche replied as he came to the door, "but you really should have knocked."

"I'll make a note of that for next time," Cosette sighed, "anyway I need you to do something for me."

"Okay..." Gavroche replied warily.

"I planned a pre-birthday sleepover for' Ponine-"

"Sleepover? I'll be out of here before you can say 'manicure'" Gavroche replied with a shudder.

"Thanks Gav," Cosette smiled, but Gavroche was already on his phone calling Courfeyrac.
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Éponine had not expected anything to be going on that night so when there was a loud knock st the door she looked up in confusion. She went to answer the door, it was rare that anyone ever knocked, Mr. Fauchlevent never had guests and Gavroche wasn't there. She opened the door to see the two Latour sisters standing there clutching bags. "Uhh... Hi?"

"Happy birthday 'Ponine!" Mirabella grinned.

"My birthday isn't until tomorrow..." Éponine replied running her hand through her hair, and then she sighed, "Cosette!" She shouted into the house.

Cosette soon emerged with Azelma close behind her, "You hollered for me?" She smiled and put her hands on her hips.

"Care to explain what's going on?" Éponine folded her arms across her chest.

"Just a small little get together, birthday party for you," Cosette shrugged, "surprise!"

Éponine didn't know what to say, instead she just stood there as Bella and 'Chetta came inside.

"I ordered pizza and it will be here soon," Cosette started rambling to the two sisters.

"Great! I'm starved," Musichetta smiled.

"I brought my make up for makeovers!" Mirabella added.

At that Éponine's ears perked up, "Makeovers? We're doing makeovers?" Her tomboyish senses were kicking in. Even though Cosette had succeeded in getting her to somewhat enjoy more feminine clothing and putting makeup on an she wasn't too keen on having Bella and Chetta takeover.

"And how about some summer highlights?" Musichetta added.

"Oh no," Éponine shook her head, "no, you are not dying my hair!"
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Gavroche had happily found himself a safe girl free haven in the Courfeyrac household, surprisingly enough Charlotte was out with her own friends. This meant that it was only Antoine, Damien and Gavroche, although Damien might as well have not been there since he was going out on a date. So Gavroche and Antoine were watching a Red Sox game on the TV.

"So why did they kick you out again?" Courfeyrac asked.

"Some stupid slumber party for 'Ponine..." Gavroche rolled his eyes.

"Slumber party?" Courfeyrac laughed, "a slumber party..." he then repeated.

"Yeah, that's what I said;" Gavroche nodded but saw the grin on Courfeyrac's face, "what are you thinking?"

"Oh nothing," Courfeyrac shrugged, "just that maybe we should prank them?"

"Aww hell no," Gavroche shook his head, "Cosette would kill us!"

"Come on Gav! Where is your sense of fun?" Courfeyrac grinned mischievously.

"But it's Cosette, not necessarily someone to mess with," Gavroche warned.

"That's the point, it's Cosette," Courfeyrac smiled, "what can she do?"

Gavroche pondered it for a moment, "Oh alright, but if we get caught you take the fall."

"Deal, now let's call Alex," Courfeyrac pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts.

Gavroche turned to Courfeyrac in shock, "Now you've lost it, there is no way Alex would ever agree to prank anyone especially his girlfriend!"

"Hey Alex?" Courfeyrac spoke into his phone, "are you busy? Feel like hanging out with me and Gav, also gonna call Mar-dog too." Courfeyrac paused, "oh please? Come on Alex; is it wrong to just want to hang out? Please?" Courfeyrac paused once again, "really? Great! See you later then." Courfeyrac hung up the phone, "well that was relatively easy."

"He's not going to go through with it once he gets here," Gavroche turned to Courfeyrac.

"We'll just see about that," Courfeyrac winked.
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"I hate you so much right now," Éponine glared at her friends, they had her in a chair and were applying a peroxide mixture to her hair. "If I go blonde I will never forgive you!"

"Awww... But wouldn't that be just the most adorable thing? You would match Alex!" Bella teased.

"Hush Belle, don't worry you won't be blonde," Chetta reassured her as she finished applying the mixture and removed the gloves she was wearing, "Cosette can you set a timer for about twenty minutes?"

Once that was done the girls went to enjoy the pizza that had been delivered while they were dying Éponine's hair. They finished just in time for the timer to go off.

Chetta checked Éponine's hair, "Great," she smiled, "now go shower and don't forget to condition!" Her voice raised Éponine raced up the stairs to go and shower, before continuing with rest of the nights activities they waited for her, when Éponine came back she had a towel wrapped around her head.

"Come on then, let's see it!" Cosette smiled.

"No," Éponine shook her head fiercely using a hand to keep the towel in place.

"Awww... Come on 'Ponine!" Bella pouted.

"No," Éponine glared.

"'Ponine!" Bella was on the verge of whining when Cosette reached and grabbed the towel causing Éponine's long hair to fall out.

"Oh my God," Musichetta gaped.

"'Ponine... It's-" Bella was wideyed, "it's-"

"Hideous? Am I platinum blonde now? I couldn't look in the mirror," Éponine admitted.

"'Ponine, it's beautiful," Cosette smiled, "go look."

Éponine let out a loud sigh and walked to the downstairs bathroom, she flicked on the light and looked on the mirror, her jaw dropped. It wasn't as blonde as she had initially thought, but it also was blinded then she had wished. Nevertheless, it looked good, her dark brown almost black hair had a light brown almost golden look to it. Paired with the tan she had been working on it looked as if she had just stepped off a beach in California, it made her smile. She was practically glowing when she left the bathroom to face her friends, "Okay, I like it," she smiled.

"I knew you would," Musichetta grinned, her blue eyes sparkled.

"So who wants to watch 'Mean Girls'?" Cosette pulled out the DVD she had checked out from the library.

While Éponine made sounds of protest secretly it was one of her favorite movies, and try as she may she still couldn't get Alex to watch it with her.
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"So this is the plan," Courfeyrac narrated to Gavroche who was grinning, Marius who looked nervous, and Alex who made a point of not listening.

"We have water balloons and guns, we do a sneak attack and get the girls outside, then BAM! We nail them with the Super Soakers!" Courfeyrac grinned.

"Antoine, you never cease to amaze me," Alex sighed, "that has got to be the flimsiest plan I have ever heard.

"Well then you think of something!" Courfeyrac glared.

"I'm not going to help you plot against 'Ponine, besides it's the day before her birthday," Alex replied calmly.

"Or are you afraid she'll break up with you again?" Courfeyrac spoke in a teasing manner but soon realized he had taken it too far by bringing up the Valentine's Day Incident.

"You know what, I think I'll go," Alex picked up his car keys and started heading towards the front door.

"No wait, Alex we need you!" Courfeyrac offered him his best puppy dog eyes, "it's just a bit of harmless fun, I swear she won't be mad!"

Alex rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Okay so she might be a little pissed," Courfeyrac shrugged, "but what can you do?"

A slight smile played at Alex's mouth; while he still wasn't too keen on the idea of the prank he could see how Éponine and the other girls could have fun with it.
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The girls had become enthralled with the movie to the point that they were even quoting it to each other, they hardly even noticed the knock at the door.

"I'll get it," Éponine sighed and paused the movie and got up.

"Why'd you pause it?" Bella poured.

"There was a knock at the door," Éponine replied with a shrug.

"A knock at the door?" Cosette turned to her, "who would be knocking at ten at night?"

"I dunno, I thought I heard a knock." Éponine went to the door and opened it, no one was there, she stuck her head out and looked around to see nothing. With a sigh she shut the door, the moment she did there was rustling and whispering from the bushes below the front window.

"Who was that blonde chick?" Courfeyrac whispered.

"That's 'Ponine you idiot!" Alex whispered back to him.

"I still say this is a bad idea," Marius whispered.

Courfeyrac shifted so he had a better grip on his Super Soaker and motioned for Gavroche to knock on the door once again.

Gavroche saluted and while holding his own gun and knocked on the door and ducked back into the shadows, the others emerged from the bushes and waited. Once again it was Éponine who opened the door, "what the hell Is going on?" she grumbled and looked around.

"Now!" Courfeyrac shouted as he sprayed her with the gun, Gavroche sprayed her as well before she slammed the door.

"Cosette!" Éponine called as she rejoined her friends.

"Oh my God, 'Ponine what happened?" Cosette's eyes widened.

"Courfeyrac..." Éponine grumbled, "it's one of his stupid schemes," she turned to Bella, "you aren't going to let him get away with this are you."

Bella smiled, "He may be my boy toy, but you don't mess with my girls."

"Cosette, what do you have that we could use as ammo?" Chetta asked.

"Water bottles, trash cans," Cosette shrugged.

"I think I know something better than that," Éponine grinned mischievously.

The girls followed Éponine up to Gavroche's room; she carefully opened the door and ducked.

"How did you know that was there?" Cosette asked recalling the incident that occurred earlier between her and the youngest Thenardier.

"He's our brother, it's something you begin to expect," Azelma answered for Éponine.

Éponine was already busy scouring her brother's room unearthing his packs of water balloons and pulling a couple of water guns out from under the bed. "Ready to take them down?"

"What on earth could they be doing?" Courfeyrac sighed and put down his gun.

Gavroche sighed, then a thought popped into his head, "Oh no."

"What's wrong Gav?" Marius asked.

"If I know 'Ponine I know what she's up to," Gavroche replied.

"So what is she up to?" Courfeyrac asked.

"Imayormaynothaveastashofwaterballoons," Gavroche spoke rapidly.

"What was that?" Alex asked.

Gavroche sighed, "I may or may not have a stash of water balloons that she knows about."

"Great," Marius hung his head.

"Hello boys," Éponine was leaning against the door frame holding a water gun in her hands.

"Oh shit," Courfeyrac paled.

"Come on you think we wouldn't retaliate?" Éponine grinned, "You are going down." She started spraying the boys as the rest of girls armed with their own weapons attacked. Soon the fight was brought into the backyard in the grass that surrounded the pool; all plans were soon thrown out the window as it became ever man for themselves. Éponine panted as she leaned against the house, she was soaking wet.

"Surprise!" Courfeyrac pelted her with a water balloon, she shrieked and started running in order to evade him but was failing. She was fast but she wasn't fast enough as she ran barefoot through the now damp grass, as she rounded the corner she slipped and her ankle rolled painfully.

Courfeyrac stopped, "'Ponine are you alright?" His voice was breathy, "oh Crap," he muttered when he saw her ankle twisted at an awkward angle, "I am so sorry." He then took a couple of deep breaths before calling out to everyone, "Time out! We have a man down."

Alex dropped the gun he was holding and ran to Éponine' s side, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm just fine," Éponine replied, she then twitched her foot sending sharp pain all the way up her leg, "Ow!"

"I'm not so sure about that," Alex replied.

"'Ponine, I'm sorry, I'm an ass and it's the day before your birthday," Courfeyrac began to apologize profusely.

"Courfeyrac it's not your fault," Éponine replied as she put one arm around his shoulder and the other around Alex as they got her to stand without putting weight on her injured foot. "Then again between this and the baseball game how do I know you aren't out to get me?"

They started to walk towards the house, "The baseball game was your fault and you know it," Courfeyrac replied.

"I'm just teasing," Éponine smiled.

"I'll get Papa," Cosette ran into the house.

"There is no need to do that," Éponine called but Cosette was inside.

The two boys continued to help Éponine towards the back door where they were met by Mr. Fauchlevent who took Éponine by himself, "We'll get you to an ER."

Éponine began to protest, "No, really I'm just fine-"

"Sir, would you mind if I went with you?" Alex asked.

"Of course my boy," Mr. Fauchlevent smiled, "and if the rest of you would like to stay that is alright as well."

Mr. Fauchlevent carried Éponine out to his car and with Alex's help got her into the back seat with her foot propped up. Alex went and sat in the front seat and they started towards the hospital. Éponine slumped in the back seat, she hated how helpless she felt.

They got to the ER and Mr. Fauchlevent began to fill out the necessary paperwork and Alex helped Éponine sit down, her ankle had begun to swell and looked a bit purple. Éponine did not speak as she watched Mr. Fauchlevent finish signing the papers on her behalf as her guardian and sit with them. "We will be meeting with a Dr. Simplice and the wait should not be too long," he explained, Éponine still said nothing.

Despite what Mr. Fauchlevent had said the wait seemed to be everlasting until a nurse with a wheelchair finally came to bring Éponine back into an examination room where Éponine waited some more. About fifteen minutes later there was a knock at the door and a woman with brown hair pulled into a bun, tortoiseshell glasses and a lab coat entered, she held a clip board to her chest.

"Éponine?" She spoke, "I'm Dr. Simplice, what brings you here tonight?"

"I twisted my ankle," Éponine sighed.

"That's no good," Dr. Simplice shook her head as she looked at her foot, as she touched it Éponine flinched. "Hmmm... I'm going to get you in for an X-Ray just to make sure it isn't more serious." She got up and left the room.

Éponine groaned, this was far from how she had expected her night to go and slowly she was getting more and more frustrated. The nurse from before got Éponine back into the wheel chair and took her down to radiology to a Dr. Joly.

The X-Ray was quick and Éponine was taken back to the examination room to wait for Dr. Simplice who walked in and was looking at the X-Ray results. "Good news, you didn't break anything but it is a bad sprain," Dr. Simplice put down the X-Rays and got out what she needed to splint Éponine's foot properly. When she was done she disappeared once again and when she returned she was holding crutches which she gave to Éponine and she eased her into a standing position using the crutches as a support. It took her a second d before Éponine was able to use the crutches to get herself out to the waiting room where Alex and Mr. Fauchlevent were sitting. Dr. Simplice followed closely behind in order to have a word with Mr. Fauchlevent.

"Your step-daughter will be fine, it's just a sprain," Dr. Simplice began to explain,no one did anything to correct her. "It will take a few weeks to heal, and in the mean time a couple of doctors that recommender you to visit would be either Dr. Combeferre or Dr. Enjolras."

Alex held back a laugh at the mention of his mother and he could see Éponine's face turning red.

"Thank you Dr. Simplice for taking care of my step-daughter," Mr. Fauchlevent replied. The three of them slowly walked towards his car to be driven back to 55 Plumet Street.

When they returned and entered the house everyone who had stayed behind cheered.

"Oh thank God you're alive!" Courfeyrac came up to hug her.

"Yes Antoine, I'm alive," Éponine answered, "now can we please watch 'Mean Girls'?"