Author's Notes: Last chapter for the day :) I'll update again on Tuesday and Wednesday. That is also when I update EOSAP again :D

ENJOLRAS IS HERE! ENJOLRAS IS HERE!

Disclaimer: NO

Chapter 4

"The pavement shines like silver."

Paris November 21, 1825

Antoine Enjolras was born a street rat. He certainly didn't look like a street rat. With his blonde curls and beautiful smile, he could pass up as one of those bourgeois boys who he has started to befriend. He never knew how he became friends with them but it all started with Marius Pontmercy. That boy was walking through the streets and he gave him a loaf of bread. He was only 5 back then but he became quick friends with Marius.

He would give him food and money which he would try to give back for they were friends now. Friends are not a charity case but Marius could not be swayed. He finally allowed him after a few weeks. When he turned 8 years old, his father finally left the bar and started finding a job. Everyday though, his father would come home with news that he didn't get a job yet. Enjolras -as he was used to be called- knew that his father will find one soon.

Everyday, his father would go to the main part of Paris to apply for job after job after job. Enjolras would be the one to beg for money and get food for his mother. His mother was born with an unusual disorder that would give her panic attacks in places she was unaware of. Enjolras took the responsibility of taking care of her for his father. "You're the only man at home when I'm gone. Take care of your mother for me alright, petit homme*?" he took that seriously.

When he started begging, he realized that he earned more than what his fellow gamins would get. He felt sorry for the little boy who would come home with nothing. He would pray for the twins whose mother is gravely ill. He vowed to help them and he would share his earnings with them everyday and come home only with a loaf of bread, a small block of cheese and 10 sues. Courtesy of Marius Pontmercy.

"I will go out now mama." Enjolras told her mother and kissed her on the cheek. "Be careful out there Antoine." she warned him but she knew that he was tougher than he looks. He only smiled at her, tilted his hat, and left his home smelling the air. He immediately knew that was a bad idea as he smelled the scent of rotten eggs, spoiled meat and pretty much garbage. He was used to the smell but he would sometimes catch himself by surprise.

He started walking in the direction of the Café Musain, his usual spot. The owner was nice to him and would always invite him in to rest. He whistled and sat down by the wall of the café. He folded his hands in prayer and started saying "God on high, hear my prayer. Help me bring home enough for my family and," he glanced at all the gamins too young to be working "Help them as well They do not deserve this suffering." he finished and he declared himself ready for the day.

Immediately, bourgeois gave him a sue each and he smiled adoringly at them. One of them even said that he would do well as "one of them" but he knew that that would take a really long time. When noon was approaching, he pocketed the money he wanted to keep and gave out the rest of his earnings to his fellow gamins, smiling at the act of giving. He really wanted to help them in a bigger way than this but this was what he could do for now.

After giving out the last of the sues, he decided to go into the Café to ask for a small glass of water from the owner. He was about to go in when his eyes caught sight of another gamine he never met before. He knew every single gamin that roamed the street so he assumed that she was new here. She looked lost and she looked like she was about to cry. He didn't like seeing people cry, especially one of his own.

He started walking towards her and she didn't even move from her spot. He approached her back and tapped her shoulder lightly. She flinched and he retracted his hand from her. What caused such a reaction from a simple tap on the shoulder? He would find out soon but first, he had to help her. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you." he said with a friendly voice.

The girl turned around and he was right to assume that she was crying. She wiped her eyes and stared at Enjolras with a curious expression. Her light brown eyes stared into his own ocean blue and they widened in recognition. "You're Enjolras aren't you?" she said with an unsure voice. He smiled and nodded. "You obviously know my name but I do not know yours mademoiselle." The girl only shook her head at how he spoke to her.

"I am no more a mademoiselle. But you may call me Éponine." she said and Enjolras could see that she was slowly starting to trust him. He liked that, he thought. "Éponine, I like that name." he told her and she blushed slightly. He smiled at her being flustered for he was new to it. "I like the name Enjolras." she replied looking at him with a smile. He smiled back again and decided that he wanted to get to know her. Help her though her poverty.

"Come with me, I'll show you around Paris." she didn't object when he grabbed her hand dragging her through the streets of Paris. He showed her all the landmarks he could reach. He introduced her to the owner of Café Musain and he played games with her and some other gamins. He couldn't remember a time he has had so much fun. Everyday was about work. He would only give out his earnings, not play with the gamins.

With Éponine, he felt like a missing part of his childhood was given to him at last. She understood everything he told her. She would tell him stories of the time her parents owned an inn. He listened intently and she did in return, they became faster friends than he did with Marius. He liked being with her and she told him that she hasn't had so much fun in a long time.

He dropped her off at her home and promised to meet each other again tomorrow. He came back home with a skip in his step and his mother teased him. He doesn't understand the concept of loving any other woman... other than his mother. He didn't get the little teases his mother made but he just shrugged it off and told her that he wasn't ready for that.

The next day, they met up at the café. They did their new routine of earning money, distributing between themselves and the gamins. After that, they played games until they were tired. This was what happened everyday after that. Éponine told him that she was feeling happy for once in Paris and he smiled triumphantly. He didn't like it when he saw her meet him with a frown on her face.

One day, he was walking with Éponine to the more major part of Paris and started to tell her about the buildings. He didn't know much but he knew the basics for his father was his only teacher. He didn't know much either. Despite his lack of knowledge on them, Éponine still listened and gave comments in return. "Father said General Lamarque is the only government official who is sympathetic to us. I like him." he told Éponine and she agreed wholeheartedly.

They stopped at a small bridge that went over a clean creek and sat down next to each other in the middle. Nobody crossed that bridge so they knew that it was fine to sit there. Éponine started telling Enjolras stories of a girl she was friends with when she was still rich. "Cosette was my best friend. My parents never liked her but they never knew who she really was. She was kind, funny and was always positive." she sighed sadly and Enjolras placed a hand of sympathy on her shoulder.

They stayed in a comfortable silence for a few minutes until Éponine decided to hold the hand Enjolras placed on her shoulder. He didn't mind for he was comforting her, he would give as much comfort as she needed. "Enjolras?" He turned his head down at her and smiled in response. "I think I'm ready to tell you." Enjolras raised his eyebrow. "Tell me what?" Éponine looked nervous but Enjolras was determined to take her nervousness away.

"Hey, you can tell me anything. We're friends remember?" he told her taking her other hand in his own. She smiled at the statement and nodded. "I just ask you not to judge me..." he shook his head at how foolish that was. "Éponine, I will never ever judge you. Now, tell me what you want to tell me." He squeezed her hands reassuringly and she nodded again.

The stories she told him left him in shock.

*Little man

I'm not sure about this chapter but hey... ENJOLRAS