A/N: Hey guys! Thank you to those of you who have read this far! I will apologize one more time for the previous chapter. Enjoy this one. It will be better, promise!

Disclaimer: I own only my obsession!

Chapter 6: Eponine

I rushed out of the café, uncomfortable with Marius' extensive staring. It was like he was trying to bore a hole right through my soul. His eyes had barely left mine the whole night.

"One more day all on my own," I whispered to myself as I walked down the empty street. Going home was not an option. "Home" was definitely not my favorite place on the face of the planet. The streets shined like silver under the moonlight. And rain dripped silently off of rooftops. "One more day with him not caring. What a life I might have known. But he never saw me there."

I decided I may as well go find somewhere I could be alone and think. Think about Marius, who was more than likely thinking about his lovely Cosette. Think about Grantaire, who was so much like a brother to me, my best friend, and probably so drunk out of his mind that he could barely stand. Think about Cosette, who had managed to capture Marius' heart, something I had never been able to do. Think about Enjolras, the newest intrusion to my thoughts, who was probably so focused on planning the upcoming revolution to be thinking about much of anything else. How had he, the young visionary and leader of the revolution and the students, managed to worm his way into my brain? Despite my feelings for Marius, my mind kept trailing back to Enjolras. Even though my heart raced for Marius, I kept seeing vibrant blue eyes masked with blonde curls, falling gently down a tawny neck, every time I closed my eyes.

I sighed and continued to walk, unsure of where I was or where I would end up. I decided to let my feet carry me. After all, there was no specific place that I had to be. It was a Saturday Night, so the Inn would be busy enough that my parents wouldn't even notice that I was gone until the wee hours of morning. The streets were empty, the city was a live, thriving but everyone was doing so in their own individual houses. It seemed the city had awoken since earlier.

I found myself, not too much longer in the tiny courtyard I had shown Marius to. Cosette was still outside, touching delicate white flower blossoms tentatively. I stepped carefully closer, stepping on a fallen leaf that crackled under the weight of my feet. Instantly, her head snapped up and she retreated indoors, much like a lamb in the presence of a hungry lion. I sighed and leaned against the wall behind me, closing my eyes.

"Who is this hussy?" I heard a gruff voice come from up the ally. Panic shot through my veins. It was too late to run; they had already seen me. I braced myself against the wall, stiffening my body. My blood ran ice cold in my veins and I prayed for someone to come rescue me.

Three men, smelling of sex and alcohol made their way up the alley. I closed my eyes again as they approached, squeezing my eye lids tightly together as though it was the only thing I could do to protect myself from what was surely coming. The ring leader circled, his heavy footsteps striking fear into my heart. I opened my eyes cautiously, and he moved in closer, his wreaking breath invading my sense. I backed closer into the wall, the cold of the bricks seeping into the fabric of my thin dress.

"Pretty young thing," one said moving closer. I struggled against him as he reached for my body, his breath swirling around my face. My chest rose and fell rapidly, breathing becoming more and more of a challenge. I pressed my hands against his chest, hoping I'd be able to summon enough strength to push him away. Despite my best efforts, he pressed against me, his hands exploring the contours of my body greedily, roughly. A scream welled up in my throat as tears began to fall. Before any sound came out, he clapped his hand over my mouth, pinning my head to the cool bricks behind me.

A tear slipped down my cheek as he tore my dress at the neckline, despite the fact that his companions were complaining about not getting their turn. I closed my eyes and stiffened at the feel of his rough hands. I cursed myself for not heading straight home, for running away from the watchful gaze of the students at the café, for not letting Enjolras walk me home as he had planned to.

My neck burned where teeth sank into flesh, drawing tiny streams of blood. He tangled his fingers in my hair and pulled hard on my brown locks, causing me to yelp in pain. His companions whooped and hollered as he slapped me across the face. "Bite your tongue." He hissed. To his accomplices he added, "Hold her down. Get her dress off."

I struggled to get away, kicking and biting. As they tugged me to the pavement, I scraped my elbow on the cold ground, drawing beads of blood from the red and scratched flesh. The pain diminished my strength to fight. My struggling was useless. I was outnumbered, out weighted, and certainly out strengthed.

As they started to tug at the thin fabric barrier, I braced myself for what I knew was coming. I closed my eyes to keep tears inside. I would not give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry. It was then that I heard the voice that returned my sanity. "Hey! Get off of her!" Marius ran over as my attackers ran off, leaving me laying on the street sobbing. He approached me dropping to his knees next to my body. "Dear God, Ep. Are you alright? Are you hurt? What in heaven's name were you thinking?"

His voice was soft, like velvet soothing my wounds. I closed my eyes as he touched my shoulder. He had saved me. That had to mean something. Maybe he had realized that it wasn't Cosette that he loved. It was me all this time. My hope, however was dashed, as he said. "Don't worry, 'Ponine. I'll take you home. You're lucky I was walking this way to visit, Cosette. What were you thinking being out her all alone?"

"No—No. Don't take me home." I said not missing a beat. Despite the fact that I was broken now physically and mentally, I had to keep myself from crying in front of Marius. I had to maintain my dignity. As much as I could anyway. "I can't go home." My voice wavered slightly as his arms engulfed me. In seconds, I was in heaven, pinned against his warm body and off the cold wet ground.

"I'll take you to Joly," He said decisively. I knew there was no point in arguing. I was going back to the café.