''Aimee, would you give me your opinion on this?'' Enjolras questioned the petite blonde that sat beside him soundlessly. She nodded as he began to read it out to her.
''People of France, your country needs you!
There are many, many problems with the government. It is corrupt, do not stand for this. Fight for your Patria for she is the only woman to-''the young man was cut off by a loud boyish laugh that accompanied a small boy no older than the young age of eleven. He ran into the room and threw himself on to Aimee, giving her a tight hug.
She laughed aloud, a little in shock, but also pulled the little boy closer to her.
''Who are you hiding from, little Gavroche?'' Enjolras asked him, extremely amused. The young boy hid his head in the woman's shoulder and laughed.
''You can't let 'ep know I'm 'ere alrigh'?'' the young boy mumbled and Aimee frowned.
''What have you done to her Gav?'' Gavroche giggled again.
''Gav''
''I may ha' told Monsieur Marius that she was a little' bit in love with 'im, I didn't mean 'nuffin by it, swear!''
''Gavroche!'' Aimee frowned, hushing the small gamine off of her lap. She ruffled the boys hair. ''Go and say sorry to your sister!'' he went to protest but was stopped with a firm ''Now''.
Enjolras looked at the scene in front of him with a smile on his face. Aimee truly was a wonderful person, beneath all the dirt and the grime there most likely was an extremely beautiful woman too. Not that she isn't beautiful already, you stupid fool. He found himself thinking.
As the little boy finally left the room after a stern talking too, Enjolras turned to his best friend.
''Shall I carry on?'' she nodded.
The men were merry with the spirits they were downing one after the other, Eponine and Aimee were sitting by themselves in the back as they usually would to keep out of harms way, Grantaire was up at the desk with Enjolras and Combeffere was waiting at the door for Gavroche's return. Everything was as calm as it could've been in the café Musain.
Moments passed and Enjolras stepped up to speak to the rest of the students as part of the routine, and once he'd finished they would all go back to drinking wine to celebrate and even Enjolras, their ever so serious leader, would join in on the festivities and conversation and so it would repeat.
''Mes Amis" he greeted, smiling at them all.
As he was about to begin, the door burst open to reveal, a slightly pink, Marius. Enjolras frowned.
''Marius''
Grantaire ignored the silence that had filled the room and let out a heart laugh, holding out a bottle to the young flushed man.
''Some wine and say, whats going on?''
Marius looked down and mumbled something, causing a groan from the drunk. ''Speak louder!''
''One minute there and.. then she was gone?'' it came out as a question, he was confused. Grantaire grinned.
''Is Marius in love at last?!'' he then proceeded to hum some sort of tune, purposely mocking the young man before him. The other students started to join in too, causing Marius to laugh and look down in embarrassment; whilst in the back of the room Aimee put a comforting hand on her close friends shoulder.
''Enough!'' Enjolras shouted with a face of disgust. ''It is time for us to decide who we are, friends! Do we really just want to sit and fight for a night at the Opera instead!?'' they all disagreed quietly.
''Its the blood of angry men we fight for, we can do this. We can change their minds!'' The blonde walked over to Marius and placed a hand on his shoulder.
''You told me this wouldn't get in the way, Marius. I do not doubt you mean it well, but our little lives don't count at all anymore!'' Marius placed his hand on his friends for a second and nodded. ''I know''
''FOR GODS SAKE WILL YOU LISTEN ALREADY?!'' Combeffere shouted from the doorway, Gavroche beside him clinging to his arm.
''General Lamarque is dead!'' the young urchin said loudly, a silence ushered over the busy room.
Eponine and Aimee made their way to the front now, Eponine stood in between her brother and Marius and Aimee walked to Enjolras' side where he quietly put his hand in hers and she squeezed it for comfort.
This wasn't unusual behavior for the two of them, because they'd always been close. Enjolras had been Aimee's first kiss at the age of ten, before she was completely tainted by everything else that the city of Paris had thrown at her.
He'd always been known as the Marble Lover of Liberty, he loved nobody but his country. His Patria. And although this was true with no doubts about it, he had always loved Aimee because she had always been there. If she was okay, then so was he.
''When is Lamarque's funeral little Gav?'' Combeffere asked the small boy that had become almost like the little brother he wished he'd always had.
''Tomorra, at noon!'' Enjolras nodded solemnly at the little boy and then looked upwards to meet the gaze of his friends.
''We shall boycott his funeral, its what he would've wanted. We start there and we do not stop until we have won!'' He cried, throwing his fist up into the air.
He was met with loud cheers and cries, but they were all scared. Petrified of what the next night would have in store for them all.
''Aimee, what does one do the night before they die?'' Enjolras gave a small laugh and played with his fingers as he sat opposite her at a table in the café. She glared.
''Don't you dare say that to me Alexandre, don't you dare!''
''Why would I lie to you and try to convince you that I'll stay alive?''
''It be a damn sight better than sitting here trying to wallow in your own self pity! You got yourself into this mess Enjolras, I told you not to do it from the start. I told you it would end badly but you didn't take any notice of me and now look where we are?! All of your friends are going to fight for you tomorrow Alexandre and I can't sit here and watch the people I love with all of my heart die for something that will never ever work!'' she exploded.
He sat there and didn't say anything in response, but just gave a defeated sigh.
''I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout at you like that'' she sniffed.
''I believe in this cause Aimee. I believe in it almost as much as I believe in you. I know the people of France will see that they can change this situation. Even if I die in the process, because they will rise. I know they will'' he said adamantly.
''I hope for your sake that you will be alive to see it'' she whispered.
The young leader got up from his seat and walked over to her, kneeling down and grabbing her hands.
''Look at me, petite dame'' she smiled a little and did as she was asked.
He sighed and wiped a stray tear from her eye.
''I want you nowhere near here tomorrow, do you understand?'' she began to protest but he silenced her.
''You will not, and I repeat this, you will not die for this tomorrow. I wan't you to live in the change that we created for you. I want you to relish it. You deserve a good life''
''I have a good life with all of you, Alexandre'' she said with a frown.
''Aimee'' he warned. She sighed and he gave a slight kiss to her knuckles before standing up and slowly walking away.
''Thank you, chéri''