When Éponine and Enjolras rang the doorbell, the door swung open to reveal a very distressed Toussaint.
Toussaint blinked. Then she closed the door. Opened it again. Gawked. Then closed it again.
"Tou! It's me!" Éponine rapped her knuckles on the door. "Open up, please!"
The door opened a crack.
"There's a boy. At our door. With you. Did Hell freeze over while I was sleeping?"
"Tou."
"Alright, alright, come in!" Tou replied. "Sorry about the mess though, Boy."
Enjolras shrugged.
Tou whipped around to Éponine.
"The party was broken up! I thought you'd been caught! Jesus, woman, never do that to me ever again!"
Laughter bubbled from Éponine's lips. Tou could be her friend and mother at the same time.
"It's not funny!"
"C'mon Tou. It's a little funny."
Tou harrumphed and cross her arms in a pout.
"Right. Enjolras, this is Tou. Tou, Enjolras. He's my date."
Tou gaped. "You brought him here? You—I—What—"
She yanked Éponine's arm to the washroom. "You know what, never mind. Can't say I expected any less. Come on, I've already picked out your clothes. Boy, you can sit at her bed."
Enjolras turned and noticed the stark contrast between the two desks and the bunkbed. The top bunk was decorated with fairy lights, covered with plump, baby-coloured pillows, and very neatly made and tucked in. Polaroids with detailed handwritten descriptions hung neatly along the wall. The bottom bunk looked as if a mole had burrowed through the covers, which were a reddish brown and looked very practical. Books stuck out in the edge of the bed or were scattered on the floor below it, worn from years of use. A map of Europe with ripped corners was taped on the wall.
He could hear Tou fussing over Éponine through the bathroom door, and Éponine's protests.
The desks were no less in opposites. One had books and notes neatly stacked to one side, nail polish and pens to the other. The other had books and papers all stuffed to one side, with a blank space on the other, and a very large black pencil case. The wall beside it was covered in collages and photographs of smiles, laughter, Christmas, and youth. Enjolras examined a photo of a grinning little boy, bright hazel eyes dancing with mischief.
"That's Gavroche. My little brother. He loves toy soldiers and climbing. He's insufferable and I love him."
He turned.
Éponine wore a slight bit of eyeliner, and very natural makeup that emphasized her round, chocolate eyes. Her curly hair was expertly tied in a bun, with a few fly-away hairs. She wore a white T-shirt with 'Bite Me' across the front and jean shorts. A grey hoodie was tied around her waist.
Enjolras felt strange. "I'm not…presentable for a date right now."
"You look fine."
"I just woke up."
"So did I."
Silence.
Éponine rolled her eyes. "Alright, if it makes you feel any better, here." She walked up to him and pat down the wrinkles in his T-shirt and hoodie.
"There." She gave him an approving nod. "Now that you're all prim and proper, can we go?"
"Where would you like to go?"
She grinned mischievously. "I've got an idea."
A/N: I know it's short, and I'm sorry! I'm saving the full date for the next chapter! Thanks so much for your kind reviews, please keep reviewing!
PS: I've recently discovered the song "Asleep" by The Smiths and I can't get enough of it.
