Eponine

With our arms interlocked we made out way to the dining room. It was quite crowded, even for a big room. Tables all sizes were covered by the whitest table cloths I have ever seen, a floral arrangement of red roses on the center of each table.

"There's John Jacob Astor, the richest man on the ship. With him is his wife Madeleine, unfortunately she is not very well on health" said Enjolras indicating a man and a woman with a nod of his head.

"Well look at you two" said a voice behind us, turning we see Ms. Huchloup grinning at us. "Don't you look lovely together".

"Molly, always a pleasure" responded Enjolras as he kissed the woman's hand.

"Darling?" asked a girl looking at Enjolras. She had dark curls pinned to her head and a beautiful velvet blue dress; she seemed oddly familiar yet I knew for sure I have not met her.

"Beth!" said Enjolras while letting go of my arm. Instead that arm that had been entwined with mine went and wrapped itself around the girl's waist. "I want to introduce you to Eponine Dawson; Eponine this is Bethany Hockley, my fiancée" at his words I realized I had recognized the girl because she was the one who Enjolras was holding the first time I saw him.

"A pleasure" said the girl stepping forward shaking Enjolras's arm from her.

"Evening" said a voice I had only heard once before, yet it brought a shiver to run through my body. Looking at the approaching man and I could hear those horrible words he had said.

'You do not belong on this ship' he had said after he had called me a whore.

"Father may I introduce Enjolras's friend, this is Eponine Dawson. Eponine this is Javert Hockley, my father" said Beth while smiling at me.

"Ah, yes. Your mother had told me someone would join us tonight" said Javert looking at Enjolras. When his eyes met mine I saw his eyebrows furrow yet I did not see any sign of recognition on his eyes. "How do you do" he said giving a small bow with his head.

"Nice to meet you" I said through gritted teeth.

"There comes my mother. Let's take a sit, shall we?" asked Enjolras while guiding Molly and I to a table near the center of the room.

At the end I ended up sitting between Beth and Molly, while Enjolras sat beside Beth and his mother. A friend of his, who insisted we call his Joly, joined us, as did Monsieur Astor and his wife.

"Now tell me Eponine" said the woman who had been introduced to me as Enjolras's mother, Ruth. "are you married?".

"No madam" I responded while looking at all the silver placed on either side of my designated plate. Molly realizing my discomfort tells me they are used from the inside 'till I reach the one closest to my plate. Dear me, how many plates of food would be served!

"Engaged then?" continued Madame Ruth.

Before I could answer Enjolras interupted, "Joly, you told me you were a medic?".

The dark haired gentlemen smiled "Yes, I indeed am. I am currently finishing my studies, yet I still have a small place near my house to practice".

"Outstanding!" said Beth realizing Enjolras was trying to keep his mother from talking. "Do tell more Monsieur Joly".

"Honey, please do not interrupt Madame Ruth" said said Javert, his eyes glued to my face.

"Eponine?" said once more Enjolas's mother, venom on her voice.

"No, I am not engaged Madam".

"Oh dear!" she said while bringing a gloved hand to cover her chest as if her heart was about to pop out from there. "What is your family thinking? What a disgrace!"

"Mother!" said Enjolras on a warning tone. "I rarely believe this is any of your inconvenience".

"I am sorry Richard, it is just that the situation is extremely odd". she said, her hand still glued to her chest.

"It's alright" I said, even though I was a bit offended by the woman's bluntness. "I do not live with my family ever since I was sixteen Madam. They were awful people, a disgrace and I wanted nothing to do with them for I ran away from my home at young age. As for an engagement, even if my life have been far from pleasant so far I do still have hope some man would steal my heart and he feels likewise. That will be the day I will engage, the day I love someone and they love me back fully".

Silence settled around the table for a couple of minutes, all eyes on my face.

"That is very inspirational, Eponine" said Molly breaking the awkward moment and taking my hand she gave it a small squish before she let go.

"Quite brave" agreed Bethany.

"But how did you get a ticket for this ship then?" pressured Ruth once more. "You are a first class, are you not?"

"No, madam. I am staying at third" at my words I could see the woman paled noticeably.

"And how are the accommodations? I heard they were quite good on this ship" asked Monsieur Astor trying convert the conversation into one where I felt comfortable.

"The best I've seen, monsieur. Hardly any rats" I said smiling at the man, a round of laughter followed my comment.

At this point in the evening a young man dressed all in white approached our table, a silver platter on his right hand and a large spoon on his left. He was offering something that went by the name 'caviar' I have never in my life tasted it.

"Caviar Madam?" he asked while standing to my right.

I moved in my seat and let the man serve the food. Once it was Joly's time he refused and continued to explain everyone around the table how one could get anisakiasis from eating raw fish. Everyone on the table laughed and called the poor man a typical doctor.

"And where do you live, Miss Dawson?" asked Ruth, that woman could not let got the fact that I was a third class.

"Right now my address is RMS Titanic, Miss" I answered eyeing as the waiter made his way around the table. "After that I am on God's good humor".

"And you find that rootless experience appealing?" asked Monsieur Astor's wife, from her tone I could tell her question was not meant to be rude as Ruth's had been.

"Well it is a big world and I would like to see and experience most of what I can before I leave it. One can't wait for things to happen, you have to make them happen. You can't wait around because you never know what hand you're going to get dealt next." At the wold hand I saw Javert's eyes widen with recognition, he knew I gambled from our previous conversation. I ignored his stare by looking at Enjolras instead, he was looking back at me with a small smile teasing his lips. "Having the people I did for parents teaches you to take life as it comes to you. To make each day count."

"Well said, dear" said Molly while raising her glass to my words, some around the table agreed with her by raising their own glasses and giving me a small nod.

"To make it count" said Enjolras raising his own glass, his eyes never leaving my face.

.

Enjolras

Once dinner was over Eponine excused herself form the table saying she was very tired and needed rest. I saw the men get up to go for a smoke and a drink, I refused by saying I was going for a walk. In reality on her way out Eponine had handed me a small piece of paper. Make it count; meet me at the clock, it said.

Walking out I saw her standing, her back facing me while she looked at the wooden clock.

I walk towards her, climb a few stair before she turns, a smile plastered on her face. "Want to go to a real party?" she asked while offering me her hand.

I smile at her, something I seem not to control once she is anywhere near me, and take her hand. She leads me through endless corridors and long stairs. Halfway we meet Joly and he decides to come with us.

We stop at a door that indicates it leads to the third class general room, I could hear music and laughter emanating for the other side of the door. Eponine turns towards me and ruffles my hair before opening the door and running in, leaving Joly and I staring after her.

We both enter the room and the first thing I notice is how crowded the room is, everyone is bumping elbows with everybody. There are glasses with beer everywhere, cigarette smoke is visible, some men are daring each other for a strength challenge while others are sited smoking, most of the people are dancing and turning somehow making it look graceful to move on such a small space. The music is something I rushed and happy, it reminds me of when I was a child ans I used to visit my grandmother.

I scan the crowd and look for Eponine when suddenly a girl with big blue eyes stands in front of me and Joly. "Well, don't you stand out like two oil drops on a glass of water. Come with me, Eponine told me you might join us tonight" she said while starting to walk away. She stopped a few steps after once she realized we weren't following her. "Aren't you coming?"

She led us toward one of the corners on the room; there she assured both, Joly and I, that she would take care of our coats and offered us cigarettes and drinks.

"Oh where are my manners!" she said hitting lightly the side of her head with her hand, "My name is Musichetta" she continued by offering each of us her hand to shake.

I turned once more toward the crowd and spotted Eponine, she was dancing with a small blonde boy. Seeing Joly and Musichetta were deep in conversation I decided to go where Eponine was.

"Mind if I cut in?" I asked once I was right behind her.

Eponine let go of the boy and turned to look at me. "Where's your coat?" she asked eyeing my white dress shirt, it was quite warm down there for I had to roll the sleeves to my elbows, I saw she had taken off her gloves.

"Musichetta" we both said at the same time.

Eponine lets go of the boy's hand and takes my left hand on her right and puts her left on my shoulder while I put my other hand on the small of her back.

"You're still my favorite 'Roche" she said giving him a wink and he walks away with a smile.

"I don't think I know how to dance to this" I inform her.

"Just dance, don't think" she says and not a second later we are off and moving beside the other couples. We turn in sink with the music, each time we go faster. I laugh at how silly we must look and she soon joins me, we speed up some more and I see as some hairs fall off from her bun. She isn't wearing shoes and I see as her feet move faster and faster, her laughter getting louder each time.

I thought she looked beautiful before, but I was wrong, she is more beautiful when she is laughing, no matter the clothes or products she wears.

The music stop and we stop with it. I feel a little light headed but it is Eponine who I see is truly dizzy. Her eyes roam around the room without lingering anywhere and she can't walk straight. She takes a step but looses her balance I instantly grab her, my hands on her either side of her hips. Her eyes search my face yet stop once they reach my lips, I see as she licks her own.

"Thank you Enjolras" she said after she cleared her throat.

I put her back on her feet and offer her my arm which she takes to help her dizziness. I guide us back to our friends.


just to be clear gavroche is not eponine's brother here

i am sorry guys:( i am not very good with updating but finals are near and i need to study

hope you liked this chapter. i am not gonna lie i did write this a little rushed for i don't think it is good but you deserved an update

see you next week (hopefully)

OH! and thank you all you have been leaving me little comments:) they are so cute and seeing you like my story/writing style is great to hear

I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH