Chapter 7:

If he was being honest with himself, Enjolras was going out of his mind. He'd tried to take a backseat but every day that she didn't show it ripped him in half with worry. He knew someone had been hurting her, what if they'd found out she'd gone to the function? She could be anywhere right now! And no one could give them any information that would help. He and Grantaire would stay up and call every house on her block pretending to be cold callers in the hopes that she would pick up. But she didn't. He thought about going to her house. But he couldn't bring himself to do it. What if he went and saw something that he'd want to forget. No, that would be a last ditch attempt when he had no hope left.

But then, as suddenly as she left, she was back.

She was just sat there, the day after they'd talked to Cosette, just sitting in her usual chair. Grantaire ran up to her.

"Eponine! You're back!" He yelled and she just looked at him blankly. "Where were you?" He asked.

"Oh," She replied. "I just took a few days off."

"Why didn't you tell us?" He asked. Enjolras looked on, unable to find the right words. His heart was beating and his hands shook as he texted the boys the news.

"I didn't think it would be a big deal." She shrugged and Grantaire let out an exasperated laugh.

"Jesus Christ we've been going out of our minds!" He practically yelled.

"Well…" She looked strange. "I'm sorry?"

Grantaire chuckled. "It's fine don't apologise. We're just glad you're okay." She nodded in response as the bell went. Grantaire frowned at her before turning to Enjolras.

"Is it just me or is Eponine… off today?" He whispered.

"No, I see it too." Enjolras agreed. The two of them turned back to the girl who began to diligently take notes as she had always done.

It was when she didn't join them at the end of the day that the boys became convinced something had happened.

"Where did she go again?" Bahorel asked.

"She didn't say." Grantaire said for the fiftieth time that day. "She barely said more than five words at a time to be honest."

"Maybe she's tired?" Marius suggested and they boys looked at him exasperatedly. "What?" He said.

Just then they watched as Eponine walked right past them to stand at the front of the school. Enjolras wondered whether they should attempt to go over to her. But before he could voice his idea a car pulled up next to her. A guy's head appeared from the window and the boys took a collective gasp as she leant down and kissed him. The man in the car did not look… trustworthy in Enjolras' opinion. His long, dark hair was a little greasy and the leather jacket he was wearing looked incredibly old and beat up. The car he was driving wasn't that much better. He watched as Eponine walked round the car and stepped in casually. The car started with a jolt and juddered as it pulled away.

"Who the fuck was that?" Grantaire asked as he watched the car leave. "I told you it would be a guy that would make her go crazy."

"Well at least we know she didn't get kidnapped or anything?" Joly offered.

"How come she'd never mentioned a boyfriend before?" Marius asked and Grantaire scowled at him. As irrational as it may be Grantaire fully blamed Marius for Eponine's disappearance.

"Who was the last one to see her again?" Grantaire asked, a question which he hadn't thought of until now.

"Well," Marius said. "I saw her Sunday afternoon when she took me to Cosette's? Did anyone see her after that?" The rest of the boys shook their heads. Grantaire scowled without realising that Enjolras had the exact same anger burning in his stomach.

"And did she mention where she was going?" Grantaire asked through gritted teeth.

"No, I assumed she was going to walk home." Marius said seemingly unaware of the hole that was being burnt through his head by his friend's glares. The other boys had caught onto Grantaire and Enjolras' rage and so remained silent.

Grantaire was the first to break. "You fucking idiot." He said as he picked up his bag and walked away.

"What did I do?" Asked Marius.

Eponine was sat on the lumpy sofa in Montparnasse's flat. He lived not too far from her own house; the familiar grey walls a quick reminder of how similar they were. He was stood in the kitchen fetching a beer as she watched the screen in front of her. She had gone back to school today. She hadn't expected it to be so hard. Being away from the school, it had been easy to forget about her friends. It was easy to listen to Parnasse's words and believe them. But when Grantaire had bounded over to her she felt a pang of regret. Seeing his confused looks and hearing Enjolras' hushed words had hurt, but watching them give up on her hurt more.

"'Ponine?" Mont asked, suddenly in front of her holding out a beer. "Someone in there?" He used his knuckles to tap on her head.

"Sorry." She said quickly, making sure to give him her full attention. "What's up?"

"I wanted to ask your help with something." He said, sitting next to her with a careless arm wrapped around her shoulder. "A job." She quickly shot a look at him. His eyes were fixed to the screen.

"No." She said simply. "I don't do that anymore, we talked about this."

"I know." He replied. "But the thing is, I need you." He paused before turning to look at her. "We can't do this without you."

"Well why can't you find someone else to do it?" She asked and he huffed.

"Because Eponine, we can't trust anyone else!" He voice was rising and from the way his hands were fidgeting she could tell he was becoming annoyed. "I wouldn't be asking you if there was any alternative, you get that right baby?"

"I don't want to do that stuff anymore!" She insisted, "I don't do that stuff anymore." She said as if she was telling herself more than anyone.

"It's nothing babe," He started to explain. "We just need a lookout, maybe an entrance, but that's it. You've done it a million times before. And no one can do it better than you."

"Mont, don't ask me to do this."

"You love me don't you?" He asked. She looked away. He gripped her arm. "You love me, don't you?" He repeated.

"I do." She whispered, fingernails dragging down the inside of her throat.

"So why won't you do this little thing for me?" He practically pouted. "I would do anything for you. You should do anything for me." Both of his hands were now gripping her arms as he looked at her. His dark hair was pulled back and a little stubble now lined his jaw. She felt the walls cave in, he wouldn't let go of this. He pulled her into him and kissed her softly. "One last little job." He whispered into her hair. He felt her nod and he smiled widely. "Why fight it, love?" He asked. She could feel his lips on her temple. "It's in your blood to do this. You can't fight it." Tears rolled down her cheeks as she wondered if he was right.