Holy cow, the response to this story is amazing! Katlyn, I think we've created something beautiful. xD
Anyway, I'm so glad you guys are loving this, and I can't wait to hear how you respond to where this is going!
-Paige
The festivities were kicked off by scattering candles over Eponine's birthday cake and singing loudly and badly to her, then taking a million pictures as she blew the candles out. Jehan handled cutting up the cake and serving everyone a piece.
"In honor of the birth of dear Eponine, an impromptu viewing of Star Trek and a pirated viewing of Into Darkness will be held immediately after cake!" Courfeyrac announced happily.
Eponine gaped at him. "You sassy, illegal, wonderful idiot."
"Eponine Charlee Thenardier, take that back!"
"What part?"
"I'm not an idiot!"
Enjolras pulled her aside, a grin playing at his lips. "Charlee, huh?"
She blushed, casting her eyes aside. "Shut it, Christophe."
Before he could reprimand her again for calling him by his name, there was a knock at the door. Eponine answered it.
It was Marius.
"Marius!" she exclaimed, offering him a bright smile. Enjolras' heart sank. "What are you doing here?"
He pulled her in for a hug, squeezing her tight. "Why would I miss my best friend's birthday?"
Enjolras couldn't stand it. He walked back into the kitchen for cake, brooding in the corner and watching as Eponine flirted shamelessly with Marius, who was still painfully oblivious. It made him sick. It made him want to vom.
As soon as Courfeyrac finished his cake, he skipped into the other room and popped Star Trek into the DVD player. "Remote, Ep?"
"Under the coffee table, in the red bin."
He fished it out and plopped onto the couch, skipping the previews and getting to the main menu. "Hurry up, children, it's time to boldly go where no man has gone before!"
Eponine darted in and seated herself on the couch beside him excitedly, and the rest followed- some still eating cake. Marius stole the seat next to Eponine, much to Enjolras' chagrin, Jehan sat in front of Courfeyrac, and the rest of them scattered about on the floor.
Star Trek was, as Eponine well remembered it to be, badass. She laughed at everyone's general sassiness, yelled at Spock when Kirk was stranded on Delta Vega, fangirled hard every time Leonard Nimoy appeared, and ate most of Courfeyrac's bowl of popcorn. It was a good birthday.
It was even better when, as Into Darkness began, Marius put his arm around Eponine, and she cuddled against him. Oh, yes. This was nice.
Enjolras, on the other hand, was thoroughly unamused.
Eponine wiped at the mascara under her eyes as the credits for Into Darkness rolled. Kirk's death always got her, no matter what.
Marius gave her a light squeeze, and stood up. "Sorry, 'Ponine, but I've got to go. This was fun."
She grinned up at him. "I'll see you soon, yeah?"
"Definitely." Leaving a kiss on her cheek, Marius left the apartment.
Courfeyrac couldn't help himself. He tackled her happily, rambling about what a good friend he was, and how excited he was for her, and how it was all his doing that Marius was finally noticing her, and that she definitely owed him- preferably in tacos.
But then she caught Enjolras' gaze. He was pissed. But why? Hadn't this been the goal all along? To get Marius to notice her? To get Marius to like her?
Maybe Courfeyrac was right and he just wanted to get into her pants.
The party guests filed out every so often, smuggling final pieces of cake with them, and offering her warm birthday wishes and plenty of hugs. By midnight, the only person that remained was Enjolras.
She turned to face him, head tilting to the side in question. "Is everything alright?"
"Just fine. Do you need help cleaning up?"
"There's hardly anything to clean." Her eyes softened a little. "Seriously, what's going on?"
He didn't respond, fixating his eyes instead on the Star Trek DVD on the coffee table. What was he supposed to say? Sorry, I know I said I was going to set you up with Marius, but actually I'd like to just forget him entirely because I'm kind of sort of in love with you and he's such a jerk to you, how do you stand it, what do you see in him, I could be so much better to you...
He looked up to see she was walking away, into the kitchen. The subject would be dropped. When else would he get a chance like this?
"Wait-" Enjolras reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her over to him and planting his lips firmly against hers. She froze up immediately as his hands slid down to her waist, and he nearly pulled away and ran for it, but then he realized she was kissing him back and he was long gone from any logical thought process he might have had that night.
Suddenly the door opened, and Eponine stumbled backward into the couch, eyes widening in surprise.
"Sorry, 'Ponine, did I leave my jacket here?"
It was Marius. As per usual. Ruining Enjolras' life.
