Hey guys! Happy Sunday - is anyone else crazy excited for the deluxe soundtrack coming out tomorrow? I can't stop smiling!

Hope you like this chapter - thanks to everyone who has sent me such sweet reviews - I love you all!

viralsfan101 xxxxxxxxxx

9

PROUVAIRE POV

A week later and normal school life has resumed. Grantaire is always off his face drunk, Joly barely sleeps in his frenzy to pass his med exams, and Courfeyrac and Combeferre seem to only be interested in one thing – dating. I'm spending a lot of time working with my new lab partner, and Enjolras and Eponine are spending a lot of time together, as per usual.

It seems they have a routine. Every evening they meet in the café and talk quietly for about half an hour, before she starts her shift. When it finishes at about 9, he sits with her but refuses to talk until she's finished her work. Because they're on the same course, he's always ready to help her, but other than that they've completely abandoned all pretence of tutoring. Then when she finally puts her pen down, they sit together and just enjoy each other's company. It doesn't matter if they're reading, arguing or sitting in silence; they always seem to be happy.

Then one day, she doesn't come in. We see them argue for a few minutes outside and hear him shout, "You're being ridiculous. She doesn't deserve your pity, you stupid cow." She stares at him for a moment in shock before furiously storming off. He puts his head in his hands and then comes into the café, and we all have to pretend we didn't see. He's in a simply frightful mood, and it takes us about half an hour to broach the subject. "Enjolras," Grantaire begins but he is quelled by a death glare and promptly retreats to the toilet. "Oh, for Christ's sake, Enjolras," Courfeyrac bursts out, "What on earth is the matter?" He hesitates for a few minutes, apparently considering how to explain before he answers, "Eponine is with Cosette. She and Marius have broken up, and we had a row because Eponine believes the stupid girl deserves sympathy for expecting anything other than a self-centred bastard when she fell in love with Marius. I disagreed, so we fought."

Combeferre tilts his head and says slowly, "Enjolras, she can do what she wants." He turns on him in a simply furious rage and shouts, "Yes, but she's just going to end up getting hurt again. She's managed to convince herself that Cosette actually cares about her, and she should support her, but she seems to have forgotten that this same so-called friend screwed her over only a few weeks ago, and will do so again. Why is she so desperate to go after people who don't care about her, when she has so many friends that actually do?" Joly puts his hand on top of Enjolras pityingly and says, "Maybe you should tell her."

Enjolras promptly falls off his stool in shock and stands, stuttering for a few minutes before he manages to choke out a coherent sentence – "I meant you lot. I don't…I mean, Eponine's just…just Eponine. I…I don't…" Grantaire, who has returned, comments, "Whatever you say mate, but I seriously think you do." I nod in agreement and clear my throat so he pays attention as I say, "Dude, you miss her when she's not here. You get, like, INSANELY jealous when she talks to other guys. Even the mention of Pontmercy's name and you're practically ready to kill, and don't even get me started on your car. Just ask her out – the worst that can happen is that she says no." Combeferre nods in agreement and thinks for a moment, before adding as an afterthought, "He's right – get your claws in before someone else does. Because she won't wait forever." Enjolras shakes his head and says, "The time's not right yet. But I do need to apologise. I'll see you later." He runs off and Courfeyrac looks at us gleefully, bursting out, "He practically admitted he's in love with her!"

EPONINE POV

I've just managed to calm Cosette down enough to get her to sleep when there's a hammering at the door. I rush to try and shut them up and standing there is Enjolras. We left things on a really bad note before and we both blurt out at the same time, "I'm sorry." He shakes his head and insists, "No. It was my fault. I was being stupid. But I just realised something… I like you, Eponine, a lot. And I can't stand to watch you let yourself get hurt. I realise that you're not a child, but… I don't really know what I'm trying to say, but I am really sorry."

I lean in and hug him tightly, murmuring, "I'm sorry too. Sorry I'm too stubborn to see when someone's genuinely trying to help me. And I'm sorry…I'm just sorry. And thank you – for looking out for me." He smiles warmly at me, and then walks away, waving as he gets into his car and drives off. I close the door and lean against it, sliding to sit curled up in a ball as I think 'Where would I be without him?'

The next morning it's raining and I grab my umbrella when I go out of the house, but I'm greeted by a pleasant surprise – Enjolras' car waiting outside the dorm. He honks the horn and I jump in happily, hugging him and saying, "Thank you. I would have had to walk in this crap if it weren't for you." He smiles warmly and shrugs the apology off, driving me straight to my first class. "See you in the café this evening?" he asks and I nod, blowing him a kiss and thanking him again.

That evening, I meet him in the café and we talk about the new movie that's just come out. "Come on, come and see it with me," I beg, and he gives an exaggerated sigh but says, "Ok, IF you come to the museum with me. I want to show you something." I nod happily and hug him, saying, "Thank you!" Just as he's about to say something, Grantaire bursts in and says, "I'm throwing a party!"

Immediately Enjolras responds, "No you're not. Not at my house." Grantaire deflates for a moment and everyone laughs but he soon perks up, saying, "Joly, Combeferre, we can have it at yours." Before they can argue back, he moves on, rushing through details, "Everyone can come – I'll put up flyers! We can have it on Friday." Both Enjolras and I protest, "I'm not coming," but he bullies us for about an hour before I give in, getting my revenge early by whacking him round the face. Then I turn to Enjolras, and plead, "Please come with me. We only have to stay for an hour." He nods slowly and says, "Just for you."