AN: Here's the next instalment thank you for reading and enjoy!
Chapter 10: Misunderstanding
Eponine pulled back wide eyed and looked up at Enjolras her chest was no longer tight it was beating heavily, she bit her lips what now Eponine her mind asked.
"That sounded a little scary" Eponine said softly drying her tears.
"Did it" Enjolras asked rubbing his temple.
"It sounded like you were saying goodbye", Eponine said looking off to the side.
"I'm not going anywhere… I'm your shelter I can't leave you out in cold now can I ..." replied Enjolras, Eponine turned to look at him, a frown forming on her face.
"I'm caught in the middle and I' feeling just a little lost… and honestly I don't know what you mean to me", said Eponine truthfully.
"You'll tell me when you find out won't you", Enjolras said smiling softly as he ruffled her hair Eponine grabbed his hand pulling it away, holding it firmly.
"I will", she said seriously gazing into his eyes, he smiled and cleared his throat to stop his heart from completely stopping.
"Let's got home", he said, Eponine nodded and they faded into the cold night air standing close together for warmth.
Knocking on the door to Marius' apartment Cosette was ready to confront her messy love life, the door opened slowly sanding behind was Marius looking scruffy , his hair was dishevelled, a five clock shadow was emerging from his face, he was wearing an old t-shirt and sweat pants, he looked up at Cosette through groggy eyes.
"Christ Marius what the hell happened?", asked Cosette walking in pushing the door shut behind her, the apartment was messy Cosette stepped over empty cans and scrunched up pieces of paper , Marius slumped on the sofa , Cosette sat on the armchair to the side.
"What do you want Cosette" asked Marius's with a strained voice.
"I want to talk…we have to talk", said Cosette determinedly.
"We've been here before what's there left to say Cosette", said Marius his weary hazel eyes turning to meets Cosette's.
"There's so much left to say…last time things… words didn't come out right", Cosette began twiddling her thumbs nervously.
"What exactly are you getting at Cosette", said Marius rubbing his temple tiredly.
"My heart and head aren't in solid place right now… it's why I wanted to know if you're love was genuine, I need it to be real so that I don't feel like I'm simply floating, I wanted your love to root me" she said sighing.
"It's not supposed to be so complicated with you Cosette..." said Marius more to himself than to Cosette.
"Marius I just need to feel like you truly care", explained Cosette.
"Why …Because your hearts so goddamn precious it needs to be treated delicately" replied Marius frustration clear in his voice.
"That's not what I'm getting at I'm just saying that..." Cosette began bewildered by his tone.
"What Cosette what exactly are you saying then!" said Marius his voicing rising violently
"Marius please stop", Cosette pleaded.
"What do you want from me ... you want me to recognise that your damaged fine your damaged Cosette satisfied?" sneered Marius his eyebrow twitching in anger.
"Marius why are you…." Cosette began but trailed off unsure why things had escalated this quickly.
"This is what you wanted right for me to recognise how bloody broken you are Cosette ", said Marius coldly standing up, Cosette slowly stood her pale blue eyes glossing over with tears her fingers digging painfully into the side of her arm.
"I'm trying to hold onto you" she replied shakily.
"I guess I should feel privileged to have the daughter of a prostitute and ex-con hold on to me" Marius spat out the next thing he felt was the impact of Cosette's tiny hand as it collided with his cheeks. Cosette's face was laced with so much hurt, tears rolled down her face as she steadied herself.
"Even even if the whole world turned against me I didn't think you would..." stuttered Cosette through tears as she pushed past Marius he didn't watch her leave all he herd was the door slamming shut behind her.
Marius stood still not moving an inch, I should go after her, I should stop her, I didn't mean it, it's a shame to let her walk away I should… he thought but he didn't. A few minutes after she's gone his legs gave up on him he crumpled to the ground his head lolled back as he started to laugh in disbelief warm tears rolling down his cheeks.
It had been three days since the café incident Eponine walked around the bar nervously, he was coming but when, was he tormenting her, letting her sweat it out, was he planning on destroying her. Thankfully Enjolras had been coincidently passing by every night for the last three nights to walk her home, and this somehow soothed Éponine's heart. It had been over a week and a half since she'd spoken to Marius and she wondered if she'd been too harsh. Swiping down the last tables Eponine got ready to leave, she walked out Enjolras wasn't there yet she stood and waited she felt a hand on her shoulders she smiled turning round, her smile vanished.
"Marius", she said quietly she looked over him he looked scruffy and tired.
"Eponine" he said his voice weak.
"What's wrong", Eponine asked genuinely worried.
"Everything wrong… everything's wrong I'm messing everything up" said Marius avoiding her eyes.
"Look Marius…" Eponine started when Marius suddenly grabbed the sides of her arms and looked into her eyes pleadingly.
"I'm sorry Eponine… I'm sorry forgive me" he said Eponine looked into those sad hazel eyes and sighed.
"It's okay Marius there's nothing to forgive between friends", Eponine said softly hearing his own words being reused, Marius felt his legs weaken as he crumpled, falling to the pavement he pulled Eponine whose arms he was still grasping tightly, down with him. They remained on the floor for second when Eponine felt warm tears fall onto her hands.
"Marius are you okay", Eponine asked worriedly she'd never seen Marius Pontmercy in this state, in all the years she'd know him he's never been as vulnerable as he was at that moment.
"I'm falling apart Eponine", replied Marius his voice week, he looked up at Eponine, starring into luminous hazel eyes full of so much pain and loss, Eponine breathed heavily searching for the words to comfort him.
"We all fall at some point but knowing you'll be up in no time", Eponine said softly, Marius absorbed Eponine words transfixed by the soft comforting smile hanging on her rosy lips. While they had their moment Enjolras was running, hopping Eponine hadn't left yet, turning the corning Enjolras came out onto the open square in front of the bar, what lay in front him was the image of Eponine and Marius on a heap on the floor staring intently at each other. Enjolras staggered back behind the wall and the corner he'd just emerged from, he was out of sight but he could see everything.
Letting go of her shoulders Marius reached out with a free hand and cupped Éponine's face, Éponine's eyes widen in surprise. Staring at her under the moonlight the light dancing on her long charcoal locks, her long lashes framing a pair of large brown eyes , and then those rosy lips, Marius Pontmercy was suddenly struck for the first time in his life by Éponine's beauty.
"I see you Eponine", he said softly leaning in tears still clinging to his face, and Eponine was frozen by his words.
"Mari..." she began but then cold lips leaned into hers, a kiss mixed with tears, the cold and confusion. She didn't pull away straight away, as Enjolras watched the kiss he turned away leaning against the wall closing his eyes he felt warm tears trickling down his cheeks he turned back the way he came and disappeared into the cold night. He left too soon because he didn't see Eponine push Marius away as her mind suddenly becoming flooded with Enjolras' face.
"I thought this was what you wanted", asked Marius in confusion.
"I don't know what happened with you and Cosette…but I won't be her substitute Marius", Eponine said standing up shakily Marius stood up slowly.
"I'm sorry...I don't know", Marius began, wondering why he was continuously making things worse.
"You should go home", Eponine said softly.
"Eponine… I'm" began Marius.
"I know Marius I know", said Eponine cutting him off, Marius called for a taxi and 10 minutes later he was driving away from Eponine, who remained in the middle of the square standing alone.
Eponine sighed relived that Enjolras hadn't been there to see her little indiscretion, she looked around wondering why he was so late. It was cold Eponine rubbed her hands together, every rustle and creak received Éponine's attention as she swerved quickly and excitedly thinking it was Enjolras, it never was. She waited and waited, she even tried calling but his phone was turned off. An hour had passed she was still waiting, the sky darkened she felt a drop land on her cheek she looked up please don't she asked but nothing was going right tonight, the skies opened up and poured down. Still she remained waiting in, the cold, wet, night it was now close to 2 in the morning go home her head told her and finally she listened.
Around 2:30 Eponine finally made it back to the apartment soaked from head to toe shivering , sneezing all the way up the stairs her hands were shaking so much she could barely turn the key. Once in her apartment she quickly stripped and got into warm pj's under her warm covers, her mind started to process that night's events. She thought of Marius, of the kiss and then of Enjolras about how she had waited in the rain and the cold for him, for hours and then her own words echoed around her dark room I'm caught in the middle …I guess I'm not anymore Enjolras .