Hey, I know this is the second chapter of the day but I just wanted to get posting this chapter over with. Please don't hate me too much. I cried when I wrote this, but it is important to the story line, I think.

viralsfan101 xxxxxx

10

JOLY POV

Enjolras and Eponine arrive together, and the whole room falls silent. Besides from the fact that both are normally very attractive, they look amazing together. She's wearing a dress the exact shade of red that Enjolras likes the most, with a pair of massive heels, and he's actually smiling for once, at someone other than Eponine. Almost the instant they get in, they are separated by crowds of people, and I watch her as she gets more and more drunk.

Enjolras reappears about an hour later to see her dancing with a group of boys very provocatively indeed. His whole face hardens and he goes over to her, trying to pull her away. Grantaire tries to intervene, but they begin having a massive row, and Enjolras storms off. She comes over to me and takes off her shoes, tears pouring down her cheeks as she says, "What is the point? He's never gonna notice me." I have so much I want to tell her, like how much he actually does care, but I can't find the words, and so instead I hug her tightly, murmuring, "Let me take you home."

When I get back, the whole house is empty except for our lot. Enjolras is sitting on the floor, head in his hands, like a naughty child, and everyone is sitting speechless around him. I ask, "What happened?" and he looks up at me, despair in his eyes as he explains, "Joly, I've made a massive mistake. What am I going to do?" I'm still confused and Combeferre murmurs quietly, "He slept with Cosette." I freeze and everyone groans – just hearing it again hurts, because this will kill Eponine.

"Why did you let me drink?" he asks Grantaire, who shrugs and remarks, "I thought it would be funny. I never imagined that you would do this." I rub my eyes, trying to make myself believe this and I ask, "Where's Cosette now?" Enjolras shrugs and Courfeyrac looks up, sadly answering in a voice that slowly grows in panic, "She went home. Shit, she went home to Eponine. Eponine knows." Enjolras swears and shouts, "She's gonna kill me. No, she's gonna hate me forever. What the fuck am I going to do?" Everyone shrugs helplessly – I've never seen him like this, so full of remorse, but I don't know what he can do to resolve the situation now.

EPONINE POV

"You did what?" I ask carefully, trying to keep my voice controlled as Cosette claps her hands joyfully and says, "I slept with Enjolras! He really helped me get over Marius. Well, I'm worn out – night!" As soon as she closes her bedroom door, I begin to cry, like really actually sob and I just slump on the floor. I think of yesterday when Enjolras and I were so happy, and wonder where it all went wrong.

I think I stay on the floor all night, just crying and not knowing how to stop. At about 7, I get up and wash my face and brush my teeth, and then sit on the couch and try not to cry all over again. Suddenly I hear a knock at the door, and open it to see Combeferre standing there. Any strength left in my body crumbles and I collapse on him, sobbing. He puts his arms around me and takes me back inside where we sit on the couch, him cradling me and stroking my hair.

COMBEFERRE POV

Enjolras was waiting in his car. He dropped me here, and he must have seen Eponine breakdown. I hope he realises just how much he's hurt her. I'm sitting in her living room, just stroking her hair and letting her cry. Seeing her so distraught puts a massive lump in my throat and I have to hold back the tears. When she reaches the hiccupping stage, about 3 hours later, I say, "Babe, you need to talk to him." She looks at me, eyes full of desperation and grief, and she pleads with me, "Tell me how to forgive him. Give me a way, and I will." When I don't speak, she hangs her head, and sobs, "I get it. You can't. I just…Combe, I don't know what to do. How am I supposed to let this go? He slept with her! He lost his virginity to that bitch, who just keeps screwing me over, and I don't know how to stop imagining them together…I just…"

"So what are you gonna do, Eponine?" She shrugs tearfully and lapses into silence, laying her head on my lap and crying as she thinks. "I need to talk to the dean," she says, "Can you go and get your car? I need you to drop me off at the airport." I shake my head, protesting urgently, "Eponine, running away isn't going to help anyone," but she cuts me off, explaining slowly, almost as if she is trying to persuade herself.

"I feel like I need to clear my head. I need to get away and spend time with my family. Sort out my priorities. I think I've realised that…well, this wouldn't hurt so much if I wasn't in love with him." I gasp and hug her tightly, murmuring, "I'll go get my car."

EPONINE POV

I watch him walk away and then run to the phone. I have a long talk with the Dean, lying that my brother is ill, god forbid, and I need to go to him. He allows me permission to leave for two weeks, which should be enough time and I gratefully thank him. Then I hang up, pack up my stuff and write Enjolras a letter, explaining why I have to leave, and…just everything. Then Combeferre arrives, with Grantaire, Prouvaire and Joly in the car. "Courf sends his love," Joly explains, "but he had to stay with Enjolras."

They all bid me farewell at the gate. "Do you want me to come with you?" Grantaire asks, but I shake my head, replying, "Thank you, but no. I need to be alone. I love you all – tell Enjolras… that I love him. Always will…just…I don't know. Tell him I said goodbye. And give him this." They all hug me, and I walk through onto the plane. As it takes off, I begin to cry. Never could say goodbye.

GRANTAIRE POV

We watch her walk onto the plane and Combeferre begins to cry, saying, "I hate seeing her so upset. She deserves to be happy." Joly rubs him on the back and Prouvaire, who also seems close to tears, says, "Let's go talk to Enjolras. This is going to be difficult."

We get back and Courfeyrac tilts his head questioningly. Practically as one, we nod and his face falls. Enjolras straightens up and asks, "How is she?" Combeferre is still crying, Prouvaire walks off and Joly sits down, head in his hands, so it's left to me to explain, "She's gone. She's gone away from here." He begins to cry but I continue, "She said to tell you that she'll always love you and goodbye. And she asked us to give you this."

As he opens it, I realise that it is a letter. As he begins to read, I realise that this is her goodbye. Not for these two weeks. But forever.