Today was the day. Friday.
Jumping out of the shower, she wrapped a towel around her tiny frame and glared at her reflection. She knew Enjolras didn't think she was attractive. Why would he? Why would anyone? If anything, she looks sick and uncared for. Her cheeks were sunken in and her eyes don't shine. She was a dull person, too skinny, too average. Nothing, in her perspective, stood out. In other words, Eponine wasn't special. She had dimples but didn't smile enough to let them show.
What will she wear? She couldn't present herself like this for an interview or a 'date' with Enjolras. Was this a date? Why was she so stressed about it? Aren't they supposed to be enjoyable and...romantic? Why was she trapped in this body? This life? Things would be so much easier if she were someone else, somewhere else. Eponine often had fantasies of what it would be like if she lived a different life. But when reality jumped in her life, she quit daydreaming and was forced to the reality that brings her down every day. The only people that keep her spirits lifted are Gavroche and, yes, even Enjolras.
Was it normal to fall for someone so fast? Did she really like him or was it merely yearning for a deep friendship? Why do her emotions confuse her? Why doesn't she know the difference between love and friendship? Well that's an easy question, she's never had a real experience with either of them. Not a friend in the world until she met Enjolras.
Why is it only Enjolras who thought to befriend Eponine? He doesn't seem too different from the other kids at school. If he liked her then that means other kids would too, right?
Heaving a sigh, she left the cluttered bathroom and walked quietly to her room to look for an outfit that were actually presentable or less 'boyish'.
Digging through her closet she came up with the conclusion out loud, "I am everything a woman shouldn't be," she mumbled to herself. After a few minutes of digging through her things, Eponine found a pair of jeans without holes and her black combat boots her brother stole from a garage sale. Yes, she hated him for it but was now thankful to have them. She found a clean red and black flannel and a black tank top to go under.
Quickly, she put the clothes on and checked to see herself in the mirror. Thankfully, the flannel wasn't too big and hugged her small figure nicely. Eponine still hated her reflection but it was nicer than usual.
Heading out the door with her backpack, she greeted Enjolras like alwyas, "Good morning,"
Enjolras nodded, "Good morning,"
He was wearing his usual red hoodie and black jeans and his hair seemed to have more curls than usual, "It's bad if I don't have much experience with working at a café, isn't it?"
They walked side by side, "It isn't anything you can't handle. There's a counter where you make the coffee or serve the cookies. You ask for their name, they sit down in one of the few assorted tables, and once your done you call their name, they take it. That simple,"
"How many people work there?"
"Not much, just Cosette and I. We're good friends,"
Eponine felt stuck. Where did she know that name? She said it over and over in her head to hopefully get a picture of who it was but she was still blank, "Cosette," she whispered,"Where have I heard that name before?"
"You know Marius?"
"Pontmercy?"
Enjolras laughed, "Yes, that's him. Cosette is his girlfriend. They've been together since eighth grade," he looked down at the girl who looked sidetracked, "Do you know him?"
She gave a small shrug, "He went to both my elementary and middle school. We didn't talk though, I just know him,"
Enjolras opened the door for her, "Well I think you'll get the job without a problem." He climbed in the driver's seat, "I didn't have a clue about how to make coffee or serving people but they still gave me the job,"
"They must be desperate,"
He shrugged, "That may be but it's nice pay, I won't lie."
"What shifts do you work?"
He laughed and shook his head, "That's a problem, there really isn't an organized schedule," He stopped at a red light, "I would get last minute text that I have to work a shift." Enjorlas sighed, "You know, it sucks sometimes because there aren't many people working there to take your shift."
"Hopefully that gives me a better chance at getting the job,"
"There's no competition. It's just a small café inside a book shop downtown. You see the same people everyday, it seems,"
"So..." She tried her best to change the subject smoothly but being who she was, it seemed a bit awkward, "did you want to go somewhere downtown to get food? Or we-you know, we could just get drive thru. I'm fine with any really," Eponine was rambling now and made sure not to look at him by staring out the window.
Enjolras found it amusing, "I was thinking we can go this nice spaghetti restaurant. They have nice service and it's right across from the antique store and I thought, since your old-fashioned, that'd you like to go."
Eponine had never gone to the antique shop with Gavroche, he was never excited for the things she liked. But getting a chance to go with Enjolras? She couldn't possibly deny it, "I would love to,"
In Psych AP, Enjolras and Eponine were both suffering of boredom. Their teacher was as tired as the students and it seemed that she didn't show any interest in the subject of mental stages of children.
Eponine felt something tap her hand softly. Glancing down at her hand, she saw Enjolras trying to hand her a piece of folded paper. She made sure the teacher wasn't watching and she casually took the note and held it in her lap. Thankfully they were in the very back row where they couldn't be seen from students or their monotone teacher.
Quietly unfolding it, she read:
'Shoot me now or shoot me later,' with a smiley face on the side.
She giggled, not only at the note but the fact that they were communicating through paper. She scribbled in response a quick sketch of a gun and wrote: 'You're welcome' and gave a winking face beside it.
Waiting for the opportune moment, she quickly passed the note to Enjolras without being noticed by their teacher.
Only a few seconds passed by when he passed it back: 'Ouch, you would really shoot me? I wouldn't expect that from you," with another goofy smiley face.
She wrote back: 'I guess there's not much you know about me,' and passed it back.
The next response was: 'Well what else is there to know?"
She scribbled back and was enjoying this conversation, 'It depends on what you want to know,'
When he received the paper, he grinned up at her before writing another response: 'Everything,'
A short reply, yes, but it spoke so many words. Did he seriously want to know everything about her or was this simply a game? Trying not to keep him waiting long, she scribbled under his neat handwriting: 'Everything? There really isn't that much to know,'
After he read the reply, he looked up at her this time his eyes were more serious or concerned...he was hard to read. He wrote his reply quickly and handed it back: 'Everyone has a story, what's year,'
The last thing she wanted to do was turn their conversation into a dark serious one. With that, she wrote the first thing that came to mind: 'I'm a freed prisoner that broke parole and I live under the false name of 'Eponine Thenardier' she made sure to add a smiley face even though she knew he would make nothing of the statement.
When he read it he laughed for a brief moment and wrote back: 'I'm an undercover cop, you're under arrest,'
Eponine felt like it was child's play but she was enjoying every second of it: 'You don't seem like a cop'
'That's what "undercover" means.'
One that note, the bell rang and she was surprised to see that he was walking with her to her next class and they continued their conversation that was on paper, "You know, I could stop my criminal ways and be an undercover cop too. Therefore, we have secret names,"
He rolled his eyes, "I will not be called 'Officer Enjy'!" he exclaimed.
"You're a mindreader and a cop?!" she asked playfully, "That's dangerous!"
Enjolras nudged her, "Shut up,"
"Please tell me you've been reading those books!"
Enjorlas was leaned back on the chair with his feet resting on the table, "What books?" Eponine teased.
"The huge stack I gave you about two days ago!"
She giggled at how serious he looked, "I'm reading Phantom of the Opera right now," she stated simply.
"And?"
"And...it's okay right now, but nothing exciting has happened,"
Enjolras sighed, "You have to keep reading!" He gave a smirk.
"I will on my own time," She mocked his pose by kicking her legs on the table and folding her arms, "I forgot to tell Gavroche about the sitter situation. I'm sure he won't overreact about it though,"
"Better late than never,"
Eponine shook her head, "I just hope he won't hate me for leaving with a total stranger,"
"Once I tell him that he owns Zorro on blu ray, I think they'll get along just fine,"
She shrugged, "He isn't good with meeting new people. In fact, I think he was scared of you two first met,"
"But then I showed him the world of Zorro and now we're best friends," He shrugged is shoulders as if to say 'I'm right,'.
"Okay, Officer Enjy, I just hope your friend known how to handle 'Roche,"
Enjolras shook his head, "Don't say that again, please,"
Eponine gave him a grin, "Nah, it fits,"
"Wait, what do you mean I have a babysitter?!"
Eponine slumped back in her chair. She knew Gavroche wouldn't be thrilled by the idea, "He's a good friend of mine and he's anxious to meet you," Enjolras saw that Eponine was slightly panicking.
"Wait, why do I have to?"
She huffed, "Do you want to stay at home with Mom and Dad?"
There was an uncomfortable pause, "Does he know, 'Ponine?" he whispered so quietly, Eponine could barely hear it.
"No," she responded, "it's up to you though. I personally want you to enjoy your Friday night,"
"Plus," Enjolras beamed a smile, "He has Zorro," he sang from behind the wheel.
Gavroche lit up but thought about it for another minute, "Is he nice?"
"The sweetest," Enjolras said sincerely.
"Fine," he grumbled, "only because he has Zorro doesn't mean I'll like him,"
Enjolras leaned to Eponine at the red light and said, "By the end of the night, he won't want to leave," he whispered, "Trust me,"
Gavroche was being dropped of his friend Courfeyrac's. He, unlike Eponine and Enjolras, lived in a house. It was nice but not classy. Very subtle.
He was a tall man with dark brown curls and had a very bright smile. He seemed nice enough and when he saw Gavroche, the first thing he did was kneel down so he was eye level with him, "Hey, I'm Courfeyrac, but you can call me 'Fey'," He shook his tiny hand in his large one.
Gavroche was bright red with shyness, "I'm Gavroche," he said with his little soprano voice.
Courfeyrac gave him a gentle smile, "Well, Gavroche, it's nice to meet you. Enjolras told me so much about you," He stood up and shook Eponine's hand, "Hello," he gave a wider grin, "you must be Eponine," his grip was strong and he whispered, "I have also heard lots about you,"
Eponine blushed and looked at Enjolras who was avoiding eye contact with her but instead he was scolding Courfeyrac for displaying the information, "What sort of things?" She asked eagerly.
Enjolras was burning red, "Be careful with Gavroche, thanks for dedicating your time, and call me if you need anything," he said as if in a hurry, "Let's go, 'Ponine," He swiftly walked to the red truck but Eponine stayed behind.
"What things?" she asked the boy with curiosity. If Enjolras was talking about her, she had to know what he was saying.
"Eponine," Enjolras called.
Courfeyrac gave her a grin, "Have fun," and he closed the door.
Looking back to Enjolras who was leaning against the hood of the car. He was grinning up at her, "You know, Courfeyrac is an idiot and says things he doesn't mean,"
Eponine giggled and leaned against the hood of the car with him, "C'mon, tell me what you said about me," she nudged him.
"I just said that you're my neighbor and you love books,"
Eponine still felt that she wasn't receiving the whole truth, "That's it?"
He gave her a playful smile and walked to the driver's seat, "Let's go," he said, leaving the conversation unfinished.
"Fine," she huffed and got in the passenger seat, "but I believe we'll have this conversation later on,"
Enjolras laughed and looked at her with his soft eyes, "You do?"
Eponine was marveling over the fact that she could make him laugh, "I intend to do so, yes,"
He shook his head and chuckled, "Okay, 'Ponine, but you'll get the same answer," he grinned.
"I don't think I will," she sang.
"Don't get your hopes up, 'Ponine," He teased.
"Too late,"
She didn't even have to look at him to know that he was smiling and shaking his head.
R/R, please! Thank you for all those who have been giving me regular reviews.
-Ophelia
