Eponine walked into class the next day with dark circles under her eyes and smelling strongly of cocoa beans.
"Woah Ep! You look like you're ready for some Ted Bundy adventure time. How fun. "Nina cried out the second she came through the door.
Sitting down she placed a two brown bags in the table in front of theirs and passed one over to Lizbeth.
"Red velvet cookies" Eponine said. " coconut macaroons for Marius and more lemon squares for your brother. I've been baking all morning and I managed to mess up tempering chocolate three times. Poor Chetta spent almost three hours trying to save me from burning myself to death."
"Well at least you smell fucking good. " Nina said through a mouth full of cookie and Eponine plopped down in exhaustion.
Liz and Nina fought over how to divide the cookies but settled down when Valjean walked in and started lecturing whenEnjolras and Marius both walked in late, hair wet from the rain outside due to practice and trudging mud into the classroom. She could only imagine the state of her father.
Eponine was making a mental note to take Javert some hot tea from the café after her shift so he wouldn't get sick when Marius turned around and thanked her for his macaroons.
"It's no problem Monsieur." Eponine said with a pretty smile.
"I heard you're going to be going up to the cabin with les amis?" Marius asked her as he poked around his bag.
"Yeah. Are you going as well Monsieur?" Eponine asked with some small amount of enthusiasm.
"Alas my lark was not given permission to go so I'll be keeping her company this weekend."
Eponine smiled softly at the memory of Cosette and was shocked to find that the thought of Marius and her didn't burn the way it had not a week before.
"You're a good boyfriend then Monsieur." She complimented and Marius beamed with a mouthful of macaroon.
Eponine's phone went off and she glared at Enjolras's head.
She smiled softly at Marius again and excused herself to look at the text.
"Not falling over at the sight of Marius, this is progress. Care to spend the night with me?- Enjolras"
Eponine rolled her eyes but felt the now familiar yearning stirring for Enjolras. Not just for the fucking but the physical ability to be close to him and spend time with him.
"Yeah. Pick me up after work you douche bag. – Eponine."
Enjolras didn't reply but she noticed him nod his head twice before starting to munch on a lemon square.
Tossing her hair into a curtain she reached out for her book and let herself fall for Heathcliff.
The irony was not lost on her.
Twp weeks had flown by and before Eponine knew it Friday was already there.
She had spent almost every night that week with Enjolras.
He drove her to work in the morning and picked her up in the afternoon, they spent hours talking at the park , and he took her every evening to different restaurants , he even took her to the museum and explained all the various paintings and at night.
They shared his bed at night and on one occasion he snuck into her room when Javert was asleep because he ' needed' to see mostly talked that night, in-between kisses and warm embraces but somehow that had been enough for them. Things between them were changing.
Eponine's bag was packed and tucked behind the café counter ready to go as soon as her shift was over. Everyone had agreed to meet at the Musain and leave to the cabin from there.
"That's right, now squeeze until you get a really nice droplet and pull upwards. Yup! You did it. The perfect chocolate kiss." Muschietta cheered clapping her hands and Eponine felt giddy.
She had finally mastered Chetta's chocolate tempering and had moved on to the simplest of the chocolate arts.
Muschietta hugged her quickly and left her with an order for one large batch while she manned the front.
Eponine enjoyed working at the café It felt like her life was more complete now than it had ever been before.
She got to come here and make her own art. The feeling of her hands covered in flour was welcoming, the large oven warming the small kitchen even in the coldest of Paris nights a home away from home.
Eponine had just finished the chocolates and was multitasking making both red velvet cookies and a coconut cake when she felt somebody kissing her neck from behind her.
She threw her arm back and Enjolras cried out while holding his nose.
"Hello to you too." He admonished with a sarcastic face.
"You scared the living shit out of me. Oh god are you Okay? Jesus Are you bleeding ?"
He smiled at her attempt to move his hand from his face and instead hugged her tightly and kissed her temple. Enjolras had been increasingly playful with her, sweeter than she had ever imagined he was even capable of being. Of course he reined this part of himself in until they were alone. Nobody ever got to see him this way except for her.
She cried out when he bit the top of her ear and sprinkled flour on her hair.
"You ass." She laughed out "You're early."
"Almost everybody's here already. Liz sent me in here to collect you. They're all ordering some coffee and shit to go."
"My food should not ever be referred to as 'Shit'. I'm magnificent. I'm even thinking of getting into culinary school."
"You're gonna be a fancy restaurant owner? Hmm I think I can get behind the idea of you in one of those stupid hats."
Eponine smacked him on the arm and thrust a chocolate kiss in his mouth to shut him up which he gladly accepted as he nipped at her finger tips.
"I'll be out there when you're ready." He said backing out the kitchen but Enjolras paused and came closer to hold her hips.." Just … I want you to remember um…"
"I know this weekend we're going to be sleeping with different people but….I want you to know …you mean a lot to me Eponine. I don't show it often but you do." Enjolras spoke quietly to her ear. He placed a kiss to her crown and left before she could say anything.
She stood there a while trying to control her heart beat and the tightness gripping at her as she stared out the door he'd left through.
The oven beeped and she jumped but was glad for the distraction.
She brought the food over to Muschietta and playfully smacked her hand as she tried to carry the heavy tray.
"You know what the doctor said Chetta, absolutely no heavy lifting. I'll be back on Monday and I've already made four cakes for you to sell while I'm gone. People will just have to do with not right out of the oven."
Muschietta hugged her so tightly and Eponine stroked her baby bump playfully. "Yes mother." Chetta joked.
"Look cricket be good and don't' stress out the boss too much. She's hormonal enough to burn us out of work and home." Eponine told Muschietta's baby bump and took out her bag to pass to Ferre with a small wave to the shop owner.
They walked outside and Eponine sucked in a hard annoyed breath when she saw Leslie kiss Enjolras and step into his car.
Combeferre noticed her expression and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Come on Ponine. I'm good company too, some would even think me preferable."
She smiled and agreed as they met up with the others.
Adrianne ran up to her and placed a cigarette between her lips.
"There now you don't look like a constipated mongrel." She said with a tap to Eponine's cheeks.
Eponine wiggled her eyebrows at R and he reached over to light it for her.
"You all know how to bribe a girl with tobacco pretty well." She smirked around the burning parchment.
"Ah we can see right through you." Grantiare joked and Eponine slapped him upside the head.
"How dare you." She cried out and covered her lady parts.
That earned her a round of laughter from the others and they finally started shuffling into the cars.
Combeferre was driving and Eponine called shotgun. R and Lizbeth and Jehan and Nina were both in the car while Adrianne, Courfeyac , Suzy and Joly all rode with Enjolras and Leslie in the escalade.
Adrianne pretended to shoot herself through the mouth and Suzy pretended to choke as they started the cars up.
"Those poor souls, stuck on a four hour drive in a closed enviornment with Snow White." Eponine remarked as she waved at her friends like a queen.
"Well they've got the right idea going...lets hope Nina doesn't find the flare gun." Lizbeth joked jumping to change the station to play some Van Halen. The girls started to dance and Ferre let the convertible's top down.
The chorus started and all the girls started yelling loudly.
"RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL!"
Eponine sat amazed as the world flew by leaving paris behind. Her hair flying everywhere as Liz and Nina laughed behind her as she used it to tickle Ferre's face.
She felt Lizbeth prod her back and gesture for her to stand up.
Combeferre tried to stop her as she undid the seat belt and she just pushed his hand away with a crazed smile.
They stood up nad tried to keep their balance against the hard wind. Holding hands as Grantiare held onto Lizbeth's legs looking up at her as if she was the world.
Lizbeth took down her hair from her ever present ponytail and black and blonde crashed together. Eponine felt the air snap at her and sting but nothing could have felt more perfect but that moment. The truck behind them put down their windows and cheered them on.
"YOU GUYS ARE SO GAY! THAT'S MY JOB!" Adrianne cried over from the open window of the escalade.
Eponine and Lizbeth hugged and laughed as they tried to sit back down.
Eponine felt her foot slip from it's space on the dash and she fell back against the door before Combeferre pulled her back to a sitting position.
She giggled maniacly at Ferre's glare and she reached out to ruffle his hair.
His eyes softened and he asked her if she was hurt.
"I'm fine Ferre. Don't worry."
Regardless of her reassuring words they pulled over at the next gastation to refill and he asked Joly to check her back.
"You're gonna be a little bruised but other than that you're fine." Joly said with a wide smile. " That was so cool!"
Eponine stuck her tounge out at Ferre who was sitting next to her.
"See, totally fine." He rolled his eyes at her and laughed before Enjolras came up behind her.
"Are you okay?" He asked as if bored. Eponine pushed down the urge to reach out hold his hand and make sure he understood she was fine but Leslie was nary six feet away. She could tell he was concerned despite the mask of indifference he wore.
"Yea I'm fine. Ferre managed to slow my fall with the shield of worry he projected."
Enjolras gave Ferre a strained smile and Combeferre stood up and told her he'd bring her a drink.
As soon as Combeferre was far enough Enjolras's eyes sharpened and smoldered with anger.
"Are you stupid?!"
Eponine frowned up at Enjolras as he ran a hand through his hair.
"You could have seriously been hurt Eponine, you and my idiot sister. What the hell were you thinking?"
"Jeez calm down Enjolras, I'm fine. We're fine. It was fun."
He looked as if he was going to burst a blood vessel and he opened his mouth to say more but Leslie yelled at him to come back and he gestured at the cheerleader to wait.
"Just go." Eponine bit out in earnest.
"Eponine.." Enjolras started but by the time he turned back to her she was already gone.
Enjolras saw Ferre pass Eponine a bottle of water and after some prodding on her part a large bag of gummy bears. His little girl launched herself into his best friend's arms and she laughed as she pried the bag away.
Jealousy brewed in his veins but he pushed it down in favor of walking back to Leslie.
He had no right. Not this weekend.
The cabin was beautiful. It was surrounded by the greenest woodlands and a deep blue lake.
"OH GOD ITS STUNNING!" Eponine cried out as she jumped onto R's back.
Lizbeth and Adrianne ran to the lake and immediately jumped in as Nina and Suzy went trigger happy with their cameras.
"I'm glad you didn't bitch out Ep. It wouldn't have been the same without you." Suzy giggled as she took a picture of Eponine kissing R's curls from her piggy back ride.
Eponine screamed when after the flash snapped he took off running and flipped them both over into the lake.
Eponine came up gasping for air and attempted to drown him.
"You dick! These thrift shop jeans are dry clean only!"
He pushed her onto his shoulders and Lizbeth climbed on Nina's for an impromptu game of chicken which both her and R won.
"We're gonna start the bonfire with your clothes " Joly yelled at them.
"Don't use R's nobody wants to see that shit!" Lizbeth called back which earned her a splash from her 'non' boyfriend.
Eponine trudged out of the water to Ferre who was taking their bags to their shared bedroom.
"What are you doing that can wait!" Eponine cried out but he ignored her in favor of taking the bags inside.
Eponine didn't like to be brushed aside so she grabbed him by the shoulders and threw herself across one.
"Fine. Then I'm a bag too."
Ferre chuckled as they walked through the door and Eponine felt the laughter die in her throat when she saw Enjolras sitting with Leslie straddled on his lap and her arms around his neck. He was completely engrossed in her eyes he and didn't even notice them come in.
She felt a stab at her heart and pain spread throughout her body. She just clung onto Ferre tighter and rubbed her wet hair on his face, she knew this was going to happen and she didn't plan on letting it bring her down.
Pinching Ferre's cheeks she kissed him on the forehead and yelled out.
"ON WARDS MY GOOD STEED!"
That jerked Enjolras out of his stupor and he turned in time to see Eponine wrap both legs around Ferre and the door close.
Eponine changed into dry clothes as Ferre laid face down in the mattress.
"Are you done yet." His muffled voice called out.
"You may now look at my greatness." Eponine commanded in a British voice.
Combeferre turned to look at her and she blushed at his obvious admiration.
She was wearing black shorts that were salvaged from her old clothes and one of Enjolras's jackets over a black bikini top. She pulled on her boots and took his hand.
"Come on law boy. You're gonna make me some smores."
When they made it out to the backyard everybody sat around in a circle surrounding a small bonfire.
"Koombayah much?" Eponine said as she sat next to Liz who had Grantiare sitting between her legs with his head on her chest.
"Jehan brought a guitar but apparently he doesn't play. So the ambiance is failing." Nina joked as she mussed with the boys hair.
The scene before her made her take notice of how romantic Les Amis were. Suzy was holding Joly's cheeks softly, Adrianne sat on Courf's lap, even Leslie had Enjolras's arm draped around her, her fingers entwined in his.
"Ponine can play." Suzy chimed in and the others cheered.
Eponine snapped to attention and felt her face blanch.
She did know how to play.
She learned when Gavroche was a baby and her mother would shove him at her because he wouldn't stop crying. Eponine was only a young girl when it had started and she had no idea how to take care of a baby. She had laid him down in her old mattress and begged him to be quiet but he wouldn't stop.
She tried everything, rocking, singing, reading. Nothing seemed to deter little Gav. That was until Montparnasse brought her an old guitar he'd taken from a rich bourgeois boy whose house he'd stolen from earlier that night. It was worth a pretty penny but Montaparnasse always brought her trinkets and such.
At the time she had no idea how to play but the strumming was what finally lulled the tiny thing to rest. Her mother was so amazed she made her stop doing the chores in order to quiet the baby so often she actually learned to coax actual music from the instrument.
Pursing her lips at the memory of a sleeping baby Gav she tried to avert the situation.
"I – really can't play much."
"Aw come on Ponine. Don't be shy." Suzy said as she handed her the guitar, "I've heard you play tons of times with my dad's guitar. You're awesome."
Eponine bit her bottom lip and looked across at Enjolras but he had his attention to Leslie.
Eponine felt the familiar knot in her throat and she started strumming out an old song she hadn't played in a while to push down the anxiety.
She sang soflty along with the melody and everybody went silent to hear her.
The world was on fire and no one could save me but you.
It's strange what desire will make foolish people do.
I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you.
And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you.
No, I don't want to fall in love (This world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I don't want to fall in love (This world is only gonna break your heart)
With you (This world is only gonna break your heart)
What a wicked game to play, to make me feel this way.
What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you.
What a wicked thing to say, you never felt this way.
What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you and,
I want to fall in love (This world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I want to fall in love (This world is only gonna break your heart)
With you.
Eponine stopped singing and let her hands fall of the guitar strings.
Licking her lips she turned to the others to see their eyes glazed over. Grantiare kissed Lizbeth's hand and patted Eponine on the thigh.
"Didn't know you had that in you Ponine. That was fucking beautiful."
Eponine smiled at him grateful for his words and felt her eyes drawn to back to Enjolras. Leslie had his chin in her hands and she leaned in for a kiss.
Before she could see them find each other though a flaming marshmallow was thrust in front of her nose.
"You told me to make you smores. So blow out the fire, and make a wish." Eponine turned to look at Ferre who looked at her so sweetly.
And for once she thought she would like for someone to look at her like she was the moon and stars. And it didn't have to be Marius…or Enjolras.
"It's still burning." He chided and she blew the fire out.
"Okay now sir, I expect the perfect smore. A smore so good the gods will probably turn you into a rodent with in sheer jealousy." Eponine said with an air of command.
Ferre laughed and squished the nearly blackened marshmallow in between chocolate and graham cracker.
"It's a little on the burnt side." He said as he handed it over as she took a bite.
"It's perfect. Here, have some."
"No, it's okay I don't really eat swe-" Eponine took the back of his head and shoved the last bite of it into his mouth.
" Mmmhmm okay, it's pretty good. I'll be a rodent soon enough." He said turning a charming shade of red.
Eponine realized how close they were and shuffled back to her original position. When she turned to look around their friends she caught Enjolras's gaze and quickly looked away to R who raised an eyebrow as he caught the whole scene.
She narrowed her eyes at him and he laughed. Things were getting out of hand and it was only the first night.
How the hell was she supposed to get through this?
The Next Day : MID AFTERNOON.
Eponine and Lizbeth jumped into the lake as Joly yelled them for not to after having waited an hour after just having eaten.
The day had been great so far, the night before going smoothly after the bonfire everybody retiring well into the morning hours.
"I think you're smitten by a certain blonde and no I am not talking about me or my toad of a brother."
Eponine opened her mouth to disagree but screamed when she felt hands on her hips.
"You are oh so smitten. This is a horsemen intervention by the way, well by two of the four because Suzy is listening to Joly and Adrianne is getting her sick kicks out in the forest. Ala Grabba Condom Style." Nina jumped in.
Eponine bit hard into her lip and looked around for anyone else who might be lurking in the water before turning back to the girls.
"I am not…smitten! Ferre is just…he's a sweetheart but we're just friends." Eponine cried out. "I have feelings for someone else.
"Well regardless of what you feel, Ferre's hardcore into you." Nina chided.
"And for him to go against Enjolras's wishes takes balls. " Lizbeth said as she let herself float just above the surface.
Eponine felt her heart go frantic and the water suddenly didn't feel as safe or comfortable as it had been moments ago.
"Guys, I know you think this is funny…but it's really not. I'm not completely over Marius, I'm sleeping with your brother, and I have no concept of how a functioning healthy relationship works. Please stop trying to add Ferre to the mix." Eponine heard herself say.
"Why? Is it because of Marius? Or Enjolras? Are you starting to think of the chief as more than just the occasional roll in the hay?" Nina prodded.
"Come on Ponine. You've always been proud of being able to be honest with yourself so this should be easy. Answer the question." Lizbeth said putting emphasis on the last part.
Eponine's head was hurting and her vision started tunneling before her. She felt her stomach churn and the urge to vomit was too great to ignore. Swimming as fast as she could to the shore she crawled on her hands and knees and puked.
Hot blistering bile rose in her throat and she struggled to keep herself upright, the force of her heaving leaving her arms too weak to keep her up.
Lizbeth and Nina cried out to her from the water but she couldn't make out any words they said.
It was all too confusing and everything too cold.
Eponine felt warm arms hold up her hair and rub at her back.
"It's okay Ponine. Let it all out."
Ferre's words were soothing as tears pooled in her eyes. She didn't want him to see her like this but she was too tired to care.
Eponine let out chocked sobs as she finished heaving and Combeferre hooked an arm under her knees as she wrapped her arms around her neck.
He walked in silence to the cabin and Eponine reclined her head into the heat of his neck and cried.
"I'm sorry. Oh god I'm so sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me." Eponine sobbed out.
"Shhh it's okay. It's all going to be okay. We'll get you inside and get you warm again." Ferre cooed.
The cabin was quiet when they went in, the only light coming from the lit fireplace and the few rays from the ongoing burning bonfire outside.
Ferre cringed every time Eponine let out a whimper and felt relief wash over him when they finally were enclosed in their room.
"It's alright, you should have listened to Joly or drank too much water from the lake. R's been in there, it's completely contaminated now." Eponine released a hard laugh and shook her head furiously from side to side.
"No. It's not…it's not. I…it's just stress. I'll be okay in a while, you should go back outside with the others."
"No, you're sick. We're bunk buddies, I'm going to take care of you."
"Did Enjolras see?" She whispered in a small voice.
"No. I was the only one who was close enough to catch anything."
"Why were you so close?" Eponine asked looking into his eye. Ferre blushed an attractive shade of red and turned to go out the door.
"What can I say, you look good in a bikini. I'm going to get you some water. I'll be right back. Change into something warm." Ferre said avoiding her gaze and he walked out of the room.
Eponine nodded and willed her teeth to stop chattering as she let her wet clothes fall to the ground.
Enjolras flooded through her brain and Lizbeth's and Nina's question echoed loudly in her mind.
If she was being truly honest with herself yes, she was attracted to Ferre. But she also knew something else.
She was very much in love with Enjolras.