'Why have you and lover boy been very distant? It has been a month and you have not made eye contact.' Grantaire slumped down next to her, thumping a bottle onto the table causing some of its contents to run down the neck of it.

'What are you talking about Grantaire? I do not have a lover and neither do I intend to have one any time soon.' Her voice was laced with doubt. Looking at him with a questioning glance she knew it was obvious and people would soon be asking.

Putting an arm around her shoulders, she knew that he knew. There was no point hiding it, though she could never tell anyone what he had done to her.
'I know there is something between you both.' The drunk looked at her with heavy red rimmed eyes, 'You can tell me what has happened.'
'I just decided to not to take the opportunity of a relationship with him any further.'

The hand mark he left on her face took a while to fade. When people had asked who caused such a mark her cover had to be an argument with some woman in her building which resulted as her coming away with a blazing mark on her cheek. This had sparked a fuming Marius who wanted to know which apartment she lived in, this took an extremely forceful Enjolras to calm him down. The guilt had obviously been a burden on him. Yet no apology was even attempted to be made.

'Well if you ask me, it is the right thing to do. Imagine your Cousin's reaction…Though actually, it would be priceless.' Grantaire chuckled at whatever image flashed behind his eyes.
'I know I was foolish besides I had my head way into the high heavens. You must not tell anyone, please.'
'I will not, I promise.'

Drawing her into a strong and warm hug, her eyes flickered to Enjolras, who similarly was intently staring back. Chills coursed down her back, fear prickling in her skin. Unwillingly she cowered further into Grantaire the stench of wine on his stained clothes burned her nose, and made her eyes water. Though she did feel some comfort.

Joly sat before her very quickly almost losing his balance on the stool. His hands trembled and his palms looked sweaty. Vigorously he swigged some of Grantaire's wine, and took a heavy breath whilst adjusting his coat. Both Aurore and Grantaire sat watching him perplexed.

'Aurore… I have just spoken with Marius, and I asked if he would have a problem if I was to ask for you to court me.' Grantaire left the table and headed to the bar. Aurore was stunned into silence at his bluntness but nodded for him to continue. 'I have had a deep fondness for you for a while, and since the last evening of the old year I could not get you out of my mind. Though it has taken some persuasion with Marius, he seems fine about it all. Yet we are not to be bedded until we are wed.' His face flushed scarlet at the thought of making love. 'So what do you say?'

'I…I… it is all so sudden, I think you are such a lovely man Joly. This is such a big want from me. Give me a moment to ponder.' Looking around the room, Marius and Courfeyrac were staring with grins smeared across their faces. Grantaire and Feuilly were laughing at the bar; he had obviously started to spread the word. Aurore's attention turned to Enjolras, though she felt a deep anger towards him, her feelings of love had not left. They raged and fought with the each other, like a constant storm of feelings. How would it affect him though, jealousy and resentment? Or would he not care? Why should I care if this bothers him, he has thrown me to the side, used me and abused me. Joly would be much sweeter and tentative. Would it hurt to try? She thought to herself.

'I would like to, yes.' Joly beamed at her and leapt over the table to seal their new found relationship with a kiss. It was a tender kiss, by the book almost. No tongues and certainly no passion. Aurore felt the gaze of everyone upon them; her wicked streak took over by deepening the kiss. Her tongue swiped his bottom lip, breaking through and dancing clumsily about with his tongue; she heard gasps coming from their audience.

Pulling away Joly straightened his pants, and grinned wildly at her. Enjolras' mouth hung open, his brown eyes cold, and still. He looked murderous, but nobody had taken notice of his reaction. All of their attention was turned on Joly and they cheered. Obviously Aurore was missing out on a group secret.

Bossuet and Lesgle came over with wine to toast them both, and Grantaire stumbled over to shake Joly's hand. Aurore smiled at Joly as he blushed at all the attention he was receiving.

'Enjolras obviously did not like that performance, he has just stormed out.' Grantaire mumbled drunkenly into her ear. Looking around he was not wrong but his absence had gone mostly unnoticed. It was unusual for him to leave before everyone else has gone. This made her feel smug at the obvious displeasure it had caused him.
'Are you going to go after him?' She asked Grantaire, he just simply shook his head.
'Leave him to brood. It is obvious it has hurt him.'

~Enjolras~

Stumbling back into his apartment tears rolled down his cheeks. Watching her kiss him like that ripped his stomach out and clenched his heart stopping any form of air getting into his body. The way her tongue was in his mouth, the way his hand braced her delicate neck. It all should have been him.

Marius was fine all this time he had been worrying about his close friends' reaction, yet he did not bat an eye lash… He just laughed with Courf.

Enjolras had been disgusted with himself since the night he last saw her alone. He could not bring himself to speak to her, she did not deserve this. His rage was too violent for him to be around any woman. Then he finally pushed away the only woman he had ever wanted.

Looking around his cluttered apartment, a deep fury took over him. He despised everything about himself, he despised Aurore for kissing Joly, and he despised Joly for ever looking at Aurore. The fury he felt turned into a flaming rage. His fist collided with walls; he pulled down his book case paper flew everywhere in a mad flurry. Kicking over his chairs he screamed and screamed. The image of her led in bed with Joly taunted him, while a voice urged him to destroy everything.

Throwing a bottle away tears trailing down his cheeks, Enjolras' senses came too when he realised he had crushed the glass in his palm. Slowly opening his right hand blood ran down his arm and onto the floor. Shards of glass poked out of his hand. Yet there was no pain just a dull burn, it felt right, and it felt pure. Noting could hurt him anymore; his walls were going to be built around him once more.

Hello dear readers! Sorry for the slow update, but I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

I thought Enjolras needed punishing for hurting Aurore, and Aurore needed to make him jealous. Poor Joly does not know what he has got himself into.

More coming up soon! R/R

Thank you :D