Viewpoint to Delusion: I

"He'll write me, I'm sure of it,"

Enjolras shook his head despairingly as he watched Eponine pacing the sitting room at the Gillenormands' residence. It was noon; Marius had just finished breakfast, Enjolras had stopped by to visit on his way to school, and it was Eponine's time off from work.

"That's the third time in the quarter of an hour you've said that," Enjolras said to Eponine.

"Fourth actually, Enjolras," Marius piped up from his seat at the far end of the room. He flexed his shoulder experimentally. "According to my aunt, my cousin should be at Vernon in a few days,"

"Then he can post a letter. If he doesn't write by the end of the week, what shall I do? I shan't speak to him again," Eponine said. "It's been three days since I saw him..."

"Eponine, you have other things to do besides wait for his letters. Think of your brothers," Enjolras said with an irritated edge to his voice.

Eponine crossed her arms. "I do think of them, Monsieur Enjolras. But it would be so much nicer if Theodule would write...it's like the sun after the rain, you see? It's so hard thinking of him..."

"Then don't fall in love then!" Enjolras muttered to himself. Almost as soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wanted to take them back.

Eponine stopped pacing. She took a deep breath and averted her gaze from the men. "I'd better go. I'm needed at the shop," she said.

"Let me walk you out," Marius offered, getting up.

"No thank you," Eponine said, heading out the door.

Marius shook his head. "A very noble effort, Enjolras," he said sarcastically to his friend.

Enjolras' eyes narrowed. "You know perfectly well that your cousin does not have good intentions. Eponine is still a child; she doesn't deserve to be treated in that way."

Marius raised his eyebrows. "And you told her that her feelings are pointless? You know that she values your opinion highly,"

Enjolras looked at Marius. "Not as much as she'd value yours?"

Marius cringed. "Courfeyrac once told me something to that effect. I know I owe a good deal to Eponine; she did give me Cosette's address...she did save me at the barricade. But I can't love her...not in the way she wants to, at least. I only warned Eponine about my cousin because I need to thank her, I think,"

"And I understand that's all because you love someone else," Enjolras said. "And that Eponine to you, is at most, only a friend,"

Marius nodded. "And you? Why are you so concerned about Eponine?"

"She needs a sort of protector," Enjolras replied. "The street is really no place for a girl like her, especially one with three younger brothers to support. Honestly, there are some times when I feel like wringing her neck, then something reminds me that she's just the same as all the abased we fought for, and continue to work for,"

Marius gaped, surprised at Enjolras' sudden confiding in him. "I never knew you'd think that way..."

"I only tell you this because you're her friend," Enjolras said firmly.

"You're more of a friend to her than I could ever be," Marius pointed out. "You have it in you,"
When Enjolras finally neared the Sorbonne, he saw a group of his friends in the street, haranguing each other. As he drew nearer, he recognized Courfeyrac, Prouvaire, and Combeferre, all of three of them trying to cheer up a dejected Joly.

"Now what's happened?" Enjolras asked Combeferre in an undertone.

Joly looked up at the newcomer. "Haven't you heard? Muschietta moved...moved away. She never said anything. How could I know?" he asked softly.

"Who'd know where she is?" Jehan asked.

"None of you daft ones, that's for sure," another voice chimed in. The five students looked to see a woman standing in the street, carrying a huge wicker basket full of clothes.

"Mademoiselle De Vaux," Combeferre greeted.

Aurelia glared at them, her eyes rougher than the calluses on her hands. "Nothing better to do than skirtchasing now? There you go, Monsieur Joly, crying over her again. I hear you from my window, you know. And you Monsieur Enjolras, keeping a girl..."

"Mademoiselle!" Enjolras said rebukingly.

Aurelia shook her head. "Just saying what it is, Monsieurs," she said with a mock curtsy before she swept off down the street.

Courfeyrac made a face. "What is it with that woman? Every time we see her, she always has something terrible to say. I'd hate to add her in my collection,"

"Actually, this is the first time she's been that way to Enjolras. Normally she reserves the worst for Feuilly," Joly observed.

"If I didn't know any better..." Prouvaire added, trailing off.

Enjolras looked at his watch. "We'd better go in, or we'll be late, mes amis,"

Combeferre kept pace with him as they walked into the Sorbonne. "How's Marius?" the older student asked.

"He's well. Eponine was also visiting, so I cannot say that we had a good discussion. I've seen enough delusion for today," Enjolras replied.

Combeferre sighed. "About Marius being in love with Mademoiselle Fauchelevent?"

"No, not about that," Enjolras replied. "Forget I mentioned it,"