Don't Let Me Go:
Chapter 19:
Marius' POV:
This last month has been way too stressful. I lost maybe my only chance with Eponine and Cosette won't talk to me. I'm afraid to contact Eponine. She's probably spending every minute she can with Enjorlas planning the wedding. I can't bring myself to be happy for them…I haven't even talked to them since the whole incident. I lost my two best friends in the whole world. And they're happy together. I'm just so mad at myself.
I decide that I need to clear my mind. I've been by myself for a while and I think I'm going crazy. I'm usually at Ep's house hanging out with either her or Gavroche…but he's still really mad at me, too. I didn't know that Eponine was ever going to have feelings for me, that's why I went after Cosette. I was lonely. And then, when I almost lost Cosette…I don't even know what came over me. I should've stuck up for Eponine, I should've told Cosette that I was in love with Eponine. I should have never gone out with Cosette. I regret every decision that I've made. Except for kissing Eponine.
When she and I kissed, it felt like fireworks. I know in my heart she's the one for me. I'm just too afraid to talk to her. I know she does not want to hear from me or see me. I guess I have to except the fact that she's with Enjorlas and there's nothing I can do about it.
I walk past a coffee shop and hear my name being called.
"Marius!" I turn to see my friend Coufeyrac coming towards me. I smile and walk over to meet him.
"Hey, Couf, what's up?" I ask.
"Just hanging out and getting coffee. What about you? I haven't seen or heard from you in forever." He says, nudging my shoulder. I laugh.
"Yeah, I've kind of been sticking to myself for the past couple of weeks."
"Ah, well it's good to see you. You wanna walk?" he asks, pointing to the street.
"Sure," I say and we start walking.
Coufeyrac and I used to work at the ABC Café together about 2 years ago. We are in the same group of friends, but we've never been particularly close. In the past, I usually just stayed by Eponine and Enjorlas' side. Gosh, I pretty much set them up. I'm an idiot. I'm such an idiot.
"So, how is everything? How are Eponine and Gavroche doing?" he asks. Of course.
"I don't know. Ep and I haven't really talked in the past could of weeks. Like I said, I've been sticking to myself. But I hear she's getting married to Enjorlas," I say, trying to sound as happy as I can.
"Wait, you guys haven't talked? Aren't you two like…inseparable? You have been since I met you," he says with a confused look on his face.
"I guess things just change," I say, looking down.
"Wait, Enjorlas isn't getting married." He says. I snap my head back up and look at him.
"What?" I ask.
"I talked to him the other day; he's not even with Eponine anymore. He's with some blonde chick now."
"WHAT?" I ask, totally caught off guard. He looks at me with a frown on his face.
"Why are you so upset about this?" he asks. I turn away. I can't believe this is happening. I stop dead in my tracks when we get to the park. There's Enjorlas, almost as if on cue, standing with Cosette, holding her hand. And just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, he kisses her. Right on the lips! I feel anger inside of me. I want to punch him, but I saw how that worked out for him last time. I look across from me and see Eponine standing with Gavroche. Her mouth is wide open as she looks at Enjolras and Cosette. She's obviously just as shocked as I am. My mind isn't even processing what's going on. I turn to Coufeyrac to tell him I want to turn around, but when I turn to him, I see his eyes are glued to something in front of us.
Eponine.
"Couf?" I ask, shaking him.
"Is that Eponine?" he asks, still looking.
"Yeah…" I say, confused as to what he's seeing.
"Wow, she looks…she's…I guess because I haven't seen her in a year, I forgot what she looks like."
When Couf met Eponine, she was a total tomboy. She never cared what anybody thought. Then the fights with Enjolras started and she changed her appearance completely. She started wearing make-up and wearing dresses ALL the time. I liked the way she used to look, but I wasn't opposed to any of it. I stopped working at the ABC Café last year, and Eponine stopped hanging out with the guys when I did. So, yeah, to Coufeyrac, she's changed a lot.
He's completely drooling over her. After a minute, he whispers "She's beautiful."
Oh no, here we go.