A/N: Yeah, I'm sorry, I kinda forgot about this for a couple of days :( I've been so preoccupied with Imagine, hopefully it won't happen again! :)
29th December 1831
My Dearest Marius,
How odd it is to think that in two days time it'll be 1832.
Azelma made an absolute fortune with her carol singing - she spent four days doing it and raised almost sixty francs! I couldn't believe it when she told me - it's more than I sometimes make in a fortnight. Instead of giving it all to my father in one go, we've decided to ration it out, hiding it behind loose brick in a wall. So whatever we pickpocket we can keep for ourselves instead.
This usually means I have much more free time, which naturally I spent with you at the meetings.
Today, for example, was a good day. It started off a bit boring - Enjolras was making a speech about something or other, as usual, and everyone was pretending to listen. You made a comment about it to me, whispering it in my ear and sending me off into laughter which I tried to cover with coughing. Needless to say, Enjolras was not impressed.
When at last he'd finished speaking, you said we had to be somewhere (which confused me, as we had no plans, but I went with it) causing some wolf whistling from the boys. You rolled you eyes and beckoned for me to follow you, which I did.
Turns out you'd heard of a new café near the Rue de Húgo which served food in the style of several different countries - England, Spain and Italy as well as France. You were curious to go, and once we were outside asked me to come.
I agreed immediately, at the prospect of food as well as spending time alone with you. I offered to pay but of course you didn't let me. I don't know why I bother, since you'll never let me. But hey. Free food for me!
We - or more specifically, I - got some stares when we walked in from diners. I think a couple of them recognised me as being one of the pickpockets, although luckily we weren't thrown out! You noticed the stares and gently took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
We were seated at a table in the back corner, which was fine by me, as it was more private. You looked a little doubtful at first but snapped out of it quickly, squeezing my hand again before letting it go and picking up the menu.
Before long we had a somewhat strange mix of sandwiches and a bowl of pasta to share. You were running out of money so we shared a cake too, which was gorgeous. I think they call it a sponge? It's from England, and the pasta was from Italy. Easily the most diverse meal I've ever eaten.
After that we chatted some more about anything and everything. It was only when I noticed your hand was almost touching mine that I realised just how much of a couple we must have looked. If only.
But the conversation remained comfortable, and we stayed there for a good three hours. It was five-ish when we went back to the Musain and faced a very drunk Grantaire, a shrieking Joly who'd been accidentally (or not, who knows) spat on by said drunk, Lesgle and Jehan teasing us about out "date" and Enjolras just being, well, Enjolras.
I love the evenings at the Café - it was already getting dark outside, so we only had a couple of hours. But they were very entertaining hours, as they always were.
We walked home at about seven, the last sight before we left being Grantaire, passed out on the floor, wearing a skirt on his head and holding a chair in one hand. I just didn't want to know.
I stopped on the way to take fifteen francs out of me and Azelma's "funds" so that it would keep my father happy. You helped me secure the brick back, and we continued.
I was about to turn away to enter our flat, when you gave me an unexpected hug. It took me a moment to return it, I was pretty surprised. But I just enjoyed the moment as you held me briefly.
I bid you a goodnight and thanked you for the day, before daring to kiss you on the cheek as I went into the flat, flashing you a smile as I closed the door.
Another truly wonderful day, courtesy of you. Thank you for everything, even if I did get a bit of teasing from Azelma this evening!
All my love,
Éponine