It was a long few days. He kept busy with school and work. He had told Emma not to push, and she understood after he told her about the break-up. She just gave him a hug and a twenty-minute break instead of a ten. The entire time he waited for Enjolras to call him. She never did. It was Tuesday after class when Courfeyrac called him.
"Hey, R." Courfeyrac chirped, but it wasn't his usual happy voice. It was strained and forced.
"'Courf, you don't have to be fake happy with me." Grantaire reminded.
"I'm not fake happy. I'm just… I'm trying to be positive and the situation keeps getting worse and worse." Courfeyrac sighed.
"What's wrong?" Grantaire asked.
"Enjolras… she's in a mood." Courfeyrac hissed and stopped.
"What kind of mood?" Grantaire prompted.
"I don't know how to describe it. She hasn't gotten out of the apartment in three days." Courfeyrac frowned.
"So she went home?" Grantaire inquired.
"No. She's still here. Marius and I have been sharing a bed since Sunday. Not that we mind." He added that last bit quickly. Probably worried that Enjolras could hear him.
"I'm sure you don't." Grantaire said.
"And the worst part is Combeferre keeps calling but she won't answer. She's completely turned off her phone. I mean I know they fought but I've never seen her like this. All she does is stay in her pajamas and avoid people. She barely even talks to me. I'm starting to get really worried." Courfeyrac admitted.
"Ask her if she minds if I come over." Grantaire tried. Enjolras needed to listen to someone and he did promise her a talk.
"Doesn't matter. I've been asking for everyone since she showed up. She keeps saying she's too tired for visitors. She just doesn't seem well." Courfeyrac dismissed gloomily.
"All right. Well, maybe she just needs some personal time." Grantaire tried.
"No. This is different. I've seen her when she needs personal time. This isn't the same." Courfeyrac sighed.
"Honey, you called me." Grantaire said after a minute of silence.
"Honey? Your girlfriend is in the other room." Courfeyrac teased.
Grantaire sighed deeply.
"What was that? I know that kind of a sigh. What did you do that for? What's wrong?" Courfeyrac peppered him with questions.
"I wouldn't call her my girlfriend right now." Grantaire said.
Courfeyrac gasped starkly. "You're kidding. You've got to be kidding. Please tell me you're kidding."
"I'm not. I wish I was." Grantaire whispered.
"Oh God. That explains a lot. I'm so sorry." Courfeyrac groaned.
"It's okay." Grantaire lied.
"Wait a minute. Enjolras would've told me if you two broke up. Are you sure you're one the same page here?" Courfeyrac protested, trying desperately to hold on to the hope that they could still be together.
"Yeah, 'Fey. I'm sure." Grantaire sighed.
He couldn't see it, but he could hear Courfeyrac deflating.
"I'm sorry." Grantaire apologized.
"Why are you apologizing to me? You're the one who should be upset!" Courfeyrac objected.
"I am upset. It's heartbreaking. But I can manage." Grantaire promised.
"Um, hold on… R… yeah sure… hold on" The phone changed hands. "Shoo!" Enjolras's voice surprised him.
"I'm sorry for not calling, I haven't been feeling well lately. I'm exhausted and hungry. Yes that was a snide comment to you Courfeyrac, I'm starving. Make me food." Enjolras said. "Sorry. I wanted to be alone for a minute."
"It's okay." Grantaire stated unsurely.
"Look, I'm sorry. I'm really tired. I do want to talk to you. I swear. I just… I'm very tired." Enjolras sighed.
"Emotional tired?" He asked.
"Mm-hmm." She hummed.
"Like that April?" He knew he was cutting a little deep but he couldn't let her stay in bed forever.
"No." She surprised him. "I know it sounds like it but… that was grief. This isn't… this isn't. I don't know how else to explain it."
"Are you sure?" He pressed.
"I'm sure. Thank you for wanting to take care of me." Enjolras cooed.
He didn't answer her.
The line went silent awkwardly.
"Taire? You still there?" Enjolras asked.
"Yeah. Yeah I'm still here." He tried hiding how badly his heart had hurt when she said that.
"Um, Courfeyrac is making me a grilled cheese. I should go eat that." Enjolras said awkwardly.
"Yeah. Yeah go eat. I'll finish talking to Courfeyrac later." Grantaire dismissed and hung up.
That sucked.
He exhaled and groaned. He'd had awkward talks with his exes before but this was one he didn't want to stick around for. He wanted to go- he wanted to get out-
No. He had promised Enjolras that he would talk with her. He had to keep that promise. He owed her that.
He flopped around his house for a while, waiting for someone to call back. Courfeyrac called him back about two hours later.
"Hey. I'm not sure who else I'm supposed to call for this." Courfeyrac started.
"About what?" Grantaire asked.
"I've got an appointment at the clinic in about forty-five minutes, I gotta meet Jehan, and Marius is with Cosette and I don't want to leave her alone. But she won't let me call Combeferre or Joly and I can't think of anyone else who's not at work or in class. You're not at work, are you?" Courfeyrac replied.
"No I opened today, I'm done with work. I can come over." Grantaire grabbed his keys.
"Thank you!" Courfeyrac hung up and he headed over to Courfeyrac's apartment.
Courfeyrac met him outside.
"Thanks." Courfeyrac hugged him tightly.
"No problem. I'm glad to help." Grantaire grinned.
"Feel free to help yourself to anything you want. And if you get Enjolras to eat something, I will forever be grateful." Courfeyrac offered.
"Did she eat the grilled cheese sandwich?" Grantaire frowned.
"About half of it. But then she went back to bed. She looked really sad." Courfeyrac admitted.
Grantaire didn't answer, his stomach clenching that he had made her upset enough to not eat.
"I'm also sorry." Courfeyrac sighed after a time.
"Why?" Grantaire asked.
"Because I'm asking you to take care of your ex. Your very recent ex." Courfeyrac replied.
"I'll be okay. Besides, she'll probably just sleep most of the time." Grantaire shrugged.
Courfeyrac nodded and headed out after giving him the key. He let himself into the apartment and found his hypothesis correct. Enjolras was spread out across Courfeyrac's bed and he sat down next to her.
Sometimes he felt honored just to look at her. This was one of those times. She looked so peaceful. The worry lines just faded away and left the twenty-two year old woman who could've been an angel. The gentle rise and fall of her chest was almost too pure, her lips slightly parted and he had leaned down before he stopped himself. His heart tightened and he couldn't stand to be in that room any longer. He suppressed the urge to kiss her cheek and headed out to the living room. He just flopped down onto the couch and turned on the TV. He wasn't really watching anything, more just keeping his mind occupied, and he kept his ears open for any sound from Enjolras. But after ten minutes he couldn't stand just lying there uselessly and he got up to start making some food for her. He looked through Courfeyrac's cabinets decided to make mac and cheese. That seemed easy enough while still being somewhat healthy. He was draining the mac when the door opened. He turned and saw Enjolras, looking like a wild cat with bed hair and dragging the comforter behind her. He stirred in the butter, milk and cheese and spooned it into two bowls. He brought them out and sat on the floor.
"Get up on the couch." Her tone gave him no choice.
So he sat down and she curled up on his side with her head on his shoulder.
"You have to eat something." Grantaire pushed the mac and cheese.
"You're all gonna make me fat." She murmured but accepted the cheesy goodness.
"You could use a little fat." He shot back.
"Excuse me?" She accused.
"You lose weight way too easily." He explained.
"I will fiercely debate my own body image… after food." She smiled.
"I'm not attacking your body image. I'm attacking your lack of health." He counted.
She pouted as she ate. He was just glad she was eating.
"Why are you here?" She asked, after she had eaten about three-fourths of her mac and cheese.
"Because Courfeyrac needed someone to watch you." He answered.
"No. Why are you here?" She repeated.
"Because I missed you." He replied.
"Why?" She frowned, as if this answer did not satisfy her.
"Because you're the greatest person I know." He responded, swallowing hard.
She frowned deeper and pressed her hand against her chest. "My chest hurts."
His ears picked up her breathing hard once again. Except she'd had almost no exercise and nothing emotional exhausting had happened, as far as he knew. He let her sit while he put away the dishes and decided to call Joly and see if this was supposed to be normal for someone like her but all he got was his voicemail. So, even though he knew she wouldn't like it, her health came first and he called Combeferre.
"Hey." Combeferre answered gloomily.
"Enjolras is at Courfeyrac's. I think she needs your help. I can't reach Joly." Grantaire stated.
"I'll be over there in a few minutes." Combeferre hung up, obviously speeding to get here.
True to his word, a few minutes later Combeferre showed.
"What? You break every law on your way over here?" Grantaire asked.
"Nah. I was at the grocery store down the street." Combeferre explained. "Hi."
Enjolras frowned in confusion. "Hi."
"I need to check your stitches." Combeferre announced, kneeling down next to her.
She unburied herself from the covers and pulled down her top to expose her wound. It was a little red but it didn't seem infected. Well, he thought so. He wasn't a medical student.
"Have you been crying?" Combeferre asked, his voice strictly business.
"No." Enjolras huffed, affronted.
"I'm not asking as your friend. I'm asking as a med student trying to keep you out of the hospital." Combeferre snapped.
"Maybe a little." Enjolras blushed.
"All right. Crying probably strained your wound a bit and since you haven't ripped your stitches out, I don't think you have to go back to the hospital." Enjolras sighed in relief. "However, I want you to take it easy and honestly, do your best not to cry for a little while."
Enjolras nodded and bundled back up in the covers.
Combeferre sighed. "Can we talk?"
"I suppose there's no law against it." Enjolras snapped.
Knowing that this was between them, Grantaire decided to go down to his car and listen to the radio. He kept the car off and hoped they wouldn't be a few hours. His battery would be fine for like two hours but anything more and he wouldn't risk it.
Of course, the first song that came on was Escape (The Pina Colada song). He started chuckling which blew into full blown laughter and bad signing.
"If you like Pina Coladas
And getting caught in the rain
If you're not into yoga
If you have half a brain
If you like making love at midnight
In the dunes on the cape
Then I'm the love that you've looked for
Write to me and escape"
He just enjoyed the music for a little while, all the time keeping a watch on the clock. Someone pounded on the door, scaring the shit out of him.
Combeferre laughed. "I gotcha."
Grantaire did the mature thing and stuck out his tongue.
"Come on. She wants you again." Combeferre waved.
He opened the door, turning off the radio and they headed back up.
"You two have a good talk?" Grantaire asked.
"We're not totally okay, but we're better. She's agreed to come home so I can keep a closer eye on her. And she's speaking to me again so that's a miracle." Combeferre smiled.
Grantaire nodded.
"Actually, you were right that day." Combeferre sighed.
"Which one?" Grantaire asked.
"You said she'd be disappointed in me because I wasn't treating out friends the way I should. You were right." Combeferre explained.
"I'm sorry I was right." Grantaire put his hand on Combeferre's shoulder.
"Did you really break up with her?" Combeferre asked suddenly, stopping before the door.
"Yes." Grantaire said tightly.
"I can't believe it. She told me that when we were fighting but I didn't believe her. Why?" Combeferre stated.
"I need to keep her safe." Grantaire kept his tone.
"I love you, and I love you dearly Grantaire, regardless of our fights, but you are an idiot." Combeferre laughed.
Grantaire frowned, a little hurt.
"She doesn't care about safety. She cares about you. She wants to snuggle with you right now." Combeferre continued.
"That's because she can't get you." Grantaire muttered.
"She and I don't cuddle. Yes, she will fall asleep on me but that's an issue of trust. She also falls asleep on you." Combeferre pressed.
"Look, it's over so don't push it. I don't really want to talk about this." Grantaire opened the door a little roughly and smoothed his expression before coming back to her and sitting back down on the couch. She latched onto him and rubbed her face into where his neck and shoulder met.
"Are you comfortable?" He teased.
"Yes." Her answer was slightly muffled.
"Have a good talk?" He repeated.
She shrugged. "Went okay."
"You're still mad at him." It wasn't a question.
She nodded.
"Holding onto that anger isn't going to make anything better." He attempted.
"I know. But I want to be mad for a little while. I'm not trying to hold a grudge I just want to be mad. Do you understand?" She asked.
"I understand." He promised.
"I'm tired but I'm also tired of sleeping." She whined.
"How about we watch some mindless TV?" He offered.
"Deal." She agreed.
"I'm going to finish grocery shopping and then I'll come and pick you up okay?" Combeferre declared.
She nodded.
"Okay." Grantaire said since Combeferre probably couldn't see her under the mass of blanket.
Combeferre nodded and headed out. Grantaire turned on the TV and since How It's Made was on, he turned on that channel.
"You remembered." She purred.
"It was very unexpected." He wanted to shrug but he didn't want to disturb her more.
"I can be a very unexpected person." She chuckled.
"Oh, Enj." He teased, loving how the sound rolled off his tongue.
"That's better than Enjy. If you must call me by a nickname, choose that one." She decided.
He smiled and thought, you know what? This could work. Maybe he and Enjolras were over but maybe they could still be friends. He would still have those weeks with her. That could be enough.
Then Enjolras huffed and grabbed his arms, which were behind the couch, and brought them to her waist.
"Snuggling doesn't count if it's just me. I want you." She explained.
"Oh excuse me." He dramatized and held her close.
"I'm sorry." She said after a little bit.
"Sorry? About what?" Grantaire frowned.
"We need to talk and I'm just too tired. I swear that doesn't mean I don't want to have it." She explained.
"It's okay. You're not feeling well, I get that." He dismissed.
"I'm still sorry. Must've sucked waiting for a call that never came." She sighed.
"I knew you were having a rough time. Don't feel bad." He tried.
"I really meant to. Combeferre would call me like five times a minute I just turned it off to ignore him. I wanted to call you, I swear but my phone was off and I was angry at 'Ferre. So I didn't." She said.
"You're allowed to feel. I understand." He insisted.
"I don't want to date him." She stated.
"Pardon?" He asked.
"I don't want to date Combeferre. You told me that night that I should want to date him but I don't and that's the end of that." She said matter-of-factly.
"All righty then." He chuckled.
She hummed incoherently. He buried the urge to kiss her head and snuggle down deeper. He just held her tightly.
Combeferre returned soon after. Grantaire unwrapped her from the covers and picked her up bridal style. She had squawked but hadn't moved from his arms. He carried her to the car and they drove home. It was silent, Grantaire could've held the awkwardness in his hand, and he was very grateful it was a short ride back to Enjolras's apartment. He offered to carry Enjolras up the stairs but her glare was his answer. He put up his hands in defense and went to grab some bags.
"Only take one. She'll need you after the second story." Combeferre had told him.
He grabbed the bag Combeferre offered and went up the stairs. Enjolras was on the second story landing, clutching her chest and panting. Not needing her permission, he picked her back up and she didn't protest until they got to the door.
"I hate being this weak." She muttered.
"You're not weak. You've been shot, in the chest I might add which not many people survive, an infection wreaked havoc on your body, and your rib punctured your lung. This isn't weakness, this is your body trying it's best for what's happened to it." He countered.
She huffed.
"Enj, I know I've said this before but you need to let yourself heal. Otherwise, you will stay like this for a very long time, much longer than need be. I think that's why you've been feeling so lousy. Your mind is trying to push your body to something it cannot do. You need to sleep, you need to eat, and you can't push yourself to somewhere you're not ready to go just yet." He continued.
She pouted.
"Please." He finished.
"Fine." She relented.
"I know you won't come up to scratch half the time, but I know that you try." He butchered.
She laughed. "That wasn't even close."
He smiled and set her down on her bed. He tucked her in and then helped Combeferre grab the rest of the groceries.
"You want some tea? I'm making some." Combeferre offered.
"I'll ask her." Grantaire said and did so.
"He always makes me tea. When this is over, I'm never having tea again." She muttered.
"She said she'd love some." Grantaire told Combeferre.
"Great. I wasn't asking her. She doesn't have a choice. Tea has amazing properties to heal and it'll do her good. I was asking you. Do you want some?" Combeferre asked.
"Why not?" Grantaire accepted.
So three tea bags were placed in the water and stirred accordingly. He brought Enjolras hers and she begrudgingly accepted it. Grantaire just chuckled at her antics, and they all complied on Enjolras's bed. He drained his fairly quickly as they sat in silence, enjoying each other.
"This is boring. I hate tea. Someone read to me, or help me plan my essay for History of Law." Enjolras announced, prickling up like a porcupine.
"I write your planner for you. That essay isn't due for three weeks." Combeferre protested.
"One of you choose. I'm bored." She whined.
Grantaire rolled his eyes and grabbed the first book he saw on her desk. "You really are the worst patient."
"Am not." She countered.
"Yes. Yes, you are." Combeferre agreed.
She pouted.
He opened the book, something called La fiesta del chivo, and frowned.
"Did you take Spanish?" Grantaire asked.
"No, she hasn't taken her language yet." Combeferre answered.
"I don't have to take a language. I'm already bilingual." Enjolras corrected.
"Since when?" Combeferre asked, seemingly affronted that he didn't know this about her.
"My parents exposed me to several languages when I was younger and I chose one and now I'm perfectly fluent in French and English." Enjolras replied.
Grantaire laughed lightly. Combeferre was staring with his mouth open.
"Close your mouth, 'Ferre, we are not a codfish." Grantaire and Enjolras said on cue.
Combeferre snapped his mouth shut. Enjolras and Grantaire broke into laughter and high-fived.
"That's adorable." Combeferre said dryly.
Enjolras's smile brightened but Grantaire's disappeared. Thankfully, he plastered a fake one on before Enjolras saw it. Combeferre saw it though.
"But no I can't read it. Not without a translator." Enjolras pressed a hand on her chest through a smile, trying to calm down, pain clear on her face.
"Slow your breathing. It'll stop hurting." Combeferre instructed.
Enjolras nodded and did as Combeferre said. Then she seemed to remember something.
"Dammit. How am I supposed at stay mad at you with both of you making me laugh?"
It was Combeferre and Grantaire's turn to laugh boisterously. It got worse as Combeferre was leaning backwards and then fell off the bed. Enjolras shrieked with laughter. But it was ruined when Enjolras started coughing violently.
Combeferre immediately rushed to her and helped her calm down.
"All right, as much as I adore this, I gotta cut this short. You should finish your tea and then rest." Combeferre ordered, as he checked her throat.
It spoke volumes when Enjolras nodded and drained her tea.
Grantaire and Combeferre left her alone.
"She okay?" Grantaire asked worriedly.
"Yeah. A lot of it is her lungs but just in case I made sure to check for any blood in her throat in case any capillaries broke but she's all right. But I'm glad I put honey in her tea. That'll help her throat." Combeferre sighed.
Grantaire sighed. "Will she ever be able to laugh like that again?"
"Yeah. But it'll take time. I have to try to convince her to try and go to physical therapy. I wasn't sure she needed it and she hated the idea so I let it go. I shouldn't have." Combeferre spat.
"Didn't the hospital take care of that?" Grantaire demanded.
"They can't force her to make an appointment. And her parents can't force her either. She's over eighteen. She hates hospitals and she hates doctors. Heaven knows why." Combeferre rolled his eyes then narrowed them. "Maybe you know why."
"I don't know why." Grantaire said immediately.
Combeferre searched him and found his answer truthful.
Grantaire sighed. "I'm sorry about spilling the beans on you. I shouldn't have said it and I know why you were trying to keep a secret. I can make excuses but that doesn't undo what I did."
"It's okay. I understand. She made her own choices." Combeferre shrugged.
"She just seemed to need you so much and I thought she would be better off with you. I just wanted her to be happy, I didn't mean to create this rift between you." Grantaire continued on.
"You know, I was really mad at you at first. I hated you for telling her my secret. But then I realized it had to come out eventually. I love her, but I've known for a long time I'm not right for her. She chose you so I need to accept that and move on. It's just easier said than done." Combeferre stopped him.
"We could have weekly meetings about how well we're doing on that." Grantaire replied dryly.
Combeferre sighed. "I still can't believe you two broke up."
"Believe it." Grantaire snapped.
"I'm sorry. This must be very difficult for you, I'm just making it worse." Combeferre placed his hand on Grantaire's shoulder.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to snap. That's mean." Grantaire sighed.
"Stop apologizing. I know you're going through a hard time." Combeferre tried. "C'mon. You can help me cook dinner."
"How can I help? By burning down your kitchen?" Grantaire asked.
Combeferre laughed. "I'm just making something simple. Like soup or something. Even you can't screw that up."
He grinned and essentially just watched as Combeferre made breakfast for dinner. Eggs for Enjolras, waffles and bacon for Grantaire and Combeferre. She came out just as Grantaire was setting the table.
"Morning." She muttered.
"It's not morning. It's evening." Grantaire told her.
"But I smell bacon." She frowned, looking like a little lost puppy. Since he knew she'd kill him, he resisted the urge to coo.
"We're having breakfast for dinner." Grantaire explained.
"Oh." She said, the frown disappearing and she sat down.
"You don't get any bacon." Grantaire swallowed, biting his lip.
She looked up at him with pure innocent confusion. "Why don't I get bacon?"
"Because I wanted to give you something to go a little smoother down your throat. Also, I'm treating this like a cold since your lungs are still recovering and I don't care what face you give me, I said no." Combeferre stated, cocking one eyebrow as he stared at her.
Grantaire looked at her and saw she had been giving him puppy dog eyes. He was glad Combeferre had the food. Grantaire never would've been able to resist that.
The puppy dog eyes turned into a deep pout but Grantaire winked at her and she smiled gently. They ate while Combeferre told them about his day at the hospital. When Combeferre wasn't paying attention, Grantaire slipped her a piece of bacon and her smile was worth it to him. Dinner was soon finished, and when Grantaire was picking up the dishes, Enjolras kissed his cheek. He froze. Enjolras furrowed her brow in confusion.
"I think I'm going to go and rearrange my bookshelf or something." Combeferre scurried out, seeing the tension between his friends.
"R?" Enjolras asked.
"You shouldn't have done that." Grantaire ground out, remembering that Enjolras had never had an ex before.
"Why not? I like kissing you and I've kissed you before. I thought surprise kisses were supposed to be cute." Enjolras frowned.
"Well, they are but… Enj, we're over." Grantaire groaned, his heart aching when he said that.
"I- You- I can't- You were serious about that? I thought when I told you that I would never want to date Combeferre that was enough. That's why you did it, right?" Enjolras's face fell into heartbreak and the pain he had caused her knocked his feet out from under him and he knelt at her feet, like a mortal worshipping at a temple.
Grantaire hesitated, unsure as to his answer. He wanted to protect her but he didn't want to leave her.
"Please don't. Please don't. I don't want you to leave. I like this and I want to keep this going." Enjolras begged as the war raged on inside of him.
"I want to keep you safe." He repeated his words to Musichetta.
"I don't want to be kept safe. There's going to be protests that go bad, there's going to be death threats and there's always going to be something. I live my life in the spotlight because of my work and I want there to be someone I trust waiting for me in the shadows. I was really hoping that could be you. And I've already- you know what? Never mind." Enjolras snapped.
"Don't think that this is because I don't want to date you-" He started.
"Then why are you doing this?" She asked.
"Because I couldn't bear it if you got hurt again because of me! I nearly got you killed once!" He shouted, his emotions overflowing and he fought tears.
"I didn't get hurt because of you. I got hurt because of what I said to her. This is her fault, not yours. I know 'Chetta said you felt guilty but I didn't know it was this bad. You did not do this to me." She pressed.
He felt the tears run down his face and Enjolras grabbed his hands and kissed the tears off his face.
"I'm sorry. If you don't want to do this, I understand. I'm a hard person to deal with." She pulled back.
He couldn't take the distance and leaned forward to her.
"This isn't you. But… I'm scared. I'm scared I'm going to hurt you. I couldn't bear it if I hurt you." He put his head on her shoulder.
"I think that's inevitable." She said and he pulled back, incredulous. "No, no, no, no that's not what I meant! I meant that relationships aren't perfect and we're going to stumble but that doesn't mean we have to fall."
He considered this. He wanted desperately to keep going in a relationship with her. He wasn't sure he could take being her friend when he had once held her as his girlfriend. His urges to kiss her would be too strong. But he would never want to allow her to get hurt.
"There's a reason I didn't chose to date Combeferre. I had lots of chances. But I didn't want to. Combeferre and I are much better off friends. That's the relationship I want with him, nothing more. I've never wanted anything more and I don't think I will ever want anything more. I chose you for a reason." She added.
"You chose me because I was there." He muttered.
"No. I chose you because… oh I swear you tell anyone this and I'll kill you… when you were gone the last two meetings before… what happened, and you didn't tell me where you were I- I missed you." She admitted.
He frowned at her. "What?"
"I missed you. I wanted you there with me. At the meetings." She blushed.
"You don't have to be embarrassed about missing me." He chuckled.
"Oh hush. But my point is I chose you for a reason. I wouldn't have slept with you had I not felt something." She smacked his arm lightly, but he could tell she meant what she said.
He nodded. "I believe you. That's not my issue."
"I want you here with me. Are we back together? Because I didn't really take you seriously when you broke up with me because A you were drunk and B the main reason you had was not true, Combeferre and I, never happening, and C Musichetta made it seem like we were going to talk as romantic partners. At least, I got that meaning from her." She amended.
He placed his head on her lap, sitting on his feet and she started running her hands through his hair, curling her fingers at the end to ease the knots out of his hair.
"I'm sorry." He apologized.
She didn't answer him.
"I want to do this with you so badly. It hurts when I see you and I can't be with you." He said.
"So what does that mean?" She whispered.
"It means," He sniffled, "If you'll forgive me, we can do this. I'd like to stay together."
He looked up at her and saw her relieved smile. She leaned down and kissed him gently. He pressed forward, turning something innocent into something more passionate. His hands went to her shoulders, down to her arms to her waist. His nails dug a bit into her waist and she moaned.
"I see you two made up." Combeferre's voice was light and dry.
They jumped apart from each other, and Enjolras pressed her hand to her chest.
"You've got to stop doing that. I'm just not strong enough." Enjolras panted.
"I'm sorry, dear." Combeferre's eyes were twinkling and Grantaire couldn't place why.
"I think I should go. I should be starting on homework soon." Grantaire blushed.
He stood and she hugged him. He kissed her cheek to say goodbye.
"I'll walk you out." Combeferre smiled.
Grantaire ducked his head and headed out.
"So that seemed pleasant." Combeferre teased.
"Shut up. And what's with you anyways?" Grantaire demanded.
Combeferre stopped. "She hasn't been happy for a few days now. I don't like it. And being with you obviously makes her happy. I'm glad you two made up. Also, does Courfeyrac know?" Combeferre asked.
He nodded.
"Tell him. That should brighten his day. And it saves you the trouble of telling everyone else again." Combeferre smiled.
He nodded again. He then hugged Combeferre tightly.
"It's not me you're dating." Combeferre chuckled.
"I'm glad you two are on better terms now. I wouldn't want to do anything to damage your relationship. I'm very glad she has you." Grantaire said, trying to put the meaning from his words into his eyes as he met Combeferre's.
"I mean, come on. Who else is she going to complain to when you piss her off?" Combeferre joked, a brilliant smile on his face.
Grantaire burst out laughing.
He clapped Combeferre on the back and headed home.
The next morning, he was woken by the sound of someone whispering and going through his stuff. Granted, he didn't live in the best neighborhood like Enjolras but this was the first time his place had been broken into. He must have forgotten to lock the door. No, he could've sworn he did. Dammit, he hoped he wouldn't have to pay for the damage on the lock. Probably would cost as much as one of his paintings. He opened his eyes and found his room empty. So he reached for the baseball bat he kept underneath his bed and slowly got out of bed, trying to be silent. He crept towards his door and heard female voices through the door. Unusual, but he knew women were no strangers to crime. He held the doorknob, stilled his nerves and threw open the door and waved the baseball bat with fury.
"Dear God, R, calm down!" Enjolras's voice stilled the bat.
"What are you doing in my house? I locked the door!" Grantaire shouted.
"That would be me." Musichetta surprised him, making him jump.
"What are you doing in my house?" Grantaire repeated.
"It's not a house, it's an apartment." Enjolras started.
"What are you doing in my apartment then?!" Grantaire roared.
"I let her in. How she knew I had a key to your place I don't know." Musichetta took pity on him and answered him.
"I have my sources. And my parents have invited us to lunch." Enjolras replied.
"I'm going to ask, one more time. What are you doing in my apartment?" Grantaire stated through gritted teeth.
"I told you. My parents have invited us to lunch. We will be going." Enjolras responded.
"Sweetheart, you have to go on. That doesn't explain why we're in his apartment." Musichetta said, putting the shorts she picked up in the basket he didn't notice she was holding.
"What are you doing with my clothes?" He growled.
"My parents have invited us to lunch at the Hilton. We're going to said lunch. I need you to show up in presentable clothes but I still wanted you to be yourself so no clothes from Combeferre. And Musichetta has so gracefully offered her machine. So I figured if you were cleaning a couple of clothes that I could just as well launder the rest of them." Enjolras finally explained.
He set the baseball bat down and sighed.
"You need to start out with that next time. You know what? Please don't let there be a next time." He groaned.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you." Enjolras frowned.
"It's all right. Don't do it again." He said then yawned. "You know you could've just told me you were coming over."
"I did. I texted you about an hour ago when these plans were made." Enjolras told him.
Grantaire frowned and fetched his phone. At eight-forty three, there was a text from Enjolras. He'd be damned.
"Sorry." He apologized but it was half-hearted. They'd still scared him to death.
"Well, we obviously woke you so I understand." Musichetta patted his shoulder.
"Me too." Enjolras chirped.
Grantaire rubbed his face with his hands.
"I hate you all." Grantaire groaned.
Enjolras smiled brightly then frowned. "Today is your day off right?"
"No, today is not my day off. But don't worry." Grantaire sighed. "If we finish by two, I can be a few minutes late. Emma will understand."
Enjolras's smile returned. Then she looked him over and frowned.
"Strip."
Good day all. Or rather good night. I'm sorry this took so long. Finals and move out day were bitches. Hope you all enjoy this. Let me know what you think.