A/N: Well hello again! Sorry for the slight delay, my email has been acting up. The ever so lovely, Penulis, aka my Beta, apologises, but we all know that it's not her fault so I'm definitely not blaming her for anything. My email has just been super strange lately.
Answering questions (Okay, I just really like answering questions here): Glockenspielium and J91, thank you for reading! And, no they do not know. stinkysox, that can't be right! 400? What have I done to deserve this much love? Thank you so much! Hillindi97, thank you! And yes, it is from the beautiful song by Of Monsters And Men. Amethyst3232, you know, that would've been a really great way of doing it! I actually did not think of going in that direction. I really like it, would've made them get together much quicker ;) Mt, yeah the more I write, the more I notice how not-tough Eponine is. I'm kinda sad I didn't write her that way. Sunny, oh wow, firstly, thank you much for reading. Secondly, the editor does A LOT of the work. Broken ArchAngel, sadly Javert does not come into this. However he might come in another fic I'm planning *wink wink nudge nudge*. ChasingYou, thank you so much for taking your time to review each chapter. It is much appreciated! I actually have no read or watched Pride and Prejudice. Please don't hurt me! Though it is on my to-read booklist. I'll follow you on tumblr! he'sthereinsidemymind and DianaScott, thank you both for reading all chapters in one day. Must've taken some time. ThatGirlIntheBack, is it rude to say that I don't believe you? Hahhaha, but thank you so much, that is one of the best comliments I have ever gotten. I'm glad you enjoy this! Guest, it is Yellow Light by Of Monsters and Men, chapters are also named after song titles, they are all on my profile :D Thank you for reading. lotzalove, you review just made me so happy. You're so lovely, thank you so much. TheFrenchDollar, thank you for reading! Yeah, I realised that I made her not tough enough *sigh*, I realised a little too late though.
And thank you to everyone else that has reviewed, favourited, followed and just read this story. I can't believe you're stayed with me. We've still got 13 more chapters to go! I hope you keep reading until the end!
Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, own Les Miserables. If I did, oh lord if I did, the things I would do ...
Enjolras stood up when Eponine rushed past him. He opened his mouth to call after her, but someone called out her name before he could. He heard her shout a 'sorry' as she ran out. He wanted to run after her and ask what was wrong, but she looked so panicked that he didn't know if that was a good idea. He then realised that Eponine had carpooled here and so she must be walking or running back to the dorms, which were pretty far off. He thought that maybe he could at least offer her a ride back home, even if she didn't want to explain what was wrong to him. He was about to head out when he received a text.
Sorry. Family emergency. See you later.
From the text Enjolras could tell that this was something Eponine wanted to deal with on her own. He turned back to find the rest of the room looking at him, their eyes telling him to chase after her and find out what had just happened. Instead Enjolras sat back down.
"What just happened?" Grantaire asked, despite already being half way to really drunk. He looked around the room for answers, but everyone was just as clueless as him, so he turned to Enjolras, "You're not going to stop her?" Enjolras shook his head, not explaining any further. Everyone knew that if Enjolras wasn't going to stop her, then none of them should try.
"She just … left." Feuilly said, his eyes drifted back on the TV where the new spoke of some long wanted criminal that had finally been arrested earlier that day. The man didn't look familiar, but his name sounded familiar. Feuilly concentrated on the news, looking to see if he had missed something, something that shocked Eponine so much that she felt the need to leave. "Maybe it's something to do with this guy? She ran out after she saw this." Everyone's attention turned to the TV screen.
They were making a pretty big deal out of it, how the guy had somehow managed to get away with many crimes over the years. They included a list of the many things he was accused of doing and the act in which he was caught. A picture appeared, but no one in the room knew his face.
"Wait." Enjolras suddenly said, "What is his name?" he wasn't looking at the TV, but was still listening very closely.
"Thénardier"
Enjolras froze. He looked around, but no one else seemed to notice. That was Eponine's last name, such an uncommon name that this criminal was most likely a close relative of hers. He had an inkling that it was probably her father. He was about to explain to everyone, but stopped himself before the words could escape him. He knew that if Eponine wanted everyone to know, she should be the one to tell them, not him. He shook his head and mumbled a 'never mind'. Their attention went back to the TV. When the segment was over, they spread out once again, going back to what they were previously doing. Cosette went out for a second to try and call Eponine, but each time there was no answer. She gave up pretty fast after that.
"She's not answering." Cosette said to no one in particular as she sat down next to Enjolras. She looked over to him expecting a reaction, but didn't get more than a nod. She watched him for a while, not hiding the fact. "Aren't you concerned?" When Enjolras realised that Cosette was in fact speaking to him, he shifted a little in his seat.
"I think she needs some time alone."
"You could have asked her what was wrong before she left."
"It looked like this was something she wanted to handle alone, and I have to respect that."
"Right." That's where the conversation would have ended, if Grantaire had not appeared. He sat himself on the other side of Enjolras, who let out a sigh when he spotted Grantaire.
"What's happening here?" Grantaire asked.
"Apparently nothing, because someone respects Eponine's space and thinks she needs some time alone." Cosette picked up a beer and took a sip. Grantaire wasn't satisfied and turned to his friend.
"Well aren't you at least a little curious?" Enjolras didn't say anything. He didn't want to give away that he had at least a slight idea as to why Eponine had taken off so suddenly. It was Eponine's personal business and he was not one to start spreading information without consent. He shook his head, trying his best to ignore the probing gazes of both Cosette and Grantaire, but they were still looking at him, waiting for him to give away more. Nothing happened and soon their interest in Enjolras faded.
By the time the game had finished, people were too tired to cheer or even get up and move. Some had fallen asleep, others had left, but a few of them were still present and awake. Enjolras sat up from his chair, just watching the other people in the room, observing their actions. This was something he did sometimes when he didn't have a book around. Joly was flipping through the channels, Marius and Cosette were kissing and giggling in their little corner (Enjolras thanked the heavens that they were not making out in front of him) and Grantaire was surprisingly still awake.
Enjolras decided it was time to head back; he looked over to where his roommate was, thinking that it would be a good idea for them to return together. However when he saw Combeferre had passed out on the chair, still clutching an empty bottle of beer, Enjolras decided to leave him where he was.
"Enjolras!" Grantaire blurted out when he saw Enjolras heading for the door. "Enjolras, Enjolras, Enjolras" he slurred, "Come here, I want to talk to you." Enjolras sighed, but walked over to his inebriated friend. Grantaire was sitting with a bunch of cans and bottles covering the floor around him. Enjolras somehow found a way to make it comfortable enough for him to sit down. Grantaire put a friendly arm around Enjolras and grinned. "Enjolras, you love Eponine right?"
Enjolras wasn't sure if it was the question, or Grantaire's sheer bluntness which surprised him more, but stayed silent. Grantaire sighed, not wanting to repeat himself, knowing full well that the man had heard him. Instead he took another gulp of beer, something he seemed to have a never-ending supply of.
Enjolras knew that Grantaire was also quite fond of Eponine. He saw the way they always interacted, as if they were lifelong friends that knew everything about each other. He also knew that Grantaire didn't see Eponine in the same light as he did, Grantaire saw Eponine as his closest female friend, like a sister. He knew how protective he was over her. Despite knowing this, he was still surprised by Grantaire's abrupt question.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Come on Enjolras, we all know you're past the point of 'liking' each other," he made air quotation marks, "You're practically a married couple. You're closer than a lot of married couples."
"Pardon?" he repeated, eyes wide and still surprised by the words coming out of his friend's mouth.
"Okay, okay. Let me rephrase that." His hands waving around "Are you in love with Eponine?"
Enjolras was silent again, but was actually considering the question. Was he? At the moment he was not so sure. He knew that he was experiencing feelings for Eponine that he had not felt for anyone before. Yet it was not just a simple admiration or crush, it felt different. With Eponine, there was so much more too it.
He paused, "I wouldn't know," he sighed and looked down, he wasn't sure if Grantaire would remember this conversation in the morning, so he decided that maybe this would be a good time to let some of his thoughts out, "I don't know what love feels like."
After another swig of beer, emptying the bottle, Grantaire put it down and stared at Enjolras, showing him that he meant business. "Let me put it like this. Do you want to hold her close and make sure she's okay? Do you want to hurt everyone who makes her the tiniest bit upset? Do you smile when you hear her voice, or when you're simply just thinking about her? Does your heart beat faster when she's on your mind? Is she all you think about? More than your books and work? Are you willing to do anything for her?"
Enjolras just stared at the drunk that sat beside him, who apparently wasn't as drunk as he looked. Grantaire could see from his amazed expression that Enjolras had internally agreed with all he had just said, and realised that Eponine might finally be the one to crack the marble statue that was Enjolras. It bothered Grantaire so much, how long it was taking these two to realise their feelings for each other. It was as if it was obvious to everyone but them. Though, Grantaire supposed he couldn't really blame them. Eponine was just getting over a seriously mortifying unrequited relationship with Marius, and Enjolras … strange, naïve Enjolras, who knew everything about everything except women. Deep down Grantaire was happy, maybe these two could finally feel what all the books, poems and songs have talked about, the feeling that trumped every other feeling. He decided that he had questioned Enjolras enough for one night, but couldn't let the marble statue leave without making him squirm once more.
"You should think about that." He stood up, stumbling a little, but composed himself and grinned at Enjolras. "I just wanted to know if you love her." He watched Enjolras pull a face as he stood up and got ready to leave once again, "Apparently you do ..."
"I'm leaving."
"You better tell her soon before she's gone from your life for good."
"So I've been told."
"Hey Enjolras." Enjolras turned around as Grantaire had a hold of his arm. The grin was no longer upon Grantaire's face. His expression was dead serious. "If you hurt her in anyway, if you make her cry just once, whether that be by you cheating on her, lying to her or even just not telling her your feelings in the first place … you can be sure I'll fucking beat you to a bloody pulp and no one will be able recognise you anymore. That's just me, you can be sure the others have their own surprises up their sleeves for you."
Enjolras nodded, never breaking eye contact. "If I ever hurt her. You have my permission to do so."
A/N: Good? Bad? Terrible?
Thank you for reading. Also, I would like for you guys to give me book recommendations! I want to read, what people call 'the classics'. I actually don't read that much, and think it's about time I change that. Recently I've really liked to take note of books that people mention in Enjolras/Eponine fics. Hopefully I'll get to read them, after I finish the book I'm currently reading. Thank you :D