If you have not read Chapter 35 do it! DO IT NOW! READ CHAPTER 35! Trust me on this!
Back to buisness, I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter, only took me 115k+ works and 35 chapters but if finally happened (you can thank one of my friends for convining me to make that chapter 35 and not 40). I had the ending scene written since before i even started this fanfic, like 2 months before actually!
Anyway, I'm sorry for the wait! I had the APUSH test this week plus marching band leader auditions and a band concert (we played selections from Les Mis) so i have had like zero time to write, plus i had no idea how to follow up chapter 35. I actually wanted to post yesterday but i fell asleep while i was writing, twice...then i had fine arts festival at school and went to see "The Great Gatsby" but now i'm going off on a tangent so let me stop before i bore you all to death
Thanks so much for the support and I hope the next chapter amounts to the previous one!
(Btw "*...*" means that that event happened to me and i thought it would be a good little add in)
Erik had seen the whole thing. He had decided to come to the dance after all and after Eponine sang he followed her to congratulate her and make his presence known, but he was stopped short when he saw she was accompanied by someone else. He decided to lurk in the corner and approach her when the time was right; it was from there that he watched as she got hurt and ran out of the school. Thinking of all that she had done for him he followed her out, hiding in the shadows. His heart reached out to her as he saw her break down near the tree, thought it was obvious she was holding back and doing her best to keep herself together. The moment he saw Montparnasse his worry changed to anger and he was about to beat his nose off when out of nowhere Enjolras appeared and seemed to have saved the day. All the anger and worry within him changed to anxiety as he watched Enjolras confess everything to Eponine and soon Erik was filled with pain and betrayal as he saw Eponine return his feelings. She was the only one who understood him. No one else knew heartbreak like they did; no one else saw things like they did do. Eponine was the one friend he had in the world and now she went back on everything. She left him. Now only had Eponine fallen for someone but she fell for someone who was the exact opposite of him. Now Erik was alone again.
Marius, Courfeyrac, and Combeferre all stood awkwardly in silence in the minutes that followed Eponine storming out. No one really knew how to react to what just happened and some –namely Marius- had no idea what was going on at all. He had tried to run after her to make sure she was ok but Combeferre grabbed his arm before he could and held him back, telling him to leave it to Enjolras, a knowing look on his face.
"You really think Enjolras is going to be able to calm her down?" Marius asked as he looked around between the two
"I don't know," responded Combeferre solemnly, "I hope, but she was pretty pissed. I mean I've seen angry Eponine but this definitely tops it all."
Courfeyrac nodded, "Yea no kidding, she dropped the f-bomb! She's only ever done that once and that was when that little kid -"
Marius flinched and cut in, "Let's not relive that moment….."
Courfeyrac shrugged, "Not my fault she ranted at you after that."
"Wasn't my fault either," Marius dejected, "Talk about wrong place wrong time."
"Yeah I get what you mean…." Combeferre nodded, "Anyway back to the subject of importance…..at this point I think Enjolras is the only one with a clear enough head to calm her down."
"But he is the reason she ran off!" exclaimed Marius, "Did you not see the way she looked at him after he yelled at me? I swear there was some serious pain in those eyes."
"Which makes Enjolras being the one to apologize all the better." Reassured Combeferre
"Apologize for what?" asked Grantaire as he walked toward the group holding Azelma's hand, behind them were Cosette, Rachel, and Alyssa. "And where are Eponine and Enjolras, I could have sworn I just saw them standing here."
Cosette nodded, "Yeah where are they? I thought Eppie would have been back by now."
Grantaire turned to face Cosette, "You call her Eppy too? Does she give you crap about it because she is ALWAYS giving me crap!"
"Grant this is NOT the time!" yelped Azelma before turning her attention back to Marius, "Where did my sister run off to?
Marius sighed, "Well from what I've gathered I said some things and then Enjolras got pissed and said some things, which Eponine overheard, then she got pissed and yelled at him before running off…Enjolras went after her."
Cosette and Azelma's eyes widened and they shared the same facial expression, "WHAT?!"
"You heard him." Stated Grantaire, "Shit went down and word vomit was spewed ….. And now Enjolras is out somewhere trying to calm down a pissed off Eponine"
Azelma shook her head, "For his sake I hope he succeeded. I fear Eponine may prevent him from ever having children again if he doesn't."
"Would she really do that?" asked Rachel wide-eyed
"Yep," answered Azelma, "you should have seen what she did when our neighbor at our old house didn't pick up his dog's shit from our yard after she asked him twice."
Grantaire raised an eyebrow, "What exactly did she do?"
"Nothing you need to know, trust me its better that you don't." Azelma giggled as she revisited the memory, "Let's just say she plays dirty."
"Who plays dirty?" asked Joly, approaching the group with his arm around Musichetta
"Oh great…." Muttered Marius, "Now everyone is here; why not just invite channel 5 news to broadcast this!?"
Cosette took his hand, "Sweetie I think you are being over dramatic…"
"I am not over dramatic!" He yelped as his arms waved around sporadically, "I am just a little confused as to what just occurred and how two of my closest friends are now off fighting, who knows if they will both come out alive, and on top of it all everyone and their sister is here to hear about it!"
Marius panted and huffed deeply when he finished his monologue, his hand clenched at his sides. The group went silent and gawked at the brunette before Courfeyrac chuckled, "Oh yea definitely not over dramatic….."
Combeferre rolled his eyes at Courfeyrac before bringing a hand to his chin and looking at Marius with curiosity, "I'm still trying to figure out why Enjolras went all off on you."
"Why am I always the one who everyone gets angry with?" Marius moaned, causing Cosette to rub his back affectionately "Is there something about me that just irks people and makes them want to yell at me?"
"I think it's your overly freckled face Marius!" Called a feminine voice
Everyone turned to see none other than Enjolras and Eponine walking toward them with smiles on their faces, their past tensions seemingly forgotten. They all stared at them with their mouths hanging open as they took in the scene before them; Eponine had Enjolras' jacket draped over her shoulders and her arm was snaked across his waist while Enjolras had his arm wrapped around her shoulder, holding her closely and affectionately. Eponine looked over at the group who stared at her in bewilderment and was generally amused by their expression.
She cocked an eyebrow, "Is everything ok?"
Silence filled the group. Eponine looked up at Enjolras as if he knew what was going on between their friends but he was just as clueless as her so she was met with a shrug.
Marius broke the silence, "'Is everything ok?' I don't really know why don't you tell us?"
Enjolras looked at him as if he was insane, "Well everything is fine for us…..are you guys ok?"
Marius gaped his mouth like a fish before continuing, "Wait! You two just ran off with a hell of a lot of tension and now you're all back to normal!? I was expecting at least a shouting match!"
Eponine smiled and tightened her arm around Enjolras, "Well I wouldn't say things are back to normal exactly….."
Joly switched his gaze from Enjolras to Eponine and back as if trying to wrap his brain around what he was seeing, "Wait are you guys…..together now?"
Enjolras chuckled, "I guess you could say that."
The crowd went silent again. Everyone looked at each other and back at the new couple; their eyes wide and their mouths gapped open like fish- save for the two girls who no idea of the tension-filled story going on between the two people of interest at the time.
Marius looked the most shocked, "What? Why? How…..when…WHAT?!"
Courfeyrac ignored him and grinned before running toward them and trapping them in a bear hug. "Well it's about time! I knew you two had a thing for each other! I just knew it!"
Combeferre chuckled, "Called it."
Enjolras raised an eyebrow at them and opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by Grantaire slapping hand on his back. "Congratulations mon ami! Here I was afraid that the two of you would never get together."
"YES!" yelped Cosette, "I swear if you two didn't get together soon I was going to hold an intervention!"
Musichetta giggled, "I would have locked them in a closet till they revealed their feelings."
Azelma joined Grantaire's side, "Yea it was obvious you two liked each other but both of you were too stubborn to do anything about it!"
Enjolras glanced down at Eponine who in turn met his eyes. Both their cheeks were turning slightly pink but they were determined not to let their friends get to them, so Eponine scoffed, "Oh please it wasn't that obvious."
"Yes it was!" replied Grantaire and Azelma in unison.
Grantaire smirked at Azelma, "Now I believe someone owes me a kiss."
Azelma narrowed her at him playfully, "Now wait a minute. You said I owed you a kiss if Enjolras made his move on Eponine, how do we know she didn't make a move on him?"
Grantaire laughed, "Well let's find out from the source." He shot his eyes up to the couple that was looking more and more uncomfortable by the second. "So who made the first move?"
"Enjolras did."Eponine answered simply, she felt the arm around her shoulder tighten as she moved her hand up between Enjolras' shoulder blades.
Cosette beamed with excitement. "Oh my gosh really?! Oh that's so romantic!" She ran over and threw her arms around Eponine, causing her to detach herself from Enjolras and jolt in shock.
"Cosette easy…..I can't breathe!"
Cosette let go of her with an embarrassing look on her face, "Oh I'm sorry Eppie! I'm just so happy for you! You two are finally together!"
Rachel and Alyssa looked at each other from where they stood by the wall.
"Do you understand what is going on?" asked Rachel
Alyssa shrugged, "From what I've gathered Eponine and Enjolras finally got together and everyone is super happy for them."
"I never knew they were so into each other's love lives…..are they like this for everyone?"
Courfeyrac saw his date's confusion and quickly put a hand on her shoulder, "Let's just say this is long overdue. We have been expecting the two of them to get together for months."
Enjolras heard his comment and sent him a glare, "I'm sure you're over exaggerating."
Combeferre shook his head, "No he's right. I've called his since Cosette's birthday party, don't you remember?"
"And I've been waiting for his since Thanksgiving!" added Courfeyrac.
Rachel looked up at him in awe, "Thanksgiving? But that was 4 months ago!"
"Like I said it's long overdue."
Meanwhile the girls were hounding Eponine with questions.
"How did he make his first move?"
"Did he sweep you off your feet?"
"Was it romantic?"
"Did you finally crack the marble!?"
Eponine backed closer and closer against the wall with each question until she was firmly pressed up against it.
"ENOUGH!" She shrieked-her shout enough for all of them to go silent. "One question at a time please for Pete's sake!"
Grantaire cocked at her, "Who is Pete? Are you leaving Enjy for someone else already?"
Enjolras glared at him, "Don't call me Enjy…."
Azelma saw the tension build up and stepped in, "So back to point A… how did Enjolras make the first move?"
Eponine shrugged sheepishly, "He um…he kissed me."
The boys all turned toward Enjolras and gave him a wolf whistle and he in turn turned slightly red.
"Damn Enj I didn't know you would be that direct!" yapped Courfeyrac
"When you get passionate about something you really get passionate don't you?" teased Marius.
"The marble had broken!" Cheered Grantaire "And Azelma Thenardier now owes me a kiss!" Azelma narrowed her eyes at Grantaire playfully before softening her gaze and giving him a quick peck on the lips. Grantaire was about to make a remark toward her when another thought crashed into his head. "You know Enj' now you can say that Eponine actually kissed you."
"Yeah," added Courfeyrac, "Unless you count that one time a few months ago."
Eponine rolled her eyes, "Are you guys talking about Christmas? That doesn't count! We were stuck under mistletoe!"
"No," stressed Courfeyrac, "I meant that one time we got our scores back for finals!"
Eponine's eyes widened, "Oh come on that does not count in the slightest! It wasn't even a kiss that time!"
Musichetta tugged on Joly's arm, "What exactly happened?"
He looked at her with a smile in his eyes, "Well back in January we were sitting at the café, you know hanging out as usual, and we had all gotten our scores back from our finals. *Well Eponine looked at hers and then put it face down on the table. Enjolras asked why she was hiding her score, to which she said she wasn't; she just didn't feel like rubbing her score into anyone's face. Well Courfeyrac decided to take the paper with his scores and literally rub it in her face; Eponine didn't take that lightly so she stuck out her tongue and licked the paper."
Musichetta looked at him in confusion, "I'm still not seeing how this relates back to a kiss."
"Wait it gets better," he reassured, "You see Courfeyrac rubbed the wet paper against Eponine's shirt to get the saliva off but then Enjolras made some comment about them being immature so Courfeyrac proceeded to rub the paper onto Enjolras' face. Everyone bursted out in laugher and Eponine practically fell out of her seat from laughing so hard. Through his tears Courfeyrac was able to muster out 'Well at least you can say you've been kissed by Eponine'*. After that I don't really remember what happened."
Musichetta rolled her eyes at him, "I swear I don't know why anyone puts up with you guys."
The moon shined brightly in the night sky as Enjolras dropped Eponine off at Cosette's house. They had first dropped off Combeferre and Alyssa off at their respective houses but now it was just them two alone in the car. As they pulled into Cosette's house Enjolras reached out for Eponine's hand, causing her to smile widely at him.
"I hope our friends didn't annoy you too much." He teased
"No I found it sweet, and in their defense they have been waiting for this for awhile."
"Yea I know…..I want to say I'm mad at them for being but I can't. I'm actually kind of happy that they were." He said leaning in close to her
She smiled, "I'm happy too."
"I just hope that nothing awkward happens between us. I like you too much to lose you as a friend if things well you know….."
She looked at him affectionately, "No matter what I know things will turn out ok. Besides being in a relationship allows some new opportunities doesn't it?" She said with a wink
Enjolras that as a welcome sign and closed the gap in between them; his lips felt soft and warm on Eponine's and she closed her eyes and deepened the kiss as he placed a hand on her neck and stroked her cheek softly with his thumb. She pressed one hand against his shoulder and the other played with his thick hair. The kept their lips locked for as long as they could and when they broke apart both their mouths were slightly swollen.
Eponine looked at Enjolras and let out a little chuckle, "You got some lipstick on your mouth Enjy."
Without a second thought she reached up her thumb to his lips and gently tried to rub the lipstick off. Enjolras grabbed a hold of her wrist and smirked at her before placing a kiss to her knuckle. She grinned and gave him an equivalent kiss on his cheek.
They were moments from having another make-out session in his car when Cosette's front door opened and they saw the blonde girl's outline on the porch.
Eponine sighed as she detached herself from his and began to get out of the car. "I guess we will have to continue this later."
Enjolras smiled, "I look forward to it."
Enjolras: You know I am happy you finally gave them what they wanted. No more crazy fangirls infiltrating the barricade
Me: Yea about that...
Enjolras: Oh no! *glares at me* Don't tell me someone is coming?!
stagepageandscreen:*scrambles onto the barricade* Hey boys! *Met with blank stares from the Amis* Call me Libz. I'm here to hang around with you guys for a bit.
Me: Surprise...
stagepageandscreen: Thank you, thank you, thank you! *hug* I was kinda wondering... If you wouldn't mind... *speaking really fast* could I bring Ophelia the Ferret for Jehan from my fanfiction? Please?
Jehan: I have a ferret?
stagepageandscreen: *shrugs* it adds to your character. Well, I think so anyway.
Enjolras: Would it be possible for once, just ONCE, for us to get a fan girl on this barricade that ISN'T COMPLETELY CRAZY!
Me: For your information Enjy i am NOT crazy! And the ferret is welcome!
Enjolras: Wait a moment! Who died and made you the leader of the barricade!
Me: Do you really want me to answer that?
Enjolras: *stutters and blushes* I still dont think this is a good idea!
Me: Are you saying you don't wanna let the ferret in?
Jehan: But I wanted the ferret...*sniffle*
Me: you see what you did Enjy you made Jehan cry!
Jehan: *sniff* I'm not *sniff* crying
Me: very smooth Enj! Do you treat everyone like this?!
Enjolras: *shouting at sky* Ahhhhh!
Me: Tsk Tsk. Temper Enjolras Temper; there's no need to shout we are all right here
stagepageandscreen: thanks *hands ferret to Jehan* okay then * stares around purposefully* what do you guys do for fun around here? Well apart from dodging the bullets of the National Guard. I seem to remember something about karaoke.
*dull thud in background*
Combeferre: What was that?
stagepageandscreen: I think that was Enjy head desking... Only he used the barricade.
Grantaire:*rolls eyes* we tend to sit around a fire while we sing about the past but that also gets depressing. Tho the most common thing we do is get snacks and sit on hay bales as we watch Eponine T Daae push Enjolras' buttons and annoy him
Me: Is that really what you do for fun?
Grantaire: Well there's always listening in when you sing in the back of the cafe
Me: YOU WHAT?'!
Joly: what he meant to say was... We play poker in the cafe
Me: *glaring at them all* that's what I though. All that seems pretty like good stuff
Enjolras: wait why did no one ask me?
Me: because your definition of fun is writing speeches and reading the works of Robespierre
Enjolras: *grumbles*
stagepageandscreen: Say, does the whole 'Patria' equals a piggy back thing still stand?
Enjolras: *subtly trying to hide*
Me: hey she said Patria! Enjy you know what that means!
Enjolras: *sigh and bends down slightly as I climb his back*
Me (while still on his back): Well the piggy back thing is mine - as is his vest
Enjolras: I want that back by the way!
Me: *rolls eyes* anyway I earned the piggy back rides, only reason he complies is because he is a man of his word and his word promised me piggy back rides
Enjolras: in my defense you tricked me! And I know you rigged that bet
Me: Dont be such a sore loser :P Back to Libz, you should probably make your own bet. Like you can bet who can last longer, Grantaire without liquor or Enjolras without getting pissed at me
Enjolras: why do I keep getting dragged into these things?!
Me: Because your fun to mess with
stagepageandscreen: Oh how about telling embarresting stories about Enjy?
Courfeyrac :I know an excellent one involving a birthday party, a glass of spiked apple juice, and a Polish folk dance...
Enjolras: What no! No! *glares at me* I blame you for all this!
Me: wow really? I'm so honored! *moves to sit down on hay bale*
Courfeyrac: (grins) Let's just say that we discovered that Enjolras had a lovely singing voice long before the karaoke incident with Eponine T.
*Enjolras dying of shame in the corner*
stagepageandscreen: *pats him on the back comfortingly* You know is a certain song I could teach you if you like. It would be good for the revolution...
Enjolras (still grumbling): What's it called?
stagepageandscreen: *super innocently* Red and Black...
Enjolras: Your kidding right?! I wrote that song remember!
Me: You wrote it but I'm sure we can sing it better!
Enjolras: I severely doubt that!
Me: Care to make this interesting?
Grantaire: *whispers to libz* Libz this is how their little bets tend to start
stagepageandscreen: I definitely want to join in with this! Me and Ep against Enjolras and whoever wants to join him.
Me: Loser sings I'm Alive while Marius sings Empty Chairs
stagepageandscreen: *gives you high five* Excellent! I've just got into Next to Normal actually, so I'm humming I'm Alive all the time. Hm, not quite sure how we should do this? Who will judge?
Me:Gavroche!
Enjolras: Sounds fair to me, Gavroche is Trustworthy
Gavroche: Good to hear! I'd love to help!
Me: *whispering to Libz* We got this in the bag, I have a plate full of chocolate chip cookies which just so happens to b Gavroche's favorite!
stagepageandscreen*sly winking*: Let's do this!
*Some time later*
Enjolras: You rigged it! I don't know how, but you rigged it!
Gavroche: *swallowing last cookie* It was fair and square. Sorry Amis, but I wouldn't suggest taking up a career in the theatre.
Me and stagepageandscreen singing: It is time for us all to decide who we are. Enj and Amis will now now sing a two song duet for us now...
Enjolras: *begrugditly takes sheet music*I really hate you...