I'M SORRY!
I'm not dead, but I moved to University on Saturday, and I had to get sorted for that, and Freshers' Week is so hectic I've just had no time at all!
Updates are likely to be less frequent now because obviously I have to study, so it's more likely to be weekly or bi-weekly than daily... I'm sorry, I will try my best, and I'm definitely not abandoning this story. I'll reply to reviews and PMs as soon as I can as well! Thank you so much for your continued support, much love for you all, really really.
Disclaimer: I don't own Les Miserables, or any of the songs mentioned, although I do love them all.
The morning of the wedding was a blur of fun, stress and hairspray for Éponine, who was at Sylvie's house with the girls, helping her get ready. The first few hours were brilliant, they all did their hair and while listening to music and laughing at each other's funny guy and wedding-based stories, but around an hour before they had to leave, the church called to say there had been a problem with the seats and they might not be able to get everybody in, which sent Grace into full dictator mode, yelling down the phone and insisting everything would be perfect. As a result, Sylvie started to get stressed, and one thing led to another and she ended up getting cold feet and trying to unpin her hair and call off the wedding, so Éponine and Musichetta had to take charge, removing Grace from the room to finish her phone call, and getting Cosette (who was the best at sympathy and gentle persuasion by a fairly wide margin) to calm Sylvie down and get her make-up and dress on before the cars arrived to take them to the church. All in all, Éponine was STRESSED.
Once the first car, which carried Éponine, Musichetta and Cosette, had arrived at L'Église Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre, she ran in on a scouting mission, to check everyone was ready for the bride's arrival. Courfeyrac and Marius were ushers, waiting at the door, and started grinning madly as she approached.
Marius called out 'Éponine!' as soon as she was in earshot.
'Hey guys, how's it going?'
'Pretty good, just about everyone's in, I think. Feuilly and the priest are all ready, so we're ready whenever Sylvie is!'
'She was in the car behind me, maybe... 5 minutes?'
'Brilliant. So are you with Cosette? And Musichetta?'
'Yeah. Bridesmaids' car. I need a DRINK, I have had the girliest morning of my entire life, I swear to God. Fuck, I shouldn't swear in church. SHIT. Oh…. Poopy!'
The two men were laughing heartily by the end of this little outburst. Once he'd recovered, Courfeyrac said 'well you look amazing, so all the girl time was worth it.'
'Awww thanks Courf!'
'I mean it, you look hot! You might get to be the lucky bridesmaid who gets to shag me.'
She laughed, then joked 'don't get my hopes up if you don't mean it, I'll hold you to that promise.'
'I'm counting on it.' Courfeyrac beamed.
Sylvie's car pulled up in front of the church, prompting Marius to laugh 'at least THAT conversation is over.' He then popped his head round the door, into the main body of the church, motioning for the groomsmen to come out.
Enjolras was a bit bored. He was very happy for Feuilly, obviously, and was pleased to be attending the wedding, but if he had to listen to another distant relative of Feuilly's give the 'proud relative' speech as they talked to the small gang of groomsmen, he might shoot someone. As such, it was an intense relief when he saw Marius motioning for them to go outside to meet up with the bridal party. Thank the Lord, it's finally starting.
He was not prepared for what he saw.
Éponine was stood to the left of the door, beside some flowers, her head thrown back in laughter, apparently at something Courfeyrac had said. She was wearing a bright pink dress, which seemed to bring out curves that he'd never noticed before – though she was still far from fat, or even curvy - and fell to the knees of her long, tanned legs. Her hair was up, with just a few strands framing her smiling face. In her hands, she held a small bouquet of pink and white flowers.
She looked incredible.
Really incredible.
And he hadn't the faintest idea what to do about it. He had to say SOMETHING, didn't he? What was it about this girl that made his way with words fly out the window?
Courfeyrac and Marius left, so she looked around. Spotting him, she waved, so he walked slowly towards her, his mind whirring at 100 miles an hour to try and think of something to say.
He reached her and stood awkwardly in front of her for a second, before blurting out 'you look really beautiful, Éponine.'
Her smile grew, and she blushed. Now you've done it. I really should stop freaking her out like this.
'Thank you, Enjolras, that's really… Nobody ever says I'm beautiful, not in that way… I don't… I… Thank you' she finished a little lamely.
They should. 'It's quite alright.'
'You look very handsome, too. Lovely suit.'
'Thank you.'
They stood a little awkwardly for a second, before Éponine burst out 'GOD I hope this isn't long. I need a drink!'
He laughed. 'Rough morning?'
'Girly and stressful!'
'The worst combination' he deadpanned
'It is!' she laughed.
'I had a very easy morning, we all went over to Feuilly's for breakfast at about 10, and just sat around talking and watching TV for a bit before we changed into suits and came here.'
'That sounds like SO much more fun.'
'You wouldn't say that if you'd had to listen to Courfeyrac's 'game plan' for picking up ladies.'
'I got the abridged version just now, actually' she chuckled. The music started to play in the church and Joly and Musichetta were about to walk up the aisle.
'Lucky you' he said, offering his arm for them to go into the church. 'Shall we?'
'We shall!'
The ceremony was beautiful, with barely a dry eye in the house. Even Éponine looked a little misty-eyed as the happy couple exchanged vows, Enjolras noticed, so he offered her his handkerchief when they were waiting for a car to go to the reception. He still wasn't sure why she found this so funny.
He was on a sat on a table with Combeferre, Éponine, Grantaire, and a few people from the market where Feuilly had his stall for the meal put on by Musichetta and Feuilly's mother, which was delicious. The group chatted and laughed the whole time, with Grantaire getting steadily drunker (they really couldn't take him anywhere) and Éponine's laugh getting steadily louder. The speeches from Sylvie's dad and Bahorel were brilliant, hilarious and heart-warming in all the right ways, and by the time the first dance came around, Enjolras found he was actually enjoying this wedding quite a lot. The music started, and to his and most people in the rooms' surprise, Éponine took the stage, beaming. As Feuilly and Sylvie danced slowly around the floor, gazing into each other's eyes, Éponine sang a breath-taking version of Bob Dylan's 'Make You Feel My Love.'
As he so often did, he found himself lost in her voice and the lyrics of the song.
I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love.
The storms are raging on the road, it seems
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing like me yet
I could make you happy
make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love.
As the song ended and the music picked up, the others all went off to dance. Despite protestations and various attempts to convince him, Enjolras remained seated, and simply watched them all and their different personalities light up the room: Marius and Cosette simply swayed lovingly, while Éponine and Grantaire were dancing enthusiastically around the floor, at speed.
He reflected on the day he'd had – the great morning with his friends, the beautiful ceremony. Éponine – how she'd looked, her song. Just as he was thinking about how truly beautiful she had looked when she sang, she came over hand held out.
No way. 'No.'
'Come oooonnnn!' she whined. 'It's FUN!'
'No.'
'No wonder you don't enjoy weddings, Captain Sit-out.'
'I'm just not a good dancer!'
'Please, one dance? For me?'
He met her eyes. Well I can't say no to that. 'Fine!'
She beamed, and grabbed his hand to pull him onto the dance floor as 'Rio' by Duran Duran finished. The DJ talked over the last couple of seconds, announcing 'a CLASSIC by Duran Duran there, now, here's a nice slow one for all the lovers.' Enjolras' blood ran cold, as the intro to 'Wild Horses' by the Rolling Stones filled the room and everyone on the dance floor started to pair off.
What should he do? Would she be ok with this? Did he even WANT to slow dance with her. God, slow dancing, what was this, middle school?!
'You going to dance with me or what?' Éponine teased.
'What sounds good.' He teased back, and then took a step towards her, so they were almost touching. As internally he simultaneously freaked out and breathed a sigh of relief that she had made the decision for him, she took his hand and placed it on her waist, smirking. He suddenly realised what she was doing, and took her hand in a loose ballroom hold, as she placed her spare hand gently on his shoulder. They started to gently sway in time with the music, their eyes locked,
Childhood living is easy to do
The things you wanted I bought them for you
Graceless lady you know who I am
You know I can't let you slide through my hands
He was lost in her eyes, the deep chocolate flecked with gold he'd never seen before, and blazing with a kind of fire he hadn't seen before.
Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses, couldn't drag me away
It felt like there was nobody in the room but them.
I watched you suffer a dull aching pain
Now you decided to show me the same
No sweeping exits or offstage lines
Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind
He was struck by a sudden, terrifying urge to wrap his hand in her hair and kiss her. Her hair was up, so he didn't.
Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses, couldn't drag me away
Was that the ONLY reason he didn't? What was happening to him?
I know I dreamed you a sin and a lie
I have my freedom but I don't have much time
Faith has been broken, tears must be cried
Let's do some living after we die
Éponine rested her head on his chest, and he felt more comfortable than he ever had before. Suddenly, his mind stopped whirring, and there was just peace. Everything was Éponine.
Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we'll ride them someday
Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we'll ride them some day
The music changed, and Éponine straightened up. 'Thank you for the dance Monsieur' she teased, with a mock curtsey.
Barely recovering in time to reply with a 'Thank YOU, Mademoiselle' and a joking bow, he snapped himself out of his daydreams. He was being ridiculous. He really shouldn't drink.
Bloody weddings.
teehee
back as soon as I can, promise! Reviews make my day, please let me know what you think!
Thank you again for all your support, guys!