"I Love You"
Chapter 2
Enjolras stood, suddenly bright and friendly, and crossed the room to Eponine. If he had ever been worn and tired, it did not show now. His crystal blue eyes shone with intensity and thought, reflecting the deep inner-workings of his enigmatic mind. He was the type of young man who visualized his goals, clear and simple, and did not yield until his tasks were completed.
The revolution was an aspect of his life which sent his thoughts into a whirlwind, stirred the blood in his veins, evoked every ounce of passion in his idealistic, youthful heart. He could not resist recruiting a new member into Les Amis de l'ABC, even if it was a woman. In his eyes, gender was inconsequential.
"I see," he purred. "I must say, Mademoiselle, I am surprised at your interest in the revolution."
"Oh, but I am very interested," replied Eponine with the calmness of a cat. It was true, though perhaps not for the reasons the young man might have thought. "I think you will find me to be exceptionally dedicated. I shall attend every meeting, without fail."
The smile upon Enjolras' lips grew wider at the thought of a stronger force against the National Guard.
"What, pray tell, is your name, then?"
"It's Eponine."
"Right, Eponine," he beamed, giving the girl a friendly shoulder-pat. "I'm glad to have another man on the job." Aside from calling her "Mademoiselle," Enjolras did not acknowledge the fact that Eponine was a female.
Nevertheless, his hand on her shoulder gave her a strange shiver she couldn't explain. She was particularly unaccustomed to male contact.
Enjolras proceeded to lead the girl around the café, discussing a variety of in-depth subjects for at least twenty minutes. He spoke of his political views, his hopes and aspirations for a brighter tomorrow. He spoke of the injustice he saw every day, the mistreatment of the poor, the lack of cooperation from the government. The boy seemed to lose himself in the topic, for his eyes burned with a deep concentration as he spoke every word, his voice resonating throughout the deserted café, strong and bold, yet calm and collected.
As he spoke, every thought of Marius in Eponine's head drifted away, making room for Enjolras' speech.
When at last the boy finished, Eponine's heart pounded with a new, unfamiliar passion, for nothing had ever touched her so deeply or inspired her so greatly.
* * *
From that point on, Eponine attended every meeting at Le Café Musain. The freedom and openness she experienced when she was surrounded by dedicated, optimistic young men satisfied her clever mind, for she never was able to voice her opinions at home. In her father's eyes, she was only useful as a pawn in his illegal scams. Her intellect and sharp wit were seemingly always cramped by her dull, desolate lifestyle until she joined Les Amis de l'ABC.
Over the weeks that followed, Enjolras' words echoed through her mind, etching themselves into her memory, until she too was obsessed with the revolution.
The more she fell in love with politics, the less she minded delivering and retrieving Marius' letters to Cosette. Suddenly, her fascination with the future of France engulfed her thoughts, washing away any despair that might have weighed on her shoulders. Her broken heart mended itself, giving life to a new, hopeful, brighter Eponine.
She even took to arriving at the café early and staying late into the night, for she and Enjolras enjoyed each other's company after their comrades had left for the evening. For hours at a time, the two discussed their plans of action, each of them feeding and stimulating the other's thoughts and creativity, gradually opening the other's mind.
They always spoke to each other with respect and never seemed to disagree on anything. In a matter of days, their kindred spirits molded into each other, creating an understanding between them that lasted through every moment of every day.
Sometimes they drew up battle plans together, plotting each point and allowing room for any twist of events, so that every attack would flow smoothly and flawlessly. When their ideas combined, the two of them created beautiful, ingenious works.
Over the course of several nights together, they formed a tight mutual friendship and admiration for one another, two wandering souls uniting as one; they were lost without each other's company.
But in this friendship, a trace of affection was laced, unknown to either of them. As the days went by, their reciprocal fondness grew and expanded, and neither Enjolras nor Eponine recognized it.
Chapter 2
Enjolras stood, suddenly bright and friendly, and crossed the room to Eponine. If he had ever been worn and tired, it did not show now. His crystal blue eyes shone with intensity and thought, reflecting the deep inner-workings of his enigmatic mind. He was the type of young man who visualized his goals, clear and simple, and did not yield until his tasks were completed.
The revolution was an aspect of his life which sent his thoughts into a whirlwind, stirred the blood in his veins, evoked every ounce of passion in his idealistic, youthful heart. He could not resist recruiting a new member into Les Amis de l'ABC, even if it was a woman. In his eyes, gender was inconsequential.
"I see," he purred. "I must say, Mademoiselle, I am surprised at your interest in the revolution."
"Oh, but I am very interested," replied Eponine with the calmness of a cat. It was true, though perhaps not for the reasons the young man might have thought. "I think you will find me to be exceptionally dedicated. I shall attend every meeting, without fail."
The smile upon Enjolras' lips grew wider at the thought of a stronger force against the National Guard.
"What, pray tell, is your name, then?"
"It's Eponine."
"Right, Eponine," he beamed, giving the girl a friendly shoulder-pat. "I'm glad to have another man on the job." Aside from calling her "Mademoiselle," Enjolras did not acknowledge the fact that Eponine was a female.
Nevertheless, his hand on her shoulder gave her a strange shiver she couldn't explain. She was particularly unaccustomed to male contact.
Enjolras proceeded to lead the girl around the café, discussing a variety of in-depth subjects for at least twenty minutes. He spoke of his political views, his hopes and aspirations for a brighter tomorrow. He spoke of the injustice he saw every day, the mistreatment of the poor, the lack of cooperation from the government. The boy seemed to lose himself in the topic, for his eyes burned with a deep concentration as he spoke every word, his voice resonating throughout the deserted café, strong and bold, yet calm and collected.
As he spoke, every thought of Marius in Eponine's head drifted away, making room for Enjolras' speech.
When at last the boy finished, Eponine's heart pounded with a new, unfamiliar passion, for nothing had ever touched her so deeply or inspired her so greatly.
* * *
From that point on, Eponine attended every meeting at Le Café Musain. The freedom and openness she experienced when she was surrounded by dedicated, optimistic young men satisfied her clever mind, for she never was able to voice her opinions at home. In her father's eyes, she was only useful as a pawn in his illegal scams. Her intellect and sharp wit were seemingly always cramped by her dull, desolate lifestyle until she joined Les Amis de l'ABC.
Over the weeks that followed, Enjolras' words echoed through her mind, etching themselves into her memory, until she too was obsessed with the revolution.
The more she fell in love with politics, the less she minded delivering and retrieving Marius' letters to Cosette. Suddenly, her fascination with the future of France engulfed her thoughts, washing away any despair that might have weighed on her shoulders. Her broken heart mended itself, giving life to a new, hopeful, brighter Eponine.
She even took to arriving at the café early and staying late into the night, for she and Enjolras enjoyed each other's company after their comrades had left for the evening. For hours at a time, the two discussed their plans of action, each of them feeding and stimulating the other's thoughts and creativity, gradually opening the other's mind.
They always spoke to each other with respect and never seemed to disagree on anything. In a matter of days, their kindred spirits molded into each other, creating an understanding between them that lasted through every moment of every day.
Sometimes they drew up battle plans together, plotting each point and allowing room for any twist of events, so that every attack would flow smoothly and flawlessly. When their ideas combined, the two of them created beautiful, ingenious works.
Over the course of several nights together, they formed a tight mutual friendship and admiration for one another, two wandering souls uniting as one; they were lost without each other's company.
But in this friendship, a trace of affection was laced, unknown to either of them. As the days went by, their reciprocal fondness grew and expanded, and neither Enjolras nor Eponine recognized it.