Chapter 4

"Eponine! Stop!" Azelma ran breathlessly after her sister, who was tearing down every sideway possible. "'Ponine! Please, slow down at least!" Eponine suddenly halted, and fell to the ground in tears. Her sister ran to her side.

"I should have known, I should have known, I should have known," repeated Eponine over and over as Azelma hugged her.

"What? Should have known what?"

"Didn't you see? He doesn't love me."

"But he kissed you."

"He said he was sorry, which means he didn't want to do it at all."

"Then why did he?"

"I don't know, but he doesn't love me."

"I think he does."

"I know you're wrong," argued Eponine.

Azelma looked pleadingly at her older sister. "He cares about you immensely."

"Caring and loving are on two opposite sides. I just want to forget it."

"How are you going to do that?"

"Stay away from the cafe and the ABC Society as much as I can."

"Our brother's the leader," smiled Azelma. "We have to show up sometimes."

"But not all the time. You go as much as you want. I know the only reason you go is..."

"Enough of you!"

Eponine regained her smile and stood. Her sister and her walked side by side and in circles for a while. Azelma looked up.

"You won't go home, you won't go to the cafe. Where will you go?"

"I don't know."

"You can't avoid Marius forever. Talk to him."

"No."

"'Ponine..."

"No!"

Azelma sighed and began walking in the opposite direction. Eponine sat on the curb. She was blocking out everything in her life, both intentionally and unintentionally.

'Marius, why are you doing this to me?'

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"What did she say?"

"She might as well have said she never wants to see anyone again."

"What?" Enjolras was shocked. He hadn't expected Eponine to take it as bad as she was. "Both of them deserve each other. Marius ran off, too."

"Holy God. Enjolras, what are we going to do."

The leader paused, and then turned back to Azelma. "Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"I'm tired of playing matchmaker and mediator. I have other things I need to do, and if they want to run around Paris, let them. I've tried to help them as long as I could, Azelma, but they obviously don't want what they think they want."

"I'm so worried, though."

"Don't worry. Your mind doesn't need that."

"Eponine and I have always had each other's best interests at heart. Right now, she's upset and swearing never to step foot in here again. She won't go home, she hasn't much money. She's going to turn into a whore if she's not careful!" She noticed the students had been listening intently to every word. "You have to help me. She's my sister. And even if Marius doesn't see what she is, I still do."

"Enjolras, friends. Please. I love my sister, and she loves me," Gavroche came up besides Azelma. "And I want her to be alright."

Grantaire stood and moved towards the three of them. "If even one of you decide to stay here and enjoy a little wine instead of helping our friend, I'll personally kick you out of Paris now!"

"Alright, Grantaire, that's a little harsh," said Enjolras from behind the drunk.

"Very well. In that case, I think I'll stay and have a little more..."

"Oh no you won't," said Combeferre dragging him to the door.

"Since you can make statements like that, you can follow them as well." Joly and everyone else moved towards the door. Enjolras stood in front of the two Thenardiers.

"Stay here in case Marius comes back."

"Do you think that's smart?"

"Just stay here. You three are going to have the back room. Make it up for when Eponine comes back." With that, he was gone.

"'Zelma, we is to live here?"

"It seems that way, Gavroche. It seems that way."

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Eponine remembered the money in her pocket. It wasn't enough, and even if she dared to go back to her mother, she ran the risk of seeing her father. She knew that if she could get a job, she could send most of the money to Azelma and Gavroche. Azelma was smart, she wouldn't tell their parents anything, except that Eponine had left town, or some other made up story.

'Who would hire me? I haven't worked before, I haven't any references. I might as well become a...prostitute. Yes, a prostitute! Fast money, meaningless work. I could...'

Her thoughts were interrupted when a crowd passed by her, stopped, and backtracked. She didn't need to look behind her to know who was there.

"Eponine, what are you doing?"

"Thinking about getting a job."

"That's a step in the right direction," said Feuilly.

"What were you thinking about doing?" asked Enjolras, taking a seat next to her and speaking in a whisper.

Eponine stared into his eyes, and her own began to swell with tears. "I'm thinking about the lowest of the low," she said, barely squeaking.

Enjolras looked at her sternly. "No. Eponine, we won't allow that. You know that your sister and brother sent us out here? You can't do that to them, they wouldn't allow that!"

"Does it really matter, Enjolras? I haven't a franc to spare, a place to live, or a real family for that matter."

"What are we?" asked Grantaire, rather hurt.

Eponine had a genuine look of shock on her face. It suddenly hit her that these men were out here on their own time asking her to return. They were more than students, they were her family. She knew them all so well, and they knew her. She smiled and turned to them.

"Grantaire, you are my friend, all of you, and my family. And I want to go home."

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Marius hadn't been to the cafe in weeks. He busied himself with school matters, which deprived him of coming to the meetings. From what he had heard, Eponine, Azelma, and Gavroche had moved into the back room of the cafe, under the consent of the owner. The two girls had also been given jobs to work cleaning and cooking. Gavroche normally served what he couldn't break to the guests.

Enjolras had become rather persistent about him coming to the cafe recently. He knew that Enjolras still had hopes that the two would come around, if only they could get in the same place at the same time.

One night, after many of the guests had left and only a few students remained, Eponine and Azelma were wiping off tables and Gavroche was using the broom as a musket. His sisters threw looks at him, and he eventually put the broom down and began making piles of dust. Marius causally walked in, and Eponine briefly glanced at him. He greeted some friends, as Eponine moved behind the bar top. Marius took a seat in front of her after his conversation was through.

"What can I get you, Monsieur?"

"Are we back to that again?"

"What again?"

"You don't have to call me 'monsieur', remember?"

"I've just gotten used to saying it for the past few weeks. I'm sorry. Can I get you anything, Marius?"

"Yes, actually. I wanted to talk with you, Eponine."

"A talk with Eponine? I don't believe that was a special today."

"Seriously," he smiled. "It's been a while, and I didn't have a chance to explain myself."

"Explain what?"

"That day, when I kissed you."

"Oh, that. I think I have it pretty much figured out, Marius."

He looked astonished. "You have?"

"Of course, Marius. I completely understand. I hope you forgive me for running out like that but..."

"No, I understand why you did that." They smiled at each other. "I guess we didn't need to talk at all if we completely understand one another."

"Does that mean we're back to square one?"

"You bet, Eponine." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Don't run away now, because I have grown rather hungry."

"There's something I can do," said Azelma, coming closer. "What will it be?"

Marius looked uneasily. "Eponine once told me how your mother used to cook. You didn't learn from her, did you?"

"Marius, I'm insulted! Eponine may be her father's daughter, but I am not my mother's." Azelma huffed and disappeared from sight.



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A little short I guess, but oh well. Now that that's taken care of, we can move along.