It was a week later and Eponine, Theo, Liz and Marius were hanging out before school started.
"Does it hurt?" asked Theo. Eponine shook her head.
"I'm glad that Marius and Joly were there to help me," said Eponine, smiling at Marius.
"Where's Enjolras today?" asked Liz.
"He's not feeling well today, Liz," said Marius. Liz frowned as was about to reply when the first warning bell rang.
"Well, let's go to our first hours and get them over with," said Liz. She helped Eponine carry her books to her first hour.
"Thanks, Liz," said Eponine.
"You're welcome, 'Ponine," said Liz.
It was after first hour and Liz and Eponine were catching up on old stuff, since Eponine had been in the hospital for a week with her ankle when Eponine saw Marius talking to a girl with long black curly hair.
"Marius Pontmercy!" said Eponine in an angry tone.
"Hi, honey bun. You remember Cosette, right?" said Marius, laughing nervously. Eponine stared meanly at Cosette and Cosette smiled sweetly at Eponine.
"What is she doing here, Marius?" asked Eponine through clenched teeth.
"I decided that Holt High School – my old high school – was too boring so I decided to come back here. Oh, Marius told me that you two are going out," Cosette said all of this in an icy tone. The bell rang and Marius put his arm around Eponine.
"Marius, when did Cosette get here?" asked Eponine in a cold voice.
"She got here two minutes before first hour got over. Are you going to be okay?" asked Marius.
"Yes, I'll be okay," said Eponine.
"Good. I'll see you at lunch. Would it be okay if Cosette ate with us?" asked Marius.
"Uh, sure, I don't mind. But you're sitting next to me, okay?" said Eponine.
"Agreed," said Marius. The final bell rang and Eponine and Marius hurried (or rather hobbled, in Eponine's case) to their second hour classes.
"Detention?" said Liz in a shocked voice.
"My second hour teacher said that I have detention for two weeks after school for being late to class," said Eponine. Marius kissed her cheek and said,
"Did your parents ground you?"
Eponine nodded and a tear rolled down her cheek. Marius turned to her and stroked her hair.
It was two weeks later and Eponine was hanging out at Marius' house.
"Can I get you anything, 'Ponine?" asked Marius
"No, I'm okay, Mar," said Eponine. Marius went to the kitchen to get something for himself when the phone rang.
"I got it! Hello? Oh, yeah, hi Madame Thenardier, she's right here, hold on," Marius handed the phone to Eponine and said.
"It's your mom. She sounds upset,"
"Thanks, Marius. Hello? Oh, hi mom. Oh no! That's terrible! I'll be right home. No, it's okay, I'll see if Mrs. Pontmercy can drive me home. Okay, see you later. Love you too," Eponine hung up the phone and turned to Marius. When she saw his kind face, she burst into tears. Marius rushed to her side.
"Eppy, what's wrong?" asked Marius.
"Azelma, my younger sister, was shot by mistake just before I came over here. Marius, she was fifteen years old, which is too young to..." Eponine's voice broke off. Marius sat down next to her and gently rocked her back and forth, saying,
"Shh, 'Ponine, it's okay. Just try not to cry. It's going to be okay. Shh, I'm here. Azelma's in heaven, looking down on you. You know what, she's going to see you graduate from high school, get through college, get married, have kids and then one day you'll join her and I'll be right here if you want to talk, okay?" Marius kissed Eponine's forehead and Eponine smiled at him.
"I love you, Marius," said Eponine.
"Aw, I love you, too, Eponine," said Marius.
"Oh, Eponine! That's so sad!" said Liz. It was three days later and Enjolras, Liz, Theo, Cosette, Marius and Eponine were eating lunch. Eponine had just finished telling her friends about Azelma's death. Liz put a comforting hand on Eponine's shoulder. Eponine felt a small smile spread on her face.
"Hey Eponine! That's the first time I've seen you smile," said Theo.
"Theo, it's a sad smile, not a happy one," said Eponine sadly.
"Yeah...but still," said Theo.
"Theo, it's no big deal," said Liz in an irritated voice.
"But she hasn't smiled in like forever," said Theo as the bell rang. Marius, Cosette, Theo, Eponine, Enjolras and Liz gathered up their book bags and headed to their fourth hour classes.