Today, for some reason Eponine couldn't concentrate in choir. She kept looking at Marius, sitting so peacefully in the Tenor section. Mrs. Marcus was talking about the difference between sharps and flats in the key signature. Eponine sighed and looked once more at Marius. The bell rang and everyone gathered up his or her book bags. Marius came up next to Eponine and put his hand in hers. Eponine smiled, but that smile turned into a frown when Cosette walked up behind Marius.
"Let's walk to our fifth hours, okay?" said Marius. He linked arms with Eponine and Cosette.
"Oh, Marius did I tell you the good news?" asked Cosette.
"About how you made Honor Roll?" said Marius.
"Yeah, that's it. How did you know?" asked Cosette.
"I saw your name on the list. See: Cosette Valjean," said Marius. Eponine rolled her eyes and entered her Math class. Mrs. Mason was handing back the tests that the students had taken the day before.
"An A- isn't that bad," said Eponine to herself. She went to her assigned seat and sat down.
"Hey Eponine. How's your ankle doing?" someone asked. The voice seemed to be coming from Eponine's right. It was Courfeyrac, one of Marius' friends.
"It's fine. Thanks for asking, Courfeyrac," Eponine smiled at him and he smiled back. An hour later, the bell rang and Eponine headed to her last class of the day: Health with Mrs. Pontmercy.
"Why did my mom have to sign up to be the health teacher?" asked Marius to anyone who would listen.
"Marius, it's okay. It's just for an hour," said Eponine.
"Yeah, the most embarrassing hour of my life," said Marius.
"Oh, cheer up, Marius," said Cosette.
"That was the most embarrassing hour of my life!" exclaimed Marius.
"Oh, Marius. It wasn't that bad," said Cosette, rolling her eyes.
"Oh Marius!" cam a sing-songy voice from behind Marius. He turned around to see a blond-haired woman come running after him. When she caught up to Marius, she planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Ugh! Mom!" said Marius. Spotting Eponine and Cosette, Mrs. Pontmercy said,
"Hello, Eponine. Hello Cosette. Eponine, Marius tells me that you two are going out. Is that true?" she nudged Eponine hard in the ribs.
"Ow!" Eponine whispered, rubbing her sore ribs. Marius turned to his mom.
"Uh, mom, Eponine and I have been going out for four weeks. You know that," said Marius.
"Oh, yeah, duh! I knew that. Do you kids need a ride home?" asked Mrs. Pontmercy.
"No, I think Liz and Theo's mom is driving us over to their house where we will be doing homework till whenever," said Marius.
"Okay, but be home in time for dinner," said Mrs. Pontmercy.
"Actually, Mrs. Pontmercy, Liz's mom is ordering us a pizza," said Eponine.
"Don't have too much fun, okay Marius?" said Mrs. Pontmercy. She pinched Marius' cheek and headed towards her car.
"Marius, that was a little harsh," said Theo, rolling up from behind them.
"I agree with Theo for the only time in my life," said Liz.
"I know. My mom is really cool outside school, but inside school..." Marius shuddered.
"C'mon, let's get going to our place. Our mom should be here soon," said Liz.
"Okay, okay," said Eponine laughing. She, Liz, Cosette, Marius, Theo and Enjolras were sitting on Liz's bedroom floor, laughing at embarrassing stuff. Liz picked up a slice of cheese pizza and said,
"That was so funny!"
"Yeah, that was. I can't believe she fell for that!" said Theo.
"Eponine, could I see you for a second? I need to discuss a piece of music with you," said Marius.
"Uh, sure, Marius," said Eponine. She followed him to an empty hallway.
"Marius, what's up?" asked Eponine.
"Willyougotothehalloweendancewithme?" asked Marius in one breath.
"What?" said Eponine, confused.
"Will – you – go – to – the – Halloween – dance – with – me?" asked Marius again, only slower.
"Sure. I'll go with you," said Eponine.
"Great! I was thinking about going as Cleopatra and Julius Caesar," said Marius.
"Cool. Whose going as who?" asked Eponine.
"Very funny," said Marius sarcastically as they made their way back to Liz's bedroom. The three boys and the three girls divided up into study groups and quizzed each other on homework questions. Time came and went, but the fun didn't last. Soon it was time for Eponine, Marius, Cosette and Enjolras to go home.
"Home's not going to be the same without Azelma," said Eponine sadly.
"I know, 'Ponine. It's been two months since she passed, isn't it?" asked Marius. Eponine nodded sadly and waited for her ride with Marius. When she got home, she saw that her inn was burned to the ground. Eponine and Marius rushed out of the car and up to where the inn used to stand. A firefighter stopped Eponine in her tracks.
"Where are you going, young lady?" he asked in a serious voice.
"I'm Eponine Thenardier, and this is –or rather was – my parent's inn," said Eponine. The firefighter shook his head sadly.
"What's wrong?" asked Eponine.
"Your parents were killed in that fire. I'm sorry Eponine," said the firefighter in a sad voice. Eponine gasped and put her hand to her mouth.
"Do you have anybody else to live with?" asked the firefighter.
"Yeah, I guess I could live with Marius Pontmercy, my boyfriend," said Eponine.
"You are always welcome at my house, 'Ponine," said Marius.
"Thank you Marius," said Eponine.
"Well, you can sleep in the guest room if you want," said Marius. It was later that night and Eponine was adjusting to living with Marius and his mother. Eponine smiled sadly and said,
"You always make me feel so welcome,"
"I hope you can find everything alright," said Marius. He showed her where the guest room was and he helped her get settled in.
"Hey Marius," said Eponine.
"Mmh?" said Marius.
"Do you have a computer and may I use it?" asked Eponine.
"Yes and sure," said Marius. The computer took a minute to turn on.
"I'll leave you alone for a while," said Marius. Eponine decided to IM Liz, Theo, Cosette and Enjolras about her parent's inn burning down. A short while later, she got an IM from a boy in her French 1 class named Tony.
FOOTBALLMANNUMBER33: Hey Eponine, it's Tony. I was very sad ï to hear that your parents died in that horrible fire, but I'm happy ï to hear that you're going to be staying with Marius. He's a good friend of mine, plus he's your boyfriend, so that makes you an extra special girl.
Eponine felt tears coming to the corners of her eyes as she typed a reply to him.
EPO743: Hey Tony. Thanks so much for the message. You seem like a nice guy, but I've seen you in the hallway and in French 1. I was wondering if you wanted to have lunch with me sometime. Just you and me, no one else.
FOOTBALLMANNUMBER33: Are you free for lunch on Tuesday?
EPO743: I think Tuesday could work, but I better check with Marius first. How's your girlfriend doing? I heard that she hurt her calf muscle somehow.
FOOTBALLMANNUMBER33: Oh Maria's fine. Her calf muscle is healed completely.
EPO743: That's good to hear. Tell her I said hi, okay?
FOOTBALLMANNUMBER33: Okay, I will. Oh, I heard earlier this month that you injured your left ankle. Is that healed?
EPO743: Yeah, it's healed completely. I got the cast off a couple weeks ago.
FOOTBALLMANNUMBER33: ï I'm glad to hear that.
EPO743: We've been Instant Messaging each other for an hour and we have school in the morning, so we better log off and go to sleep. Good night, Tony.
FOOTBALLMANNUMBER33: Good night, Eponine.
With Marius' help, they turned off the computer and Eponine went to the guest room and got ready for bed.
"My mom's waking us up at six-thirty. Is that okay?" asked Marius. Eponine nodded and said,
"Marius, is it okay if I have lunch with my friend Tony on Tuesday?"
"Sure. I know Tony. He's a nice guy, so I know you'll like him," said Marius.
They bid goodnight to each other and went to sleep.
"Oh my God! Eponine that's too bad that your parents died in that fire!" said Grantaire.
"Are you going to be okay?" asked Joly. It was the next day and Eponine was hanging out with Marius' friends before school started. She had promised her friends that she would see them at lunch or class, whichever came first. Marius put his arm around Eponine's shoulders and told her what a special girl she was.
It was after school and Eponine, Marius, Liz, Theo, Cosette and Enjolras were at Marius' house today, doing homework and having the chocolate chip cookies that Mrs. Pontmercy made earlier for them.
"Thanks, Mrs. Pontmercy," said Cosette.
"You make the best triple C cookies in the world," said Liz.
"You're the best, Mrs. P," chimed in Enjolras and Theo.
"I'm glad that you kids like the cookies," said Mrs. Pontmercy. She shut Marius' bedroom door and Cosette, Eponine, Liz, Marius, Enjolras and Theo divided up into their study groups. Marius put in his new CD that Eponine had burned for him in his CD player. Liz nodded her head to the rhythm of the first song.
"I love this song!" exclaimed Cosette.
"So do I," said Liz and Eponine at the same time.
"Moi asi," said Enjolras.
"I didn't know you spoke French, Enjay," said Marius.
"I'm in Eponine's French 1 class, Marius," said Enjolras seriously.
"Enjolras, do you know who Tony is that's in our class?" asked Eponine.
"Yeah, he's a friend of mine who's on the football team with Prouvaire. Why?" asked Enjolras.
"I got an IM from him and it said that he's in our French 1 class. I'm having lunch with him on Tuesday," said Eponine.
"He sits towards the back of class. He has black hair and hazel eyes that are hidden behind glasses. Oh yeah, he's really quiet, quieter than a mouse in a library " said Liz. Eponine had forgotten that Liz was in her French 1 class as well.
"Thanks, Liz. What should I say to him?" asked Eponine.
"Well, he's on the football team, right?" asked Liz.
"Yeah, but I don't know anything about football," said Eponine.
"Just be yourself," said Liz.
"What should I talk to him about?" asked Eponine.
"He has a German Shepard named Shannon. You could ask how she's doing," said Marius.
"I don't think so," said Cosette.
"You'll do fine on Tuesday, Eponine," said Enjolras. Eponine smiled at her friend and went back to her homework. She was nervous about Tuesday, but was also excited at the same time.