Chapter 5: Why Can't We Be Friends? By Smash Mouth
"Friendship should never be neglected."
Eponine was walking slowly by a deserted street, lost in thought. I have to remember so many things. I never thought I had so much to know. Les Amis de l'ABC are right; what the government is doing is unjustifiable. My parents treat my siblings and I horribly, and that's unfair… She didn't realize that Marius was walking straight to her.
"Eponine," Marius said. He was terribly out of breath. Eponine was startled out of her thoughts.
"M'sieur Marius!" She stopped short and looked at Marius.
"Eponine, can you do me a favor?" He gave her a pleading look.
"Sure." Anything for you, M'sieur Marius…
"I need you to talk to a woman for me." Eponine raised her eyebrows. "Her name is, Cosette, I believe. That is what her father called her. She lives in a large stone house at the end of that street." Marius pointed to a street beyond the alley.
Without much thought, "I'll do it." Eponine replied.
"Oh, thank you so much, Eponine. You're a dream come true." He hugged her. Eponine couldn't help but smile. A look of relief spread over Marius' face, and he started to walk away, looking back over his shoulder.
Eponine turned to go. Now she had to find Cosette's house. She started looking for the shortest way to get there. Soon, she arrived at the big stone house Marius pointed and was vis-à-vis with a big wooden door.
Maybe that door isn't the best way to enter the house. Try the back door. She instructed herself mainly because the big door was kind of creepy.
Eponine crept up to the gate and looked around the beautiful garden. At a bench, she saw a young lady, reading a book. She was so startled she didn't realize that the wind blew her hat inside the garden. The lady saw this, picked it up and looked around. She saw the gamine and walked her way.
"Excuse me." Her carefree, soft and perfect voice said to Eponine. "Is this yours? I found it in the garden." She smiled.
Eponine looked at it. Yes, it was her it hat. The wind must've blown it away. She thought. "Thanks…" Eponine mouthed and took it from the lady's perfect, soft and clean white hands.
"I'm Cosette and you are?"
"Eponine..." She said. Cosette flashed her a shocked look.
"Why do you look at me that way?" Eponine demanded for an answer.
"Nothing, it's just… I feel like I know you."
"Yes! You know me. My parents treated you like a street rat when we were children."
"Wait! If we're going to talk, let's go inside."
"I don't know…"
"Come on, I won't hurt you. Let me clean up your bruises. Are you hungry?" Cosette flashed her a friendly smile, a smile no one gives her. How can she treat me like a friend when I treated her like a maid when we were children? Eponine wondered. They went inside the house quietly and entered Cosette's grand magnificent bedroom. Cosette cleaned up her wounds and had Toussaint bring up something to eat. During that time, they we're getting to know each other. They talked about almost anything.
"So tell me, where do you live nowadays?"
"At the house you used to visit with your… father, I think."
"At rue Saint Dominique, my father and I go there from time to time. I don't see you there."
"Maybe it's because my father make me run through errands at night."
"When I visit that house, all I see your father and at times, your mother. How's your sister doing?"
"She became a dancer at the cabaret."
"Oh…"
"To tell you the truth, I'm not suppose to be here, making a friends but I was sent to speak to you."
"By whom."
"Marius Pontmercy."
"I don't know anyone by that name."
"That is so like Marius. See, he's my neighbour. Maybe he hasn't introduced himself because he was too shy."
"The thin and tall one with blue eyes and curly brown hair? I think I saw him once when I visited your family."
"Exactly."
"Can I meet him?"
"That can be arranged."
Cosette smiled.
Soon, they heard a knock at the door.
"Cosette? Is someone in there, with you?" Cosette panicked. Papa… He'll be angry…
Eponine widened her eyes and got up. "No, Papa." Cosette struggled to keep Jean Valjean from coming in.
"There's no one here but me." Eponine walked over to the window, unlatched it, and stuck one leg over the side.
"What are you doing?" Cosette hissed.
"Climbing out the window, what does it look like?" Eponine answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Cosette rolled her eyes. "Be careful," she whispered. Eponine ducked out the window, and climbed down. There were ledges for her to put her foot on. Cosette closed the window quickly. Jean Valjean opened the door and looked around the room. Cosette was indeed alone.
That was close, She thought.
Jean Valjean walked around Cosette's room. "I thought I heard voices. I guess it just means I'm getting older." He trailed off. "Good night Cosette."
"Goodnight, Papa."
Outside, Eponine started walking away, to Café Musain.
