Chapter 4:

AN: I know that I haven't updated in a long time, I've been really busy and I'm really sorry for those that actually read this story. So forgive me for the long delay =). After you are done please drop me a review and tell me what you think. Criticism is welcome. Reviews are great and they drive me to write more and I just need to know what you all think. DO you love it or hate it? Just let me know =).

*"Char, one day I'm going to marry a handsome prince. His hair is going to shine like the sun and his eyes are going to be as blue as the sea. He is going to be as tall as the trees and when he asks me to marry him, he is going to hand me a ring with a diamond as big as a grape and he will confess his undying love to me." Victoria danced. The small eight year old held her doll out in front of her at arms lengths as she twirled around in tight circles.*

I glared in the mirror at myself. I wasn't glaring because I didn't like what I saw. NO, I was glaring because it was it was Friday and Helene and Victoria were in my ear complaining that I chose to do nothing with my hair. My caramel locks swayed around my hips in tight unruly curls. If I could describe in one word what my hair looked like it would be… Chaos. AND THAT'S HOW I LIKED IT! I wasn't trying to impress anyone, especially Alexandre. I was going all natural and no one was going to stop me. Besides, little did they know that I was just as eager to see him today as he was to see me.

"Please Mon Cherie. Let me at least let me tie your hair back or braid it.'' Helene pleaded.

Crossing my arms, I shook my head in defiance. They managed to get me in the white and blue dress but my hair was staying. I didn't care how much they wanted me to go with a different style because I would simply refuse their suggestions.

Victoria stomped over with a deep set in scowl on her face and began arranging my curls so it didn't look as if I just rolled out of bed…which I did. The entire time she never stopped staring into my eyes. Her blue eyes were cold and angry but I made it clear that I was just as agitated by glaring at her with all of the false anger that I could muster. It was like being children again. When we were angry at one another we would glare at each other for what would seem like hours but neither of us was willing to back down. The only way she would win was if she threatened to tickle me and that threat still worked to this day.

The corner of my mouth twitched at the thought but by that time Victoria was heaving a sigh of relief and was nodding in approval." Now it looks like you put in some effort at all.'' She stated before exiting the room.

Helene looked me over and nodded in approval,''Mon Cherie, you certainly don't look like any of the Parisian women. Your natural beauty on its own rivals women that sit for hours to look stunning, while you simply wake up and let the sun shine on you.'' She kissed both of my cheeks.

Damn it, I didn't want to be beautiful! Beautiful implies catching the interest of men if beauty is something that they only seek in a woman. Why couldn't I just be a Plain Jane? Was that too much to ask for? I know other woman wouldn't mind being beautiful but with my skin and hair, I have a large target on my back. This target mostly repels men but I have been unlucky enough to attract one man too many. So in theory, if I am able attract one man out of the thousands in Paris, I am able to attract more…. I don't like those odds, not one bit.

"Charlotte.'' I heard my step mother call from what I assumed was from downstairs. I gave a confused look to Helene as I made my way out the room and down the winding staircase. I ceased halfway down as I noticed Alexandre standing next to the piano as he toyed with keys, playing a pleasant tune with one hand. My stepmother stood at the bottom of the stairs with disapproval clearly etched onto her features. I looked pleadingly at her to not make me go with him "I'm nervous.''I mouthed to her but she arched a long, thin ,blond eyebrow and silently yet aggressively motioned me to come down the stairs with a sharp gesture of her hand.

I wanted to huff in exasperated anger but I kept my features calm and put on a false smile. I made my way to the bottom of the stairs and approached Alexandre. He didn't notice me until I placed a soft, tentative hand on the arm that he was playing with. His playing stopped at once; his cold eyes moved to my face and he also put on a fake smile that almost looked genuine. But of course it was all just an act.

Alexandre stood up straight and looked deeply into my eyes as if he was entranced by them,'' Are you ready Charlotte?'' he asked kindly. I could tell by the way that my stepmother smiled at us that he had her fooled. So to go on with the act, I gave him the best "I like you smile" that I could. I had watched Victoria give that smile to many of her suitors so I decided to use it myself. It worked because my stepmother left us alone to leave.

We left the house and once we were a good distance down the street we let go of each other and put a space between us. Like the other night I had to quicken my steps just to keep up with his brisk long strides. If this becomes a habit of me having to keep up with him, I might one day trip this him out of anger. He knows that I am considerably smaller than he is and that three of my steps make up one of his. Or maybe he just doesn't care…either way his pace is starting to annoy and tire me.

We continued in silence, our shoes clicked against the stone walk way as the roads around us bustled with people and carts. If we were on a quiet street, I might have been bored to death by the silence between us. I may not be much of a talker but I am used to the never ending chatter of my sister and Helene. I don't think that I will make it through a whole evening without falling asleep.

We made it to the café and seated ourselves in a small table situated in the corner of the shop. Once seated Alexandre leaned back into the chair whilst throwing one of his long legs over the other and retrieving a book from his pocket of which he immediately immersed himself in. I rolled my eyes; he was going to continue with this annoying, infuriating silence? He was going to take me out and then not say a word the whole time? I really should have brought a book of my own, so that I wouldn't have to stare off and be in my own thoughts to entertain myself.

" So if you're not drinking, you're reading?'' I asked with a hint of annoyance in my voice.

Alexandre sighed with the same amount of annoyance; he closed the book and placed it on the dark tabletop. "Are we going to have this conversation all over again? If that is the case than I will again restate that I find you to be annoying and would much rather have you quiet.'' He said evenly.

I felt anger flare in me as I watched him reach for his book. I slapped the offending thing off of the tabletop before his fingers could touch it. I glared daggers at him and crossed my arms over my chest in defiance. He raised an eyebrow at me as opposed to the deadly glare he gave me after I had snatched his glass of wine out of hand the other night. "No, you dragged me out on this meeting, so you will amuse me and you will not ignore me.'' I commanded in a voice that I didn't know that I possessed.

He looked as if I was humoring him with my words by the amusement that shone through his eyes and the smirk that played his face. "For someone so small you don't seem to have any fears. I'm much bigger than you, yet you show no fear and give me commands? Either you're fearless or just plain stupid.'' He said calmly.

"Does it bother you that I don't fear you? (lie) Or are you one of those men that aren't used to being told what to do? Is it that you can't handle someone else being in charge and calling all the shots, so you throw a temper tantrum?'' I narrowed my eyes to slits at him. How dare he call me stupid? Or more correctly imply that I am?

"I'm throwing the tantrum? I wasn't the one that slapped the book off of the table, now was I?'' he looked as if he was beginning to become bored with this conversation.

"I wouldn't have to act aggressively if you would stop making an ass out of yourself and actually act as if you are a pleasant individual.'' I covered my mouth as I realized the curse that I let pass between my lips. I was never one to speak in such a way but I have never been matched with someone that had the ability to anger me to use such words.

" You never stop talking do you?'' his features were now unreadable,''I have never met someone so annoying and as tiresome as you.''

''I bet if you had friends they are as dry and as dull as you.''I countered. I wasn't going to stop until he did.

'' My friends don't talk as much as you do and they also listen when I tell them shut up.'' He ran his fingers rather boredly through his hair.

"So, I'm right then. You aren't used to people not listening to you. You don't like it when people give you orders. Am I right then? Alexandre.'' I couldn't stop there,'' You especially can't take it when someone as small as me tells you what to do? Can you? It bothers you to no end that I don't fear doesn't it Alexandre? You're someone that has to be in control and you use fear to get what you want and you lose it when someone else starts telling you what to do.'' I think I was finally starting to understand him or I was just making accusations out of my own anger,'' Am I on the right track, Alexandre.'' I said his name sarcastically.

He stayed calm but I could tell by his rigid body that I had angered him,''You are to call me Enjolras.'' He simply said. That's it? Out of all that I said that is the response I elicited from him? I was looking for him to say something to try and prove me wrong but the only thing I got from him was something completely different than what I was expecting.

"As far as I am concerned, your father is Enjolras. You are Alexandre." I looked away from him in defiance.

"My friends and everyone else refer to me as Enjolras.'' His voice sounded agitated. I could clearly imagine the hate filled eyes that he was no doubt staring at me with.

"Well, I am not your friend and I am not everyone else. I am Charlotte and I will call you by the name your parents gave to you at birth."

I watched from the corner of my eye as he himself looked away from me. His posture showed that he was clearly angered by me and was refusing to continue our little quarrel that we both knew would never end. And so here we sit in silence, which I hate. I've had enough of silence in my life, it is maddening.

We sat silently, neither of us moving or ordering any refreshments of any kind. The other patrons around us watched us with questioning eyes. To them we were a young angry couple that wants nothing to do with one another, which does prove to be a true assumption. How could they not see the daggers that Alexandre was shooting at me and the scowl that I was giving him? It was plain as day that he wanted to snatch out my tongue just as badly as I wanted to put a bag over his head and flog him to death with a rubber truncheon. If I have to endure one more glare that seemed to pierce the very epitome of my soul, I was going to…maybe not kill him but I was going to start talking again.

I glared back at him from across the table but I couldn't stand looking any longer into those cold, angry eyes any longer. Looking into those gunmetal eyes should be like staring into the eyes of one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. To escape his gaze I stood and sauntered over to the book that I had swatted off of the table moments before.

I ran my hand over the cover which held no writing. The book was black and appeared to have been read numerous times by the frayed edges that was showing some wear. Despite the edges it looked as if it had been taken care of and loved. The pages seemed to still be crisp and white and the spine of the book was still stiff and not broken. I turned around and noticed that Alexandre had been watching me. He no longer held a glare but he didn't show any emotion at all as I handed the book back to him, which he gently took from my hands.

"What is it about?'' I found myself asking despite the still thick air between us.

He sighed and placed the book on the table and looked back at me,''It's a law book.'' He said whilst his features remaining stoic.

I tilted my head to the head slightly. I was intrigued; he was so engrossed in a law book? I had only skimmed through one before out of boredom and curiosity but the book proved to put me in a deep slumber. Maybe he was a student? I know that professors tend to give less than tasteful books to their pupils, so maybe it might have been assigned to him to read. So, I ventured forth with another question.

"I am a student and I plan to be a lawyer after my schooling is over and done with.'' He said opening the book once more.

"What made you decide that you wanted to be a lawyer?'' I asked the brooding student.

He looked up at me from behind the book but this time his eyes held no boredom or anger towards me. His eyes gently questioned me. He studied my face for a moment and then focused his attention back onto the book once more. "The injustice done to the people of France is the reason I am choosing to become a lawyer.''

Enjolras POV:

We were supposed to be putting on a show for our parents which meant that we had to play nice in their presence. Out of their prying eyes we didn't have to so much as look at each other. So why was this woman insistent on asking so many damned questions and why was I answering her? I am Enjolras and I answer to no one, let alone the annoying tiny creature before me. The way she narrowed those green eyes at me was like she was trying to shoot acid from them. Marius would definitely shy away from her if she acted the same way towards him. She is small, yet fierce and unrelenting. However, she isn't good at hiding her true feelings. She might give you a glare but inside I can see a shy girl trying to act tough. When I give her my best angry look I can see her starting to crumble but something about her won't let her stop poking and prodding at me in the most annoying way possible.

Why couldn't this woman just shut up and leave me be? We had no attachments, no friendship, hell there was even no attraction between. Yet, she wouldn't be quiet and she seemed to know just what to say to get me fuming. If we both wanted this game to work, than she needs to stop talking during our meetings. Neither of us will survive the mental energy it takes to be merely around one another. Just looking at her, I get riled up in a way that I have never known before. To others I was calm and level headed but intense at the same time. Around her I find my voice rising and my body becoming heated as anger courses through my body. Despite my dislike for her, I couldn't help finding myself watching the way she bit her bottom lip when she became uncomfortable and the way she tossed her curly hair over her should to distract herself. Maybe in another time away from here, I might have found her to be enjoyable… maybe even attractive.

AN: SO what did you all think? What should I change? Please leave me a review, they motivate me and let me know that I'm not writing for no reason. So drop me a review =). Love you all.