Forthosewhoquestionthetitleofthisstory,itcomesfromasongagainstchildabuse.Youtubeit!Imustwarnyouthough,iteasilymakesyoucry."
Disclaimer: I do not own Les Misérables. I am the proud owner of an Éponine Cap though. XD
Concrete Angel.
Chapitre Deux.
Grumbling slightly Éponine dashed out of the room, more than a little annoyed. That annoying guy had made her apply for a job for which she had no time whatsoever and now she was going to be late for her job as well!
'Merde Éponine!' she scolded herself mentally as she urged herself to go even faster, something which wasn't doing too well for the bruises which ran along her abdomen. At the time she had been rather grateful that her father had refrained from hitting her on the arms or face, and instead focussed on her abdomen though, it was far more easy to hide than bruises on her arms or face. She'd had that one time, and she and Azelma had had to plunder the envelope which contained the money they kept for emergencies to go buy some make-up to cover it all up. Of course Azelma had been the one to go. It would raise enormous suspicion if she'd went there herself.
Grabbing her bike she swung her leg over it while running and quickly got the thing into motion, pushing her messenger bag back as she manoeuvred towards the street. She loved the old messenger bag a lot, but in times like these, it was enormously annoying to have it hung around your torso.
Her breathing became shallow as she did her best to get to the diner as soon as possible. She nearly collided with two cars, an old lady and a nanny pushing along a buggy, but she didn't stop. There was just no way she could lose her job now, it was far too hard to find jobs which paid cash these days, so there was no other option than to bite through the pain that went through her with every movement she made, and to just pedal non-stop.
In the meantime in the Les Amis room Anne was excused and a somewhat annoyed Enjolras turned to Grantaire.
"Care to explain why we needed the other girl as well?" he asked, raising a sceptical eyebrow.
Grantaire seemed to shrug at this, standing up from his seat and sauntering over to the 'Leader'.
"Just a feeling." he said dramatically as he slumped down next to Enjolras who once more raised an eyebrow.
"A feeling?" he echoed "You pushed a girl into joining us against her will just because of a feeling?"
"Yuppedy Yup Yup." the guy replied taking another swig of his Red Bull.
"You do know that's not allowed in school right?" Enjolras mumbled, looking away from the guy who didn't seem to care less.
"Are you sure she's trustworthy then?" Courfeyrac, a blonde haired boy said as he stood from his stool.
Grantaire didn't reply, but instead took another swig.
"Grantaire..." Courfeyrac threatened.
"What can I say?" he said with a big smile on his face. "It's a feeling."
Enjolras shook his head. He was a guy who wanted people to have their freedom, and one of his 'own men' had just taken that very thing from an innocent girl that just happened to want to help her friend. Goodness was punished right under his very nose. His fist clenched.
"Éponine, table five." said a plump woman who hurried over to the kitchen of the diner with a plate full of dishes.
"Got it! " Éponine said, quickly wiping her wet hands on her apron, and quickly walked over to the table to get their orders. As she did so, a young boy with brown hair and mischievous eyes walked into the diner. Gavroche's eyes immediately settled onto his sister who just turned on her heel to go for the bar.
"Hey Gavroche." she said as she passed him and walked behind the counter to get the customers their drinks. "What's up?"
Gavroche smiled and sat down onto one of the stools. "I got another job." he proclaimed proudly.
"What?!" Éponine said, frowning immediately. "I thought we were clear on that 'Vroche. You were not to take another job for at least a year."
"Yeah I know." Gavroche said, straightening his back immediately, and Éponine knew she was going to have a hard time talking him out of it. "It's not big deal." he said, looking straight at her as she continued with her work. "I'm just to help every Saturday morning at the market."
"The market?" Éponine questioned, raising an eyebrow. She quickly glanced at the table she was serving, to see if they were complaining yet.
"What do you have to do?"
"Just the preparation." he said, but then his face dropped "Because I'm too young for the rest." he added, shoulders slumping slightly.
"Gavroche." Éponine said in a scolding tone. "You're ten years old. You shouldn't even be working yet."
"Delivering papers is something you did at an even younger age!" he countered.
She shrugged. They'd had this conversation before, and in all honesty, it made them sound like an old married couple.
"Besides..." Gavroche continued, though what he added was mostly whispered "It pays good."
"How good?" Éponine asked, wheels starting to turn in her head.
"No you don't 'Ponine!" Gavroche said, raising his voice slightly. "You already have three jobs. Don't add one."
She sighed, picking up the tray. "We could use it though."
"Yeah I know." Gavroche spoke softly as she walked towards the customers.
Éponine stretched her sore shoulders as her shift finally came to its end. Gavroche was still there she noticed as she once more disappeared into the locker room. There she sighed deeply, leaning against the metallic structure for a second. She and Gavroche both understood well enough how much they needed the extra money. But she just didn't want him to overwork himself. He was ten for goodness sake! Once more her hands clenched into fists as the unfairness of it all hit her. They weren't supposed to work for their parent's sake! They should be hopping around, listening to music, hang out with friends and have fun. Instead they awoke before the sun rose, scrambled to their feet whenever their parents were in bad moods to get out in time, paid for schools, paying back to whoever their parents owed money as much as they could to keep them away with long intervals, always fearing society would show up with the questions they should already be asking. Tears stung behind Éponine's eyelids as she thought about what was bound to happen if that came to pass. They would all be split up. They would either be sent to families who would care for them, or they would be sent to an institution. But no matter what the outcome. They would be split up. She would not see her siblings grow up, she would no longer laugh with their stupid jokes or hilarious pranks. That would all be lost forever if she did not get her act together and worked her ass of. She had to make this work.
'Two more years.' she kept telling herself. 'Two more years, and then I'll be able to leave the house, and I'm going to take my siblings with me.'
They'd be happy. Working together like they'd always did. She would find a good job, have Gavroche resign from many of his jobs and let them live in the bliss she never had. She would pull it off. One way or the other she was going to keep up the lifestyle she'd had for years now, for the sake of saving her siblings from living it fully. She would do it.
'I vow I will save them.' she told herself mentally as she regarded her face in the small mirror that hung on the inside of her locker. 'I vow I will protect them with everything I have.'
Gavroche stood outside as Éponine emerged from the diner, all ready to go home.
"I know..." he said as she glared at him while her fingers pried open the lock on her white bike.
"Then why do I need to repeat myself?" Éponine grumbled as she finally got the lock to cooperate and pushed it into her worn messenger bag.
"Because I do not want you to work all on your own!" Gavroche said, pushing his own brown cap further onto his head. The cap was something he cherished. Of all the siblings, they were the only two who had one of them. Azelma didn't like how it looked on her, and the two youngest had each wanted a spider-man cap rather than to match with their working siblings. He understood though. They were young, at at their age, he'd have wanted another too. But now, this cap linked him to his sister, and with it all they went through. "You're taking too much on your own! Azelma doesn't work because you don't want her too, but she could be bringing in money."
"Don't talk like that." Éponine snapped as she threw her leg over her bike. "There needs to be someone home to take care of the kids."
"We're kids too." Gavroche mumbled under his breath.
It pained Éponine to look at her brother. She loved him so much, and seeing him how he was dressed and how he behaved. It was too much. He was dressed like her, torn jeans, worn shoes, and patched up shirts. She gritted her teeth. Gavroche was the sort of guy who'd have to be running around happy, all excited over the next baseball game they're going to win. But no, fate decided otherwise. Fate decided he'd be born a Thénardier. That he'd be forced to work to pay of his parents' debts.
"I know Gavroche." she mumbled. All turned silent as they pedalled on towards their home.
"It'll be alright you know." Gavroche whispered more to himself. He was young and happy, for as happy as he could be, but he still had moments where he had to confirm to himself that things were really going to be alright, for no one else would say it. Except for Éponine, and Azelma on occasions. But he'd been getting trouble stomaching Azelma, as she was always home and never even mentioned trying to get a job herself. They needed someone home, true. But did it always have to be her? What about Éponine who worked day in day out just to keep them clothed and fed?
"We will be alright." Éponine spoke, cutting through the darkness and the silence that kept both siblings apart. She turned to her brother.
"We will be alright." she repeated, eyes gleaming with determination.
Gavroche stared at his older sister for a moment, before nodding and confirming. "Yeah, we will."
The sky was pitch-black when they finally got home. Éponine regarded the sky warily. A moonless sky.
'No trees full of starlight tonight.' she thought sadly.
"'Ponine!" Gavroche urged her on, standing on the few steps towards their front door.
"Coming." she replied, quickly making her way towards him. The light was still on the kitchen, they saw from there on, so things must still be going well.
Quietly, as to not alert anyone the two made their way inside, keeping their coats, caps and bags with them.
Azelma jumped slightly as they sneaked into the kitchen which was through the first door to their left as they entered.
"Jesus guys..." she said, grabbing at her chest, clearly startled. "You guys should really stop doing that."
"It's this, or getting in trouble for making too much noise." Gavroche replied with a sad smile. Both he and Éponine where the best in getting in and out unnoticed. That was partly because they were the only two brave enough to face the overwhelming odds whereas Azelma wouldn't dare. They wouldn't even think of asking the youngest of their group. They would be killed with one hit from their parent's hands.
"Are they here?" Éponine asked, listening intently.
Azelma shook her head as she stirred in the pot on the stove. "Dad's out with the Montparnasse's. Mum's in the next room, watching her favourite soap opera's again."
Éponine nodded as her sister set a steaming bowl of soup in front of her. Normally she'd get it herself, for most of the time Azelma would already be upstairs with the littlest of them, keeping them from sight from their parents, but seeing their father wasn't home, and their mother was preoccupied with watching television, there wasn't so much to fear. Until he came home at least.
They ate in silence, apart from Azelma who turned off the stove, and finished up doing the dishes.
Gavroche handed her his empty bowl as she came up.
"Refill?" Azelma asked, but Gavroche immediately shook his head like she'd expected him to. She turned to Éponine who handed her her own bowl as well. Her older sister too shook her head. It pained Azelma. She was in charge of preparing dinner and keeping the house somewhat clean, as well as keeping a firm eye on the youngest children to who her mother never looked at twice. Well, it was the same with them anyway.
"Let's just clean up and go upstairs." Gavroche said, standing and lending Azelma a hand. It was past eight and they all still had homework to do.
Éponine stood and helped her siblings, but then her sensible ears picked up an alarming sound.
"'Zelma, 'Roche, let it go, get upstairs." Gavroche wanted to protest but she threw him a glare that was very clear. He was not to disobey.
Trying to calm her suddenly quick beating heart she continued to do the dishes. The front door opened, and closed with a heavy sound. She focussed.
'Only one.' she thought, keeping herself occupied while not letting any information slip past her as to what was happening in the small hallway.
She heard a disgusting burp as her father clearly tried to keep up straight. Hearing his keys drop she knew he was still sober enough to actually remember where they were.
"A beer!" he yelled, and she heard him slump towards the living room.
This was her cue. Someone had to do it, and she'd be damned to let her siblings go through this if she had a say in the matter.
Quickly grabbing a beer from the fridge she doubted. Normally she'd try to lighten the beer a bit with water, trying to preserve as much as possible, because they were on a tight budget. But she knew. He wasn't drunk enough. He'd notice. Her memories immediately taught her not to try her luck. Once she'd tried to buy cheaper beer, using it when he was hammered, but one night, he hadn't been drunk enough and he'd noticed, beating the heck out of her. The worst thing was, as she was lying on the cold floor of the living room, she could only think how happy she was it was her who'd been slammed into the wall and kicked in the gut, and not her brothers or sister. It was sick, she realised, the way they were being raised, but she had no option whatsoever. So, she'd go on with it.
'Two years.' she reminded herself as she grabbed the beer and walked through the door into the hallway, turning left immediately and walking towards the living room where the hallway ended.
Even though it was only the beginning of autumn, it was cold. They were keeping the heaters off for most of the time, but it was freezing, and her blood ran cold as she saw her father, slumped in the sofa, an arm around his wife, and a hand...she didn't want to think about it.
"Here." she said, quickly giving him the beer.
"Thatta girl." he said with a thick tongue. "Get goin' now." he said, glaring at her as if she'd done something wrong already. "Give yer mum and me some alone time."
'Whatever.' she thought, smart enough to not let herself say it. She loathed the man in front of her, along with his whore of a wife, a terrible excuse for a mother, too afraid to get hit to say something to her own husband!
"Of course." she answered quickly. Walking up to the stairs, not bothering to dim the lights in the kitchen. She wanted to be gone before it began. She'd puke for sure.
"How did it go?" Gavroche asked as she entered their room.
"Not too bad. Just got him his drink." Éponine replied as she sat down on her bed next to the window after having closed the three locks they'd put onto the door.
"There's barely any left." Azelma said, a bit worried. "What if..."
"Oh please 'Zelma!" Gavroche exclaimed. "Keep the What if at bay! We know what will happen when he wants more and finds none."
Azelma kept silent. They were all on edge from the moment their father returned home at night. He'd be too sleepy in the morning to do much, so the mornings were fairly alright, but at night he was in his element.
"Let's just not think about it. What will come will come." Éponine reasoned, pulling her messenger bag onto her lap. Gavroche had been smart enough to take it with him upstairs along with her jacket and cap.
They all nodded and turned to their work.
From her seat on her bed she regarded all the people packed into what was actually her room. Once when her father had been extremely drunk and aggressive, she'd decided to buy some sleeping bags, just to be able to keep her siblings close, and safe at night. Though it had only been a once-in-a-few-weeks-thing, she found herself sharing her bedroom with her brothers and sister the whole time. They kept some food in the back of her wardrobe, and her night stand held the envelope's in which the money was kept. It pained her to see her youngest siblings fast asleep in their respective sleeping bags in the corner of the tight space. They looked content though, as if things were normal like this. She gritted her teeth, once more tears threatening to spill. Instead she swallowed the lump and forced herself to be too angry to cry. It helped a load, she found. As long as she was angry, she wasn't going to lose to her despair. The despair that came with the situation she found herself in, and how endless it seemed.
Gavroche's and her voice echoed through her head.
"We will be alright."
TranslationNotes:
Merde: Shit
Hopeyoulikedthesecondchapter.I'mnotsurehowquickIcanupdate,seeingIhavethreemorechapterstoriesrunning.I'lltrymybestthough,togetitupinareasonablerhythm.Anywayifyoulikethesekindsofstories,youmightwanttocheckoutHanaYoriDangoandKaichouwaMaid-sama.BothareJapaneseserieswhichrevolvearoundapoorgirlwhomeet(s)(a)richboy(s).Imustsaythoughthatyou'llneedtoseektheJ-dramaofthefirst,andtheanimeofthesecond.Believeme,theanimeofthefirstisextremelyold...Idon'tlike...^^" Didyouguysknowthere'sananimeofLesMisérables?Yeah,I'mintoJapan(ese)andAnime!(CheckmyprofileandthestoriesI'vealreadywritten.) Anyway, please let me know what you think of this chapter.