Hey you all! I want to thank everyone who has reviewed so far, especially the sole reviewer of the last chapter. It was so good to know someone wanted to know how it continues.

Further I want to warn you guys that the French I speak is the one used in Belgium. So it's slightly -or a hell lot- different from the real French. Also I want to warn you that the French you're going to see are not the most polite of phrases you find out there. ^^" Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter and that you continue to follow Eponine throughout her ordeals! XD

And with no further ado, here's the chapter! XD

Disclaimer: I do not own Les Misérables.

Concrete Angel

Chapitre Cinq.

"Hey Éponine." Anne said as the dark haired girl walked into the classroom.

"Hey Anne, haven't seen you around all day." Éponine noted, sinking into the chair next to her friend.

"Well I have been quite busy." the girl replied as she scribbled down some more.

"What are you doing?" Éponine questioned, leaning on her elbow as she bent over to see more of what the girl was doing.

"Laying the last hand to our hard work."

"Work?" Éponine asked, leaning back into the chair. She couldn't cope with hearing the word 'work' again. For three weeks had she been coping with home, work, schoolwork and Les Amis, but slowly it was beginning to take its toll on her. A better thing was though, that her father had yet to get a chance to beat her up. The last time he'd gotten the chance to do so was on the last friday. Luckily the bruises that had formed on her arms were easily to conceal, though she'd nearly given away that she was in pain when Courfeyrac bumped into her. She'd let out a cry and to say he was shocked was an understatement. He'd asked her over a hundred times if she was alright, something Grantaire had a field day with. Even now Courfeyrac had to suffer from it, for Grantaire would still bump into him, after which he fell dramatically to the ground, feigning grave pain. Luckily Courfeyrac would only get annoyed over Grantaire's behaviour, and he wouldn't ask Éponine why she was in pain, still fearing it was his fault. No student or even teacher would look back to Grantaire though, and even Joly, who seemed to panic over the smallest sign of a disease or a wound, didn't seem to care. At one moment he'd even stepped over him to get to his class. Enjolras had seemingly found a good way to get rid of his antics, though he wouldn't talk about it with the others, and it was clear how much Grantaire wanted to keep it that way. It intrigued Éponine to no ends as to what it may be. What was there that Grantaire didn't want them to know?

"Yeah, the class registers?" Anne asked, getting Éponine from her thoughts. "You helped out with them?"

Éponine's eyes widened. "Oh, yeah." she replied. "Is it finally done?"

"Well..." Anne's voice failed. "There is this little problem we still need to fix."

"Problem?" Éponine asked, but at the moment Anne was about to reply some of the boys walked in.

"Hey Éponine, Anne." Combeferre greeted, followed by Joly and Marius.

The butterfly's in Éponine's stomach did the strangest of jumps in her stomach as the last walked in. From the moment they'd been acquainted her stomach had done this. He had been so kind back in the day, and now as well. She hoped though, that he would notice how she would blush from time to time when he said something nice to her. He never did though, and she felt her heart sink as she thought about it.

'Like he'd ever notice me.' her mind sneered and she willed the thought to the back of her head, realising her father's harsh words were getting to her. Something she'd promised herself not to.

"Glad to see everyone's here." Enjolras said, his dark eyes going over all of his friends. "Thanks to your hard work we've finally gotten ready for the year. Every student is now well informed of our intentions, as well as how to call for us." he looked around at everyone seated at the table, and then noticed Anne putting up her hand shyly.

"What is it, Anne?" Enjolras asked.

"Well, there was this student who asked for a meeting with us."

"Trouble?" he asked, frowning.

Anne shook her head. "No, but I'm afraid it's not going to take long."

"Who is it?" Feuilly asked from the other side of the table.

Anne went through her papers. "Montparnasse."

"Oh, he's in my History class." Combeferre said.

"Really?" Grantaire asked.

"If you'd actually pay attention you'd have noticed." Combeferre said, looking straight at the boy.

"So, you say he's going to be trouble?" Marius asked.

Anne nodded. "He's gotten himself into trouble quite a few times already."

"I see." Enjolras said, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms in front of his chest. "We'll have to discuss that with him then."

"Yes, but..." Anne said, looking down at her hands.

"But?" Courfeyrac who sat next to her urged her on.

"He's requested an audience with someone specific. I find it a bit strange."

"Who?" Courfeyrac asked.

"Éponine." Anne replied looking at her friend.

It didn't go unnoticed that Éponine's face had gone pale from the moment the name had been mentioned, nor that she seemed to clam up when Anne said those last words.

"Something wrong, Éponine?" Enjolras asked, arms unfolding.

"No, I'm fine." Éponine said, unconsciously smiling a weak, fragile smile.

"You don't look like you're fine." Joly commented from his seat. "Are you having a fever?"

"I'm fine Joly. It's just weird that he'd ask for me."

"Why is that?" Prouvaire asked.

"It's a long story."

"We have time." Grantaire spoke, looking at her with an excited grin.

Éponine glared at him. "It's personal."

"Your ex-boyfriend?" he tried.

"Grantaire." Enjolras warned as Éponine seemed ready to throw a fit. "Leave her alone."

"Well, what do we do about this?" Combeferre asked. "We know how he is, we shouldn't let him get an audience with anyone if he wants it on his terms. That's not how we work."

Enjolras looked around to each of his friends.

"I'm with Combeferre on this one." Feuilly said. Joly nodded, just like Prouvaire, Marius, Lesgles and Courfeyrac.

"I'll go with you!" Grantaire said, standing up jovially and bowing. "I'll be by your side through this whole ordeal with your ex-boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend!" Éponine exclaimed, rising from her seat and glaring hard at Grantaire who seemed taken aback for but a second. An evil grin appeared onto his face though. "Whatever you want love." He winked.

"Argh! I'm off." Éponine said, no longer able to take Grantaire's teasing.

Enjolras just sighed. By now everyone was well aware how Éponine's anger could flare, and how Grantaire seemed to be perfectly able to push all her buttons.

"See you tomorrow!" Grantaire said, waving at her from his seat as she dashed out of the room.

It turned silent for a while until Feuilly spoke up. "Does anyone know what she does after school?"

Once again a short silence enveloped them.

"Didn't she mention a part-time job once?" Prouvaire asked Marius who pulled up his shoulders.

"Possible."

"Then I say we try to find out!" Grantaire said, once more standing, smiling broadly.

"No, we should respect her privacy." Enjolras spoke, not moving from his spot.

"Oh, come on! You want to know as much as we do." Grantaire urged, unafraid of Enjolras' anger.

He looked around, and to his annoyance he found the rest of the group looking like they'd join Grantaire's cause over his this time.

Sighing he gave in: "Alright. But don't you dare annoy her at her job." he warned. The smiles on the boys' faces only grew. Finally, after knowing Éponine for three weeks they would know where she rushed to after school. To say that they couldn't wait was an understatement.

Éponine was still annoyed when she arrived at the diner. When she walked in though, she was met with a terrible sight. Chairs were lying all around, tables were toppled over and broken plates lay around everywhere.

"Madame Toulouse?" she called.

"Who's there?!" she heard the said woman call from where she was hidden behind the counter.

"Madame Toulouse?" Éponine called again, running over to the sound of the older lady. "Are you alright?"

The older lady just looked up at her. "I'm fine." she replied, but the sad smile she showed Éponine told the younger girl that she was everything but alright.

After she'd gotten the woman to sit down on a chair she'd put back in its place Éponine made her some coffee.

"What happened?" Éponine asked, though she didn't really need to ask. It was clear what had happened.

"There were four of them." the older lady began her explanation. "Before I knew what was going on they were making a mess of things, and yelled at me to get them all the money I had."

"Did you give them?"

"Of course I did child!" the lady snapped at the brunette. "What else could I have done?"

"Weren't Monsieur Toulouse and Madame Thiry here?"

Madame Toulouse choked on her sobs. "Of course they were, but they too were taken aback. Gods child, it's clear you weren't here when it happened!"

Éponine remained silent at that. How was she to tell the old lady in front of her she knew well enough what it was like to be so afraid you thought you were going to die. She went through it daily after all.

"Where are Monsieur Toulouse and Madame Thiry now?"

"To the police station for questioning."

"Questioning?" Éponine asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, they need thei alibi's and whatever information they can give of the thieves."

"I see." Éponine said, standing up from her crouched position. "Are we allowed to clean up?" she then asked the older woman.

"Yes, they were done with their work here, they said."

Éponine nodded. "Then I guess it's better if we clean up this mess as quickly as possible." she stated, pulling off her hat and messenger bag.

"You're a lifesaver Éponine." the lady said as she smiled weakly at the teen.

"We got ourselves some great stuff." Éponine heard her father say as she entered the house. As she'd guessed, her father was behind it after all. Somehow she had hoped she'd been wrong, but the number of people Madame Toulouse said was clear enough a sign to her. Her fists clenched. Not only did the idiot of her father get them all into serious trouble, he also got in the way of them earning their money! She gritted her teeth and prayed that her siblings were all up and safe behind the barricaded door, for she was sure this time she was going to peter un plon.

Walking towards the kitchen with too much force she immediately got herself the attention she'd normally try to avoid. Her father with his bald head looked up at her, his yellow teeth visible because of the big smile on his face.

"Word goes it was you who broke into the Diner." she started, standing akimbo.

Her father's smile disappeared and he regarded her through angry eyes. He stood from his seat and walked over to her. Éponine barely straightened, still glaring at the man.

"Who said that?" he asked, all hints of amusement gone.

"So it is true." she shot back.

"Who said that?!" he asked, threateningly hovering over her.

"No one espèce de con!" she snapped. "But it's rather obvious to your own children!"

His interest seemed to have faded, not even bothering to lash out at her for insulting him. "Oh is that all?" he said, sauntering back to the sofa on which he'd been seated earlier.

Éponine shook with rage. "Isn't it enough that you've gotten us into this much trouble?"

He looked over his shoulder at his trembling daughter.

She looked back up at him, dark eyes flaming. "Do you really need to get us into an even bigger mess?! Is that really necessary?!"

"What do you know hussy?" he sneered. "You waltz in at late hours, pretending you own the place..."

"I practically do!" Éponine yelled, no longer able to keep in her anger. "And I don't just waltz in! I come home after working, going to school and working again! Just to pay all the debts you've created with your drinking and gambling!"

"You shut your mouth." he grumbled, turning to her.

If she hadn't been on a roll already, Éponine would've understood that she was crossing the line, but the desperate and scared face of Madame Toulouse was still fresh in her memory, and it angered her beyond her limits. At this point in time she couldn't even care less for her father's violent tendencies. As long as her siblings were safe upside, and smart enough not to come down, she couldn't care less. Everything bothered her. It all formed a knot in her stomach, and keeping all those feelings in was tiring.

"No." she replied, ticking him off, yet not stirring a foot nor showing any sign of fear in front of the man. She hated him. She loathed him with every fibre of her being and she somehow wanted to see him suffer like they had to suffer each and every day. And she wanted to see him in an equal amount of fear as Madame Toulouse had been. Her rage was flaming hot as he got close.

"You'll rue this night." he growled at her, yet she did not flinch. Anger boiled beneath her skin, and she would be damned to show the idiot fear.

Before she knew what was coming her way she slammed into the wall, a stinging sensation on her left cheek and a warm liquid made its way down from her lip. Her glare did not waver as she defiantly looked up at her father, whose head now resembled a balloon about to pop.

"Apologise." he growled, but Éponine just shook her head. The image of Madame Toulouse kept coming up in her mind and with it, anger surged through her veins.

Another hit, her head flying to her right side once more, more blood flowing from her lip. She didn't dare to look at him. She knew this was going down the wrong direction yet could do nothing more to stop it. The annoyance, anger and hate had built up for too long, and Madame Toulouse's devastated look was what pushed her over the edge.

"Apologise." she heard her father sneer at her as he grabbed her by the collar, pushing her against the wall.

She didn't reply. She didn't have to. Anything she did now was going to end up hurting her more, and the truth was, she didn't care. She felt terrible for Madame Toulouse, and worse, she felt responsible. How in the world was she responsible for what her father and his friends did? How warped could her thoughts be for her to come to that conclusion?! She had nothing to do with it, and the core of all her problems stood right in front of her with a raised fist.

A few more slaps later -she didn't keep count- she crumbled to the floor. Her eyes looked through the locks of hair that had fallen in front of her face up at her father. He still looked angrier than she'd ever seen him, but she didn't care. The pain was dulling all of her other senses, and she knew what would be coming. He would kick her in the gut until she threw up, like he always did.

She moaned as he pulled her up by her hair.

"I told you you'd rue this night." he whispered, venom lacing his sick baritone voice.

She resisted the urge to speak. Her lips were swollen from the hits she'd taken, and her jaw hurt like hell, still, she would not show any weakness. She couldn't. Like an animal he smelled fear.

A kick. Another one, and another.

She cried out with every one of them that hit their mark, yet he didn't seem satisfied. Her anger had disappeared quickly after a few well placed punches and kicks, but there was a look in her father's eyes she'd never seen before. It looked like...fear? But how could he be afraid when he was the one beating her up? She dared to look up at him, unaware that her dark eyes held a sort of anger in them, and a knowing that freaked her father out. It was like her eyes were urging him to go further. Daring him to hurt her more.

It annoyed and scared him. This hussy laying on the floor, bleeding and squirming in agony dared to deny his dominance with just a look in her eyes! It wasn't there at the beginning. It became apparent after this night. It was like a lioness had been awakened from her slumber, finding her children hurt by a hyena.

Another kick, another time pulling her up by her hair and slamming her into the wall. She choked. A sick smile creeping onto his face, which fell as she looked up at him once more, barely able to keep herself steady on her feet. She swaggered dangerously, yet she dared look up at him like that?!

Grumbling he threw her to the ground.

'One more kick ought to do the trick.' he thought, regarding her wearily. If he didn't extinguish this flame that had somehow built inside of her, he'd be the devil of it.

Éponine cried out in agony as he fists made their last impact on her lower back. It was one of the most painful places to be hit, and it had only been in school that she'd come to know why.

'My kidneys.' she thought, hoping they wouldn't give out on her. She needed at least one of them to keep on living.

Her fathers back was turned to her as he took out his cell phone. "Montparnasse..." she heard him say, and her eyes widened slightly.

"You know the thing your son asked of me..."

She could only listen while trying to lay completely silent.

"...Let's see it as part of my debt repaid to you..."

Everything hurt and her vision was blurry.

"...I've made my mind up. You can have her when the time comes."

Éponine's eyes widened. 'Montparnasse?' she thought, a fear taking control over her 'Debt?' She shook in terror. Somehow, she was sure she did not want to know what her father was talking about. Somehow she was very aware of something terrible coming her way. And the worst thing was, it was her own damned fault!

Translator Notes

Peter un plon: To throw a fit.

Espèce de con: You stupid fool. (sounds nastier in French)

Okay that was it for chapter Five! Can't believe we're already halfway to double digits! ^^" I hope you've enjoyed this chapter and I hope I can welcome you at the next one as well! XD Please R&R, though it's entirely up to you guys. ^^