Éponine could not have been more disappointed in herself. Not only had she let herself feel something for Marius Pontmercy, she had let it go so far as causing a crack in her mask. These things ought not so to be. Éponine was a Thénardier, no matter how many times she had insisted she be called by the name of Jondrette. Thénardiers did not fall subject to the foolish notions of love and hope. It was not heard of.
Marius' love of his life, his "angel" had only furthered the crack. She would lead him to his love, and leave it be. Had she really thought that he would want her? Stupid me, she thought to herself, setting off into the night-off to deliver her beloved into the arms of another.
She had found the house with ease. She knew her way around, she did. Hadn't she told him so?
"It's this way." she whispered, tugging at his hand.
He picked her up, twirling her around. She couldn't help smiling along with him. His smile was like a child's, so innocent and contagious.
"Stop, Monsieur!" she squealed. "We're here."
His breath hitched as he walked up to the gate. There, beyond the gate, stood a blonde-haired fairy.
Alouette, Éponine smiled remorsefully, remembering the childhood nickname. She could smell the irony, smothering her like a blanket. What a nasty blow of fate, certainly.
Indeed, she was perfect. Something Éponine, ragged and dirty, would never be. Éponine let herself fall back into the shadows, where she belonged.
She stood watching the two stare at each other, and even through her jealousy she could tell they were meant for each other through the way they stared into each others' eyes. So, this is love.
"Who is this hussy?" a harsh, much too familiar voice sounded behind her, and she whirled around. Father.
"It's your brat Éponine, don't you know your own kid?" another voice, belonging to one of the Patron Minette, no doubt, rasped. No. Not here, not now.
"Why's she hanging about you?"
"'Ponine, get on home. We're enough here without you."
"I know this house, I tell you-there's nothing here for you." she pleaded. Go away, go away, go away."Just the old man and the girl. They live ordinary lives."
He smacked her across the face. "Don't interfere." he hissed.
"I'm gonna scream! I'm gonna warn them here!" she said, panicking. Her love would never be felt, but Marius and Cosette had the chance and she could not let it be on her head for tearing them apart.
"One little scream and you'll regret it for a year!" her father raged, turning his back to her. She would regret this, and he didn't have to tell her for her to know it to be true. A year seemed about right, give or take.
She pulled all her courage into her shaking lungs, and dared. Éponine screamed.
Every single face turned to her, her father's full of rage, Marius and Cosette's shocked and scared. But Éponine, she was smiling. For once in her life, she had stood up to her father. Perhaps there was something good to her, after all. Not good enough for Marius, she mused, but did not have time for remorse. She needed to get away, and fast.
Her father's angry curses and the confused jabbering of Marius followed her down the slippery streets, but she barely heard them. She would not stop. She could never entirely fix the mask, no, but she was strong. Or at least, that's what she told herself. Éponine Thénardier- she was the best actor in all of Paris.