It's a dark cafe and the people smoking at the bar amplify the foggy, musty feel. There's a sitar player on the stage right now; he looks like he possessed the way he plucks at his strings. Enjolras offers Eponine a sip of his tea which she take takes gratefully, watching Combeferre watch her out of her peripheral. Even Jehan is distracted by the exchange, which is odd because he's scheduled to perform next and usually the only thing he can focus on moments before going on stage is not throwing up.
"It's weird how so many of our friends know each other," Eponine comments, giving Jehan a pat on the back as the sitar player strums his last chord. He gives her a small smile before heading up to the stage.
"Small world, huh?" Enjolras moves into Jehan's seat so the he can be closer to Eponine.
Jehan takes the microphone in both hands on stage and breathes loudly into it. He begins reciting his poem slowly and quietly, but the longer he speaks the more intense his words become until he's practically spitting them into the mic.
Eponine runs her foot along Courfeyrac's leg on purpose until he coughs and she feigns embarrassment for caressing the wrong person. She's intent on making sure that no gesture goes unmissed so that the boys will have something to talk about when she and Enjolras aren't around. She reaches for Enjolras' tea at the same time he does. Their hands brush and this time when she blushes it isn't feigned. Jehan exits the stage, passing the table on his way to the bar.
"I need something hot to drink," he's trembling visibly.
"I'll come with you!" Eponine jumps out of her chair, eager to be away from the awkward tension emanating from her friends. She can feel everyone's eyes following her when she walks away.
"Soooo... you and Eponine, eh?" Courfeyrac is smiling like a goon. Enjolras shrugs.
"She just got out of a rough relationship, so be nice to her," Combeferre warns.
"When have I ever not been nice?" Enjolras raises his hands in defense.
"You can just be a little intense is all," Combeferre concedes. "You know, I wasn't sure about the match at first, but Courfeyrac insisted, and I have to admit; seeing you two together just now-it works."
"So it was a blind date! Eponine had her suspicions. You two are ridiculous. I would have found my own girlfriend if I wanted one."
"She's great Enjolras! Just give her a chance!" Courfeyrac looks to Combeferre to back him up.
"She really is. Don't shut her down just because you don't think you're ready for a relationship. I think once you guys get to know each other you'll really hit it off, even just as friends."
"I like her, actually," Enjolras admits.
"You do?" Courfeyrac is taken aback and Enjolras isn't sure if he's delivered his line convincingly enough.
"Yeah, we talked a lot at the cafe and I walked her here after she was done with work and she offered to help me study for my macroeconomics midterm tomorrow."
"What'd you guys talk about?" Courfeyrac asks, scooting his chair closer to the table and resting his chin in his hands like an excited schoolgirl. Enjolras laughs.
"I don't know? Our families? Work? On the way here we were discussing the infinite universe theory and we talked about what different parallel universes might be like, she's really witty, you know? And she's going away to see her brother in a few weeks and I've never seen Fight Club so she invited me over to watch it with her and-"
"Holy shit," Combeferre interrupts. "You've got a crush on her."
"You've never seen Fight Club?" Courfeyrac asks, more surprised that the most anti-capitalistic person he knows has never seen fight club than that the most aromantic person he knows has a crush.
"Enjolras, on a scale from citizen to soul mate how deep are you in?"
"I don't know Combeferre, don't you think that scale is a little arbitrary? She's really neat."
"Neat," Combeferre repeats, unimpressed.
"What do you want me to say? 'Her laugh is like music, I could lay down next to her and count her freckles, I wish I had met her sooner?'" He puts a hand to his chest pretending to be one of the terrible poets they've heard tonight. "She's great, ok? I like her a lot."
"You like who a lot?" Eponine asks, sitting down with Jehan.
"The girl on stage. She's really got a voice," Enjolras lies. Courfeyrac bites his lip so that he doesn't laugh. Enjolras does his best to ignore him "What kind of coffee did you get?"
"I don't know, Jehan ordered for me. I've never had it before, here," she offers it to him.
"Tastes like orange cider with rum," he says, swallowing hard from the unexpected bite of alcohol.
"And whiskey and soy milk with low fat whipped cream on top," Jehan adds.
"You've got a little," Eponine wipes a spot of low fat whipped cream from Enjolras' lip with a laugh and a wink.
"I didn't realize you could put whiskey into hot drinks," Enjolras says, trying to keep his composure.
"That bartender can do anything," Jehan says with wistful glance towards the bar. "The place is a dump and the venues are ameatur, but the drinks are poetry in themselves. Starbucks can't hold a candle to the magic he brews back there. I could spend the rest of my life here."
"Speaking of the rest of my life," Eponine says, pulling out her phone, "I've got to catch the bus home in a half hour because my boss just decided she wants me to work eight to eight tomorrow. I need a different job," she sighs.
"I'll take the bus with you. I've got early hours at the clinic as well," Combeferre says. They sit through three more tone deaf singers before packing up. Eponine hugs each boy goodbye, saving Enjolras for last to give him a quick peck on the lips.
"See you later, kids," she waves, linking her arm with Combeferre's.
She's feeling a buzz from her drink by the time they reach the bus stop. "He's smitten," Combeferre says, pulling out his bus pass and sliding it through..
"Who wouldn't be?" Eponine is still digging through her pockets to find hers. Combeferre swipes his card again to pay for her pass. "I'm sorry. I don't know what I did with it. I'll slide for you next time."
"This is Enjolras though, you don't understand. In all the time I've known him, he's never so much as looked at a girl." They take their usual seats in the back of the bus.
"Well, whatever. I'm not just any girl," Eponine shrugs. Her phone vibrates with a text from Courfeyrac..
Enjolras told us your laugh is like music and he wants to count your freckles. He sends a second text with about thirty heart eyed cat emojis. Eponine shows Combeferre.
"What's Courfeyrac talking about?"
"That's what I mean! I've never heard him say something like that before! It's like someone's replaced him!"
She laughs, screenshotting what Courfeyrac sent her and sending it to Enjolras.
"He's never had a girlfriend before, Eponine."
"So?"
"So I need you to understand what you're getting into. You're not allowed to lead him on if you don't want to go anywhere with him."
"I don't 'lead people on'," Eponine says, offended at the accusation.
Yeah, I don't know if they bought it when I said that. I also told them we were going to watch Fight Club because you really liked the movie and I'd never seen it, and that you said you'd help me with studying tomorrow. You don't actually have to help me study if you don't have time. I didn't know you had that twelve hour shift tomorrow
"Who's texting you novels?" Combeferre asks, looking at Eponine's phone.
"No one," she says, turning so that he can't see it. never seen fight club. idek if I'll be awake to help u study after work. I'll txt u when my shift it almost over
"Is 'no one' Enjolras?"
It's a good movie. I think you'll like it. Also, please don't kiss me on the lips. It's not in character for me to do too much PDA
"Maybe." i hardly even kissed u. besides ppl that like each other kiss each other. thts how it works. ferre is questioning everything tht happened 2nite anyway. he says i shouldnt lead u on lol
"Enjolras is very emotions oriented rather than physically. Courfeyrac said you guys would even each other out, but I'm just worried that if you go too fast he'll get scared and never want to date again."
"It'll be fine Combeferre. I've been around this block more than once, you know."
When you left with Jehan he also warned me not to be 'too intense with you'. He's a worrier. We can discuss the kissing thing later
"This isn't the same block you've been going around."
"Combeferre," Eponine puts her hand on his arm, "It's okay. We aren't even dating. We've talked a couple of times and I think he's a good guy. I don't even know if this is going anywhere. I'm still trying to feel him out."
"Okay. I'm sorry. Mama bird has to let her baby bird fly free."
Eponine snickers, "Am I or is Enjolras your baby bird?"
"Both of you are," Combeferre presses the stop button, "Despite all my apprehension though Eponine, I really truly am glad that you guys seem to be becoming friends. I think you guys will be really good together."
"A match made in heaven, honestly," Eponine says with a grin.