A/N: Maggie is not a real waiter, I made her up. Everyone at the Stardust Diner is absolutely lovely and they wouldn't hire anyone that mean! Also, thank you to everyone who has followed, favorite, and reviewed my story; it really means so much to me!
Enjolras couldn't help but feel relieved that Eponine's birthday party was over. Sure, it had been a blast, but so many things could have gone wrong and he didn't like worrying about it. He knew he probably should have gotten her a present, but he didn't know what he would have gotten her! She did love everything Les Amis got her, but she was more of a sentimental person (not that she would ever admit it), and she appreciated meaningful things rather than material things. Unfortunately, Enjolras was lost as to what 'meaningful' thing he could have gotten her, so he decided not to waste his money.
"Let's go to the Stardust Diner for lunch. It's a Saturday so Ep will be working," Courfeyrac suggested as he entered the living room in his, Enjolras, and Grantaire's medium sized apartment. Grantaire was still sleeping, go figure, and Enjolras had already started working on next week's homework.
"Can you stop doing schoolwork on Saturday's? That's what Sunday's are for!" Courfeyrac groaned.
"No! Because if I don't get this done, I won't pass. And if I don't pass I will have to drop out of college. If I drop out of college, then I will never get a job. And if I don't get a job, I will have to leave the apartment. When I leave the apartment, I will be forced to forever live in a cardboard box on the freeway or under and overpass or something. I don't want to live in a cardboard box," Enjolras stated calmly before returning to his homework.
"How much coffee have you had today?"
"None so far."
"Okay, I am going to make you some coffee. Maybe two cups," Courfeyrac said hurrying off to the kitchen. There was some unintelligible mutterings and a loud thump before Grantaire crashed into the room.
"I need coffee. And then more alcohol," Grantaire whined massaging his head.
"Your fault for drinking so much at Eponine's birthday celebration," Enjolras said retorted matter-of-factly earning a glare from Grantaire.
"Duh," he snapped.
"I'm making coffee now!" Courfeyrac yelled from the kitchen.
"What time is it anyways?" Grantaire asked with a yawn.
"It's almost 1 in the afternoon. Congratulations, you managed to sleep away most of the day."
"Oh yeah, Enjy? What time did you get up at?"
"8."
"Ah that explains why you are so grumpy all the time! You never sleep for more than 4 hours!"
"I am experiencing more of life than you are! And I am sober when I am awake! I- never mind, this is disrupting me from my work. Excuse me while I finish this in my room," Enjolras said with finality as he retreated to the blissful solitude that his room provided.
"Don't stay in there long, we are going to leave for the Stardust Diner soon!" Courfeyrac called. Enjolras responded by slamming his door.
Line Break
Enjolras had never hated a waiter more in his entire life. The way she stood twisting her dark hair with judging brown eyes that were cold and hostile made Enjolras want to snap at her. She looked as though she would rather stick needles in her eyes than take his, Courfeyrac, and Grantaire's orders. Purple gum so dark that it almost looked black was lodged in her mouth and she chewed on it noisily. Enjolras wished that Eponine could have been their waiter today, but instead they were stuck with this girl named Maggie.
"Have you decided what you want or not?" she sighed.
"No, net yet," Enjolras said stiffly. Courfeyrac was still scanning the menu, but Grantaire had already ordered and sauntered off towards the bar.
"Hurry up, then, sir," she said making the 'sir' sound sarcastic. Enjolras looked away from Maggie and made eye contact with Eponine who was standing at the other end of the room by the microphones and sound system. Eponine saw that his waiter was Maggie and gave him a sympathetic glance. Maggie was infamous amongst the staff for her foul attitude and short temper. The only reason why she hadn't been fired was because her dad's best friend owned the place and that her voice was one of the best in the diner.
"I'll take my time, thank you," Enjolras said coolly with that voice of his that suggested 'danger.' If he yelled at you, it meant he was angry but he would get over it. No, he was like a tornado. The calm right before the storm meant that he was about to be in a rage.
"Whatever," Maggie muttered as she slipped out her phone and began texting discreetly.
"I'll have the buffalo wings," Courfeyrac said at last, but Maggie didn't hear him. "Excuse me, I said-"
"Ugh I was texting my friend! Now I have to wait to find out what her big secret was!" Maggie complained.
"I'm so sorry about that, ma'am," Enjolras said sarcastically. "I am sorry we are inconveniencing you with our orders. It's not like you are supposed to put the customers first or anything." Slightly embarrassed, Maggie slid her phone into her pocket, but not before making a face at Enjolras.
"So you want the buffalo wings?" she asked Courfeyrac and he nodded. "What about you, wise guy?"
"I don't know, what do you recommend? Because, you know, I value your opinion so highly," Enjolras sneered. Courfeyrac facepalmed; Enjolras was in a horrible mood and it could only get worse from here.
"I recommend you leaving," Maggie said without missing a beat.
"Well, that escalated quickly," Courfeyrac grumbled.
"I'll have the cheeseburger," Enjolras said, somehow making his freaking food order sound harsh. "You know, I should have the right mind to report you for your childish and insufferable behavior."
"You should have the right mind, but you don't. I'm sorry sir, there is nothing I can do to make you smarter," Maggie said yanking the menu out of his hands.
"Hey, Enjy! I recommend soaking that burn in cold water! OHHH she just got you!" Courfeyrac cheered. Maggie just snickered at them.
"You should stop talking, Maggie. When you speak, you lower the IQ of everyone in the café," Enjolras said smoothly causing the grin to wipe off Maggie's face.
"I'll be back with your food," she said, making it sound like a threat. Eponine, who had been watching the exchange, hurried over to the table.
"Nice, Enjy! I have always wanted to talk to her like that! But I really can't; if I did I could get fired because her dad's best friend owns the place. It's happened before, actually. Someone got fired when they got into a fight with her. There was yelling and then Maggie grabbed a sandwich and shoved it in their face, and to retaliate, the person took a water pitcher and poured it on her head. No one has seen or heard from that person since," Eponine recalled.
"I feel bad for you; you have to work with that imbecile," Enjolras said shuddering at the thought of having to put up with Maggie every day.
"That's too bad for Maggie; she told me that she thought you were hot. In fact, she 'dibbed' being your waiter for the rest of the year so she could talk to you. I'll be she has changed her mind after today," Eponine chuckled.
"Why would she want to be my waiter, though?" Enjolras asked.
"I told you! Because she thought you were hot! I can see her point, you do have a nice face. Maybe if you smiled more and actually made an attempt to do something with your hair… Never mind. Anyways, she said I was getting in the way between her and you ever happening or whatever," Eponine said with a shrug.
"That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life," Enjolras replied.
"Eh, I don't think you two hit it off very well. I doubt she will want to serve you again," Eponine laughed.
"Thank goodness; I would never come here again if she was going to be my waiter every time. Eponine, you are obviously the most competent waiter in this joint, I 'dib' you as our permanent waiter when we come here," Enjolras pleaded.
"Okay, okay!" Eponine exclaimed as she saw how desperate the man was.
"That's true, you are the best waiter here," Courfeyrac flirted, but Eponine just laughed.
"I have an idea! Eponine is it possible for you to sing a duet?" Enjolras asked, but Eponine just gave him a puzzled look.
"You want to sing a duet with me? Well, first you have to work here-"
"No! I meant you could sing a duet with Maggie and show everyone that you are a better singer!" Enjolras suggested.
"Why? What would that prove? And anyways, Maggie is a far better singer than I am," Eponine admitted.
"I doubt that's true. And she just needs to lose for once. At the end, everyone can decide who they thought was a better singer and we can judge the winner by the amount of applause they receive!" Enjolras said passionately.
"I don't know…" Eponine said chewing her lip. "Fine. It isn't like I have anything to lose."
"What's a good fight song for them to sing?" Courfeyrac asked.
"How about 'Hit Me with Your Best Shot?'" Eponine suggested.
"Nah, that won't give you an opportunity to show off as much," Courfeyrac said.
"'Rumor has It?'"
"No, I don't want to risk that. Adele songs are the hardest to sing," Eponine declined.
"Ugh I can't think of anything under pressure!" Courfeyrac whined.
"I just can't think of any," Enjolras shrugged.
"I KNOW!" Eponine shouted causing several heads to turn their direction. Eponine looked at them apologetically before repeating the two words, but much quieter. "I have the perfect song! We could sing 'Anything You can Do.' It is the perfect rival song."
"You are a genius, Eponine!" Courfeyrac praised.
"I guess I've heard that song before," was all Enjolras said.
"I am going to go get her. It is almost my turn to sing, so this works out perfectly!"
That's how ten minutes later, Eponine and Maggie found themselves gripping their mics and glaring at each other while Eddie completed his song. When he finished, they stepped up and Eponine began to explain what was going to happen.
"Maggie and I are going to have a sing off! Vote for your favorite with your applause at the end. Maggie here will step up, and if you liked her clap for her. If you didn't, clap for me when I step up!" she said.
"May the best singer win," Maggie added, giving Eponine a death glare.
The song started and Eponine sang first. When she sang, a familiar hush fell over the diner as they listened to her beautiful voice. Her tone, pitch, and vibrato were all perfectly balanced. She looked at ease as though she wasn't trying to impress anyone. When Maggie began to sang, her voice was almost as equally wondrous as Eponine's, except her facial expressions were unwelcoming and her stage presence was lacking. From those first few seconds, Enjolras could tell she did not have what it takes to be on Broadway, whereas Eponine did. All Eponine needed was a little training and experience and she could really go far. Maggie didn't have that potential.
"Maggie's good, but Eponine is clearly better. We have to clap our loudest for her, got it?" Courfeyrac whispered and Enjolras nodded.
When the song was over, Maggie arrogantly stepped up first. The plaudits she received were minimal, and she backed away looking furious. When Eponine humbly stepped forth, she was showered with thunderous applause that made her smile like a true star. No one clapped louder than Enjolras and Courfeyrac. Even Grantaire clapped in his inebriated state from the bar.
A man wearing the Stardust Diner uniform stepped forward and gave Eponine a hug and congratulations.
"I think we have a winner folks!" he exclaimed and Eponine gave a short bow. She put her microphone back and ran up to Enjolras and Courfeyrac.
"I did it! I won!" she exclaimed joyfully.
"Come on, we knew you were going to win," Courfeyrac said.
"You are truly talented, Eponine. I know you will be a big star one day," Enjolras said earnestly.
"Wow, Enjy complimented you! That's a really big deal!" Courfeyrac commented.
"Thank you guys for pushing me to do that, I'm glad I did it," Eponine beamed.
Sometimes, her friendship with Enjolras was proving to have its benefits.
A/N: Have a miserable/happy barricade day? It's impossible to have a happy barricade day… Don't forget to review!
