So this is where the story becomes completely, 100% fiction. I swear. Seriously. Sorry if I write Azelma out of character; I have really only seen the movie. Don't judge me. I really only wrote this thing because Grantaire deserves some love, and Enjolras is highly unlikely to give him any love of any kind. A big thank you to any of you still reading this, ESPECIALLY my followers. It means a lot :)
"So you're absolutely sure Mom and Dad won't know we were here?" Éponine's nerves had not calmed the slightest all day.
"Relax, 'Ponine, our little brother is the best lockpick in town."
Gavroche turned around with a slightly annoyed expression. "I'm not a lockpick; I'm a pickpocket. I stole the key fair and square." His long blonde hair flipped when he turned, making him even more adorable than usual.
Azelma ruffled his hair. "Alright, already. Just can you please open the door with your stolen key and let us in? I'm starving."
Taking special care to straighten his hair then stick his tongue out at Azelma, Gavroche took a small key out of his jeans pocket and shoved it into the lock. The door, with some coaxing from him and Éponine, eventually opened. The place was empty, thankfully. Typical night. The elder Thenardiers must have gone out drinking with the rest of the Patron-Minette. However, even Éponine couldn't be too careful. "You didn't answer my first question."
"The only traces we leave are far too subtle for them to notice. Besides, they're not even in town today. They've gone where they think Javert won't find them to run their little Craigslist scam."
That was all that needed to be said. Gavroche didn't need to know the horrors his parents committed, and his sisters had far more first-hand experiences than they would ever admit. Without another word, Azelma disappeared into the kitchen and grabbed a small, dark bag from beneath the sink. From it, she drew several 20 dollar bills.
"Why 'Zelma, wherever did you get those?" Éponine asked with sarcastic shock.
"I've learned well from our parents, dear sister. Always ready to relieve 'em of a sou or two."
"But how in hell do you do it without them noticing?"
"There are some things even you shouldn't know about me. Now come on. Where are we going?"
After a short drive, the three decided it would be best simply to get what was necessary from a grocery store and eat in the car. "Some family reunion," said Éponine, in an attempt to break the silence.
"Well alright, how was your day then? Why were you at the coffee shop when we came to pick you up?" Gavroche had a particular talent for getting right to the heart of a matter.
"I... had to meet someone."
"Who?" Azelma was not quite as quick as her brother, but she did have her moments.
Éponine had no reason to hide anything from her siblings. However, it wasn't an easy subject to recall so soon. "Marius." She almost swallowed the word, as if that would take back everything that had happened. Azelma frowned. She did not know Marius well, nor would she really like to, but she knew that her sister had very strong feelings for him.
"Are you alright?"
"He's in love." Éponine was beginning to choke up. "He's in love with my roommate, and he wants me to introduce them."
Even Gavroche knew to be silent for the rest of the night. Éponine simply said goodnight when Azelma dropped her off at her dorm and said nothing to anyone, but especially not Cosette.
Grantaire stared blankly at the bottle of wine he held by the neck. "Grantaire, what's wrong with you?" It was the first time in a month Enjolras had even acknowledged him. More than that, it was the first time in Grantaire's memory that he did not care what Enjolras was saying to him.
"Nothing. What makes you think something's wrong?"
"Grantaire, you're a bad enough liar when you're drunk. I don't know how it's possible, but you're even worse when you're sober." Enjolras took the bottle, which was full to his great surprise, from his roommate and set it back in the cabinet. "Look, I don't expect you to open up to me about your life. In fact, I'd rather you didn't. I have rallies to organize. Just don't lie to me outright, okay?"
Grantaire shrunk down into the corner. The world was so different when he was sober. Enjolras was still attractive, but there was something extremely intimidating about him. Was he always that way? Why had he never noticed? Grantaire didn't need wine today. He was drunk off Éponine's eyes.
I swear, this isn't where I'm ending the story. I don't know how much longer this is going to go on, but I definitely know I'll see it through until the performance of Macbeth. This may be on break for a while until I come up with an idea for the next chapter. Thank you all so much for the reviews; I can't tell you how much I appreciate them!
