Hello again! I found a moment and made this chapter! I figured I owed you all something happy, so here is a non-depressing chapter! Anyway, enjoy!
By the way, Enjolras says hello and Grantaire asks if you have any wine.
Also, I forgot to display my favorite 3 answers to the survey: "If you could go back to Paris in 1832, what would you do and why?"
Here they are:
Um... Good question. Get drunk and annoy the hell out of Enjolras, duh? I think partying with the Amis would be the best thing ever. Also run riot around Paris and living life to the full because that's what its for, right?
-Italia L'amo
If I could go back to the 1830's in the Les Mis universe, I'd probably build another barricade and confuse the crap out of Les Amis because they didn't know there was going to be another barricade!
-FurthurIllumination
I would get either Combeferre or Courfeyrac to help me adopt Gavroche and be a GOOD father figure to him.
-geeky-goth-girl-13
Anyway, on to the chapter!
"Good, Eponine, good! You're progressing!" said her drama teacher. The production was in a week and Eponine was just polishing up her act. She smiled and nodded, but her mind was on other things. She had been to every Café Musain meeting since February 10th, but she still hadn't spoken to Enjolras. Most of the time, she just sat, listening, and then left. She was still too scared to talk to him, but even tiny steps were steps.
She was so focused on her thoughts that she missed the next thing her drama teacher said. "What?" she asked. Her teacher, Mr. Ernest, sighed. "We can't have an unfocused Emma, Eponine!" She looked down. "Sorry. But what did you say?"
"Run through The Miserable Ones another time for me."
Eponine sighed as she started the song.
May 13
Dear Diary,
The show starts tomorrow and I'm in the lead role! I can't believe it! I've always wanted to be in theatre…
I'm so glad that school is almost over. It ends on May 31, and the play runs until the week before. I hate this school. I want to go back to Musain High. I think I'll start Junior Year there. Maybe I can be friends with Enjolras again…
Well, only a short entry tonight because I've got to get some rest for the show. Good night!
Eponine closed her diary and lay down on her bed. She stared at the ceiling and the glow in the dark stars she had stuck there. She hugged her beloved brown newsboy cap to her chest and tried not to cry as she thought of someone who would not be at her show.
She missed the days when her father was kind, when he would hug and play with her instead of beat and slap her. She missed when her father actually cared about his children, when he was loving and gentle. But those days had been long gone, and they wouldn't come back. So there was no use dwelling on them now.
I hope somebody I love comes to my show… was the last thought that crossed her mind before she slipped into sleep.
….
Enjolras walked out of the Musain after a meeting. They didn't really plan anything big in their meetings, but they had protested to replace Principal Javert with Principal Fauchlaveunt, and other small things. The Les Amis de l'Abaisse weren't what they were before, but they were getting there. And all of that was thanks to one dark-haired girl.
Speaking of dark haired girl… Enjolras wondered why Eponine hadn't come to that night's meeting. She had come to all the others. Granted, he hadn't spoken to her yet. He was a bit afraid to. But, she hadn't come to that one, and he, in the back of his mind, wondered why.
All the Les Amis noticed that Enjolras had grown happier since his return to the Musain. He didn't yell as much, wasn't as stoic. The dark circles under his eyes had all but disappeared, and Combeferre had actually seen him smile once or twice. And all of them silently thanked Eponine for bringing their friend, their leader, their light in dark times, back to them.
Suddenly, Enjolras heard the pattering of feet and turned around to see Courfeyrac and Grantaire running wildly towards him, clutching a piece of paper and grinning like idiots.
"Enjy!" shouted Courfeyrac. He groaned. "I told you not to call me that!" They both just grinned. "We have something to show you," said Grantaire, a mischievious grin on his face.
"Better cancel tomorrow's meeting, because if you don't, no one will be there," added Couf. Enjolras looked back and forth between them. "What are you two talking about?" he asked, confused.
They just grinned and handed him the piece of paper. In the light from the Musain, he read it. It appeared to be a poster, listing a play at Corinth High. He was confused for a moment, and then read: Starring: Eponine Jondrette. He almost chocked on his own breath.
"Eponine's starring in a play?" he asked. "Yep." replied Grantaire, smirk on his face. "And we are going to go see it. All of us. And you." Enjolras groaned, but inside, his heart was racing. It could have been nerves, or maybe just the prospect of making amends with the girl he had begun to call his friend and ally.
"Come on," said Couf, steering him towards his apartment. "We have to look through your closet and find you a nice shirt to wear."
….
"Eponine! You look great!" squealed Musichetta after she saw her friend. "Your costume is divine! You're perfect for Emma!" Eponine grinned. "Yours looks good too, 'Chetta."
Suddenly, the drama teacher ran backstage. "Doors are opening! Everybody be quiet, because people are coming in. Curtains open in fifteen minutes!"
Eponine danced on her toes, trying to still her racing heart. Opening night! And she was the lead! For a moment, she could just forget everything else and revel in the joy of being in a show. It was her dream, after all. She wanted to be Eponine in Les Miserables someday on Broadway. She laughed to herself. "Musi?" she asked. "Yeah?" said 'Chetta.
"Isn't it ironic that we all follow the lives of the Les Miserables characters? We're even named after them!" said Eponine.
Musichetta thought for a moment, and then burst out laughing. "I guess you're right! I hadn't even considered it before!" Eponine smiled. "Neither have I!"
"Five minutes until curtains!" whispered the director, running backstage. "Places! Eponine, get on stage! On the bench!"
Eponine's heart began to thump, almost painfully in her chest. She slowly walked across stage, in the darkness, to sit on her prop bench in the middle of the stage. She could hear voices from the audience. Suddenly, she thought she heard a familiar voice. No. It can't be him.
The director ran across stage again. "Curtains open in 20 seconds. Get ready!" he whispered, and then sprinted off the stage. She looked down, breathing hard.
She ran through the checklist in her mind. Microphone? Check. Microphone on? Check. Lines? Check. Costume? Check.
Then, the curtains began to open. She scanned the crowd for a moment, before her first line. And her heart, which had been racing so fast, stopped.
Because in the front row were all the Amis. And looking straight at her, a smile on his lips, was Enjolras.
…..
The curtains opened, and there she was. Looking straight at him. He smiled faintly. There she was, Eponine. She saw him and her eyes widened, just for a split second, but then they went back to normal, and she said her first line.
The rest of the play was a blur, yet Enjolras remembered every second of it. He knew the plot, the characters, even the words to some of the songs. And just as soon as it began, there she was again, taking her bow, and he and the rest of the Amis were on their feet, clapping, shouting: "Ponine! Yeah, 'Ponine!" And she was staring at them, at him, and smiling.
Enjolras didn't care about the rest of the bows, and until the curtain closed, all he was thinking about was: I hope I can talk to her. I hope I can talk to her. I hope I can talk to her.
Then, the lights came up, and all the cast came on stage. A voice announced: "Picture time and a cast meet-and-greet!" He looked up, on stage, and there she was, looking happy, and strangely beautiful in her costume and stage makeup. He pulled out the bouquet of flowers he had hidden under his seat and made his way towards her. He stopped in front of her, and for a moment, all he could see was her. He handed her the flowers, and she smiled, looking down. "Hey, 'Ponine," he said quietly. She was silent for a moment, and he got nervous. But then she ran towards him and embraced him, wrapping her arms around his neck and staying there. All he could hear was her voice in his ear: "Hey, Enjy."
See? I told you it would be happier! Anyway, question of the chapter: If you could change anything about Les Miz, what would you change and why?