The Decade
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing. Like, at all.
Dear Gabe,
I've (finally) managed to get away from Montparnasse. He followed me to college, but I managed to get him to leave me alone.
The bruises on my body are fading.
The scars he left on my mind will take longer to heal.
But that is not my point, my point is that I did not need your help! I'm starting to learn that I can do things for myself. I can stand up for myself. I am not some damsel in distress in need of rescuing.
I am strong.
I am brave.
"Oh my," Cosette breathes out at the end of Eponine's tale. She is speechless for a moment before she can continue her thought, and Eponine kicks her feet against her bed, patiently waiting for the other girl to resume speaking.
"Oh my," Cosette says again and then, "This is better than any book I have read in a long time. Do you want to be with him? What are you going to do about the girlfriend? Do you need back up? Can I hold your earrings like in the movies? I've never seen a catfight before!"
Eponine laughs, this is what she loves about Cosette, most people see a dumb blonde, an innocent face, a peaceful girl. This is what those closest to her see. It takes a moment for Eponine to recollect herself, "I'm glad that my life is fulfilling your fantasy needs but no, I do not need back up against his girlfriend. Gabe and I are going to be just friends. We're going to go back to the way things were. Before."
She can hear the disappointment in Cosette's voice when she replies, "Okay." Then, hesitantly, adds, "Do you still love him?"
It's a question she has not thought about in a while and she thinks about it, really thinks. Does she still love the man who was once her closest friend? She once would have answered right away in the negative but that would have been a lie, "I," She pauses and mulls it over a little more, "I'm not sure," She finally states, "I used to be in love with him, but so much time has passed. He has changed. A part of me is in love with who he was ten years ago, but I do not know if I'm in love with who he is today."
"That's a fair answer, Eponine, it's thought-out and not at all impulsive like we all know your answers and decisions to be," Cosette is smiling, Eponine can tell through the phone.
"Yes, yes, we all know, I'm the problem child, now will you help me with my problems?"
"Of course, my dear, let me just bring out my crystal ball and it will answer all of your questions."
"Cosette." Eponine whines and the other girl can't help but begin giggling.
"Sorry, sorry, you were saying?"
Eponine doesn't even hesitate before diving in and flinging question after question at her friend, "I don't even know what to do, do we delve right into the root of things? Is it okay for me to ask about his girlfriend? Is it okay for me to be his best friend again? Can we even get that close? What do I do about Courf and 'Ferre? Gabe is mad at them, like really angry, but I think they were right in separating us and, God Cosette, I'm just so clueless."
"Wow, um, okay, well, I think you should slowly go back into your friendship with Enjolras. Like, I know you two were close before but you're right, it's been a while. What you do is you build up your friendship back up to being best friends. As for asking about his girlfriend, you should probably let him bring that up. It'll be a measure of how comfortable he is with you."
Eponine nods to herself, this is sound advice. Before she is able to say this to Cosette, however, she hears the faint voice of a man, probably Marius, asking Cosette where she was.
"In the bedroom, I'm talking to Eponine, give me a second," Cosette shouts back before returning to her conversation, "Where were we? Oh, right, Courf and 'Ferre. Well as for them, I'm on Enjolras' side. Just, relax 'Ponine, take things slow. You'll work everything out in time."
Eponine smiles, although Cosette didn't have all the answers, talking to her helps Eponine calm down a bit and in the end, that's really what she needed, "Thanks Cosette, you know you really should have been a psychologist."
"The classes were so boring, 'Ponine," Cosette groans out, "Besides, you're the one who talked me out of majoring in it in the first place!"
"Oops," Eponine says with a laugh, "You know, you never should listen to me."
"Hey, we all have bad days," Cosette states with a giggle, "Mines just happened to be particularly terrible."
"Bye Cosette, thank you, really," Eponine says, quiet and serious all of a sudden.
Cosette doesn't comment on the change in tone. This is Eponine, she has her highs and her lows, "Of course, I would do anything for you, you know that right? I'll talk to you later. Call me tomorrow. Text me if anything else happens with Enjolras and please let him beat people up. I've never seen him hit someone before, I hear it's quite the thing to see."
Eponine laughs, her good mood settling over her like a blanket, "Oh, it is, but Gavroche has already beaten him to Combeferre's nose."
"Oh, this story I have got to hear."
"Tomorrow." Eponine says, the promise is in her words, and she means it. Marius will be looking for his lark.
"Tomorrow." Cosette confirms before bidding Eponine another farewell and hanging up.
Dear Gabe,
Sometimes I wish I had your mind.
You make such thought-out decisions, while I am more impulsive and this trait gets me in trouble more often than not.
"Hey babe," Marius greets, dropping a kiss onto Cosette's forehead as she steps out of their bedroom and into the living room.
"Did you get it?" She questions, anxious.
"Yup," He says, popping the 'P' and holding up the box in his hand.
Cosette nearly cries, "Well why are we still here? Let's go make us some ice cream!" She yells, doing a little dance, grabbing the ice cream maker and heading towards the kitchen.
"Hold on, there's something we need to talk about," Marius says, his face drawn, serious.
"What is it?" Cosette turns around, concerned.
"I've signed us up on Team Eponine," He states hesitantly, waiting for Cosette to yell at him for making a huge decision like this without consulting her first.
"Team Eponine?"
"The guys have this plan," Maruis explains and as he does, Cosette's eyes light up and she bounces up and down, clapping her hands.
"This is by far the best thing ever!" She squeals and once again dances in place, "Celebratory ice cream anyone?" She suggests while trying to wiggle her eyebrows.
Marius laughs and follows her into the kitchen, "We haven't won a single thing, Cosette."
"Yet, Marius, yet. We have not won anything yet. But we will. So don't jinx it."
Marius chuckles at Cosette's behavior. Usually she is sweet tempered but when it comes to something she really wants, she gets just a tad pushy and over-excited, "Whatever you say."
"And the next time you make a decision without consulting me first, even an amazing one such as this, I will tear your hair out, understand?" She asks sweetly, getting the ingredients out and placing them on the countertop.
Marius gulps, "Yes, dear."
Dear Gabe,
College is like a whole new world.
I can melt into it and feel free.
Here, at least, I can ignore the shackles that bind me to my past.
Here I pretend to be someone I am not; my few friends see me as a happy girl. Someone who is funny and witty and carefree. I am ashamed to say that I encourage this kind of thinking. I do not correct them. I do not dare show them my nasty side, my dark past.
"Are you going to come?" Jehan asks Grantaire after hanging up. He is still standing just inside the room, in only his underwear, giving Grantaire the look that he hates.
The you-should-really-do-this-but-I-will-not-push-you look that Jehan has had perfected since high school.
"I don't know," Grantaire sighs, sitting up in their bed and pushing his hair out of his face. He sees Jehan's eyes follow the blanket as it lands around his waist and he smirks.
Jehan clears his throat before continuing, "Is this about Eponine? Don't you think it's time to forgive her? It's been ten years! We were kids back then all of us," He says, enunciating the last three words.
R glares at his boyfriend, "It hasn't been ten years, not yet anyway! Are you forgetting she nearly killed Enjolras?"
Jehan sighs, "So did you," He argues back, "Remember? You almost pushed him off of the roof of his apartment in college. Twice."
"That's different," R protests, raising his voice up a notch.
"I don't see how," Unlike Grantaire's, Jehan's voice drops an octave.
"It just is, okay? Let it go, will you?" Grantaire throws his arms up in frustration and leans back, against the headboard.
"Why? Is it because you still have feelings for Enjolras? Do you still love him?" Despite himself, Jehan's voice cracks. Unlike Grantaire, he hasn't moved from his position at the door. At that moment he feels like an outsider looking in.
To anyone else Grantaire is homely but to him, to Jean Prouvaire, Grantaire is beautiful. There is something inside him so broken and fragile that it shines tinted beauty onto Grantaire's features and if Jehan can't fix him, the least he can do is try. Jehan is strong, he loves this man, he will try to help him; but if Grantaire does not love him back, then he will step aside. He will let Grantaire be happy even if it hurts him.
"No," R moans and drops back onto his bed, "I love you. I just-Are you going?"
"Yes." The answer is cold, Jehan's face blank, set in his decision.
"You've already got your mind made-up?" Grantaire is surprised but tries not to show it.
"Yes." There is no change in Jehan's expression
"So if I don't go..." R says softly.
"I will go without you." The decision is final.
R groans and buries his face in his hands, "Then I guess I have to go."
Dear Enjolras,
Hey.
Courfeyrac groans as Bossuet puts him on hold for the second time in their-he quickly glances at the clock-twelve minute phone conversation.
"What is it this time?" Combeferre questions as Courfeyrac turns to the other man's direction. 'Ferre is staring cross-eyed at his nose with what seems to be the greatest look of concentration that has ever landed on his features.
Courf rolls his eyes, "He dropped a plate-"
"Didn't he just drop one-" Courf's eyes flicker to the clock, "seven minutes ago?"
"Yes. Yes he did." Courfeyrac walks out of the kitchen, still waiting for Bossuet to clean up the mess and then bandage any injuries, before returning and handing Combeferre a hand-held mirror, "Your face will get stuck that way if you keep doing that, you know."
"Lies," 'Ferre protests, but takes the mirror anyway.
"Hey, Courf. I'm back. Again. Sorry."
"It's okay Bossuet," Courfeyrac says with a sigh, "So can you come or not?"
"Umm, are Musichetta and Joly going to be there?"
"Yeah, of course. Unlike some people they still live close by," Courfeyrac teases.
"Oh, well, I don't think I can get off work. Sorry to have wasted your time."
"Wait-"
"Good luck," Bossuet states before hanging up.
It takes Combeferre a moment to notice that Courfeyrac is staring at the phone, an awed expression on his face.
"Did he injure himself again? Please tell me it wasn't a plate this time."
"No," Courfeyrac states slowly. He walks over and sits at the table beside Combeferre with that awed look still etched onto his features, "He asked if Joly and 'Chetta were coming and when I said yes, he just freaked out and hung up on me. I thought that would provide more motivation, but it's like he was going to come until I said they were coming. Do you think they had a falling out?"
"Well," 'Ferre drags out the word and sets his mirror down, "They might have. In this society, Musichetta would be painted as a whore if the their relationship came out, I mean yes, a threesome once in a while is okay because it can be shrugged off as an experiment or something but dating two guys when you're as rich as they are? Their parents would have a heart attack and die."
"It is something they used to argue about," Courf mutters, "Why do all of our friends have such great love lives?"
Combeferre sets Courfeyrac with a look that he is often on the receiving end of, "Enjolras is miserable in his relationship with Amelie, Eponine is miserable because she's not with him, I saw it in her eyes Courfeyrac don't you dare protest, Jehan and R are probably going to be having problems because of this whole Enjolras-Eponine issue and it seems as if Joly, 'Chetta and Bossuet are having some problems as well."
Courfeyrac is silent for a moment, "There is always Marius and Cosette."
Combeferre groans, "Those two are horrible."
Courf grins because it's true. They are too in love for their own good, "I have an idea."
Dear Enjolras,
You may have noticed that I have started writing your last name instead of your first when I write these letters.
Actually, you wouldn't notice because you never get to see them...
Nevertheless! I have been penning your last name, addressing you by it instead of Gabe for a few months now and I believe you deserve to know why.
I am trying to free myself.
No, that's not right.
I'm trying to move on? Let go? I'm trying to stop mooning over the past?
All of those things are correct I suppose.
I have been holding you too close to my heart to really get into my new life.
I have to let the past rest.
"Let the past be the past" and all of that.
This is my way of trying, by distancing myself from you.
I am sorry.
Two hours, three phone calls and seven injuries (one of which was actually Courfeyrac's) later, Bossuet is verbally beaten into agreeing with the plan. He will be arriving on Friday along with the rest of the gang.
"So who is in on this whole thing?" Courfeyrac asks, grinning like a madman.
"Jehan and R, Marius and Cosette, Joly and 'Chetta, Feuilly, Bahorel and now Bossuet thanks to you, so that's everybody," Combeferre reads off of their list, "Oh stop beaming like you've won the lottery."
Courf smirks, "'Ferre, we are setting up the stage for a reunion."
Dear Enjolras,
I wonder where every one of the Amis is at, right now, at this very moment.
I wonder what they're doing.
How they're feeling.
If they're happy or sad.
Tired?
Hungry?
Sleepy?
Lonely?
I'm lonely, Enjolras.
Gavroche curses his stupid hand. He cannot balance his grocery bag and fit his key into his stupid lock at the same time because his one hand is bandaged while the other is still bruised and smarting from when he punched Combeferre.
"Excuse me," A feminine voice calls out from behind him.
He turns around to see a blonde woman with a kind smile, carrying an equally blonde (sleeping) little boy, and looking at him with questioning eyes.
"Can I help you?" Gav questions her.
Her smile widens, if that's possible, "Actually, I was wondering if I could help you? You look as if you're having a little trouble there."
"Oh," He says, surprised, "Well I suppose."
She hands him her kid and he awkwardly balances the child as well as his groceries as she expertly slides the key into the lock, jiggles it a bit and finally opens his door for him, grinning as she steps aside.
"Thank you," He states and offers her a small smile as well.
"You're very welcome," She says, radiating sunshine, "Now, if you wouldn't mind very much, I'd like to trade this key for that child?"
Gavroche laughs, "Alright, but don't tell the cops where you got him from."
This causes her to laugh as well, "Amelie," she offers, sticking out her hand once she has hold of her child again.
"Gavroche."
Dear Enjolras,
Sometimes I wonder if I should have become a baker instead. These children will be the death of me, I swear.
Perhaps I should start drinking coffee?
Relax, it was a joke, I will never be able to stand that stuff. It's atrocious, I have no idea how you all drink it down as if it's water.
Enjolras smiles as he heads to bed, hours later and still, he thinks of Eponine. He's glad, no, more than glad that she's once more a part of his life.
In his own bed for the night, Enjolras drifts off to sleep, thinking about her and their past together, the adventures they shared, how things could have gone differently.
Just as he's about to fall asleep he remembers another thing about Eponine, she always smelled like baked goods. Even when she hadn't baked for days and that's when it hits him, right as he's on the brink, the very edge, of sleep. The smell in the preschool when he had gone to pick Sebastian up. It was the same smell.
Did that mean Eponine was the teacher?
No, it couldn't be. Her last name is Thenardier, not Jondrette.
With that conviction in his mind, he finally gets pulled into the land of dreams.
When he wakes up the next morning, he is in a good mood. He makes pancakes and drinks orange juice (skipping over the coffee, something he has not done in a while) and does the crossword with a smile on his face.
He doesn't remember his little almost-discovery.
Sorry it took me so long to update guys, I've been so busy and it's sucked.
Well, how do you like this chapter? I've included a little bit of everyone and it's different from what I originally planned it to be, there was going to be no little Marius-Cosette scene, no Bossuet scene and no Enjolras scene either, but I had to put it in there.
So I'm going to ask you for some advice, not about the fic, but about my Tubmlr. I need a change of url, any suggestions? It's currently moving-on-and-nowhere-to-go, but I feel like I've outgrown it and I've been trying to think of something to change it to but I can't settle on anything I really like so I'm looking for your help. I don't expect you to follow me or anything, just some help, and you don't have to help me either. Please and thank you!
Also, thank you to everyone who has faved/reviewed/followed and thank you to those who recommend my fic to others! I can't believe you all love it this much, I never expected to get so much support for this fic. So thank you again and I promise I'll try to update soon.
Let me know your thoughts on this chapter!