Chapter Four: Worse and Better
Years passed in a similar way. Éponine wondered about Marius a lot, although she didn't see him again after their encounter. Azelma completely forgot about him.
By now, Éponine was fourteen. Azelma was twelve. They had been 'working' for their family (if you could call it that) for years now. Only ghosts of their childhood selves lingered on their faces. They'd been forced to grow up too quickly. Éponine was toughened, and fought both their battles. She ignored pain, and although her life was dark and full of misery, she still fought on, with hope still in her heart; hope Marius had given her. Azelma had been sick often. Nowadays, Azelma was like a ghost, always in some sort of trance. She never spoke.
It happened that they were sitting beside a bench, in the shadow of a fountain, with some pigeons. Éponine liked pigeons. They were considered vermin by most, but she found them lovely birds. Whilst Azelma stared listlessly into space, Éponine wished she had some crumbs to feed the pigeons.
She remembered Marius. When he fed them croissants. She wondered if he even remembered her. He would be seventeen now. Was he still even living in Paris?
Marius had paid for a sausage roll, and walked out of the bakery, sitting on a bench by a fountain. Beside him were two street girls. He remembered
Éponine and her sister, as he studied the girls. He wondered what had become of them.
The younger one was pale, with a greyish sheen to her bruised, dirty skin. As they stared listlessy at nothing, her eyes were almost black, with shadows underneath them. One of them was bruised and swollen, as if she'd been hit. She looked almost like a dead corpse. Her hair was limp and dull, with grey in it. She wore a ragged, faded black dress that had so much dirt on it that it was turning brown. The worst thing was, she could have been no older than twelve-yet with grey in her hair already!
The other girls expression was thoughtful. She was looking at the pigeons. She wore a white-also turning brown-chemise and a skirt raggedy. Her dark hair hung in matted curls. Her eyes were an icy blue with a hint of green, as if someone had tried to paint them grey but the blue and green rebelled against it. Something seemed familiar about her. She turned and caught him looking at her.
He realised why she'd seemed so familiar.
"Éponine?" He was surprised. Recognition lit in her eyes too. Literally, lit them; they became the bright, lively colour they had been when she was younger. "Bonjour, Marius." She replied. She was smiling slightly as she observed him.
He'd grown up a lot, and was now more handsome than before. His face was still freckled and his eyes were still that green-mixed with brown colour. His cheekbones were high, and he still had the same smirk as before. His manner was even more gentlemanly, although his clothes looked smart yet slightly worn.
"How have you been?" He asked. She sighed, her eyes dulling again. "I'll admit, not too good. Father, mother, their friends are always harsh. We have to do...work for them, otherwise there are consequences." She shuddered. "It seems to have broken poor Azelma here." Sadness appeared in her eyes. She'd missed having her sister. Not many people spoke to her. She had friends here and there, but none she was able to see much.
They remained silent a moment, before Marius divided the sausage roll. He had a bit, Éponine and Azelma had a bit, and he let Éponine feed some to the pigeons.
They both talked to each other, soon finding they'd said a lot. Éponine found herself telling him everything about her home. His brow furrowed, looking concerned.
Éponine found out he was living on his own in a rented room. He fell out with his Grandfather...he kept the reason for that private. He began whispering the rest. "I'm part of the ABC society. We discuss politics. Things the law wouldn't like."
Éponine nodded. She knew the law too well. One of her jobs was looking out for the police, including Javert, who was in Paris now. He seemed to have forgotten their crimes from the inn, which was a relief.
"You're good to talk to, you know, Madmoiselle." He treated her like an equal. No one his status ever did that.
"You too, Monsieur Marius." She smiled slightly at him. He returned the smile.
"I better be going now. It was nice to see you, 'Ponine. I hope to see you again." He paused a moment. "Do you know that park that's about a mile away?"
Éponine smiled slightly again. "Yes...I know most of Paris. I wander the streets a lot."
"Try and meet me there every Saturday. Farewell, 'Ponine." He stood to leave, then turned to press a sou each into the hands of Éponine and Azelma. Éponine wanted to refuse, but she couldn't in fear of what her family would do. This was all she'd get today, after she'd been seen talking to him, no one would give her money.
"Goodbye, Monsieur Marius." She liked how he'd called her 'Ponine; it seemed slightly affectionate, and friendly. Helping Azelma up, and making sure their money was tucked away, they headed to where Eponine's friend Gavroche would be. He was a street kid, about 10 years old, and he got them into the theatre. He knew some actors. He was lively and hard to ignore. She hoped him, and seeing a show at the theatre, would make Azelma talk again.
It was a crazy idea, but it was worth a try.
The theatre was full of poorer people, so Éponine and Azelma didn't feel awkard. It wasn't like the theatres in the posher side of Paris.
Gavroche was at the door. He grinned cheekily at Éponine and Azelma, made up a little poetic song like he did a lot and sang it whilst giving them their free tickets.
"There were once two girls,
Who didn't own two pearls.
Except ones that were stolen,
But managed to get into a theatre,
Because-" he trailed off, frowning when he realised it had stopped rhyming.
Éponine laughed, and even Azelma managed a ghost of a smile. Maybe this *would* work.
"Your poems are usually better than that, 'Vroche." Éponine teased.
"Yes, well, Ép, I've been distracted. Politics and stuff." He whispered the next words he said. "ABC society."
Éponine's eyes lit up suddenly. "You know the ABC society? Do you know Monsieur Marius?" She gushed out before she could stop herself.
Gavroche raised an eyebrow. "I know someone called Marius Pontmercy. Millions of freckles-hey, is that a slight blush I see, Ép?" He laughed.
"Am not! Shows starting soon." Éponine tried to rush away. Gavroche skipped in front of her.
"Ten minutes. You are blushing. Little in love are we?" Gavroche teased.
Azelma was laughing by now, for the first time in a couple of years. Éponine was glad she'd brought Azelma, although this conversation could've been avoidable.
"The streetwise Ép, who knows her way around, now in love. You should come to the ABC society. Consider yourself invited." Gavroche said. Éponine laughed.
"They wouldn't let a girl join."
Gavroche frowned. "True." An idea dawned on him "Alright...come and clean. And listen to everyone. I'll tell the men we have someone to clean the place.". Despite trying to hide it, Éponine's eyes had lit up again. Gavroche smirked. "You can listen to Marius and understand more about what he does."
"Isn't the show starting soon?" Said Azelma, and headed to a bench to sit down. The stalls were crowded, with wooden benches crammed with people. "Meet me backstage after." He pulled out a piece of charcoal and put a mark on their tickets. Gavroche went backstage as he had a part in the play.
Azelma had spoken. Éponine was going to work where Marius went. She'd seen Marius again and talked to him, and was meeting him.
It was a good day.
Both sisters headed to go backstage after the show, when a young, handsome man with bright blue eyes stopped them. He was about Marius' age.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"We're friends of Gavroche." Éponine replied.
"Tickets?" They handed the tickets over. As soon as he saw the charcoal marking-a simple 'G' he smiled kindly at them.
"Come on then, mademoiselles." He led them backstage. He was the only guy other than Marius to have called them Mademoiselles since they ever came to Paris.
Backstage, everyone was drinking and talking. They sat in a circle with Gavroche and two other actors. The actor who they had to show their tickets earlier came and joined them. His name was Dániel Ensemble, which amused Éponine as he was part of the senior ensemble in the play. "I suppose some people used to get named after their careers. And still do." He shrugged, as if he could tell how much it amused her.
The other actors introduced themselves as Theo and Jaques. Theo was eighteen, and Jaques was fourteen. Éponine watched as Azelma and Jaques talked. That was the longest she'd seen Azelma talk to anyone...ever. Her cheeks were flushed.
Neither Azelma or Éponine wanted to leave. This place had a warm feel to it, and everyone was kind to them here. Azelma quite liked Jaques. Montparnasse's place was cold and uninviting, and the only people who were kind to eachother were Éponine and Azelma. Whilst the adults drank the money away, Éponine was certain they'd be out on the streets soon.
Both girls realised they'd have to leave, or their father would be annoyed.
As they were on their way out, Dániel told them they were welcome any time here.
Gavroche added, "And remember, Ép, I'll tell you if there's a job at the ABC cafe." Gavroche laughed after saying that.
"Where have you been?" Broujon asked half-heartedly, lighting his tobacco.
"Bet they haven't brought back anything." Montparnasse chortled.
"Now, now, my darling daughters will have learnt their lessons by now. Get me at least a sou, and they're ok. No money, consequences." Thenardier walked into the room.
"Well?" Their mother raised an eyebrow at them.
"One sou each." Éponine replied dryly.
"It'll do. We got lots the other day." Thenardier took the money. The only time he liked his daughters was when they brought him money.
He handled the money, smiled, and him, his wife and their friends headed out to the inn for alcohol.