A/N: Thank you for reviewing and following, it means a lot:) I'm introducing a few O/C into this story.
Chapter Five: "I know how you feel."
The week dragged on slowly. On Friday, Éponine was distracted. But she didn't care what happened today. She didn't care when she was almost caught pickpocketing. She didn't care when her father slapped her for being careless.
She only cared about meeting Marius tomorrow.
After Marius left, she'd visit the theatre. Azelma would already be at the theatre.
Azelma was back to herself. She acted vague and in a trance in the house as she found it easier to cope, but outside she talked to Éponine and her few other friends a lot. The greyish tinge to her skin had gone, and the shadows under her eyes weren't so bold. Her eyes looked dark brown; not bright, but not black either.
Saturday morning. Éponine hadn't slept much last night, but despite that she was full of energy. She woke Azelma up, who smiled briefly before going back to her usual house-trance. Her father gave them jobs; one expensive belonging from a rich person's pocket each, and hand out 2 begging letters each.
Éponine and Azelma were out by 7 o'clock in the morning. Not many people were out, and the shops were just opening. They made plans to fit their work around what they were doing.
They gave out begging letters first, receiving 5 francs and 2 sous. Azelma told Éponine she'd pick two pockets whilst Éponine met Marius. Éponine thanked Azelma, overjoyed to be heading towards the park.
Marius felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned, startled, before he saw her. "'Ponine." He greeted her.
"Hello, Monsieur Marius." She smiled.
He returned her smile, and handed her a roll of bread. She bit into it. It had a spice in it she hadn't tasted since she was little-cinnamon. She loved cinnamon bread.
"Thank you, monsieur! I like cinnamon. Me and 'Zelma used to have cinnamon bread every Sunday when we were little." She sighed at the memory.
"Where is Azelma?" He asked.
"At a small theatre we sometimes visit. We have friends backstage, so she'll be talking to them." She replied.
"I'm sorry if I'm keeping you from them."
"Oh no, it's alright, I wanted to come here!" She paused, before hastily adding, "I'm going there later. It gets a little boring, being in one place for too long."
He laughed. There is something about his laugh... No, Éponine, don't think that, she quickly told herself mentally.
"I know a boy from the ABC society who's at a theatre. Apparently he pretty much runs it-hey, sit down." He noticed she was still standing in the shadow of the bench.
"It's alright-would you really want to be seen with me?" She sighed. She was just a dirty street rat, after all.
"'Ponine. You're my friend. As far as I'm concerned, you're an equal, despite what everyone else thinks. I don't care what they think. You shouldn't either." His expression was gentle and serious. He took her hand, and led her around to sit next to him. She was blushing, and speechless.
A few people stared. Marius glared back at them. "Monsieur-nobody has ever said anything like that before, not to me."
He grinned. "Well, now I have."
Her heart was racing. She tried to regain control of her thoughts.
"You know that boy you were talking about at the theatre? Is it 'Vroche-I mean, Gavroche?" Eponine already knew the answer.
"Yes. Strange how we both know him." They both laughed, thinking about how easy it was to talk to eachother.
When Éponine walked into the theatre, everyone was talking and laughing, drinking wine. She sat with Gavroche, Azelma, Dániel, Jaques and Theo.
"'Ep?" Dániel was offering her a glass of wine.
"Merci, Monsieur." She took the wine.
Once Eponine, Azelma, Gavroche, Dániel, Jaques and Theo all had their glasses filled, they touched glasses.
"Vive la France!" Said Dániel.
"Vive la France!" They all chorused.
After that, their small circle turned into even smaller group talks. Éponine observed whilst Jaques and Azelma talked to eachother. Azelma looked really happy, and her cheeks were flushed a little. Again. Then she saw her sisters eyes were bright brown instead of dark.
Éponine smiled to herself, glad her sister was happy. She wondered if that was how she looked when she spoke to Marius.
"'Ep...how did you get those bruises?" Dániel had picked up on Gavroche's nickname for her. He unexpectedly touched her cheek. She felt a tinge of pain, and remembered where her father hit her a few days ago.
"It's nothing, Monsieur." She replied. He raised an eyebrow. "Really. I just fell over." She said the last part too fast, and wouldn't meet his eyes.
He put his hand under her chin, making her look into his eyes. "You should lie better if you're going to lie to an actor." He stood up and moved to a different group of actors, where Theo had also gone. The warmth of his hand lingered on her chin whilst Gavroche moved to where Dániel had been sat.
"Met Marius yet?"
"What?" She replied.
"He told me he was meeting you." Éponine was slightly shocked. She didn't think Marius would tell anyone about her.
"Oh...yes he did. That's why I was later than Azelma." She replied. She remembered what Marius had said earlier, and felt warm inside.
"Okay. Well, the students accepted you. Your job will be twice a week...Mondays and Wednesdays, 7 o'clock at night. It's a paid job too, so your...family...would be alright with it." He told her.
"Thank you, Gavroche!" She murmured excitedly.
He smirked. "It's five. Your papa will be wondering where his money is."
Eponine had forgotten about her father, as she'd enjoyed her time with Marius, and her time at the theatre had been quite nice.
"Bye, 'Vroche. It was good to see you. I guess I'll see you tomorrow at the ABC cafe." Eponine stood.
"21 Rue D'Vilette." Gavroche told her. She nodded, and went to sit with Azelma and Jaques.
"Hello...sorry to interrupt, but we've got to go now." Azelma and Jaques looked a little disappointed. Azelma straightened her expression as soon as she realised Éponine was looking at them quizzically.
"Goodbye, Jaques." Azelma and Jaques exchanged a hug. Jaques realised Éponine was watching, and looked a little guilty. Azelma was the same when she pulled away. "Farewell, 'Zelmie." Jaques smiled. Azelma smiled and ran off, Éponine following.
"What was that?" Éponine asked. Zelmie. She inwardly chuckled.
"Urm...nothing...I'm sorry, he was just so nice..." Azelma was tongue tied.
"You don't need to apologise. As long as you're happy and he's kind to you. At least I won't have to put up with you in some sort of trauma anymore." Éponine smiled encouragingly.
Before they got onto the street where they lived, Azelma handed Éponine a gold pocketwatch as her 'rich persons belonging.'
"Éponine?" She asked timidly.
"Yes?"
"Do you love Marius?"
Éponine didn't reply. She stared ahead. The way her cheeks were flushing answered Azelma's question.
Azelma saw that. She smiled to herself. I know how you feel.