Chapter Eight: Flowers

Éponine was excited as she left the house that Saturday. Partly because it was her birthday: mostly because she was going to see Marius.

She sat in the grass of the park, and picked a flower. She picked a flower, absent-mindedly picking the petals of it. Where is he?

Marius walked around picking flowers, cautiously glancing over to where Éponine was sat. She musn't see him or the bunch of flowers in his hand...it would ruin his surprise for her.

Gavroche had told him it was her birthday. Marius had decided he wanted to surprise her. He didn't have much money, and there was no way he'd go crawling to his Grandfather.

He wished he could buy her a big, wonderful house, and clothes that were not ragged. She deserved it, in his opinion. He didn't understand why she'd been landed in a run-down house with such unkind people. Why she had to wear rags when she could be a lady quite easily. He wished her and Azelma weren't so poor. And he hated society when he saw them that way.

Cosette was sat on a park bench next to her father. She was absent-mindedly gazing at a young man, who was picking flowers. She wondered why...who they were for.

Then she saw him creep up towards a dirty-looking girl who was sat in the grass.

"Papa, do you know why a nicely dressed young gentleman would give flowers to someone as filthy as that?" She asked.

"Dear Cosette, flowers are a kind thing to give. I've seen those two before...I believe they are close friends."

He didn't mention that he knew the girl was once clean and well-dressed whilst Cosette was dirty and in rags.

Eponine was startled by a tap on her shoulder. "Bonjour, 'Ponine." He handed her the flowers. Her face lit up in delight and shock. "I heard it was your birthday." He smiled.

"Thank you...Monsieur, how did you know that it is my birthday?" Her eyes were full of wonder.

"That would be telling." He teased, sitting beside her and pushing her hair out of her face. She seemed to drop her gaze, suddenly shy.

"Hey, why so suddenly shy?" He smirked, putting his hand under her chin and gazing into her eyes. She blushed, and stammered, "N-nothing, Monsieur." He raised an eyebrow, still smirking, but moved his hand away from her chin.

Éponine regained her usual boldness. "So, how have you been? It is a shame I'm not working anymore at Cafe Musain, but it's alright because I still see you." Oh no. She'd landed herself in an awkward place again. Gavroche would be laughing at her now.

"I still see 'Roche as well. Me and 'Zelma still meet him at the theatre, you know. And 'Zelma now has a lover, one of the actors. Jaques, his name is. Strange thing, love." She gazed at the flowers, her thoughts continuing in her head.

"Do you love anyone, 'Ponine?" He said suddenly, staring intensely at her as she blushed scarlet.

"I'll take that blush as a yes. He's a lucky man, whoever he is." There was silence as Éponine blushed even more.

"Well, I better get going before I say anything that makes you blush further." His hand traced down her cheek.

Don't go. She thought.

"Farewell, 'Ponine." She was shocked when he put his arms around her. She returned the embrace. "Farewell, Marius." She was smiling more than she had ever before.

Marius smiled again at her when he left. She watched him disappearing, cherishing every movement he made.

Emerging out of the shadows came Montparnasse. He had been watching everything.

"Eponine." He leered. "Or should I say 'Ponine." He said Marius' nickname for her in a mockingly posh way. "That young rich twat." He ran his hand up her leg. She slapped him round the face.

"Don't speak about him in that way! And don't touch me!" She snarled. He hit her with such force it knocked her over.

"You need to keep your mouth shut, little slut. Let's explain this to your father." He pulled her up by her hair and got her in a headlock, dragging her back to their 'home.'

All the flowers lay scattered about in the park.