Chapter Three — I Won't Say/Telling the World

(Later that evening, in Meg's dressing room)

"So… Christine," I nudged the brunette softly. "You still haven't told me anything about Marius."

I saw her eyes flicker to the floor shyly. Marius was very handsome, his deep chocolate eyes sparkled with mischief and youth. No wonder both Éponine and Christine had feelings for him. The question was, however, if he loved them in return.

In fact, the only member of our little group who had actually gotten love at first sight was Meg. She had been relentlessly bombarding us with questions about her hair, her makeup, her dress- all because of this poor revolutionary named Granataire who had stolen her heart, and given her his in return.

I had to hand it to Christine, Marius was adorable. The way the light glinted in his deep brown eyes made him irresistibly attractive to everyone except me. How on earth was that man not married with seven kids already?

"Well, you know, I was kind of reluctantly following Éponine when I bumped into him. He actually knocked me over. I kind of yelled at him to watch where he was going- and then I saw him." Her voice took on a dreamy quality. "His eyes got all wide and sparkly as he offered me his hand. Then, very softly, he apologized for running into me. He pulled me upright and we started a conversation."

"Aww… how sweet," Meg gushed. "I bet he totally wanted to run into you again- but on purpose."

"Maybe he did…" Christine said thoughtfully before her face hardened and she crossed her arms decidedly. "If there's a prize for rotten judgement, I guess I've already won that. No man is worth the aggravation— That's ancient history, been there, done that!"

We raised our eyebrows at Christine before joining her in song. "Who'd you think you're kidding? He's the Earth and Heaven to ya, try to keep it hidden— honey, we can see right through ya, girl you can't conceal it, we know what you're feeling- who you're thinking of!"

Christine rolled her eyes. "No chance, no way I won't say it no, no!"

Meg ran over to the door and I joined her, blocking the path of escape. "You swoon, you sigh, why deny it uh-uh?"

"It's too cliché! I won't say I'm in love…" Christine sighed and buried her face in her hands before continuing, "I thought my heart had learned its lesson. It feels so good when you start out, my head is screaming 'Get a grip girl! Unless you're dying to cry your heart out!'"

"Girl you can't deny it- who you are and how you're feeling, baby we're not buying- hon we saw you hit the ceiling- face it like a grownup, when you gonna own up that you got, got, got it bad?"

"No chance, no way I won't say it no, no!"

"Give up, or give in!"

Meg leaped over next to Christine and put her arm around her shoulder. "Check the grin, you're in love!"

Christine jumped away and stood with her hands haughtily on her hips. "This scene, won't play, I won't say I'm in love…."

At the same time, Meg and I replied, "We'll do it until you admit you're in love!"

Christine raised her arms in mock surrender, "You're way off base, I won't say it!"

Meg and I looked at each other and muttered, "She won't say in love!"

Christine walked over to the mirror and fixed her hair. "Get off my case, I won't say it!"

"Girl don't be proud it's okay, you're in love…"

"At least out loud, I won't say I'm in love…."

Meg made eye contact with me and gave me a double thumbs-up. Our work here was done.

—

(at the same time, in the ABC Café)

"Marius, you're late!" Enjolras called as the black-haired student entered the cafe more than 40 minutes later than he was supposed to arrive.

"What's wrong today? You look as if you've seen a ghost!" Joly observed, and pulled up a chair for him.

"Some wine, and say what's going on!" Granataire offered jovially, handing Marius his bottle.

"A ghost you say? A ghost may be, she was just like a ghost to me— One minute there, than she was gone!" Marius said softly as he took a tentative sip from the bottle before pulling a face and handing it back to Granataire.

"I am agog- I am aghast! Is Marius in love at last? I've never heard him 'oo' and 'ahh!'" Granatiare mocked. "You talk of battles to be won-" here he pointed to Enjolras- "and here he comes like Don Juan! It is better than an opera!" Granataire collapsed into a fit of laughter, joined by a few other students.

Marius looked around at his fellow revolutionaries before starting to sing. "Every part in my heart I'm giving out, every song on my lips I'm singing out, any fear in my soul I'm letting go, and anyone who asks I'll let 'em know-"

He stood and walked over to Granataire, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "She's the one, she's the one- I say it loud! She's the one, she's the one, I say it proud. Ring a bell, ring a bell for the whole crowd, ring a bell, ring a bell—"

Marius jumped up on a table, the lights glittering in his eyes. "I'm telling the world, that I found a girl, the one I can live for, the one who deserves…"

"Every part in my heart I'm giving out, every song on my lips I'm singing out- every fear in my soul I'm letting go, and anyone who asks I'ma let 'em know."

He stepped down off the table and ran to one side of the room, a huge grin on his face. "She's the one, she's the one, I say it loud! She's the one, she's the one, I say it proud. Ring a bell, ring a bell for the whole crowd- ring a bell, ring a bel!"

Marius raced to the door and pulled on his jacket. "I'm telling the world, that I found the girl, the one I can live for, the one who deserves, to give all my life, a reason to fly, the one I can live for, a reason for life…" He twisted the door handle and leapt outside, leaving Enjolras and the rest of the revolutionaries in stunned silence.

Author's Note: I'm leaving this in bold to differentiate from the rest of the chapter. I realized I forgot to mention the songs I've been using. The second chapter was "Love and the Weather" from Irving Berlin's White Christmas. The third chapter used both "I Won't Say (I'm In Love)" from Disney's Hercules, and "Telling the World" by Taio Cruz from Rio. All these songs can be found on Apple Music, or YouTube.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I know you've been waiting for it. Here are some questions that you can answer by leaving me a review. What is the name of the song in the ABC Cafe that the scene started with? There are technically two answers, and I'll accept both. Who is your favorite character so far? Do you approve of MariusXChristine?