Éponine walked into the library where Marius was reading, quietly she approached him, "Bonjour Monsieur Marius."
Marius put down his book and smiled, "You know we've been over this many times."
"I know," she interrupted him, "sometimes old habits die hard," she felt so nervous, as if a million butterflies flitted about inside of her. "Marius,I need your help..."
Marius's smile changed to an expression of worry, "Éponine what's wrong?"
Éponine's gaze had shifted toward the bay window then back towards Marius, "I need to," she took a breath, "I can't stay here."
"What?! But 'Ponine!" he started.
"No! Please understand!" Éponine cut him off once more, "please," a nervous habit she had as a child of wringing her hands had returned. "What I meant was, I want to find a job, a good job."
She could see that Marius now looked relieved, "well perhaps once the doctor decides you have recovered," he paused for a moment, "I may know of a place."
Éponine's eyes widened and a smile spread across her face, "Really?" she asked excitedly, "Oh thank you!"
Marius chuckled lightly at the gamine's child-like behavior, "Glad I could help you 'Ponine."
Éponine blushed as she smiled, once it faded she looked around the library, "Lots'a books here," she mused absentmindedly. She wandered over to the nearest shelf and glanced at the volumes that were lined up neatly.
Éponine shrugged and shyly smiled, "Well I'll see you later, Marius." and quietly left the room. Éponine would probably forever remain a puzzle to Marius. From the library window he could see her enter the garden and he watched her as she sat down on the bench in the bright summer sunlight. After helping to bring him and Cosette together, he wanted to do what ever he could to help his friend. "Poor girl..." he muttered to himself before returning to his book.
Éponine walked around in the garden, just a few weeks prior she had been outside these walls. Now seeing what it was like to be within them she felt like a caged bird. Thankfully she would be able to get out soon, Marius said he could help her to find a job. The only thing that prevented her from getting out sooner were her and Marius injuries. Even the excursion out to the Luxembourg gardens yesterday had put a strain on the two of them.
"It will not be wise for you to go out again so soon," M. Fauchlevent looked at Marius. Marius had brought up the topic of Éponine's plan to depart from Rue Plumet over supper, "in a week or so we can have the doctor return and look you over."
Éponine lowered her head, a week? She appreciated the kindness given to her during her time on Rue Plumet but the more time she spent here, the more she began to feel like she didn't belong, as if it was too good for her here.
That week was passing by very slowly so Éponine had now taken up browsing the books in the library. Some of which she had found to be interesting and filled with fantastic stories, while others seemed very dry and dull.
"I was thinking that perhaps we could look into that book shop I used to do translations for," Marius suggested, trying to help Éponine find something worthwhile to read amongst the large quantity of books.
"What if they won't take me?" Éponine asked.
"Well there are probably plenty of places that would hire you," Marius replied optimistically.
"'Ow's your shoulder?" Éponine glanced at Marius.
"Healing," he replied and absentmindedly touched his hand to it. "I still wonder who it was who saved me that night, and brought me here?" He then looked at his friend, "And you! It still amazes me that after all that you survived, and brought yourself here."
"I can still hardly believe it myself," Éponine looked to the ground and then back up, "At least we are alive." For a moment it felt as if some kind of darkness had gripped her from within, she could see the faces of all the young men, Marius' friends who had died on the barricade, in particular she could see Gavroche, little Gavroche.
"What happened to him," she said aloud, this thought had plagued her ever since she'd arrived at Rue Plumet, surely Marius must know. "How did 'Vroche die?"
Marius put his good arm around the gamine's shoulder, "He decided he wanted to help so he went to the other side of the barricade to collect cartridges from the fallen, and he was shot..."
"How could they do such a thing... Those bastards! To shoot a small boy..." Many different emotions were going through Éponine, ranging from despair to rage. Her eyes brimmed with tears that threatened to spill across her cheeks.
"I don't know 'Ponine..." Marius sighed.
"Monsieur Marius and Mamselle Éponine?" Toussaint was now standing at the door of the library.
"Yes?" Marius turned to answer the house keeper.
"Monsieur Fauchlevent has told me that the doctor will be coming here tomorrow," The old woman told them, then left them back to their browsing.
"If the Doctor comes tomorrow, then we should be able to go out on Friday," Éponine reasoned.
Marius shook his head, "I would not get your hopes too high, he may still say that we are not fit enough."
"Yet we could go and spend a day in the Luxembourg?" Éponine looked confused.
Marius shrugged, "finding a job is a lot more difficult than going on a carriage ride to the park."
"You make it sound as if it's a grueling task," Éponine scoffed, "well sometimes it does feel that way," he sighed.
"I can handle anything!" Éponine smiled, Marius had to admit he admired her spunk.
"Oh I thought I would find you two here," Cosette came into the library, "Papa and I just got back, I assume Toussaint has spoken to you?" She unlaced her bonnet which she set down on one of the end tables. Éponine nodded, Cosette came over to her, "I know it may be a while before you do leave… But I do want to wish you luck on your search." She took Éponine's callused and boney hand, into her own soft, delicate one.
"Thanks Cosette," Éponine pulled her hand back, Cosette made no attempt to stop her, some uneasy feelings still remained between them. Only time would be able to tell if those feelings were to ever dissipate.
"You have healed well, I see no harm in being able to go out more frequently," The doctor cleaned his spectacles, "I do not want you to do anything that may be too taxing for you, just be careful."
Éponine nodded to his instructions, "I will… So M. Marius, how is he doing?"
"The young barrister is doing fine, much better than he was three weeks ago." the doctor began packing his bag, "I feel that he would be able to escort you just fine." He closed his bag with a final "click", "I believe that you should be completely healed within the next two weeks, then you should be able to do what you like."
"Thank you monsieur le Docteur," Éponine thanked the kindly old man. He just nodded to her and left the room.