Thank you all so much for the kind reviews/following/favorite. Some of you even figured out what I planned out for this story *wink wink* but I'm not confirming anything. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this.

Chapter 6. This Dusky Jewel

She's walking down the street

Blind to every eye she meets

Do you think you'll be the guy

To make the queen of the angels sigh?

(...)

Sidewalk crouches at her feet

Like a dog that begs for something sweet

Do you hope to make her see, you fool?

Do you hope to pluck this dusky jewel?

(Hello I Love You, The Doors)

Enjolras might have been the oblivious fool, but that's the reason why Courfeyrac was needed there. Courfeyrac knew the new girl hadn't been accepted among the boys' club. Yet. Although Bahorel seemed impressed and respectful, Combeferre civilized and warm whenever she talked to him, the rest of the Les Amis was uncomfortable around her. Prouvaire, having been shut off by her the night she joined Les Amis, was intimidated and avoided Éponine as much as possible. Grantaire did not trust her, she came and left irregularly and always disappeared into thin air when least expected, as if she was a shadow. Now that Éponine did not have to wear the baggy workman uniform anymore, she moved swiftly among the chairs and tables, quietly into the dark only to leave the boys perplexed when they turned around and saw nobody. Her abnormal behavior did not bother Enjolras, after all she was there when needed, she listened to him voraciously and talked only when she was asked – mostly about rumors on the streets of Paris. Pontmercy only came to her when he needed her – poor girl, running in and out of the café carrying Pontmercy's letters like a pigeon. The rest of the boys were terrified – they did not foresee such forcefulness and spirit when the cap fell out of her head revealing her true identity. It took them exactly 2 minutes to transform their suppressed laughter and snicker to complete frightfulness when she stomped her feet and demanded to be treated fairly.

They didn't see her scraped elbows, the dark circles under her eyes, the faded various bruises on her arms and the one on her forehead – they might also have seen it and chose not to notice, Courfeyrac was not sure. She was also ridiculously small for a girl her age, her waist is so tiny even though she was not wearing any corset. Courfeyrac felt pity for her – not that he showed it, he noticed the quiet pride in her eyes when she talked to him, as if she dared him to suggest out loud that she was lesser than him in any way. In fact, she was as prideful as ever when she talked to any barricade boys but that fool Pontmercy. Courfeyrac was almost sure she was helplessly in love with Pontmercy. When Éponine was around Pontmercy, she suddenly transformed into another creature, her eyes shone with laughter, her lips smiled easily and she spoke with more grace, more tenderness. This girl truly intrigued him, she was an enigmatic creature, not that Courfeyrac was romantically interested in her. He was perplexed at how willing Enjolras was to listen to her. Normally Enjolras would not dare to look at a female above her feet, but somehow Éponine always managed to make him look her in the eyes when they spoke to each other. Enjolras listened to her attentively and with respect, and that was enough for Courfeyrac to trust her. Still, she did not talk much, which might be the cause of her isolation from the boys. But tonight, Courfeyrac decided, thing would change.

As soon as Éponine quietly sat down a chair near Pontmercy, Courfeyrac pulled over another and settled down next to her.

"Mademoiselle Éponine, I don't think we were properly introduced." He said, flashing a smile.

"I know who you are Monsieur Courfeyrac." She smiled, still not looking at him. "You are quite famous among the ladies in Paris."

"But Mademoiselle, I and my friends have yet to know about you." Still maintaining the smile on his face, Courfeyrac reached out and placed his hands on her hands on her lap. "Please, we would be so rude to have you as a friend yet not knowing anything about you. We're ecstatic to know."

This gesture alarmed the girl, she looked down to her lap in surprise then finally to Courfeyrac's face. Success! Courfeyrac smiled triumphantly.

"Well, I can assure you Monsieur, my life is not at all exciting." Éponine hesitated. "There is nothing worth knowing about."

"Oh nonsense. We all heard your little speech the day you joined us. Bahorel told me he had never seen such quality gunpowder and that many kinds of pistols before. Now, what's a lady doing in the business of firearm? What do you do when we turn around and suddenly you're not there anymore?"

"I am no lady." Éponine waved. "About that question, Monsieur Courfeyrac, some things are better left unknown."

"But Mademoiselle Éponine…"

"Cut it out Courfeyrac." Enjolras walked over and stood next to Éponine. "You are making Mademoiselle Éponine uncomfortable. If she does not want to talk about

it, I suggest that you leave her alone."

"Wow there golden boy." Courfeyrac raised his arms slightly above his head. "I was not trying to make her uncomfortable, I was trying to be friendly."

"Mademoiselle Éponine will tell you if she wants to." Enjolras glared at his best friend. "But for now, you'd better not pester her anymore."

"It's quite alright Monsieur Enjolras." Éponine responded. "I'm sure Monsieur Courfeyrac meant no harm. While I appreciate your gesture, there is no need to protect me."

Enjolras shook his head and walked away. "If you insist, Mademoiselle Éponine."

"Whatever is the matter with you?" she hissed to him when almost everyone left, with the exception of Courfeyrac, Bahorel and Feuilly still conversing in a far corner. "I can handle Courfeyrac, I did not need your help."

"Forgive me if I offended you in any way." He stared at her. "I did not want to open a conversation that would most likely lead to the discussion of…ahem…that night." Enjolras awkwardly addressed the event.

She bit her lips and looked down. They both knew what he was talking about. The night Courfeyrac took him to her father's inn. The night she first got to know him. The night somebody actually showed some interest in her life.

"Was it that repulsive to you?" she whispered.

He shook his head. "No, not at all. Please don't take it like that. But I'd prefer if my personal life wasn't open for to discuss in public."

Éponine nodded. "I understand."

"Although I must say." He replied while rearranging the pile of papers and books on the table. "For the last few days you have been very different from what I remember that night."

"How so?" she looked up and smirked.

"You are…" he bit his lips while trying to find words to say. "Fiercer. More argumentative."

"Well Monsieur Enjolras." She laughed. "My job that night was to entertain you. I must act in a way that pleases you best, to make money out of you. Such is the way of life."

"Then I must inform you that you were wrong." He put the papers in the briefcase.

"Excuse me?" Éponine asked, her eyes widened.

Enjolras replied, still not looking at her. "I prefer the fierce, opinionated you. Such are the qualities that Les Amis is really looking for right now. We need a thinker, somebody who can bring something to the table, not merely a blind follower."

Enjolras picked up his briefcase and tilted his head. "Good night Mademoiselle Éponine." And away he went, leaving a perplexed Éponine behind.

At the same time.

"Alright gentlemen, listen to me." Courfeyrac spoke to Bahorel and Feuilly. "Are you as curious about Mademoiselle Éponine as I am?"

"To some degree I guess." Replied Feuilly. "Sometimes she shows up in the morning with hay in her hair. I wonder if she doesn't have a bed to sleep in."

"I am honestly impressed. She knows more about pocket knife and switchblade than anyone I know." Exclaimed Bahorel. "And the quality of the gunpowder, mon dieu."

"So this is what I have in mind." Whispered Courfeyrac, while glancing at Éponine and Enjolras talking. "Bear with me gentlemen. I say, why don't we follow her home and see where she lives? Obviously she's no aristocratic lady, but I sense that her life is more fascinating than she claims."

Feuilly and Bahorel looked at Courfeyrac, obviously weighing the offer. Courfeyrac pushed it a bit further. "I mean, we have nothing else to do all night. Bahorel, I know you're restless and I don't want you to get in another random fight tonight." He looked at his two friends. "It's gonna be an adventure. It'll be exciting. Trust me."

Bahorel's eyes shone at the mention of adventure and Courfeyrac knew he succeeded.

"Look she's leaving." Feuilly point at the staircase as Éponine was descending.

"Then we'd better act soon." Courfeyrac smiled mischievously.