Double checking that he locked the door behind him, Enjolras goes to check on Eponine. She's closing her eyes as tight as she can, as if she's trying to block out the world. "Eponine? Eponine, I have breakfast." Enjolras says softly.
"Thank you so much Mons- Enjolras." She corrects herself, remembering to say his name. "Really, you are too kind." Eponine tells him, trying not to look too eager at the food. She hasn't eaten a proper meal in years, and it had taken its toll on her body. What should be a filled out on seventeen year old body is a fragile frame, her hips just out far too much and her arms and legs are skin and bone. When she was young, her brown hair was always perfect and shiny. Now, it hangs in a matted mess past her shoulder. Thankfully, she still has her beautiful chocolate brown eyes, which even poverty could not take away from her.
She notices Enjolras fidgeting slightly, looking out the window as he fiddles with his hands. "Enjolras? Is everything all right?" She stares him down, demanding an answer. If it has anything to do with her or her being there, she wants to know immediately.
Enjolras opens his mouth then closes it, unsure of how to respond. He does not want to frighten her with his concerns, but he also feels she should know the truth. "Oh nothing. Just thinking of plans for the revolution." He decides she has been put through enough these past days, and he does not need to unnecessarily worry her. She narrows her eyes, fairly certain that he is lying to her, but decides not to press the topic. Thankfully, neither one if them has to say anything, for a knock on the door makes Enjolras jump up. "I'll get it," He says quickly. He looks out of the small hole in the door to check who it was, but is startled when he sees nothing. He turns to walk back when another knock comes. Enjolras looks out again, wondering if the gang had somehow discovered Eponine's whereabouts. Warily, he slowly opens the door.
"G'day Monsieur! Took you long enough!" Gavroche laughs cheekily. Enjolras let's out a sigh of relief. Of course, Gavroche was too small to be see, being barely ten years old. "I came to say hello to Eponine." Gavroche continues, peering in to the flat.
"Of course. Please, come in." Enjolras fully opens the door, fairly convinced that there is no harm. Never in his life has he been so paranoid, but he knows that as long as Eponine is in his care, he will not let anything happen to her. "Eponine, you have a visitor." Enjolras calls to her. He opens the door to his room to see Eponine attempting to fix her brown tangles. She looks up at Enjolras and Gavroche and Enjolras notices she seems slightly disappointed. She immediately drops her hands down, but still puts a smile on her face. He wonders why she would be disappointed to see her own brother, especially since he is Gavroche. His energy level and enthusiasm for the revolution made Enjolras immediately enjoy Gavroche's company. Enjolras has always thought highly of Gavroche, and he could not help but think even more of him now that he knew who his sister is. It suddenly struck Enjolras that she must have been hoping for Marius. The thought bothers Enjolras, but he cannot quite explain why. Eponine obviously has feelings for Marius, but does he return those feelings? Marius has never showed feelings of more than friendship towards Eponine, but is it possible that he may be keeping his feelings to himself? Enjolras doubts that. The Amis never has to guess what Marius is thinking, he's always sharing his thoughts without well, a second thought. Enjolras leaves the room to give the two siblings privacy, not wanting to intrude. He gets out his notebook, writing down more plans for the revolution, then scribbling them out as quickly as he could. His usually focused brain once again wonders to thoughts of Eponine, but this time, she was accompanied by Marius. Enjolras couldn't help but feel that they would be wrong for each other. On their own, they were both good people. Together, they seem like they would simply suck the life out of the other. Eponine was much too adventurous and witty, making Marius seem bland and dull in comparison. Although Enjolras knows little about couples, avoiding all romantic relationships himself, he knows that each person should bring out the best in the other. Eponine and Marius would not do that, now if only she would recognize it... His thoughts continue down their usual tracks, but somehow kept circling back to Eponine. After a frustrating half hour, he hears Gavroche bidding au revoir.
"Good day, Monsieur Enjolras!" Gavroche calls as he makes his way out the door, but not without giving Enjolras a toothy grin. Now, the resemblance between the pair is obvious, with the same sparkle in their eyes and wit in their words. Enjolras doesn't even have time to say his own goodbyes before Gavroche is out the door. Enjolras is about to go check on Eponine when the door to Grantaire's room opens, and the drunk's hangover is obvious as he stumbles into the room, holding his head and cursing.
"God damn it!" Grantaire curses as he makes his way to their kitchen, no doubt searching for a bottle. Last night, Grabtaire had been helpful, definitely not sober, but not drunk enough for a hangover such as this. No doubt that after Eponine was in safety he drunk himself to sleep. Enjolras can not even imagine having to rely on alcohol to ease his his pain, his feelings, his everything. As Grantaire sucks on a bottle, he looks over at Enjolras with vague concern. "Is everything all right?" He asks, eyes leaving the bottle for the first time all morning.
"Yes, of course." Enjolras replies cooly. There was no more reason to stir up Grantaire about his suspicions of the Patron-Minette any more than Eponine. And actually, no Enjolras was far from being fine. His only female friend, if he could even call her that, after all they hardly know each other, has has been nearly beaten to death, his oblivious friend with whom Eponine is in love with does nothing and Enjolas is feeling something for this girl. Is it anything more than friendship? He does not know, but the last thing he needs is a distraction. The revolution must be his first priority, no not his first, his only priority. It is his passion, his life. There is no room in his heart for anything or anyone else. At least, that is what he tells himself. But for once in his life, Enjolras is unable to believe the one thing he has ever known. One girl, Eponine Thénardier, could be changing his life, but is it for better or for worse?
Thank you so much for taking the time to read, and also I'd like to say a great big thank you to the reviewers from last week who brought the problems with the paragraph spacing in the previous chapter to my attention! What would I do without you guys? Please follow/fave if you enjoyed and please review your thoughts! It just makes my day!