Eponine sits up in alarm as she hears yelling from the balcony. At first, she thinks it is Enjolras, but then realizes that the voice belongs to Grantaire. Why would Grantaire be yelling? Usually, he is fairly calm, or passed out. Listening again, her suspicions are confirmed, although she is unable to make out exactly what they are saying. Ignoring the shooting pain in her ribs, she slowly carefully makes her way out to the main room of the flat. Like the bedroom, it is filled with books and scribbles of revolution. Eponine looks out at the small balcony, pressing herself against the wall so neither of the men will see her if they are to look in. She leans in closer to the balcony door, finally close enough able to hear what they are saying. The men are both silent, and Eponine can see the look of shock on Enjolras' face. Grantaire on the other hand, looks solemn. Finally, Grantaire puts a hand on Enjolras' shoulder. "I think I should probably go now. On the bright side, I will probably remember none of this conversation tomorrow. Goodnight!" Grantaire laughs, but Enjolras does not even crack a smile, although that is nothing too out of the ordinary.
Eponine has no idea what they were talking about. The revolution most likely, after all Grantaire has always been the one with the most doubts, and that has always upset Enjolras. Before she realizes what is happening, Grantaire walks back in. Thankfully, he walks right past her, not even glancing from his own room. Eponine let's out a sigh of relief as he enters his own bedroom, unsure of how she would ever explain herself. She really doesn't care too much about what Grantaire would think of her eavesdropping, but she would be mortified is Enjolras thought she was spying on him. She wants him to think highly of her, even though she knows he never will. She's a street rat, he's rich, a revolutionary, a student, bourgeois, everything she is not. She is sure that if it were not for the fact that she nearly died, he would never glance twice at her. He has many options to choose from, Eponine sees it all the time. Pretty girls are constantly attracted to him, flirting up a storm. Enjolras never returns their affections, far too caught up in his plans of course, although the Les Amis constantly teases him about this. Marius never saw her, and continues to never see her, so why would Enjolras?
She sees him shifting on the balcony, seemingly to come back inside. Eponine nearly sprints back to the bedroom, praying she would get there in time. She nearly has enough time to yank the blankets over herself before there is a knock on the bedroom door. She doesn't respond, pretending to be asleep instead as Enjolras slowly opens the door. She waits for him to leave, wishing he would move faster. Why is he taking so long anyways? Suddenly, she feels someone kissing the top of her head. "Goodnight, Eponine." Enjolras whispers, probably not wanting to wake her up. It takes everything she has to not react. She wants to stand up, scream, pull him closer to her, anything! But instead, she forces herself to remain still, and not let out the million questions she wants to ask. Why is he doing this? Doesn't he realize how painful this is for her? Marius has let her down, and he is sure too also. She can't let herself have any feelings for Enjolras, if only to protect herself. He will let her down, like every other man in her life has.
Enjolras walks out of his room, slightly surprised by his own actions. Never in his life has he ever had any type of feelings for a woman, not even close friendship. Having no siblings and a disapproving mother and father, he always had to learn to get along on his own. He needs to keep the revolution as his only priority, or it will fail. Although as much as he wishes he wouldn't, he knows that there is no way he will be able to ignore Eponine. Hopefully, Grantaire will not say a word about his possible feelings for Eponine to the rest if the group. Preferably the part where he said he loved her. While he is not ashamed or embarrassed by it, it is not something he wishes to discuss with others. His mind argues back and forth as he lays down to sleep, unsure of what to do about his feelings for Eponine. Finally, he is put to rest. It doesn't even matter what he does; she loves Marius.
In the week since Eponine disappeared, Montparnasse's patience had gone from questionable to nonexistent. By now, he was sure that Eponine was staying with the blonde, rich revolutionary. There was more activity in the area in the last week than there has been in the last year. Now, the question is how to take her back. There was always at least one person there with her, so breaking in is out of the question. Montparnasse absentmindedly listens to Thénardier ramble on about the next robbery, not fully listening until the subject of Eponine comes up.
"Who's going to keep watch?" Brujon asks. There is a long pause, and all eyes turn to Thénardier. After all, keeping watch is Eponine's job.
"I think we need to get her back," Montparnasse cuts in, ignoring the glare he receives from Thénardier. "Unless, of course, you would all like to go to jail." There are a series of shrugs and grunts in reply, the general consensus being agreement.
"The brat's been gone for nearly a week, where the hell is she? Montparnasse?" Thénardier turns to him, demanding an answer. They all know if anyone knows where she is, it would be him.
Montparnasse shrugs, as if he didn't even care. There was no need for any of the others to know how much he has been thinking about her, wanting her, needing her. "I might have a hunch. I think she's with one of those bourgeois students, the leader of them." Thénardier's face twists into a look if fury. Eponine has been hanging around those students progressively more in the last few weeks, even though he specifically told her not to, and he did not like to be disobeyed.
"You sure that's where she's at?" Thénardier wants to make certain that that is where she's been hiding before he makes any plans. Montparnasse nods in response, and Thénardier breaks out into an evil grin. "I guess we'll have to pay her a little visit then, eh?"
Enjolras awoke to a knock on the door. "Enjolras, open up! It's Joly." Reluctantly, Enjolras heaves himself up from the coach to the door. He feels both mentally and physically exhausted, due to the fact that he could not get any rest during the night. He tossed and turned all night, thoughts of both Eponine and the revolution plaguing him.
"Is Eponine awake yet?" Joly asked cheerfully. "I think it would be fine if she would like to attend the meeting tonight, granted she feels up to it of course." Enjolras is about to object, worried that would be too much for her.
"Enjolras, don't you dare say a word!" Eponine had awoken and appeared in the bedroom doorway. "I have been going crazy being cooped up, I would love to go." She flashes a triumphant smile at Enjolras, looking rather pleased with herself.
"Eponine are you sure? Are you sure you feel up to that? Are you in any pain?" Enjolras asks seriously. Usually, he would never question any of Joly's medical advice, but he needs to make sure she stays safe.
"Enjolras, you're worse than Joly! If I say I'm fine, than I am!" Eponine replies stubbornly. Joly just looks on at the two in amusement. Not unlike many of the other Les Amis members, he has noticed a budding relationship between the two. It is obvious that Enjolras cares for Eponine, he has never showed this much concern for anyone, much less a young woman, ever.
Enjolras let's out a frustrated sigh. His gut tells him that she should not go to the café tonight. He can't quite explain it, but he just has a very bad feeling. Why doesn't she see that he is just trying to keep her safe?
Noticing his friend's annoyance, Joly takes that as his cue to leave. "I will see you both at the café tonight." Joly calls as he makes his way to the door. "Just be careful, Eponine." Joly adds for Enjolras' sake.
"Eponine, please be careful to fight. If you want to leave at any time, do not hesitate to-" Eponine cuts him off, not wanting to hear another word of it.
"Don't you worry about me, Monsieur. I will be fine, I always am." With that, she turns on her heel to the bedroom, ending the conversation.
Later that night at the café, Eponine laughs with the rest of the Amis at Grantaire's drunken ramble. She hears the door open, but doesn't even bother to see who it is. It doesn't matter; right now, everything is perfect. She's surrounded by her friends, people who care about her. Suddenly, Eponine can see Enjolras tense up beside her. She's about to ask him what is wrong when a familiar voice stops her dead in her tracks.
"Sorry to break up this little get together, but I think it's time for Eponine to go. It's not like she belongs here anyways." Eponine recognizes the slimy voice and nearly chokes on her drink. Leaning against the doorframe is none other than Montparnasse.
Sorry it's a little late! Hope you enjoyed anyways and please leave a review! And Deep Forest Green was wondering who the Eponine in my profile picture is, and she is Frances Rufelle, my personal favorite Eponine. She was in both the Original London Cast and the Original Broadway Cast! Thanks for reading!