Thank you very much to all who reviewed, favorited and followed this story. It's all really appreciated. :)

Still looking for a BETA for this story...

Disclaimer: This is the third chapter and nothing will change… I still do not own Les Misèrables or its characters. I also do not own any songs mentioned or sang in this story.

Chapter 3

(1 month later)

Èponine is now climbing the tree by her bedroom when a bird flew right at her face making her loose balance and fell on her back.

"Merde!" she cursed silently when she heard the door open. Èponine dragged herself and behind the tree, wishing on her lucky stars that she won't be caught. She heard the footsteps really close then heard it going away after a few seconds. But luck doesn't seem to be on her side that night.

"What did I say about sneaking out, girl?" Thenardier hissed angrily and pulled her by the hair. She held back a scream so she won't be heard by Azelma or Gavroche.

"Where have you been this time? You're seeing someone aren't you? How many times do I have to tell you that I'm marrying you off to Montparnasse!" She felt a stinging pain on her left cheek.

"I won't marry him. Whatever you say or do, I won't marry Montparnasse!" she said still struggling from her father's grasp.

"How dare you talk back to me, you ungrateful child! I raised you, you have no right!" Thenardier yelled, while landing hits on Èponine. When he saw her crumple on the ground he stopped and turned to leave.

"Since mama died…" Thenardier stopped on his tracks. "You were hardly a father to us." Èponine whispered. Thenardier's anger increased and he kicked Èponine more violently, hitting her on the arms, her stomach, back, everywhere. After he's content with his daughter's punishment, he left her there and went inside.

Èponine laid there looking at the night skies. She prayed that her siblings didn't hear her, they'd get worried again. She pulled out her phone and was about to call Montparnasse, but she remembered he's out for the week. She stood up and began to walk to the usual place she goes to at moments she's alone and like this. It began raining when she's halfway through there and she finally gave in and dialled Enjolras' number. She only told him where to go and hung up. She already arrived by that time and she sat down below the yellow slide, burying her face in her knees.

LINEBREAK

Enjolras grabbed his things at lightning speed and bolted out the door making his parents who he passed by the living room wonder. He zoomed down the almost empty streets breaking a lot of traffic rules to reach her on time.

"The playground that you always see before going to our house."

He heard nothing after she said that. Her words repeated in his head as he drove making go even faster. It is raining very hard when he arrived. He went out in the rain and looked around the playground. He called out her name, but he was just met with silence. For a moment, he was worried he got the wrong playground, but he knew this is the only playground he sees on the way to their house. Then he saw her curled in a ball under the slide, soaked and asleep. He laid a hand on her shoulder but he got no response so he raised her head. Her lip is bleeding; there are bruises on her cheek and a small bloodstain on her violet shirt. He was sure that is not the only injuries she has so he picked her up carefully and drove her to the nearest hospital.

The nurses passing the hallway kept glancing at him as they pass. He's sitting at one of the plastic chairs in the hospital and really soaked. He's waiting for the doctor to come out of the room where Èponine is. When she came out, she told him that Èponine is out of danger now and he can see her. He thanked her and went in.

Èponine lay there, completely still. She's now wearing one of those hospital gowns and has an IV drop connected to her arm. He pulled a chair and sat at the side of the bed. He kept glancing at the girl every other minute. He was very thankful that the doctor didn't ask much and that they let them be after treating her wounds and bruises. It's one in the morning and he informed his mother, after informing Combeferre, that he's sleeping over. A little over two a.m., Èponine woke up.

"Enjolras?" She glanced around her and sat up, but regretted it immediately when she felt pain on her abdomen.

"Slow down, Èponine. You'll hurt yourself more." He slightly raised the upper part of her bed so she can sit with support.

"What time is it?"

"2:15"

"Can I borrow your phone? I think I left mine at the playground."

Èponine grabbed the phone as soon as Enjolras held it to her and dialled Cosette's number. It took a little time, but Cosette picked up eventually. Once Èponine said hello, she immediately bombarded her with questions.

"'Ponine! Where are you? Are you fine? Are you hurt so much? Who's with you?"

"I'm fine Cosette. I'm at a hospital- "

"What? Where I'll go there right now!" Èponine could hear Cosette's things dropping and she thinks she even heard a glass break.

"Hey! I'm fine… I just called so that you can inform my siblings. If I call them myself they'll interrogate me for sure. Don't worry okay?" She heard Cosette stop and she hoped that she calmed down for now.

"Sure. I'll tell them." Cosette said after a while. "But where is the hospital you are in? Who's with you?"

"I won't tell you where I am right now but I'm with-" she glanced at Enjolras and debated if she should tell her. But she decided it will be complicated. "I'm with a friend right now. I'm safe, don't worry."

"Alright 'Ponine. I'll make up some excuse for you at school until you come back."

"Thank you so much, Cosette." She hung up and gave back the phone to Enjolras. Silence engulfed the two until Enjolras spoke his thoughts.

"Cosette knows?" Èponine just nodded.

"How come you didn't tell anyone? We could've helped you get out of the house, your siblings too. Look at what happened to you, you lost consciousness at the playground."

"I've had worse." She mumbled to herself. But Enjolras heard it clearly and it made him angry.

"What? You've had worse? You talk like it's a very common occurrence in everyone's life! Èponine, look, what your father's doing is wrong! He can't keep abusing you and your siblings like that."

"You know why I don't tell you guys my situation? Because I know you'll just pity me. I can see it in your eyes Enjolras." She said the last part a little louder.

"You deserve more than this Èponine… Much much more." Èponine stared at him and looked as if she might cry, but she turned away immediately.

"Thank you for your help, Enjolras. I'm really thankful. But can you please leave me alone for now? Your parents might be worried." Èponine said looking at her lap. Enjolras did as she said reluctantly and went home.

She didn't go to school the next morning, and the following days. Èponine Thenardier was not seen at school for a whole week. Cosette said that she's visiting her sick grandmother and will be back next week. As for Enjolras, he tried taking her off his mind, but he just can't. The image of her curled in a ball under the slide in the playground looking so little and lifeless haunted him whenever he's not doing anything. So he did the only thing he can think of and studied to keep him occupied always. He practically moved in to their mansion's library and got the Amis worried. They tried a lot to pry him off his books but none worked.

When Èponine entered their classroom a week later, she smiled at all of them and sat on her usual seat at the back as if nothing happened. No marks are left on her face, but he's sure it's different for the rest of her injuries. They all eventually got back to their normal routine, but still Enjolras sensed something was off. Because Èponine barely spoke to him and can hardly looked at him. She's been avoiding him like the plague and he knows it's because of the incident. Somehow she managed not to interact with him even if they almost had the same classes. One day Enjolras got enough of it.

"Èponine." He successfully got her in the library.

"What is it Enjolras?" She said without looking up from her laptop.

"Why are you avoiding me? Are you mad?" He asked as loudly as he dared. But he got no response.

"Èponine." Still, he got no response. He was about to call her again but she spoke up.

"Can we not talk about this now Enjolras?" she asked quietly.

Enjolras is really confused, He was struggling to find answers to these questions for the past weeks and when he wants answers, he will have them. He should be feeling angry or frustrated right now, but how come he's so calm? The way she asked just made him… agree.

"Thank you." She said but still did not look up.

Enjolras could only nod in response and went out of the library to go to his next class. He looked at his watch. 1:35. Five minutes late. He dashed to his next class and arrived at record breaking time. He entered the room at a much calmer manner and saw that their teacher has yet to arrive. It's the very first time in his life that he's so thankful their teacher's late and that he's not in the same class with one of the Amis, or he'll never hear the end of it.

A/N: I know, I know… It's sooooooo late.. And it's a bit shorter than the others, it didn't even reach 2000 words.. We've been so busy at school. We did a music video, a talk show, a lot of reports and exams… We're filming almost every other day and we all barely sleep. But now…. We have a week with no classes so that means -SLEEP!- Kidding :P I'll be writing more! Expect an update or two on or before THIS Sunday… Hope you like this chapter. Please review what you think of this chapter or the story over all. Still Looking for a BETA...

Thanks!