Lauren says: Hi my dears! I'm back with another chapter! Forgive me for its shortness, it's sort of filler chapter. :) Oh, thank you for those who added this story tho their alert and favorites list. To everyone who reviewed the last chapter, you really made my day! Thanks to Alex-samsprout, Amieoftheabc, Lesmizmaniac, Break This Spell666, Freedom909, and justalonelytheatrekid. I really love you all guys! This story reached 20 reviews! Oh my gosh! I thank all of you guys and I will strive to update faster and have longer chapters.
Disclaimer: I do not own Les Misèrables or any of its characters. I also do not own any of the songs mentioned or sung here.
Chapter 7
Enjolras woke up at six in the morning, like always, and immediately proceeded to do his morning routine. He took a bath, brushed his teeth, and got dressed in less than half an hour before heading to the Musain, even though he didn't schedule a meeting.
"Good morning, Enjolras. The usual?" Madame Hucheloup greeted, smiling warmly. Enjolras just nodded.
Madame Hucheloup was used to his behavior and just went to prepare his black coffee.
"Merci, Madame." He paid and grabbed his coffee. He went to their usual place, at the back of the café where no one would disturb them, and sighed deeply.
Enjolras was confused. Deeply and utterly confused. Which is very strange and new to a man who can almost find reason and answer to any questions. Don't blame him for being like this. He faced the hardest mathematics problems, lead protests, reason with a lot of people and, heck, even made some of the new teachers cry. But nothing could have ready him for the mystery of Éponine Thenardier. The sarcastic, frank, but at the same time one of the most caring person he ever met. No matter how he tried to push her off his mind she just strides in and invade his thoughts. He will be constantly reminded of her when he sees a someone pass with brown hair, when he reads or sees the books she mentioned, when he smells of honey (Her shampoo), when he sees children, and especially when he hears the songs he heard her sing. But he becomes most distracted is when she smiles and those dimples of hers appears. He doesn't have a clue why this is happening to him, and he desperately wants some answers.
He ran a hand through his curls, a habit when he's frustrated or nervous, and sat in a more un-Enjolras way.
"Wow, you sure look horrible, 'Ras." He looked up and saw none other than Éponine.
"Hi Enj- what did you do to your hair?" Gavroche sat across him while giving him a strange look. Azelma sat beside her brother while greeting him a soft "Good morning."
"What seems to be the problem, 'Ras? Is it your fangirls again?" Éponine asked while supressing a smirk. The blonde leader just glared at her before staring at the table making Éponine raise an eyebrow at his actions.
"You didn't even touch your coffee." She was met with silence so she just wordlessly took his cup and went to the counter.
Éponine came back ten minutes later with a new cup of coffee for Enjolras, another cup for her, hot chocolate for Gavroche, chamomile tea for Azelma, and muffins, waffles, and cookies enough for the four of them.
"Breakfast is served." She served the food like a true waitress would do.
"Do you need anything more mademoiselle and messieurs?" Enjolras looked at her questioningly but she just winked. A gesture that stirred something inside of him.
"Uhmm... Perhaps more cookies?" Gavroche answered.
"Coming right up, monsieur." She left and came back, almost instantly, with another plate of cookies.
"Thanks, 'Ponine!"
"Anything for you, 'Vroche." She smiled and turned to Enjolras.
"May I?" She asked gesturing to the seat beside him. The memory of the conversation they had at the bus came back to him.
"'Ras? Are you sick?" He snapped out of his thoughts and moved to give space for Éponine. He was once again surprised when something cold made contact with his forehead, then his cheeks. He realized it was Éponine's hands. Another stir inside of him.
"You are sick." Éponine look shot him a worried look before pushing his plate of waffles closer to him. "Eat. Now."
"Yeah, Enj. Waffles always made me feel better." Gavroche said making him smile a bit. He looked at Éponine who just said, "Well what are you waiting for? Eat."
He rolled his eyes before taking a sip of his coffee and doing what Éponine said. The siblings started eating when he had his first bite. While eating, he can't help but stare at Éponine's adorable way of eating waffles. She fills every square with syrup and sprinkles crushed cookies above it. He pushed the thought out of his mind and continued eating.
Just as he had his last bite, Grantaire and Jehan appeared and greeted all of them enthusiastically. Jehan took a seat beside Azelma while Grantaire sat beside Éponine and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"You're here early." Éponine observed.
"Well, Nina, I decided that I shouldn't put a waste to this wonderful day." Grantaire got a cookie. Éponine just shrugged and went back to eating.
Around nine o'clock Combeferre arrived with a stack of books, shortly followed by Courfeyrac. The two sat by their friends after getting their late breakfast.
"Geez,'Ferre. What's with all the books?" Courfeyrac eyed the huge leather-bound books on the table.
"I'm going to apply as a trainee at the hospital." Combeferre replied grinning.
"Wow, 'Ferre! You're going to be a doctor?" Gavroche asked excitedly making Combeferre laugh.
"Not yet, Gav. Hopefully in the future."
"I want to be a race car driver someday!" Gavroche exclaimed.
"You need to learn how to drive first, buddy." Courfeyrac ruffled his hair. Gavroche swatted his hand away before asking,
"What about you Courf? What do you want to be?"
Courfeyrac placed his fork down before stroking his chin in thought. "I want to be an actor." He said seriously.
"A TV actor?"
"No Gav, a Theatre actor." He clarified.
"I want to be a famous poet!"
"We know, Jehan." Someone said from behind the poet. They all turned and saw Feuilly holding a tray. Courfeyrac dragged a chair for Feuilly.
"What do you want to be, Feuilly?" Gavroche seemed to enjoy asking them what profession they want. Feuilly said he wanted to have his crafting business and go to Poland; Grantare said that he still doesn't know and he'll go where the wind takes him; Enjolras didn't even have to answer because Gavroche already stated that Enjolras wanted to be a lawyer; and Azelma said that she wants to be an architect.
"What about you, 'Ponine?" They noticed that Éponine seemed to be staring in space and didn't hear Gavroche's question.
"Nina?" Grantaire poked her side snapping her out of her reverie.
"What?"
"Gavroche asked what you want to be."
"Oh... uhmm.. I don't know yet. I haven't really thought about it."
Questions raced in Enjolras' mind. Éponine always plans ahead. That's were the two of them are similar. The two of them does their projects as soon as it is given and does every given tasks immediately. It's impossible that she still doesn't know what she'd do after high school. Something is troubling her.
"Are you alright, 'Ponine?" Gavroche leaned towards her.
"Yes, 'Vroche. I'm fine. I'm just a little tired." Éponine smiled.
"If you say so."
Just then, Marius burst in the cafè looking disheveled.
"There you all are! I've been looking for you!" He said dragging a chair beside Grantaire.
"You could've just called us." Grantaire pointed out.
"I left my phone, and I was in Jardin de Luxembourg with Cosette." All the boys mouthed an 'oh' and went back to whatever they're doing.
"Where's Cosette now?" Enjolras, who was reading a book, practically felt Éponine's glare at Marius.
"S-she's at home, 'Ponine. I escorted her before going here." Marius stuttered.
"Chill, Nina. We all know Marius wouldn't leave Cosette alone,and Cosette may seem more violent than she looks." Grantaire put his hand aroun Éponine's shoulder.
"If he does, 'Taire, I will make sure you'll pay for it." The brunette threatened making Grantaire scoot away from her.
"What? Why me? I'm not Cosette's boyfriend! He's the one you should beat up." He pointed at Marius who paled and raised his hands in surrender.
"'Ponine, you know I would never do that to my beloved Cosette. I'd die before I do that."
"Just make sure, Pontmercy. Cosette is like my other sister. If she cries even a single tear, you and 'Taire are dead." Her low and menacing tone made the two and even Courfeyrac and Combeferre gulp.
Enjolras could just shake his head at the scene. Éponine is about half a head shorter than them but she could make most of them cower in fear when she is at these moods. They all know and saw what she's capable of doing especially when it involves her siblings and Cosette. Let's just say that when some guy dared to harass Cosette during their sophomore year, he ended up at the hospital and was never seen at school again. Since that day, they all vowed not to upset Éponine nor get on her bad side.
"I promise, 'Ponine."
"Good. Now why are you here again?" Éponine went back to reading.
"Oh, that's right. Do you guys have plans for Christmas eve?" Marius suddenly became excited, as if nothing happened a while ago.
"No."
"Not sure."
"We may have, but I don't remember."
"Who cares."
"I don't think so."
"Maybe."
"I don't know."
"Do we have plans, 'Ponine?"
"It depends. Why?"
"My grandfather is hosting a party! Here, I have invitations." He got envelopes from his satchel and distributed it. "If you don't have plans, maybe you can attend. You can bring your family with you."
"Can we go, 'Ponine?" Gavroche asked, excited.
"I don't know, maybe Papa would agree to it."
"Of course he would agree, he agreed in some of the balls hosted the past few years. Do you want me to ask personally, 'Ponine?"
"No!" Éponine suddenly said making all except her siblings stare at her with wide eyes. "I mean, I'll tell him myself. Do you have more of these?" She raised the invitation.
"Of course. Here you go." He handed it to her and she kept it inside her bag. As she looked up, she met Enjolras' eyes but she immediately diverted her gaze.
Lauren says: Oh, and your requests will appear on the next chapter! To those who also wants to ask for a song you want Éponine to sing, just say it in a review or PM me. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Review guys! Don't be shy! :)