It was beginning to get dark, and still Enjolras hadn't moved from the park bench. He had stopped crying hours ago, but he still remained curled up on the bench. It was early March, and he was starting to get a bit chilly. His joints seemed frozen in place, and still he didn't move. All he could think about was seeing Grantaire again at the cafe, hearing his laugh again... It had been so long since he had last heard the other boy laugh. It hadn't been until the summer leading up to his senior year. It had been a perfect summer, until he had ruined everything right before school started.

Enjolras approached Grantaire with a frown on his face. "Your mother said you visited an art school in New York City."

Grantaire shrugged. "Yeah. But I don't think I'm going to apply."

The frown lines deepened. "Why ever the hell not?"

"New York is so far away from DC," Grantaire was of course referring to Enjolras' intentions of applying to several law schools in DC. "I'm sure I can find a decent art school that is closer."

"Your mother said they were interested in seeing your work," protested Enjolras.

Grantaire rolled his eyes. "Now why the hell would they be interested in my art?"

Enjolras shook his head. It was a conversation they had had many times, and even though he knew that Grantaire was only sort of joking, he still answered with full conviction. "Because you're good."

That was the end of the conversation about colleges, because when Grantaire laughed and kissed the blond the subject was clearly forgotten. He let the matter drop, as Grantaire seemed to show no more interest in it. However once he was home he looked up the school in New York. They had one of the best art programs in the country, and if Grantaire could get in, it would open up so many possibilities for him. The more Enjolras read, the more he knew that Grantaire had to go to New York.

A couple weeks later, he attempted to bring up the matter again. They were curled up on the couch together in Grantaire's basement, attempting to watch a documentary on Roman emperors.

"Have any clues what colleges you want to apply to?" Enjolras asked.

Grantaire shrugged. "I've been looking at some community colleges in the DC area. I don't think I could get into any of the great schools down there. Plus most of them don't have that great an art program."

Enjolras cocked his head. "What do you think you're going to do then?"

Grantaire looked away from the screen to look at his boyfriend. "I guess I'll study something like English or History. I can do art in my free time. And besides, I'll be closer to you so-"

"Is that what you truly want, Grantaire?"

Grantaire seemed taken aback by Enjolras' tone. "Wh-what do you mean? Of course it's what I want."

"But what about that school in New York. Your mother said-"

"Damn that school, Enjolras. I don't want to go there. I don't want to be so far away from you," Grantaire exclaimed.

"Think about your future, Grantaire! Don't be a fool," Enjolras replied, raising his voice.

"I have. I know what I want! Don't disregard my feelings towards this! I've thought about it, and I just don't want to go there," Grantaire yelled. "Now can we just drop it?!"

Enjolras nodded.

An uneasy silence fell over them as they returned to watching the movie. But Enjolras couldn't focus, all he knew was that he had to break up with Grantaire. He loved him too much to let him sacrifice his career for them.

They didn't last another week.

"Enjolras?!" A voice in the darkness startled him from his self pity. "What are you doing out here? Courfeyrac says you haven't been home yet. He's pretty worried, got all of us out looking."

"Hello, Jehan," Enjolras said tiredly.

"Is everything alright?" Jehan asked, sitting down on the bench beside him.

"No. I don't think it is," Enjolras choked out the words.

Instantly Jehan wrapped his arms around Enjolras. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Enjolras shook his head, although he knew that wouldn't be enough for Jehan.

"I'm going to call Courf, and tell him I found you. Then how about I drive you back home?" offered Jehan.

"My bike's over there," Enjolras nodded toward the darkness.

Jehan smiled. "Don't worry, we can put it in the trunk."

He got up to make the phone call, which didn't take long. When he returned he helped Enjolras up, and walked with him to get his bike. The ride to Courfeyrac and Enjolras' apartment was mostly in silence, although Jehan hummed a bit towards the end.

Back at the apartment Courfeyrac was waiting with a mug of tea in his hands, with him was Combeferre. They appeared to be chatting in low voices when the two men entered, and stopped immediately upon seeing Enjolras.

"Hey, we were worried," Courfeyrac said quietly. "Where have you been all day?"

"Thinking," confessed Enjolras.

"Yeah? About what?" Courfeyrac asked.

Enjolras looked at Combeferre, who gave a small nod, before he spoke again. "I saw Grantaire."

"What?" Courfeyrac's jaw dropped.

At the same time Jehan exclaimed, "Grantaire's back in town?!" But upon seeing Enjolras' stricken expression he immediately schooled his features.

"He was at the Musain, with his fiancee," Enjolras repeated miserably.

"I can't believe it." stated Courfeyrac. "He hasn't been in town since-"

"Forever," Jehan murmured in awe.

Combeferre studied Enjolras. "Have you gotten a chance to talk to him yet?"

Enjolras shook his head. "No."

"Oh I thought because you were gone all day..." Combeferre sighed.

Courfeyrac was studying his two best friends curiously. "Enjolras? Are you still in love with him?"

Enjolras cringed. "I don't know. Just seeing him with that girl...it hurt more than expected."

"Well he must have been surprised to see you!" Jehan said trying to remain cheerful.

Enjolras shrugged apathetically.

"Did he even know you had gotten a job at the Musain?" Jehan asked, not considering what he was implying.

Enjolras ducked his head. "He never found out that I came home... I mean there was no reason for me to tell him that I dropped out so I could come back to get a job and look after my mother."

The three other men dropped their heads. Enjolras' mother had become very sick and had lost her job, forcing her only son to get a job to help pay the medical bills. Dutifully, Enjolras had returned home and taken up a job at the Musain, and another one at the Corinth on top of a job at their friend's bicycle shop. He was happy enough to do so, believing that it was only going to put his dream on hold...but she had gotten worse, and Enjolras had decided to take some online courses instead. It had all been quite disheartening for him. His mother had been his biggest supporter in becoming a lawyer, and he felt that he ought to do what he could for her now. But in the past year he had seemed to change. His friends noticed that he was no longer quite so passionate to change the world. He had lost his drive and motivation as he worked so hard to keep on top of all the medical bills. He had to sell his childhood home as his mother was in full hospital care, and so he moved in with Courfeyrac. He always seemed to be tired, and never had a free moment. His friends were concerned, to say the least, but up until this moment hadn't acted on it.

"Have you visited her recently?" Jehan asked quietly.

Enjolras nodded. He visited his mother weekly. "She's alright. I mean as alright as one can be when they're dying. She said the pain is a bit less this week."

Combeferre gave a small smile. "That's a relief."

Enjolras gave a small sound of agreement. "I think I'm going to go to bed now..."

His friends watched the retreating form of their friend. Once he was gone they all exchanged a look.

"What are we going to do?" Combeferre asked.

Courfeyrac sighed. "The only thing we can do. We be there for him."

Jehan gave a small smile. "Like always, then. I just wish there was more we could do."

"We can't force it...Enjolras will have to decide if he wants to talk with Grantaire or not," Courfeyrac muttered.

In his room, Enjolras heard every word his friends said, and couldn't help as the tears pooled in his eyes. Since when had this become his life?

Thanks for the support! Let me know if you have any questions/ did it make sense when they were back in time? Please leave a review! ~T.W.o.W.