Enjolras was miserable. Every time he saw a dark head of curls he felt his pulse jump, and an uneasy feeling settle into his gut. Part of him desperately wanted to see Grantaire again, it was needy and whiny and he wished that he could dampen the excitement he felt whenever he saw someone who looked even slightly like R. The other side of him was eager to avoid the artist. It was just too painful a thought to contemplate. No way did he want to talk to the artist, he didn't even think he could manage to look Grantaire in the eye. Recently, most nights he came home from the Corinth he had to jerk off in the shower just to be able to go to bed. There was something about the music and atmosphere of the place that was hypnotic, and always made him think of what it would be like to be one of the many couples grinding on the dance floor. No, to be grinding with R. Enjolras would have quit, except for that it was his best paying job and he really did need the money. He would just do his best to avoid the artist, so that's why he was less than thrilled to see Grantaire sitting at a table in his section at the Musain.

"Hi Grantaire," Enjolras said slowly.

Grantaire smiled brightly when he saw his waiter. "I'm glad you're here today. The blonde hostess assured me you would be in today."

"Cosette," Enjolras sighed. She was too sweet and kind that he would feel bad for holding a grudge against her for this. "Wait a minute, how did you know I would be here?"

Grantaire blushed. "I've been coming everyday this week, but you never seemed to be here. Finally Cosette? She seemed to pity me, and yesterday she gave me your schedule."

Forget all those kind thoughts he had had towards his coworker, she was dead. "What can I get you?"

"Mm, strawberry crepes and a black coffee," Grantaire said not even looking at the menu.

Enjolras nodded, scribbling the order down, being careful not to look Grantaire in the eye. They managed to get through the rest of the interaction easily, as Enjolras made sure to stay professional and not hover near Grantaire's table any longer than necessary. Within the hour Grantaire left, and Enjolras felt a mix of relief and disappointment. On his earliest break he went to track down Cosette, who was chatting to one of the cooks in the kitchen.

"Can I have a word?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Sure thing! I'll talk with you later Marius," Cosette said, laying a hand on the other man's forearm. She followed Enjolras into the alley before asking, "what's up?"

"Why did you give Grantaire my schedule?" Enjolras asked pinching the bridge of his nose.

Cosette smiled. "He had been coming in all week asking if you were around. He looked like such a dejected puppy every time he left, so I took pity on him. He seemed pretty anxious to see you again. Did he tell you why?"

"Cosette, you can't just give my schedule away to anyone who asks," Enjolras said losing his patience.

Cosette frowned. "He's not just 'anyone', Enjolras! He was an ex, who seemed like he wanted to catch up-"

"He's got a fiancee!" protested Enjolras.

"I didn't say you had to snog him!" When Cosette got emotional she tended to revert to her English vocabulary where she had lived with her father for a few years when she was younger.

"I wasn't suggesting-" Enjolras said panic rising in his voice.

Cosette's eyes widened. "You like him still."

"What?"

Cosette smiled. "You're still in love! I knew there was something that Jehan wasn't telling me."

Enjolras rolled his eyes. "You're imagining things."

"And if you think you don't have feelings for this man, then you're imagining things." Cosette said crossly. "I have to get back to work."

"Wait," Enjolras' voice cracked.

"Hm?" She turned to look at him.

"I'm sorry. You're right." Enjolras licked his lips. "I still have feelings for him. I don't think I ever stopped having feelings for him."

Concern flooded Cosette's blue eyes. "Oh lovey."

She pulled him into a tight embrace, although he remained rigid and awkward throughout the encounter. As she pulled away a wry smile was on her lips. "I never imagined the day would come that I would hear the great Enjolras apologize to me."

"Oh shut up," Enjolras teased, glad that he no longer felt like he was going to cry.

Cosette giggled. "Glad to have you back. Now let's get back to work."

With some relief Enjolras was able to return to his job.

Enjolras' life was a routine.

He got up early, went to his first job either at Feuilly's or the Musain before leaving for the other. After that he usually had some down time in the evenings when he would go visit his mother or do work for college before leaving for a shift at the Corinth. Some days he only worked two jobs instead of three, but those were rare. It was a routine that Enjolras' life had settled into when he had returned from DC, and it was one that Grantaire seemed to be appearing in more and more.

Once a week, Grantaire would come to the Musain just to hang out. It was always a Wednesday, and it was always during Enjolras' shift. Once he had asked him:

"Shouldn't you be spending time with your fiancee?"

And Grantaire had answered: "She likes to run to go for a run on Wednesdays."

Enjolras had never had the heart to point out that his Wednesday shift always changed, and it wasn't possible that Charla would pick those oddly specific times to run.

At first he was wary of Grantaire's company. He never knew what to say or do with his arms in the presence of the other, but slowly he became more used to it. Most days they barely talked to one another. Grantaire just sat drinking his coffee, perhaps sketching or reading. And every once in a while he may say something to Enjolras, who was often the only one working the shift.

Wednesdays were always slow, which gave the two men time to reacquaint each other with their habits and foibles. One can learn a lot from silence. And that's when everything began to change.

Enjolras had always been in love with Grantaire, but these quiet Wednesdays allowed him to see a part of R he had never gotten to know in their boyhood. Enjolras found himself falling harder and harder. He began to cherish those hours with R, when they were alone in the Musain. It wasn't quite what they had been before, but it seemed to be on the right path.

And then Enjolras would remember that Grantaire was engaged, and he was here to get married, and everything began to spiral down again. Somehow Enjolras' routine had turned into a roller coaster...

Sorry for the short update. This chapter has taken me so long to write, and I'm still not completely happy with it. Senior year is crazy, I'm busy like all the time. So I hope you enjoy this. Leave a comment please! Thanks for the support. ~T.W.o.W.