A/N: I'm back! So I've decided that I'm gonna update this every Sunday. Now I don't have any of this planned because the idea just kinda came to me, so if I just can't figure out an idea for a chapter then I will try my hardest to update later that week. Also if I'm just really busy on Sunday (like if I actually get a social life), then I will also update later. In other news I GOT MY LES MIS DVD! Okay well here's chapter 2.
The next morning when Eponine woke, she could sense something was different. Underneath her head she felt a soft pillow, and her body was supported by a mattress. She sat up in a hurry and assessed the room.
It was a small, one room apartment. The bed she presided in sat on the dusty wood floor. Next to the mattress was a small wood bedside table, and on the wall opposite to her bed was a chaise. Her eyes continued to scan the small room until they landed on a desk. It sat by the miniscule square window and chamber-pot. While it was cluttered with papers, what caught her eye was the man who was hunched over the desk scribbling away furiously.
This startled Eponine greatly. Had her father sold her to someone? Had this man kidnapped her? As quietly as she could, Eponine lifted herself off of the mattress, careful as to not make the floor creak. As she elevated herself, suddenly her shoulder screamed out in protest. Eponine fell back on to the mattress with a grimace of pain. She gripped her shoulder tightly, which only managed to cause her more pain.
She had been so preoccupied with the sharp aching in her shoulder that she hadn't noticed the man at his desk had gotten up and started towards her. When she finally noticed him it was too late. He was sitting next to her on the bed. Eponine shielded her face expecting to be struck for interrupting him.
"'Ponine?" a familiar voice called out hesitantly.
Eponine spread her fingers and peered through the gaps. The action was that of a child, but in that moment that was how she felt. Through the gaps between her gaunt fingers, she saw the kind face of Marius. The events of the night before rushed back into Eponine's mind. From the beating which explained her shoulder, to crying out in the hallway, to Marius offering to let her stay with him. Immediately she felt foolish for being frightened.
"I apologize for startling you," Marius said soothingly.
Eponine removed her hand from her face and sat up next to him. "No, no Monsieur. It was my fault entirely." Eponine replied as a slight blush crept up onto her cheeks.
"You need to have someone asses your shoulder. It is apparent that it causes you pain." Marius suggested as he rubbed her shoulder lightly.
"That is quite unnecessary. I have things to do, and my shoulder doesn't even hurt badly." Eponine grimaced through the pain as she stood and walked towards the door. "You've been very generous towards me Monsieur Marius, but honestly I simply cannot impose any longer. Thank you very much, but I must be off," Eponine stuttered hastily. In her haste, she had forgotten to shut the door on her way out of Monsieur Marius' apartment.
She walked quickly through the halls of the Gorbeau House. Before turning each corner, she peered around to the next hall to make sure that her father and his gang was nowhere in sight. Once she had cleared through the Gorbeau House and entered the streets, she seemed to take on a new personality.
While she was a victim around her father, she refused to be one in any other aspect of her life. She did not want anyone's help or pity. She didn't want to owe anyone anything. Even though she faced daily hardship, she was never gloomy when others could see her. Her view on life was always hopeful. She just knew that although her life was difficult now, it would get better, and if it didn't then she would die and live in the glory of heaven.
Before going out to pickpocket and beg, Eponine straightened her chemise and skirt. When she was a child she had beautiful silk dresses, and looked practically bourgeois. As her family lost money, they resorted to selling her clothes, so she now wore an old hand-me-down of her mother's. Considering her mother was much heftier than she was, the chemise and skirt was far too big on her. Unfortunately they didn't have enough money to get it altered, so Eponine resorted to pickpocketing from a belt stand. Now a wide, brown, leather held up her garments.
The streets were still damp from the last night's rain, but the sun was high in the sky. The June heat was scorching. Bourgeoise ladies held parasols to shield their dainty, pale faces from the sun, and lace fans to fend off the heat. Eponine on the other hand had no protection from either the sun or heat causing her skin to be a golden tan, instead of the desired fair complexion.
Eponine weaved through the throngs of people that were traveling through the narrow streets of Paris. As she got closer to the slums of Saint Michelle, the sight of the bourgeois people became less and less. More beggars and people who looked more like Eponine staggered about. Eponine pushed through the people, looking for one person in particular. Over by a fruit stand she saw who she'd been looking for.
Her brother Gavroche stood chatting with the owner of the fruit stand as three other children stuffed fruits into their jackets. Eponine chuckled at the children's scheme. She had no doubt that the whole thing was Gavroche's idea. Ever since he'd run away from the Thenadier's, Gavroche had become the unofficial leader of most of the street children. He was one of the oldest, most resourceful, friendliest street children. He could steal a whole loaf of bread from a baker every day for a week before the baker caught on. He could strike up a friendly conversation with a shopkeeper, and leave with a whole franc. Most of all though, he gave all of the other young street urchins hope.
Eponine approached the fruit stand and gave Gavroche a slight wink to alert him that she was going to join in on this round of pickpocketing.
"Oh my goodness Pierre! Mama has been looking all over for you!" Eponine exclaimed as she feigned a look of worry. She was always sure not to use Gavroche's real name in case their plan went awry and the police caught word of it.
"I'm sorry Adelia. I went to look for something to eat, and I didn't want to return home without anything." Gavroche replied.
Eponine could see the look of sympathy on the fruit vendor's face. "The streets are a dangerous place for an eight year old like you." Eponine couldn't help but smirk at the irony of that sentence considering Gavroche ran away when he was eight. "Papa is ill and he needs us to be there for him. Our hunger comes in second." Eponine "scolded" Gavroche and began to pull him away.
Just as Gavroche and Eponine began to exit, the fruit vendor caught Eponine by the arm. In the fruit vendor's hands, she held a bag filled to the brim with fruits. "I know it isn't much, but please take this. I shall keep you both in my prayers." The vendor said, as she handed the bag to Eponine. Gavroche gestured to the other kids that had been with him and they followed him.
"Now where should I put these 'Roche?" Eponine asked him with a smile.
"We're stayin' in an empty ole building by town square." Gavroche replied as he led Eponine towards the square in Saint Michelle.
The building was very tall, but looked as if it would crumble at any second. Instead of a door, there were boards of wood nailed to the doorway. Gavroche ducked his way under one, followed by the other kids. Eponine followed behind last. Upon entering the building, children scampered about everywhere. Children as little as the age of four occupied the building. They all looked expectantly at Gavroche.
"Thanks to 'Ponine we have food that'll last us a week!" Gavroche cried.
Eponine set the bag of fruit onto the ground and moved out of the way as children scuttled toward the bag. She watched in amusement as her 12 year old brother directed the children like a grown adult. Seeing that her= was occupied, Eponine left Gavroche and exited the building.
Now that she had seen who she had come to see, Eponine hurried through the streets of Saint Michelle so she could get back to Paris in time to see Monsieur Marius. For the past couple of months, he'd been taking Eponine to Café Musain with him.
Marius and some other students had organized a revolution to overthrow the king. While Eponine fully believed in their cause, she knew that they stood no chance against the National Guard. Still, getting the chance to see Marius more often made it worth it.
Finally she arrived in Paris. It was close to 6:30 pm and the sun was beginning to set. There were considerably less people out. Eponine knew that in a matter of hours the streets would become a very dangerous place to be, so she traveled to Café Musain.
The inside of Café Musain was busting as it always was on the day of a meeting. Students rushed about, arguing and drinking and talking of revolution. When Eponine entered, the students who noticed her greeted her amiably and directed her towards Marius.
"Eponine!" Marius cheered happily when he saw her.
For the rest of the night Eponine sat and talked with Marius about everything and nothing. Occasionally he would listen in on the meeting and chime in, but for most of the time, he ignored the other students and focused on Eponine.
When it came time for the meeting to end, Eponine sighed with disappointment. Marius and Eponine bid ado to the other students who had named themselves Les Amis ABC. Then they set out into the night on their way to the Gorbeau House.
"Really Eponine, you can stay with me again. I don't mind at all." Marius insisted once they had gotten to the entrance to the Thenadier's apartment.
"You've done quite enough for me Monsieur Marius really." Eponine refused as she quietly opened the door to her room.
"Remember 'Ponine, just Marius." Marius replied with a smile.
Eponine smiled back and entered the apartment as quiet as a mouse. Her parents were both fortunately asleep. They both were heard snoring away in their room. Eponine stood with her back against the door. The smile on her face was so bright that it lit up the room. Even as she lay down on her blanket on the ground in the corner of the room she smiled. The stars showed through the window, but unlike last night, they didn't look sinister. They seemed hopeful, joyful even.