A/N: I'm loving all the reviews so thanks For once I actually planned this chapter out.. Shocking I know. But I'm reading Les Mis right now and it's given me a better sense of the characters, anywhooz enjoy!
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"You three can hit the bakery. You two get the fruit stand on the corner. Cordelia and Aimee, you guys check the sweets shop. The rest of ya' can do whatever ya' please, but be back 'ere by 5pm." Gavroche ordered his tiny followers.
Eponine couldn't help but chuckle at how systematic the children were. Earlier that morning she'd been woken by two of them begging her to come see Gavroche, and she simply couldn't refuse.
"So what did you want me for Gav'?" Eponine asked as she ruffled the hair on her younger brother's hair.
Gavroche shook her off clearly embarrassed, "I invited ya' her to the Chateau de les Petit Amis 'cuz I gotcha' a gift." He replied proudly.
"Chateau de les Petit Amis? Acting like one of the students are ya'?" Eponine teased which earned her a harrumph from Gav'.
"Ya' know I shouldn't even give ya' the gift if you're gonna be like that, but since I'm such a great little brother I will anyways. Ya' see 'Ponine, I have a friend who works at the theatre and he said he would let me and two friends in for free today." Gavroche retorted with a smirk. Before Eponine could argue, Gavroche continued, "And no Eponine ya' don't have to dress all fancy like."
Eponine chuckled at how her brother could read her so well. After a few minutes of contemplating the cons of Gavroche's propositions, she decided that she couldn't think of any and graciously hugged her brother. At first Gavroche tried to escape her embrace, but eventually he gave in and hugged her as well.
"I figured ya' could bring Monsieur Marius wit' ya'," Gavroche suggested.
Eponine's face reddened, "Maybe I will. Thank you again Gav."
Eponine finally released her brother and waved goodbye as she left the run down building that had become her brother's home. In a way she was jealous of him. He had a group of people that had his back through anything. At the same time she knew that although he was still only twelve, he was leading a group of twenty or so children. The minute he had run away, he had to grow up far too quickly.
His gift had gotten her awfully excited. She was actually going to see an opera at the theatre. She felt practically bourgeois. She couldn't wait to tell Monsieur Marius. He would be so surprised that someone like her had gotten tickets to the opera. As she walked back to the Gorbeau House, Eponine decided to get a head start on her pickpocketing. Considering the Opera would take up much of her day, she wouldn't have much time to earn her keep later. Considering it was already 11:30 am, the streets were bustling with students on their way to class, bourgeois returning from brunch and dandies on their way to the horse races.
Eponine squeezed herself right in the middle of the group of people. Each time she would bump into someone, her hand would reach discretely into their jacket pocket. More often than not, there would be a franc or two. By the time she reached the Gorbeau House, she had met her daily quota.
She ran up the stairs in a fashion that was certainly not lady like, and stopped first at her room. Her father was obviously inebriated. He drunkenly paced around the room slurring nonsense. Her mother sat in the ratty arm chair in the corner paying no mind to Monsieur Thenardier's drunken antics. Eponine couldn't say she was surprised at the scene in front of her. It happened at least once a week. All of the francs she collected for her father went straight to one bar or another. Her father chose to drink through his money instead of paying their rent or buying fresh food. That would make far too much sense. Eponine entered the room heading towards her mother and trying to maneuver past her father. Unfortunately he spotted her.
"Who'sthewhore?" her father garbled almost incoherently.
Eponine rolled her eyes and ignored him completely. She held the ten francs out to her mother. "Can you make sure papa knows I got my quota?" Eponine asked somewhat bitterly.
Her mother nodded and shooed her away. As she was leaving she swore she could hear her mother grumble, "At least the brat's good for something."
Eponine used to feel hurt or disappointed when she saw her disjointed family, but now she used it as motivation. Her parents' failures pushed her to be a much better person than them. She refused to become even remotely like them. She would never be like her drunken abusive father. She certainly wouldn't become like her mother who could never be pleased, and sat by while Eponine was beaten.
After stopping by her room, she knocked on Marius' door. She prayed that he wasn't at class considering he was a law student. Luckily he answered the door almost immediately after she knocked.
"Why hello there Eponine!" Marius greeted her amiably. Marius invited her into his room and Eponine followed him.
"I've got a surprise Monsieur." Eponine announced cheekily.
Marius looked up from the stack of papers on is desk and turned his attention to Eponine. "And what would that be?" Marius inquired with an amused expression on his face.
Eponine smirked back at him, "Now if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise! Just come with me."
Marius raised his eyebrow at her, but eventually got up from his desk, "Always such a tease." He muttered teasingly.
Eponine led Marius through Paris toward Saint Michelle all while talking his ear off about any topic that came to mind. When she was nervous she tended to ramble. While she knew that it wasn't proper for ladies to speak so often or this loudly, she honestly couldn't help it. Besides Marius didn't mind it. In fact he thoroughly enjoyed the conversation he had with Eponine. By the time the two had reached Saint Michelle it was close to one o'clock.
"What on earth are we doing here?" Marius questioned somewhat distraught.
Eponine mentally cursed herself for not warning him earlier. She had completely forgotten that Marius was not used to being in places as slovenly as Saint Michelle. Eponine was a tad ashamed to admit it, but Marius' worried expression was terribly cute.
"We are here to see my brother. I'm sure you know him. He attends most of you Ami de les ABC meetings." Eponine told him.
A flash of recognition crossed Marius' face. "Mini Enjolras is your brother? Why I never knew." Marius replied.
Eponine could sense his confusion as to why Gavroche did not live in the same place as Eponine. She would explain, but was somewhat ashamed of the fact that her brother had run away. She led Marius to the Chateau de les Petit Amis and warned him to duck under the makeshift door. He followed her instructions and they entered her brother's headquarters.
Once Gavroche noticed them, he strolled over to them. His face was red and he was breathing quite heavily. Immediately Eponine was concerned, but before she could say anything, Gavroche began talking. It was sort of a habit of his.
"No need to worry 'Ponine. Just had a run in with Javert. Damn cop took my bread," complained Gavroche.
Eponine chuckled and noticed that Marius was doing the same. "Okay Gav'. Are you ready to go?" Eponine asked him.
Gavroche nodded and directed Eponine and Marius towards the theatre. Even though Eponine knew exactly where the theatre was, she let Gavroche lead the way so she could hang back with Marius. Without warning, Marius took Eponine's hand as they walked. Eponine turned her head away so Marius wouldn't be able to see her cheeks turning crimson. Instead of stopping at the front entrance of the theatre like Eponine was expecting, they hated at the back door.
Gavroche knocked on the door and an older man with a very white very beard opened the door. Gav' gave him a tiny salute before gesturing for Eponine and Marius to follow him. Eponine realized that they were sitting on the platform that the large lanterns hung from to envelope the stage in light. She looked at the stage in awe, and at the other theatre goers with slight envy. She didn't have too long to focus on the bourgeois that sat below her because Marius had slung his arm over her shoulder. Gavroche gave Eponine a wink and sat as far away from her and Marius as possible which Eponine was quite grateful for. Suddenly the curtain raised and the show began.
Eponine watched with rapt attention at the beautiful costumes and voices. She felt like she as in a different world. Marius kept his arm on her shoulder and at some point during the show she found herself snuggling close to him.
"This is amazing Eponine." Marius whispered into her ear.
Eponine wasn't sure what had come over her, but in that moment she felt like she needed to tell him how she felt. After sitting for hours in his arms, she had never felt more comfortable.
"Umm… Marius there's something I need to tell you." At that moment, the performer on stage began to belt for an incredibly long period of time, which was met by thunderous applause.
Eponine tried once again, but the applause was too loud for Marius to hear her.
"What was it that you wanted to tell me?" Marius whispered.
Eponine considered telling him, but she knew that her moment had passed. "N-nothing. I'm just cold," she lied.
Marius held her closer to him to try and warm her up, and eventually Eponine forgot her disappointment at not being able to tell him her feelings for him. She melted into his arms, and the rest of the afternoon was spent in blissful merriment.