So I've been thinking of some new ideas for the following chapters, but meanwhile here is the newest on. Don't forget to leave a comment.
I want to thank Danielle9Rachel, MidniteMasquerade, Une Amie Plus and IvyGreen13 . Your comments are much appreciated!
He looked at the chair-filled room. It had been a while since he talked in front of people, but now, here he was , standing on a makeshift stage, preparing to talk to Les Amis l'ABC. He had refused Marius' offer a few times, but after going to three more "meetings", he had realized that they needed a leader.
"Looking good."
Enjolras stepped down and rolled his eyes at Marius, who was holding a beer.
"We said no alcohol." he scowled.
"No, we said no alcohol during the meeting. The meeting hasn't started."
"Well, it's about to start, so put it away."
Marius chugged the last half of his drink, earning him another eye roll, but because people were starting to enter, nothing more.
"Alright, gentlemen, take a seat, our speaker will be with you shortly."
Slowly, the room filled up, all the men curious about what was going to happen.
After everyone was seated and the reminder stood, Marius took the stage.
While Marius talked, Enjolras looked out to all the young faces, hoping to see one in particular. He was sure he had seen Gavroche enter, but saw no sign of his sister. It had been a few days since he had last seen Eponine leaving with her father, and though he tried not to think about it, he was worried. He had talked to Marius, who had simply blown him off, saying that she did this all the time. It angered Enjolras that Marius cared so little about her, after all it was people like her that they were trying to save with their revolution.
At was at that moment that his thoughts were interrupted as Marius called him to the stage.
He straightened his jacket nervously and got up. There was a moment of silence, all the men watching Enjolras expectantly.
"You say you want to change France," he started softly and slowly, "you say that you want a new government who takes care of its people," he was getting louder, his voice finding strength, " You say you want a revolution!"
The crowed cheered at his last word, and Enjolras waited for it to die down. When it finally did, he spoke not as loud as before, but his strong words reigned over the crowed.
"Yet all you do is come here and get drunk."
There was a moment of shocked silence following his statement. Then the anger started to fester up. None of these men came to be insulted.
"We don't just get drunk we plan and..." a dark, curly haired man said, standing.
"I was not done." Enjolras interrupted, his soft, but harsh tone silenced the speaker immediately.
"You are good men, I do not doubt that, but you have no real idea what you are fighting for. Have you ever slept on the street? Have you ever felt so hungry you couldn't move, so cold you couldn't feel your own body?"
"Have you?" the same man that Enjolras had silenced was up again.
Marius looked wordly at Enjolras. He knew little of his childhood, seeing as Enjolras spoke so rarely of it, but he knew that unlike many of the people present at the meeting, including himself, he had not been born into money.
Enjolras looked calmly upon the speaker.
"Is that really the point?"
"No, but what right do you have to tell us off for being wealthy if you are just like the us?"
Enjolras considered his words for a moment. He kept his childhood a secret for a reason and he wasn't sure if telling a whole group of strangers was a good idea.
"You are right, monsieur, I have no right to tell you these things, you do not know me and I do not know you. But that is neither here, nor there. The fact is that if you actually want to help these people, start a revolution for these people, well, shouldn't you know who you are fighting for?"
Unable to reply to Enjolras' true words, the speaker sat down and the group shifted their expectant gaze back to Enjolras.
"The question we must ask ourselves is, are we fighting for them, or are we fighting with them?"
Amidst the silence there was a small cheer, which Enjolras recognized as gavroche's voice. The cheer got louder and louder. Enjolras, seeing that his work was done got off the stage and people started standing up and talking to their neighbors. Some seemed doubtful and unsure, while others were excited to have an actual leader.
Enjolras moved back towards Marius, who was again standing with Gavroche.
"That was impressive" Marius said, patting his friend on the back.
"You think so? Didn't seem like I had that man quite convinced."
"Who? Grantaire? Don't worry about him, he's always a bit skeptical."
"What did you say his name was?"
"Grantaire."
The answer did not come from Marius' lips, rather from the man standing behind Enjolras.
The man stretched out his hand at Enjolras, who shook it politely. "It has been a while since I've seen someone argue so well."
"Thank you, uh, props to a worthy opponent."
Grantaire laughed heartily, taking a swig from the bottle that was in his right hand. Enjolras was about to say something, but he left, still laughing and hiccupping slightly.
"Marius, is he always like that?"
"Yes, like I said, he's quite skeptical, and he does enjoy a good drink once in awhile."
Enjolras raised his eyebrow and Gavroche snickered.
Taking in the fact the the young boy was there, Enjolras decided to ask the question that had been at the back of his mind the whole meeting.
"Gavroche, is Eponine here?"
"No. She had work to do."
Enjolras eyed him for a moment. He wanted answers, but he knew how protective Gavroche was of his older sister.
"Could you get her to come next meeting?"
"I don't know monsieur, like I said, she has work to do."
"Roche" he said, tentatively using Eponine's nickname for him, "you want to be part of this revolution, correct? "
"Yes, monsieur."
"I have a plan, but I need you and your sister's help. Do you think you could get her to talk to me?"
Gavroche thought for a moment, then nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes, of course, monsieur. I shall go look for her." and before anyone could stop him he had left.
" And what might this plan of yours be, Enjolras?"
Enjolras looked around the room before answering Marius' question.
"You'll find out soon enough." he said, chuckling at Marius' questioning face.
Enjolras made his way slowly up the stairs. He had left the cafe a few minutes ago. Despite his best efforts, alcohol had made its way into the meeting once again, and he knew it was hopeless to try anything.
He reached the door to his small apartment and unlocked it, but before he was able to enter a voice behind him spoke.
"I heard you needed me, monsieur."
Please, please, please, I am on my knees, review. I really want to know what you guys think. If there is something you like tell me, if there is something you don't like TELL ME. If you have any questions our ideas please post a comment. The new chapter as just about ready, and it has more in depth E/E :D