A/N: I'm not updating once a week, I'm just going out of town with no wifi so I won't be able to update for a week. Sorry for any confusion! Also, sorry for the shortness of this chapter.
Eponine, Enjolras, Grantaire, and Clara all sat at the dinner table together discussing the 'vacation' to Provence.
"What day shall we depart?" Enjolras asked Clara.
"I suppose we can leave in about three days, I can arrange us a carriage and we can be on our way," Clara suggested.
"Three days is so soon!" Eponine exclaimed.
"The sooner the better; I want to get this over with," Enjolras groaned, and Eponine had to agree with him.
"It won't be horrible," Clara tried to assure them.
"According to whom?" Enjolras muttered before taking a bite of his chicken, and Eponine had to stifle a giggle. Clara shot them a glare.
"We will have each other, and that will be enough for me," Eponine said affectionately as she grabbed Enjolras' hand. They looked as though they were about to lean in for a kiss when Clara shouted, "I would prefer if you would refrain from public displays of affection when we are there! Oh, I'll be all alone while you two are off together…"
"Nonsense, Grantaire will be accompanying us. He can keep you company," Enjolras stated simply, but Grantaire began to protest.
"I have to come? I have no business with your aunt and uncle in Provence! This is not fair; I am not going," Grantaire replied before taking a swig out of his bottle.
"Don't you want to grace Clara with your company? Please come, I do not trust you alone in our flat," Enjolras begged. Grantaire glared at him, but agreed to come.
"Now that he's coming, Clara might be distracted so we can have some time alone," Enjolras whispered into Eponine's ear. His breath on her neck caused her to shiver, and she turned to him and replied, "I think that Clara truly does fancy Grantaire. That must be terrifying to you."
Enjolras considerably paled at Eponine's statement, and the thought of Grantaire and Clara getting married flashed before his eyes. Maybe Grantaire coming was a bad idea.
"Eponine, I highly doubt that my aunt and uncle will recognize your last name, but I think we should be safe and pretend that your last name is Therrian. If they somehow know who the Thenardiers are, or if they find out you are a street rat, they would probably try and arrest you somehow," Clara said.
"Eponine Therrian," Eponine said testing out her new name.
"They could pretend that they are married so your aunt and uncle will permit them to share a room; God knows that they already do," Grantaire suggested, but Clara put her foot down.
"I think it would be wise to stick as close to the truth as possible," Clara said.
"I do not think I am ready to do this," Eponine said worriedly as she chewed on her bottom lip.
"I have faith in you," Enjolras said softly as he brushed some of Eponine's hair out of her eyes.
Enjolras glanced at her softly, admiring her new look. She was still wearing Clara's yellow dress, her makeup was all still on, and her hair was still pinned up in a knot on the side of her head (some more stray hairs had fallen down, though). Enjolras thought she would look beautiful no matter what she wore, but he had to admit that she looked even more beautiful now than she normally did. Not because of the dress, makeup, or hair. No, it wasn't anything superficial. She was especially beautiful tonight because of a certain light that blessed Eponine's face and brightened her eyes. A new fullness and innocence had struck Eponine's features, and she looked more confident in herself.
Enjolras had never seen anything more exquisite in his life.
"I really wish they weren't forcing you to come visit them like this," Clara said somewhat apologetically.
"Think nothing of it; the trip will be over before we realize it. And I have to admit: it was nice to see you again. I do owe you so much," Enjolras said to his sister.
"Thank you brother, I love you," Clara said beaming, and Enjolras responded with an 'I love you too.'
"I'm sorry if this is going to delay your revolution," Eponine said before taking a bite of her food. Enjolras hadn't even thought of his revolution in an entire day! What was happening? He couldn't keep getting distracted! How could he plan out his revolution in Provence?
"My revolution! I am slacking!" Enjolras exclaimed and Clara sighed.
"Try not to talk too much about your revolution in Provence, we don't need the neighbors getting upset," Clara said massaging her temples.
A great idea struck Enjolras: he had been speaking to the poor for so long, what would happen if he could help rally some of the rich? They would have the money and resources to spare, and maybe if he was lucky, Enjolras could gain their support. He couldn't say this out loud in front of Clara (he wasn't exactly sure if he could trust her), but he would tell Eponine later.
"What will the neighbors think!" Enjolras exclaimed in mock horror.
"I thought Provence was full of farmers," Eponine said in confusion.
"There are plenty of farmers in Provence, but there are many rich people with large mansions, if you know where to go," Clara explained.
"I think this is all unnecessary and ridiculous," Grantaire slurred from his corner of the table.
"Thank you for your input, Grantaire," Clara snapped.
"It is no problem, I know you all crave my opinions," Grantaire chuckled.
"If you were ever sober enough to form a coherent sentence!" Clara shouted.
"You don't need to be sober to speak, but you have to be drunk to have fun," he retorted.
"That is the most incorrect statement I have heard in my entire life!" Clara yelled back.
"How long did you say are we staying with them?" Eponine asked.
A/N: Bye everyone for a week! I'll post a new chapter next Sunday, and after that, I should be able to update as much as I normally do.