Take to the Streets (an AU of With No Doubt in Our Hearts)
Chapter 1:
Lucie and Marius Pontmercy were thrilled when they found out they had both been accepted to the same university, both with full scholarships. Marius decided to study law, while Lucie decided to study to become a history teacher. Their grandfather thought that teaching was a waste of Lucie's potential, but she didn't care; she felt it was extremely important that students be taught American history as it happened, not painting their country as perfect. America was far from perfect and in the country's history, had gone through some dark times that the government seems to want the people to forget (Indian removal, Vietnam War, slavery even). She always tried to explain this to their grandfather, but he didn't understand, seeing as he had friends within the government.
Marius and Lucie became very good friends with his roommate, Courfeyrac. Lucie's housing assignment, however, was almost problematic. She walked into her room on move in day wearing boys' sweatpants with her wavy brown hair pulled up in an embarrassingly messy bun and carrying a huge box of various decorations and posters that covered almost the entire top half of her body.
"Here let me help you with that," she heard a male voice say as the box was lifted out of her hands and onto the bed.
The student facing her looked really confused when he turned around and saw a five foot tall girl in his dorm room. They both just looked at each other for a few minutes. Finally Lucie spoke to the nearly six foot tall student standing in front of her, "So…do you think one of us is in the wrong room?"
"What room number did it say in your packet?" the young man asked in return.
"240," she said, "Yours?"
"240," he replied.
"Well then," Lucie said with a smile, "I guess we're roommates!"
"I guess so," he grinned.
"I'm Lucie," she said extending her hand.
"Combeferre," he replied shaking her extended hand.
"What's your major, Combeferre?" Lucie asked.
"Pre-med, I think I want to be a pediatrician. What's yours?"
"Secondary Education with a history content major," Lucie said, "History is my favorite subject; I am such a history nerd."
"I'm a history nerd too!" he almost shouted.
"Then you will love the poster I bought for the dorm!" she said excitedly as she unrolled a life-sized poster of Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton.
"I love it!"
"Combeferre, I think this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship."
After they were done unpacking, Combeferre and Lucie walked to the dining hall to meet Marius and Courfeyrac for dinner.
"Marius!" Lucie shouted across the room as she waved at her brother.
"Hey, Lu," He said when they got over to the table where he and Courfeyrac had been sitting, "This is my roommate, Courfeyrac. Courfeyrac, this is my sister, Lucie."
"Just call me Courf," Courfeyrac said shaking Lucie's hand.
"Nice to meet ya, Courf!" Lucie said, "Marius, Courf, this is my roommate, Combeferre."
"Wait," Marius said, "You're roommates?"
"Oh, it's no big deal, Marius," Lucie said rolling her eyes.
"If you say so," Marius said, "Nice to meet you, Combeferre."
Combeferre smiled and shook Marius's hand, "Likewise, Marius, and don't fear; your sister is in no danger with me as her roommate, we don't exactly play for the same team…if you know what I mean."
"Point taken," Marius said.
Courf's smiled when he heard that, but he was careful not to make it too obvious.
While they were eating, a sophomore wearing a flower in his red hair walked up to their table, "Hi, everyone!" he said, "I'm Jehan. I'm a sophomore. I'm studying to be an English teacher. How did moving in go?"
"Pretty good," Marius said. Everyone else nodded in agreement.
"Great!" Jehan said, "Oh, 'Ferre! I didn't see you there, how's it going?"
"All is well, my friend," Combeferre said in response.
"You're a sophomore?" Lucie asked Combeferre.
"That, I am! Sorry, I must have forgotten to mention that," Combeferre said.
Marius, Courfeyrac, and Lucie all introduced themselves to Jehan.
"So, how's the poetry going, Jehan?" Combeferre asked.
"I don't want to talk about it," Jehan frowned, "I have a horrible case of writer's block, and my brain and I are not speaking at the moment."
"You'll get passed it," Combeferre laughed, "You always do."
"You write poetry?" Lucie asked.
"Yep," Jehan responded, "It's not that good though."
"Jehan, you know that's not true! You're poetry is wonderful," Combeferre said.
"Well, Ferre, that makes one person who thinks so," Jehan sighed, "So what clubs are you all thinking about joining."
"Politics club," they all said simultaneously.
"Wow!" Jehan exclaimed, "Enjolras will be so excited to have more people there, right Ferre?"
"Yeah, we don't have that many members," Combeferre said, "but that may or may not have something to do with Enjolras's speeches…well rants really."
"Well with everything horrible going on in the world, who can blame him for ranting?" Lucie interjected.
Combeferre smiled at Jehan, who nodded in response, "Lucie," Combeferre said, "I think you are going to make an excellent addition to the club."
"What's everyone else's major?" Jehan asked, "I know Ferre is pre-med, may God have mercy in his soul."
Combeferre laughed and cleaned off his glasses.
"I'm studying law," Marius said.
"Undecided," Courf sighed.
"I'm studying to be a history teacher," Lucie said.
"Yay!" Jehan exclaimed, "A fellow education major is among us!" he paused and then asked Combeferre, "Do you know where Grantaire is? I haven't seen him all day."
Combeferre rolled his eyes at Jehan, "It's move-in day. There's bound to be a party somewhere on campus. Find the alcohol and you find Grantaire."
"True, true. I guess it's my turn to locate him then. I'll see you all at Politics Club tomorrow?"
"Absolutely!" Lucie said.
After Jehan had left, Marius asked Combeferre, "So how many people are in the club?"
Combeferre thought a moment, "I think there are about eight of us, myself and Jehan included. There are nine if Joly and Bossuet bring their girlfriend, Musichetta."
"Their girlfriend? Not girlfriends?" Marius asked
"Nope the three of them are all dating one another," Combeferre explained.
"Only nine people?" Lucie asked.
"Well, there will be three more tomorrow!" Combeferre said optimistically.
"Do you ever protest or anything?" Courfeyrac asked.
"We haven't in the past," Combeferre said, "But we will if it is necessary."
"Peacefully, I assume?" Lucie said.
"It would depend on the situation, but more than likely, yes we would protest peacefully," Combeferre responded.
The four talked for another hour before going back to their rooms for the night.
When they got back to their room, Lucie stood at the side of her bed and frowned. The bed came up to about midway up her ribcage.
"What's wrong, Lucie?" Combeferre asked.
"Nothing," she said, "just remind me to get a step stool tomorrow."
Combeferre laughed, loudly.
Lucie crossed her arms and said, "Don't you laugh at me! You're six feet tall! You will never know the struggles of being short!" She tried to anyway. She began hysterically laughing about half way through her scolding.
A few minutes later Combeferre told her, "Lucie, just so you know, Enjolras can be a little…if-y when it comes to new members…especially girls."
"Why especially girls?"
"He's seen too many girls join up for the purpose of meeting guys."
"Thanks for the warning, Ferre. By the way, I think someone has a crush on you."
"Who? Jehan? Because he doesn't."
"Nope, Courf."
"Courf? You think so?" he asked, blushing.
Lucie noticed his blushing, "Does someone have a crush on Courfeyrac as well?"
"No—I mean he's cute—I mean I don't even really know him—um," Combeferre stammered.
"Wow," Lucie shook her head, "Intelligent to stuttering mess in three seconds flat."
"Oh, shut up."
"Is there anything else I should know before the meeting tomorrow?"
"Just that you and Musichetta will probably be the only females in the room, and that Enjolras will say something about it."
"I guess I'll have to make him regret it then," Lucie snickered.
"Easier said than done, Lucie," Combeferre warned.
"We shall see," Lucie responded almost evilly, "we shall see."