What a Life I Might Have Known

by Nacho the Greato

This is Éponine's untold story, from the time that Cosette arrived at the inn to the time of her death. Of course there will be that ten year time skip, cause I'm not writing THAT much. And, yes, for you people that read the book, Azelma is in it. I guess this is kind of the crossover between the novel and the play... but that doesn't really count. Rated T cuz I'm paranoid.

4. Gavroche

I took my new doll inside, quite satisfied with the girl's harsh scolding for not doing her job. As I walked through the back door of the inn, I saw Azelma standing there.

"That was kinda mean, 'Ponine," she said.

"Oh please, Azelma. Not this again. The little Lark wasn't doing what she was brought in for, so she had to get a little roughed up. So what? It's not like she's not going to come back," I told her.

"I saw you take the doll," she said. I just stared at her. "You lied, 'Ponine..."

"And? Papa does it all the time. I'm only following his examples," I replied.

Azelma sighed and started to walk away.

"What would you know? You're only six!" I say as she walked away.

"You know, you're not that much older than me. You're just ten," she countered.

"Ugh, you're such a pain, 'Zelma!" I groaned, walking upstairs.

I turned into the room I shared with Azelma and I saw my younger brother, Gavroche, sitting on my bed.

"Hey, Gav," I said to him.

He waved at me. Gavroche wasn't much of a talker. He was only about three, but he seldom talked. Perhaps he was afraid of mother. She didn't like Gavroche. Mother kept trying to convince Papa to give him away or send him with one of the people staying at the inn, but he wouldn't do it, thankfully. If he did that, I'd be stuck with Azelma...

"Look what I found at the market today," I said, showing him the doll.

"Pretty..." he told me.

"Mmmhmm, I didn't even have to pay for it!" I said excitedly.

Gavroche grinned, showing his missing teeth. Even at this young age, he understood Papa's business. He understood that we could get things for free if we lie and steal, so Papa used him a lot to get customers or to con many of the businesses that come in this time of year. That's the primary reason he didn't want to give Gavroche away. To lose him would be to lose a major selling point. But I loved Gavroche. He would listen to me, unlike Azelma, who only argued. The only thing I didn't like about him was that he actually talked to the wretch that lived with us. He actually liked the Lark. It was quite strange, but I was trying to steer him away from that bad influence.