Trigger Warning: references to domestic violence and drug addiction.

A/N: Okay I promised you barricade boys, didn't I? Well I didn't have room to include all of them (SORRY), but whoever isn't here is in the next chapter! (That's right, I already starting writing it!) I tried to put them all in here but y'all would've been overwhelmed.

Also, like I said, I just started reading the book, so all I know about the characters is from the movie and my meager research.

Anyway, enjoy!

Please don't let this turn into something it's not

I can only give you everything I've got

I can't be as sorry as you think I should

But I still love you more than anyone else could

Snow Patrol, Make this Go On Forever

Éponine stood behind the bar while her little brother spun around the barstool, telling her about his plans for the evening. The owner of the café, a pretty young girl named Musichetta, left in a rush, declaring some sort of personal emergency. She told Éponine she would be fine on her own; Éponine was a quick learner and had figured out how to use the equipment in a matter of minutes. The bell attached to the door rang out, and Éponine looked up, excited. Her smile faltered momentarily when she saw it was not Marius, but the youthful Courfeyrac. He wiped some rain droplets from his curly hair and smiled at the two of them. He had his backpack on, probably coming straight from his classes; the college was only blocks away.

"Bonjour, Éponine!" he said. "You got a job! And at my favorite café, too!" he said brightly.

"A café that serves good beer," a dark-haired man added, approaching them from the back of the café. He used one hand to hold a beer and the other to steady himself. "Let's not leave out the most important fact. Although I suppose your reasons have more to do with the female customers, Courfeyrac."

"Grantaire, it's been a while," Courfeyrac said, shaking the man's free hand. "Do you know Éponine?"

"No, but I think I'd like to. Mademoiselle," he said to her, bowing dramatically. She blushed just slightly at the gesture.

"She's Gavroche's older sister," Courfeyrac said, motioning to the boy.

"'Roche told me you two have plans tonight?" Éponine said to Courfeyrac, changing the subject.

"Yeah, can he come over after this meeting?" Courfeyrac asked.

Gavroche and Courfeyrac first met at the community center, the one that Éponine went to with Marius the day she met him. The two men often went to volunteer and work with kids who didn't have anyone at home. After a while, Éponine started taking Gavroche with her, and Gavroche and Courfeyrac became inseparable in a matter of days. Courfeyrac often let Gavroche come over and play video games. It was good for Éponine, too, because she didn't have to wonder where he was. And she never had to worry about him eating there, either. Not that Courfeyrac could cook well; Éponine always thought of him as a boy in a man's body. But frozen pizzas were better than nothing.

It also didn't hurt that Courfeyrac happened to be Marius's roommate, giving Éponine the chance to see him that much more.

The bells on the door rang out again. It was Marius. He smiled at her and Éponine's heart leapt. "Bonjour, Marius!" she called out. Her face grew hot when she realized she might have greeted him just a bit too loudly.

"'Ponine! It's been a few days," he said, approaching the bar. He patted Grantaire's and Courfeyrac's shoulders as he passed to sit down next to Gavroche at the bar.

She was giddy with the idea that Marius might have actually missed her company. But Éponine didn't have the chance to tell him how much she had missed him, because two more students entered the shop. The first she didn't recognize. But the second she did. It was the man called Enjolras, the one she had met at the school only earlier that day. She noticed the way he walked in; it was similar to how he walked into the school. Although he was probably only about twenty, Éponine guessed he thought of himself as much older.

Éponine wasn't planning on seeing him ever again. That's why she was going to give the wallet to Marius, so she wouldn't have to face the fact that she had stolen for the first time in months.

Enjolras was discussing something with his friend. Éponine wasn't quite sure what it was, but it must have been important. He had a serious look on his face and was waving his arms as he talked. The two of them approached the counter but didn't yet acknowledge her. A small crowd was now forming at the bar. "All I'm saying is," Enjolras said to his friends, "Lemarque's funeral would be the best time to strike."

"That just feels a bit wrong. Shouldn't we wait for the man to get in the ground first?" the one she didn't recognize said.

"But isn't that what they would expect, Combeferre?"

"Perhaps, but people will be too emotional after the funeral to rally. Lemarque was—is—a great man. Everyone needs time to grieve. If we rally at the funeral... I just don't think it will end well."

"Combeferre, we talked about this. You and I both know this probably won't end well for any one of us. But it's not about us, its about our future generations. Lemarque is a spokesperson for the underprivileged. He's too weak at the moment; news of a revolt would just make his condition worse. But that doesn't mean a revolt isn't what he wants. Can I get a coffee please?" Enjolras said, but he didn't see Éponine till after the words left his lips. "…You?"

"Yeah, I, uh… work here now," Éponine said awkwardly.

"You two know each other?" Courfeyrac chimed in.

"Yeah, we met earlier today. Charlotte got in trouble at the school at I had to run down there since Bossuet is still out of town," Enjolras told him.

"What happened?" the man known as Combeferre asked.

"Charlotte tried to start an uprising in the classroom," Enjolras said, with just a hint of amusement in his voice.

"That's right, and I helped!" piped up Gavroche.

"Did you really?" Courfeyrac said. "Bravo, little Gavroche!" Courfeyrac gave him a high five.

"We have boys fighting men's fights already?" Combeferre said.

"We all know Gavroche is no boy," Grantaire said.

"Are you gonna join us, Pontmercy?" Enjolras said to Marius.

"You should!" offered Courfeyrac.

"Yeah, sure, in a minute," Marius replied noncommittally. "I just have to talk with 'Ponine really quick."

"We're still missing a couple of people," Combeferre said.

Courfeyrac shrugged. "They'll show up eventually."

The four students ordered their drinks. But when Enjolras was about to pay, he realized he couldn't find his wallet. He patted down all his pockets, more irritated than panicked.

"Looking for this?" Éponine asked, pulling the leather wallet from the back pocket of her jeans. "You dropped it when you left the school," she lied. Please don't see through me. She had been caught stealing before, and usually it earned her nothing less than a bruise. But this man hadn't even caught her, much less hit her. Why was she so nervous, then? Marius must be getting to me, making me feel guilty, she decided. She noticed her hand shaking as she handed the wallet to him.

"Thanks. Not something I should be misplacing," was all he said.

Éponine wasn't used to the idea that a stranger would just believe her.

Everyone but Marius went to sit at the large table in the back corner of the café, leaving them alone at the bar. "What do they talk about?" Éponine asked Marius, motioning to the group of students.

"The Les Amis, as they're known around campus, are really big on advocating for the lower class."

"Like you, Monsieur Marius? I met your grandpa today," she said as she continued to make the coffee. "He may be a principal at a school, but I could tell he's rich."

"My grandpa inherited his money, 'Ponine. I prefer to earn mine." Better than stealing it, I suppose. "So how's your first day going, 'Ponine?" he asked her, changing the subject.

Éponine smiled. "Well, I was working with Musichetta for about half an hour and then she had to run off."

"But you can manage."

She paused her work. Something fluttered in Éponine's stomach. "Yeah, I think I can. Hold on a second, let me drop these off," she said, gathering the coffees in her hands. She walked them over to the group of students. They were leaned in towards the center of the table, their words not audible but their tone one of despair. Their posture straightened and their discussion sputtered out when they finally noticed Éponine.

As she set their drinks on the table, she found herself playing a game she used to play as a child, one her parents taught her. The point of the game was to guess which pocket each man kept his wallet. She was already walking away when she realized what she was thinking. She took a deep breath and sighed. Change isn't easy, Éponine. But it's the right thing to do. It's what Marius expects out of you.

A girl entered the shop. She had bright eyes and a small grin that Éponine could only assume was permanently attached to her face. Her blonde curls were pulled back into a ponytail that bounced when she walked. She emitted the general impression of kindness, but also of confidence.

Éponine wiped her hands on her apron. She knew this girl. Éponine was sure of it. Her face was a vague memory that Éponine couldn't quite grasp. "What can I get for you?" Éponine asked.

"Oh, I don't know… make me your favorite. Actually, make two of them. I'm meeting my father later," the girl said. Even her voice was lovely. She reminds me of a dove, Éponine thought. No, not a dove… a lark.

The thought hit Éponine with full force. She could feel herself growing faint at the memories. She stumbled and caught herself on the counter. Her hand knocked over a metal spoon, which crashed onto the ground with a clanking that rang across the café. A hush fell over the building as everyone looked up at her. She mumbled an apology.

How could this be? We were kids together. No, she was never a kid. Not when I knew her. She was only an object that my parents used. That I used. She turned to Marius, hoping his face would provide some sort of comfort. But Éponine was only disappointed further when she saw him staring at the lark. She turned her face down, avoiding anyone's gaze, and began to work.

As she made the coffee, Éponine was overcome with the memories of her past. She had a good life before Cosette left. But only because Cosette was the object of her parents' negative attention. Éponine dreamed about what her life would have been like. Their positions would have been reversed; Éponine would have been the one healthy, happy, walking into a café and lighting up the entire room. She wouldn't be where she was now, barely staying off the streets, half-starved and begging for the attention of a friend. She didn't hate Cosette, not by any means. But she couldn't help but feel flooded by an intense jealousy, the kind that ferments inside of you.

Éponine looked up to see Cosette staring back at Marius. It took the girl a moment to realize her order was ready. She took the coffee, gave Éponine a generous tip, and left the coffee shop, shining even brighter than she had entered.

Marius stared longingly at the door for a moment before turning to Éponine. "'Ponine? You look like you've seen a ghost." The girl had taken on a greenish hue, which only worsened her malnourished appearance.

"I think I have, monsieur," she replied softly.

Marius didn't hear her. "'Ponine," he said eagerly. "'Ponine, do you know her? Can you find out who she is for me?!" He was about to fall off the barstool with excitement. He looked like a little puppy getting taken home from the pound.

The inside of Éponine's elbow started to itch. "For you, monsieur? Anything."

A/N: Guess who Musichetta's 'personal emergency' was? Hahhaa.

I really did try to add all the boys in here, and it ended up being an extra 700 words. It was just too long and kind of suffocated the chapter. I also don't feel like I did Grantaire justice by any means. But he will definitely be returning so I'll have a chance to redeem myself.

Anyway, sorry about the pace. I just had to get Marius and Cosette paired off and out of the way to set up for some really awesome E/É moments coming your way.

BUT THERE'S JUST THIS SCENE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER THAT JUST omg. I'm dying. I can't wait for you guys to read it. Really like its just such a great scene.

(This A/N is getting long sorry just one more thing) I'm sorry I didn't reply to your reviews! This is my first fanfic so to be honest I didn't know you could reply until last night haha but I can assure you that I read all of them (multiple times) and really appreciate your support. You're all just so lovely!