Christine was breaking Meg's heart. She really was. Her best friend only seemed to get worse and was sending everyone in spirals trying to figure out the truth to her Angel of Music. The whole process made Meg's head hurt.

She still hadn't returned to school and stayed at home all day alone (her mother could not afford to take off any more days from work after staying home with Christine for the first week). Meg had tried to visit Christine as often as she could after school, but her mother (alongside her own determination) was keeping her at home, dancing. Ballet was, without a doubt, her top priority.

It was like some kind of dream to Meg. She had actually been considered for early admission at the Tisch School of Arts. She was only a junior, it was the one of the best things that had ever happened. Of course, a lot of it had to do with the fact that her mother was Antoinette Giry, but Meg was willing to take it.

"Meg, that's wonderful! That's the most amazing news I think I've ever heard!" Christine, in a lively fashion, nearly sprung out from her bed to give Meg a hug. She hadn't looked as animated or joyful in weeks. Meg even saw a tear of happiness well up in Christine's eye.

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, Meg. That's so great! Meg!" Christine said, grinning widely, "You have no idea how happy I am for you!"

"I barely even have a week to prepare myself, I'm going to New York on Friday, my audition is that Saturday."

"You know what? You're going to be a big star one day," Christine rambled, "And you're so good, Meg. You're such a good dancer."

"Are you going to come?" Meg asked her, observing the messy room covered in used, tear-soaked tissues that littered the floor, many nearly deflated get well balloons and many bouquets of flowers that were beginning to wilt.

"Oh, I can't come. Look at me, I'm a mess," she said, trying to laugh off the situation, but ended up making both girls feel more miserable. Still, though, Meg had to admit her friend wasn't well. It would be along time before things would feel normal again.

"But, I need you..." Meg trailed off, becoming speechless. How could she go to New York City, to her most important audition, and not have Christine by her side? Just Meg and her mother? She would go crazy!

"No, you don't. You're so good, you don't need anyone. I would say bring someone else though, probably, because you're mom's going to be a bad influence on you, I know that."

"I wish you would just come," Meg sighed, noticing her friend was crying. They hugged again.

"I wish I could too, but I have things of my own to handle right now. You don't need me. And you can text me or call me any time you want," Christine insisted, nestling herself under her blanket again.

"That makes me feel better," Meg admitted, happy with the thought she could still talk to her best friend.

"I'm not even worried. Tisch is really going to miss out if you don't get accepted right away. You're destined to go there, or somewhere even better."

She smiled at her friend's words. "You really mean it?"

"Of course I do."

Just a few days later, Meg found herself on a train off to Grand Central Station with her mother and Enjolras. The three of them made an odd traveling group. However, Mrs. Giry was not the easiest person to travel with, she was a constant complainer and insisted that Enjolras carry around her large, over packed suitcase.

"Marguerite, I don't want you to worry, but tomorrow might be the most important day of your life," her mother said as they boarded their train. Meg nearly threw up right then and there.

Enjolras was very quiet and polite. Mrs. Giry had assumed that he was Meg's boyfriend, which only made her feel more uncomfortable than she already was. She didn't know what had made her want to bring Enjolras along for her big audition, but she had invited him and he seemed willing to come, was able to buy himself a hotel room and that was that.

"Hey, I got you something," he said, nudging her and reaching into his bag. Excitedly, he pulled out a little black box and Meg reached for it, pleasantly surprised.

"Oh! This is so sweet!" He had been nice enough to give her a little necklace, with a single charm in the shape of little, pink ballet slippers. Of course, over the years, she had received very similar gifts, but it still was very nice and pretty.

Meg gave him a fairly awkward hug considering she was sitting next to him and the fact that her mother was watching them. Happily, she put the necklace on, trying to let her nerves leave her as the train moved through the old, steel tracks.

By some coincidence (she had planned her audition routine for nearly a year prior to), Meg was going to preform the Angel Solo from The Nutcracker. She had played one of the little angels in that routine when she was little, so it did have a special place in her heart.

For the rest of their ride, Meg let Enjolras listen to the the same ballet, which he seemed to enjoy. Maybe bringing her friend was actually a good idea.

As she did live in the Northeast, Meg was in New York City a lot. However, the large city never ceased to amaze her. The bright lights and enormous crowds of people were so different than Alfred, New Hampshire.

She waited through the rest of the day for her big moment. She went out to lunch with her mother and Enjolras, they toured through the Tisch campus among other things. Mrs. Giry seemed to be very conflicted about Enjolras. For one, he was just one of Meg's random friends who she invited to New York with them and interrupted what could have been a nice, mother-daughter trip. She sincerely believed it was one of the most important weekends of Meg's life so far. However, he was very polite and she secretly hoped that he was her boyfriend.

Meg was beginning to hope for the same thing. She couldn't help it, she was barely able to admit it in her head, but she was kind of developing a crush for Enjolras. He was so nice and she was thankful for her presence. She couldn't even begin to imagine the stress she would feel if it was just her and her mother, who seemed to be more nervous than Meg was.

Mrs. Giry had gone out that night. Despite her old age, she still had plenty of friends and former co-workers to visit. At first, she thought it might be good for Meg to meet some big names in dance, but then quickly decided she was to go to bed early in preparation for her big day.

It was only about six o'clock, but Meg was starting to get tired already. With her mother gone, she had been spending time in Enjolras's hotel room, flipping through the service book.

"Are we going to get room service?" he asked her.

"I think so, my mom doesn't want me to leave the room."

"I think we should go out somewhere," Enjolras said simply, which confused her- but it also sounded like a great idea. The idea of leaving the hotel (which was strictly forbidden by her mother) and walking around New York City with Enjolras sounded like the coolest thing ever.

"You know, I think we should, too."

Meg and Enjolras ventured out of the hotel into the cool, November air. They quickly found a cab and he already seemed to have a destination.

"Times Square would be good, thanks."

Meg laughed. There wasn't anything that funny, but it was simply exhilarating to drive through New York City with Enjolras by her side. The colorful lights, the warm taxi and crowds of people all made it more perfect.

They stopped by the M&M store, shopped a little bit and even rode the Toys 'R Us Ferris Wheel (they had gotten the Barbie car). It was probably the most fun either of them had all year. New York City was definitely beautiful and charming, Meg could only imagine herself living there.

Enjolras and Meg decided on not eating out anywhere that was too fancy or expensive. Besides, they were really suppose to go back to the hotel soon. Although it was only about eighty-thirty, Mrs. Giry would probably be coming home soon. Actually, they could only hope she wasn't home already.

Eventually, they settled for a very small deli where their New York dinner was reduced to grilled cheeses and snapples. The restaurant they had settled for was fairly small and while it received many takeout orders, Enjolras and Meg sat alone at a pair of tables.

"Are you nervous?"

"No, I'm excited," Meg answered. It was true, she wasn't nervous. If anything, she could audition next year, when she was a senior. Sure, there was a terrible scare in the pit of her stomach. What if she completely screwed up and embarrassed herself? But, it was dance. And Meg loved to dance.

"That's cool."

"What, that I'm not nervous?"

"No, just your whole life, like the dance part. It must be nice to know what you want to do with your life," Enjolras told her, honestly, "I really admire it."

"You must have some idea."

"Nope, I don't have a clue. My dad wants me to be a lawyer, like him, but I don't know."

"Well, what do you love?"

"I like history."

"Lawyers often major in history, so maybe you should be a lawyer."

"No, I want to go into politics, probably. So, maybe I could be a lawyer and then work up to politics. I love government," Enjolras confessed, "But being a politician is so uncertain..."

"More uncertain than being a professional dancer?" Meg challenged him.

"Okay, maybe not. But still, I don't like not knowing stuff."

"That's part of life, isn't it? Not knowing things?" she asked, Enjolras shrugged.

"I guess so. I'm just confused about everything, now, and you'd think I'd be fine with acceptance at Princeton of all colleges."

"What are you confused about?"

"People," he answered simply, and looked to be sort of embarrassed.

"Your father?" Enjolras shook his head. "A girl?" he nodded.

Meg wanted to hope that girl was her. Somehow, though, she knew it wasn't. It was always some other girl. Why would this time be any different?

"It's not me, right?" he shook his head. "It's your friend, Eponine Thenardier, right?" another nod. Meg sighed. "I should have noticed the way you look at her."

"She doesn't like me back," Enjolras murmured. Only then did he notice the look in Meg's eyes, hurt and rejection. "Oh, Meg, I'm sorry. I didn't realize..."

"No, no it's not really that. I think I only liked you because I thought you did. It's not even that, it's okay."

"Are you sure?" Enjolras asked her cautiously, trying to be as sympathetic as he could.

"Yeah, I'm sure. It's just being second in general. I'm always second, it's usually to Christine, and I love her so much, but it still sucks. You wouldn't know what that feels like, though," she tried to say it without any bitterness in her voice, but it was true.

Enjolras really didn't know what it was like to be second.

Sorry it's been so long. Once it's summer, I'll update more regularly. Thanks, I love everyone's support! :)