Chapter 2.
Eponine walks back to her parents inn and goes up to her bedroom. Or rather an open lounge with a bed in the corner. The rooms in the inn were for guests not for her or her siblings.
She laid down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Remembering the look on Marius' face when he was trying to convince her to come to the Musain. Perfect in every way, sort, and form. She wouldn't have said no even if he gave her the chance to. She had one thing to live for.
Marius Pontmercy. He was only to dumb to see it.
"'Ponine!"
"Yes mama?" She shot up out of her bed acting like she was dusting.
"Your father has a job for you tonight. You better not disappoint. You know what happens if things go wrong." Madam Thénardier stared at her eldest daughter with hurt in her eyes. She never wanted this life for her daughter. She didn't have the opportunity to say no though.
"I promise. Nothing is going to go wrong." She manages a small smile.
"You'd better. No more sympathy from me." Madam Thénardier walks away with a glance over her shoulder.
Eponine turns back around to face the bed. She looked out of the small dirty window above it.
I'm not going to do this job this time. There is no way in hell.
She grabs a bag and what few items she has and puts them in a bag. She waits until her mother is out of the room and darts out of the inn and around the corner away from her life of a miserable inn owner's child.
She is safe, for now.
Wandering the streets of Paris alone at night is one of the most dangerous things you could possibly do. She did it anyway. Wandering alone in the rain she started drifting towards the Musain.
She reached the Musain and noticed that there was a light in one of the windows. She stared at it for a few minutes then went up to the door and twisted the knob. She walked in and stood there listening for sound. Nothing. When she reached the top of the steps she saw a body leaning over tons and tons of papers. The papers were scattered around everywhere all over the floor, desk and some of the tables.
She realized who it was. "Shouldn't you be at home Monsieur? It's late."
He jerked his head up at the sound of her voice. "I could be asking you the same thing Mademoiselle." He turned around to see just a silhouette through the shadows.
"Well you know the basic answer to mine. So what is yours?"
He sighed and then turned back around to look at his papers. "Tomorrow we have a rally and I just cannot get this speech right."
Eponine looked around the dark and walked right up to him to look over his shoulder. She watched him form letters. She couldn't read though. So they just looked like random shapes.
"Can you read?"
She hesitated before replying. "No Monsieur. I cannot." She looked at his face with a knowing look of disaproval.
"Enjolras. You can call me Enjolras. You apart of the Amis now. We call each other by our names."
"Fine in that case.. Eponine. You can call me Eponine." She gave him a little smirk to let him know she was mocking him. "Enjolras, just speak with what is in your heart at the time. Don't write speeches and read them word for word. It seems more realistic if you make it up as you go. It'll seem more believable. Not mechanical."
He looked up at her with an annoyed look. "Well with that note, I am leaving."
He started to gather all the papers up. Eponine decided to help. I didn't mean that in a bad way or telling you how to do what you do... But you just seem more passionate when you do it with whatever pops into your mind."
"You didn't anger me or frustrate me. I just need to sleep."
They finished picking up the papers and then he put them in a bag. "Thank you. Eponine for your help. I'll see you tomorrow."
He turned on his heel and went for the door. He stopped right in front of it then turned around and shouted up the stairs, "Are you coming?"
"Coming where?" she ran to the top of the stairs and looked down at him.
"I have to close the cafe up. You can't stay in here."
She pondered that thought. "oh... Right..." she grabbed her small bag of belongings and went out the door that he held open for her. He turned left and she started to turn right but then stayed under the porch of the ABC Cafe. She leaned against the wall and slid down it looking out at the pouring down rain. She just decided to curl up there and sleep long enough for the rain to stop.
"Hey. Wake up." She felt a light poking on her shoulder. "Wake up."
She rolled over and looked at who was standing there.
Inspector Javert.
She immediately jumped up and smoothed her skirt. "How may I help you Monsieur?" she put on one of the kindest fake smiles as she possibly could.
"I need help with something and you are the only one who can help me with what I need."
She stood there in silence and waited for him to continue.
"You have just become a member of the group known as 'the Amis' correct?"
"What are you going to do with them Monsieur? They technically didn't do anything wrong. Yet at least."
"That is exactly my point."
"I don't see what you're getting at. Wait... Have you been watching me?!" She was terrified all of a sudden.
"Miss, you have to understand what is going on. We are going to pay you a handsome amount for serving with us."
"I still don't understand what is going on."
"I need you to let me know everything that is going on with their group so that i may stop these children from ruining my city."
She thought about what he was saying. "You want me to spy on them." She said is as a statement so quiet it was barely heard above the wind.
"Precisely. Mostly that one with the particularly curly hair. He is the leader among them yes?"
She quietly nodded then hesitated for a moment. "What are my consequences if i do not do it?"
"I can make your life a living hell. Worse than it is now.. Or... You can help me and you will no longer have a need to starve. You can get new clothes and start life again in a respectable manner."
She waited for a moment, looked up at the ABC Cafe then back at Javert. Staring right past his shoulder she saw Enjolras peering over at their conversation.
She looked back at Javert clenched her jaw then said, "I will."