The three weeks were spent preparing for and taking midterms, so the group didn't get together a lot, unless it was to study. Dr. Valjean was just having them take a vocab quiz, but they had to take their kids in for a midterm interview with him. He would check over their journals and then chat with them for a little bit, making sure the college students were doing what they needed to, and that the kids were happy. Mrs. Valjean would also be at the meetings, to help check up on the children.
A few days before their interview, when Éponine was going through the rubric, making sure they had everything ready, she looked over at Gavroche, who was doing his math homework on the coffee table. "Have you been writing in your journal? I've never seen you with it out."
"Yeah. I write in it on nights after I take a shower. Sometimes, they also make us write in it at school, knowing that some of us have to do it for you. Don't worry, I haven't had anything bad to write about you, yet." He said with a devious grin.
"Good. I hope it stays that way. Does that mean you're happy here, with us?" She asked, somewhat hesitantly, trying to hide in her own homework.
He climbed onto the chair where she was sitting and hugged her. "Yes, Eppy. I'm happy." He said. They just sat in the chair for a little while before he spoke again.
"I wish- I mean, I know I can't, but sometimes I wish I could stay here after the semester is over."
"I wish that you could, too. But the reality is, you can't. I mean, I know Miss Fantine isn't your mom, but we aren't your parents, either. You are going to have to go back." She said.
"I know. But sometimes I can dream, right?" He said, sadly.
"Of course." Both went back to doing their homework until Enjolras got back with Subway sandwiches for lunch.
All of their midterms and interviews went well. That Friday, the whole group was in Éponine and Enjolras' apartment.
"So, Halloween is coming up." Courfeyrac said.
"Are we going to get dressed up and go trick or eating?" Hillaire asked.
"Trick or treating, darling. And yes, we are." Jehan corrected. All of the kids' faces lit up. Gavroche and Rachelle shared a sneaky look, before Gav ran to his backpack. He brought back a notebook.
"Elle and I had an idea. We should all go together. And we have costume ideas for everyone."
The adults all looked at each other. "I don't know, Gav…" Enjolras started.
"You don't even have to buy all the costumes. Some of the things you already have!" He said.
"Fine. Let's hear it." Cosette said.
"Yay! First of all, I'm going to be Batman. Rachelle is going to be Catwoman." He said.
"The good Catwoman, like when she helps Batman, not when she fights him." She interrupted. "Julien is going to be Robin, and Hillaire is going to be Batgirl." She finished, then motioned for Gavroche to continue.
"So the kids are the good guys. You all are going to be the villains. Courf is going to be the Joker."
"Here's my caard." Courfeyrac said, licking his lips, like Heath Ledger did in The Dark Knight.
"Perfect. Azelma, you are going to be his Harley Quinn." She nodded as he continued. "Éppy, you are going to be Poison Ivy, and Gabe, you are going to be the Riddler." They both nodded, approving.
Rachelle took over. "Grantaire, you are going to be Bane, and Jehan, you are Scarecrow." Each of them nodded.
"I'm necessary evil." R said. Gav laughed.
"Marius, you are Two-Face, and Cosette, you are going to be the bad Catwoman. We ran out of girls for you to be." Cosette rolled her eyes, but laughed.
"That's okay."
"So, can we do it?"
The adults all looked at each other, and then nodded in agreement. Gav and Rachelle high fived and cheered. "We're the best planners!" Rachelle exclaimed. They all continued talking. Marius offered Enjolras a green suit coat he already had. The girls, adult and child alike, piled into Éponine's closet to look for clothes they might need. They all agreed not to show the boys their costumes until Tuesday night, when they would get ready in Cosette's apartment.
Saturday was filled with shopping for the extra costume pieces the group didn't have. Enjolras had an old cane of his grandfather's, so he just needed a green hat. Éponine bought a red wig, green high heels, and green, long, fake eyelashes. They also got Gav a Batman mask and weapon belt. Grantaire had offered to make him and Enjolras' symbols to pin onto their clothes.
The rest of the weekend and Monday, they got their costumes assembled, did homework, and just relaxed. Tuesday, after classes, Éponine helped Gavroche safety pin his emblem to a black shirt. She then tied a blanket around his neck for a cape. She proceeded to Enjolras' room, where she assisted him in pinning a question mark to the back of Marius' suit coat, and another on his hat.
She then took a garment bag, with her own costume in it to Cosette's apartment. Azelma and Hillaire were already there. They had kicked Marius out and into Azelma and Courf's apartment.
Cosette was already made up. She had painted a black mask around her eyes and had dark red lipstick on. She had borrowed a pair of tight, leather, black pants from Azelma, and a tight v-neck black shirt from Éponine. She also had a pair of long, black, leather gloves, a black tool belt, and knee high black boots.
She was putting the same dark red lipstick on Rachelle, who also had black boots, gloves, and a tool belt. Rachelle had a black leotard, tutu, and leggings on, instead of skin tight, leather clothes like her older counterpart.
Azelma was helping Hillaire with her costume. She was pinning another one of Grantaire's Batman emblems on a black leotard, which she then helped the younger girl into. She also had a pink tutu, black leggings, and black tennis shoes. Éponine went and grabbed a pink blanket off of Rachelle's bed to tie around Hillaire's neck.
Azelma was wearing a red and black skirt and a white, tied shirt. She had thick rimmed glasses, and one black, one red pump. She put on dark eyeshadow, and bright red lipstick. Seeing everyone was getting ready just fine, Éponine started on herself. She started by putting on her costume. She first put on three-quarter length green leggings she had borrowed from her sister. She then had a tight, short green halter top dress. Her feet had the new green dyed heels that she had bought Saturday. Then she asked Cosette to help with her makeup. She started with bright green eyeshadow, and then bright red lipstick, courtesy of Azelma. Then, Cosette helped her apply the giant green fake eyelashes. Then, she used some of Cosette's green eyeliner to finish it off.
"Damn, if you don't get laid tonight, I don't think you ever will." Azelma told her sister, out of hearing range from the children.
It was nearing six o'clock, which was when trick or treating started in the town near campus, so Éponine and Cosette donned their wigs, red and black, respectively. Hillaire and Rachelle each put on their masks, and Cosette and Rachelle put on their cat ears. The girls picked up their pumpkin buckets to collect candy with, which Grantaire had painted with Batman emblems, and the girls walked over to Azelma and Courf's apartment to meet the boys.
Azelma knocked and then opened the door, so the boys would know they were coming in, and motioned for Hillaire to walk in first. Jehan, in his suit, not yet wearing the sack that would go over his head, cooed over her. R, in his jeans, vest, and fur coat, picked her up and twirled her around, saying she looked absolutely adorable. Next, Rachelle went in. She bounced up to Gavroche, in his shirt, cape, jeans, boots, and mask, who smirked at her before putting his arm around her shoulders.
Cosette followed her, but up to Marius, who purred at her, and tried to kiss her lips, but she turned, chastising him for trying to mess up her lipstick. Azelma went next. She smiled and walked up to her boyfriend, who immediately put his hands on the strip of skin between her shirt and skirt. Éponine had to admit, Courf's costume was pretty darn good. He had on a purple suit jacket, a yellow vest, and a green bow tie. He had spray-dyed his hair green, painted his face white with black around his eyes, and smeared red lipstick over his lips. He also had a cane, black pin-striped pants, and white shoes.
Éponine was the last to enter the apartment. All eyes went to her, including the ones she desperately wanted. When she looked at him however, he had a weird look on his face.
"Hot dang, Éponine! You look amazing!" R said. She smiled shyly and thanked him, staying where she was, just in the doorway. Courfeyrac wolf-whistled at her, which Azelma playfully slapped him for.
"Hey! Don't mess up my makeup!" He protested.
"Are we ready to go?" Cosette asked. Everyone said yes, and they started to leave. Éponine led the way out of the apartment complex and across the streets to the nearest neighborhood. The children quickly caught up with her. When they got to the first house, the adults stayed back and let Gavroche and Rachelle lead the other two to the door. They said trick or treat, and got their candy before bouncing back to the sidewalk and over to the next house.
Throughout the night Éponine stayed close to the front with the kids. Behind her was Cosette and Marius, holding hands. Then R and Jehan, the former's arm around the latter's waist. Enjolras was behind them, walking with his cane. When Éponine saw him, she felt a pinch of hurt at his reaction to her costume, but couldn't help the fact that his costume was good. He had Marius' green suit jacket over a black dress shirt and green tie, all which fit like it was his own. He had black pants and that cute green bowler hat on his head. It also didn't help seeing Courf and her sister behind him. Azelma was hanging off of him and they looked absolutely adorable and extremely happy. She was really happy that her sister was happy, but sad that she wasn't acting similarly with her own boyfriend.
The last stop was the orphanage. Part of Rachelle and Gavroche's Halloween master plan included buying extra candy, and giving most of theirs, plus the extra, to the children who hadn't been placed with students. As they turned to walk up to the door, Enjolras somehow caught up to Éponine. She felt his arm snake around her waist, and before she knew it, everyone else had passed them.
"Riddle me this. How can you look so fantastic all the time and then pull this on and blow my mind?" While everyone's backs were turned to them, he dipped her kissed her passionately.
They heard a click of a camera, and he brought her back to her feet. Éponine's face was flushed, but she saw Azelma with her phone out, having caught the moment. Éponine hid her face in Enjolras' jacket. He wrapped his arms around her and laughed, thanking Azelma silently over Éponine's head.
"Come on, Ép. Let's go inside." He said, leading her into the orphanage.
After getting back from their night trick or treating, the children were exhausted. They laid them all down in Rachelle's room, who graciously gave the bed to Hillaire and Julien, while she and Gavroche made a bed out of sleeping bags and blankets on the floor. All four were out within half an hour of getting back to the apartments. Shortly after the children fell asleep, the adults went back to their own apartments.
As soon as the door closed to apartment 256, Enjolras slammed Éponine against it, kissing her ferociously. She didn't respond for a moment, stunned by his forwardness, but recovered shortly, kissing him back.
"I've been wanting to do that all night. God, Éponine, you have know idea what you do to me, do you?" He said, moving his lips from hers to her neck. Her head fell backwards, against the door, giving him more access. It seemed to her that his hands were everywhere on her body. In her hair, running up and down her arms, on her waist, walking up from her knees…
"Gabe. Gabe- Stop. Just for a minute." He jerked away from her, looking hurt, like a sad puppy. "Don't pout like that. Don't you think we should talk about this first?"
"You don't want to? Oh, God. How could I have been so stupid, of course you don't."
"Dammit, Gabriel Enjolras! Stop it! Look at me!" She yelled. He did look at her. "That's better." She said, softening and putting her arms around his neck. "I just don't want to make a stupid mistake, like Azelma and Courfeyrac. Are you sure you're ready?" She asked.
"Éponine, I've been ready since the moment I met you. And you wearing that short, tight, dress, and flaunting your body around me all night. I can hardly control myself."
"Perfect. Your room or mine?" She said, grinning wickedly.
He didn't respond. Enjolras just lifted her up by her waist. She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed her again. He carried her to his bedroom, and laid her down on the bed.
A/N: So, I'll admit, I had a ton of fun writing this chapter. It took me a while to figure out who they were all going to be, but in the end, I can just picture all of them together. And we got some development in the Enjonine department! If you think they're moving to fast, you have to remember, they are college students that are living together. It was bound to happen.
Next week are my finals, so wish me luck! I'll be done by 4:30 (my time), so there will be a post next week. I'm still not finished writing this whole story, but my updating schedule has me going up until I come back to college in the fall, so hopefully I'll be able to finish it this summer. This story should be done by next Christmas (fingers crossed!) Thank you for all of your support, and as always, if you have anything to say to me about this story, future stories, Les Mis, or just life in general, review or PM me! I love chatting with you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and see you next week!