Five Lockers Down

On the last day of summer, Leanne arrived home skipping. The children looked at her skeptically, for it had been unusual for the past months.

"Let's go to Carlyle of dinner, or, no, IN-AND-OUT! Yes! Let's go to In-and-Out!" Leanne suggested.

Azelma laughed, "Are you okay?"

"I'm wonderful! Wonderful! They called me wonderful!" Leanne danced around laughing. She picked up Gavroche and spun him around. Everyone was laughing. Leanne let go and plopped down on the couch. Gavroche looked dazed, and then he fixed his beanie.

"Okay, what happened?" Eponine asked, teasingly.

"They loved what I did with the Café! I've been promoted! But we're not moving. It's amazing! I get a bigger pay!" Leanne explained.

"That's wonderful, Anne," Eponine agreed.

"Well, let's not let that money go to waste!" Gavroche interjected. "In-and-Out burger, here we come!"

The small family had something akin to a feast. The table was full of fries, burgers, and milkshakes. At the end, Azelma raised her glass of chocolate shake.

"Drink with me," she chuckled, "To the life we now know, and an amazing summer!"

"To an amazing summer!" They all responded, and then they clinked their glasses, celebrating the night away.

(The next day)

Beep, beep, beep, Eponine's alarm sounded. She grunted, slapping her hand over the clock. First day of senior year! She thought. The bus arrives at 7:30. 7:30…. She jumped, "Oh my gosh, it's already 7:15!"

She got up, rushing to the bathroom. She was about to open the door, when it slammed open by Azelma, hitting her hand and stubbing her toe.

"Ah! Shi-" Eponine began, catching herself, "Ship. I said ship."

"Are you okay? I'm so sorry," Azelma apologized.

Eponine shook her head, "Just get out."

Azelma moved. Quickly, Eponine got into the shower, rushing. She dried off, running across the hall to her room. Panting, she pulled on some leggings and a tank top. She pulled on the first shirt she saw, which was a sleeveless, flow-y shirt with a camouflage design. She stuck a beanie on her head, and she stuffed her feet in white converse.

"Eponine!" Leanne shouted.

"Coming! I'm coming!" Eponine shouted back. Fuck, where the fuck is my backpack?!

"Looking for these Eponine?" Gavroche teased from her doorway with her old adidas back pack from seventh grade and her accordion folder.

"That isn't funny 'Roche," she scolded, slowly approaching him.

His eyes widened, and he ran down, taking the bag with him.

"Oh, don't you dare!" She screamed, grabbing her phone as she left her room.

Gavroche ran from Eponine, chuckling. She glared at him the whole time.

"Guys! Cut it out!" Leanne demanded. She was in sweats, holding coffee in her hand.

"Yeah, Gav! Cut it out!" Eponine warned.

"No, no, no, not today!" He laughed.

"Please today! Gav, I'm serious! I need that backpack!" Eponine pleaded.

"And I need my chocolate!" Gavroche told her.

"Fine! We'll go to the stupid café that you love to go to. Just give me my damn backpack and folder back," Eponine said through gritted teeth.

"Language, Eponine," Leanne warned.

Gavroche smirked, "What's the magic word?"

"Please?" Eponine forced out.

"Okay, here ya' go," he tossed her the backpack and folder.

A bus's horn honked outside. Leanne pointed at Eponine, passed Eponine her wallet, and then hugged her goodbye.

"Have a sweet first day, hon," Leanne called out to her. Eponine waved, and then she ran to the bus, hopping on.

The first thing Eponine was greeted with was paper. Then, screams, shouts, and giggles filled the air. Eponine looked around, looking for at least one of her friends.

"Hey, kid, c'mon. Just take a seat," the driver urged. She glared at him, and he turned away.

She stepped row after row, none of the ruckus quieting down. Suddenly, a hand grabbed her and pulled her down. She screeched.

"Shhhhh…. No need to fear," a smooth voice assured, "Courfeyrac is here." He let go of her, laughing.

She pouted, "You are still one of the most childlike people I've ever met."

"It's part of the package," he shrugged, still smiling.

"What package? The Baby-Alive one?" Eponine teased.

He wrapped an arm around her. "Still sassy as ever."

A blonde tapped Courfeyrac from the back, and he turned around, starting a conversation. Eponine rolled her eyes, then paid attention to what was in front of her.

Soon enough, the bus stopped. Everyone started filing out, Eponine following.

"Courf," Eponine whispered.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"I have no idea where anything is here…" Eponine started.

"Does little Eponine need help?" Courfeyrac teased, earning a slap on the arm.

"Fine, bastard," Eponine replied, "I'll find my own way."

"Alright! Goodbye! Hey, and good luck!" Courfeyrac shouted to her. She smiled and waved, walking away.

"God, I need help," she muttered to herself.

Walking to the office, she asked for her schedule, homeroom, and locker number, which everyone received last year. Her classes included French, Poli-Sci, economics, English, history, gym, art, journalism, art, and theatre. Homeroom was with a teacher named Mr. Moran, and her locker was in the west end, number 23, combination 24/6/01. She got a map of the school, and found her way to her locker.

Popping the lock, she stuffed her books in, setting everything up. She kept examining the books, complaining in her head about their weight. All of them could ruin students' backs. Scientist showed that 5-10 pounds should be the limit. Eponine made a mental note to complain to the school about this.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the giggling of girls, all suddenly flooding the hallway. She positioned her mirrors strategically in her locker so that she could see around her from all angles. All around her were the girls she had been hearing, mostly cheerleaders, but all had their eyes in the same direction, to her right. She opened her locker a bit more, backing up to get a good view of what they were all looking at.

To her right, five lockers down, stood a tall blonde man, the same one from the pool. The same child from her childhood, the same man she supposedly broke, was shuffling through his locker. An expression of concentration was plastered on his face.

The crowd of fangirls belonging to him suddenly parted like the red sea, revealing a Barbie like cheerleader. She walked up to him, kissing him on the cheek. He turned, she smiled, and then he turned back to his locker. Eponine snickered. She started talking to him, and losing hope, the crowd dispersed.

"Colette," a voice from behind her said.

Eponine whipped her head around, seeing Grantaire. "What?"

"Her name," he pointed to the Barbie, "Is Colette. She's the girl Enjolras's parents are arranging to marry Enjolras. At least, I think that's what they're doing. She's from a rich family, like Enjolras. We call her the Rich Bitch. R.B. for short."

Again, Eponine snickered. "Does Enjolras know about this?"

"Nope," Grantaire confirmed her suspicions. They laughed together.

Eponine looks back at her locker, stuffing her first subject in her bag, history. She took her maroon beanie off, letting her waves fall.

"Do you know where the history classes take place?" Grantaire asked knowingly.

"What do you think?" Eponine answered. She slung her back pack on her shoulder.

"I think I should escort you mademoiselle, to classe d'histoire," Grantaire offered.

She smiled, "Gladly, Monsieur Grantaire." They laughed, heading down the hallway with linked arms, not catching the sidelong glance that the school radical was throwing them.

(Enjolras's POV)

"01/6/24," he muttered, opening the lock attached to his locker. A girl five lockers down was arranging her books, occasionally humming a small song. Her voice was a soft alto. Suddenly, the humming was blocked by whispers, giggles, and footsteps. Yay! It's that time of day again when girls check you out, Enjolras thought sarcastically. And your forced girlfriend should be here in 3…2…1…

Lips pressed against his soft cheek, and a perfectly manicured hand rested on the small of his back. He turned to the beautiful face of Colette. How he hated that face… He turned back to his locker, finally able to hear the soft humming of the girl five lockers down.

"How was your summer, babe?" Colette asked him from behind.

"It was sweltering hot," he responded curtly. He got up, straining to hear the soft humming, but instead heard laughter and receding footsteps. He turned, faintly disappointed to find the girl leaving, and with Grantaire of all people. He squeezed his eyes shut. Why should he be disappointed about a girl?

"New kid," Colette pointed out. "Your friend seems to have a certain fancy in her."

"Yeah, they know each other," Enjolras agreed, turning back to his locker.

(Eponine's POV)

After an hour of history, Eponine headed down the staircase to the theatre, where her next class was. As she was rushing down, she accidently hit a blonde girl's arm, knocking her papers all over the floor.

"Oh, god, I'm so sorry," Eponine apologized.

She shrugged, smiling, picking the papers up. "No problem. I should've been walking faster."

"No, it was my fault," Eponine insisted, helping the girl pick up her papers.

A boy screamed behind them, "Yo! Get outta the way!"

Eponine turned, her signature stare on, "Yo! Get outta my line sight!"

The boy scuttled away. The blonde laughed, and Eponine helped her get up.

"Have you ever considered theatre? I think you would be a great actor!" She said.

"I have. I'm actually going to theatre right now, if I happen to find out where the theatre is."

The blonde smiled, "You must be new here. I can show you, after all, I am going there too."

Eponine smiled at her, "Thanks."

"No problem!" the blonde exclaimed. "I'm Cosette by the way."

Eponine quickly turned to her, eyes wide, "Eponine," she introduced coolly, watching as Cosette visibly stiffened. "Goodman," Eponine added. "Eponine Goodman." Cosette relaxed, and turned to her.

"Well," she started, "I do believe this is the beginning of an amazing friendship."

A/N: Hey! So Cosette has been introduced, and so has a girl named Colette. I hope none of your names are Colette, but sorry if it is. Eponine bumping into Cosette like that wasn't originally my idea. That idea belongs to Todrick Hall in his mini-series Pop Star High. Tell me what you think! I don't own any of the characters except for Colette. If you have any ideas, please, don't be afraid to tell me! I drew a little picture of Eponine the other day. Please, check it out! It's on my tumblr: .com

-Franky