Dodge Ball

"So how was the party at Marius's party last night?" Azelma asked, not aware of what happened.

Eponine flinched, but it went unnoticed by everyone else at the breakfast table. "It was fine. I had a great time," Eponine lied. She had a small bruise from the slap she received. Luckily, she was able to steal some of Azelma's makeup and cover it up.

"Was Enjolras there?" Gavroche asked teasingly, also not knowing.

"Yes, he was there." Eponine got up from her chair, putting her dishes away, and grabbing her things for school. Everyone from the table looked up. Leanne had picked up on Eponine's mysterious behavior that morning. She seemed extremely troubled and more stressed than ever.

As Eponine started walking to the door, Leanne asked her, "Where are you going?"

Eponine turned with a big smile plastered to her face, "It's a beautiful day. I want to take a walk to school."

"Honey, it's cold out there. How in the world is it 'beautiful'?" Leanne asked.

"You'd be surprised," Eponine said. She pulled on her gloves, jacket, and boots. Since it was cold, Eponine also pulled on her beanie, not that she was going to wear the newsboy hat, anyways.

She walked out the door and headed to the Musain. None of the boys would be there at that hour, she knew. They always came after school for some coffee to keep them up with any kind of activities they did. As she entered, Madame Houcheloup greeted her with a great smile that warmed Eponine up just by itself.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Goodman?! What brings you here so early in the morning?" the old widow asked.

"Morning. Do you have any of that hot chocolate ready? I need something to warm me up," Eponine asked.

"Of course I do! Be ready in a minute. I got a new employer, and you're his first customer."

"Thanks." Eponine sat down at one of the sofas. Her aunt did a great job with the renovation, in her opinion. The place looked much more modern. It had leather couches and booths, pure white tables that were extremely smooth. The lighting was a special kind, waves on the ceiling that were just a bit transparent so light would shine through in all different colors. The railing of the stairs to the level above was covered with Christmas lights. It was like a dream home to Eponine.

"Hot chocolate, Madame?" a handsome young man about her age asked from behind the bar. She'd seen him before, around school, but she didn't personally know him.

She stood up. "Yup, that's mine."

"I guess you prefer chocolate to coffee?" he asked.

"'Course! Who wouldn't?" She laughed as he handed her the cup.

"True. I'm Montparnasse, and I'm gonna be helping around. Maybe I'll see you again?" Montparnasse asked.

Eponine, who was on her way out, abruptly stopped. She turned around, eyes wide.

"Well, 'Ponine, will I?" he asked again with a knowing look in his eyes.

"You- you're still here."

"Of course I am. I never left."

She looked up to his eyes. They seemed nicer, but Eponine didn't take a chance. He was always a good actor. He could be acting right now, for all she knew.

Not answering his question, she opened the door, "Good day, Montparnasse."

The walk to the school was supposed to be relaxing, something to help clear Eponine's mind, but after Montparnasse had made an appearance, she was confused. Was she supposed to be happy or scared that he was here? If he was out, and he knew she was here, did that mean that her father and his gang were out too? And worst of all, did Thenardier know she was there too?

As she reached the school, she noticed that every eye was on her. A lot of the girls were laughing at her, too. When she opened the door to the inside of the large building, everyone was still looking. A couple of boys were chanting, "Rejected! Rejected! Yeah, you just got rejected! R-e-j-e-c-t-e-d, rejected!"

As she walked to her locker, she passed by Combeferre, and she pulled him to the side. "'Ferre, what the hell is happening?! Why is everybody looking at me?"

"Hey! Look! Now she's trying to get a smooch from his right man!" Someone screamed. Everyone laughed, and Combeferre blushed. He still liked Eponine a little bit. She was great, but he knew she and Enjolras belonged together. Hope springs eternal though, right?

"You don't want to know, 'Ponine," Combeferre responded. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to find a good way to explain what Colette had said about her.

Thankfully, Bahorel pushed through the crowd and screamed, "Get yo asses back in gear and in yo own business!" And they did, but there were still glances.

"Eponine," Bahorel said making his way to her, "You won't believe what Colette has done."

"Oh, thank god," Combeferre sighed, relieved he wouldn't have to explain to her himself.

"What'd she do?" Eponine groaned, falling back against the wall behind her.

"Colette spread a rumor that you ran out of Marius's party crying because you had a huge crush on Enjolras, and when you two were out on the porch, you tried to kiss him, and he pushed you away. Then she said you kneeled down and practically begged him to give you a shot. She's been spreading the rumor and everyone else has been expanding the story. So far, it reached the point where people said that you pushed him in the bathroom and tried to do the nasty, but he pushed you off," Bahorel informed her.

Eponine stood in shock. So, she was known as Miss Desperate, now. She threw her head back. "Why? Why? Why? What did I do to deserve this?!"

A small, pretty girl came up to her. "Hey, Bahorel. Hey, Combeferre," she started, blushing at the latter's name. "Hi, I heard about what you tried with Enjolras. It's okay, a lot of girls have gone through. There's a club that meets up every afternoon about it. If you want to join-"

"I DON'T LIKE ENJOLRAS! HE CAN GO AHEAD AND FIND SOMEONE WHO IS DESPERATE FOR HIM, BECAUSE I SURE AS HELL AM NOT!" she shouted. The three-people crowd flinched at her volume, and the girl scurried away, not even looking back.

"Great, I scared off a little girl, too," Eponine muttered.

Bahorel punched Eponine's shoulder lightly. "Hey, you are still a top-of-the-charts girl to me."

"Thanks," Eponine said.

"I'll talk to you guys later. Gotta pack for class!" Combeferre said running out.

Bahorel turned to her,"I know you're little 'Ponine." She looked up at him. "Enjolras told us, except 'Ferre. He doesn't think 'Ferre can handle it yet."

"Are you disappointed I'm back, too?" Eponine asked sadly.

Bahorel laughed his booming laugh, "No! Disappointed?! How can I be disappointed when I just got the girl that should've been my little sister back?!" She looked up and he gathered her in a hug.

"I missed you, and everyone else," Eponine breathed out in his chest. He smelled like smoke and too much of Axe.

"What I am disappointed in is that you didn't tell me first that you were here!" He teased.

She looked up smirking. "I didn't think you could handle it."

P.E. was the last class of the day for Eponine. It was also Enjolras's.

The whole class was talking. All of them still thought that what Colette had told everyone else was true.

"Alright, chickens," Coach Moore shouted above the noise. "Shut up and listen to me!"

The gym quieted down, and everyone faced him. He was a fit man, with large arms and a sculpted figure. His shirts always seemed too tight for him. Baggy pants always covered his legs, and many people say that his legs are all burned up and scared, the reason why he didn't wear shorts. He had beady eyes that pierced you like a knife, and he had a large nose that resembled a hawk's beak.

"Today, we're playing dodge ball. Enjolras and Feuilly, you two are captains. Pick your team."

Enjolras and Feuilly stepped away from the crowd. Eponine, Grantaire, and Bahorel were the only other amis in the class. They all ended up in Feuilly's team. Colette also happened to be in the same gym class, and she ended up on Enjolras's team, since Eponine was already picked. Enjolras also got Phoebus, an athlete, rich, handsome, and a complete asshole. Phoebus was a womanizer. Enjolras held no respect for him.

Last year, Phoebus had done a "courageous" deed by saving a beautiful lower classman named Esmeralda. Esmeralda and Enjolras were not close, but he knew her from Eponine and respected her. Esmeralda fell deeply in love with Phoebus, but he only wanted to sleep with her. He already had a girlfriend. A teacher named Frollo had busted them though, but for some reason that Enjolras didn't know, Esmeralda received detention for a whole year.

"Alright! C'mon, let's get the game started!" Coach Moore screamed. He watched as everyone made it their sides of the gym, and he waited. Anticipation and excitement made up the atmosphere, and then he blew his whistle.

Boys and girls rushed upon the large red dodge balls, and the game started.

Eponine caught a ball from Phoebus, getting him out, and then she screamed, "That's for Esmy, you bastard!"

Luckily, the coach had plugged in his earphones and couldn't hear a thing.

Eponine was steaming mad. She was so confused and angry! She'd recently heard about the story of Esmeralda, and it was the cherry to her pissed-off-sundae. As the balls flew past her, she let her anger out. Each hit was a channel of her anger. SLAM, for the big rumors about me. SLAM, for 'Parnasse appearing. SLAM, for my struggle with school. SLAM, (the loudest one yet), FOR ENJOLRAS SLAPPING ME! She hadn't expressed herself this much in years. When she was younger, if she was mad, she could take it out on something of hers. Now with Leanne, she couldn't do that.

"C'mon, Ep! You can do this!" Feuilly had screamed from the side of the gym. She was brought out of her reverie and realized it was just her and Enjolras. She looked at his face, which was blank. She looked down at the ball in her hand. She looked up again, anger bubbling in her chest as she realized it wasn't even her fault that she had to leave the school, and he punished her without a reason.

His presence seemed to whisper to her, I am what you want me to be. I'm your worst fear, you'll find it in me. Come closer, come closer… She stepped towards him, and her eyes focused. I am more than memory, I am what might be, I am mystery. You know me. Show me. And the ball flew from her hand, speeding in the air, and him right where it hurts.

Enjolras stumbled back, groaning. Eponine's team jumped up and celebrated, not realizing the pain he was in. Eponine left the gym, running from the scene.

"Oh, shoot! Enjolras is hurt!" he heard Grantaire shout. A small crowd surrounded around him, and he shut his eyes. His first thought was: Oh god, how am I supposed to do football later?

A/N: Hey! I hope you liked this chapter. Please review, favorite, or like. I don't own anything, sadly. Sorry for any mistakes. If you have any tips or comments, then go ahead and tell me! I'm open to advice!