WARNING! THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SPOILERS OF AND THEN THERE WERE NONE BY AGATHA CHRISTIE!

Thoughts and Decisions

The harsh wind whipped as Eponine ran faster for the protection of the school. Why she didn't take the bus, she didn't know. She just had to make it to the school before she died of hypothermia. She fought through it by listening to her pounding footsteps and heavy breathing.

Once the outline of the brick building was in her line of sight she rushed towards it. She pushed the heavy glass doors and ran inside to the warm air of the building. She rested her hands on top of her head in an attempt to steady her breathing. Winter was her 2nd favorite season, but it was like Elsa herself had made an appearance.

Her breathing had steadied and she walked down the halls and to her locker. Everything was so different from the first day of school. Faces had become familiar. Her feet could guide her through the halls if she wasn't looking. Sometimes she could even tell people apart by their voices.

As she packed her books, she waited for Enjolras's daily wave of girls by pressing herself against the lockers in attempt to not get squished. Her stance fell, though, for only half of the girls passed by his locker. They lingered around longer too because Colette had not been there to break it apart.

Eponine stuffed her books in her bag quickly and walked casually towards him thinking about what she was to say. She was more cautious about what to talk about with Enjolras. Their friendship was like walking on a frozen lake: one small step, and she would fall into the unforgiving waters below.

"Your fan club kind of decreased," she stated while leaning against a red metal locker next to his.

"Hmmm… I wonder why. Maybe it was because Colette has been spreading the news of our break up?" he said sarcastically. So their break up the past weekend impacted him that bad?

Eponine held her hands up. "I'm sorry! I got here, like, five minutes ago."

"You really need to work on avoiding words like 'um' and 'like.' That's a little fault in your oratory skills. It distracts the listener from whatever you're trying to say."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Senator. I guess I can't be as eloquent as you," Eponine sassed.

He turned to her with one eyebrow up and leaned down to kiss her forehead before stopping, realizing what he was doing, and brought her into an awkward hug instead. She patted his back, pretending to be uncomfortable when she actually wanted the moment to last.

He pulled away a couple of seconds later, the tips of his ears red. She knew he was embarrassed. Trying to lessen the tension, she punched him lightly, but the both of them had very different definitions of "lightly." Enjolras flinched a bit before patting her head.

"It's good to have you back, 'Ponine," he whispered.

"And I'm glad," Eponine replied. "I'll see you later at theatre." And then she waved good bye.

A lot of people seemed to think that Enjolras was very different from his old self. They claimed he was closed off, a workaholic, and didn't care about anything except for the underprivileged, but when he was with Eponine, he became softer. He seemed to talk about normal things more, join in on the games, and sometimes he would even crack a smile. Her mission seemed to be going well, although she was sure that no one, especially Enjolras, would be happy to know that she thought her acquaintance with him was more of a mission than an actual friendship.

Apparently today was the day that Mrs. Caballero would tell the class what play they would be doing. Half the class hoped for a musical, and the other hoped that a plain old play would go through. They wanted something along the lines of Shakespeare. Eponine squeezed her eyes shut and wished… God, please don't let the play be Shakespeare.

She didn't hate Shakespeare, but she thought if they wanted to really capture the audience, then they would need something that everyone would understand. Shakespeare was a little complex, even for some grown-ups.

Eponine took a seat in the second row of the theatre to the left. The rest of the class trickled in one by one, Les Amis among those who came. Courfeyrac sat on one side of her and Musichetta on the other. A couple of minutes later, the whole class was there.

Mrs. Caballero walked up onto the stage holding her clipboard and fixing her bun. Her glasses stood on the tip of her nose. She pursed her lips before speaking.

"Well, nobody seems to want to do a musical this year," she sighed. "I didn't think any of you would want to do Shakespeare, either. I settled on a solution, though. It's a mystery story that you might enjoy doing."

Well, tell us already, thought Eponine.

"We will be doing And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie," Mrs. Caballero announced. "Auditions will be held tomorrow. The different characters and synopsis will be on the doors of auditorium."

A small murmur went out in the crowd about who would be who. Musichetta was wondering what the fuck And Then There Were None was.

"It's this book by Agatha Christie where 10 people, I believe it is, get stuck on an island. They realize that they among them is a killer who is 'punishing' them for their crimes," Enjolras interjects.

"It's good, and it isn't as boring as he makes it sound," Eponine whispers in Musichetta's ear, ignoring the glare he gives her.

"Mr. Joly! Please come over here," Mrs. Caballero called Joly from the stage.

Slowly and hesitantly, he walked over to her. Eponine and Musichetta paused to watch what would happen to him. Would he be given detention for some sort of trouble he caused (which was highly unlikely)? Was he given a special role? Maybe he was being scolded.

Enjolras walked next to Eponine to talk to her. "What do you think she's telling him?" Mrs. Caballero said something and Joly nervously laughed.

"I don't know. That's what I'm trying to find out," Eponine responded.

Joly walked back to the trio, blushing.

Musichetta quirked an eyebrow. "What was she saying to you?"

Joly shook his head. "There's a role she really wants me to play. Dr. Armstrong I think it was. She said, 'Joly, it is my personal opinion that you should be the nervous nerve doctor Armstrong. Believe me, with you in the role, you'll hardly have to act.'"

Musichetta and Eponine laughed at her comment.

"Hey, Joly," Enjolras comforted him, "At least you have a major role in a school play."

"I'm pretty sure you're going to get one too, Enjolras," Eponine pointed out. "Mrs. Caballero loves you and Collette. Wait, do you guys know if she's changing up the ending or…"

Enjolras's face went completely blank. "Please tell me she's keeping the ending."

He wished he could have knocked on wood because at that moment the person being spoken about stood up to announce that the play would have an alternate ending from the one in the book.

Eponine laughed. "You'll probably end up being Lombard, and you'll have to flirt with Collette and make out with her!"

"Is that what happens?" Musichetta asked Eponine. She nodded. "Oh, god."

"What if you get the part, Eponine?" Joly asked her.

Her laughter stopped. "Um, I don't think that would work out very well, honestly…"

"Why not?" Musichetta asked. Eponine looked at Enjolras, hoping not to hurt him with the next words.

"I'd rather not kiss Enj. I mean I like you, but more like a brother, you know?" Bullshit. Utter bullshit. She knew it was, but she couldn't deal with it if Enjolras thought she liked him. It would totally mess up what she had begun building.

Enjolras hoped that nobody saw the small flash of disappointment he showed. That really hurt. He was family-zoned. It was worse than a friend zone, indeed. A family-zone is like a relationship with someone where you're so close, but so far. He was her brother and nothing more. Maybe those intimate moments they shared with their little hugs and kisses on the forehead or cheek meant nothing more than that to her: they were simple signs of family love. Was that what they really were?

Enjolras excused himself, claiming he wanted to look at the roles. He walked over to Mrs. Caballero's desk, asking to see the roles. After he picked up the clipboard, he sat on a chair far away from everyone.

He stared at the words, all a jumble at the moment. It was obvious he would get the male lead, Captain Lombard, but could he really stand to kiss Collette?

But what if Eponine gets the part instead? He thought. Doubt it actually. Collette's been getting the female lead since she was a freshman.

But it might just change.

But what difference does it make? Eponine gets the role and she has to kiss you. It'll just be an acting kiss. Nothing real.

But what if she was lying back there because she was embarrassed?

No, Eponine is blunt. If she liked him, she would've told him.

"You're pretty focused on that one sentence," Grantaire said.

"The structure is extremely interesting."

"I'm surprised you find 'The different roles are: Vera Claithorne, Phillip Lombard, Wargrave, Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers, etc.' interesting."

"We all have different interests."

Grantaire nodded, taking a seat next to him. "I have a feeling that Colette won't get the role this time."

"Who are you to say? You function on alcohol and sketches you claim to make."

Grantaire pouted. "Someone made you grouchy. Was it Nina?"

Enjolras turned the other way. God, was it that obvious? "No. I'm just tired."

"Alright. But for once, listen to me, Enjolras," Grantaire pleaded. "Destiny will not forsake you again. The boys and I have a feeling everything will be alright."

"If this is another one of your pranks or something to set me up with a girl, Grantaire, I'm not-"

"Enjolras. Don't speak for once! Just freaking let the world go around and don't do anything. I know that's hard, but destiny has got your back. You'll be fine." And then he walked away. Enjolras didn't know what the heck it was about, but for once, like Grantaire asked, he didn't do anything.

"Who do you plan auditioning for?" Courfeyrac asked, bounding up to Eponine as she walked down the hall.

"Maybe stage set up," she said.

"Really? C'mon 'Ponine! It's your first and last year here. You've gotta live as much as you can."

"Is that how you live your life?" Eponine asked.

"Yes, actually. Just, please, do me one favor?" Courfeyrac begged. He stopped her at her locker.

"Ughhh," Eponine groaned. "No! I know you want me to audition for Vera so you and Grant can play match maker, but no!"

"Please?"

"NO. End of conversation!" She pushed past him to head for government.

Pshhh... She was going to audition for Vera Claithorne anyways.

When were auditions again? Tomorrow? She should better go to school early if she doesn't want any of the boys to find out. She thought about it for a second.

Yeah, I'll have lunch really quick and then go to the auditions. She nodded to herself and walked to her next class.

A/N: Christmas break! *Kisses laptop* I'm really sorry I haven't been updating often. So, I've realized through the help of a couple awesome writers on FF that I do rush a bit, so if anyone has any tips on how to keep their writing pace steady, it will be much appreciated! Please review, like, and/or favorite! I would love to hear all your opinions. Constructive criticism is welcome! Thanks for all the support on my first story! :D

-Franky