Secret Auditions

"And don't forget! I will be holding auditions all day today!" Mrs. Caballero reminded everyone before they left her class.

"Are you auditioning as anyone?" Eponine asked Grantaire as they exited the auditorium together.

"Probably not. God knows I can't stay sober long enough to play someone, but I might just get a small role," Grantaire pointed out.

"Drinking won't solve all your problems, R," Eponine said.

"No, but it helps me forget I have them," Grantaire sighed.

Eponine knew Grantaire had a very rough life. His family was messed up just like hers before she got saved, and so she tried her best to support him. Of course, it was hard. What are you supposed to do when your best friend is head over heels for your other best friend/love interest? And the fact that Enjolras and her used to like each other did not help at all. So, Eponine would always try her best to get the cynic to look on the bright side.

"Well," Eponine spoke, "I believe no one is willing to play Vera, and Enjolras is obviously going to play Lombard. Who says that only girl can play girls?"

Grantaire grinned and patted Eponine's head. "Oh, Eponina. How I wish it was that simple. We all know that he would prefer you in that role."

He offered her a tight smile then turned to go to the school's right wing for his art class.

Eponine stood there feeling guiltier than ever before knowing if she got the role, her best friend would suffer.

The usually boisterous cafeteria was calm due to the fact that everyone was studying for midterms. Eponine was well aware that all the Amis were giving her odd glances because she was the only one who had absolutely nothing out and simply stared at the clock. In five minutes, Mrs. Caballero would be done with her current class. None of them knew she was about to audition for the role of Vera. Eponine bit her lip in an attempt to keep her nerves calm like the lunch room.

"Is something wrong, Eponine?" Combeferre asked her eventually. He quirked an eyebrow.

"Everything is perfectly fine," Eponine reassured, adding a smile for good measure.

"You haven't eaten anything or even read a book, like usual," Feuilly stated.

"I know," Eponine replied. "I've got a- uh- this- appointment in a couple of minutes with someone."

Well, it wasn't completely a lie. The only pretext was that it wasn't an appointment, but more of a surprise visit. They nodded and went back to studying. The next two minutes, Eponine tried to swallow a bit of the cookies Musichetta had given her, but she feared she would throw them up while auditioning and decided to avoid the chance of that happening.

The distant sound of a bell ringing caught Eponine's attention, and she jumped up out of her seat.

"Well, that's my cue," Eponine told them. "See you later guys!"

The others greeted her goodbye, and Eponine rushed out. Courfeyrac's eyes followed her, and he smiled upon seeing that she turned in the direction of the auditorium.

He sighed, shaking his head. "I thought she remembered I was supposed to come with her. I've got to go, too." He grabbed his things and left, leaving the others confused about his departure.

The padding of her own shoes echoed around the auditorium. The quiet seemed to jumble her nerves more. Eponine's stomach became a garden for butterflies. She stopped where she was, considering if she should just forget about auditioning and head back to lunch.

"Yes," she whispered and started walking. Then, Eponine paused and turned around.

"No." She shook her head. Why would she try? Colette would obviously get the part.

"Yes. NO. YES. No…" She spun back and forth, trying to decide where she would go.

"Eponine, what on earth are you doing?" Mrs. Caballero asked her from the front of the room.

Eponine faced her, blushing. "Debating."

"Well, I can see that… but why did you come here to debate? And why are you debating over yourself?"

"Um, well… That is a very good question that even I am trying to figure out." Eponine slumped into a chair. That did not go well.

I should probably leave before I embara-

"I suppose you're going to audition? That is why you came here for, after all, isn't it? And that's what you were debating?" Mrs. Caballero asked her knowingly.

Eponine sighed, relieved. "Yes, thank you."

"C'mon up here, then. Which character do you want to audition for?" Mrs. Caballero asked while she sifted through papers.

Eponine scurried to her desk at the very front of the auditorium. She thought about Vera Claithorne earlier, but now, she was starting to think she wasn't made for the role.

"I think Vera might suit you." Or maybe she was made for the role.

"I'll be happy with anything," Eponine whispered.

"You know, dear, I think you would get a lot farther here if you weren't so hesitant to try things out," Mrs. Caballero advised her with a smile. Eponine returned it.

Her teacher handed her a slim binder with the script inside and Eponine walked up on the stage.

"Eponine, dear, you have five minutes to review page ten and get into character. Make sure you read Vera's lines, and then, perform them as best as you can, dearie."

Eponine thanked her and then read her lines on page 10. She didn't have to memorize this, did she? What if she forgot her lines during the play? Eponine, she told herself, focus on the script. Focus.

She read the book before and tried to get accustomed to Vera's character. She was smart and self-composed, but she was young and flirtatious. Suddenly Vera didn't seem to appealing to play.

"Do I really want to play this role?" Eponine whispered to herself. What was she getting into?

"Eponine! Five minutes are up! Are you ready?" Mrs. Caballero called.

"Yes," Eponine replied. No, I'm not. I completely regret this decision. Can I be lights or something?

Despite this, Eponine found herself walking to center stage and taking a deep breath.

"Oh, my god!" Eponine covered her mouth and stared at the edge of the stage imagining a dead body there. "Is he…?"

"He is," Mrs. Caballero replied, voicing Dr. Armstrong.

She rubbed her temple. "Who would do such a thing? That's so cruel! Why was it only his drink that was tampered with?" She added shallow breaths to emphasize Vera's discomfort with the situation.

"That, my dear, is what we have to find out."

Eponine walked to the right wing of the stage, shaking her head and sighing. She rubbed her face with one hand. Then, Eponine looked up.

"Wait… Weren't there ten soldiers?" Eponine turned around to face Mrs. Caballero.

"Yes, why?"

Eponine did a double take. "There are only nine now…"

Mrs. Caballero looked at her and nodded.

"Good emotion, Miss Goodman. There was some over exaggeration, but otherwise, splendid job."

Eponine walked down the stairs and met with her teacher, handing her the script.

"Thanks, Mrs. Caballero." Eponine walked to the center aisles until she saw her backpack, and she slung it over one shoulder.

Eponine walked back toward Mrs. Caballero's desk. "Thanks for- um- letting me audition and just helping me out with theatre lately."

She smiled up at her. "Eponine, it's my job, but you do have some sort of potential."

Eponine's face scrunched and she gave an unsure smile. "Um, thanks…"

"Go off, now." And then Eponine was dismissed.

She jogged to the exit, hoping she could still sneak a snack or two before class. Before she could make it to the main hall, Eponine's eyes caught a grinning Courfeyrac leaning against the wall.

He gasped, and covered his mouth. "Oh my god! Is he…"

She glared at him playfully. "You won't be mocking me when I get the part, and you get backstage because the audience can't handle your ugliness."

He laughed as he walked over to her to give her a hug. "You know you love me and my dashing face."

Eponine rolled her eyes. "Sure."

"But I think you will love Enjolras's dashing face when he finds out he gets to make out with you at the end of the show."

Eponine's eyes widened. "Oh, no…"

Courfeyrac's laughter increased. "You forgot didn't you?"

A/N: Hello! Well, I think that was a pretty decent chapter. The story still takes place before Christmas and New Year's because I'm really behind, and I'm sorry. Also, apologies for updating so late.

I want to say a great big thank you to all you beauties for following or adding my story to your favorites because it means so much to me! There's more to come. :D

Update: I have changed my tumblr username to something else, so sorry if there was any confusion. It's currently imaginez-indefiniment

So thanks to everyone again for hanging around and I hope this year is full of love and fandoms and butterflies! (Unless you're allergic to butterflies, then I guess something better.)

-Franky