Reflections and Discoveries
That evening, Enjolras possessed Eponine's mind. Her every thought revolved around him and how his soft lips had grazed her cheek. She felt her body go weak, suddenly thankful for the wooden chair she was sitting on. A light blush appeared on her face, and she tried to will it away. Instead, a small smile appeared at the sweet memory of his gentle gaze, comforting her in those small seconds. She seemed to have forgotten she was with her family because she looked down at her plate full of food, chuckling at her silliness.
Her aunt quirked her right brow, obviously confused at Eponine's behavior. She could not help but inwardly laugh at how reverse the situation was from the day before with Ben. She grimaced at the memory, but then turned her attention back to her niece. "What's so funny about your chicken and rice pilaf?"
Eponine looked up, confused and alarmed. "What?"
"You were laughing at your own food," her aunt stated.
Nervously, Eponine licked her lips, averting her gaze. She felt embarrassed that her aunt had noticed her strange behavior.
"It's really nothing," Eponine said. She shrugged it off and continued eating her food.
"Mmmhmm…" Her aunt murmured with a suspicious look.
Azelma sipped some of her water with a smirk. "Really, Eponine," she chuckled. "You may have lived with Thenardier for a couple of years, but you still can't lie!" After realizing what she said, Azelma's face quickly paled. She had mentioned the forbidden name.
Their aunt had stopped eating, gazing at Azelma in a reprimanding way. Gavroche began shaking slightly, remembering the terror and nightmares he still got from the horrible man. All of the three children's minds brought up memories of being beaten, starved, and scolded. Stiff and rigid, Eponine sat with her hands gripping her utensils.
"Oh, oh my…" Azelma whispered, covering her mouth. "Excuse me… I… I am so sorry. It just slipped! I don't know what overcame me…" Tears began pooling in her big, brown eyes.
"Azelma," Leanne called. "Forget about it. Just… don't mention it." Their aunt began cutting into her chicken again. "So how has everyone been doing?" she tried desperately to change the subject. Her voice shook, but everyone ignored it. "How's the play, Eponine? Any action between you and cute one, Marius?"
Eponine sent a grateful glance at her aunt, thankful for her attempts to distract them of the disturbing topic. She rolled her eyes upon seeing her aunt's mirthful eyes. "I don't like him anymore. That was four years ago. AND he's dating Cosette. They're such an adorable couple."
"But what about Enjolras?" Gavroche teased. He snickered, his nose scrunching and his laughter filling the dining room. Azelma pursed her lips to try and quench her laughter. Looking at Eponine teasingly, Leanne smiled her niece. Gavroche's laughter quickly stopped when he felt his sister's threatening gaze.
"You LITTLE SH-" Eponine began before catching herself. "Shrimp that makes its predators' stomachs churn!"
Her aunt gave her a warning glance before smiling mischievously. "That was a sweet save, dearest, but I believe you will have to pay. Who is this Enjolras you speak of, and what's going on between you two?"
Eponine looked down, forgetting about Gavroche and trying hard to suppress the smile at hearing his name. "He's an old friend… Really nice. I've known his since sixth grade. We were like two peas in a pod! Nothing special. We just, you know, reunited this year, and happen to be cast in the same play!" Eponine rambled. She set her eyes downcast, stuffing her face with the rice.
"He was Eponine's old boyfriend," Azelma taunted, recovering from earlier that evening. "He's quite a hunk, Leanne. 11 out of 10, if you know what I mean." She winked, making Eponine blush and everyone else laugh.
"He's just a friend!" Eponine exasperatedly said. Laughing, her family resumed eating, yet at the back of each of their minds, they were thinking about the horrible topic that had occurred before.
Eponine said a silent prayer, remembering the encounter she had with her father. She felt like she was being watched after then, and she knew he was coming for her. Should she have told her aunt? Should she have warned her? Maybe it was good that Enjolras had walked her home the day before. She still did not trust Ben, but at least he walked her aunt home. After he had given her too many drinks.
She couldn't help the tugging feeling of being previously acquainted with him. His features were considerably unique that Eponine knew she would never forget him. His almost sinister eyes, and his sharp nose… Putting two and two together, Eponine gasped.
Everyone else looked at her, alarmed. She scanned their faces, trying to swallow the saliva that had gathered in her now dry mouth. Her gaze resting on Leanne's, and then she turned away.
"I need to get started on my project! It's due tomorrow!" Eponine lied. As she left the dining room, her aunt called her back.
"You forgot your plate," Leanne said, pushing Eponine's empty plate towards the girl. Eponine easily saw that her aunt had called her back to read her features in an attempt to find out the truth. Looking down, Eponine grabbed her plate, dropping it quickly in the kitchen sink.
Again she rushed up the stairs to her room and jumped on her bed, quickly flipping open her laptop. After logging on, she rushed to search up what she hoped was wrong.
First, she researched the most recent headlines of her town. Unfortunately, she found the reports she had always hoped would never come.
It read "Patron Minette Released?!" She sighed, scrolling down and reading. Her "father" had an accomplice to release him and his group out of prison, and now they were on the loose. Eponine scoffed. Of course they have to be on the loose right when I get back…
Eponine then typed in "Ben Wills," and immediately the results popped up. Ben Wills was the technology teacher when she was in sixth grade. She remembered his rough nature, always grumpy and rude. He was fired and placed on trial after reports of him tracking students, especially girls, with his chips were filed. After scanning an article, she knew her suspicions were correct.
Eponine's blood boiled at the disgusting man. He had been released, and Eponine knew he was associated with her "father." His disgusting hands had touched her aunt. Eponine grabbed the covers beneath her in an attempt to release her anger.
"What was that all about, Eponine?" her aunt said behind her. Still astonished and angry, Eponine faced her aunt, placing her computer in front of the older woman.
"What is this?" Leanne murmured, coming closer and squinting. Her eyes quickly widened, realizing what Eponine was implying.
"But… Why?" her aunt asked again.
"You're full of questions, aren't you?" Eponine said, turning the computer back to face herself.
"Eponine…" Her aunt sat beside her on the bed.
"Don't even think about calling the cops." She looked at her aunt, a serious expression on her face. Behind all of the defensive and strong emotions Eponine exuded, her aunt could see the terror in her eyes.
"That's what any normal person would do!"
"And that's exactly why they would get killed in a few days." Eponine shut her laptop. She sighed and lay down on her bed. "Believe me, I know how Thenardier works."
"Then what do you suppose we do, Miss 'I'm the smart one here'?" Her aunt looked at her disapprovingly. It was her duty to protect them, and Eponine thought she knew better. Deep down, Leanne knew Eponine was right, but stubbornness did run in the family.
"We watch out and wait," Eponine sighed. She bit her lip, drawing blood from the already chapped state. "I know it seems ridiculous, but if there's one good thing about this family, it's that we always know how to survive."
She closed her eyes, wishing everything would turn out correctly. Her aunt lay down beside her.
"What should I do about Ben?"
"Just get close to him. Invite him to my performance tomorrow. Talk to him. Get info." Eponine felt her aunts arms wrap around her small frame. Eponine tried to pull away from her, but she was brought back in.
After giving the top of Eponine's head a quick kiss, her aunt sighed. "My little Eppy is so grown up!"
Eponine groaned. "Leanne!"
"C'mon everybody!" Mrs. Caballero shouted at the rushing students. "Chop, chop!" She ran around the stage, directing people to do things here and there. From the front of the curtain, everything looked calm. People were taking their seats and talking to any families that looked familiar. The lights were bright, lighting the room with a welcome glow. Children ran up and down the aisles with chocolate and other treats at the snack bar.
A part of one row near the back was occupied by Eponine's family and Ben. Listening to Eponine's orders, Leanne was happily conversing with him. She would do anything to keep her family protected, and if that meant she had to be a conniving serpent, then so be it.
Behind the tents, people were panicking. Every student was nervous about the show they had worked so hard on. Cosette ran around the stage, fixing every costume, with fault or not. Marius and Courfeyrac repeatedly checked the sturdiness of the set, prodding the pieces despite Mrs. Caballero's insistence that it was fine. Snickering in the back were Grantaire and Bahorel, switching the grape juice with real wine. With Bossuet's unluckiness, he lost the top half of his costume, and they had only thirty minutes left before the show started. For the first time in the year, Mrs. Caballero's cool and collected façade had broken, and a frenzied, old woman shown instead.
In summary, everything was chaotic.
In the dressing room, Eponine stood in front of her reflection in the mirror. She was safe from the pandemonium outside. A small draft from the window cooled her sweaty skin, a result from her nervousness. Self-consciously, Eponine fanned her back and neck, hoping no sweat stains would appear. She did not want the beautiful costume to be ruined. After all, she was not the type of person to ruin things carelessly, especially an outfit such as hers.
She had on a clean pressed, white blouse, which was tucked neatly into her baby blue pencil skirt. Over the shirt, she wore a matching blue blazer with small paisley designs embroidered on the cuffs. Around her neck hung a simple silver chain holding a large, orange topaz. The one downside to the costume was the giant white heels she had to wear, but as she turned around, she had to admit, she felt powerful in them. She looked like a woman of great status and importance, confident and beautiful.
And she was. She was the female lead of the play, and she was ready to take on the role. Casually leaning against the door frame, Musichetta appeared behind her in the reflection of the mirror. She had on a maid's uniform and a giant smirk. Bossuet's costume was found by her, and it was resting on her left arm.
"Just wait until Enjolras sees you," Musichetta said.
Eponine rolled her eyes despite the light blush that spread across her cheeks. "He'll be keeping his calm composure, and the play will go on."
"Right after he ravishes you!" Musichetta exclaimed, laughing at Eponine's disgusted expression.
"Please stop!" Eponine exclaimed. She patted her hair down and fixed her collar. "I've told you before. I'm here to fix what I messed up. Nothing more."
"Eponine." Musichetta walked over to her slightly shorter friend, her face suddenly serious. "You need to stop denying your feelings for him. Believe me, it's mutual."
"I don't have feelings for him. Again, I've told you: we are friends."
Deciding that the direction she was trying to go through wasn't working, Musichetta used a different approach. "Have you ever considered that you messed up not only Enjolras's emotions and such, but your relationship between each other?"
Astonished, Eponine froze in the mirror at her friend's wise words. Quickly, she played it off cool. Eponine fixed her blazer's cuffs, shrugging at Musichetta's statement. "No, but I just need to patch it up a little here, patch it up a little there, and Voila! We're best friends again."
Smiling at her annoyed friend, Eponine turned around and headed for her dressing table to wipe off her sweat. Their conversation seemed to be more like an interrogation and meditation. Musichetta grunted in frustration.
"Dammit, Eponine!" She placed her hand firmly on the table, shaking the makeup and hair pins. "You know what I mean! I'm trying to help you here!"
"You're not helping if you keep shouting at me!" Eponine shouted. She closed her eyes, counting to ten to calm her down. "I know you do want to help me, but this is my problem. I can fix it myself to the degree I want to fix it." She sighed before continuing. "Besides, I don't want to waste my time and get my expectations up for a relationship that might not last."
Both of Musichetta's eyebrows shot up and her eyes grew large with a sense of mischief and knowing. "Oh." Eponine looked at her curiously. She just turned away and smirked. "Oh, I get it."
Eponine glared at her retreating friend. "What are you getting?"
"Oh," Musichetta whispered, her hand resting against the door's handle. "You know."
"No, obviously, I don't." Eponine crossed her arms running her tongue against the back of her teeth.
"It's just that you… well…" Opening the door slightly and squeezing through, Musichetta grinned at her friend. "You're afraid of being rejected and falling in love." Then she slipped out of the dressing room.
Eponine's eyes widened in surprise, her mouth agape. "That's not… That's definitely not… Musichetta!" She groaned, struggling to run to the door in her heels.
The door was flung open by her, and she shouted down the hallway, hoping that Musichetta would hear. "That's not true! We're in high school! That's ridiculous!"
Instead of the redhead coming around the corner, a student dressed in a perfectly pressed cardigan and long skirt came rushing towards her. Eponine gasped, pulling her body back through the door and shutting it behind her.
"Eponine Goodman, let me in!" screeched Colette. She pounded heavily on the door with her fist.
"I'm- I'm busy dressing!" lied Eponine. She quickly picked up the first thing she spotted, a hair curler, and plugged it in.
"Don't bullshit me, Goodman! You were fully dressed! Get out!" After a few more minutes of Colette's fists pounding her back through the wooden door, the door gave in. Colette stormed in, her eyes furious and slightly… red. Had she been crying?
"Colette! Please be careful! I'm curling my hair!" Eponine flinched a bit at the sight of the taller and angry girl.
Colette snorted. "Please, your hair is in a bun. Now listen, you little shit." Eponine eyes widened. She had been called worse names, but not since she was with Thenardier. It seemed that living away from his harsh tongue had made her more vulnerable to insults. "There are scouts out there. And they're looking for me." She pointed at her chest to accentuate what she was saying.
"Oh, how wonderful! Daddy's little girl thinks that the scouts are for her," Eponine said, letting the sarcasm slip out of her mouth before she could stop it. It was Colette's eyes that widened this time.
"I would punch you right now if it weren't for the fact that your blood would get on my costume, and we don't need that." Glancing quickly at the steaming curler, Colette hit Eponine's arm. The curler fell from the other girl's grasp, grazing her skirt and leaving a mark. It fell to the floor with a clang and sizzle, unplugging itself during the process.
"Holy crap, you're crazy!" Eponine whispered, trying to rub the burn off her skirt. Her attempts were in vain as the mark just spread across the fabric.
"Listen here," Colette demanded, raising Eponine's chin with her long and slender fingers. "Tone down your performance. You know what I'm capable of."
"Are you threatening me?" Eponine asked. She knew the answer, but for some reason she still felt like asking.
Colette rolled her beautiful green eyes. "What do you think?"
"I think you're being a bitch, that's what I-"
"You little…" Before Colette could finish, two hands separated the girls from each other.
Enjolras stood before them, worry and anger filling his eyes. They were a dark grey-blue, looking at Eponine with concern and Colette with loathing. His lips were pressed into a tight frown. Eponine saw his hand on Colette stiffen, and his hand on her upper arm gently touched her. She looked up at him annoyed and relieved. He saved her from a fight, but she could have handled that fight. Why did she always feel torn whenever it came to this man?
"What are you two doing?" he said with a stern tone.
Colette shoved his arm away, keeping eye contact with Eponine. "I was just leaving. Break a leg, Eponine." She offered a fake smile towards the girl before leaving.
Eponine huffed. "I bet you she actually wants me to. The nerve! I was just calling for Musichetta when she came storming in! Can you believe her? She's ridiculous!"
Sighing, Enjolras ran a hand through his curls. "I know, I know. Are you alright?"
Eponine nodded before standing in the full length mirror again to fix anything that went astray. "Look at me… I'm a mess."
Enjolras looked up from fixing his tie, pausing when he finally got to see her relaxed and happy. His gaze was captured, and he couldn't look away from her beauty. Enjorlas was absolutely entranced. The costume made Eponine look so mature and womanly. She was responsible for his currently weak knees. Grabbing the closest table, he supported himself. Enjolras shook his head, wiping his suddenly sweaty hands against his pants.
"You look- great! No, amazi- Well…" He paused, looking at her once again. As he tried to capture his thoughts and feelings into words, she looked at him through her long lashes with a smirk and mirth in her eyes.
"Breath-taking?" Eponine asked teasingly. She laughed at his flushed face, blushing herself.
"I guess that's sufficient enough for now," he whispered. They exchanged small smiles and comforting glances. Eponine felt content to just forego the performance and spend her time with Enjolras. She felt the need to just be with him and know him better after all those years.
"We're best friends. You don't have to be shy about it. I'll be blunt with you: You look hot." She playfully batted his strong arms, blushing more at the contact and spark she felt. Must be the cold and all that electron stuff.
Just then, the speaker called her up to the stage. Eponine smiled at him through the mirror. "That's my cue. See you later, Captain!" Eponine gave him a small salute then quickly walked towards the stage, forgetting all about Colette's threats. Her stomach was full of butterflies, and her emotions were conflicted between joy and nervousness. It's just because you're about to perform, not Enjolras.
A/N: Heyo! Thank you so much for reading and hanging in there with me! I want to thank you all for the support! I know some of my contents are confusing, it's just I had a main idea, and then I made up the stuff in between those two main ideas. So, in short, I'm the most disorganized person you'll ever meet, and I think it reflects in my writing. Sorry :/ I'm not sure if i should start anew? Is that wrong, or should I just continue?
Thank you all so much for reading! It means so much to me! Please review! I have not been getting a lot, and I'm not sure if there's something about this story that may be throwing everyone off...? Special thanks to all who constantly do, especially all those guests! :)
Please tell me if you have any advice! I'm all ears. :)
~Franky :)