Take My Love And Run

"Great performance! Bravo!" Mrs. Caballero called to the actors as she made her way down the dressing and prop rooms. Eponine followed her, using her to clear the path. She turned at the end of the hall and into her dressing room. Immediately, Eponine fell into her chair and covered her face.

Why had she done that? Why had doubts clouded her thoughts? Was it just ingrained in her mind to think so badly about her chances at falling for someone?

Eponine removed her hands and looked at her reflection. The door was wide open and she could hear the students outside chatting and celebrating. Everyone seemed to do exactly what they needed, everyone except for her. Staring at nothing, she began to wipe her face and remove the make-up. The powerful heels had hurt her feet and she slipped them off, feeling opposite of what she had felt before with them. Eponine removed her earrings and out of her costume. She felt so weak after everything, whether it was fatigue or regret she did not know.

Pulling on a nice dress and flats, she opened the door to the main hall. It was a common thing to go outside and talk to the people who watched the show or the actors' families. She walked down the hall quietly, avoiding the people at the sides and in the rooms. Fortunately, Eponine did not run into any of her friends or Colette. She kept her head down and her face serious, her eyes following the path of her feet on the tiled floors.

Eponine went out into the main hall in front of the auditorium. Immediately, she spotted her family waiting for her against the long windows with Ben. She approached them with a giant, fake smile.

"Hey! There's our actor!" Leanne said. She gave Eponine a big hug and squeezed her tightly.

Eponine laughed and pulled back. "Thanks. Did you guys enjoy the show?" It seemed like her fake enthusiasm showed through- at least to Gavroche. He looked at her with one eyebrow quirked up and his lips in a small smile.

"Extremely," Ben said, smiling almost wickedly. "You've got a really nice school."

Leanne began fidgeting slightly, and Eponine bit the inside of her cheek to prevent punching him. She could just get rid of him here. He would be one less man they would have to worry about. She stopped herself. No, she needed him. She needed information from him.

"Thank you. Gav? Zel? What did you guys think?" Eponine asked them.

"I absolutely loved it! You have skills, Ep!" Azelma squealed.

Gavroche nodded, and he swept his hair to the side. "I'm not a big theater fan, but that was good."

Eponine ruffled his hair, laughing at his reaction. He swatted her hands away, but she kept them on his head. Gavroche could not help the laugh that escaped from him, and Eponine stopped and smiled.

"Alright, I'll catch up with you guys later. I need to go see a few people," Eponine said. She walked away, turning to wave goodbye. Gavroche was looking at her with one eyebrow quirked up. He seemed to have a guess on who she was seeing, and Eponine looked straight ahead, controlling the on-coming blush.

Over the sea of people, she saw the halo of Enjolras. His face was obscured by a few other tall people, but she had a good view of him. When their gazes locked, it seemed he had a good view of her, too. Enjolras's eyes were full of confusion and pain. It seemed he was almost begging her to come over there and tell him her reasons. She bit her lip as they headed towards each other, he in eagerness and she in fright. The amount of people seemed to decrease a bit, and she could see him a bit more clearly. His hands were pushed deep in his pockets, fidgeting with something in them. It seemed Enjolras was scared about what to expect, too.

When they were about four yards away from each other, two people slid in front of her. They blocked her way and her sight of him. People began whispering and staring at Eponine and the pair. They were dressed in very nice casual clothing, one with a dress and the other with a polo with pants. The lady wore a giant statement necklace and was blatantly examining her. The man looked straight into her eyes, his eyebrows scrunched in thought. He kept poking his tongue on the inside of his cheek, but his lips were curled into a proud grin.

The lady stuck her hand out, her excited eyes finally focusing on Eponine's face. Eponine looked at them, confused and frightened at the pair's forwardness. The lady laughed slightly, and the man brought out a small blue card from behind him.

"Hello, Miss Goodman. Excuse us for not introducing ourselves," apologized the lady. She smiled brightly, her pearly whites glowing. "We're from Yale."

Her eyes growing wide, Eponine's mouth dropped open. Yale was so far from where she was. It was unusual that scouts were sent to Hugo. Enjolras and the not-kiss were forgotten for now.

"Yale? But that's so far!" Eponine exclaimed. She began ringing her hands, wondering what the scouts were approaching her for. It was her first year in theater. Could she really be that good?

"Well, we've decided for a long time it was worth to make the trip down here. And boy are we glad!" said the other scout. He handed her the card, pressing it in her palm. "Your performance was outstanding. Of course, we can tweak some things here and there, but you have potential! Ever think of a scholarship?"

Eponine gave a breathy laugh. Never before had she thought of an acting scholarship. "No, not really. Maybe a small one for educational purposes, but never before an acting one."

"Well, think about it. We'll be keeping watch for you," the woman scout said. She winked at Eponine before her and her companion left, traveling down the hall and congratulating a few of the passing actors.

Eponine stared at the small piece of cardboard in her hands with a name and number. And the Yale symbol. A smile graced her features, not daring to look away to make sure it was not a dream. Eponine closed her hand around the card, holding it in her clammy hand. She looked up, catching Enjolras's gaze immediately. She offered him a surprised smile, and made her way forward. Before she got too far, Musichetta and Bahorel bounded up to her with huge smiles, once again blocking her path to Enjolras.

"I saw that!" Musichetta squealed, pointing at the card in her hands. Bahorel clapped her on the back and bounced on the balls of his feet.

"Man! That was awesome! Your scream caused goosebumps, and that kiss with Enjolras! Made my skin tingle, man!" Bahorel rambled. "No wonder they gave you that card! Can you imagine it! Your name in bright lights!"

Eponine laughed lightly, flattered and slightly melancholy that they thought her kiss was real. "I don't plan on making a living out of this guys, but this may be my ticked to college!"

Musichetta gave her a fist bump, and all of them shared giant smiles. They stood there, talking a bit about the performance and complimenting the other. The crowd had really thinned by then. Only the closest families of the actors were still there, waiting and watching. Musichetta gave her friend one last hug before approaching her two boyfriends, squeezing both their cheeks at once. Bahorel patted Eponine's head, making a comment about how he would not be able to ruffle her hair with the amount of hairspray on her. He said a quick goodbye and headed towards Feuilly in the prop room.

"Can I finally have you to myself?" teased Enjolras from behind her. She turned around and laughed, nodding her head. Immediately after, their light attitudes fell and a more serious and questioning ambiance surrounded them.

Eponine fingered the card in her fingers, running the corners on the pads on her index and middle fingers. She looked up at him and sighed as if releasing her words to find new ones. "That thing up there… I…"

He looked at her, his face twisted in utmost confusion. Enjolras's eyes were cloudy as if a storm had settled in them. And one probably was- an emotional storm. Eponine looked directly in them, feeling like a sailor who had made a big mistake taking a risk on the crazy waters. Shuffling her feet, she tried to explain the not-quite-kiss. She opened her mouth and closed it abruptly. Would she be willing to admit that she was scared about the action?

"Did you, or did you not, want to kiss me up there?" Enjolras asked bluntly.

Eponine's mouth went dry. Was she really comfortable about talking to him about this? He rested his hands on her shoulders, gripping them to keep her in place. Eponine looked at his strong hands, admiring the marks of hard work left on them. The callouses, rough skin, slightly wrinkled surface. She lifted her worn right hand, and she rested it on his. Eponine tried to smooth out the skin, almost as if smoothing it would wipe all his worries away.

Eponine chose her next words carefully, not wanting him to get the wrong message. "No, I did not want to kiss you up there." She swallowed hard, hoping he would see the hidden meaning. When Eponine looked into his sad eyes, she knew he had not understood.

Enjolras's arms fell off her shoulders, and he took a step back. Her shoulder felt cold again without the warmth of his hand. She rubbed her collarbones with her thumb and index finger. Enjolras looked pained. His muscles were stiff and though his face was impassive, his eyes reflected a different emotion. Rejection? Devastation? Disappointment?

Eponine opened her mouth, ready to explain. "I wanted to…"

Before she could finish, Leanne had called her to hurry up. She looked at the man in front of her, feeling sorry for ever making such complicated conversations. "I need to…"

"Yeah," he said quietly. "You need to go. I understand." Nodding in her direction, he urged her to go. She felt a bit guilty. Eponine wanted to stay and tell him everything, even what the felt for him. Instead, it seemed like he had put his cards on the table, and she scooped up the betting pile without putting her own cards out. Eponine couldn't help but think that she always ran from him whenever they were about to escape the friendship zone.

"No, that's not what I was about to say…" Eponine said. She reached out gripping his hands. "I really wanted to…"

Again Leanne called her to finish up. Having no other choice, Eponine squeezed his hand before releasing it. She turned around and rushed to her dressing room to get her things. A few people clapped her on the back as she passed by, but she never responded. The next day was the dance, and she decided to explain to Enjolras there.

As she turned off the lights of her dressing room alone in the dimly lit hallway, she remembered that Montparnasse was coming with her to the dance. He was her escort. She slammed her door shut, knowing he would get in the way of anything she tried to do with Enjolras alone. She regretted agreeing to go with him. They were not even that close! She was not even sure if she trusted him as much as she claimed.

For once in a long time, she wondered how her life would be freer under Thenardier. She stomped down the hall, thinking about late nights she would be able to spend, the freedom she would feel, and… the inevitable pain. Eponine scolded herself for thinking such things, and she left the school. Quietly, she thanked the police for locking him up, even though it lasted for only a few years. Her chances of endangering her friends and Enjolras with her connections was less likely. Again she felt the pang of concern she had for all of her friends, especially him. She did not pass the golden boy on her way to the waiting car outside, and she couldn't help but feel the disappointment in her stomach.

When she got into the van- thankfully without Ben-, Leanne began gushing about the play. Azelma nodded and agreed while Gavroche stared at Eponine. He smiled, and she nodded at him. At first she did not see his lips moving in a silent message to her, but then he nudged her leg. Eponine whipped her head to him, and he mouthed "your phone" again. She asked him a silent question, then understood. Eponine pulled out her phone, wondering why she had not thought about texting Enjolras.

She typed in a quick, small message, hoping he would read it and not ignore her.

Hey. Tomorrow we need to talk. Meet me at the front doors of the east wing at the dance, k?

She waited patiently for the message bubble, her leg bouncing with anticipation. Gavroche rested his chin on her shoulder, watching too. Eponine's face began to brighten when she saw the notification of him reading the message, but it immediately fell when he didn't respond for a straight five minutes or any time after that. Gavroche grabbed her hand and squeezed it. Eponine shut off her screen and shrugged. She would wait for him at the east wing all night if that's what it required. Eponine hoped to explain not only that not-quite-kiss, but anything else they needed to clear to restore their odd, smooth friendship. Silently cursing her inability to do things in order, Eponine wished he would appear the next day.

A/N: Heyo! I updated pretty well this time! I hope chapter was okay and satisfying any cravings of drama. I got the inspiration for it from a song by the Bad Suns called Take My Love And Run, also the name of the chapter. I had a lot of time on my hands, and I decided to write a little. I was also bursting with ideas for the story.

Important!: In a previous chapter, I wrote Enjolras slapping Eponine, and I really regret it. I never want anyone falling for someone abusive or hurtful. If this story was real, Eponine would have cut all contact with Enjolras. Enjolras, on the other hand, would never have slapped Eponine. Me writing that scene probably came from my urge to add drama. I want to take that scene back and replace it with something more forgivable, but that would also require me to add new elements. It would make my story far more confusing. I just want people to understand that when i wrote that chapter, I was in the wrong mind. I do not want anyone to ever stick in an abusive relationship.

Thank you so much for the outstanding support i get from everyone here. It makes my day, and it really cheers me up whenever I need it, too. I've been looking back in my chapters, and I can't help but feel that Eponine is a little OOC, but I think it may be appropriate since she grew up away from Thenardier and his connections. She would have been a little softer, in my opinion, but I want to hear yours! Please tell me what you think on this subject.

Again, thank you for the support! Please review/follow/favorite! Sorry for any grammatical mistakes. I don't own Les Mis. :)

~Franky :)