Thanks for everyone for voting and reviewing, I'll leave the voting open for a little longer, like another chapter or two (though most have been all the same so i'm guessing that theme will continue no matter what -luckily its the results i had in mind :D)
Thanks also for the ideas for the story, ironically i had the same ideas in my head that many of you suggested.
Its almost 2am her and I began writing this chapter around 5pm but then my grandma wanted to watch Phantom of the Opera, it was the only movie in the house she hadnt seen (which surprized me because its the number one thing i have talked about since she got here...that and Les Miz) so i took the opportunity to watch it with her and explain it to her (apparently its very complicated and confusing). Ironically i also dragged her to see Les Miz with me the day it came out.
But anyway due to the movie i did not get this chapter finished til now, hope you like it :D
The sun was just beginning to rise and its streaks slipped into the ABC Café, illuminating the large room. It was still early morning and most schools did not begin for another hour or so but even so the room of the café was lively as it was occupied by several boys from West End High, which only happened to be about two blocks away. The boys often met there both before and after school; it was a small family owned café and it was usually pretty quiet and secluded, it provided for a good hangout for all of them.
Enjolras was sitting at a table studying when a few others decided to join him.
"Morning Enjolras." Said Courfeyrac as he slid into the seat across from him
Enjolras responded by simply nodding his head quickly before turning back to his schoolwork.
Grantaire laughed as he saw the exchange and neared the table, sitting down next to them with an extra large coffee in his hand, "Honestly Enjy, must you always be so caught up in school work. School hasn't even started yet."
Enjolras just rolled his eyes, "Please don't call me 'Enjy' and it just so happens we have a big test in history and for one want to do well." He spoke with an edge to his voice
"Society's definition of well or yours?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Enjolras you are probably going to do well on this test either way," began Courfeyrac
"But to you it's only well if you score 100%"
"Well excuse me for trying to strive!" he practically shouted. He was stressed out enough as it was for the exam, he didn't need this constant distraction as well.
The two others stayed silent, looking at each other in confusion, Enjolras was known to be cold and a bit serious but usual no mad. Combeferre looked over from his table a few feet away and narrowed his eyes slightly at the group.
"Out of curiosity, how much sleep did you get last night?"
Enjolras sighed as he put a hand to his face and rubbed his forehead a bit, pondering over the question. "About three hours."
"Dude you can't keep doing that to yourself, its senior year, the year you are supposed to have fun." Remarked Grantaire as he took a sip of coffee.
"For your information, I had to stay after school till 6pm yesterday for football thanks to the big game we have against Broadway Friday, and when I did get home I had practice for speech, seeing as we have our first meet next week, plus I had work on the freaking English project because someone left me on my own for it, and not to mention that I really need to ace this history test!"
"Oh poor Enjolras," muttered Courfeyrac, "tell me, could possibly be any more of an epitome?"
He just rolled his eyes, "Anyway all that added up means I got no time for sleep!" he glared over at Grantaire, "Or fun" he sneered.
"Or girls for that matter." Called a voice; everyone turned to see an amused Eponine standing at the doorway with a smile trying to find a way on her face against her protest. Her dark hair was in a lose braid off that hung on her shoulder with several random strands escaping and sticking out, her ripped jeans were tucked into her combat boots and she also had a wrinkled brown v-neck on that matched the fingerless gloves on her hands and her usual hat. All in all she looked a lot less well kempt than all the rest of the guys in the café but beggars couldn't be choosers, she was one of the only girls that frequented their meeting. They had all been so busy listening to Enjolras they didn't even notice her come in. "You know Enjy your problems might be solved if you, oh I don't know, took on less."
"Please don't call me Enjy." He groaned
"But it's fun." She said in a sing-song voice
"And I suppose you think you need everything to be fun, I swear you are almost as bad as Grantaire."
"Hey!"
"Don't go insulting me now!" She gasped before she pouted her lip to the side as if in though as she dropped into a seat at the table and shrugged off her messenger bag, "And no, not everything has to be fun, but the world is a lot more bearable if you have a little fun every once in a while. It would do you good to remember that."
"I'll remember that once I the time." He said sarcastically
"Oh yes, I forget that you've got a full plate."
"That's an understatement," Commented Grantaire "it's more like he's got a full thanksgiving value plate."
Eponine rolled her eyes at him before looking back at Enjolras who looked less than amused, "Fine don't take my advice just don't blame me when you are gray-haired and miserable."
"I highly doubt I will remember this conversation in 60 years."
"Who's talking about 60 years, I was thinking you would be like that more along the lines of your graduation. I mean I think see several grey hairs now." She said as she reached over and ran a finger over his head.
Enjolras slapped a hand on his head and narrowed his eyes at her, "You're cruel."
"But you love me." She giggled lightheartedly.
"At least you're not as bad as Laigle." Commented Combeferre
"Oh Bossuet, I doubt anyone is as bad as him." Added Feuilly who had been listening in on it all, "I swear that boy will be completely bald by the time he is twenty-five."
"Have to agree with you there." Stated Eponine, her eyes then wandered around the café, "Has anyone seen Marius?"
"No not yet." Remarked Courfeyrac, "But I think he will be here soon, he isn't one to miss meetings."
"Like anything important actually happens." She commented sarcastically
"Just watch 'Ponine, someday something big will be planned and take place right here on these table tops."
"Sure they will." She said with an eye roll, "One day you will start a big revolution for all the oppressed and become legendary heroes."
"Who knows, we just might."
Eponine rolled her eyes again and shook her head before reaching down for her bag and digging through it for her journal and a pen, she liked to write whenever inspiration hit her or she just had time and that tended to happen at the most random times. As she stared down at her paper and wrote away, fatigue became to set into her small body. Much like Enjolras, she hadn't gotten much sleep the night before either and after a few minutes she began to nod off.
"Whoa Eponine wake up!" she heard a voice call as a hand shook her shoulder gently; she turned her head slightly to see it was Combeferre.
"Oh sorry," she yawned, "I guess I'm just a little tired."
"I'm guessing you didn't get much sleep either."
She shook her head, "Nope."
Enjolras smirked a bit, "So what exactly kept you up?"
Eponine responded with an annoyed glare, "Well unlike you I didn't have a bunch of college entry activities to keep me busy. I for one got home, picked up the house, made dinner, did laundry and cleaned the bathrooms, did my homework, helped Gavroche with his….and then looked online for jobs for a few hours."
A laugh escaped Grantaire's throat, "Damn Eppy, I'm surprised you didn't do the dishes."
"I had Azelma do them." She shrugged causing the others to laugh.
Enjolras' eyes looked away in shame for a second, he forgot that Eponine wasn't as fortunate as the rest of them; she was the one in charge of her household and the one responsible for everyone else, always putting herself last.
There is no one else to take that job but her, he thought; wait a second…"job"! Didn't she say she was looking for a job?
"Hey Eponine," he called causing her to lift her head up look at him; "didn't you say you were looking for a job?"
"Yes…" she responded nervously.
"I think the café is hiring. I remember Mr. Myriel saying that they needed some more help. He may be interesting in giving you a job."
Her dark brown eyes widened to the size of saucers, "Do you really think that Mr. Myriel would do that?"
Just then the very man himself stepped into the room, "What would I do?"
Eponine went silent and her eyes grew wide. Enjolras let a small laugh escape from his nose before he put his arm around Eponine's shoulders and grinned, "Give our friend Eponine here a job here at the café."
The old man chuckled and a wide smile spread across his face, "Are you a hard worker Eponine?"
"V-very" she nodded.
"Do you take orders well?"
"Yes sir very well, I also live really close and my schedule is very open."
He smiled warmly, "Well then, I think I may have just found the ABC Café's newest employee."
"Really?!" she gasped, unable to believe her luck, "Oh thank you Mr. Myriel, you don't know how much this means for me."
"Well it appears we were in need of each other Ms. Eponine, I'm getting old and I need a lot of help around here. That involves things like opening up or closing up, dishes, some cleaning and moving boxes around. Would you be willing to take that responsibility?"
She nodded, "Absolutely!"
"Great, you start first thing after school tomorrow."
"Thank you."
"Not a problem." He said and with that he wiped his hands on a towel and stepped back into the back room.
Eponine turned to Enjolras. "Oh thank you Enjy!" she blurted as she threw her arms around him, "I can't thank you enough, I really needed a job! How can I ever repay you?"
"You can start by stop calling me Enjy."
She chuckled as she loosened her embrace and looked up at him, "You got it Enjolras."
They stayed there looking at each other for a minute and he was about to say something when Eponine's phone dinged and she reached over to grab it.
Marius; Hey 'Ponine, can't make it 2 the café this morning. Want 2 meet by our lockers?
Eponine rolled her eyes and responded. Sure b over in a few
She tucked her phone into her pocket stood up as she swung her bag onto her shoulder, "Love to stay and chat but I've got to go meet Marius. Catch you all later."
"Bye Eponine." They all called as she walked out the door and ran to the school. No one noticed, but someone in the café was more than a little pissed at her eagerness to leave them all in exchange for Marius, so blindly unaware that while he touched her life, she touched his.
"He gave you a job? 'Ponine that's amazing!" Marius exclaimed as he took her hand and spun her around
She smiled broadly, "I know right? I can hardly believe it, and it's at the café! That means I'll still be able to see all of you all the time."
"And make money doing it." He teased
"That's the best part." She grinned as she reached down into her bag. Suddenly her face dropped as she realized something was missing from her bag. "Shit I left my assignment in my locker."
"Which one?" he asked, they were right in front of their first period classrooms.
"My English paper, damn it I need to turn it in today or I will get an F. I've got to back and get it." She mumbled irritated as she spun on her heel.
"Want me to go with you?"
"Nah, I'll be fine, you go on ahead. 'Ponine knows her way around." With that she sped off for her locker.
She finally reached it and quickly put in her combination. As soon as her locker was open her eyes scanned over her shelves until they finally rested on her English folder. She snatched it up and was very relieved to see that her paper was in mint condition before snapping it closed and stuffing it into her bag. She was just about run off to class when she noticed someone was blocking her path.
"Hi there 'Ponine." He sneered.
"Montparnasse." She responded flatly.
"Where are you off to in such a hurry?"
"Class, that's kind of a given considering we are in school."
"Oh you're a feisty one aren't ya? Tell me Eponine, why don't we run into each other more often?"
She turned her head and looked off to a wall for a moment, looking as if she was actually pondering over his question, "Because I try to avoid you?"
"Why, do I make you nervous? Do I give you butterflies and make you blush?" He mocked
"No." she shrugged, "I simply don't like you."
"Why you little…"
"Hi Mr. Javert!" Eponine called
Montparnasse froze for a minute and looked over his shoulder nervously to see if the principal was really there which he wasn't, Eponine took this opportunity to escape from Montparnasse and make a run for it. By the time he turned back she had already sprinted in the other direction and was out of sight.
Eponine kept running, wanting to avoid Montparnasse at all cost. She used to be friends with him when they were younger but over time he had changed and Eponine couldn't stand the person she had become. After she met Marius and befriended all the rest of the guys she cut off all ties with him and barley ever said more than two words to him.
She kept her head down as she ran and was so immersed in her thoughts she didn't see the person in front of her until she collided head on with him, sending his stuff everywhere and knocking her down and causing all the contents of her messenger bag to fill. She quickly got to her knees and began gathering her and the others things, with a little help from him.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there."
"It's quite alright."
Eponine froze for a moment as she recognized the voice. She brushed some hair out of her face and looked up to see none other than Enjolras knelt down across from her picking up her things. When they finished gathering everything he extended a hand to help her to her feet before handing her books to her.
"Thank you." She nodded
"Not a problem."
She tucked some things into her bag and was about to walk off when she realized that she left something on the floor, it was her journal. She bent down to pick it up but Enjolras beat her to it and snatched it up before she had a chance.
"Hey give me that!" she yelped as she reached over to grab it.
He smirked and turned so that she was reaching across his shoulder and lifted up the book above her head. "Why what's in it?"
"N-n-nothing." She responded, automatically drawing back her arm.
"Then why are you so protective of it?"
She put her hands on her hips, "Because its mine!"
The warning bell rang which caught Enjolras' attention for a split second, just enough time for Eponine to snatch her journal back and run off.
"Sorry I've got to get to class." She called over her shoulder as she sped off.
Enjolras chuckled as he watched her run away from him for the second time that morning.
A/N; I'll give a cookie to whoever can tell me which character Mr. Myriel is -In other words who in the musical/novel i took the identity from (ex; Freddy back in chapter three was my version of Firmin from Phantom of the Opera)