A/N: Thanks to everyone for your lovely reviews, i really appreciate them :D
Phangirl2017; Yes, i wont be updating after Valentine's Day until Easter...sorrry about that
Thespian24601 & Dark Lady of Insanity; Guess who was right about Eponine's tutor?
Allynn11: Thank you for noticing the Little Mermaid referance in the last chapter, here's a cookie (::). I loved that musical and especially that song so i thought 'why not add it in?"
For furture referance, i like to add little nods to other musicals and little things from here and there so if you see anything worth mentioning or any referances, tell me and i will give you TWO cookies :D
Thanks again, please continue to review (32 chapter for a kiss if you dont ;D)
"I'm your new tutor."
Eponine stared at the familiar face with disbelief; when Enjolras said he knew a perfect tutor for her she had no idea who it could be and of all people this person was the last she expected to see.
No, Montparnasse would have last person I would have expected to see.
She was shocked to see the guy standing before her. She just sat there with her mouth open and her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"I see that you're a bit surprised."
Eponine stuttered, "Y-yea little bit. You weren't kidding when you said you knew someone who would be able to deal with my snarky-ness."
"Who better than me?" he asked nonchalantly, he looked over her unbelieving expression with question, "Is this really that bad of a surprise?"
She giggled, "No, I'm just shocked that you found the time to do this."
He shook his head, "I always have time to help a friend in need."
"And football?"
"Season ended last Friday."
"Speech?"
"We don't meet on Wednesdays." He said as he picked out a table nearby and pulled out a chair for him and one for her.
"Saving disabled puppies from fires?" She asked as she slid into the seat next to him.
A giant smile spread across Enjolras face, "I only do that on the weekends."
"Well then I guess I'm in luck."
"I guess you are."
She started digging through her backpack when something struck her and she looked over her shoulder, "So let me ask you something."
"Alright, go ahead."
"Of all things you could do in your free time, why are you wasting with me?"
"You're not a waste of time." He stated plainly
"It's nice of you to say that."
"I mean it."
"And the fact that tutoring looks good on a college application has nothing to do with this?"
Enjolras looked offended for a moment but he quickly brushed it off, "It doesn't hurt….but I would have done it either way."
"You mean that?"
"Would I lie?"
"No…" Eponine muttered and smiled as she felt her wall slowly start to come down.
"So what do you want to work on first?" he asked as he took out a notebook
"Oh, um….how about French?"
"Sounds good to me, what unit are you guys on?"
"Chapter 5 lesson 3, we are working on the comparative and the superlative."
"Ok well-"
"Be warned that I need a lot of help."
"I'm sure you are smarter than you give yourself credit for."
"You really think that?" she asked sardonically
Enjolras nodded and with that the two got to work. At first it was a bit of a rough start, Eponine did struggle a bit on the work and the added fact that she had the need to rant on the school system ever few minutes didn't help but Enjolras had to admit that he actually liked her views and complaints, it was a view that he hadn't really seen before. After they actually got on course however it was only a matter of time before Eponine found that she understood the material and everything started to click. There were some things that were still fuzzy in her mind but in total she got what she needed. They both found that there were also enjoying the time together, before either of them realized it an hour and a half pasted and the library was almost empty.
Eponine glanced up at the clock and felt her heart drop, "Oh no…"
"What is it?"
"It's almost 5pm, I need to head home." She said as she quickly gathered her things and turn to walk out the door.
Enjolras stood and caught up with her, "Do you want a ride?"
"No it's fine…."
"Are you planning on walking?"
She stopped dead in her tracks. "Maybe…."
"Then I am giving you a ride."
"No but-"
He put a hand up to silence her, "No buts, what kind of friend would I be if I let you walk home and freeze."
"Fine" she grumbled as she followed him out the door and into his car
As they drove off Enjolras couldn't help but notice the irritation on Eponine's face.
"Don't look so cheerful now."
She rolled her eyes, "I'm sorry, I just don't like being looked at like a charity case."
"You're not a charity case Eponine. Sometimes people just like being nice."
"Well I haven't exactly dealt with a lot of those people."
"You deal with me." He said off-handily
"Very funny, am I still supposed to assume that you are doing this out of the goodness of your heart and nothing else?"
Enjolras glanced over at her with a concerned look on his face, "Have you really been shown so little kindness that you question every act of it?"
Eponine fell silent and bit down on her lip, her teeth tugging at it as she focused her attention out the window. Although he would never admit it, Enjolras had to admit it was a cute habit.
"Would you like to change the subject?" he asked
"Yes please." She said timidly
"Alright, how is Gavroche doing?"
Eponine smiled at the mention of her brother, "Last I saw him was yesterday evening but Courfeyrac tells me that he is doing well. His family has welcomed him with open arms and he is better taken care of than ever." She turned her head to look at Enjolras, "I'm really happy that he is ok, it makes me feel better."
"I'm glad to hear that."
They finally pulled into Eponine's driveway and to both their reliefs the driveway was empty and there didn't seem to be anyone in the house.
"Looks like you won't have to kidnap me again."
"Good," he teased, "I don't know how much more of you I could take before I explode."
"Oh shut up." She said as she playfully hit his shoulder. "Have a good night Enj."
"Enj? What happened to Enjy?"
"I thought you didn't like it."
"I don't…. but I got used to it."
"All the more reason for me to stop calling you that"
"You like pushing my buttons don't you?"
"It's entertaining." She shrugged as she opened the car door and slid out, "Night Enjy."
He laughed softly, "Night 'Ponine."
He watched her walked up to her door and waited till she was safely inside her house before he drove off.
Eponine entered the house with a smile on her face, as much as Enjolras tended to annoy her, he also had a tendency to make her laugh and smile. However as soon as she passed the living room window she noticed a car pull into the driveway. She recognized the worn out car immediately and her smile faded.
"Montparnasse" she snarled and stepped out into the front patio to meet him.
In no time at all he was out of his car and strolled up to her, "Why hello 'Ponine, how are you?"
"I was fine."
"You were?"
She wasted no time, "What do you want Montparnasse? Father isn't even home."
"I just wanted to talk to you. It's been ages since we talked."
"I liked it that way."
"Well I didn't." He puffed on the cigarette in his hand before sticking behind his ear
Just then Eponine's phone buzzed in her pocket and reached down for it.
"Excuse me," she said with a snarl as she turned on her heel, "but I have other things I need to take care of."
He glared at her, "How long do you plan on pretending 'Ponine?"
She stopped in her tracks, "What are you talking about?"
"You and I both know that it's only a matter of time before all those 'friends' of yours grow tired of you, or see you for what you are."
"You're wrong, my friends care about me…."
"For how long? Things might be nice now but they will always see a girl who is beneath them, a girl who can never be anything more to them then someone who is just there."
Her expression turned deadly, "You don't know anything!" she yelled as she slammed the door on his face.
"I know a lot more than you think." He said maliciously as he walked back to his car.
Eponine bolted the door and stomped to her room, her anger swelling. Montparnasse doesn't know anything, my friends love me….I think. She sighed and collapsed on her bed, thanks to Enjolras she now had a substantially less mountain of homework she had to complete. With nothing to do she just laid there on her bed and stared at the ceiling. She studied each stain and crack, and the little glow-in-the-dark stars she stuck on back when she was 10.
She remembered that one of the last things her dad did with her and her siblings when she was little was take them out on a hill at night at go star-gazing. She remembered lying on her back and having her papa point out all the constellations, telling them the stories he knew and making up ones for those he didn't. It was back when she felt that her father actually loved them and saw them as something other than a tax deductable. But that had been a long time ago and even then things were still taking a turn for the worse. After everything crumpled and they ended up moving she noticed Azelma looking out the window as she unpacked their bags.
"I miss him Eponine."
"Huh?"
"I miss papa."
"Azelma he's right over-"
"I miss the papa we used to have: the one who loved us and took us out to see the stars. It's the stars I miss the most."
"Me too…" Eponine mumbled under her breath. Stars were the one thing that never changed, for better or for worse the stars stayed the same. It was the only thing that stayed pretty in her life.
The next day Eponine used the two dollars she found in her pants pocket while unpacking and went out to but a packet of star stickers for the ceiling, it wasn't the same but hopefully it would be enough. The light she saw in Azelma's eyes when she saw the newly decorated ceiling was all the thanks she needed, it always has been. Even in present day the lights she saw in people's eyes gave her rewards that were priceless.
A vibration in her pocket brought her back to reality.
Enjolras; Hey E, are you coming to the meeting tomorrow?
Eponine smiled as she rolled onto her stomach and texted back: Yep, someone's got to keep you boys in line. Why do you ask?
Enjolras: Grantaire wanted to know.
Ok, see you guys tomorrow.
Eponine sat up in her bed, Montparnasse and her father might think her friends didn't care about her but she knew they did, and that's all she needed to know.
The café was lively once again as the Student Government meeting was talking place. Enjolras stood at the end of a giant table, looking over all everything when he heard his friends come into the room.
"Morning Enjolras," greeted Courfeyrac
"Couf" He acknowledged, "how is Gavroche doing?"
"Just fine, he is a 10 year old kid so he can get a little annoying but he's great."
"Glad to hear that, Eponine would ring your neck otherwise."
"Yes I'm well aware of that."
Grantaire looked up from his phone for the first time that morning, "Speaking of Eponine, where is she?"
The two boys shrugged when just then the girl in question entered the café.
"Found her." Muttered Courfeyrac
Eponine walked toward the back room but before she could enter she bumped into someone and paused to apologize. However instead of being a quick 2 second interaction they all noticed that the guy she bumped into placed a hand on her elbow and talk to her. At first Eponine looked a little repulsed but after a second her cheeks deepened a shade of pink and she was biting her lip to force back a smile. The two were talking for a few more moments and Enjolras noticed Eponine brush a strand of hair behind her ear, a tell tale sign that she was nervous but from the look on her face he could tell the guy was flirting with her. He didn't know why but all of a sudden a giant knot formed in his stomach and he wanted to do nothing more than go over and break up the conversation the two were having.
Snap out of it Enjolras! He told himself, She doesn't need your protection.
Eponine finally broke away and continued on her way, though an enamored smile was still playing on her lips. All the guys looked on as the guy who flirted with Eponine walked off, none of them recognized him but even so he gave Enjolras a bad feeling.
"Morning everybody!" She greeted cheerfully as she plopped down into the giant cushioned arm chair next to Grantaire.
Combeferre decided to walk in at that exact moment "What's got you so happy this morning?"
She shrugged, "I don't know, I just am. So what is everyone working on?"
"Well I think the social events committee is currently planning out the winter dance" he explained, to which Eponine nodded
"So nothing important"
"Something tells me you aren't a dance-y person." Grantaire commented
"Not particularly, no."
"But…" cut in Enjolras, "we are still working on the upcoming election, and we are also looking over some standards and rules the school has set that we don't exactly agree with. We believe that if we can convince enough people to join our cause then the school board will looked over all the flaws in the system and-"
Without another word Eponine hopped out of the chair and sprinted into the other room where social events were meeting.
Grantaire patted Enjolras on the back, "Leave it to you to make women scurry off."
"In all fairness," Joly cut in, "he is actually the one what attracts them the most."
"Then explain to me why he hasn't had a girlfriend since 8th grade."
"And that only lasted for a month..." whispered Joly
Enjolras rolled his eyes, "Because I have more important things in life than worrying about girls and dating."
"You never know Enjolras; you might just find that one special girl who can make you change your mind."
"Well when you find her tell me."
A/N; Stuck on who to choose as the guy who flirted with Eponine so if you have any ideas please tell me!
Anyway in other news, my friends in this high orchestra/band were teasing me b/c they got to play selections from Les Miserables so i went out an bought myself a Les Miz flute book for $2 and told them all to stick it in their juiceboxes and stuck it!
Enjolras: Very mature, did you come up with it yourself?
Me (rolling my eyes): At least i have a cool vest
Enjorlas: You rigged that bet i know it!
Me: You're just a sore loser
Enjolras: Then you wouldnt mind placing another one
Me: Bring it!
Courfeyrac (looking at us from a distance): Remind me why we let her into the barricade?
Joly: We felt bad cuz she was a walking target for Meponine shippers. Though its good to see Enjolras show some actual emotion
Me & Enjolras: WE CAN HEAR YOU!