A/N: Just made a few edits to chapter 52. I am still on my hiatus
I just wanted to reassure everyone that I will not be abandoning this story, i do plan on returning eventually (I have the end planned!)
I also uploaded one of my first videos on YouTube so if you want to know the author behind the writing just look my up on YouTube with the same username as here.
Love you all,
~~ Eponine T Daae
Where or where did my reviewers go? Oh where oh where could they be?
Sorry about the odd update yesterday, I basically wrote 1/2 this chapter on my phone during a bus ride to marching band festival, so i was just trying to finish it and the author notes completely slipped my mind.
Please review, i've been getting less reviews lately and it hurts a bit. I still love you all!
P.S I will start my vlogs soon but again September is a crazy month for me. SORRY!
Oh with the story!
"And remember everyone, tonight is our last baseball game of the season! Be sure to support our team at the championships! Go Rebels!"
Eponine rolled her eyes at the voice of the peppy morning announcements as she stood on the small metal ladder leaning against the wall and put up the colorful poster in her hands up in front of her in slight annoyance. With the amount of advertising this game was getting one would think the entire school had been behind the team the entire season, like in football or basketball, but instead the team's undefeated season had gone unnoticed by most of the general public until it was realized that a championship would earn another trophy for the school. The teams had had many close calls over the season and various injuries yet to everyone every bump in the road was all worth it. Eponine knew she shouldn't judge the school for waiting until now to start following baseball, if she were being honest she would have to admit she would never have given the sport a second thought if it wasn't for the fact that her boyfriend and his best friend were on the team. With a smile and a sigh Eponine slowly stepped down from the ladder and stepped back after pushing some strands of dark hair out of her face to admire her handiwork. Like many others in Student Government, she was excused from her third period class to help put up various posters around the school- with everything they had to announce Student Government had no time to post other than during the school day after they had gotten their posters printed and approved. After an almost laidback time frame events at the school started popping up at the exact same time; not only was the baseball game this weekend but prom was right around the corner and that meant a big pep assembly and the beginning of the prom court process, in fact nominations for king and queen were next week.
The yearly battle for prom court was something that stirred up a giant ruckus every year- girls would plaster their perfectly made faces along the walls of West End High with various quotes that appealed to everyone captioning their heads while the boys whitened their teeth in order to make all girls swoon if they caught a glimpse of their smile. If Eponine had to guess she would say the nominees for queen would be Galinda, Christine Daae, Velma Kelly, Roxie Hart for queen while heartthrobs Fiyero, Raoul, Courfeyrac, and possibly Gabe Goodman for King- every single one an upperclassman. Fortunately guessing was not in Eponine's job description, all she had to do was put up some poster asking other people to suggest names. It brought her a sense of peace.
Unlike most girls Eponine had no secret desire to be queen, she didn't even put the thought of prom in her mind that often, in fact she wasn't even sure if she would go. To Eponine prom seemed like a giant dent in her small funds that she wasn't sure if it was worth it all - the dress, limo, ticket, dinner, etc. If she had things her way she would much rather spend that night at home curled up on her sofa in a soft blanket watching and X-Men marathon and eating popcorn while Gavroche's puppy, Hagrid, nipped lightly at her feet.
The moment Gavroche's eyes landed on that fluffy black cocker spaniel the name "Hagrid" flew into his mind; Eponine would forever blame Combeferre for getting her little brother hooked on the Harry Potter series- it only took the little boy four days to read the first book and within a month he had completely finished the collection. As soon as Gavroche had announced the puppy's name, stating it was perfect for the dog, Enjolras had almost cut in to correct him by saying the giant's name probably didn't suit a dog but a sharp elbow to the gut from Eponine's friend Nancy shut him up rather quickly. It honestly surprised Enjolras how blunt this girl was. She knew no one at the party yet she walked around with this sense that told everyone she was unafraid to take charge and say exactly what was on her mind, in spite of what everyone else thought. At one point in the night she had even starting dancing and singing around some pub song he had never heard in the middle of the room without a care. It seemed as though the Thenardiers' knew that song for as soon as it stared both they and Arthur began clapping and moving along with a chorus of "Oom, pah pah". The whole thing really confused Enjolras, when he casually mentioned it to Eponine later that night the brunette laughed at him and rolled her eyes. As she picked up dirty plastic cups she told him that where they came from people had two main choices; be quiet and invisible or unafraid and untouchable. As petty as it sounded, little things like that made the difference between standing out and staying in and becoming yet another statistic on paper. Her response caused Enjolras to stare at her in confusion, his brain not processing what could possibly lead to that correlation, but he said nothing as the stare Eponine gave back silenced him.
After that Eponine gave up trying to explaining anything to him any further. There were a lot of things she knew but they weren't found in textbooks like the kind of knowledge Enjolras and the rest of the boys had, they were things learned by experience and life-things she couldn't just teach no matter how hard she tried- things people like her and Nancy were experts on. Nancy, now that was something that had been plaguing her mind for awhile, actually ever since the girl showed up on her doorstep with a look on her face that spelled out utter fear and distraught.
She was brought out of her inner weaving of thoughts by the feeling of a firm hand on her shoulder. Eponine turned around to see a familiar and happy face staring back at her.
"Hey girl!"
Eponine smiled widely, "Hi Angel, good morning."
"Good morning to you too! I have to say I love that poster you put up!"
Eponine glanced over to remind herself what the content of her poster was, it was a pep assembly advertisement. "Thank you, I like it too, it's very colorful."
"Leave it to the pep crew to make a poster louder than me!" Angel joked gesturing to his outfit which consisted of bright black and white striped pants and a loud red shirt with white cuffs and black boots. Angel never failed to dress to impress and it was something Eponine both liked and respected about him. He wore what he wanted to wear and if anyone tried to comment Angel would turn it around on them while keeping true to himself. Anyone like that was someone amazing in her eyes.
"Well we have to prepare for when you graduate, half the school's personality with leave with you. Then where will we be?"
"Its a real shame isn't it?"
"Oh completely! What ever will we do?"
Angel laughed, "You will figure something out. Anyway I just flagged you down to tell you the rest of the committee is just about finished with their posters. We can go back to class!"
"Oh joy…" Eponine said sarcastically.
"Ha I know I know but alas we have to get to class, school is for learning after all."
"As always Angel you have proven to be completely and utterly correct."
"I try!" He announced with a fake flamboyance.
The two of them walked down the hall together to their respective lockers with a light feeling.
"Are you excited for the game tonight? Especially since your boy Enjolras is one of the leading men. He is going to lead us to victory."
Eponine cocked an eyebrow quizzically, "You know about Enjolras and I?"
"Girl the whole school knows! Enjolras was the most eligible bachelor at the school, practically everyone wanted him. I mean come on, sure the guy is lacking a few emotions but his face makes up for it, I mean he is Gorgeous! Plus he is athletic and smart and…. well just about everything! All that added up makes one FINE hunk of man. When he was taken off the market we all had to know who it was that stole his heart and stole him from all of us. Have to say you were the envy of most everyone in the school when we found out."
Eponine giggled and tried in vain to stop the redness from spreading across her cheeks. "Wow now that is eye opening."
The cafe was filled from floor to ceiling with excitement and joy. Weeks of practice and intense training had all paid off as the West End High varsity baseball team had just won the championship game. The game had been close, the scores tied at some points and leads bouncing from one team to another at other, but the intensity of the ninth inning had blown that all out of the water. In the end it was Combeferre who lead the team to victory when he hit a homerun that allowed both him and his teammates Enjolras and Gabe, who were on the third and first base respectively, to run toward the home plate and gain the three points with which they claimed the victory. The crowd went wild after that and Cosette swore on her life she left it was loud enough to wake up the entire neighborhood. Courfeyrac shouted out proud cheers while Grantaire plopped Gavroche on his shoulders and Marius and Bahorel hollered out at the team.
After the win Combeferre and Enjolras caught up with the rest of the group and it was unanimously decided that they would go to their one favorite place to celebrate, if this was going to be their last victory of the year then they were going out in style. The teens all strode into the cafe, save Eponine who said she had to go home to take care of something.
Enjolras and Combeferre were extremely ecstatic as they walked into the cafe; this win was the first time the baseball team ever won the championships, to say they were proud would be an understatement. However Combeferre also noticed the small tension in Enjolras even though the stoic boy had done a fair job hiding it- they had been close friends for years and it grew to a point where they knew each other inside and out. The boy in question seemed completely at ease but his smile would stop as soon as he thought no one was looking, he would occasionally glance at the door as if waiting for someone to burst through, and there were other times when he would stare off into the distance for a few moments as if contemplating something. Combeferre couldn't pinpoint what exactly Enjolras was stressed out about but he could tell something was gnawing at him.
"Hey man you ok?" He asked his friend with genuine concern
"What? Oh yes I'm fine Ferre."
"You sure? You seem a bit tense."
"I'm fine Ferre."
"You said that already yet why I am having a hard time believing you?"
"You're delusional?"
"That's not very nice now is it?" Combeferre teased, "Enj I know you better than anyone, don't you remember when I called your little crush on Ponine? Look where that lead."
Enjolras sighed, "I know I know….."
"So tell me what is wrong, and before you claim you are fine again let me point out that you have been acting strangely all day."
"Fine Ferre you win." Enjolras admitted in defeat, "I'm just a bit distracted is all."
Combeferre pushed his glasses up his nose, "Well I can see that. Care to elaborate a bit?"
Enjolras sighed in defeat, he knew when it came down to it he couldn't hide anything from his best friend, attempting to do so would be pointless.
But he could try.
He opened his mouth to allow some censored story to spill out when out of nowhere someone came up behind Combeferre and tapped his shoulder lightly. The sandy haired boy turned to see who it was out of instinct, not really caring and keeping his attention set on Enjolras but upon recognition of the person behind him his face brightened.
Out of complete curiosity Enjolras cranked his neck a bit and saw a timid girl standing right behind Combeferre. The boy in question seemed to have completely forgotten about Enjolras' near confession as he chatted animatedly with the girl behind him while a large smile spread across his face. In a last resort Enjolras gave a subtle cough to attempt to gain Combeferre's attention back, even if only for a moment.
Combeferre heard the cough loud and clear and automatically turned to face Enjolras, his cheeks turning slightly red. "Enj, this is Abby, Abby this is Enjolras."
"Enjolras huh? That's one interesting name." Abby commented nicely with a smile, as if not knowing what else to say.
Enjolras took a moment to inspect the girl standing in front of him; she was skinny and very petite, barely reaching Combeferre's shoulder, with glasses, long brown hair and a pale complexion. Enjolras would have to admit she did seem like his best friends type- quiet, studious, and bookish. He could tell how happy Combeferre was by the light that was in his eyes as he glanced down at her. He had to admit it made him happy to see his friend so cheery.
"So what was it you were going to say Enj?" Combeferre asked hesitantly, as if suddenly losing a bit of interest. It was painfully obvious to them both that while he did care about Enjolras' current dilemma he really did not want to separate himself from Abby's side.
Enjolras shook his head, "It doesn't matter, I'll just catch up with you later."
"You sure?"
"Yes," Enjolras replied with a nod, "why don't you show Abby around and introduce her to everyone? I'm sure she would like that."
"I'm right here you know…. I can speak for myself." She answered back timidly
Combeferre gulped, "Would you like to meet everyone Abby?"
She smiled up at him, her expression matching Combeferre's previous one, making Enjolras feel a wave a relief that his friends affections were recouperated. "I'd love to."
With that the two lovebirds walked off to mingle around the cafe while Enjolras went in the opposite direction. If he was to be completely honest with himself he would have to admit that something was bothering him. He didn't want to admit it but nonetheless Ferre was right. All week he had been looking for a right time and place to share the news he had with everyone but that never seemed to come, instead he decided it would be best to just keep silent until necessary but at the same time he had a burning need to unload the burden within him. The first person he wanted to tell was Eponine but he couldn't find her. He knew she left to go take care of something at home but that didn't stop him from anticipating her arrival.
Suddenly he felt a vibration in his pocket and took out his phone to see a text from the very girl he was thinking of.
On my way over. Have a friend with me, don't mention anything when you see her.
Enjolras looked at the text in confusion as he read it over and over again trying to make sense of it. The text seemed a bit rushed and I gave almost no information as to what Eponine meant. Who was her friend and what could possibly be happening to make her worried about what he could say.
He heard the bell of the cafe door signaling someone coming in and turned around to see Eponine stride in with someone in tow. The moment he saw Eponine he decided then and there to tell Eponine what was on his head. When he got the news she was the first person he thought of, it was only fair that she be the one he talked to about it. Taking a moment to compose himself Enjolras strode over to her with the intention of telling her. However when he finally reached Eponine's side he noticed who was standing next to her, Nancy. She smiled at Enjolras with a playful fire in her eye and it was at that moment that Eponine's text made sense.
To say Enjolras did not like Nancy was a lie, he didn't mind her but she did make him uncomfortable. It wasn't her fault, but it didn't change how Enjolras tensed when he saw her. Maybe it was her innuendos at the party, her excessive energy, her seemingly unconscious cross of personal boundaries, whatever it was it made Enjolras tense the minuteness amount. However that discomfort instantly changed to shock when he noticed something on her face. Right on Nancy's right cheek was a nasty red mark and a imprint that looked like it came from someone's ring.
"Hey Aiden" she greeted warmly, her friendliness contrasting the state of her face. He was so cut off guard it took him a moment to realize she had just called him by his first name. He took note of Eponine wincing and used that as an explanation of how she knew it.
"Must you call me that?"He groaned, the only people who ever call him that besides Eponine were his parents.
She smirked at him, "Well it's your name anit it?"
"Yes but I don't like it..."
"Well that's just too bad." She teased, her lips curling in mischief
Eponine grimaced slightly, "Now Nancy..."
"Alright I'm sorry. Now if you'll excuse me I'm gonna go catch up with some of your friends."
She hopped away nonchalantly leaving Eponine to watch her as she slipped out of their sights. Almost immediately Enjolras turned toward Eponine who was already starting to talk rapidly.
"Now before you say anything-"
Enjolras cut her off. "What happened to her? That does not look like an accidental marking."
Eponine winced and stutter for a few moments before sighing in defeat and revealing the story to Enjolras.
It all started when they all returned from the beach trip; Eponine had come home to find Nancy at her doorstep. The girl looked scared out if her wits and the bruise on her cheek told Eponine all she needed to know, her own marks still healing as well.
"Nancy what happened?" Eponine asked as she took her into the house and led her into her room.
"I'm sorry for just showing up 'Ponine but I had nowhere else to go, he knows all my other hiding spots and he is really mad this time."
"What are you talking about?"
Nancy gulped and bit her lip timidly before looking at Eponine straight in the eye, "What I say cannot leave this room."
"You have my word."
It was then that Nancy told Eponine everything. Apparently Nancy's boyfriend Bill had more than just a slight temper. More often than not Nacy was used as his anger outlet. This time things got particularly rough when a young boy named Oliver was thrown into the mix. In the end Oliver got away but Nancy was left to deal with Bill's rage. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened but this time around Nancy Bill felt betrayed and the beating was particularly bad.
"I'll just give 'im some time to cool off, then everything will be better."
Eponine stared at her in shock, "Nancy you have to leave him. You can't do back!"
She tried to convince Nancy to end things with Bill, that the pain wasn't worth it. However Nancy was dead set against it.
"I know you are afraid Nancy but he can't hurt you if you-"
"I'm anit afraid Eponine!"
"Then why do you insist on going back!? What could possibly be your reason for staying?"
"He needs me Eponine!"
"No he doesn't! He is only going to hurt you!"
Nancy shook her head, "He does need me Eponine, in spite of what you see. I am sure of it."
"But Nancy-"
She cut her off, "I am the only who cares for 'im, no one else would love 'im still after dealing 'im and e knows that. I know that e loves me too, no one else ever did."
"That's not true and you know it."
Nancy looked down at her hands in her lap, "For as long as I can remember it has been me and Bet against the world. Along the way we picked up Arthur and now Oliver, Uncle Fagin took us in but it's never really felt like home. Everywhere I go people look down on me, they think I am dirty and below then just because of where I am from. Even those who don't know me judge me as soon as they see my crooked teeth and hear my accent, as if I should be ashamed of them; but it's different with Bill. He could have any girl in the East End, but he chose me. He accepts me."
"That's partly because you accept him, but you shouldn't accept things like this Nancy!"
"Eponine I love him. Haven't you ever been lonely?" She asked softly, causing Eponine to stiffen a bit before nodding tentatively. "Then you will know, when someone needs you, you love them so!" Nancy said with a strain in her voice that portrayed both the strength build into her from years in the gutter and her vulnerability from wanting to be needed and loved. Somehow the feeling really hit Eponine in the gut and caused her tongue to lose its ability to move, it was something Eponine was all too familiar with. Being needed meant you weren't worthless, that you had a purpose, it gave a feeling of worth. Nancy looked at her stillness and took it as an opportunity to go on, "I don't know if you'll understand Eponine but I love 'im so. Sure he doesn't say the things he should, or act the way I want him to and I know that when he is near me I 'ave to keep my true feelings inside, I try to hide my love because its not just something I can go throw around, especially not with him…. but when e gone I miss him so much that it hurts. And while he may not show it I know he cares for me 'Ponine. That's why I am tied to his side!"
Eponine had looked at Nancy in the eyes to try to find any hint of doubt or fear in her eyes but she couldn't. All see saw were pupils that reflected fatigue from her situation and discomfort at abandoning knew at that moment that it wouldn't matter what she said for no matter what Nancy would stay loyal to Bill, she loved him and cared for him in a way that Eponine could somewhat understand. Whether or not Bill loved her as much Eponine could not tell but it didn't matter, for as long as Nancy believed Bill needed her she was going to stay with him. It was the only love she knew, she wouldn't leave it just to be alone again.
Enjolras looked at Eponine with a stoic expression, his face revealing nothing about what was in his head. "Sounds like you've had a busy week."
"Tell me about it." She sighed, "I just don't know what to do Enj! She won't listen!"
"Maybe she will once she opens her eyes and sees new things. You never know."
"Yea I guess you are right. " she said as she leaned into him
Enjolras wrapped an arm around her shoulder and kissed her head. "Come on let's get you something to eat, I hear the new rose cookies are amazing
It was with that thought that a brilliant idea popped into Eponine's head. But first she had to take care of something.
"Erik!" Eponine shouted as she bursted into the auditorium. She was met with nothing but stillness and the buzz of an empty room but Eponine was nothing if not street wise and tenacious. She knew Erik was in that room and she wasn't leaving until she talked to him. "Erik I know you are in here! Please answer me… I really want to talk to you!"
For the past few weeks Erik seemed to be completely avoiding Eponine at all cost. She had no idea why but it worried her to no extent. She would try to flag him down in the hall only so notice him slip into the crowd and out of her mind, or she would wait for him all lunch period in the auditorium but be met with nothing but an empty room with rows of dusty seats. Before meeting Erik she had never had a problem hanging out alone in the auditorium but after reaching out the large room seemed to provoke a sense of loneliness and solitude in her if he wasn't there playing music with her. The thought that continuously played through her head at times like that was something like "you never know what you are missing until its gone" or whatever it was those cheesy signs at the dollar store said. She honestly missed her friend. She knew they weren't the closest of friends but she still felt a connection to him that she didn't feel with anyone else. He understood her on a different level than most people, and they learned so much from one another. She didn't want to lose that.
"Erik?" She called into the hollow theater, "Hey I don't know why but I can tell you're upset. Listen whatever I did I am really sorry! Erik I like you too much to lose you, you're a good friend and really easy to talk to, please stop avoiding me. I may just explode if this goes on any further."
She stood there perfectly still to see if she would be met with any response. However her setting continued to be completely still, as it frozen in time. With a defeated sigh Eponine reached into her bag and pulled out a small white envelope. "If you're not going to talk to me then at least read this…. it would mean alot if you did. You never know, it would lead to some great things."
Without another word Eponine laid the envelope down gently on the edge of the stage before pivoting on her heel and walking out of the room without taking a single glance back.
Jehan: um Eponine?
Me: yes?
Jehan: we have another guest
Nessa: Hi, I'm Vanessa- Nessa for short. I swear I'm not crazy... Well not in the sense you think I'll be anyways... I'm that girl who will randomly recite poetry or passages from books or musicals...
Jehan: there's hope for humanity! I feel a quote coming on!
I've heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Nessa: Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
Jehan: you know Dickinson?
Nessa: she's only my favorite poet! I've loved her work since the fourth grade!
Jehan: I think I'm in love...
Me: Oh boy...
Nessa: well, you know what they say- 'Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind'...
Jehan: Shakespeare?! Oh! Be my Hermia! Only without the fighting, and the confusion, and-
Nessa:*kisses him*
Me; *glance at Enjolras* well that progressed quickly
Combeferre: it's about time for him though
Jehan: oh, Nessa! 'How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.'
Nessa:' i carry your heart with me
i am never without it
i fear no fate. i want no world
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you'
Jehan: who are you, and where have you been all my life?
Nessa: In the other world... But now that I'm here, and as long as you're mine...
Jehan: we'll borrow the moonlight, and see how bright we shine! *kisses Nessa*
Me: *look at the other guys with hands on hips* wow, now this is something
Bahorel: I guess this guest thing was a great idea after all
Me: *smirk* why thank you
Enjolras: as long as she doesnt hurt me I'm good
Me: *roll eyes* Don't ruin the moment Enj!
Jehan: I don't know what to say
Nessa: then make no sound
Jehan: I am lost
Nessa: I am found
Marius:*pushes in between the two* Hey! That's mine! Go use your own poetry!
Nessa: sorry, Marius... I got caught in the moment...
Marius: *to the others* I like this one, she's nice.
Me: As opposed to...?
Marius: *shrugs* You
Me: *glare* Why you little-
Jehan: Nessa is also beautiful and wonderful and witty and amazing and-
Nessa: *silences him with a kiss* Please, Jehan, stop. you don't have to compliment me, I'm already in love with you. And I'm actually quite awkward when recieving compliments...
Jehan: I'm sorry ma petite
Enjolras: great now we have another love struck boy at the barricade!
Me: I find it sweet. Some of us actually have hearts!
Nessa: I'm sorry, Enjolras. I know how important your cause is, and I support it 110%; i actually have some...suggestions about how to recruit more people... But I'm being a distraction. I should just-
Jehan: Don't you dare say leave! Can't you feel the love tonight? Say there's no future for us as a pair, and though I may know, I don't care!
Nessa: Jehan, how dare you think that! Of course I love you! I just don't want you killed because of me! I would die before I let that happen to you!
Jehan: *kisses Nessa*
Me: again that progressed quickly. Its's like Marisette times five
Combeferre: it's jehan! Would you expect anything different?
Me: *sigh* no not really...
Enjolras: *rolls eyes* doesn't everyone fall in love at first glance?
Me: no... Not "everyone"
Nessa: well, I for one believe in love at first sight! And whether it not he knows it, so does Enjolras.
Jehan: it's so obvious that you love her!
Enjolras: love who?
Both: Èponine!
Nessa: now I may have only arrived recently, but I know those stares, Enjolras.
Enjolras: I don't know wha you mean!
Jehan: those sweet puppy dog eyes you give Èp when she isn't looking...
Nessa: the longing sigh that escapes your lips when she leaves...
Jehan: the way your eyes light up when you see her...
Nessa: the way your face goes from serious-
Jehan: to the face of a six year old on Christmas morning-
Nessa: the moment she speaks to you!
Enjolras: *glares* cut it out!
Courfeyrac: really they are finishing each other sentences already?!
Me: well this is a bit awkward
Enjolras: even if that were all true
Jehan: it is!
Me: In his defense he hated me when I first came
Jehan: I personally love that we finish each other's sentences!
Nessa: thanks, Jehan, me too! And their romance, it's just like Beatrice-
Jehan: And Benedick!
Enjolras: Who?
Nessa: in Much Ado About Nothing! They were adversaries at first-
Jehan: Forever arguing! She even called him "The Prince's jester, a very full fool" at one point-
Nessa: which caused Benedick to swear that he'd have his revenge-
Jehan: then, realizing the love, their friends plan to get them together-
Me: does this have a point?
Nessa: yes, sorry! Anyways, the two are eventually persuaded by their friends-
Jehan: to publicly confess their love for one another-
Nessa: and then other awesome things happen, but I get the sense that I'd get strangled by Enjolras if I continued...
Jehan: yes, he does seem to be turning an unnatural shade of red...
Both: well at least he matches his vest!
Me: yea I think it's best we drop it
Combeferre: lets finish up before he explodes
Me: good idea
Nessa: *whispering to me* you know, he did say "even if that were true", which coming from Enjolras is basically a major love confession...
Jehan* whispering to Enjolras at the same time*: admit it now, or face similar sessions until you do. Nessa and I will pull it out of you, whether you like it or not.
Nessa: come on, Jehan, we should go. It's getting late...
Jehan: alright, darling *takes Nessa's hand and walks off*
Nessa *calling over her shoulder*: expect to see us soon, Beatrice!
Jehan: we'll be back, Benedick!
*me and enjolras look at each other awkwardly*
Enjolras: *sigh* it's days like these I wish I drank
Me: You and me both