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Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, and I am no hospital expert so if I get any medical terminology wrong I apologize in advance.
only 3 chapters left after this!
Beep…...beeep….beeep
The sound of the monitor echoed off the corners of the otherwise empty hospital room. In the hospital bed laid Eponine, unconscious but stable. To everyone's relief her injury was nothing serious, or really too serious. The fight at the pub had caused her to lose a fair amount of blood, as well as some glass to be deeply lodged into her side. The adrenaline back then had allowed her act with strength as if nothing was holding her back, not unusual considering some people have been known to lift cars given enough adrenaline. However as soon as it wore off, her body would take all her fatigue and injury into account.
Luckily she had nothing more than a flesh wound and a few bruises, but it did require some surgery- some of the glass had actually been lodged into her- and a lot of painkillers. Around her were a few different flower bouquets, a stuffed fox with a 'get well' shirt on, several balloons and a stuffed yellow bunny.
Mr. Myriel was seated by the window, absentmindedly flipping through a book that his mind wasn't registering at all. Gavroche and Azelma were seated at his side, looking as worried as two siblings could be, the bags under their eyes and twitchy arms proved all.
"You know," began Azelma, "The last time Eponine was this hurt we couldn't get her to a hospital."
Mr. Myriel looked up from his book, "Is that so?" He asked with concern
"Yea…. it was thanksgiving, we all went to the movies, there was a theater in the mall, and afterwards she went to some store with Marius to get something for Cosette. Long story short there were some angry shoppers, a fire, and she got hurt and passed out. When we tried to leave the roads leading to the hospital were all blocked by traffic. We couldn't get anywhere."
"Is that why you needed the cafe that night?"
Azelma nodded, "Yea we needed to get her somewhere to rest and fast."
Gavroche spoke up, "We were confused when Enjolras turned toward the cafe but we rolled with it. He is usually pretty on point."
"I can agree with that." commented Mr. Myriel. He looked over at Eponine, "The doctor said she should be waking up soon, the anesthesia is wearing off."
"Well that's a relief!" Piped up Gavroche
At the sound of the door opening all of them turned their heads to see Enjolras walking through with pudding cups in his hands.
"Hi." He muttered as he set the pudding on the table, it was the best hospital food he could find. While Mr. Myriel rode in the ambulance with Eponine to the hospital, Enjolras took her siblings in his car. He was there that night until visiting hours were done and he came back as soon as they were open again. The others had been there too but Enjolras seemed to be the tensest out if all of them.
"Hey," answered Azelma, "where are the others?"
"Well Erik is off with Nancy, she had a concussion and they wanted to keep her for overnight surveillance. Cosette and Marius are at the gift shop-"
"Really?" Interrupted Gavroche, "she's got quite a collection already."
Enjolras shrugged, "I know but I'd rather not question it. Anyway, Grantaire had to use the bathroom, Courfeyrac is searching the cafeteria for something decent to eat, Combeferre and Abby went to go walk your dog-"
"How can they get in?" Azelma asked
"I told them where to find the spare key." Answered Mr. Myriel, "Don't worry I'll change the location later."
Enjolras continued, "Feuilly is coming later, he is working some things out with his foster family at the moment, I believe it was a babysitting issue, Bahorel is on his way with Joly, Bossuet, and Musichetta in tow. I think that's everyone..."
"That's a heck of a lot of people." Commented Mr. Myriel
"I know." Chuckled Enjolras, "but that's what you get when you become friends with us. Loyalty, a wolf pack and headaches. "
"A whole lot of them." Chimed in a soft voice.
Azelma and Gavroche sprang up from their seats and right next to Eponines bedside.
She chuckled, "Well looks like you're excited to see me." She teased
Enjolras smiled at them, "Welcome back."
"It's good to be back." She replied, returning his smile.
Looking at their bright faces from behind his book, Mr. Myriel couldn't help but think everything would be ok. Between the siblings and between Eponine and Enjolras. Like anyone else he could see what they did to each other and he thought the two would do better together. With the way they were looking at each other, he thought all would be fixed in no time.
He was wrong.
12 days later things didn't seem to get any better. While Eponine was released from the hospital, she was back at school and moving on as if nothing had happened, except the break up. While she had opened up a bit when she had passed out in Enjolras' arms and talked to him a bit at the hospital, she did a complete 180 once she went back home. She wasn't ignoring Enjolras per say, but she wasn't interacting with him either. She talked to the others, she joked with them, studied, and seemed to be just fine around them. When it came to Enjolras, there was a much different story. She stopped sitting at their lunch table- or going to the auditorium, a fact Erik learned the hard way- she stopped talking to him AP Gov, she changed her shifts at the cafe - even if she was working when he was there, she avoided him at all cost, often asking Musichetta to handle the table he was at- she hadn't called, texted him, or had any contact with him at all.
No one took it lightly. Enjolras seemed to be in a funk and while Eponine put on a strong face, everyone could tell she was off too. It was something that affected everyone in the wolf pack. They couldn't be around either of them without tension and discomfort.
It came to the point where Enjolras knew he had to take matters into his own hands. The week before prom Enjolras was standing by the locker banks waiting for Eponine to appear. He saw her walking down the hall with Abby. The two were chatting animatedly with smiles on their faces. Taking a deep breath Enjolras strode over to them. Abby spotted him first and stopped walking abruptly. Eponine cocked her head in confusion before looking to see what caused the change in Abby's demeanor.
"Um Abby, why don't you go ahead? I'll catch up in a minute."
"Are you going to be ok?" She asked, eyeing Enjolras
"Yeah I'll be fine."
"Ok..." She said a little uncertain before turning down the hall and leaving the two behind.
Eponine wasted no time before walking a few more feet to her locked and turning the lock around to put in her combination. "Can I help you with something?"
"Why are you avoiding me?" He blurted out, getting right to the point
"I'm... I'm not." She answered as she looked through her shelves.
"Don't play dumb Eponine. You've been avoiding be for the past two weeks."
Eponine tensed slightly, "I'm sorry if it seemed like that but I've-"
Enjolras sighed and put a hand on the metal lining of the locker over Eponine's head. "Ep, this hasn't been easy for me either. The break up wasn't exactly mutual. "
She turned to look up at him, "Enjolras I told you why I did it."
"Yes I know, what I can't seem to understand is why you shut me out."
"It's awkward Enj, like you said we didn't end on good terms. I didn't want to make things worse."
"Well they aren't getting better." He commented bitterly, "Look I know my parents made you feel like crap-"
"More like shit."
Enjolras rolled his eyes, "Either way, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you to meet them. We would still be together if I didn't ask you to meet them."
"What are you getting at?" She asked, a slight quiver to her voice.
"I told my parents off, what they think about you doesn't matter to me. Not a bit. Can't we try-"
"And Erik?" She challenged, " Did you forget how you two were fighting and beating each other?! That was frightening Enj! I told you I didn't want to be the cause of such hatred!"
"You weren't Ep! Erik and I haven't exactly had a good relationship these past few years. The outburst was caused by resentment that grew over that time. You weren't the cause, just the trigger."
"Trigger or not, I don't want to go on knowing that something is wrong between you two. What else could I trigger?"
"If it helps, Erik and I are on good terms now. We made up."
She chuckled, "that does help a bit..."
"He's also gotten awful close to Nancy."
Eponine raised an eyebrow at him, "you're kidding!"
"No, scouts honor."
"You were never a scout."
"I could have been a scout! You don't know."
Eponine chuckled, "You forget I've been in your room many times, never once did I see anything that tells me you were a Boy Scout."
Enjolras sighed, "Ok you win, but I promise that I'm being 100% honest here. They've been texting non stop, they even went on a date last week and Erik seems very happy."
"Wow." Eponine exclaimed softly, "Now that's something."
"He's happy Ep, we should be too."
Eponine licked her lips, "that sounds nice but... No. We can't get back together."
"Would you care to give me reasoning as to why?"
"I have my reasons. Can you please just accept that?"
Enjolras looked at her as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. He knew Eponine didn't like the break up anymore than he did, what he didn't know was why she was so adamant of keeping things the way that she left them. He hated not being in a relationship with her, but he for one was not going to let her slip completely through his fingers.
"Well if you don't want to be in a relationship can we at least be friends?"
Eponine looked him up and down, as if trying to find some reason to say no, but she couldn't. She didn't want to completely lose him either. Maybe being with him was too hard, but bring his friend wasn't, she was more familiar with that anyway.
"I'd like that."
Eponine sat at the chair across from her vanity as she swiped a bit more pink powder onto her cheekbones. Once again Eponine saw a familiar stranger staring back at her from the mirror. Her long raven hair was pulled back onto a updo with some strands hanging out by the sides of her face while some light make up highlighted her features, both courtesy of Cosette. With a sigh Eponine stuck some small hoops in her ears and stood up so she could get a good look at her entire body. She was decently pleased with what she saw. A long platinum dress with a low cut back hugged her body and a small pendant hung around her neck. From her room in the basement she could still hear Azelma getting ready in the upstairs bathroom. Both girls knew they were on borrowed time as any moment Grantaire and Enjolras were going to arrive to take them to senior prom.
Azelma had been jumping around in excitement since she woke both of them up early that morning. To say she was ecstatic about the prom was understatement, the other Thenardier girl was a different story. As a junior Eponine had the ability to go on her own, as did most of their other friends, but being a sophomore the only way Azelma got to go was being an upperclassman date. Grantaire has gone the classic route and asked her with flowers and a teddy bear during a date. Azelma had come home that night screaming with joy, she was on a cloud and has no intention of ever coming down.
Eponine on the other hand, did not expect to go to prom, it was the last thing her her mind for the past few weeks and yet here she was. A few days after deciding to be just friends with Enjolras he had come up her yet again with a big question on his mind, whether or not she still wanted to go. To say she did would have been a lie, but to say she didn't would have been one as well.
She had been trying to make the most of having a friendship with Enjolras, she really had, but it felt as if every move they made was on top of eggshells. Enjolras took a big risk of crushing them when he came up to her at the cafe that day.
Eponine had been wiping tables late that night when Enjolras approached her.
"So…." he said casually as he leaned on a nearby table.
"I don't need a ride Enjolras." She said while keeping her eyes on the table. "Mr. Myriel gave me his car remember? I'm all good."
"Actually I came to ask you about prom."
Eponine's hand slipped, "What about it?"
Enjolras ran a shaky hand through his hair, "I asked you to it remember? With Reese's Peanut Butter Cups…. You said yes."
"But that was when we were still together."
"Either way you still agreed to go with me." He stated plainly
"Does this really help with the whole 'just friends' thing?" She asked cautiously. "Prom is a pretty romantic thing and all."
"It doesn't have to be. Come on 'Ponine, you know me, I'm not exactly a romantic guy."
"You are when you want to be." She replied in a sing-song voice
"And if I promise not to be?"
"Then you've got yourself a deal Enjy!"
That short conversation was how Eponine found herself dressed up and ready for the prom. Taking one last moment to stare at the girl in the mirror, Eponine shook out all the anxiety she was previously feeling and headed upstairs. She knew it was only a big deal if she made it one. She could handle this….
The boys arrived not too much later, looking as spiffy as ever. Only Enjolras, Grantaire, Bahorel, Jehan and Courfeyrac with their respective dates were going to the prom as they were seniors, and while the juniors could attend as well they had all opted out for a movie night at Combeferre's house.
Eponine stood up at the sound of the doorbell while Azelma rushed to the top of the stairs and waited for Mr. Myriel to open the door, her need to make a dramatic entrance too strong to be ignored. The two boys entered the house and Azelma made her descent down the stairs, causing Grantaire's mouth to drop open. She had on a long blue strapless gown that flowed like water waves around her. She looked absolutely radiant.
"Wow Zel…" exclaimed Grantaire, "You look… incredible."
Her cheeks turned two shaded pinker, "Thank you."
Eponine walked over slowly and smiled to herself as she watched the interaction between R and Zel. No matter how much she teased them, they were a cute couple and she couldn't deny it.
"You look beautiful 'Ponine." Enjolras said as he move to stand beside her
"Thank you, you clean up pretty well yourself Enjy."
"Are you ever going to stop calling me that?"
"Not likely." She said with a wink, "Come on lets get this show on the road."
The night went on and Eponine found herself standing the edge of the dance floor, by the punch bowl, a drink in her hand as she watched couples dancing away. If she were to openly voice her opinion she would have to admit she didn't exactly appreciate the type of dancing she witnessed. Dry humping, or grinding, or whatever it was called, was prevalent throughout the dancefloor and it was not a pretty sight. Why people felt the need to do it, she has no idea. It did ease her otherwise crazy mind however that Azelma wasn't partaking. They all know she would have killed Grantaire on the spot, and she for one did not want to have to go to have to clean up a body on her prom night.
The actual place was pretty nice. There was a big hall located a few miles away from the school, the kind that served as wedding receptions and quinceanera parties, that West End High used to host the prom. The place had been decorated with alternating shades of red and gold ribbons while elegant red and black centerpieces were located at each table. If that wasn't enough, all the silverware and places were perfectly arranged and spotless. A lot of effort had been put into the dance and it showed.
However no matter how much she wanted to get into it, Eponine just couldn't find herself completely comfortable with the atmosphere. It wasn't the first time she was in such a situation.
"Having fun?" asked a voice next to her
Eponine responded by taking a sip of her drink and shrugging, "Oh yea loads. Watching hormonal teenagers dry hump is definitely a fun pass time."
Enjolras chuckled, "Yeah, this isn't exactly my cup of tea either."
"Oh really?" She asked sarcastically, "I never would have guessed. "
"I know people make a big deal out of prom but-"
"It's not your style." She finished for him.
Enjolras nodded, not all that surprised that Eponine knew exactly what was going on in his head. "Do you want to get out here?"
Eponine turned her head, "What?"
"Do you want to get of here? Neither of us are really enjoying this and-"
Eponine took his hand and lead him toward the hall. "Don't need to tell me twice,"
Within the next few minutes the two of them were walking down the sidewalk pavement next to the prom hall. It was late and quiet, the things both of them liked best about the night. It was a nice change to the noise filled room they were in before. As they made their way along the stars flickered in the night sky and made the trees seem full of starlight. However soon Eponine became all too aware of the silence shared between them. It was unnatural, they usually never went more than a few minutes without saying something, or make eye contact, but now while they were both comfortable with each other's presence there was still something off. The air around them was tranquil but the more they walked together the more the tension grew.
Needing to break the silence, Eponine spoke.
"If you are so against prom," she began, "why did you ask me?"
"We were dating-"
"But you insisted on taking me even after we broke up."
Enjolras sighed, "like I said, I already asked you and it seemed like a waste not to go. "
"Oh really now?"
Enjolras nodded, "The guys thought it would be fun to go. I didn't go last year so this was basically my last year to do. Not my personal choice but they were right when they said that this was a real high school experience and I knew I might regret it if I didn't come."
"Seems reasonable. You finally caved into peer pressure!"
Enjolras rolled his eyes, "shut up!"
Eponine laughed, "that's not in my nature and you know it. "
Enjolras let out a hearty chuckle. "I do know it. I know it well."
"Oh whatever!" She said with an eye roll before playfully hitting Enjolras' arm.
"Don't hit me." Enjolras teased before poking her in the side.
Eponine let out a small shriek before poking him back in the side as a way of retaliation. "Well don't poke me. It tickles." She laughed
Enjolras didn't take it lightly and automatically moved to her side, "You started it, and I hope you know this means war."
Eponine scoffed, "You wouldn't.'
"I think we both know I would."
"Well, you'll have to catch me first."
Wasting no time Eponine sprinted away from, a task that proved harder said than done in her heels and prom dress, but she tried. She made her way farther down the path, traveling a few yards before turning her head to wink at Enjolras. That was her mistake. The moment she turned her head Enjolras reached for her arm and snatched a hold of her wrist. The next few moment seems to go by in slow motion as Enjolras gently pulled her him and she twirled into him. Her hands landed on his chest as his were stationed on her back. Letting out a laugh Eponine tilted her head up so see Enjolras laughing just as hard. A smile spread across her face as she studied him closely. His cologne and aftershave filled her nose while her eyes focused on his face. Suddenly Eponine realized just how close she was to Enjolras, how everything she had been trying to push back was rushing back to her.
It scared her.
"No…." She whispered, her mouth turning down and all joy leaving her face. Taking a deep breath, Eponine separated herself from Enjolras and walked away, quickly.
Utterly confused Enjolras went after her in an instant. He lose her once, he wasn't willing to lose her again. Even if she was at a distance from him, if there was that thick wall separating them, as long as there was a crack to see her through, he would take it.
"Eponine!" He called, trying to catch up with her, "Wait!" He tried again as he grabbed her arm, to which she only responded by swatting him away. He grabbed her arm again and held on tightly, willing her to look at him.
"I can't…." Eponine stated sadly before turning away from him.
"Can't what?!" Enjolras demanded, his patience reaching its end. "What is it you can't do Eponine?!"
"All this!" She exclaimed, her voice cracking as tears started to form in the corner of her eyes. She snatched her arm back as she waved her arms around frantically in the empty air, as it trying to get him to see something. "I can't handle it! The feelings, the looks, the relationships the-"
Enjolras interrupted her sharply, "What are you talking about?! I am not asking anything of you. I thought were doing fine just being friends."
"That's it Enjolras! We can't just be friends! Not...not anymore."
"What do you mean?! We were friends before. Great friends! You used to tell me everything. Why can't we just go back to that?"
"Don't you see Enjolras?! We can't!" Eponine bit her lip and attempted to keep her body from
trembling, not just from the cold but from the emotions flooding through her. "We can't go back to how we were Enjolras, too many things have changed."
"What the hell do you mean?!" He demanded, more harshly than he intended, "Would you care to explain because I don't understand."
Eponine met his eyes, a flame of fire flashing through hers, "Don't play ignorant Enjolras, you know exactly what I mean." She took a deep breath and licked her lips, a few strands of her hair blowing in the wind, "A lot of shit has gone on between us and I can't just ignore that, maybe you can but I can't."
Enjolras opened his mouth to respond but Eponine kept going.
"Please believe me when I say I want to make this work, but I cannot. I can't be your friend because I keep wanting something more. Every little thing you do reminds me why we were together and…..its too much for me." She chuckled bitterly, "I can't look at your hair without wanting to run my fingers through it, I can't see you walking up to me without wanting to throw my arms around you. When you smirk, I just want to kiss that look off your face. Every time you smile I just think of all those times when those smiles were shared between us and us alone, when I see red sweaters I can only think of you. I can relate to every single pity song on the radio and somehow my mind keeps going back to you when I hear them." Eponine paused for a moment and pressed her lips together before poking the inside of her cheek with her tongue, "Whenever you speak I can't help but focus on every single word that comes out of your mouth, no matter how uninteresting it is-"
"I am never uninteresting." Enjolras teased, the words automatically spilling from his mouth.
A small laugh escaped Eponine's throat before she was back at ranting, "You see! That's another thing! I laugh at everything you say, even if it isn't funny. These are things that I've only noticed more and more since we've broken up."
Eponine looked down at her shoes, "I really…..I really thought we could stay friends, I did think we could go back to the way things used to be, when we just hung out and talked, no strings attached. You were the leader in the group and I was the pesky thorn in your side. To be honest I wanted that; the time where we shut each other out-"
Enjolras cut her off briefly with a cough.
She rolled her eyes, "Ok where I cut you off, was the worst time of my life. It hurt me, it physically hurt me. So when you said we should just be friends I jumped at that chance. I figured a friendship with you was better than nothing, especially since there were those months where we were both too stubborn to actually get together. Friendship seemed to work for us, we were comfortable and close before. The thing is though, we can't can't go back to how things used to be, or at least I can't…I'm sorry."
Enjolras shook his head, "I don't see why we can't! You admitted you wanted this too! What changed?"
"Everything!" She exclaimed in agitation, "we were in a relationship together! I trusted you and let you in somewhere no one ever was! How do you think that makes me feel?!"
"Well I-"
"Enj... I had feelings for you, I still have them!"
"You had feelings for Marius and you stayed friends with him!" He argued, "You even set him up with someone else!"
"It's different with you!"
"How?!"
"They are stronger than what I felt with Marius. With him, I had feelings but... But I was ok with just being his friend. I felt comfortable there, I wanted more but I didn't need it, not from him. Hell I was even ok with setting him up with Cosette. Yes it was painful but I was willing to do it- I didn't put a fight. I was willing to be just his friend. I did do it. It's different with you! I can't do that."
Enjolras repeated what seemed to be his favorite question that say, "Why?! Why is it different?!"
"Because..." She raised her head to meet his eyes, "because I love you Enjolras."
Time seemed to freeze then as Enjolras stood motionless in his spot, "What did you say?"
Eponine gulped and took a deep breath, finally defeated, "I... shit... I love you. I love everything about you. From your curly hair and somehow perfectly chiseled face, to your speeches and rants, your passion for life and what you love. I love how you put 110% into everything and anything, or how you are so stupidly stubborn that you make me want to knock some sense into you and kiss you all at once. I love how you are with Gav and Zelma, as of you care about them as much as you care about me. How you excel at everything yet seem like a genius, but you can be so clueless other times. I love- I love you." She bit her lip and nodded, "Enj I know it's soon but I know I do. What I feel for you is something I've never felt for anyone else. I don't expect you to-"
Eponine's next words were cut off as Enjolras' lips crashed onto hers with feverish passion. When he closed the gap between them, or how his arms found their way around her waist were questions Eponine pushed out of her mind as she worked to rerun the passion Enjolras showed her. Nothing else mattered then, she was no longer afraid, and all she focused on was the feeling of Enjolras' embrace. Eponine let go. Her final wall crumpled.
Her arms wrapped around his neck as his tightened around her waist, both of them pulling the other close as if they would disappear from each other if they loosened their grip for even one moment. The past few weeks has been utter torture and they were determined to make up for the lost time as well as let the other know how much they missed them. It didn't matter that his parents didn't accept her or that she was scared. All that mattered was that moment together.
Soon the need for air forced the two to separate but in that moment Enjolras lifted Eponine up and spun her around, a giant smile spreading across his face. Eponine in her laughed and rested her head against his shoulder, completely content for the first time in a long time.
Enjolras set her down and look into her eyes, as if trying to pour out all emotions within him into them, and stroked her cheek softly as he whispered gently, "I love you too."
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