and now Two years later and here it is, the last chapter of West End High. I would have updated this sooner (in fact the original plan was to finish this by last Christmas, but obviously that never worked out) but life got in the way... again. I am a first year college student and while I only took 3 classes last term and four this term (my college is on a 3 term system instead of semesters) I was still a busy bee: between classes, debate (I won a speaker award at my first tournament), Alpha Psi Omega (theater fraternity/sorority) and the 500 activities that came with it, being Magenta in the Rocky Horror Picture Show (yes this is true, we did this on campus and it was AMAZING), competing in a singing contest (the audition song that got me in being On My Own... judge me at a later date), another play, and working at my college's call center three days a week (on that note, BE NICE TO CALLERS! WE ARE PEOPLE TOO!) along with three shifts at my campus library as well I was a very busy student, still no boyfriend but I really anit got time for one anyway.

Wow... I really can't believe it's been two years since I first started this, just a lonely junior in high school obsessed with Les Mis... it's crazy. To think I used to update 1-2 chapters a weekend and then I went months without typing a single word (it took me a year to get through six chapters). My ideas and plan completed changed a long the way and I learned a lot about writing, letting go, being creative, determination, and had a hell of a lot of fun along the way! I even made a great new best friend (Lesmiserabby you know its you!)

I do really want to thank everyone who was read, reviewed, or had anything at all to do with this story; you are all amazing (even if none of you are actually reading this anymore...) and have made me feel incredible these past couple years. I'll admit when I began this fic I didn't really expect much from it, but it has been an amazing adventure these past 24 months and I am grateful for everyone one of them. Things didn't turn out the way I expected but I think that's all for the best (this is not not a very good chapter but its what I could come up with after two years)

Without further ado, and for the last time, on with the story!

Music blasted and vibrated off the walls, talk filled the air, and bright lights shone through the murky windows Grantaire and all his guest celebrated graduation. His party was not only the first party of the graduation season, but it was one of the ones everyone was looking forward too. If there was one person who knew how to have a good time, it was Ricky Grantaire. It was not even that he had the best music, house, food or drinks, he simply provided the best atmosphere. Everyone knew it, and everyone basked it in. After a year of test, drama, teachers, stress, finals, projects, games, tournaments, competitions, and anxiety, a party to celebrate the end of it all was well overdue.

"Can you believe we did it?!" exclaimed Courfeyrac as he lounged on the back deck

"What graduate high school?" asked Feuilly

"Well that, but I was really referring to the fact that we survived high school! I mean, there have been some pretty close calls."

"By that you mean the time you got trapped in a closet on New Year's Eve."

"Hey that was some scary shit!"

Feuilly rolled his eyes, "You weren't even there for 15 minutes when Enjolras and Combeferre got you out."

"Well I didn't know that then. I was trapped!"

"Yea….. in a closet…"

"I had no food or water!"
"What are you talking about?! The closet those two girls trapped you in was the kitchen pantry. I'm sure you could have found something to eat."

"Ok well, I had no bathroom!"

Feuilly looked at him as if he was talking to a child, "You were there for 15 minutes Courf!" Courfeyrac stammered, trying to think of another moment when he saw his life flash before his eyes, "What about when I lost Gavroche at the mall for an hour and Eponine nearly killed me!"

"You found him and both of you returned home in one piece."

"Again, I didn't know that would be the case at that point in time! I feared for my life!"

"No physical harm actually came to you."

"What about the emotional harm Feuilly!? Did you ever think of that?! Did you?! I bet you didn't! You never gave a single thought to that!"

Feuilly squeezed his eyes shut and tried to retain his composure to the best of his abilities. "I would argue Courf but there is no rationalizing with the irrational." With that Feuilly stood up and started to walk toward the cooler, "I am going to get another soda.:

"Wait!" Courfeyrac called as he followed him, "What's that supposed to mean?!"

Elsewhere, somewhere about 3 blocks from the party on a small hill in the park, sat a young couple trying to get away from the chaos. The girl sat with her knees pulled to her chest and her arms wrapped securely around them while the boy sat with one leg outstretched and the other bent to supposed his elbow. The soft hum of music from the distant party buzzed and occupied the otherwise silent air. Both had a lot on their minds but neither wanted to say anything. The moment was too peaceful to risk. With everything coming to an end the past few weeks it seemed as it time flew by with there always being something to do - be it packing, trips, parties, planning, working, etc. Life was hectic, making the few peaceful moments all the more valuable.

As the sun started to set in the horizon, both of them looked at each other and exchanged small smiles. Smiles that revealed both excitement for the coming day and a lot of anxiety.

"What's going through your head Enj?" Asked Eponine, breaking their silence

Enjolras shook his head, "Nothing, just the fact that by this time the day after tomorrow I'll be in Washington D.C. starting a completely new chapter of my life."

"That doesn't sound like nothing to me. In fact it sounds like quite the opposite."

Enjolras shrugged.

"Are you nervous?"

"Yeah, only a lot." Enjolras admitted. Ever since he received the internship Enjolras' stomach decided to be a home for butterflies. He was one of 10 others from around the country in the program and each of them had merits equivalent or greater than his own. He knew that once he set foot there he would no longer be in his comfort zone. He would no longer be looked at as the leader as he was here. There was no one who would know him there. The work was not just academia related anymore, it would actually make a difference, actually matter outside of his small community. Once he arrived at Washington D.C. he would be on uneven ground until he found his nitch, if he even found it. It was all rather daunting. Not to mention he would have barely anytime to ready himself before he shipped himself off to study at Princeton right after Washington D.C. Just thinking about it made his forehead start to sweat.

"You'll be fine!" She cheered, "Everything will be wonderful."

Enjolras chuckled and shook his head, "How do you know that?"

"I don't, but what is to say that it won't be? If the worst can happen then so can the best."

"I guess you have a point."

Eponine grinned, "I always do. Comes with the territory. You should know that by now after spending so much time with me"

"Sure sure…. let's go with that."

Eponine narrowed her eyes at Enjolras and was just about to make a sassy remark when he pulled her in for a kiss. What started off as sweet and gentle grew heated as they both deepened the kiss. Enjolras thought back to how he first admitted his feeling for Eponine through a kiss at the dance and how every kiss after that seemed to portray a different aspect of his feelings toward her, especially now that they both loved each other at a grand level. Or the fact that they were both actually able to admit it. It was something new and amazing for both of them. Yes she had had her fling or two before and even 'loved' Marius at one point but what Enjolras and Eponine shared together was something incredibly special. With that realization came another, sadder, one as well

Enjolras pulled away slowly and looked over Eponine's face with a touch of grim in his eyes. "Tomorrow we will be worlds away….."

Eponine pressed her lips together and nodded "I know…. but I'm not too concerned."

"Really?" Enjolras question, "This coming from the person who was nervous that distance wouldn't bode us well and nearly broke up with me."

"Hey now, that's uncalled for." Eponine said in defense

"No it's really not."

"Says you." Eponine teased as she scrunched her nose at her boyfriend. With a chuckle she relaxed slightly. "I may have been nervous before but I am not really all that nervous anymore. That's thanks in no small part to you. You took away all my nerves."

"Did I?" Enjolras asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yea, in a way. Besides, you are leaving tomorrow and there isn't much we can really do now is there? What happens happens."

"You know sometimes you really surprise me."

Eponine chuckled and tightened her arms around her knees "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"It's…. it's a thing." He replied as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders,

"What?" She teased as she raised an eyebrow at him, "Are you suddenly so speechless?"

"Well that's something else you tend to do as well."

"Render you speechless?"

Enjolras nodded, "Yeah."

"Now that is a thing I would most certainly classify as good." She chirped as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Really now?"

"Of course, the same goes for the surprising aspect too. I mean it's not like anybody else really has those skills."

"You forget about the time Ferre decided to come to me for dating advice."

"Ok well there's that"

"Or the time Courfeyrac showed up to class in footies pajamas."

"Another valid point but-"

"Or when Bahorel cried in Toy Story 3."

"Oh come on Enjolras we all cried at the end of Toy Story 3."

"I don't recall crying and I never expected anything like that from Bahorel, he's a manly man."

Eponine narrowed her eyes at him, "A, you're a freaking marble statue and B it doesn't matter what you see Bahorel as, he can try at the end of an animated movie about talking toys if he wants to. There's nothing wrong with that."

"I'm not saying there is 'Ponine. I'm just saying it was surprising. Almost as surprising as the time Grantaire decided to-"

"Ok fine! I get the picture."

"You're not even going to let me talk about when Grantaire-"

"We were all there Enj. We saw it, all of it. I don't exactly need a reminder."

He chuckled, "Fair enough."

Eponine let out a small laugh before snuggling to Enjolras' side. The scene in front of them was so peaceful and beautiful, it almost made them forget that they were only a block or so away from Grantaire's house.

"How much longer do you think we have until they realize we are gone?"

Enjolras shrugged, "Oh I'd say… 15 more minutes, However long it takes for Combeferre grow tired of our friends…. teasing."

"Well that's one word for it." Eponine joked. "It is going to be so weird next year with half of you gone and away."

"You think so?"

"Of course Enj. I mean our little circle of friends has been nearly inseparable these last few years. With half of you gone next year it's going to feel sort of empty."

There will be plenty of empty chairs at the meetings."

"Most likely." Eponine said in agreement

"You'll manage."

Eponine grinned, "I never said we wouldn't."

"Oh really?"

"Of course, you must not have that much faith in us if you think otherwise."

Enjolras rolled his eyes before lightly kissing Eponine's temple. If he were to be completely honest about what was going through his head, he would have also admitted that he was going to miss her, a lot. He was going to miss being able to see her most every day, the way her nose scrunch, the way she ruffled his hair and teased him mercilessly, her snark, her sarcasm and wit; he was going to miss having her when he needed her. He was going to miss her period.

If Eponine would have been completely honest she would have told him how much she was going to miss him as well. She would have told him that part of her didn't want him to leave for the entire summer. She wasn't clingy by any means but the connection she had to Enjolras was stronger than most others she had. He had wanted her when she thought no one else did, he helped her through some of the hardest moments of her life and never did he once walk away, something incredibly rare in Eponine's world. Deep in her heart she associated a lot of the good that have come of her life in the past nine months with him. Marius used to the one she merited but lately she knew it was Enjolras who had truly been there to help her, just as she had him.

Both of them knew what the days would bring, but neither wanted to bring it up. For now they were perfectly content with just enjoying their last sunset together

The scene of the airport was that of thousands of passengers scrambling desperately for their luggage, boarding passes, and morning coffee. Along with the usual scramble of the airport community were a large group of teenagers huddle together to see their dear friend off. Usually getting up at 5 am in order to make a 7 am flight would be completely out of any of their ability ranges, and even laughable at suggestion, but on this particular day exceptions had to be made. Whether fully dressed or still in their pajamas, every single one of les amis along with Gavroche, Alzema, Erik, Isabel, and Enjolras' parents were present at the airport to see Aiden Enjolras off to Washington D.C.. It may have been overkill but the group of friends was nothing if not dramatic and loyal. Since their start they have always been their for one another through thick and thin, every experience to one was something shared with everyone. It was just the way things worked, especially when it came to their courageous leader.

Aiden Enjolras for his part was doing his best to hide his nerves, and say goodbye. He never liked goodbyes, but then again he never had many anyway. He also knew that this was a great opportunity for him. It was his chance to make something of himself, though that fact did nothing to settle his nerves. In attempt to escape, Enjolras did the one thing that always calmed him down, he focused on what he could control. In this case it was his transit. It was as if he was on autopilot as he walked through the airport following every procedure necessary. However, most of which was a blur and before he knew it he was in the waiting area with everyone waiting to board his plane. The next part was the hardest, the goodbyes. As difficult as it was Enjolras forced himself to smile and bid everyone farewell. He knew it was unreasonable to get so worked up over this, but he couldn't help it.

By far the hardest two to say hard to were Combeferre and Eponine, that was why he saved them for last. When it came time to say bye to his girlfriend Enjolras wrapped his arms tightly around Eponine in an attempt to engrain her into his memory. He wanted to remember everything, the scent of her hair, the way she felt in his arms, the sound of her voice as they whispered to each other. Eponine did the same.

They knew with modern day technology keeping in touch and up to date with each other was not an issue they would face, lack of presence was the issue. No longer would they be but a phone call away from each other, no longer would they have the ability to sit and talk for hours, exchanging little glances and touches. Whether or not they wanted to admit it, things were going to be a lot different and a lot harder. However neither brought that to attention.

"Knock them dead ok? No matter what you do." Whispered Eponine into Enjolras ear

"I will, you keep the boys in line." He replied, tightening his arms

"I will." She said, burying her face in his neck

"Flight 241 to Washington D.C. is now boarding."

"I guess that's my cue." Enjolras said

"Yea…. I guess it is." Eponine repeated before she kissed him quickly and reluctantly let him go. "Take care of yourself."

Enjolras nodded and pursed his lips as he picked up his luggage. "I love you."

"I know," She said with a smile, "I love you too."

Enjolras grinned happily and bid farewell to everyone there to see him off. It took all his strength as well as complete control over his nerves but soon enough he was picking up his bags and heading out toward the terminal. Within a few minutes he was boarding the plane and settling himself in to ready himself for the flight. He couldn't help but look out his window and squint to see if he could make out the figures that made up his friends and family back in the waiting area. He may not know exactly what to expect in D.C but he knew that whatever it was, he had what he needed to handle it.

Within minutes the plane started and flight began. From the waiting room everyone stood at the windows watching as the plane made its ascent off the ground and into the clouds.

From his spot Combeferre chuckled and adjusted his glasses, "You think he will survive a day without us?"

Grantaire let out a laugh, "Nah, I give him 8 hours."

"You never know," commented Courfeyrac, "Maybe his marble statue side will finally be put to use. What do you think Ep?"

She shrugged, "We will have to wait and see what life brings when tomorrow comes."

Merry Christmas everyone, and a Happy New Year.

God bless!