I'm back, finally! Sorry it was so long, I had an essay due - don't know if you've ever tried writing about neo-orientalism, postcolonialism and neoliberalist policy but if you have, you'll know it takes up a fair chunk of your time!
I did write a couple of one-shots based on the last couple of chapters though! One for the cold night, the 29th December, and another for New Years Eve - they're on my profile if you want to take a look, I know many of you have already, which is awesome of you! Thank you! :D
Anyway, on with the main body of it.
Disclaimer: If I owned Les Mis I wouldn't have had to write that fucking essay.
The day after Éponine's birthday was a day of unwelcome change.
Enjolras' morning wasn't really any different to normal. True, he woke up later than usual, but still before it was completely light outside, and well before either of his roommates. He went into the kitchen for his coffee, as always, and then returned to his room and opened his laptop, just like he always did. His homepage was the website of Le Figaro (the most popular daily newspaper in France, which had in recent years become a form of unofficial government propaganda, much to Enjolras' fury and disgust) and the headline at the top of the page read:
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER LABELS REVOLUTIONARY CHRISTMAS REFORMS 'BACKWARDS AND ELITIST'
Le Figaro asks: will the British's ill-informed meddling ever stop?
At first he was simply bored – the newspaper was always blaming SOMEONE for meddling – but as the coffee cleared his mind and it started to whir with its usual sharpness he thought to himself: what Christmas reforms?
Ten minutes of intense googling later, he grabbed his laptop and car keys and stormed furiously out of the apartment. This time they had gone too far. Les Amis would have to step it up a gear.
Éponine awoke very late, far later than usual, which she attributed to two things: 1. the fact that she sat up reading her handwritten Peter Pan until the very early hours, and 2. The splitting headache that told her she'd had a good night the night before (not that she needed the reminder, the memories were enough). She dressed and wandered into the kitchen, excited to thank Enjolras for his gift, but found it deserted. There's no way I'm first up she thought to herself, and moved to softly knock on his door.
There was no reply.
'Enjolras?'
That's weird. Oh well, I'll thank him later.
She made herself some toast with peanut butter and grabbed a cup of coffee, then decided to go for a walk and get some fresh air. Wrapping up warm in her duffle coat, she wandered out into the bustling Paris streets. It had been a long time since she'd wandered around without a purpose - since before she moved in with Enjolras and 'Ferre. I used to do it all the time; I forgot how nice it was!
After meandering through the Jardin du Luxembourg, she found herself in front of the imposingly beautiful building that housed Paris-Sorbonne University. At this time of day it was usually fairly busy, as students came and went, but today a large crowd was milling around the gate, anger and distress evident on their faces. Several girls were crying. That's strange… I wonder what this is about. After watching for a while, she learned nothing more: there were a few shouts of 'you can't do this!' but otherwise the students – she assumed they were students, they looked the right age – were just talking amongst themselves. Curiosity got the better of her, and she walked up to a young man, whose stance and confident air reminded her of Gavroche. 'Excuse me?' she asked. 'What's happening?'
'We've all been told we're no longer welcome at the University!' the young man replied angrily.
Éponine was still confused. 'Why?'
'We were on government scholarships – some of us full ones, others half-fees, but they've withdrawn all funding for people in "less desirable" areas of Paris unless we can pay all our fees now. Obviously we can't, nobody has ten grand lying around, so we're all out.'
'Less desirable areas? What does that mean?'
'San Michel… Arrondissements 10, 11 and 12…'
'So if you live there… That's ridiculous!'
'Tell me about it!'
'And they've just chucked you out?'
'YEP.'
'How can they do this?!'
'It's the law now, apparently. Christmas reforms that I don't remember hearing about. Well, I'll have plenty of time to read up on them now!' he spat out bitterly.
Reforms? I'd have thought Enjolras would've mentioned this, done something about it… this is ridiculous! You can't stop people's education because they're not super-rich!
'Hasn't anybody done anything about this?' she could feel her anger growing.
'Who's going to? Can't argue with the government, can you?'
Yes you can.
'Tell you what.' She said, carefully considering her choice of words. How do I tell them about Les Amis without telling them too much….? We can't meet new people in the café until we know they can be trusted… 'There are people who'll fight this, with all they've got. Spread the word. Tell everyone there's a meeting tonight, 7.30. Next to the old elephant statue on the wasteland. If they want this stopped, want to go back to uni, want things different: go there. Tell EVERYONE.'
The man looked bemused, but intrigued. 'I will. Who shall I say they're meeting?'
She paused for a second, and then smiled slightly. 'Les Amis.'
'What?'
But he got no reply. Éponine was gone.
Azelma had never felt pain like it. Her face, her stomach, her back… they were on fire. Why was it men wanted to treat her this way? What pleasure did they get from this?!
Truth be told, she was lucky it was only the one guy today, even if that was only because her Pa had been so gleeful after that phone call. Who WAS that? They'd mentioned Gavroche, her Pa never normally acknowledged his existence. What was going on?
It was then that she felt it.
And she knew she couldn't hide any longer. It had been hard enough already.
So she picked up her phone and dialled.
Gavroche rocked up late at school, as usual. He'd have been there earlier, but he walked slower so he could think up something really good to put on his late form. He liked being creative with them, no point in 'I slept in' or 'the bus was late'; they knew it wasn't true anyway. Something like, 'my sister's limbs caught fire and I had to put them out using only a tube of toothpaste and a sausage roll so I was busy.' That was better.
He strolled up to the office, excuse prepared, cheeky grin in place for the receptionist who hated him for how little he was at school, and how easily he could wind her up. She'd had a few spectacular run-ins with Éponine, who couldn't believe anyone could get so angry with a ten year old. To his great surprise, today he found her grinning back at him… in a bit of an evil way.
'Alright, Miss 'eron? Am not late, am a?'
'Oh I'm so happy you're here, Gavroche Jondrette. Or is it Thénardier?'
What?! He started to panic. How does she know?!
'I had the pleasure of talking to your father this morning. Charming man.'
'I don' have a Pa.'
'Well, funnily enough, Monsieur Thénardier also denied any knowledge of you… that is until I said you were no longer welcome at this school - or any school for that matter. Funny, that seemed to perk him up.'
'What did I do!? Whatever it is, it wasn't me!'
'If something HAS happened, I suspect it was you, but this isn't actually as a result of your actions. Not even your laziness, disregard for uniform and conduct rules, or constant lateness. This is because unless you have five thousand euros hidden somewhere – which even knowing your thieving is unlikely – you are out. And not a moment too soon.'
'FIVE THOUSAND EUROS?!' Gavroche exclaimed in shock. 'No, I don't have that.'
'Well, no more school for you!' she replied, her voice a strange mix of cheer and malice.
With mock shock and sadness, he moaned 'Noooo!' as internally he thought, this is brilliant, I never 'ave to come back ever again! I can just stay at Ép's or Courf's and do fun stuff with the lads! 'Oh, well. I'm ova it. Don't miss me too much, Miss.' and with that, he turned towards the door.
'Oh, you're going nowhere.'
'What?'
She was grinning again, from ear to ear. 'I couldn't possibly let a 10 year old boy out onto the streets alone! No, we'll have to wait for someone to pick you up.'
'Oh. If you call Éponine, she'll – '
'that won't be necessary.'
'But… who else is going to pick me up?'
'I'm so glad you asked.' She simpered.
The door to the office opened, and in stepped a tall brute of a man, with a large nose, a smirking, conniving grin he knew only too well, and a twinkle in his eye that filled even Gavroche with fear. For the first time in a long time, he felt like a little kid. He looked desperately around the room for an escape route, but found nothing. He wanted to run, run away to his friends, his bed, his elephant and never look back.
But the only way out was past the sneering, terrifying man in front of him. I want Éponine!
''Ello there, my favourite son. I've come'ta take ya home.'
All a bit dramatic and cryptic, sorry... I'll be back ASAP!
If you'd be kind enough to leave a review I'll send you cute pictures of baby animals in my reply. Thanks again for all your support, you guys are the best! Much love!