SORRY!
I know I've been ages, I'm really sorry, I've just been crazy busy with uni work and exams and then moving into my new flat and then going down home and then brothers and pregnant sisters-in-law and I HAVE NOT HAD EVEN A MOMENT I SWEAR TO GOD. ALSO I FOUND THIS ONE HARD TO WRITE I DON'T KNOW WHY.
Yuthika, I swear I'm not ignoring you, I'm just shit
I should be able to update more in the next few days, although I'm back in London to see Les Mis again (EEEEEK) on Monday so maybe not Monday. But definitely picking this up again properly now!
ANYWAY, on with the chapter, which is almost certainly a let-down after the wait, sorry!
Disclaimer: I don't own Les Mis or Phantom, or Sierra Boggess. But all three bring me GREAT JOY.
The next few weeks were composed almost entirely of meetings. Their new alliance with Pierre and his growing following of disgruntled students provided huge opportunities for Les Amis to spread their message, and they couldn't let them go. Enjolras started calling four or five meetings a week, with Pierre and a few of his friends almost always in attendance along with Les Amis. Mostly the friends were quiet and left when the business part of the meeting was over, but Pierre himself was vocal enough to become fast friends with most of the group; Grantaire, in particular, seemed very taken with him. Though usually passively supportive at best, outright cynical at worst, Grantaire started to take an active part in Amis activities; he was designing and hanging posters all over town, he was attentive in planning meetings – he even borrowed a few of Pierre's books to read up. Nobody dared ask him about it for fear of discouraging him, but that didn't stop them speculating wildly; whispering together in small groups at the tail end of meetings.
The first such discussion happened in late February, with Combeferre, Courfeyrac, Joly and Éponine watching bemused as Grantaire enthusiastically painted the words "vive General Lamarque" onto a giant French flag. "It's since Pierre's started coming, he must just be a really good influence" Courfeyrac whispered, his voice almost reverent in its astonishment.
"Maybe he's coming down with something" suggested Joly, voice full of concern. "Should I offer him a check-up? If I tell the hospital he's homeless he won't have to pay. They'll believe it, with that stubble and those oversized jumpers."
Courfeyrac was sceptical. "What can he be coming down with, a sense of purpose?"
"Maybe he's knocked his head or something!"
"If he did, it's the best thing that's ever happened to him."
"Even his painting's improved" Combeferre pointed out. "Have you guys seen the one he did of the rally?"
"He's done about 20 in his sketchbook" supplied Éponine. "He's just only done one big one."
A short silence followed as they watched him carefully trace the curve of the "q". Courfeyrac broke it, with the words they'd all been thinking. "You… you guys don't think he likes Pierre, do you?"
"It's all I can think" Combeferre replied, shaking his head in confusion.
"Nahh, he denied it when I asked him" Éponine said, wrinkling her nose in disbelief.
Combeferre was surprised. "When did you ask?"
"The day after the big rally, when we walked home."
"Sorry, I'm probably being thick, but which one's the big one? We have so. Fucking. Many. These days?"
"I assumed she meant the one last week" Joly said.
"Yeah, but there was also –"
"The one the day Azelma died" Éponine cut him off. "At the Elephant."
"Oh. Shit, sorry Pony, that was dumb of me, I shouldn't have –"
She swallowed back the ball of grief in the back of her throat that still appeared when she thought about her sister, and ignored the heavy feeling in her gut as she smiled at her friend and reassured him he hadn't upset her. It's not his fault, he was just confused. Smile, Thénardier. You can do this. Joly wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she smiled up at him, before turning back to look at Grantaire again and pointing out "he'd have to be over Enjolras for it to work."
"Shit. I don't suppose there's any chance of that?" Courfeyrac asked, hopefully.
"Nope" the other three all replied at once.
"It's such a shame, he could be so happy" Joly added, a little wistfully.
"It's admirable he's kept it going this long, actually." Combeferre pointed out. "Particularly in a man with so little conviction in every other aspect of life."
"He's pretty committed to his drinking" Courfeyrac joked.
"Don't get me started." Joly grumbled under his breath. Éponine wrapped an arm around his waist and squeezed in support. She loved how much Joly cared about everyone.
"I hope for his sake he doesn't keep either commitment going indefinitely." Combeferre observed, folding his cable-knit jumper-clad arms thoughtfully.
"Maybe Enjolras'll surprise us all one day and return his feelings" Courf suggested.
Fuck, I hope not. "I don't see that happening." Éponine replied, a little too quickly and a little too firmly. She didn't dare look at Ferre for fear of blushing like a tomato.
"You sound very sure" observed Courfeyrac wryly. "Care to bet?"
"OK. Time limit?"
"New Year, or if Grant gets with Pierre. Or Enjolras gets someone else."
"Is that likely?" laughed Joly.
"Every eventuality must be catered for, my medical friend. Even the most unlikely. Fifty?"
"Done." She replied, shaking his hand under Combeferre's amused and slightly disapproving gaze. What can I say; you can't undo a Thénardier upbringing she thought to herself with a smirk.
As time passed, and the Parisian winter turned slowly but surely to spring, very little changed in Éponine and Enjolras' budding relationship. They still slept together every night, but continued to take it slow, breaking off kisses before they got too heated (much to Musichetta's confusion when Éponine explained it to her. "I don't get it; he's hot, you're hot, get at it already!" was a common random exclamation in the Musain kitchen). They spent most of their time together, and felt closer than ever, but neither of them felt ready to tell their friends yet. It was too precious to risk, and Grantaire… wasn't ready yet.
He was getting closer and closer to Pierre though. The two spent almost as much time together as Éponine and Enjolras; not only were they both at meetings, they were going to the movies, to art shows, getting takeaways and watching parks and rec for hours… it made Éponine wonder, certainly. And she knew from how Pierre laughed at Grantaire's jokes, and bought him drinks without a comment, and just looked at him that he liked Grantaire.
He even became the first "guest performer" (Courfeyrac's words) at Musicals Night, when they were watching the 25th Anniversary production of the Phantom of the Opera in Éponine's living room. Though they were initially surprised at his interest in attending, and a little worried that he wouldn't "get" their weirdness, Courfeyrac and Éponine were quickly won over by his enthusiasm and appreciation for Phantom. Plus he brought popcorn.
The highlight of the evening centred on "Think of Me". As Sierra Boggess sang like an angle on screen, Pierre nudged Éponine and said "you should sing this in the café one night!"
Éponine laughed, and replied "I'd love to babe, but honestly R has a better chance of hitting those notes than I do."
Grantaire jumped up, standing one foot on the coffee table, hand on hip with his beer held aloft like a sword, and yelled "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!"
Éponine and Courfeyrac looked at each other, momentarily confused, when suddenly the world's most horrendous sound filled their ears.
Aaaaaaand though it's cleeeeear,
though it was always cleeeeear,
that this was neeeeeeeeeever MEAnt to beeeeeeee
if you happen to remember, stop and think of meeee!
Éponine, Courf and Pierre covered their ears and fell about laughing as Grantaire pranced around the living room, screeching and shrieking.
Thiiiink of Aaaaaaauuuuuuggguuuuuuuuust when the world was greeeeeeeeeeen
Don't think abooooout the waaaaaay thiiiings miiiiight have beeeeeeeeeen!
Suddenly, Courf jumped up too, kneeling in front of Grantaire with arms aloft, shouting "SING, MY ANGEL OF MUSIC!"
Thiiiink of meeeeee, think of me waaaaaakiiiing, siiiiileeent and reeEEEeeesiIIIiiiigned
Imagine meeeee trying too haaard to puuuut you from myyyyy miiiiiiind
Think of meeeee, please say yooouu'll think of meeee, whatever eeeeelse yooou chooooose tooo dooooo
There will never be a day when IIIII wooooon't thiiiinkkk ooooffff YOOOOOOOOOOUUUUU!
As Grantaire shrieked out a horrendous, terrifying high scream of a note, Enjolras' head poked out from his door in bemusement, watching in confused awe as Éponine jumped up on the coffee table, joining in with a comedy deep, grunting
Can it beeeee,
can it be Chrrriiiissstiiiinnneee?
Pierre was on his feet and joining in for the BRAVA! BRAVA!, clapping wildly through his laughter. Éponine held back the tears of mirth to bellow out
Long agooooo it seems so loonnngg agooo
how young and iiiiiiiinnnoooceeentt weee weeerrrrreeee!
Sheeeee maaay noott remmeeeemberr meeee
buuutt, IIIIII reeeeememmmmber heerrrrrr!
While Éponine had been (for want of a better word) singing, Pierre had noticed Enjolras and pointed him out to Grantaire, who grinned wickedly before rushing over to pull at the poor bemused leader's hand, dragging him along as he twirled around the room while screeching out the final verse.
Floooowers faaade, the fruuuuuits of suuummerrrr faaaaade
they have their sEEEEeAAsons so do weeeeeee
but please promise me that soooommetiiimmeeees yooooouuu wiiiiilll thhiiiinkkk
The reality of the next few notes seemed to hit Grantaire like a train and he started to laugh as Sierra vocalised happily from the TV. He just stopped in time for one last ear-splitting high screech in place of "of me", at which point the entire room fell about laughing, with Éponine unable to stand for laughter and Courfeyrac's booming laugh filling the air like thunder. When Éponine finally wiped away the tears of laughter and composed herself enough to look over at Pierre, see saw him trapped, shaking with laughter, under a collapsed Grantaire, whose smile lit up his face like sunshine in a way Éponine had never seen it do before.
Pierre was invited to every musicals night after that.
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