Becoming Eponine *A Les Misérables Story*

Dream Two

Cobblestone is underfoot and I move across the street, next to Eponine.

"That's odd." She speaks in a confused tone as she looks to me, her eyebrows knotted and her dark eyes shining with curiosity, "I could have sworn you vanished for a second."

My stomach churns, it's the dream again, the odd one that I had the night before. Eponine takes long strides so it's hard to keep up with her. I know her as the tough lovesick street urchin. But Eponine doesn't seem lovesick to me, she seems independent. She seems more confident than the version I knew, the one who trailed after Marius.

"Combeferre!" Eponine barks as we come upon the ABC Cafe, her eyes wide, "Are you still twisting the details in that book of history?" I watch as the man looks up from a leather journal. His feather hovering over the page.

"The future needs something to remember us by. And yes, I want to make this more interesting. No story is truly complete without a love triangle." Combeferre grins and Eponine scowls at him, her eyes darkening.

"Imagine Cosette reads this then! She'll think I was actually in love with Marius." Something clicks in my head as I watch Eponine and Combeferre's argument, it doesn't seem as if the barricade boy has even spotted me yet. I inch to the side reading his writing over his shoulder. Direct text from the novel. So, if this dream is more than just a dream then maybe this is what actually happened. Maybe I'm actually a part of the Uprising of 1832. I brush away the thought, this is a dream, a figment of my imagination.

"Then explain it to Cosette." Combeferre argues.

"I don't want to be known in History as a lovesick dog." Silence follows her words and suddenly my respect for Eponine grew stronger.

"But your life is dark. And even now love is the only thing keeping you going, a compassion. Your life is cold yet you still hang onto that one bit of happiness you have." Combeferre's grin fades as his eyes are cast downwards.

"Quite the Philosopher you are. That was once correct, but it was never love for Marius it was for-" Eponine was abruptly cut off when Combeferre notices me,

"Whose this?" I step forward, determination flowing through me as Combeferre eyes me warily.

"This is a girl from the streets, she's willing to help us." Eponine says.

"There's a hundred girls on the streets! Why would we choose to give this one shelter and not another."

"I have my own reasons Combeferre, and after that," she indicated to the book he was writing in, "you owe me." He shrugged and Eponine led me into the cafe, where I met the rest of the Barricade boys.

"Combeferre hasn't really been himself lately, ignore him, I think he'll grow to appreciate you. I can tell from your way of acting, your stance. You're a tough girl, you will be of use if you have still managed to stay alive." I nod at her solemnly as the boys of the ABC cafe turn to face us.