Run Away with Me

Chapter 6

We spent the afternoon and evening trying to clean up the place. Enjolras argued to call the police, but I just laughed and laughed.

"Ép, someone is here to see you," Grantaire smirked, coming into my room as I sorted through all the clothes that had been ripped. Some I could fix, others would have to be thrown away or turned into dish rags.

"Who?" I asked, tossing another shirt into the throw-away pile.

"Your lover boy," he grinned, wiggling an eyebrow.

"You mean..." I froze for an instant before bolting downstairs.

There he was. Standing just inside the door, looking around at my demolished house. His brown hair was done as perfectly as always. His green eyes sparkled among all those freckles that sprinkled his nose and cheeks.

"Marius! What are you doing here?" I asked, smoothing down my hair and rubbing my cheeks for dirt.

"I heard about everything, 'Ponine. I just came to check on you."

Marius looked around my house, his face a mixture of pity and disgust.

"Oh, you know me, I'll pull through. But how did you know, Marius?"

I started to get anxious. I didn't want him to know about all of this. Marius was from a much different world than me.

"Enjolras texted me. He told me you were possibly in some danger."

I scoffed, looking at Marius and then at Enjolras, who had just entered the front room.

"I'm not the one who is in danger," I pointed out, glancing to Enjolras.

"Éponine, I think I'll be fine. I'm not scared of some punks. You're the one with a ransacked house," Enjolras reminded me.

"You don't understand the consequences of your actions, do you?" I asked him. I was starting to get upset, and my voice raised without me realizing it. "What you did will cause problems for a long time. The Patron Minette is not forgiving. They're going to remember this, and they're going to want someone to pay for it!"

Marius started over to me, like he was going to talk me into letting it go. But Enjolras cleared his throat. He rolled his eyes, turning to face me.

"I was not the one that started the fight, Éponine. I only jumped in to help Combeferre. I don't know if you remember this, Éponine, but every time I've run into trouble with the Patron Minette, it's been on your behalf!"

Now I was steaming. I pushed past Marius, eyeing the stupid, tall blonde boy in front of me.

"Has it ever occurred to you, Enjolras, that I don't need you to step in on my behalf?! I don't know why you always have to try to be the hero. There are some situations that people can't be saved from. The sooner you realize that, the better off you'll be!"

And I stormed outside.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The air outside felt even stuffier than my house did. But I needed out of there. My phone hadn't stopped buzzing since I walked out the door.

I sat down at a bench in the park, staring at my phone. I debated whether to check my messages and missed calls. The first one I actually read was one from Grantaire.

Ép, I know you're mad, but you wandering Paris by yourself worries me. All of us. It's going to get dark soon.

Then I read the one from Combeferre.

Please come back. I'm worried about you. You know they're always looking for you, and especially now. We care about your safety Ép!

I couldn't read their messages without reading Courfeyrac's.

Come back. Please. Don't make us come look for you. Especially with all these idiots. God knows what they'll do if we are out looking for you all night. Paris would never recover from the horror....but please Ép, just call or text us. Let us know you're okay at least.

His made me laugh. There was one from Marius...

Ponine, Enjolras didn't mean what he said. He doesn't know you like the rest of us do. All of us are worried about you. Even Enjolras. He feels awful. Please call me Éponine.

And finally, one from a number I didn't have. I had a good idea who it was from.

Éponine, it's Enjolras. I'd like to apologize. I haven't known you very long, and I'm still adjusting to the fact that you know the streets of Paris, both good and bad, better than any of us. I'm sorry that we always seem to argue. And I'm sorry about the fight with Montparnasse. But you're right. It's dangerous out there . You should come back. And even if you don't, let us know you're okay. And be safe.

I couldn't believe my eyes. Had he really apologized so profusely? Enjolras had apologized at all? I felt bad that they were all so worried. I wasn't trying to be dramatic when I left. I just needed some space. I'm not used to people caring about me so much. I broke down and called Combeferre.

"Éponine!" He shouted into the phone after the first ring.

"Hi, Combeferre," I couldn't help but laugh a little.

I could hear the others in the background chattering excitedly.

"Ép, where are you? We can come get you. You're staying at my place again tonight. Don't even try to argue this one."

I knew he was right. I couldn't stay at my place. And staying with Combeferre was nice, even if Enjolras was there too. But maybe we could make amends.

"I'm at the park like four blocks from my house," I finally told him.

"I know the one. See you soon."