I come to fight. Or at least, to listen.

chapter 20

Chapter 20

~Circumstances~

Joly ripped open the letter from Enjolras. He knew it was from him when the moment he laid eyes on Enjolras's writing, which was always in all caps and hastily scrawled (unless it was to be published or to someone important, in which case it was always impeccable).

JOLY,

I APOLOGIZE FOR RUNNING OUT YESTERDAY. CIRCUMSTANCES DID NOT PERMIT ME TO STAY. HOWEVER WE SHOULD GET TOGETHER FOR DINNER SOMETIME. TO DISCUSS THINGS. WE ARE STAYING AT THE FLAT, IF THAT WAS NOT ALREADY MADE APPARENT BY THE RETURN ADDRESS. I PRESUME THIS SUNDAY WILL BE AN APPROPRIATE DATE. PERHAPS YOU SHOULD INVITE MARIUS AS WELL.

-ENJOLRAS

Oh, Enjolras, Joly thought, never one for pleasantries among friends. Joly wrote back hastily and sent the letter back soon enough so that it would reach Enjolras later that day.

...

"Evelyn, there's a letter here for you," Enjolras said, holding the envelope in between two fingers outstretched towards her. Late afternoon light poured through the windows. She had just gotten home from the bookstore, and her silent prayers that Enjolras wouldn't open the letter were answered.

He opened the letter from Joly, tearing the seal with his thumb.

Enjolras,

I'll see you and Marius Sunday at 4, mon ami! Also, do I sense some romance brewing?

Best,

Joly

Enjolras felt his ears grow hot and quickly refolded the letter, eyes darting around the room as if he hadn't read anything. Am I really being that obvious about it?

"So we're going to Joly's this Sunday at 4. Is that alright?" Enjolras called to the kitchen, where Evelyn was brewing a pot of tea.

"Yes! It sounds great! It's funny, we've only been gone a few days and I already miss him," she smiled, handing Enjolras his tea. He was sure not to spill it this time.

"I think Marius is going to be there, too."

"Oh," she said, her eyebrows knitting together. She chewed the inside of her lower lip. He probably hates me. I'm ok with that. The guy's a manipulative prick... No, no. Give him a chance. He's Julien's and Joly's friend, so you're gonna have to deal with him. You should be making friends, not enemies.

She glanced anxiously at the door, hoping Rene and Caroline would be there. That morning she was reluctant for them to step past the threshold, fearing that their father would be waiting to take them. It took promise after promise from Rene to convince her to let them go.

She changed the subject. "What are Rene and Caroline going to do? I assume we'll be staying late and I don't want to be so far away from them-"

"Evelyn, Rene is a savvy young man. He can take care of himself and Caroline, I'm sure," Enjolras said, confident in the boy.

Evelyn sighed. "Yes, you're right." She opened her eyes wide, trying to lift the fog from lack of sleep. Evelyn hadn't slept much more than a few hours every night since she first got word children.

Enjolras noticed her blank stares. She hadn't been able to hold a strong conversation for more than a few minutes these past few days, and that concerned him. The normal twinkle from her eyes was fading, and her smiles not as vibrant.

Evelyn sat behind the wall to the kitchen, blocked from Enjolras's view, and if she was quiet enough, his hearing. She took a deep breath and slowly opened the letter.