Better Run for Cover

Chapter 6: Vive la France... Vive la République... Long Live the Revolution!

(Hey guys - Sorry I haven't updated in so long! School has been very crazy and I also had a bunch of field trips the past few weeks that kept me away from my computer. Now my sports seasons are over, so I should have a bit more time, but that's what I said last time, so who knows. With summer coming, I'm hoping to get in a few more chapters than normal because I'll be in New Hampshire for at least a month without my computer :( So, here's the next chapter in "Better Run For Cover" - Hope you like it! Please comment and vote!)

{André's p.o.v}

I bolted through the streets of Paris, staying to the shadows as much as I could and immediately going in the opposite direction whenever I saw any member of the police. Even though I was staying with Javert, I couldn't be caught again... I had a feeling that I wouldn't get off so easy this time. As I neared La Café Musain, I saw Javert out of the corner of my eye. He was riding his horse down a side street, his hat slightly crooked and his posture showing a tired man. I frowned, shaking my head and moving on.

When I rounded the final corner and the Café came into view, I slowed to a walk, pulling my cap low over my eyes as I entered a crowd. As I slipped past a rich looking man, I silently snagged a handful of francs from his coat pocket, stashing them away in my own pocket. Then, navigating my way through the crowd, I stopped at the entrance to La Café Musain. The Café doubled as an Inn, and currently, through the open doorway, I could see Monsieur and Madame Thénardier trying to convince a customer to stay. I slipped by while they were occupied, thanking the stars for them not noticing me... But then again, I was a thief and an expert at going unnoticed.

I slowly made my way to the back of the Inn, glancing around at the drunk idiots that frequented the place. Rolling my eyes in disgust, I began to climb the stairs in the very back of the Inn, stopping a moment later near the top as a familiar voice shouted, "Who's there?"

"It's me, Courf!" I called back. A smiling face with a mop of curly black hair appeared at the top of the stairs, beckoning for me to come up. Grinning, I obliged, jumping up the stairs two at a time until I reached the top. Courfeyrac picked me up in his arms; I was small, especially for a twelve year-old, but he knew that I didn't mind being picked up. He then carried me over to a table in the far corner of the room where a group of older boys sat, arguing about something.

"Look who's here!" called Courfeyrac. The boys looked up and then grinned.

One with blue eyes and a mop of dirty blonde hair just like mine stood up. "Engy!!!" I shouted, squirming free from Courfeyrac's grasp and running to him. My brother pulled me into an embrace, hugging me tightly. "Hey there, Andy!" he laughed, sitting down again and offering me the chair beside him. I grinned and sat down, taking off my cap and waving at the boys.

In total, there were 10, counting Enjolras and Courfeyrac. There was Bahorel, a dandy and idler from a peasant background. Combeferre, a medical student, Feuilly, a fanmaker who studies revolution deeply, Grantaire, a very serious alcoholic and a man who doesn't really care about much at all, Jean Prouvaire, a very well-spoken Romantic, Joly, another medical student, Lesgles, one of the oldest in the group and a real sweetheart, and Marius, a slightly air-headed boy with a rich grandfather. They all grinned and called out greetings. "So Andy," asked my brother, "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

My smile vanished and I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "Well... umm... Yesta'day, I'se was caught by Monsieur the Inspector," I finally blurted out. Enjolras' eyes widened and Courfeyrac's jaw dropped. "You were what?" asked Combeferre. "I'se was caught by Monsieur Javert," I repeated softer. The boys looked utterly astounded. "No way..." muttered Feuilly, amazed. "But Andy, haven't they been trying to catch you for a while now?" asked Prouvaire. I nodded. "And they finally succeeded..." murmured Joly. "How are you still here then?" asked Courfeyrac, confused. Enjolras looked at me, worried yet curious.

"Well... It be's sorta strange... Umm... Well, I be's stayin' with the Inspector," I told them. Bahorel looked so confused I almost laughed. "You're... staying... with the Inspector?" asked Enjolras slowly. I nodded, looking down at my feet. "That's... interesting," said Marius, his eyebrow raised. I sighed. "He said I be's to young to be's going to the galleys, and that's I be's to young to go's to prison," I explained, shrugging. Lesgles shrugged as well. "I suppose that seems logical," he mused.

Grantaire looked at me for a moment, taking a swig from a bottle in his hand. Then, he pursed his lips, saying," Well," and drawing the word out lazily, "If Andy's perfectly unharmed... and not going to jail... everything's fine, right?" I giggled, noting just how drunk Grantaire was at the moment.

Enjolras rolled his eyes. "No Grantaire," he growled, "Everything is not fine. My little sister, who is a THIEF is staying with Monsieur Javert, who is one of the POLICE!" he roared, putting his head in his hands.

I put my hand on my brother's shoulder. "Engy, I'se'll be fine... It be's you I'se worried about. The boys said Monsieur the Inspector would threaten me's to get you'se to surrender in the Revolution! They said you'se could be's thrown in prison, or worse, hanged!"

Enjolras leaned back in his chair, looking at me out of the corner of his eye. "I don't want you'se ta get hurt!" I whimpered sadly. Enjolras frowned, reaching out to me. I climbed into his arms and he hugged me tight. "It's okay Andy," he said softly, stroking my hair comfortingly. "Everything will work out. I'll be fine. Just worry about yourself for now, okay?" he asked, looking me in the eye. I nodded slowly, a sad look in my eyes. "You'se has to promise to be's careful too then, 'kay?" I added firmly.

Enjolras nodded. I turned to look at the rest of the boys. "You'se promise too?" I asked. They each nodded in turn. Satisfied, I put my cap back on, tucking my hair up under it. Then, putting on my best poker face to hide how worried I was for the boys and my brother, I got to my feet.

Slowly, I walked to the top of the stairs, turning back for a moment, raising my fist and saying the only phrase I could with proper grammar. "Vive la France... Vive la République... Long live the Revolution!"

The boys raised their fists in the air, breaking into grins. "Vive la France... Vive la République... Long live the Revolution! they shouted, their voices following me as I ran down the stairs, and headed for the door of the inn.