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

chapter 22

Chapter 22

~Dinner Party~

He checked the time. 2:00. Evelyn had mentioned earlier that she wouldn't be home for lunch today. Unfortunately, as adept he was at nearly everything else, Enjolras was utterly helpless when it came to food. So he went to a cafe, and went to the library from there.

Enjolras gathered the books he wanted in his arms and carried them over to the check out counter. The librarian eyed him as he signed, as Enjolras had a reputation for returning the books very overdue. Also because the young man was somewhat notorious now.

Enjolras thanked him with a curt nod and scooped them up.

...

Evelyn quietly opened the door to her apartment with one hand, the other holding her uniform. Merde. Where am I even going to hide this? God, this was such a bad idea, she thought.

Luckily, nobody was in the apartment yet. Which Evelyn thought odd, because it was already seven.

She hid the uniform in her boudoir, then sighed heavily as she lay down on her bed. Evelyn had spent the day scrubbing and washing and dusting then scrubbing again. At least Marie kept her company and vice versa.

Evelyn groaned as she realized that she still had to alter Rene and Caroline's new clothing (both were for children older, especially Rene's) and make dinner.

She slid off her bed, landing on the floor with a thunk. Evelyn picked herself up and dragged herself over to the kitchen, putting a pot of water on. How do I explain the new hours to Julien? I can't just say the times at the book shop changed because I'll have all this new income. Her eyes landed on one of the dresses that she was fixing for Caroline, the sewing basket still on the table. Ah ha! I can say I work at a factory. Those usually have longer hours, I think. Longer hours would explain the pay, anyways.

Evelyn heard Caroline's unmistakeable shrill laughter through the walls. Which could only mean that they were at Enjolras's apartment.

She turned off the stove and headed to the source of the giggling.

...

Enjolras fake-groaned as he lifted Caroline and tossed her on his bed. A wide smile was cracked on his face. Rene sat in the corner, thumbing through

"Again!" Caroline squealed as she slid off the bed and back towards Enjolras. A knock at the door interrupted them.

"Quick! Hide!" he said to Caroline, ushering her behind the sheer curtain, his grin never fading. Rene just kept reading with a smirk on his face.

Enjolras opened the door, one hand hand on his hip. Evelyn stood in the doorway, a slightly concerned expression on her face.

"Hey!" Enjolras said friendly.

"Hi..." Evelyn trailed, distracted by the swishing in the curtain. "Is that Caroline?"

"Nope. No idea what you're talking about." Enjolras motioned for Evelyn to come inside.

Evelyn saw Rene quietly reading in the corner. She was perplexed by all this. First, Enjolras likes children and then Rene isn't making some snarky remark at him?

"Boo!" Caroline popped out from behind the curtain, the most pleased smile on her face.

"You never struck me as a kid-person, Julien" Evelyn said, a sideways smile on her face.

"He's not," said Rene. He put his book down and his hands on his knees. "He tried to talk about the various forms of democracy for half an hour until I just gave up and read. Caroline, however, made a deal that if she listened Enjolras would have to play with her until you showed up."