When Tomorrow Comes

Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

Monsieur Thénardier was furious.

"All her fault," he kept mumbling. "She messed it all up!"

"Calm down, papa," Azelma told him.

He picked his daughter up and sat her down on his desk.

"Don't worry, sweetheart, I'm not talking about you. It's Eponine who ruined this whole thing."

"But papa! Eponine wasn't even there!"

"Well yes, but... Don't question me! I'm the master of the house. I'm always right according to my rules. Got it?"

Azelma trembled.

"Did you have to hit her?" she asked softly, almost in a whisper.

"I did what I had to do, darling."

"Eponine didn't even fight back."

"Because she knew she deserved it... Now, go find Eponine. It's time for supper."

"I can't..."

Monsieur Thénardier dropped her back down on the ground.

"Oh yeah? Why's that?"

"She's gone. She left us."

"She what?!"

He stormed out in the street and went to find Montparnasse.

"I need your help," Monsieur Thénardier told him. "Find my daughter. Eponine."

"What's in it for me?"

Thénardier looked around to be sure no one was watching them.

"Find her for me, Montparnasse, and I'm sure we'll able to find an agreement."

Montparnasse grinned.

"Got it, Monsieur."

Montparnasse quickly grabbed his jacket and headed out into the night, unaware of the small figure following in his shadows.

***

"You're welcome to stay at my place for the night," Marius offered Eponine.

She smiled shyly.

"Thanks, but I'll be fine. Papa must be looking for me. I'd better go."

"Wait!" Enjolras shouted.

The whole Café went silent.

"I... Umm..."

Grantaire rolled his eyes and started the conversation again between the boys. He could see Enjolras didn't want any attention on him at the moment.

"Mademoiselle," Enjolras continued. "You can't go back there."

"What other choice do I have?"

"Stay here, with me," he offered. "I'm staying at the Café all night to make plans and such. You're welcome to hang around."

She hesitated.

"I won't hurt you," he added.

But immediately after saying that, he regretted it. Marius shot him a glare.

"Wrong choice of words, I know," Enjolras muttered.

"I think I'll go now," Eponine announced.

She jumped off the table and rushed downstairs.

"'Ponine!" Marius called after her.

"Let me," Enjolras said. "It's my fault."

He ran down after her, not even minding all the people staring at him. And once he arrived outside, he saw her walking away towards an alley.

"'Ponine!" he shouted.

She stopped dead in her tracks.

"What did you just call me?"

"I, umm, I don't know... I heard Marius call you that... I'm sorry."

Eponine turned around and let him approach her.

"You know, I didn't mean..."

"I know," she interrupted.

"Look, you're welcome to stay, really."

"I'm heading home," Eponine announced. "And if papa's mad, so be it."

She turned around and came face to face with Montparnasse.

"'Parnasse, what are you doing here?" she asked, startled.

"Monsieur Thénardier sent me. He wants you home, now."

"I was just going..."

"Now who's this guy?" Montparnasse asked. "What's your name, rich boy?"

"Enjolras," he announced. "And who are you?"

"Does it change anything? Come on, Eponine. Let's go home."

He grabbed her hand and started to pull her towards the alley. She looked one last time at Enjolras and quickly turned away, leaving him standing all alone in the street.

A couple minutes later, Marius arrived outside, finding Enjolras still standing in the same place he was earlier. His eyes were glued to the alley where Eponine had disappeared in.

"Where's 'Ponine?" Marius asked.

"She left," he managed to answer, "with some guy named Montparnasse."

"No!" Marius shouted as he started running towards the alley.

Enjolras saw the panicked look in Marius' eyes and decided to follow him. Whatever Marius feared, he knew he'd better have a friend by his side.