When Tomorrow Comes

Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

"What happened to you?" Grantaire exclaimed when he saw Marius coming in the Café.

He was covered in dirt. His jacket was all ripped apart. His nose was bleeding and he had a black eye.

"I got in a fight..."

"Thanks, we noticed," Feuilly said, matter-of-factly.

"About what?" Prouvaire asked.

Marius hesitated before answering.

"Eponine," he let out, almost in a whisper.

"That girl got you good!" Grantaire laughed. "You look shattered!"

"It was about Eponine, not with her," Marius rectified, annoyed. "I got in a fight with Montparnasse."

The boys gasped.

"What were you doing with him?" Bahorel asked. "He's with, you know, Thénardier's gang."

"Always up to no good," Feuilly added.

"Which is why I didn't want him near Eponine!" Marius replied.

The room fell silent. That is, until Gavroche decided to speak his mind.

"You love her," he said.

"I do not!"

Grantaire smirked.

"Oh, is Marius in love at last?"

"I am not! Especially not with Eponine."

"I know someone who loves her, though," Combeferre added with a grin.

"I think I know him too," Courfeyrac said with a smile.

All eyes turned to Enjolras as he came through the doors of Café Musain.

"Where were you?" Prouvaire asked.

"I was out," he replied, "with Marius..."

"You look in way better shape than him," Bahorel pointed out.

Enjolras gasped at the sight of his friend.

"Marius, what happened?" he asked in shock.

"Oh, nothing important," Marius let out. "I'm more interested about what happened with you and Eponine after you left."

"Nothing happened," Enjolras answered while going to sit down.

"So did you at least talk to her?" Joly asked.

"No."

"Geeze Enjolras! If you want a girl to know you like her, there are better ways!"

"I... I don't like her..."

The boys laughed.

"Sure you don't," Combeferre said.

"Oh shut up," Enjolras replied with a grin. "We have more important things on our mind! Come on, guys, we have a revolution to plan!"

***

Eponine walked through the streets, alone, crying.

"And now I'm all alone again, nowhere to turn, no one to go to..."

"Are you lost, Mademoiselle?" a stranger asked.

"I wish I was," she replied.

"Times are tough, I agree. Here," he said, digging in his pocket to find two gold coins. "Find some shelter for tonight."

"Thank you, Monsieur."

"Be careful, Mademoiselle. I bid you goodnight."

He turned around and stretched out his hand.

"Come, Cosette," he said. "It's getting late and we're still far from home."

"Coming papa!" the girl answered.

She looked at Eponine and immediately lost her smile.

"I know you," she whispered.

Eponine looked at herself. She was covered in dirt, scars and bruises. She didn't want Cosette to remember her and see what she had become.

"I don't believe we've met before," she said, trying not to sound too broken.

"But you really look like a girl I grew up with..."

"No, no, that's not me."

"It's getting late, Cosette," the man urged.

"Alright, yes. Goodnight," she told Eponine.

Eponine faked a smile and watched as Cosette left with that man. But Cosette didn't buy Eponine's story, not at all. She just knew it was her.

"Cosette, why did you have to remember?" Eponine said aloud.

She looked to the sky as the first drop of rain fell to the ground. Eponine found an overhead bridge to hide under, but she was already soaking wet.

"Eponine!" she heard a voice shout.

She looked in the streets, secretly hoping that the guy Enjolras was looking for her. But no, it was just jerk face Montparnasse.

"No, I don't need this right now," Eponine muttered and she pressed herself against the wall.

"Eponine!" he tried again.

He ran right next to her, trying to shelter himself from the rain with his hat. She sighed in relief as she let herself gently slide down until she was sitting on the ground.

Now, Eponine was on her own, without a home, without a friend, without a face to say hello to. No, she still had Marius... and Enjolras. Joly seemed nice too.

But Montparnasse's words kept resonating in her mind. He was right. Boys like them never paid attention to girls like her. They just pitied her, but even that wouldn't last.

Eponine closed her eyes. The city was going to bed. She listened to the rain fall as she wrapped her arms around her knees. It was peaceful here.

"On my own," she whispered sadly. "Like I've always been and always will be..."