When Tomorrow Comes

Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

Dawn arrived just as Enjolras was waking up. He went to get up, but then noticed that Eponine was still sleeping, her head lying on his chest. He smiled.

She looked so peaceful, calm. And the way she was sleeping, he just knew she felt safe. She didn't seemed stressed or on her guard. She just closed her eyes and let the night take over.

Enjolras went to close his eyes again, but Eponine started to wake up.

"What? Where am I?" she asked, still half asleep.

And then she realized she had been sleeping on Enjolras.

"Oh," Eponine let out, quickly removing her head from Enjolras' chest. "I'm so sorry, Monsieur."

"I didn't mind," he replied with a smile.

That made her blush even more, and she was sure she was already red of embarrassment.

"I don't usually do this..." she stuttered.

"Hey, it's fine," he answered. "I don't usually let people sleep on me either."

Enjolras gently grabbed her hand, but she instantly pulled it away.

"Sorry," she said. "You put your hand right where papa..."

The end of the sentence got stuck in her throat. She looked away.

"Let me see," Enjolras told her.

She didn't budge, but didn't remove her hand when he went to grab it again. He turned it over and that's when he saw the red marks.

"Oh my heavens!" he let out unintentionally.

Eponine hunched her shoulders.

"It'll heal eventually," she said. "It's just still hurts a bit."

"That wasn't there when you arrived at Café Musain, wasn't it?"

She shook her head.

"No, all fresh from last night..."

Enjolras looked to heavens, asking God, pleading, why he would let such things happen to her.

"Hey, don't make that face," she told him.

"What face?"

"Don't take pity on me. I can handle myself. I'm used to it."

Eponine took a deep breath.

"I'm fine," she added.

"You don't look fine at all."

"Trust me, I've seen worse."

Worse? Okay, that was it. Enjolras was ready to head straight to Monsieur Thénardier's inn and make him pay for what he had done. But then he looked in her pleading eyes and sighed. If she wanted it to be left alone, so be it. After all, it was her life, not his.

"We're late," Enjolras suddenly realized.

He grabbed Eponine's other hand, the one with less bruises on it, and started to run towards Café Musain.

"Late for what?" Eponine asked.

"We said we'd meet at dawn at the Café."

"I'm sorry, 'we'?"

"Marius, Montparnasse and I..."

Eponine's eyes suddenly grew worried as she stopped dead in her tracks.

"Did you say Montparnasse?"

"Yes, umm, he was the one that warned us about your disappearance."

"He did that?"

"Yes, he was really worried."

Eponine started to wonder. Maybe Montparnasse wasn't that bad of a guy. Maybe he wasn't really a jerk. After all, it did seem like he cared about her.

"Hey there, lovebirds," a voice called out.

Eponine almost jumped in surprise. But what was her relief when she saw that it was Marius and not Montparnasse.

"Hey there, Monsieur," she answered.

"You seem in a pretty happy mood," Enjolras added.

"I could say the same thing about you too," Marius pointed out.

The two looked to the ground.

"Yeah, about that," Enjolras started.

"Hey, it's cool with me," Marius replied. "Just watch out for Montparnasse."

"'Parnasse?" Eponine asked. "Why?"

And then it dawned on her that he might be a little bit jealous.

"Oh no..."

She removed her hand from Enjolras' grip.

"Mademoiselle? Is everything alright?" Enjolras asked.

"I, umm..." she stuttered. "I just... 'Parnasse can be a little... You know... Aggressive sometimes? Yeah, umm, I think it's best if we..."

"Don't say a word?" Enjolras finished.

"Yes, exactly, he'll never know..."

Marius thought it best not to tell them that they had already seen them under the bridge together last night.

"Now," Enjolras said to change the subject. "What's with you and your stupid face, Marius?"

"What stupid face?"

Eponine's face brightened up.

"Are you... in love?"

"Maybe..."

"I am agog! I am aghast! Marius is in love at last," Enjolras let out.

"Shh, Enjolras, do you want all of Paris to know?"

"And who's the unlucky girl?" he asked.

Marius punched him on the shoulder.

"Her name's Cosette," he said.

At that moment, Eponine didn't feel so good.

"I think," she started, "I'm going to..."

And then she fainted, falling right into Enjolras' arms.