When Tomorrow Comes

Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

"We need a sign!" Combeferre said. "To rallye the people! To call them to arms!"

"To bring them in line!" Enjolras finished, climbing up the stairs of Café Musain.

"Enjolras, you're late," Prouvaire pointed out.

"Barely! If Eponine hadn't passed out..."

"Hey! Not my fault!" she replied, slowly climbing the stairs, supported by the railing and Marius.

"Oh good, you're okay!" Joly exclaimed.

"She's had better days," Marius answered for her.

Bahorel suddenly stepped in the picture.

"I don't believe what I see..." he let out.

"What?" Enjolras and Marius asked simultaneously.

"There's something different about you two..."

"Yeah," Feuilly agreed. "You seem... happier."

"Geeze, thanks," Enjolras said. "Glad to know we looked totally unhappy before."

"No, not that way... Marius has his head in the clouds. You seem to have lost your focus... Something's up, I can see it."

The rest of the boys smiled. They knew what was going on.

"Oh, shut up," Enjolras replied, trying to keep a serious face.

Eponine felt all eyes turned on her. She started to blush, which was actually the first time in her life she did in front of random people.

"I'm, umm, going to go over there," she said, casually bumping into almost everything on her way to the table in the back.

"So," Enjolras started. "Where are we at?"

"Lamarque's funeral is scheduled for tomorrow," Combeferre announced.

"It'll go down here," Prouvaire said, pointing at the map on the table. "Stretching all over the streets to there."

"That's when we strike," Courfeyrac added.

"Right there," Enjolras said as his eyes brightened up. "It's perfect."

"Are you sure about this?" Feuilly suddenly asked.

All eyes turned on him.

"Of course," Enjolras answered. "Why?"

"Because some will fall and some will live... I mean, are we ready to stand up and take our chance?"

And then Enjolras stood up on the table and held his fist in the air.

"The blood of the martyrs will water the meadows of France!" he exclaimed.

The boys joined in, cheering him off. Even Feuilly seemed convinced. The only one not liking that idea at all was Eponine. She had just found Enjolras and now he was planning to ignite a revolution and possibly die there?

"Eponine, what's wrong?" Enjolras asked her as he came to sit down next to her.

"It's nothing," she answered, though even she didn't convince herself with the tone she used. "Go plan your revolution."

"You don't understand," Enjolras tried. "We will win this."

"Sure you will..."

"Eponine..."

But then Prouvaire called out his name.

"We need you here, Enjolras," he shouted.

"We still have a lot of planning to do," Combeferre pointed out.

Enjolras looked back at Eponine.

"Go on, I'm fine," she told him.

She managed a smile. Enjolras sighed.

"Tonight," he said. "It's just me and you. I promise."

"No one's ever promised me anything before."

"Then lucky for you, I even keep them," he replied with a grin.

Enjolras leaned in and, making sure no one was paying attention to him, kissed her on the cheek.

"I'll see you in a little bit, Mademoiselle," he told her as he left to join the rest of his friends.

Eponine smiled. Even if he was going to die, she knew the short moments she'd have spent with him would be the best of her life.

But still she hesitated. Could she possibly live knowing that Enjolras was gone? She'd have nowhere to go, especially now that Marius would be with -ugh- Cosette. But he could die as well...

And then it was clear in her mind. She knew what to do. But no way was she going to tell Enjolras; he'd just disapprove and forbid her to do it.

"I'm sorry, Monsieur," she whispered, "but I'm sure you would've done the same for me."

Eponine discretely signaled Gavroche to come over. The street urchin made his way through the mass of people easily.

"Mademoiselle," he said. "What can I do for you today?"

"I have a mission for you, boy."

"A mission!" Gavroche's eyes brightened up. "Anything, Mademoiselle."

"Okay, here's what I need you to do..."