When Tomorrow Comes

Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

All of Paris was still sleeping when Enjolras woke up. He looked outside. It was still night here. The sky was dark, but he could see a lighter tone of grey on the horizon. Dawn was probably a few minutes away.

"I need to make this up to Eponine," Enjolras whispered to himself. "But how?"

He sat there, staring at the streets, not having a clue what he could do. And then it dawned on him.

"I'll write her a letter! I'm sure she'll love that!"

But then he remembered Eponine couldn't read. Damn. He looked around, trying to get his brain to figure it out, but nothing was coming to mind.

And then, suddenly, he knew. He knew it from the inside of his heart that it was the right thing to do. He smiled.

"Now that," he whispered to himself, "is the perfect idea."

But then his friends started marching up the stairs of Café Musain. Enjolras started to panic, he thought he had more time.

"Enjolras, you slept here?" Combeferre realized.

"More like fell asleep," Enjolras mumbled.

"Okay, we're ready!" an overly-excited Feuilly said.

"It's dawn already?"

"Yeah!" Prouvaire answered. "We're here, ready to plan this revolution, as instructed!"

But Enjolras put his jacket and ran down the stairs in a flash.

"What the...?" Joly started.

"Marius, take care of this!" Enjolras shouted. "See you later guys!"

And then he was gone.

"What's that all about?" Bahorel asked.

"Yeah, he wanted us here, right?" Combeferre added.

"He has to settle things with Eponine," Marius explained.

"He better be here for noon," Feuilly said.

"Speaking of noon... Does anyone have Lamarque's funeral plans?"

"All here," Prouvaire said, throwing a small pile of paper on the table.

"How about weapons?"

"All settled," Feuilly replied.

"Ok, let's start planning this, guys. Today is the day. After today, France will never be the same..."

***

SEVEN HOURS LATER

"The time is near!" Marius shouted.

"The day is here!" Courfeyrac added.

The boys cheered, pumped up with adrenaline.

"Are you ready?!" Feuilly exclaimed.

More cheers. There were guns being banged on the tables, fists raised up high and shouts of victory filling the air. And that's when Enjolras climbed up the stairs in a flash. He forced a smile.

"Hello, gentlemen," he said.

"There you are!" Combeferre let out. "I thought you were going to miss it!"

"Like I'd miss this revolution!"

The boys grabbed their guns and flags and headed out.

"I'll catch up!" Enjolras told them.

"You can't force a smile with me," Marius said. "Come on, tell me what's up."

He shook his head.

"That bad?" Marius continued. "I mean, it's fine if you don't want to talk about it..."

"No, not like that... I... I can't find her."

Marius looked shocked.

"She disappeared? Again?"

"I even looked in her secret... I mean... I looked everywhere!"

"Look, Enjolras, I'm sure she's fine."

"But what if she's not?"

Marius put his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"It's Eponine we're talking about," he answered with a smirk. "She's the toughest girl around. She owns the streets. If something has happened, she'll make it through."

Enjolras seemed to hesitate.

"Come on," Marius said. "Something grander than life is about to happen and we need our leader."

"I'm afraid your leader isn't in the best state of mind at the moment..."

"I'm telling you, Enjolras. Once you wave that flag, you'll forget everything else. Heck, I may even forget Cosette!"

"No you won't..."

"Okay, maybe not. Of course they'll still be in our minds, but for today, we have other things to set our minds to."

"But after this, we're going after her," Enjolras declared.

"Hey, she's my friend too. I'd force all of Paris to look for her if I could."

Enjolras smiled.

"Alright, Marius, I think I'm ready."

"Let's go wave the flag of freedom high!" Marius said.

"And show the people that there's a new world to be won!" Enjolras finished.