You can do this, Combeferre thought to himself. He had walked the five blocks to Eponine's house, thinking about what he was going to say to her the entire time. He was on her street right now and still had no clue. He'd thought of numerous different ways to ask, but it did depend on what she said and how she reacted. But he couldn't think of a full-proof plan that would work no matter what she said.
He stopped a few houses down. His stomach churned, and he felt like returning home to diagnose it, but he knew it was only fear. But returning home seemed like a wonderful option. Yet it didn't, because the sooner he knew how she felt, the less miserable he would be when he was at home. He forced himself to continue walking. He carried himself up her sidewalk and onto her front porch. He knocked on the door without hesitation. He knew the sooner he did it, the better, considering the longer he hesitated the less of a chance he would go through with the whole ordeal. Plus, Eponine might have seen him through a window, and him just standing there would look silly.
When the door opened, revealing a puffy-eyed Eponine, the last thing Combeferre had expected was for her to throw herself into his arms. Scratch that, he didn't expect it- at all.
"Wha-?" Not that he was complaining, but what?
"I'm sorry!" She cried,
"For what?"
She pulled back. This was one reason that she liked him. He'd over analyze himself and emotions and situations, and not consider that someone around him had done something wrong. He never thought anyone ever did anything wrong.
"Because of Marius."
Combeferre didn't quite understand this sentence. "Does that mean you don't like me because you want to be with Marius or does that mean you are sorry for liking Marius?"
"For liking Marius! See, that's the problem. You asking a question like that is why I am sorry. I made you think that I loved Marius, which I do, but now you think..."
"I think what?"
"That I like him more than you,"
"You don't?" Combeferre was incredibly relieved. Not just because she didn't love Marius, but because she had done all of the talking. He hadn't even asked her if she liked Marius more and she already started about how she didn't. That was one reason he liked her. Without any sort of signs, she'd know exactly everything that happened and how to handle the situation. She was really caring and a take-charge kind of girl. Eponine liked Combeferre, too, for being caring. But they were each caring in a different way. Eponine was the kind of person to nurse others, while Combeferre was the type to realize how someone was feeling and treat them how someone with that feeling should be treated. They were both the protectors of their group.
"No!"
Combeferre smiled. They hugged again, each relieved how everything had just worked itself out. "I want to ask you something." Combeferre said. He continued before Eponine had a chance to get worried (because all people know that's a terrible phrase to say to someone, but Combeferre wasn't exactly up-to-date on the whole "dating" scene.) "Will you go out with me?"
Eponine smiled, and answered, "Yes." The two kissed.
