What is Love?

Chapter 8

Éponine continued to text Marius throughout the afternoon. He was really sweet and he seemed really interested I what she had to say. She looked up at her clock and it read 4:30. She jumped off of her bed and scrambled to get ready. She had to be at work at 5 o'clock. She whipped out her phone and texted Marius, "I'm sorry but I have to go. I have work in at 5 and I'm going to be late. Ill talk to you later" she quickly pressed send and got dressed in her uniform, black shirt and black pants. She threw her hair up in a ponytail before bolting out of her room. She knocked on Enjolras's door, "Enj, I need the keys. I'm going to be late!" She yelled to the closed door.

She heard him run to the door, keys jingling in his hand and soon the door opened and he stood there smirking down at her, "What happened did you fall asleep?" He joked.

Éponine breathed a laugh and nodded. She had to lie, she didn't want to fight about Marius now. Enjolras tossed her the keys and she bolted down the stairs.

"Good luck!" He called after her.

Éponine waved her hand and ran out the door into the garage. She was about to start the car when her phone beeped. She checked it. It was another message from Marius. She opened it quickly. It asked her where she was working. She quickly typed her response: "I'm working at Chili's, it's a restaurant in the center of town", and threw her phone into her bag. She drove as quickly as she could to the restaurant and ran through the back entrance at exactly 5. When let out a sigh of relief and put her bag on the hook in the back.

She swiped her time card and grabbed her apron. She found her boss, Betty, and asked what she section of tables she would be working today.

Betty rolled her eyes at her, "You're late again Éponine. Next time you might not have the job".

Éponine sighed, "I know I'm sorry. I just was running a little behind schedule today, I promise it won't happen again" she said.

Betty sighed, "You're working section B, don't give me a reason to think you're slacking today girl" she said sternly pointing her finger at Éponine.

Éponine nodded and slipped away. She had to wait until someone new arrived in her section before she could start. Finally a pretty blonde girl and her friends arrived. Éponine walked up with a smile, "Hi guys my name is Éponine and I'll be your server today. What would you like to drink?" She asked.

All the girls looked to the blonde girl, "We will all have waters" she said with a smile.

Éponine nodded and walked away. The blonde girl must be their leader she thought whatever she says goes. Éponine laughed to herself, she's glad she wasn't part of that clique. In fact she didn't recognize the girls, they must go to a different school. Éponine returned with their waters and set them down in front of each girl. "Are you ready to order?" Éponine asked.

The blonde girl shook her head, "Not yet, can we have a few more minutes". Éponine nodded and left the table.

A few more new people arrived and she served them before going back to the blonde girl's table. When she got there the girl was pale and pointing at something across the restaurant. Her friends were comforting her trying to sooth her. Éponine looked in the direction of her finger and saw a boy. A boy with brown hair, green eyes, and an abundance of freckles. Marius. What was he doing here? Éponine couldn't help but smile but she was confused, this girl must've known him from somewhere before. She approached Marius's table and when he looked up to see her he smiled widely.

"Hey 'Ponine!" He said waving.

Éponine laughed and waved back, "What are you doing here?" she asked.

Marius shrugged, "What am I not allowed to see my new friend at work?" He asked innocently.

Éponine blushed, "Well I guess it's not totally illegal. What would you like to drink?" she asked.

"Coke please" Marius responded.

"Coming right up, Monsiuer" she said turning away. As she passed the blonde girl's table again she saw the girl with her head down on the table and one of her friends running her back.

Another girl grabbed Éponine's arm as she passed, "Excuse me. Is there any way my friends and I can change our seat to a different table? Maybe one closer to the bathroom because my friend is feeling sick" she said.

"Um yeah, let me just check where tables are open" Éponine replied quickly before ducking away. This was the weirdest thing. She approached Betty and tapped her shoulder.

"What is it Éponine?" She asked slightly annoyed.

"See those girls over there they want to change their table to one closer to the bathroom. Is that ok?" Éponine questioned.

Betty shrugged, "Sure why not? Just make sure the table is ok for them" she said.

Éponine nodded and returned to the girls' table. She jerked her head and the girls got up and followed her to the back. She could hear them whispering and guiding the blonde girl, her face still covered by her hands. She turned to them, "What table would you like?" She asked gesturing to the tables in the back section.

One of the girls nudged the blonde girl, "Cos, what table?"

The blonde girl looked up hesitantly, paler than she was before. She pointed to the table all the way in the back corner, secluded from the other tables in the restaurant.

"Alright" said the girl holding her, "this way Cos".

They began to walk to the table but the blonde girl stopped and looked at Éponine, "Can we just have the check please?" She asked, her voice quivering.

Éponine nodded and bolted to the back. They only ordered 4 waters so that wasn't bad.

She brought the check and the blonde girl threw 10 dollars at her, "Keep the change" she said before running out of the restaurant.

Two of the girls ran after her but the third stayed. "I'm really sorry about that. She just isn't herself today" she said with a sad smile. She turned away but then she looked back at Éponine, "Do you know Marius Pontmercy?" She asked jerking her head towards Marius who was staring daggers at the 3 girls as they passed him.

Éponine nodded, "Yeah he goes to my school, he's one of my friends" she said sternly.

The girl nodded before turning around and walking out the same way the other girls did. She gave Marius the death stare and he returned it. What was going on?