When We Were Young

Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

"Eponine!" I hear a high pitched voice scream after me as I am running down the streets of Paris.

"Go away!" I yell back.

"Eponine Thénardier, I am not letting you leave my life like this!"

"It is not your decision to make, Enjolras," I say as I turn a corner.

And then I bump into someone much taller than me. More solid on his feet. My small body falls to the ground and instantly notice the National Guard uniform boots.

"Mademoiselle, are you okay?" the man asks.

"Yes, couldn't be better, I'll just go..."

I push myself up and go to turn around.

"Eponine?" I hear the man say. "Eponine Thénardier?"

I look up amd notice the blond hair, the piercing blue eyes.

"Monsieur Enjolras," I let out, straightening my back.

"Funny, I keep running into you." There is, however, nothing funny in his tone.

I suddenly hear footsteps approaching fast as the person stops dead in his track. I move a bit to the side as Monsieur Enjolras turns around to see who just turned the corner. It is his son.

"Young man, what are you doing here?"

"I... I wanted to talk to Eponine."

"Do you not remember last night's discussion?"

"Yes, but-"

"My decision is final. You will stop seeing this girl. You know what? I don't want you near her. She'll poison you, you'll end up like them. You'll end up just like her and her father!"

I feel a burning rage build up inside me. If there is something I hate in this world is being compared to my father.

"I am not like my father, Monsieur Enjolras," I let out, "just like your son is not like you. However, we do agree on this point. I will poison him, and he deserves more than that. Enjolras, I don't ever want to see you again."

"But, Ep..."

I turn around and leave. I don't know where I am going, but anywhere but here will suffice. I walk a couple blocks until I feel a hand on my shoulder. What is it with people right now? Can't they see I want to be left alone?

"Hey, what's your problem?" I spat as I am being turned around.

And suddenly, just like that, I am face to face with Montparnasse. But this time, he is alone.

"We need to talk," he says.

"I'm not sure I want to talk to you right now..."

"I made a mistake, Ep. The boys... I felt all alone when you left to be with those students. I wanted to be with other friends too. But I don't think I want to be like them. I liked the way things were, just the two of us."

I small smile escapes my lips.

"Yeah," I agree. "I liked it too."

"Good, so now that we're speaking again, I've got big news!"

"Tell. Now!"

"A man just entered the inn. I think he is trying to adopt the little brat."

"Cosette? Why?"

"Don't know. Shall we go spy?"

Montparnasse, that wasn't an option. If that man is going to free me from that annoying girl, I want to remember his face.