What is Love?

Chapter 28

The rest of the day passed by uneventfully however Éponine couldn't help feeling that everyone was looking at her. She knew she was just being paranoid but she felt that everyone knew what she was hiding under her scarf. She sighed and ignored the feeling and finally the day was over. She was walking down the hallway to meet up with Marius when she slammed into someone in the hallway. Her books were knocked out of her arms and scattered across the floor along with his belongings. She looked up angrily, "Hey watch where you're going" she said until she saw who she crashed into, Enjolras. She laughed nervously, "Oh sorry Enj I didn't see you" she said bending down to get her stuff.

The hallways were empty now so she could easily maneuver to collect her belongings. "Don't worry Éponine" he said with a smile as he picked up his stuff as well as hers. They both stood up and Enjolras held out her things. "Here, I believe these are yours" Enjolras said.

Éponine smiled and went to take them from his hands but he didn't let go. "Enjolras can I have my stuff please?" She asked with slight annoyance.

"I just need to ask you something. What were you and Marius fighting about on Saturday? I heard a crash and yelling, but I also swear I heard a slap of some sort. Please tell me what I think happened isn't true" he said his eyes pleading.

Éponine opened her mouth to answer but she heard someone clear their throat behind her. She turned and saw Marius but as soon as their eyes connected Marius turned around on his heel and briskly walked away. Eponine looked between Enjolras and Marius before turning to Enjolras, "I'm sorry but I have to go. Ill see you later" she said before dashing after Marius.

"Éponine, please!" She heard Enjolras call behind her but she kept moving, following Marius.

Finally she caught up to him as he reached his car. "Hey, aren't you giving me a ride" she said jokingly.

Marius scoffed, "I don't know am I" he said with a huff as he got into his car.

Éponine sighed and got in as well, "Marius nothing happened-" she began.

"Éponine you were going to tell him what happened on Saturday. I could tell. And you didn't even text me to tell me you stopped to talk to him. I was waiting by my locker for you" he said angrily turning on her.

Éponine was shocked, "I wasn't going to tell him Marius! I'd never tell him. Plus he crashed into me in the hallway and my things scattered across the floor. He was just helping me pick things up" she said.

Marius lashed out and his fist connected with her nose, "Get out of my car! Find another ride" he said angrily.

Éponine's hand flew to her face and she turned to him, "Marius, please" she whimpered.

He punched her again, "Get. Out. Now!" He yelled and she hastily found the handle of the door. She practically jumped out of the car and Marius had already put it into drive before she had even closed the door. She watched his black car speed out of the parking lot and out of sight.

She sighed and began walking back towards the school. Her face stung and she felt dazed and unobservant.
In fact she didn't realize Enjolras was calling her name until he was right in front of her.

"Hey Éponine what's wrong?" He asked trying to move his head to see her face. She looked up and heard him gasp, "Éponine what happened?"

She felt her face contort in confusion as her hands rose to see what he was talking about. She felt a warm liquid on her face, blood. She gasped and tried to turn away from him but his hands were on her biceps holding her in place.

"Éponine how did this happen to you?" Enjolras asked again this time slower and more annoyed.

"I-I hit my face on the car door as I was getting out and trying to get back into the school. I forgot one of my books" she lied.

Enjolras scoffed, "Éponine I know you have all of your books. You never forget them. He did this didn't he? I swear I'll make his face cave in" Enjolras said angrily dragging Éponine to his car.

Éponine's mind whirled, "No Enjolras you have it all wrong-" she said.

"Éponine I won't have you making up lame excuses for him. I'm not blind. I've seen the way he's treated you, like his property, and how he's secluded you from your friends so they wouldn't notice your drastic change in behavior and your new bruises /he/ gives you. I'm not stupid Éponine, I feel like I've known for awhile but you just won't go get help and I'm through waiting" He said furious.

"I don't need help Enjolras. I'm fine" she said turning away in her seat.

Enjolras groaned, "Éponine have you seen what he's done to you? It's almost as bad as your father-" he said before Éponine whirled on him.

"Don't you dare compare him to my father. He's nothing like that!" She shouted.

"Really? He abuses you Éponine! He's just as bad as your father!" He shouted back.

"No he's not because he does it for a reason!" She screamed.

Enjolras almost crashed the car as he pulled into the driveway, "A reason?" He asked shocked.

Éponine sighed, "Yes, he does it because I do something wrong. He always apologizes after. And-and he promised this would be the last time-" she cried.

"Éponine, how many times has this happened?" He asked concerned. Éponine shook her head but Enjolras took her hands, "Please tell me" he begged leaning towards her.

She shook her head again but whispered anyway, "Three".

Enjolras slammed his head back into his seat, "Éponine, why didn't you tell me?" He asked discouraged.

She shrugged, "Because you would make me break up with him" she said.

"You're right I would've, and I'm going to tell you to so just that. Break up with him while you still can, Éponine I read about him in the Paris academy news and-".

Éponine held up her hand, "I don't want to hear it okay? I just need to be alone right now" she said sadly. She opened her car door and stepped out before hastily going to her room and closing her door. Little did she know she had a guest.