A Franc or Two - Les Misérables [IN EDITING]

Hurt - Chapter 36

You flashed Grantaire the most sympathetic look in the entire world. Heartbreak was an emotion you had experienced time after time, and though it wasn't specifically revolved around romantic relationships, it often had to do with everything else going on in your life.

"Grantaire," Enjolras said, jolting to his feet. "How'd you get in here?"

"The door was open," Grantaire said, his eyebrows still furrowed. He looked to you, then to Enjolras, then back to you... he was clearly having trouble trying to process things.

"Grantaire... come sit," you said. The lump in your throat made it difficult to speak- so, with even more difficulty, you turned to lay on your back, letting out a long sigh while you did so. "We don't mind the company."

"Well, I don't want to intrude..." Grantaire said. You could hear him shifting a little uncomfortably. "Actually, I think I'm going to go get some fresh air really quickly."

Quickly after that, you sat up just a little, and you noticed that Grantaire was staring at the floor. He glanced up only when you had.

"Well... It was nice visiting, [Y/N]," he said, forcing a smile. In a way, he was trying to convince himself that he was happy for you, but it was definitely difficult for him.

Before you had the chance to say anything, he held whatever he was holding to his chest and hurried out of the room, checking and double checking that he had closed the door.

Your eyebrows furrowed.

"I need to talk to him," you said. Though you were more than prepared to sit up, Enjolras was quick to stop you- just from further injuring yourself.

"If you really want to speak with him, I'll go grab him for you," he said. "I'm already up, anyway."

"Please hurry," you said, panicking to the point that your hands began to prickle with numbness.

Of course, right at your word, Enjolras was quick to get up and hurry out of the room- which, finally, left you alone with your thoughts.

The wait for Grantaire was agonizing.

You didn't get to keep track of how long it was, as you didn't have a watch on you, but it certainly felt like an hour. Perhaps it was your nerves. What were you going to say to him? Of course, you figured an apology was in place... But what for? Even though you weren't particularly courting him, his expression told you enough...

And to be honest, a part of you would have felt the same way if he had been flirting with another girl.

You felt horribly stressed all of the sudden.

Just a few months before, just the thought of men disgusted you- but now... It seemed like you had the complete opposite problem.

You flinched as the door opened.

There stood Enjolras, looking the slightest bit disappointed, and he carefully closed the door.

"Where's Grantaire?" you asked, your eyebrows furrowing in the slightest. "Is he alright?"

"He just needs to be alone for now, that's all," Enjolras said, letting out a sigh as he sat at your bedside again.

"Do you know if he'll be coming back?"

Enjolras paused for a moment, then slowly, shrugged.

"I have no idea," he said. "But considering the fact he's been drinking a lot less, I'm sure he'll be more rational."

Something told you he was about to break his streak of being sober.

The rest of your day was pretty uneventful.