Running

5

Five

         Marius returned home from his trip, ready to take a hot shower and eat some of Eponine's cooking. Marius admitted to having anger problems, at least he admitted it to himself. He told himself he did love Eponine, but he also liked things a certain way, his way. It wasn't his fault if Eponine wasn't smart enough to do what he said.

         He thought it strange that when he stepped inside, all the lights were off and the house was completely silent.

         "Eponine," he called, "I'm home."

         Thinking she had stepped out, he went to the kitchen to see if she left a note, but there was nothing there. Just dark, silent house. He began going to every room, checking for any evidence of his wife. When he reached the bedroom his anger spiked.  Some of her clothes were missing from the closet and so was her duffle bag.

         "Eponine!" he yelled.

         He wasn't sure why he yelled for her because he knew she wasn't there. She had left him. A thought struck his mind, and he dove for the back of his closet. After seeing that that the shoe box was empty, he slung it against the wall. He was seething. How dare she leave him? He stalked over to the dresser and swiped all of her belongings off of it with a growl. All the things he'd gotten for her. Marius screamed and snatched their wedding photo off of the wall, slamming it to the ground. The glass shattered into microscopic pieces. He began to pace the house, wondering what he was going to do. She couldn't leave him. He was going to find her and make sure she never ran from him again.

----

         Eponine was awakened early one Saturday morning by what she thought sounded like someone in pain. The noise startled her and she jumped up out of bed. She had yet to purchase curtains for her window so when she peered outside, she saw who she assumed was her neighbor dancing and singing as he attempted to water the plants surrounding the house. She laughed at him as he flailed the hose around, getting himself and everything else around him wet. The hose got tangled around his feet, and he stumbled, reaching for something to catch himself with but failing. Eponine gasped as he finally fell to the grass with a thud. She watched, giggling, as he struggled to untangle himself, getting completely soaked and covered in grass stains in the process. When he managed to stand he was facing Eponine's house, and he looked up to see her standing at her window. The look on his face was one of pure mortification. He offered her a goofy smile and waved. Eponine waved back before stepping away from the window. She had things to do that day, and she couldn't just stand there watching her crazy neighbor attempt to injure himself while watering plants.

         Knowing some extra cash would do her some good, Eponine found a pawn shop and pawned her wedding ring along with all her other jewelry. That was the last piece of Marius she had in her life and she was more than happy to see it go.

         Eponine was busy baking some pies for herself and for her co-workers at the library when her doorbell rang. She wiped her hands off on a dish towel and opened her front door, the screen door still keeping a barrier between her and the visitor. She recognized the man standing on the other side as her neighbor, the one who nearly broke his legs with the garden hose.

         "Hello," he smiled before she could say anything.

         "Hi." Her hands were shaking. People especially men, made her nervous and rightfully so after everything she'd been through in her life.

         "I just wanted to come over and introduce myself since you're new...and apologize for what you witnessed earlier today," he laughed.

         "It's no problem. It was quite entertaining actually."

         "Well, I'm glad. I'm Grantaire, by the way, but most just call me Grant," he introduced. He held up a sack of something, "I smelled something wonderful coming from your house, and I figured you were baking. I have an apple tree in my yard, so I brought some apples over if you want to use them, or just eat them."

         "Thank you," Eponine responded.

         Grantaire cleared his throat, "May I come in?"

         Eponine was so nervous that she hadn't even realized that the screen door still separated them. She tossed the question around in her mind. What harm would it do? He seemed nice enough. Then again, she thought Marius was nice once as well. But she knew she couldn't automatically assume every guy she met was just like Marius. With trembling fingers, she unlatched the screen door and opened it. Grantaire followed her inside and into the kitchen where he placed the sack of apples on the counter. He sat at her tiny breakfast nook table while she busied herself with washing the apples.

         "I don't think I caught your name," he said over the water rushing in the sink.

         Panic settled in Eponine's chest. She couldn't tell him her real name, could she? Marius could find her. She thought for a moment.

         "It's Azelma. Azelma Thenardier," she finally responded.

         Her sister. It was the first name that came to her mind.

         "Ah, French heritage, I assume?" Grantaire asked.

         How did he know that?

         Eponine glanced back at him before beginning to slice up some of the apples, "Yes. How did you know that?"

         "Grantaire Beaumont. I have French ancestry myself."

         "Oh."

         Silence consumed the room, neither knowing what to say. Eponine knew she should probably ask him some questions so he wasn't the only one responsible for the conversation.

         "How long have you lived here?" she asked.

         "I was born here and stayed until after I graduated college. I wanted to travel, see places, but eventually I realized New Orleans was home. I got a job at the college here and moved I next door. Been pretty content since."

         "What do you do at the college?"

         "I'm a theatre professor. I've always had a love for the fine arts," he answered.

         "That sounds pretty fun." Eponine had always loved theatre but never had many chances to see shows or participate.

         "It is. So, what brought you here?" he asked.

         Eponine immediately began concocting a lie. She hated lying to him, but she couldn't trust anyone right now. She settled for a half truth.

         "I just needed something new."

         "Where'd you come from?"

         "Up north." Her answer was vague, but enough to satisfy him.

         "Your pies smell delicious. Any particular reason you're making so many?" he laughed, looking at the plethora of pies in the oven and cooling on the counter.

         "I thought I'd take them to my co-workers at the library, sort of a 'thank you for letting me work here' type of gift," she laughed.

         "I'm sure they'll love them," he smiled.

         Eponine thought for a moment.

         "You know, if I end up having an extra, I'll bring it over. You did supply the apples after all."

         "That'd be very nice of you. I actually should be going. I'm meeting some friends of mine for dinner."

         Eponine walked him to the door.

         "Enjoy your evening, Grant."

         "Thank you, you too. Enjoy your pies, Azelma!" he laughed.