Run Away with Me

Chapter 2

"What happened to you two?" Grantaire asked, keeping his voice down for the good of our hangovers.

"We were mugged," Enjolras growled, plopping down at the table.

I laughed out loud at him, shaking my head.

"What's so funny?" He snapped, shooting me daggers.

"You morons tried to fight back, didn't you? That's why you got the crap beat out of you!" I laughed.

"Of course we did!" Marius told me.

"What were we supposed to do? Just let them mug us?" Enjolras argued.

"Yeah. It's the easiest way. Besides, where were you that you got mugged, rich boy?"

"If you must know, Marius here insisted that we go check on you and invite you to the meeting! We were waiting outside your door when we were attacked!" Enjolras yelled.

"Well, don't blame me! I never asked to be checked on! I was with Grantaire," I defended.

"I'm so glad we got mugged on your behalf, then!"

"I am too!"

"Would you two stop?!" Marius finally yelled.

"You're right, Marius. I appreciate your concern," I said, smiling at him.

"You appreciate everything he does," Enjolras muttered.

"Okay! So, shall we start the meeting?" Courfeyrac spoke up.

"I'm assuming you're staying, then?" Enjolras asked, less rudely than I would have expected.

"If you don't mind, then yes."

"Well, welcome to our cause..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"But he's so rude," I sighed as Combeferre, Courfeyrac, Grantaire, and I ate lunch later that day.

"He's not rude, he's just stubborn. A little like yourself, Ép," Courfeyrac pointed out.

"Excuse you?" I snapped.

"Relax. He's just pointing it out. Let's face it, you are a bit stubborn," Grantaire laughed.

"I am not!"

"You are too," the three boys said at once.

I groaned in frustration, shaking my head. I'm not stubborn. I'm tough. There's a difference.

"I'll see you guys," I said, pulling out my wallet and getting out enough money to cover the cheap meal I ate.

"I said lunch is on me," Combeferre insisted.

"I don't care," I said, laying the money on the table and walking out.

"And she's so not stubborn," Grantaire laughed behind me.

I shook my head, walking out the door. How could they compare me to that spoiled brat? I was nothing like dumb, arrogant-"

"Ow!"

"Watch it!"

I was on the ground, looking up at him.

"Sorry, Éponine. Didn't see you there," Enjolras offered me a hand.

"Hard to see people when you walk around with your nose buried in a book," I said, ignoring his hand and standing up on my own.

"What more can I do than apologize?" he defended himself.

"Not knock people over!"

"You're so difficult!"

"You're such a brat!"

"Brat?! I'm trying to change things for the better."

"You just want fame and glory!"

"I just want to help!"

"I just want you to never speak to me again!"

"You act as if I enjoy our ever-so pleasant exchanges!"

"Goodbye, Enjolras," I said, walking away briskly.

"Wait! Éponine! I forgot something," Enjolras called, running after me.

"What?" I snapped at him.

"Do you know some group called the Patron-Minette? I heard them talking, they're the ones that mugged us."

I stood up tall, glaring at him. Of course I knew them. They worked for my father.

"Why does is matter to you who I know and who I don't know?"

"I just wanted to make sure you knew they were out there. Be careful," he said, walking into the cafe.

He really annoyed me. I ignored him, walking home quickly. I thought about the fact that Marius had stopped by my house (well, rented house) to check on me this morning. Marius and I had been friends since I met Les Amis. We first met on a Tuesday, around 1:00. I had been in love with him since that same Tuesday, approximately 1:04.

"Éponine! What are you doing?" A man called behind me. Great. Montparnasse.