A Promise

Chapter Two

        I burst out laughing. "You are going to call the bobbies on me? " I said, chortling. "I don't think so, Monsieur."

        Enjolras blinked. Obviously, this was not the reaction he had expected. "What do you mean?"

        "You won't call the police because you're you, and I'm poor," I told him, as if this was the most obvious explanation in the world.

        "I still don't understand why you think I wouldn't call the police. I assure you, I can easily get you arrested for theft and participation in scams."

        "But you won't!" I said, still laughing. "See, Monsieur, I know about your little revolution."

        Enjolras' eyes grew wide. "How did you--"

        "You'll find that there are lots of things I know," I told him, mocking his deep, pompous voice. "The purpose of your revolution is to help the poor overthrow a corrupt government. Your followers would see you as a hypocrite if you sent a poor girl into the arms of the police! And anyways,  I don't think the leader of a revolution against the government would be too anxious to get involved with the police."

        Enjolras glared at me with those stormy eyes. "You really do your research, don't you Thenardier?"

        "I'm a lot smarter than you think I am, Monsieur. Very well, if you refuse to be our benefactor, then I should get going. Au revoir."

        I turned to walk out the door. I was not anxious to walk back out in the cold, but Enjolras was making me feel uncomfortable. He was smart and perceptive, maybe even more than I was, and that scared me. I did not like his calculating gaze and his passive disposition. He was even colder than the snow on the ground.

        "Eponine, wait!"

        I turned around, and I saw that Enjolras was standing behind me, an odd expression on his face.

        "You're right," he said, putting his hand in his pocket. "I am an advocate of the poor. That doesn't mean just writing speeches and rallying the people. That means feeling empathy for them, and doing what I can to improve their lives." He paused, took a deep breath, and pulled something out of his pocket. "I can't believe I'm doing this, but... I will be your benefactor." He pressed a pouch of coins in my hand. "Go buy yourself a pair of shoes."

        I stared at him in astonishment. He was still giving me money, even though he knew it was a scam? Who was this boy? Everything he did surprised me, and believe me, that was quite an achievement. I pocketed the money. As I did so, my fingers brushed the ring that I had stolen from him. At that moment, I felt a twinge in my heart. It was a feeling I had never experienced before. Was I actually feeling guilty about stealing the ring? No, I told myself sternly. I am Eponine Thenardier. I do not feel guilt. 

        "Thank you for your generosity, Monsieur," I told him, bowing my head politely. Then, I ran off towards home. I smiled. Papa would be very pleased with the loot I had gotten today. Very pleased indeed.