Beyond The Barricade | les misérables

fourteen

We had gotten into a type of routine. I would wake up to Enjolras pounding on the door and I would then get up. He'd tighten my corset and I'd finish getting dressed before we left for the café. It was kind of nice to have a schedule to move on. Each morning was the same as the last. We'd eat any food Madame Houcheloup would give us when we arrived as Enjolras went right to work. I'd sit at the window and wait for Marius to turn up.

"Any luck?" I asked as he climbed up the stairs.

"No," he huffed. "I've sent Eponine to find her so long ago, I don't understand why she hasn't found her."

"Do you even know the girls name?" I asked.

"No."

"Then how can you know you're in love?"

"God, Hyacinth, we've been through this hundreds of times," Marius groaned as he sat down.

"I know but it just doesn't make sense."

"It doesn't?" he asked, a smirk on his face. I paused, remembering what I had confessed just yesterday while Enjolras was busy. I told him about the second night I had stayed with him. The way I had felt. He taunts me with it now.

"No. No it doesn't," I snapped, standing up quickly. I took off for the stairs. "Hyacinth come back, I'm sorry," he called out. I ignored him and walked down to Madame Houcheloup.

I sat with her as she cleaned. All she did was smile as I watched her. She didn't say a word. I could only assume she heard me snap at Marius from here and sighed. The rest of the boys entered, offering small greetings as they did so. I waved and smiled at them all as they walked up the stairs.

I sat downstairs for what felt like hours. I could hear the quiet echo of their voices above me as I missed out. I looked toward the stairs and debated with myself. I tapped my fingers on the small table and looked around, deep in my own head. I heard the footsteps only seconds before a hand was placed on me. I looked over my shoulder quickly and heard Madame Houcheloup chuckle quietly.

"Come up stairs," Enjolras said. "They're teasing Marius and I think you'll enjoy it." I stared at him as he held his hand out to me. I hesitated, my eyes darting between his eyes and his hand. Eventually, he got fed up. I could see it in his eyes. He sighed and leaned down, grabbing my hand tightly and pulling me to my feet. He then dragged me toward the stairs and practically pulled me up to the others. The way his hand felt in mine had my brain buzzing. The feeling I had the other night resurfaced as I looked at him. I couldn't think straight. Nothing made sense anymore.

I walked up behind him as the boys were pulling on Marius. His face was red and he was looking down at the floor. I laughed and folded my arms, feeling joy at seeing him be teased in such a manner. Enjolras looked over at me, and shifted to stand closer to me.

"Told you so." I looked at him and smiled. Our shoulders brushed together and sent a shiver down my spine. I glanced at the boys who had now started dancing around Marius, goofy smiles on their faces. I looked back at Enjolras and he was already looking at me. I went to say something to him, my mouth opening slightly. The words were about to come out when Courfeyrac grabbed my arm and pulled me away from Enjolras. He danced me around Marius with a wide grin. I couldn't help but laugh as they taunted him. I caught eyes with Enjolras and held eye contact as Courfeyrac pulled me in a circle.

I felt him yank my arm and I looked at him, raising an eyebrow. He just smiled and nodded toward Enjolras.

"There something going on there?" he said.

"No. We're just friends, Courfeyrac," I groaned, leaning my head back.

"Then you tell him that. I have never seen him with that look in his eye before."