Becoming Eponine *A Les Misérables Story*

Chapter Fourteen

"I cannot believe that was our final rehearsal." Derrick looked flustered, his face was red and he stormed from the theater, a grin was wide on his face.

"I'm so excited." Bella strode out in front of them, spinning in small circles, her golden hair billowing out at her sides. The entire cast was headed to Vi's house, where she was throwing a party before opening night. Cars were parked up along the side of the school as people clambered in their own ones, heading to her house. We only did one run through of the show, so we ended at eight o'clock thankfully. Miles wanted us to preserve our voices. Bella, Derrick, Vi, Pearl, Sierra, Lucas and I all climbed into Vi's huge car. Her mom sat at the steering wheel, exhaustion evident in her expression.

"Everyone goes home at ten, you have to all stay in the party room." Her mom ordered, even though it wasn't late Vi's parents had to have been exhausted after picking us up close to midnight after every rehearsal this week.

"I know." Vi said, she wore a grin as she turned back to us, she was sitting shotgun while the rest of us were in the back seats. "The playbills came in today. They are formatted like a Broadway one except in the location area it says our school name!" She took out her phone and showed us a picture she had taken. It was evident that all of us were giddy with excitement.

"You have to be at school by five tomorrow right?" Vi's mom asked and she nodded,

"Yup, the show starts at eight." Excitement rolled through me, in twenty-four hours the show would open, and I would be playing Eponine Thenardier in front of a broadway auditioner.

"All of you guys make sure to impress the auditioner!" Vi's mom looked back at us beaming, her eyes glowed, "I don't think I would mind moving to New York for a year or two." I smiled at this and clenched my hands into fists, as if it would keep the shudder of excitement from rolling across my skin.

"We'll try too!" Derrick said grinning, it was obvious we were all giddy with a bit of panic mixed in with a bit of excitement. Tomorrow's performance could change the course of our lives forever, just one person giving us a chance could send us forward. Violetta's mom pulled up in her driveway as we all clambered from the call. I look behind to see tons of cars lining up on the street, all headed to Vi's house.

"We set up the food in the basement, make sure everybody knows to be picked out in two hours." Violetta's mom moves forward to unlock the front door as we all head inside. The basement is Vi's party room, which is a large flatscreen television with a ton of chairs and tables.

"About twenty-five people are coming, we definitely have enough space." We head downstairs as Vi waits at the door to direct everyone else. The hardwood floor seems to shine in the golden light, the flatscreen television is blank, waiting to be filled with color and the numerous posters upon the walls call attention to themselves. Sierra, Bella and I sit down on a sofa while Derrick and Lucas move to sit on another one. People begin filing in, everyone I know seemed to come. Romilda, Orion, Daniel, and most people in the chorus. Pearl, Samantha and Daniel all sit together and chat excitedly. The cast is too eager for the performance tomorrow to watch a movie in silence, so instead we decide to talk. Vi comes down after a few minutes to greet everyone as she slides next to Bella.

"I'm actually not even that worried." Bella said smiling, her eyes glowing, "I thought I would be, I mean this might be my only chance to make it to Broadway but, in the grand scheme of things, it feels more exciting than worrying."

"Definitely. When I went into my audition for Matilda I felt at ease and excited whilst when I was preparing I was freaking out. One of the reasons the director said I got the role was because of my confidence and relaxed nature. Playing Matilda was such a fun experience, but if I got to play Fantine on Broadway I would freak because she is one of my dream roles." Sierra said, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

"Even getting an audition would cause me to freak out." Nobody noticed Orion as he came up behind us, with Romilda unsurprisingly tagging behind him. She had applied tons of makeup to her face in the time that she got a ride here. Something I personally didn't see the point in doing. We chatted easily, which I found surprising, Romilda was acting sweet, so I couldn't help but wonder whether she had something bad planned. My dreams usually haunted my every move and footstep, I was often taken over with dread at the thought, especially when I remembered the genuine looks upon the faces of the barricade boys.

"Your little sister is so adorable." Sierra said, indicating towards Pearl who was laughing, her eyes glowing as she spoke with Daniel and Samantha.

"Pearly is ." Vi said, I watched as Sierra took out her phone to check her email.

"My agent sends me the list of broadway auditions open every few months, and something just came in!" She said excitedly.

"They're looking for a new Matilda, entire cast for a Beauty and the Beast revival," Her eyes widened as she scrolled, "There are a lot of auditions coming up within the year, most of the Les Miz cast included." Excitement rolled through me at these words.

"The opportunities are endless." Orion said, I could see that Romilda was staring at the tabletop and glaring, I figured she was furious that she hadn't gotten a lead. But she had always been furious, since the cast lists came out. I remember how she had called me a wretch, that seemed so long ago, even though it was only a month and a half since it happened. It also seemed as if was making an effort to be nice to me, even though I could see past her facade. Something told me that she was going to make sure she was going on stage for the opening night performance, but I wouldn't let her take Bella's place. I watched as she slid a hand over Orion's though he immediately drew back, I could see her expression harden.

Within the next two hours everyone got even more excited for the performance. We talked about everything possible and we psyched each other up. People began departing and thankfully I found that Vi's basement was not left as a mess. I walked outside with Sierra, Bella and Orion, they were some of the last people here and their ride was coming. Sierra hugged me tightly, wishing me the best of luck before climbing into her car, and Bella did the same, she seemed giddier and more excited than everyone. Soon it was just Orion and I alone.

"You're lucky you know." He says, his green eyes focusing on mine. "That you have Vi's family to be your true family, and you have Pearl." He swallowed hard, yet he kept an expression of stone upon his face.

"I know... I don't know what I would do without them. I spent years facing intolerable abuse, to save Pearl, to get what I needed, to get any food any day." I swallowed hard, I wasn't sure why I was telling Orion this, he looked at me,

"Athena, in a way we are like the revolutionaries. We are fighting to make a better lives for ourselves. Except we don't call attention to our actions, we do it on our own, and that makes it even harder, even though we don't always have to be alone." He looked at me,

"I haven't found my escape yet, but I want to go to New York, go on Broadway, leave the years of abuse behind. I want to find my escape, for I know it won't just come to me." He looked at me, "We are the modern day revolutionaries, Athena." I smile at him weakly,

"Those years were hard and cold... Ones that I will never forget." I swallow hard and look to Orion, his eyes are full of concern, he is thoughtful and kind, while we share the same problem. "But I hope they are now behind me."

"If I get this audition, if I get to New York, they will be behind me too." I'm filled with a sense of warmth hearing Orion's words, I'm not entirely sure why though, it certainly wasn't something I felt when I first met him. He steps forwards and hugs me, I welcome it. Orion wasn't as he appeared at all. He was so much deeper than looks and a smiling face. He was strong, worn and tough, yet he still had sympathy, and he was still kind. I wasn't prepared for the small kiss he planted on my forehead, but it almost felt natural when he did it, I smiled at him as we broke apart.

"One day more to revolution." He says and I smile at him,

"Our modern day revolution." I watch as he starts walking away, into the cold night air. I hope Orion can find his escape, like I did, I watch him until he disappears, returning to his prison cell once more. I hope that this revolution, the one upon the stage, with the spotlight trained on us, could set him free.

A/N: Dedicated to Liv from @Fangirlsfromhogwarts