The Barricade Girl (A Les Miserables FanFiction)

Chapter Ten

The next morning, things seem to be polite between Grandfather and I after last night's heated conversation. I tie a shawl around my shoulders and lift my bonnet and my small bag from my bed. I peer out of the large window the looks out over the front of the house, and I see a small figure reach the gate at the edge of our estate. I look closer – it's Courfeyrac. He sees me through the window and gives me a wave – that's my cue. I swiftly walk down the stairs as I strap my bonnet to my head. As I open the door, Grandfather walks out of his study and catches me.

"Juliette?" His voice stops me in my tracks. "What are you doing, my dear?"

"I'm just...well...I...I have an errand..." I smile, my eyes drifting from my Grandfather to the window beside the door to check that Courfeyrac is still there.

"Are you sneaking of to see your brother again? –" He raises an eyebrow.

"Grandfather, I –"

"Don't lie to me, Juliette!" His face softens when he realises how harshly he has just spoken. "I don't have any problem with you seeing your brother...I just don't want you to be swept up in his deceit, and I don't want you to feel like you have to hide it from me...You can tell me anything, remember?"

"Yes, Grandfather..." My eyes drift towards the window again. "I'm just meeting someone..."

"What do you keep looking at?" He asks impatiently, shifting his gaze to match mine so that he too is looking out the window. His eye falls on Courfeyrac and his eye glistens as a small smile seeps its way across his lips. "I see..." The last time Grandfather saw Courfeyrac, Courfeyrac and I were still courting, if that's even the word that you would use to describe what Courfeyrac and I had. "He's back...this pleases me greatly!"

"Oh, Grandfather...he's not 'back' in the sense that we're together...we're just good friends, that's all!" I shrug, trying to put to death any thoughts or plans that Grandfather might be making in his mind concerning the future he once wished for me and Courfeyrac.

"Okay, my dear!" He nods with a knowing look in his eye, as if he thinks I'm lying and that whatever romance may have once been between me and Courfeyrac is blossoming again. "Well, don't keep him waiting!" He opens the door and ushers me out. "You go and enjoy yourself!" He lifts a hand in the air to wave at Courfeyrac. "Hello, dear boy! It's good to see you again! Are you well?" He shouts across the estate.

"I am, thank you, Sir. The same to you!" Courfeyrac politely shouts back, a little taken aback that Grandfather has spied him at our gate. I hurriedly walk towards Courfeyrac.

"Goodbye, Grandfather!" I shout, not turning around to look at him, hoping that this will prompt him to go back inside the house. "Let's go..." I mutter to Courfeyrac under my breath and through gritted teeth so that no-one else will hear me. He doesn't move. "Courf...we need to go!" I quickly open the gate and speed-walk away from the gate and down the road.

"What's happened?" Courfeyrac asks, not moving from the spot, with a confused look wiped across his face.

"Let's walk and talk, Courf...walk and talk..." I say, running back to him and grabbing his hand, pulling him along with me.

"Jules, hold up!" Courfeyrac exclaims light-heartedly. "What's the matter?" He asks, but I don't answer and we keep running, hand-in-hand. "Juliette!" He stops, keeping a tight grip on my hand which stops me from going any further. Courfeyrac's use of my full name lets me know that he's serious. I yank his hand so that we're hidden behind a wall and not able to be seen through the gates that encircle our estate, away from the prying eyes of the household. Everyone, and I mean everyone, on our estate – even down to the maids and the gardeners – know who Courfeyrac is, and I'm almost positive that Marius sending him to come and get me today will have set tongues wagging.

"What is wrong with you? Why are you acting so strangely?" He asks, placing his hands on my shoulders to make sure he has my attention as I make sure we're completely hidden behind the wall.

"Grandfather saw you..." I whisper.

"Well, I know that!" He whispers back sarcastically.

"He thinks we're...you know...together...again!" I murmur.

"What?!" He exclaims. I throw my hands over his mouth to quieten him.

"You know the way Grandfather is! It doesn't take a lot to get his mind racing!" He nods, and I slowly lower my hands from his mouth. "The sooner we were out of there, the better...I didn't want to add any more fuel to his fire..."

"Of course not!" He adds.

"Because...I mean...we shouldn't –"

"No!" He cuts me off in agreement.

"Get back together –" I carry on.

"Woah, no!" He echoes.

"Good then...I'm glad we're both on the same page!" I nod.

As we walk along the streets toward the centre of Paris and the Café Musain, Courfeyrac and I use the time to catch up. We spend so long talking that I don't even realise the distance that we're walking, and the time seems to fly by. It feels comforting to have a dear old friend such as Courfeyrac – someone who knew me when I was younger, who I can reminisce with, and someone who knows me better than most people. And although we may not be romantically involved anymore, or feel anything other than close friendship towards each other, Courfeyrac will still always hold a special place in my heart. As we enter the bustling streets of Paris, Courfeyrac offers me his arm, which makes me feel safer. Soon, our conversation steers itself towards the dreaded question of relationships, but I guess the sooner we get this awkward moment out of the way, the better.

"So...did you ever...uh...has there been anyone since –" Courfeyrac starts to ask.

"No..." I answer quickly so that he doesn't need to finish his question.

"Why not?" He asks after a moment of thought.

"There never really was anyone else..." I smile weakly. "I can't say that I'm the most desirable female to walk the planet...and no-one else has really been interested in me..." I sigh.

"I don't know if I'd agree with that!" He protests. "You are very desirable, and just because it didn't work out between us doesn't mean that there isn't someone else out there that's right for you!"

"Well, thank you, Courfeyrac..." I grin. "And what about you? Is there a special lady in your life?"

"...No...well...I don't know..." He blushes.

"Courf!" I squeal, clutching his arm in excitement. "Tell me everything!"

"Well...there's nothing to tell..." He bashfully runs his free hand through his hair as he smiles blissfully.

"I know you better than that, Courf...come on, tell me!"

"There's been a few girls...but since I got involved with the Amis and the ABC...there's not really been any point in pursing any of them..." He lowers his voice, his tone becoming a whole lot more serious. "I mean, the fact is...what if I die? I don't want to cause anyone any heartbreak because of my involvement in the ABC..."

"Oh Courf..." I whisper. "I'm so sorry..."

"Don't be!" He smiles. "It's not your fault...It's our own choice to be a part of the ABC...we know what the risks are...we're all in the same boat. So I guess we have to suffer the consequences..." He takes a breath and sighs. "But, things have been looking up..." He beams hopefully and squeezes my arm, placing his free hand on my hand that's hooked through his other one.

"What do you mean?" I ask, confused.

"When you turned up yesterday – you literally came out of no-where. It gave things a lift...a new energy...I don't know...I guess we just realised that we've been missing something...and you're the answer", he grins. I squeeze his hand and rub his arm gratefully. "And you caused quite a stir among the boys yesterday!" He laughs.

"I did?" I ask self-consciously.

"And not least, Enjolras..." He winks.

"Excuse me?" I scoff.

"I've never seen Enjolras react that way to anyone...you've made quite the impression..."