What could have been

What could have happened if Marius hadn't run into Cosette that day.

Eponine wandered the streets on that chilly autumn day. It was what she did to keep herself amused when she wasn't helping her father and his gang rob houses. Her thoughts were of Marius Pontmercy. She dreamed of him at night and could not keep her thoughts off of him during the day. Just being around him made her happy. Seeing him once made her smile.

She was looking down at the street thinking when all of a sudden a familiar voice yelled out at her, "Hey Eponine!"

She turned her head and saw him. His beautiful eyes and his soft hair. His dimples that he displayed as he smiled. He ran up to her. "What's up today? I haven't seen you around much?"

Eponine glances down and sees the books in his hands, "What are you doing with all those books? I could have been a student too, so don't judge a girl on how she looks. I know a lot of things!"

Eponine's mother arrives and whispers in her ear, "You little dearie watch out for the law and do your job!"

"It's not your concern, you'll get in trouble!" she yelled as she pushed Marius away.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" she screamed. She hated pushing him away, but she could not let him get involved in this.

"Eponine! Why is he here?" He began to follow her. [This is the scene in which Marius bumps into Cosette. This scene will not take place.]

Before Eponine arrives at the scene of the crime, Thenardier has already confronted Valjean. She's sees Javert coming so she yells.

" Javert! Run!" Her father's gang run and disappear. Eponine begins to turn around and sees Marius standing in front of her.

"Eponine?" Marius is out of breath from chasing her and is deep with concern for her.

"M'sieur please let me get by." He did not move. He only looked deep into her eyes. Her beautiful eyes. He looked deeper and deeper into her eyes. He looked at her face, her cheeks, her lips. He was realizing that she was beautiful. Even the dirt that smudged her cheeks couldn't hide that. Without realizing that he was staring at her, he smiled.

Eponine didn't know what to think of this. Why was he staring at her? Was there something on her face? Of course there was. Smudged dirt. She didn't understand why he would be staring at her dirty cheeks at a time like this. She looked down and Marius regained his focus.

"Eponine? Please tell me what is going on. Why are you involved with this? What if you get caught? Eponine..." She began to walk past him. He moved in front of her again. "Eponine..."

"It is no concern of yours Marius! Why do you care? You don't! You just want to get me in trouble!"

"Just to that little cafe across the street for a cup of coffee," he said pointing.

"Let me take care of it." He looked into her eyes again and at the same time she looked back into his. She felt faint. She couldn't find her voice so she simply nodded. He gently took her hand in his and walked across the street to the cafe.

They walked into the cafe and sat down at a table. Marius ordered them both coffee. Then Marius began to pursue her again on the robbery and her place in it.

"Eponine, why are involved with your father in theft? I just don't understand. You are too much of a goodhearted person to do such things." She looked down at the floor and began to tell her story. A story of how she was raised with doing such things and how she was never taught any better. After she was done talking, she lifted her head with tears in her eyes.

Marius asked,"Why are you crying Mad'moiselle? It does not seem that bad."

"No sir, I am not crying for I am sad, but in fear that you are ashamed of me."

"No 'Ponine! You are my very dear friend! Do not fear of me being ashamed of you! Let me help you."

"Let me help you find a nice home, a job, some money, I don't know, just something that will get you away from such an ill life that you have now. I don't want you living like this."

"I don't want to live like this either Marius! But how can I help myself? I have no job, no one is willing to hire me anyway! Just look at my clothes! I am filty M'sieur! What am I going to do?"

"My aunt owns a boarding house. Let me take you there just for a little while. You can clean up and stay there until we find you a place to stay and maybe even a job. What do you say, 'Ponine?"

Eponine started playing with her hands in her lap. She didn't want to accept his charity, but she didn't want to push him away anymore. She lifted her head.

"If you are willing to help me, sir, than I am willing to be helped." Marius smiled and took her hand once again and led her out of the cafe.