Chapter 8.1: First Impressions
Modern AU about Les Amis
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. All changes made with the story and characters are works of my imagination. Everything is fictional.
Margaux
I was so tired the other night that even though I wanted to stay awake longer to hang out with Grantaire and his friends, my body was just shouting for rest. I even wanted to stay up to wait for Enjolras — being the leader of their fraternity, I guess it is just proper and ethical for me to do a courtesy call. But Grantaire said he had gone out of town and would be coming home late, so… Oh well, I just had to rest and sleep.
Grantaire offered me his room, how sweet of him. I just couldn’t understand why he would not sleep with me now when we were used to sleeping together when we were kids. He said we are not kids anymore, but… should we really change our ways now that we’re adults? How odd. He sounded like my dad. But I don’t really want to think about it.
I woke up at 4 this morning, an hour earlier than my usual waking time. Perhaps it’s the jetlag. So I decided to make use of my time to fix breakfast for the boys instead. After all, they were too kind to let me in their house. Good thing they still have food in the fridge, but stocks are running out. I made a mental note to buy some groceries to fill up the fridge later after jogging.
I couldn’t help but giggle at the sight of the sleeping Grantaire on the couch. He still curls up like a baby, just like before… and the peaceful look on his face is definitely priceless. I could see he was cold — so I put on him the blanket that might have had fallen from his body during the night. I couldn’t help myself, he was just soooo adorable, so I placed a light kiss on his cheek, careful not to wake him.
Before leaving, I managed to scribble a quick note for them which read:
To Grantaire, Combeferre, Joly, and Enjolras:
Good morrow!
I hope you all had a good night’s sleep. I slept well last night, thanks for the accommodation. I’m going for a morning run and I’ll meet you at Cafe Musain later this morning for the meeting.
Yours,
Margaux
P.S. I hope you won’t mind, I made breakfast. Please, make sure you eat before you leave.
Paris is a lot more different now from what I could remember. But it still feels more like home here.
After my morning run, I decided to do my errands to fill up the fridge. I went back to the apartment to drop the groceries — good enough I remembered Grantaire told me they leave the key under the pot beside the door coz the boys were not home when I returned.
I took a quick shower and left. I admit I’m excited for the meeting.
I decided to walk to the Musain so to savor my presence in Paris. Seeing the people around gives me some kind of nostalgia — and a sense of de javu. After about 20 minutes of slow walking, I saw the Musain. I suddenly felt a little nervous, perhaps I’m just excited to meet the rest of Grantaire’s friends. Will they like me? I just hope so.
Trying to be oblivious to those street people who are throwing me nasty glances as if they have seen a blood-sucking monster strolling down their streets, I hum silently, walking past them. I also chuckled silently seeing the terrified looks on their faces. I didn’t know that Gothic fashion is not so popular here. For me, my black racerback tank top and black fitted leggings, along with black leather jacket and black knee-high boots are considered as common, everyday wear. Perhaps it’s my heavy black eyeshadows and deep bloodred lipstick that scare them.
The door of the Musain is closed, so I knocked twice. It was opened right away and was glad to see Ferre’s face.
“Hey!” I greeted cheerfully. “Am I late?”
“Hey Margaux!” Combeferre greeted back and gave me a quick and light embrace. “Thanks for the breakfast!” he managed to say. “No… come in, you’re just in time. The rest of the Friends are excited to meet you.”
“I am excited to meet them too!” I answered enthusiastically, which made Combeferre chuckle. When I stepped inside, I heard commotions, and angry voices. I turned to Ferre, a worried look in my eyes, and asked, “What was that?”
“Oh don’t worry about that it’s just—” But whatever he was trying to say, I didn’t hear the rest of it anymore because I was already gone inside to see what was going on.
The sight that welcomed me is NOT very welcoming at all! I saw the back of a guy in red jacket with blond curls pinning another guy with messy dark hair on the wall, whose face I couldn’t see because it was blocked by the blond guy’s back. The blond guy has his hand on the other guy’s collar, and I watched in horror as the latter choked the words “No seriously I’m just kidding!”.
My eyes widened in horror. There was no mistaking I know to whom that voice belongs! No one noticed me there, as everyone seemed to be amazed watching the blond guy torture MY Grantaire as if this is some kind of an entertainment!
“GEROFF HIM!!!” I roared in anger, acting on my instincts, not giving a damn as to what they would think of me.
A deafening silence followed as all eyes in the room turned on me, including the blond guy’s and Grantaire’s. I felt the blood rush through my face, and I know I blush scarlet.
I stared venomously at those piercing blue eyes, not daring to look away. Those blue eyes were deep and bold, and they seemed to see through my soul. It made me feel nervous but I don’t know why. I tried to wear the most terrifying look that I could muster and for a very brief moment of silence I felt kind of connected to this man — but it was too brief that the connection was gone before I could even identify what it was.
“What?” The blond guy asked in a soft whisper, feigning confusion. This pissed me off, and instinctively, I run towards him and knock his hand off Grantaire’s collar in such a violent fashion. I heard the people in room gasped and heard Grantaire murmured “Oh no darling… No no…” But I was so much in wrath that I ignored them all.
Quickly listening to my warrior instinct, I grabbed the blond guy’s wrists with both my hands, shoved Grantaire aside with a quick sway of my hip, pinned the blond guy’s back on the wall where he pinned Grantaire a while ago, and knee-kicked his groin which earned me a painful groan from him (at this the others gasped again so loudly that I could feel the air going in their lungs but i ignored them).
I continued to glare at the blond guy, his curls flying in every direction and beads of sweat forming on his forehead and upper lip, his eyes shocked. My eyes went to his lips — oh such red and full lips! For one brief crazy moment I felt a sudden urge to comfort him with a kiss. But I gained back my senses and lift my right leg straight up in a standing split, the sole of my black leather boots pressing on his chest. My hands let go of his wrists to grab his collar, and quickly he put his hands around my lifted shin.
“Wha… D… Hell?” The blond guy choked, glaring at me in confusion.
“NO.” I crushed my foot on his chest harder. “ONE.” I tightened my grip on his collar. “HURTS.” I stamped my left foot on his right foot. “MY.” I pressed his chest with my right foot even more. “GRANTAIRE.” My eyes must be full of fire that the room suddenly become very hot.
A quick moment of silence followed, then Grantaire immediately yelled my name and rushed to us. “Margaux, baby… Let him go.” He sounded worried and scared and embarrassed and amazed at the same time.
Without moving my eyes away from those deep, piercing blue eyes, I answered, “Not until he makes a promise NEVER to touch you again!”
“No seriously, honey, you’ve got to let go of him — we were NOT fighting! We —” he glanced at his friends who were watching in silence and amazement “— were just practicing SELF-DEFENSE! Oh HONESTLY! And THAT’S ENJOLRAS YOU HAVE JUST TORTURED!”
I looked at him in shock. Wait. What? I felt — ashamed. I looked back at the blond guy. Of course! Those terrifying eyes! How can I be soooo stupid not to recognize him as Enjolras? So much for trying to be impressive to the chief. So much for thinking on how to hit him on the right spot! I screw my chance of being accepted! And what’s worse, I have to find another place to stay because surely after what I have done, I am soooo evicted from their house!
Feeling the blood rushed to my face in embarrassment, I loosened my grip on his collar and nervously removed my foot off his chest, lifted my leg higher to gently swish it off him. Oh did I say ‘gently’? My foot just hit his jaw and he quickly put a hand on it with a loud “OUCH!”.
“Gosh Monsieur! I AM SOOOO SORRY I —” I ran out of words. Instead, I absentmindedly removed his hand from his jaw and took a look at the skin which my boots had grazed. There’s a small trace of blood on the scrape, and I felt sooo sorry that I gently placed a light kiss on it without thinking. The blond guy quickly blushed like scarlet. Oh no. Oh great! I AM SCREWING EVERYTHING!
White noise filled the air and I could hear the blood pumping in my chest as those blue eyes, those beautiful blue eyes continue to glare at me. I even left a lipstick stain on his jaw. Oh gosh, what have I done?
“Uhm, Enjy?” I heard Grantaire broke the silence. “Meet Margaux, my childhood best friend. Margaux… This,” he gestured towards the blond guy, “is Enjolras.” Grantaire gave me a stern stare, as if silently warning me not to make another wrong move.
My face is sooo burning with shame. I courageously gathered what’s left of my self-awareness and slowly extended an arm. “Please to meet you, Monsieur,” I said, trying to sound casual. Enjolras stared at my extended arm and did not say anything. He did not take it either. He turned to Grantaire. “I’ll deal with this later,” all he said before he slowly turned back.
Now I know my face burns with rage. Why, the guy just turned his back on me! Before I could react more harshly, somebody took my extended arm and squeezed my hand. I was startled and speechless when I looked at the one who interfered.
He was a well-toned guy with pinkish complexion and dark messy curls. He has that irresistible lopsided smile on his face and his eyes were sparkling. “Please to meet you, Margaux!” He managed to say. “That. Was. Amazing!” He added dramatically. “‘Taire didn’t tell us you could be scary! HOT—” he glanced at me up and down, eyes rounded in amazement, “—but SCARY!”
I couldn’t help but grin at this. Then he added, “Uhm, I’m just wondering… Would you go out on a date with me?”
I tried to maintain a poker face. “Hmmm. Let me guess… You’re Courfeyrac, right?”
The guy grinned mischievously. “Why yes!” He replied, a little too enthusiastically. “Margaux! You’re brilliant! Will you go out on a date with me?”
I returned his smile, and without a second thought, I answered, “No.”