Enjolras looked up from his writings and frowned at the sound of footsteps on the staircase. Checking his pocket watch he confirmed that it was too early for the others to be arriving. 

   Clara appeared at the top of the stairs, her hair windswept and her cheeks flushed pink from the cold evening breeze. 

     "It's just me," Clara said, "sorry I'm early. Sebastien's on his way, he just stopped to say hello to someone he knew and told me to go on ahead without him."

      Enjolras just nodded stiffly and returned his attention to his papers, intent on ignoring Clara until the meeting commenced. 

   Clara sat down in a chair near the back opening up the book she brought with her to pass the time. 

     She wondered where Kaylin and AJ were. She had expected them to be here already with Enjolras since they live in the same house currently. Tomorrow, she, Kaylin, Combeferre and Courfeyrac were joining AJ to head over to her house to collect whatever belongings  they could salvage. 

     The fire had been a week ago now, but Mrs Richardson had out off the task of fetching any of their things. Now, with some persuasion from Countess Enjolras and AJ, they were finally going to do the tiresome job of moving any salvageable items from the Richardson house to an unoccupied Enjolras estate just a couple of miles outside of Paris for safe keeping. 

      AJ said that Courfyerac had immediately offered to help with the removal as he had a lot of time on his hands. And Clara had a fair idea on why Combeferre was coming along too. She knew something was going on between him and Kaylin. Plus, Grantaire has already hinted at the fact that there was something going on between the two. A thing kept hidden from man in red. 

       Clara also had a fair idea on why Courfeyrac had offered to help. The moments were there, sublte, but there nonetheless. She had noticed how they who glance at each other and smile from time to during the last two meetings, and how they always stood next to each other now. If they were together and were just keeping it a secret, they were doing a terrible job at it. 

     Combeferre and Kaylin on the other hand, there moments together had to carefully timed and very secretive. Even if Enjolras was oblivious to things such as glances and smiles, he had sharp senses and a keen observation. It wouldn't take him long to figure out that something was going on, even if he didn't know exactly what.

      "Candide, Volaitre," Enjolras suddenly spoke, not looking up from his papers. 

   Startled, Clara looked at him in confusion before looking down at her book. "Oh! Yes, I picked it up from our library on my way out. I knew I would be a bit early so I brought it along to pass the time," She said. 

      Enjolras turned his attention towards her. "Do you enjoy reading?" He inquired, stopping his writing. 

     "Yes, I do," Clara nodded, standing up from her seat and drawing closer to where he sat. She reached his table and stood by it, resting her book on the smooth surface. "Mother would always find me either in the library or the music room." She paused. "Can you play any instruments?" She asked hesitantly. 

     Enjolras nodded. "When you live in a bourgeois family, it's hard not to be able to play an instrument," He sighed.

    "Could you play something for me then?" Clara requested, her voice barely audible. She didn't know what had overcome her, but she felt a sudden wave of confidence in asking the 'marble' revolutionary leader for something.

      Enjolras looked over at the upright piano in the corner of the room. He hadn't really performed in front of anyone before, apart from his family or in front of his fathers friends when he forces him to play for them. 

      "What do you want to hear?" He finally asked, looking up at the girl standing in front of him. 

    Clara's eyes widened slightly and her heart skipped a beat. He was actually going to play for her? And just because she asked? She expected him to say no and to say that he had other things to do do, but no, here he was asking what she wanted to hear him play.

       "Um, I don't know," Clara bit her lip, "Whatever you like."

   Enjolras put his pen down and rose, walking over to the piano. He pulled the stool out and opened the lid, revealing the slightly yellow and black ivory keys. Sitting down, he took a deep breath before he placed his fingers on the keyboard.

       Gently, softly, the music began to fill into the room as Enjolras' fingers moved gracefully across the keys, pressing them lightly. 

   Clara inhaled in awe. She recognised the piece. It was Beethoven's Pathétique Sonata, the second movement. She had heard it before, but never learned to play it. She sat down in a chair near the piano and listened as the music floated in the air. 

     Enjolras seemed to have forgotten where he was as he became immersed in playing, entirely in his own world. He played the piece with such expression and tenderness, that Clara felt as if she was in a trance. He played beautifully!

     Clara watched him as he continued to play. She wondered if anyone, besides his family, has seen this side of him before. He seemed to be a natural at performing. 

     The two were so engrossed in the music, that they hadn't noticed that a few others had already arrived.

     The last note rang out till it faded away into nothing. Enjolras lifted his hands off the keys and breathed in. 

     Clara clapped her hands, smiling. "That was really, really beautiful," She praised him, "I enjoyed it, thank you."

     Enjolras nodded as he stood up, closing the lid. They both turned around and only then did they notice the others standing on the other side of the room, mouths open in shock and amazement. 

      "D-di you just - Y-you just - W-what?!" Kaylin stuttered in shock, pointing first at her brother then the piano, then to Clara and back again. 

     "I don't think I've actually heard you play the piano outside your house before," Courfeyrac raised an eyebrow.

      "Clara wanted to hear me play," Enjolras shrugged, returning to his desk. 

  This made Kaylin's eyes open wider. 

      "Wait, what?" She turned on her brother, "She asked and you said yes? Who are you and what have you done to my brother?" 

      "Enjolras, the fearless leader, a piano master!" Grantaire did a grand bow, "Who knew our leader could play the piano so wonderfully!" He teased.

      "My brother, actually said yes, to a girl's request," Kaylin faked a faint, "surely pigs are flying and the worlds about to end!"

     "Kaylin, the meeting is about to start, sit down," Enjolras sighed, tired of his sister's antics and wanting to evade the topic at hand. 

      Everyone took their places, AJ and Kaylin rushing to sit on either side of Clara who had been sitting in her usual spot, embarrassed and shy. 

      "So, what happened? What did you do? Must have been something impressive if he actually played for you!" Kaylin whispered. 

     "Nothing happened!" Clara protested, "We got talking and then I asked if he could play and he said yes. So I asked if he could play something for me."

     "And he said yes, Clara!" Kaylin exclaimed quietly, so as not to draw attention from the others, "Do you know how special you've just become?"

      Clara shook her head. "It's nothing like that," She tried to come up with an excuse of an explanation, "It was just something to pass the time." She looked over at Enjolras who was pouring over a map of Paris with her brother, Combeferre and Courfeyrac. 

      "You like him, don't you?" AJ said, looking between her best friend and the leader, "To be honest, you two would look really cute together... if he wasn't so in love with France that is."

      Clara blushed a bright red. "There is nothing going on. We're just... comrades, part of a revolutionary group," She said. 

   "Clara, Clara, dearest Clara," Kaylin shook her head, "Stop trying to deny it! You like him. And you've managed to crack his marble and I think he's starting to realise it."

      "Exactly, we've known what Enjolras was like before you came along, but we've seen a huge change in him," AJ nodded, "For one, he talks to you willingly. He's civil to you as well."

     "When we first met he was mean and rude to me, so maybe I did see a glimpse of what he was like before," Clara looked at Enjolras. Just at that moment he turned and looked in her direction but quickly looked back down at the map after he realised she was looking at him too. 

     "Enjolras has built up so many walls around him," Kaylin sighed, "Father and mother were the main reason why. They pressured him to do things he didn't enjoy or didn't want to do. Showed him of to their friends in order to find a possible suitor for him. They throw girls at him right, left and centre with no regards to his feelings or what he wants. Although, I'm hoping that mother will have stopped her pressurising now."

      Clara quietly listened to all this. She had guessed that Enjolras had some walls up, she just didn't know exactly why. 

     "Ma'moiselle Clara!" Gavroche came bouncing over from where he stood with Courfeyrac. 

  "Gavroche!" Clara opened her arms wide and engulfed the young boy in a big hug. "How are you?"

      "Me's fine!" Gavroche beamed, "Courfeyrac took me's to a fair yesterday!"

   "Oh really? What was it like?" Clara pulled a chair up so that the boy could sit next to her. AJ shifted her chair to make some room. 

     "Good!" Gavroche nodded, "There's was peoples hangin' on ropes and j-jugglin' balls. 'Nd there's was lots of games!"

      "Did you enjoy it?" Clara asked, "I forgot that there was a fair coming to Paris."

   "Me's did 'njoy it!" Gavroche grinned. 

        "That's good," Clara smiled, "Maybe I'll take you to go see it again if I'm free."

    Throughout this interaction, Enjolras had been secretly watching it from his seat at the desk. He shook his head to clear his mind. He didn't know what was wrong or what was happening. What he did know was that Clara seemed to be able to find away into his mind... all the time. 

~⚜~

      The meeting was well over, the only ones left in the Café were Enjolras, of course,  Clara and Gavroche. 

     The others had gone on ahead, Clara's brother going off on an errand with Courfeyrac, so Kaylin had instructed her brother to escort Clara home. So Clara had to wait while Enjolras finished something up.

     "Ma'msoille Clara, can yous sing a song for mes, please?" Gavroche asked. He was lying, curled up to Clara's side, head on her lap. 

     "Of course, let me think," Clara wracked her brain for a song to sing. After deciding, she opened her mouth. 

       "When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are," Clara began, "Anything, your heart desires, will come to you."

       Enjolras paused in his writing, diverting his attention to listening to her sing.

   "If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme. When you wish upon a star, as dreamers do," Clara gently ran her hands through Gavroche's hair as she sang.

     "Fate is kind, she brings to those who love," Clara smiled, "the sweet fulfilment of their secret longing."

     Enjolras finally looked up from his papers, watching her. He didn't know what he was feeling, but he could feel a small tug at his heart from time to time as he listened. 

     "Like a bolt out of the blue, fate steps in and sees you through," Clara sang softly, "when you wish upon a star, as dreamers do."

        By this time, Gavroche had fallen asleep, smiling peacefully. Enjolras set his pen down on the table, abandoning his papers.

     "Fate is kind, she brings to those who love," Clara sang, "the sweet fulfilment of their secret longing."

      Enjolras took a sharp intake of breath. He could feel a wall crumbling down, one of many. And it was because of her. 

     "Like a bolt out of the blue, fate steps in and sees you through," Clara brushed Gavroche's hair out of his eyes, "when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true."

      Finally looking up, Clara caught Enjolras' gaze on her. 

   "Oh sorry, did I disturb you?" Clara immediately apologised. 

        "No, no you didn't," Enjolras shook his head slowly, "It's fine. I'm finished anyway." Standing up, he walked over to where the two were sitting. "You have a way with children."

      "Gavroche is a sweet boy," Clara smiled.

   Enjolras gave a small smile at this. "Yes, he is," He agreed.

        "Gavroche looks up to you," Clara said, "He told me once that he wants to be just like you when he grows up."

     Enjolras raised an eyebrow at this. He didn't realise he was being a role model to someone. "Let's hope that when he's grown up, he doesn't have to be something like me, a revolutionary." He said. 

       "That's true," Clara nodded.

    "Come on, let's get him home," Enjolras bent down and gently lifted Gavroche into his arms, "let's get you both home before my sister kills me."

     Clara softly giggled. "It's the kind of thing she would do," She said, standing up. "Would it be better if Gavroche was on your back?"

     Enjolras contemplated the idea and nodded. "It would be easier, yes," He agreed. 

  Clara helped him in getting the young boy in a piggy back position for easier transport.

      "Have you got everything?" Enjolras asked.

   Clara nodded.

        They made their way down, realising that they were really the only ones left. 

    "Could you lock up for me? My hands are preoccupied," Enjolras nodded to the door of the café. 

      "Of course, where's the key?" Clara asked. 

   "Right hand side pocket of my jacket," Enjolras instructed.

        Clara pulled the key out, but not without noticing that Enjolras had stiffened up when she put her hand in his pocket.

      "Are you always the last one out?" She asked, locking up the door. 

   "Yeah, more or less," Enjolras nodded. 

       They began to walk on towards Courfeyrac's place first where they would drop Gavroche off. It was his turn to look after the boy for a week. 

     "Have you been to a fair before?" Enjolras suddenly asked. 

  "No, not really," Clara shook her head, "Not unless being there to snip the ribbons on the opening day counts."

     "I take it that as soon as the ribbons were cut you had to leave?" Enjolras guessed.

  "Yes. I've always wanted to go to the fair though," Clara said, wistfully, "Sebastien went once with a couple of friends he knew."

      Enjolras nodded.

    Eventually, they reached Courfeyrac's place and knocking on the door. After a few minutes, the man himself appeared.

      "Finished for the evening already?" Courfeyrac raised an eyebrow at Enjolras.

    "Gavroche had fallen asleep, so I decided to call it a night and bring him back," Enjolras explained, gently removing the boy from his back with Clara's help.

     Courfeyrac had to bite back a smile as he watched them. They looked like a family. And furthermore, Enjolras was actually smiling a little at Clara. Taking the sleeping boy into his arms, he bid them goodnight. 

     Watching them leave, Courfeyrac had to admit, Enjolras had always had a soft spot for Gavroche, but now, it seems like somebody else had managed to get a soft spot in his heart. He couldn't wait to tell AJ what he witnessed tonight.

    Shutting the door, Courfeyrac made his way upstairs to the spare room to tuck Gavroche into bed. 

      For a few minutes, Enjolras and Clara walked in silence. Enjoying the peacefulness of the evening. 

     Clara was humming the tune of the song she had sung back at the café, clutching her book tightly in her arms. 

     Enjolras was a step behind her, watching. Her hair would glow each time she walked underneath a lamppost. She had a small bounce to each step, almost as if she was skipping. 

      "You said you've never been to a fair properly," Enjolras said, bringing back the topic from earlier.

       Clara nodded, "Yeah, that's what happens when you're a princess," She sighed. 

    "Do you want to go?" Enjolras offered. 

         Clara paused and whipped around, eyes wide.

     Enjolras stopped as well, hands in his pockets, looking nonchalant, waiting for a reply.

    "Wait, what?" Clara breathed, "A-are you serious?"

         "If you really want to visit the fair, I'll take you," Enjolras said.

    "Oh my goodness... Yes!" Clara couldn't contain her excitement and without realising it, she launched herself at him.

      Taken by surprise, Enjolras stumbled back a step before he regained his balance. 

   "Um, you're welcome, I guess," Enjolras said, trying to sound indifferent about it. 

      Clara let him go and began to skip ahead again. "I can't wait! I've always wanted to go!" She exclaimed.

      Enjolras couldn't help a small smile escape his lips as he watched her dance ahead. Maybe she was doing something to him, and he didn't know whether he liked it or not.

~|~*~|~⚜~|~*~|~

Here's chapter 16!!! Hope you all like it and enjoy it!!! 

There is now a small development with Enjolras and Clara!!!

Thank you for reading and I'll see you all in the next chapter!!!

Clara x

https://youtu.be/IQZcjc5WhmE

The video doesn't belong to me, all rights go to Lexi Walker. She's a beautiful singer!