The Belle of Notre Dame part 12

The morning sun

The sun bounced playfully off a large brass bell as morning broke over Paris. The hunchback woke with a start. His eyes were wide with fright before remembering that there would be no repercussion for him sleeping in. He always awoke at this time. At least he had been for the past year. Frollo had always insisted that the young bell ringer away an hour before dawn to practise his alphabet and any slacking of this would mean trouble, usually in a rather painful way. Quasi felt like smiling, but the idea of smiling at the death of his master, not matter how file a man he was, did make his stomach churn a little.

He sat up and stretched, preparing to ring the bells for the morning, when he heard a noise. He jumped and looked behind him. His heart almost came to a complete stop when he saw who was lying in his bed. The raven haired temptress smiled in her sleep and turned away. Quasi stepped back, holding his mouth. He was more than sure the events of the night before had been some kind of dream. A lustful one that he honestly felt very guilty about. It wasn't too uncommon for him to get carried away with his daydreaming. Very often he found it hard to tell dream form reality. He crept forward and with a shaky hand, pulled away a stray hair from her face.

He clasped a hand over his mouth. There was no doubt whether this was a dream or not and there was no doubt that the creature in his bed was the gypsy girl he had longed for all these months. A thousand thoughts raced through his head. What was she doing here still? She had pent the nigh. The night with him. Did they do anything? No. She wouldn't. Oh God. Did that mean that he...No. No he would never. Would he?
A sigh broke his train of thought and directed his attention back to the sleeping gypsy. His head clear, he began to remember was conspired the night before. She had asked him the one question that he hoped he would never have to tell her, and she had accepted it. More that accepted it she... reciprocated?

The gypsy started to stir. Her bright green eyes slowly opened and a smile spread across her face. Quasi want to say something but all logical though had left him and all that was left was a series of questions.

"Good morning." She said sitting up and stretching.

"...Hello." was all he could muster. Esmeralda giggled.

She stood up and walked towards the opening of the tower.

"It's a beautiful day." she said quietly, "You wake up to this view ever day?"

Quasi didn't answer. She was acting so calmly, as if nothing had ever happened. He began to doubt himself again. Perhaps he didn't tell her. Perhaps these where the depraved thoughts of a lonely man. He looked up at her. He could still recall the smell of her hair and the texture of her skin.

"Uh..." he began, not sure what to say next, "Esmeralda?"

She looked back at him and smiled that same smile. Quasi felt his cheeks go slightly red.

"I....uh...haha." He stuttered to get the words out.

"I know." she said, understanding.

"Why?" Quasi spouted out, finally finding the words

"Why?" She repeated.

"Why me?" he said not looking at her. "I mean. Why? I know it's stupid but...this has all been like some kind of dream. A wonderful dream that I never want to go away." Esmeralda smiled, "I'm scared to look at you in case you fade away."

Esmeralda lay and hand on his face and forced his eyes to hers.

"Quasimodo" She smiled, but said no more. She leaned forward and kissed him. Quasi wrapped his arms around her, finally accepting what was happening as realty. And what a reality it was.