Gaston had gone to town again that day, in search of Lefou. He had found him in the bookshop, trading in some of his older books in exchange for the cash he and his wife needed for food for their two sons. He was surprised to find Gaston in the bookshop. "I had no idea you were married" Gaston commented. "There are many things that you do not know about me" he replied quietly. "It's been two years" Lefou replied, "it was high time I moved on and settled down" he added. Gaston grew silent for a moment. "You once told me you were my friend, a best friend in fact" he said. "Is there anything you can share with me-about my past?" He asked. Lefou nodded, "I can tell you anything you want to know-but be forewarned, most of it, you will not like" he said. Gaston sat down with him on a bench. "Everyone had great respect for you here at one point" Lefou said softly, "what do you mean 'at one point?' " He interceded, "well, things changed-people change. I am referring to the Princess," he said. "Who is the Princess?" Gaston wondered, "have I done anything to offend her?" He wondered aloud. "Belle" Lefou replied, his tone changing. "Belle.the name sounds somewhat familiar" Gaston uttered. "At one time you had wanted to marry her-but circumstances interfered" Lefou answered. "What were those circumstances?" Gaston could sense that his questions brought back very unpleasant memories for Lefou. "It was a risky endeavor, but I went along with it" Lefou added. "I must have had something to do with this. It sounds like foul play" he replied. "In a way it was.but at the time I was being foolish-not seeing the bigger picture" Lefou said. "I must have made things difficult for her; she must think of me as some sort of monster" Gaston sighed. "Gaston, I did not want to be the one to tell you-but she's gone through hell and back on account of your actions in the past" "but that was the past." Gaston sighed. "I wish I knew," he added sadly. "One day I will make it right!" He said, more determinedly.
Gaston had been walking about the streets, he had continually ran into people that been giving him blank stares. He had returned to the tavern, unaware that the barmaids were getting ready for the evening crowd, "what's going on?" Gaston asked John. "Oh, we always do this on Friday nights; its just a typical show, we try to get more business before the weekend" John said, "grab a towel and help me clean up before the show starts," he added. Gaston had wondered what type of show that John had meant. He had also been looking for Claudia, but she had disappeared. The men had moved the tables aside, and set up curtains. Gaston had still been wondering where Claudia had disappeared. John had pulled off the cover to his piano, and helped the other men set up the stage candles. "Do you all stage plays?" Gaston wondered. "Something of the sorts" John replied. Gaston had gone up the stairs and as he went towards his room, he heard thumbing up above his head. He gazed about and saw a shadowy figure's feet crawling above his head. He had found a hidden stowaway above his bedroom and went after the culprit. He noticed what he was gazing at. He frowned when he saw the form of Claudia in her room, moving about of free will, covered only by her towel. Gaston had kicked the man in front of him, and to the dismay of the other man-the drunken gentleman from the night before, he frowned and before he could try and kick back, the ceiling had caved in, and both men fell. Claudia had cried out in surprise, and pulled back quickly, hiding behind her screen. Gaston had angrily pulled the other man up by his collar "I thought I warned you to maintain your distance!" He said. The other man was so drunk that all he could do was laugh. Gaston failed to see this man's humor. "Get out of here!" Gaston said. Claudia had looked on with stunned silence as Gaston had nearly thrown him out. "Its not often that I'm saved twice in one week" she commented quietly as he bowed slightly. "I am terribly sorry for that other man's behavior, its appalling" he commented. Claudia smiled, silently thanking him for his kindness. "Well," he said, abit nervously, "I should leave you-to dress," he said. She nodded, "I would greatly appreciate it," she said softly, feeling awkward in his presence, since she was baring much of herself.
A few moments later, the curtain rose, and John and Claudia were playing tunes on the piano and acting out scenes from Romeo and Juliet. Gaston found it very amusing, and asked if he could take part, and he greatly enjoyed playing the part of Romeo. Claudia had made a very beautiful Juliet, and was pleased when Gaston had presented her with roses afterward. John had smiled to himself, realizing that Claudia had a growing affection and appreciation for Gaston.
An hour later, when everyone had left the tavern, John had bid goodnight to Claudia and Gaston. They had been sitting outside on the terrace. Gaston had found himself smiling in her direction and admiring her once more when she was not looking at him. She had caught him once. "Gaston, I have wanted to tell you." she began, his eyes lit up. "I misjudged you immensely, and I wanted to apologize" he was trying to find a way to take her hand without appearing self-conscious about the physical contact. She blushed somewhat as he smiled at her, and his face gained a new handsomeness about it in which she had never seen. When he had finally felt her hand in his, he also felt a warmness that he knew he had never before experienced. "I am glad that you have come," she said softly. "You are the only person who treated me with respect" she added. He leaned in and caressed her face. He was about to kiss her, when a sudden storm had suddenly hit them from overhead and the rain began to pour quickly about them. "Hurry, let's get inside" Gaston said, taking her hand. When Gaston had gazed again out the window of the tavern to look at the rain; he felt a sudden chill go down about his entire form. Claudia had come up next to him, and handed him some fresh coffee. "You looked preoccupied" she commented softly. "I was," he said honestly. "I still feel lost in my heart" he sighed. "Because of your amnesia?" She wondered aloud. "Its more than that, and I can feel it" he said. "Someday you will know," she said softly, putting her arm into his.
Gaston was sitting by his window late that night, listening to the storms as they played out throughout the morning. The thunder chilled him. It had reminded him of something very dastardly. When he closed his eyes, he had seen that familiar shadow, as it crept up upon him slowly-he could hear the screams, as he fell - for what felt like an eternity. He woke up in tears and then found himself reaching out for something-and a few moments later, in a single flash of light and memory-he knew exactly who he was. He then sneered. Claudia was bathing that early morning before any one had awakened, and Gaston, in his intrigue and past womanizing form, stood by the door, and watched, unbeknownstly to her. She rose her head up, and felt his presence; despite the silence in the room. The coldness of Gaston's past was slowly breeching into the room.and there was no way of stopping it. His first thought was of Belle. He then found himself being distracted by the seemingly seductiveness of Claudia's beauty now. She had gone over to her screen, unaware that he was still watching her with a renewed coldness in his eyes as his full memory returned. He then walked down the hallway, still smiling to himself. These fools will never know! He thought wickedly.

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