Chapter Three: His Laugh

Ok, so we ended up going to the tavern. He bought dinner, though I insisted on helping him buy it. He was almost as stubborn as me.

Over dinner I pretty much told him everything. From when my brother first started being bad to when I stormed out of the inn that day. He gave me some of his history. I gaped at him.

"That's horrible! Why are the guards so mean to gypsies?"

"Judge Claude Frollo."

"Whose that?"

"The ugliest man in all Paris. He's one of those obsessive church goers, and if its not what he thinks is right, he tries to kill it," Clopin explained, sipping his wine.

"Well at least he believes!" I pointed out, playing with the left over peas on my plate.

"I don't know what you believe, but with the way he lives I doubt he's really faithful to God."

"I think if at one point in his life he was truly devoted to God and believed he died for his own sins and rose from the dead, and wants with all his heart to humbly serve God, then he is saved no matter what he does after that," I told him, trying not to sound to diplomatic.

He smiled at me. "Protestant, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Well he doesn't deserve heaven."

"Neither do you."

"More then him!"

"No you don't," I told him, shaking my head. "All sins are equal in God's eyes. You sin everyday, he sins everyday."

He scoffed at me.

"Its true!"

"So you don't believe in execution?"

I gasped at the thought. "No, never!"

"Not even if they murdered someone?"

"God gave us life, and only God should take it away."

"Your right! And God uses people to kill other people when he wants them to come home!" Clopin argued.

"And I hate public hangings! It's just so vulgar! If they insist on killing people, why not do it behind the stone walls?" I told Clopin, grimacing at the remembrance of the one I had witnessed just the other day.

"Oh come on, people exaggerate hangings. It's not a horrible way to die! I mean, compared to being burned alive. And you should just be grateful they don't use guillotines anymore," he took a big wig out of his glass.

"Guillotine?"

"You don't know what that is!?" he laughed at my puzzled expression. My face went hot. "You poor, innocent child! You shouldn't hang out with old men like me, you'll be exposed to such evils!"

"How old do you think I am?"

He stared at me, surprised. He took a couple minutes to think. " Eighteen?"

"Sixteen, sorry," I told him, wishing I really was eighteen.

He shook his head. "What a shame, if you were older you'd make an amusing wife!"

"I'd like to see you tell that to my father!"

He laughed melodically. It was so high pitched, and yet it came completely from his diaphragm, hearty and deep. I almost sighed at he pretty sound.

"Speaking of that, you should most likely head home."

I frowned at him. "Can't I stay with you? You can be my adoptive father! I'll me your amusing daughter!"

"I'd like to hear you say that in front of your father."

I rolled my eyes. "You got me."

He stood up and grabbed my hand to help me stand up.

"Your so polite, " I remarked at him. He kissed my hand again and laughed his perfect laugh.

"Why, of course!"

We talked about nothing specific as he walked me back to the inn. I really wanted to stay with him. He was so funny, and I was constantly laughing with him. And best of all, he laughed at what I said, feeding off of it. I was convinced I could listen to his laugh all day.

We got there, and I sighed deeply. "I'm in trouble."

"But I know you'll come through with great class, fair Meg," he joked, ruffling my blond curls.

"Whatever."

He laughed again. I relished in it.

"Goodnight."

"Thank you. Goodnight." I teased.

I was about to turn around and go inside, but he started talking again.

"You know, I'll be at my little puppet stand tomorrow if you haven't anything to do."

I smiled at him. I felt like he was courting me. It was really awkward.

"I would love to see you perform, but I think my sister wants me and her and Gilbert and Michel to do something together..."

I rolled my eyes, "and I kinda owe her something."

He looked at me, not smiling or laughing. If I wasn't so young, I'd sworn he was disappointed.

"Michel's a good boy," he told me, as if giving me his approval.

"Very merciful and mature for his age."

"He's an acrobat as well as a musician. He'll probably try to perform a little if there isn't too many guards about," he stuffed his hands in his pockets not looking at me.

"He can get in trouble for tumbling?"

"He's a gypsy. He could get arrested for giving a beggar a coin."

I shook my head. "That's horrible..." I paused, "Well, goodnight."

He laughed at me. Normally I would have been insulted, because he laughed as if amused at something stupid I said, but instead I just smiled even wider.

"Sweet dreams."

I floated into the inn, trying to wipe the giddy smile off my face before I went into my room.

Vanessa was already in the bed. I quickly changed into my pajamas and threw rags into my hair so it'd look pretty tomorrow. I would visit Clopin if it were in any way possible.

I woke up after everyone else did. Vanessa was getting dressed, and I could hear my mom scolding my dad about something.

She glanced at me. "What did you do last night?"

I was surprised. She was being nice to me?

My guilt doubled over.

"I went to eat with Clopin."

"Who?"

"You know, Michel's friend."

She nodded. I sighed.

"Lets go find them today. Clopin said they would probably do acrobats today," I remarked casually. Vanessa smiled at me. "I'm sorry."

She ran over, giving me a hug. "Its ok, don't worry about it!"

She was acting weird.

"That's the easiest apology ever."

"Well, I was thinking last night, and out of all the opportunities for you to be upset with me, you let a lot of mean things I say slide over you. So I can't really be mad at you."

I laughed. "That's really nice!"

"I know!"

I had to sit through that "Be kind to your sister!" scolding with my dad. I was glad he hadn't seen me freak out; now that I had calmed down it wasn't really bad at all. I knew I was taking everything out of proportion- how dramatic I was! I was starting to get annoyed with myself, having had that temper tantrum, so I quickly washed away the thoughts.

Then Vanessa and me went to 'work'. Which was basically just us wandering around town, hoping to see Michel and Gilbert. We passed Dad, saying hi.

Then I saw Clopin's handy dandy stand, dressed in vibrant colors. "Lets go say Hi!"

Vanessa bit her lip. "Watch a puppet show?"

I ignored her. He was in the middle of some story, and I could tell it was good because all the kids stood there in awe, and the only movement from them was a fat kid scratching his belly.

I stood off a little from the kids, listening. Clopin eyed me, so I knew he knew I was there. Vanessa purposely started to inspect her nails. "Be nice!" I whispered to her, tempted to elbow her.

She rolled her eyes.

"So, now it's up to you to decide- did she choose the lion or the princess?" Clopin ended, flipping his purple cape back to give a dramatic effect.

"I would pick the princess!" said a little girl, her eyes big with worry, "I wouldn't want the lion to kill him!"

She was backed up by some of the kids.

Then, pretty much out of nowhere, the little Clopin puppet popped up, saying, "But the lion would be much more entertaining to watch!"

Clopin tsked it, waving his finger in its face, "I didn't ask for your opinion."

Some of the kids giggled. Clopin shoed them off, but nicely, then smiled at me.

"Did you enjoy the story?"

"I only heard the end! And no- I hate cliff hangers," I explained, "If you're going to tell me a story at least tell me the whole thing."

He laughed. I blushed a little. Vanessa pointed to Little Clopin.

"He's so cute!" she told him.

"Thank you! I think he looks like me a little, " he smiled, holding it up to his face so we could judge.

"No, not at all!" I said, shaking my head.

Clopin shrugged.

"I would love to have a puppet that looked just like me!" Vanessa chimed, clasping her hands together.

I rolled my eyes at her, though I had to agree. It was so cute!

"I can make you one!" He volunteered.

"Please don't, she'll never put it down!" I told him, smiling.

"What would've you picked?" he asked, looking at me from behind his mask.

"Huh?"

What was he talking about?

"The lion or the princess?"

I laughed a little. That was kind of random, I thought.

"Give me the short version of the whole story and I'll tell you."

Suddenly he had a princess puppet of his hand, and a peasant boy on the other. "One day a very prideful princess fell in love with a peasant boy. But-" the princess disappeared and a puppet King appeared, "the King found out, and was so upset he put the boy on trial. In the trial, the boy would have to pick one of two doors. In one was a lion that would eat him, in the other a princess who would marry him. The princess knew which door held what, and when the boy went out to pick a door, he looked at the Princess. She tilted her head in the direction of the door. What would you have picked?"

"The girl of course!" I told him, "I wouldn't want him to die!"

"But then you couldn't have him?"

"Who says? He can always cheat on her" I said, matter-of-factly, "and if he really loved me, cheating on the girl wouldn't be anything."

He laughed. Man, I loved his laugh.

"Meg!" Vanessa exclaimed, grabbing my sleeve. I turned to see what it was. Gilbert, Michel, and some other people walked by. She started to drag me off.

I shrugged at Clopin, who smiled and yelled after us, "Behave!"

But he looked a little disappointed. I probably did too- I'd much rather talk to Clopin then chase after some guy I didn't like or want to like me.

Vanessa continued to drag me after them, muttering something about how bad it would be to have to baby-sit kids all day.

I sighed. Everyone has to make money somehow, right?

Vanessa walked up to them slower, as if just by chance, when they started to set up by a little wall covered in vines. Michel was doing a handstand and Gilbert playing his guitar when we came over. Michel almost fell over. I giggled at him.

"Nessa!" Gilbert exclaimed, blushing. He came over to her, as if unsure whether to hug her or not. She held out her hand, and he shook it gladly. "Its great to see you again.

' Nessa ' covered her face a little, blushing. I almost laughed at them, but it would've been rude. Michel, who always seemed to have the best of manners, Bowed a little to me, straightening himself up. He pointed to the three unknown gypsies. One was young, ten or so, the other older and overweight. The third was familiar-it took me a moment to recognize him. He was the gypsy from when we first met them that went home instead of going with them. He frowned at me instantly, and I returned the look, much displeased. Michel explained that the young one was Davis, the fat one Simon, and the frowning one Solomon.

Davis was perched on top of the wall, and seemed intent on something on the other side. Simon continued to play a beautiful little tune on his flute. "Its nice to meet you, I'm Meg," I told them, staring a little at Solomon. He turned his head away from me.

"Would you like to see us perform?" Gilbert asked, who was still clutching Vanessa's hand.

"I would love that!" Vanessa told him, smiling. She looked really happy- I was kinda jealous. They looked very cute together, and there was no question he was stricken by her.

Solomon took a position beside Michel, Davis stayed on the wall peering over it, and the rest started to play their pretty instruments.

Michel and Solomon flipped over each other, standing on their hands or balancing on one foot. They did back flips and pushed off each other to flip even higher in the air. Most amazingly, it went along with the music, which was exhilarating.

I was so absorbed in the show I nearly fainted when Davis screeched, "THEY'RE COMING!"

Each of them took off into a different direction, hiding behind a stray barrel or tucking into a dark alleyway. Solomon flew his cloak over his face and started to walk casually away. Gilbert had grabbed Vanessa, tucking her into a hiding place somewhere.

And I just stood there. Who was coming? What was coming!?

My heart sped up into its panic mode, and my breathing sped up as I waited for whatever they were hiding from to arrive.

Then I saw the gleam of the sun off of armor. Two guards came from behind the bend, glancing curiously around the area. One of them nodded at me then walked off. I stood there until they disappeared from my sight.

Everyone suddenly came back out and resumed their places. I glanced at Michel, confused. He sighed, blushing.

"That was a little embarrassing."

"Why did you hide? What would they do to you?"

"They'd bring us to the Palace of Justice."

"But you didn't do anything!" I argued. He sighed again, becoming even redder.

"They don't care. I'm a gypsy."

I almost cried, seeing the pain and insecurity in his eyes. And why did he feel that why? Because he was born into a race- he was placed into a culture that reviled him from his birth.

I touched his arm softly, looking him in the eyes."Too bad those guards don't see the things I see."

He smiled at me, embarrassed still. "They don't care about our talents."

"Forget about them." I told him, and we walked back to the wall, sitting down against it.

"You're smart for your age," he told me.

I almost snorted. I heard that line a lot too. I was wise beyond my years, a thirty-year old at heart, sprouting with wisdom from every angle and yet I felt like a regular sixteen year old. If everyone saw what I was really like they wouldn't say that.

"Thanks."

"My father really likes you. Says you got something most people don't. You should of heard him and Clopin going on and on about you," Michel chuckled.

"What did they say?" I asked, smiling despite myself.

"That you have a beautiful smile."

"Yeah right," I sighed, my insides almost exploding.

"They did! Dad said 'she had a beautiful smile', and Clopin said ' I know, didn't she!'" Michel told me, mocking their voices quite perfectly.

I shrugged. "I'm flattered."

"But it is true, you know."

I glanced at him, but he was looking down at his feet. I then synced something to my right, and turned that way to see Solomon staring at us, his face blank. He gazed at me, his chest filling up with air vividly.

"He's not a very friendly person," Michel told me, noticing my stares. "Give him time."

"Why isn't he?"

"Well, you know, I'm not sure."

I bit my lip, then giggled remembering Clopin. He thought my smile was beautiful.

Nice.