Chapter 76: The Discovery

While walking up the stairs to the belltower, Claude questioned when he'd last made this trip with Esmeralda. After some thought, it occurred to him that he hadn't come here with her since that lifechanging day when she'd set him up to talk to Jean about his problems. What a day that had been... Claude didn't want to think about the kind of disaster he'd be by now if Esmeralda hadn't found a way to interfere with his mental collapse. He'd forever appreciate her for that. Jean as well. Claude made a mental note to pay Jean a visit. They had catching up to do. But it could wait. Right now Claude was eager to see Quasimodo with Esmeralda. It would be the first proper gathering of the three of them since they'd all been on friendly terms.

But what Claude and Esmeralda encountered in the belltower wasn't quite a friendly greeting. Rather, they found Quasimodo pacing and murmuring more frantically than ever. In fact, he sounded like was trying to yell something but couldn't, and started to grab at his head in frustration.

"Quasimodo?!" Claude blurted in concern.

Noticing the sound of his name, the panicked bell ringer stopped mid-pace and looked at the two people who had stumbled upon his neurotic episode.

"Oh!" Quasimodo exclaimed. "You're here..."

"What's going on?" Esmeralda questioned. "Are you okay?!"

"Yes. No... I don't know! I just- UGH!"

Esmeralda rushed up to her friend, and Claude followed close behind.

"Quasi, what is it?!" Esmeralda asked worriedly.

Quasimodo struggled to form a sentence.

"It was... I... She... Oh no..."

Claude stepped in front of the boy, placing his hands on his shoulders.

"Son! What in the world is bothering you?"

"I-she-I..."

After a few more stuttered attempts, Quasimodo finally found his voice.

"ELAINE!" He yelled.

Claude and Esmeralda looked at him confusedly.

"Elaine?" Esmeralda asked in disbelief. "What about her?"

"She has FEELINGS for me!" Quasimodo cried. "How can this be possible?!"

For a moment, Claude and Esmeralda were stunned. But it wasn't long before Esmeralda responded.

"I knew it!" She exclaimed.

Claude turned to face her.

"You knew this too?!" He asked.

"Yes! How did you know?"

"She told me."

"Really?"

"Yes. How did you know?"

"It was just so obvious!"

Quasimodo was taken off guard by the scene in front of him.

"Hold on!" He piped up. "You BOTH knew this?"

"I couldn't tell you." Claude insisted. "It wasn't my place."

"I thought you should find out on your own." Esmeralda explained.

Quasimodo groaned.

This was all so overwhelming, first finding out how Elaine felt about him and then discovering that he was the last person to learn this information!

"I just can't believe it." Quasimodo mumbled.

"I can." Esmeralda commented. "I told you someone would be interested."

"Maybe someone, but Elaine? It doesn't make sense. She's too warm and loving and... Beautiful..."

Quasimodo didn't often think about it, but he really did think Elaine was beautiful. It wasn't a fact he normally pondered because it had seemed so dangerous to fall in love after his experience with Esmeralda, but he couldn't deny that Elaine was a beautiful girl. Too beautiful to possibly be attracted to him.

"She's too good for me." Quasimodo explained. "That's why I can't believe it."

"Nonsense!" Claude insisted. "You are a very good man, Quasimodo. It is no wonder that a good woman would love you."

Quasimodo barely smiled, but soon resumed his anxiety.

"I sure wasn't ready for this..." He sighed. "What should I do?"

"Well," Esmeralda responded. "What do you want to do?"

"I'm not sure... I wish I could go and tell her I feel the same and we should be together, but I still don't really know how I feel. But I haven't seen Elaine since this morning, so I'm getting worried. I know I should say something to her, but I just don't know what to say..."

Having been in Elaine's position, Claude had an idea of what she needed to hear at the moment. He shared his thinking right away.

"I know what you should say." Claude announced. "Tell Elaine that you appreciate her sharing this and you want to talk about it more, but you need some time to think beforehand. She'll understand."

Quasimodo was impressed by the advice. He couldn't have thought of anything better.

"That sounds good." He approved. "I guess I do need some time to think. This is a lot..."

"Why don't you spend the rest of the day with us?" Claude suggested. "Taking some space from here might help you think more clearly."

"Spend the day with you?" Quasimodo asked. "Really?"

"Spend the night, in fact." Claude offered. "Take a vacation from here. It will ease some of the stress. And if you need someone to talk things through with, Esmeralda and I will be there."

Esmeralda nodded in agreement with the idea.

Quasimodo started to smile.

He was so thankful for these two people, the only two to call him family.

"I guess we can have some... Family time?" Quasimodo suggested.

"Exactly." Esmeralda said with a smile.

Claude smiled and nodded.

Everything seemed to be a little better already.

"Get your things." Claude instructed. "I'll let Jean know."

"Elaine, it really is going to be okay."

"But I've done something so stupid!"

Jean didn't know what to do. Elaine had been a nervous wreck since this morning, when she'd practically fallen apart describing what she'd told Quasimodo. Jean had left her alone at first because she'd asked him to, but by now he was only more concerned. Elaine had asked him several times now if he needed anything from the market, clearly looking for excuses to leave the church. Moreover, her hands were still shaking. That observation had prompted Jean to make an attempt at reassurance, which wasn't working thus far.

"What if he doesn't want to see me now?!" Elaine asked in a panic. "What have I done?!"

"Come now," Jean begged. "Do you really think he would abandon you that easily? I certainly don't think so!"

"He didn't say anything. He just stared at me... This isn't good!"

"Perhaps he was just surprised. Wait for him to say something. It might not be what you expect at all."

Elaine was about to respond when something caught her eye. Jean looked in the same direction and saw the form of Claude Frollo approaching from the staircase.

"Is everything alright?" Claude asked.

Elaine didn't respond. Jean considered answering for her, but he felt that it wasn't his place.

Still, Claude could see the anxiety in the poor girl's expression.

"Quasimodo isn't upset with you," He assured. "if that is what you're worried about."

"Oh..." Elaine said after some hesitation. "Well, that's good to know..."

Claude wasn't sure if he should say any more, since it was probably best to let Quasimodo handle this. Instead, he decided to change the subject.

"I should let you know," He started. "I'm taking a journey soon, so this may be the last time you see me for a while."

"Really?" Elaine asked. "Where are you going?"

Claude explained the circumstances of the trip and that they were not to be revealed to Esmeralda. Elaine understood, as did Jean.

"We'll pray for you to have a safe trip." Jean promised.

"Of course." Elaine agreed. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

"I hope so too." Claude said anxiously.

Suddenly, Quasimodo emerged from the staircase along with Esmeralda, who had just been helping him pack some things. They stopped when they saw the trio standing by the pews.

"You should go and talk to him." Claude said to Elaine. "Quasimodo has something to say to you."

Elaine took a deep breath before starting away toward her friend.

At the same time, Jean motioned Claude away to the other side of the building. He started a conversation while lighting some candles, beginning with casual small talk. Claude took the opportunity to explain that Quasimodo was leaving with him and would be back the next day. Jean took the news approvingly, assuring that it wouldn't be hard to find someone else to ring the bells in the meantime.

"Interesting times we're seeing." Jean said eventually. "My girl is in love with your boy."

"I'm sure he could love her as well." Claude said optimistically. "It's merely a shock for him, being desired by someone like her."

"Yes. I do hope he can get used to it."

Jean started to light some candles. He saw it fit to bring up some things that were on his mind now.

"I've been wanting to speak to you." He shared.

"What about?" Claude asked.

"Elaine has kept me updated on everything. I must say, I'm amazed by how much you've been able to resolve, and I'm happy for you."

"Thank you. But unfortunately, not everything is resolved."

"I'm curious about something. I truly hope it won't come down to this, but... Suppose you find Esmeralda's friends and she still isn't able to forgive you. What will you do if that happens?"

Claude didn't want to think about that. He wanted to believe that Esmeralda would fully forgive him if he made this last thing right, but it occurred to him that this may not be enough. She hadn't been quick to forgive him for other things, even after he'd corrected those mistakes. It was a real possibility that Esmeralda would still have some hard feelings toward him even if this mission was successful.

But he was already living with the fact that she felt that way, so things wouldn't be much different if what Jean was suggesting came to happen.

"I'll carry on, I suppose." Claude replied. "There wouldn't be much else to do."

"I just want to make sure you're prepared," Jean explained. "for whatever may happen."

"Of course it would be a great relief if this could help her forgive me," Claude admitted. "but that isn't why I'm doing it. The goal is simply to make Esmeralda happy. Everything else is secondary to that."

"A very admirable goal. I do hope it all works out."

Jean finished lighting the candles and looked at Claude with sympathy.

"On another note," Jean started solemnly. "are you still having nightmares?"

Claude sighed.

"Sometimes." He replied.

"Still blaming yourself, then?" Jean asked.

"I'm trying not to." Claude assured. "But not with much success."

Jean nodded understandingly.

"I pray it becomes easier."

Elaine soon approached, running across the church to find her uncle. She stopped in front of him with a changed expression. Instead of trembling with anxiety, she now seemed sad.

"What happened?" Jean questioned.

"Um... Nothing too bad." Elaine replied. "Not as bad as I expected, anyway..."

"He won't be gone long." Claude assured. "Soon you can have a more proper discussion."

Elaine nodded, still looking sad.

Claude wasn't sure what else to say, so he took a step toward Elaine and pulled her into a hug, which she gratefully returned.

"Things will be alright." He promised. "One way or another."

Elaine nodded again.

"I'm sure you can find Esmeralda's friends." She said encouragingly. "Just stay safe... I'll be thinking of you."

"I appreciate that." Claude said sincerely.

It occurred to him that staying safe would be his first priority in this journey. There were people here who cared for him. People who he needed to return for.