Chapter 5

The final beat of the last song had just quietened into a continuous humming sound when the instructor switched off the stereo and began stretching her arms and legs, telling the class to do the same.

"Thank you very much everyone for coming to the class!" announced Becky when she had finished stretching her hamstring. "I hope you found it helpful. This class will be on every week at the same time. I look forward to seeing you then!"

Once again, Quasimodo joined Esmeralda at the corner of the room for the last time.

"Hey, Quasi" greeted Esmeralda cheerfully once Quasimodo had made his way to the corner. He greeted her back. Esmeralda raised an eyebrow upon seeing him. She knew she looked like hell but everyone did after an intense fitness class. What got her was the fact that Quasimodo didn't look the least bit exhausted or sweaty. It was as though he hadn't just lifted the equivalent of almost eight times her weight. She suddenly grew very jealous.

The two were just walking towards the door of the room having packed everything up and put everything away when they both heard the instructor call after them before catching up.

"Hi, I don't think I've properly introduced myself, I'm Becky" spoke the instructor to Quasimodo before holding out her hand to which Quasimodo shook after spending a few seconds just staring cautiously at it.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Quasimodo" he replied.

"Well, it's very nice to meet you too, Quasimodo. Listen...I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry about what happened earlier. It was wrong of those people. But I also wanted to apologise for bringing the attention to you myself at the beginning of the class. It's just I...well, I wasn't expecting...I mean... I shouldn't have stared at you like that; I could see it bothered you so I'm very sorry."

Both Quasimodo and Esmeralda did not expect that at all. Quasimodo then hastily shook his head before telling her gently how she didn't have to apologise- he was used to it, after all.

"Well, thank you. I also wanted to come over here to just tell you how...how astounded I was just now. Seeing what you just did was absolutely amazing! You're really strong, Quasimodo I mean, ridiculously strong! I couldn't believe my eyes! I mean, I noticed your arms when I first saw you but I had no idea you were that strong, I mean...blimey!"

Quasimodo laughed a little from embarrassment. He wasn't at all used to being praised like this. From his left, Esmeralda was beaming at him.

"So, what gym do you go to?" asked Becky simply to Quasimodo.

He glanced briefly to Esmeralda, making sure she heard his answer.

"I don't go to a gym, actually."

He heard Esmeralda quietly exhale to signal her disagreement. A grin began to form on his lips.

"No, come on now, seriously. What gym?" but Quasimodo shook his head to announce his previous statement.

"Right...ok...then what do you do?"

"Oh, I just ring the bells at the Cathedral. The one two streets away"

Becky raised her eyebrows.

"My word. That makes sense though. From what I hear, those bells are enormous. No wonder you're ripped, Quasimodo!" laughed Becky.

He gave a sheepish smile once more, now beginning to feel his cheeks burning up.

After Becky had enthusiastically asked a few more questions about his bell ringing duties, the three eventually parted.

"It was absolutely wonderful meeting you. I really hope to see you here soon" announced Becky as she began walking back to the front of the room.

Quasimodo smiled and nodded vaguely before following Esmeralda out through the dance studio door.

Once they were both back out the door, Esmeralda teasingly punched his thick arm.

"Hey! Look who's got an admirer?" she laughed.

"What? You're crazy!" laughed Quasimodo too.

He hadn't realised that they were standing in the reception when he noticed people walking past and staring disgustedly at him. Esmeralda noticed this too so she led Quasimodo hastily towards the Centre's main doors, down the stairs and into the car park. He sincerely thanked her.

"Well, thank you so much for agreeing to come. It was wonderful having you there with me. I just hope it was better than you expected it to be."

"I wouldn't have missed this for the world" replied Quasimodo plainly.

Esmeralda beamed at him once more before flinging her arms round him, sending him slightly off balance. He was so much more comfortable with Esmeralda hugging him than he was the first time she did.

The two eventually pulled apart and said their goodbyes to each other. Like she had done the first time they met, Esmeralda promised she'd keep in contact. Quasimodo didn't doubt this for a second. She really was a true friend.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

awww :D thanks very much for reading this story!