Chapter 2 : A special Kind of Friendship

Quasimodo opened his eyes the Canadian sun shining through his blinds. He yawned stretching his hands behind his head lying back on his side as he turned to look at the clock. His eye widened in alarm.

The clock read 9:45! Shit! I'm late! He Jumped from his bed quickly getting changed as he searched for his keys. He didn't always need his sister and her boyfriend to drive him around. He had his own car, he gotten his licence when he was eighteen.

He didn't even bother eating breakfast as he looked for his keys." He wasn't the neatest person ever to honest. That wasn't to say he was a slob; he kept his apartment relatively neat minus the occasional cloths on his bedroom floor, but he was always misplacing things like his keys and his wallet.

He found his wallet on the kitchen table, his keys sitting underneath it. He rushed out the door making sure to lock it behind him as he rushed down to his car. It was a green Volkswagen Jetta. His father had bought it after he'd gotten his license.

He started the car the engine rumbling to life. He was lucky his boss was a bit more understanding compared to most people, otherwise he would have been fired a long time ago! Luckily when he arrived the old man didn't seem the least bit upset that he was late.

"Don't worry boy I can take care of things by myself today. Why don't you take the day off." W-What? Really?! "Sure, side's it will give you time to catch up that school work of yours." R-Right. He said turning pale realizing he still had work that needed finishing.

The man scribbled something onto a sticky note and handed it to him. "That's the address for the clinic I told you about. I dropped Nova off earlier at the clinic. I figured you might want to see since you're the one who found her.

The old man chuckled. It was a pretty interesting ride. She kept jumping into the front seat every fifteen minutes. Quasi smiled. She definitely has a lot of energy that pup. "T-Thanks Mr. Walker." Anytime kid. Anytime.

Quasi stared at his computer tired. He wanted to continue working but something kept gnawing at the back of his mind, He took the sticky note out of his pocket then looked outside. It was getting pretty late, if he was going to do this then he had to do it now.

He jumped in his car and a few hours later sat parked in front of the clinic. The sky was grey as snow fell from the grey clouds above him. He pulled the hood of his hoodie close to keep himself warm, and to keep people from seeing his face.

As he walked in the sound of barking dogs reached his ears. He approached the front desk where a woman sat talking on the phone. He waited for her to finish her phone call before approaching her.

"E-Excuse me, m-miss" The woman looked up. She looked to be in her late 40s early fifties her hair already starting to grey. "Sorry about that dear, now what can I help you with?" Her eyes widened slightly at the strange looking boy in front of her.

"I-I'm looking for a dog. A-A Pitbull was brought in a few hours ago a blue nose." She smiled Ah your walkers boy yes, he told me you'd be coming by." Poor girl, it was a good thing you found her when you did. She's in the back, I'll get matt to show you around.

"MATT!" Coming Mrs. Hoffman. A boy about his own age stepped from the back room. He had blonde hair and blue eyes. He wore a green t shirt and dark blue jeans. "This is...What did you say your name was boy?"

"Q-Quasimodo ma'am" Quasimodo said avoiding her piercing gaze. "He's the one who found the dog why don't you show him around." Matt shrugged. "Follow me." Quasimodo hesitantly followed him to the back room where the dogs were kept.

The kennels were small, neat rooms each had dog beds and blankets as well as toys and bowls for their food and water. It was a lot nicer than the shelters he'd seen around the city. Matt stopped in front of the room at the end.

He saw Nova sitting in front of the door to the kennel. It was if she'd been waiting for him. Matt shoved a bowl of food into his hands. I've tried feeding her, but she wont eat maybe you can get her to seeing as you were the one who found her.

Matt seemed a bit more relaxed now that his boss wasn't around. "Gramps talks about you a lot. Says you're a hard worker." He also says you like to sing sometimes and your dream is to be a musician.

"H-He said that?" You any good? "I-I-I don't I mean I guess, I-I mean I want to be, I-I think. He chuckled it's cool I get it. I always wanted to work with animals like my gramps I almost applied for veterinary school but I wasn't sure if I'd be good at it. "Oh I-Im sure y-you'd be great." You really think so? S-Sure?

"It's Quasimodo right?" Quasi flinched. Y-Yes...t-that's my name. He waited with dread half expecting him to ask what his name meant instead he remained silent./p

Nova barked snapping him back to reality. He carefully opened the gate and set the bowl of food down in front of her. She sniffed it then looked up at him expectantly. "She did the same thing when I tried to feed her, I don't get it!"

"M-Maybe she doesn't like people staring at her while she eats.? " Matt nodded. "True. I know I wouldn't like someone staring at me while I ate. Matt leaned against the railing around the glass wall.

Quasi stood across from him trying to avoid this strangers gaze though he couldn't help sneaking a peak now and then. He was definitely...No stop don't do this to yourself again. He shook his head. He shouldn't feal this way, especially about guys his own age or even guys in general it was… It was wrong. Wasn't it?

He'd had crushes on both girls and guys in high school. Not that he'd ever admit it out loud. The only person he'd talked to about this was his sister who told him it was completely normal...But it still felt strange.

Matt stared over at the strange guy his eyes looking over his strange features. He was definitely different then most guy he met. Then again most guys would beat him up for being what he was.

A few months ago Matt had come out to his parents about being Gay...But they hadn't taken it well. His parents where strict Christians and saw his attraction to the same sex as a sin. They'd told him to get out and so he did. He left and came here to work for his grandfather who'd he'd always been super close with.

His grandfather was probably the only person besides his parents who knew his little secret and he intended to keep it that way, at least for now. He turned to look at the strange guy next to him. He was definitely different then anyone he'd seen before.

But he knew that different wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He knew that better than anyone. Despite his odd looks he was actually kind of..."Don't do this to yourself, come on you know better. Don't you remember what happened the last time."

He remembered back during his freshman year he told a guy that he liked that he liked him, and he'd gotten beat up. "He's different though, and he seems so nice." Maybe...But what if the guy got mad at him for assuming...Quasimodo turned to look at him and he turned away embarrassed to have been caught staring.

"I-I should go." Quasimodo said stuttering as he turned to leave. He was only a few feet from the kennel when he heard whining. He turned back to so Nova behind him staring up at him with sad eyes.

"She must really like you." Matt said hiding a huge grin behind his hand. Quasimodo kneeled down to the pups level. "Sorry girl, you cant come with me, I'll come visit you tomorrow." He tried to leave again only to almost trip. He look down to see Nova's tiny teeth sunk into his pants leg.

"It seems she doesn't want you to go. You know you could stay the night. I do it all the time with the new dogs, helps them get used to the kennel." I-I couldn't...Could I ?" He said looking at Matt uncertainly.

"I'll go talk to my boss about it." Hours latter Quasimodo lay sound asleep in the kennel a bark startled him from his sleep. He felt a tug on his sleeve and looked down to see Nova. Nova barked.

"Nova, its not play time, sleep." However no sooner had he closed his eyes Nova tugged the blanket off of him. "Hey! Give that back you little their!" He laughed chasing after her. Little did he realize that Matt hid around the corner watching the whole thing.

He'd never seen something so heartwarming; they really were a perfect pair. He hoped after this night that Quasi would adopt that dog after all it seemed only fitting seeing as he'd found her in the first place and it was clear she already had a special bond with him, and bonds like that could never be broken.

Quasi yawned. "Goodnight...Nova." He covered himself with the blanket as he curled up on the floor and fell asleep, Nova curling up next to him. Matt smiled as he left to let the two friends sleep.

When Quasi woke the next morning he found Nova laying next to him sound asleep. He smiled as he stood folding the blanket. He looked at the gate then back at the sleeping puppy. He'd have to say goodbye eventually...Wouldn't he?

She probably had an owner, though he doubted it considering how he found her, but still could he really let her go? He remembered last night. Being woken up by Nova every few minutes as she decided to continue to steal his blanket to which he chased her around the room in an attempt to get it back.

He'd never had so much fun before. He hadn't laughed like that in a long time. Nova had made him relax for once in his life. All the stress and all of the pain...Was gone. He felt far more well rested than he'd ever felt before.

"He couldn't let her go!" No one would understand her like he did! He had to have her! Quasi left the kennels and walked back into the lobby. Matt sat sound asleep at the front desk. "I-I thought you went home."

Matt startled awake. He rubbed his tired eyes and smiled. "I thought you might need help with Nova, though you seemed to handle her pretty well. He chuckled. Quasimodo looked at the ground.

"I-I-I want to adopt her." Quasimodo said in hushed voice. Hmm? "N-Nova. I want to adopt her." Matt nodded. I figured you would. "I checked her yesterday before you arrived. She doesn't have a microchip so if you want her. "H-How much?" I'll have to talk to my boss, and you'll need to sign some papers other than that...T-Thank you. Don't mention it. I'll send you the papers in the mail.

Quasimodo stared at his face in his rear-view mirror. "I cant believe I'm doing this! Is this real?! His sister had been right all along. He'd felt like there was something missing in his life and Nova was that missing piece. He needed her, they needed each other.

He drove to his parent house to tell them the great news. His sister and Phoebus congratulated him, and they had a small party to celebrate. Over the next few day Quasi waited nervously for the forms to arrive.

When they finally did arrive he waisted no time In signing them and sending them back in. He waited with anticipation hopping they accepted the adoption application. Then to his relief he got a call from his sister saying that they'd said yes!

He waisted no time driving down there. He practically threw himself through those glass doors. "I-Is she still...She still here Quasi Esmeralda said placing a comforting hand on his shoulder as she led him into another room.

This must be the room where the animals meet their new owners. The adoption room door swung open Matt walked in with Nova on a leash the little pup struggling to break free she could rush to her new owner.

Matt unhooked the leash. "Go say hi to your new dad, Nova." Matt said encouragingly. Nova barked rushing into her new owners arms showering with happy kisses. "Aww she really likes you!" Esmeralda said drying her eyes.

"Hi Nova, hi good girl he laughed as she continued to lick his face." He sat on the ground as she showered her new owner with affection. Thank you. He said looking up at Matt tearfully. I-It was nothing he said blushing. Quasi smiled at his dog, his Nova!