Quasimodo stared out the window of his apartment. "Thank God with this pandemic I don't have to go outside as much anymore." Quasimodo thought to himself. He couldn't stand all those staring eyes it was to much for him to handle.

Quasimodo Frollo was not like most young men he had a somewhat unfortunate case of kyphosis which he'd had since he was young. His father Claude Frollo had done nothing to help not wanting to waste his time and money on hospital bills and instead used his money on alcohol.

The poor boy had a slightly disfigured face which did not help him much. Frollo abused the boy daily beating him and cursing at him. The boy had the scars bruises and even cigarette burns to prove his fathers abuse, but he said nothing scared that no one would believe him.

However, one day he got lucky! He couldn't remember that day really well it was a little bit hazy. But he remembered his father beating him and the next thing someone kicked the door down and police officers dragged his stepfather off of him before dragging him outside.

At least that's what his adopted father had told him. He'd been five back then. They'd tried to find if he had any family that would take him, but they couldn't find anyone on his mothers side of the family and no one on his fathers side wanted him. One of the officers had felt so bad for him and not wanting him to end up in the foster care system the man and his wife had taken the strange boy in.

His new parent were kind and treated like a normal child despite his differences. However, they soon had another child, a little girl, his little sister who his parents had named Esmeralda. His sister looked more like their mother, she had the same dark skin and dark hair, but her eyes were green like their father.

When she was first born, he was somewhat jealous as well as fearful that his parents do not want him around anymore now that they had their pretty little daughter. The sad boy had been so distraught he'd run away from home.

However, the seven-year-old had not gotten far before his father had found him, alone at a small bus stop. When he told his adopted parents his fears the comforted the poor boy saying that they were still his parents and that they loved him and Esmeralda equally.

After that he became the overprotective big brother defending his sister from bullies and, as she got older giving any guy who looked her way a cold glare. However, in high school she started dating the schools lacrosse captain and his best friend Phoebus James

(No I was not on the football team, I spent most of my time in the art wing as well as the theatre.) ( Yes, alright I admit I was apart of the drama kids though I mostly helped design sets, I wouldn't be caught dead on stage, I have bad stage fright!)

He'd been a little shocked at first when he'd found out they'd been sneaking around as well as a little hurt that his sister hadn't just told him sooner however, he eventually let it go when he saw how happy his sister was with Phoebus and he trusted the guy with his stepsister after all Phoebus had defended him once when he was being bullied by Guys from his lacrosse team.

Eventually however school ended, and he graduated in 2017 at seventeen years old. Afterwards he began to think about collage, but he wasn't sure how to pay for it. He did dead end job after dead end job trying to get enough to pay for his tuition, but he only managed to get enough for an apartment

However, in 2018 his sister had figured out about her brothers struggle to pay for his collage tuition and she told their parents about it and as it turned out his parents had been saving for the both of them to go to college for quite a while now.

Though college was somewhat important he dreamed of being a musician he loved to sing though he made sure no one was around first. He wanted to be a professional musician he even taught himself how to play the guitar. As good as he was he still feared the criticism and scorn he would get if he ever even got up the nerve to get on a stage.

It's was terrifying! His Best friend sister and parents had always been so supportive as well as encouraging but he was always scared of making a fool of still he sang when no one was around even sometimes playing his guitar although sometimes he was certain his sister was listening in on him when he was looking.

He eventually decided to move out in 2019 and get an apartment of his own and his sister and parents helped him move out. Luckily he could still go see his family whenever he wanted to seeing as their house wasn't far away.

However with college classes he barely found time to practice not that it mattered he would never find the courage to perform in front of a large eventually ended up getting a job at the local pet store (No not pets mart or pet co) He loved animals almost as much as he loved singing and it made him happy and kept him sane.

However, when 2020 arrived and the coronavirus pandemic started it became even more stressful having to go from work to home to work on his schoolwork on his laptop, which left him hardly any time to himself to sing or even sleep and it left him stressed and anxious and eventually leading to him being severely depressed.

He barely visited his parents or his sister and Phoebus who'd kinda become part of the family at that point . However, his sister had become worried for her brothers health and it was that day that had changed his life for the better.

"Quasi, are you awake?" Quasimodo jumped almost knocking his cup of coffee over. "Esme!" He said looking slightly annoyed. "Look I know I haven't been visiting lately but I've been busy I…I-I have a paper to write so if you'll excuse me-Did you know it's your birthday tomorrow?"

Quasimodo picked up his phone from his desk. She was right today April 6th his birthday was April 7th he'd be turning 22 tomorrow. "Sorry Esi- but I don't have time to celebrate I have a mountain of work I have to do and I need to get some sleep and- That's too bad I guess you wont get to see my big birthday surprise!"

"Birthday surprise? What birthday supri-before he could finish, he was blindfolded from behind. He heard Phoebus's laugh from behind him. "Happy birthday Quaz!" Come on guys this is seriose I cant afford to take any distractions!" Not today can't we celebrate tomorrow

No. Ughhhh "Come on its your birthday you need a break your stressed. we can tell. You've been trying to do to much at once what with singing and homework. Trust me when I say this will help." Guys I…Fine, but will you at least tell me where were going? "It's a surprise, no peeking." Esmeralda said giggling.

After a few hours in the car, they finally removed the blindfold. He recognized the place immediately. "Mr Walker was so thankful for your help at the store he's offered to let you pick out any animal in the store.

The young man sighed. "Look I'm very grateful for him giving me work and everything but…I don't have time. I cant afford to take care of a dog o-or a cat I've already got enough distractions on my hands!" At least take a look. Pleeeeeease! She pleaded giving the one look he could never say no to.

He sighed massaging his temples. "Fine, alright! Lets just get this over with." They practically dragged him all over the store looking at everything from, puppies to kittens, to even guinea pigs and hamsters but he turned them all down.

"Well, that was a big waist of time." Phoebus said glancing back at his friend in the rearview mirror. "I-I'm sorry alright!" Look having a pet is a huge responsibility and I didn't really feel any sort of special connection with any of those animals. Maybe…I'm not meant to have a pet.

I know Ive always said I liked animals but I just don't think I can afford to take take care of one right now, I'm sorry. Maybe…Going there was a mistake, but...thanks anyways guys. It's the thought that counts. His gaze drifted at the scenery outside.

However, as they were passing near a house, he noticed a group of kids throwing rocks at something. As they got nearer, he saw instantly what it was. "STOP THE CAR!" Phoebus floored on the breaks. "Quasi what the hell-He didn't even give his friend an explanation as he leapt from the car.

"HEY! STOP THAT!" The kids dropped the rocks they where holding and took off in all directions. "Quasi what the was that f-It was then that Phoebus saw why he'd confronted those boys. Lying on the ground was an injured puppy.

The dog was so scrawny that you could almost make out her ribcage. She had cuts where the rocks had hit her and her eyes where bloodshot, her fur was coated with a thin layer of dust and mud. "Aww, poor the poor baby! Who throws rocks at a puppy!" Esmeralda said looking like pissed.

"That's not just a puppy, That's a Pitbull!" Phoebus said shocked. Quasimodo took off the dark green jacket he was wearing to cover the dog. "The puppy was about three months old, and it looked as if it had been here a while. The pup growled as reached for it.

"Carful quasi, Pitbull's can be vicious!" That's not true! Esmeralda said slightly offended. I had a friend who had a Pitbull, and her dog was a sweetheart. "Yeah, well when you leave them chained up like that things change."

Quasimodo hadn't even noticed the chain. His blood boiled. Who would do something like this?! There was clearly no car in the driveway, so the previous owner had just left her here to die! "Phoebus do you have any thing to cut the chains?"

"I think I have some bolt cutters in the trunk, let me check." Phoebus dug through the tool chest until he found the bolt cutters. "Will these do?" Perfect! He quickly cut the chains. The pup stared up at him confused. Quasimodo carefully reached for the puppy, but it barked and growled at him.

This wasn't going to be easy, he needed to get this poor pup some help in order to do that he needed to gain her trust enough so he could pick her up and put her in the car."Phoebus do you have any food?" How can you be hungry at a time like this? "Not for me, the dog!"

Oh! "Well, I did by some dog treats and some food for my German shepherd Achilles, but I guess he won't mind if I share. I also bough some beef jerky from that gas station we stopped at."

"That'll do" He took a handful of kibble and lowered it onto the ground. Phoebus handed him a can of dogfood. He opened it holding it out in front of her. "Good girl. It's alright. Are you hungry?" The dog cautiously approached him as he set the can down in front of her.

The dog growled when it caught him staring. He held up his hands in surrender and looked down at the ground while she ate, he tried looking up a few times only for her to give little growl each time. After a while when he was certain she was distracted by the food he looked away reaching his hand out to her.

He half expected her to bite one of his fingers off or nip at his hand at least considering she was probably still teething at such a young age, but to his surprise the puppy let him pet her. The puppy didn't growl it just closed its eyes as if it knew that he was here to save her.

He looked at the tag on her collar. NOVA. He said reading the name printed in big black letters. He wrapped his green jacket around the dog much to her annoyance. She gave a small growl but did not try to escape his arms as he carried her to the car.

The dog spent the whole drive sleeping on the jacket in his lap. He pet her trying to keep her calm until they got back to Walkers's shop. When they got back the other dogs all barked in unison…They could smell the new dog.

"We'll I'll be- Where'd ya find her?" The old man said eying the little pup. "I found her chained in someone's yard. Quasimodo said setting her down on a table. "Well, she could definitely use a bath."

He led Quasimodo to the back where a row of small tubs stood at the back. He placed Nova in the tub Mr Walker turned on the water and showed Quasimodo what to do he half expected Nova to fight him, but she seemed glad to be getting a bath.

He smiled as Nova shook the remaining dregs of dirt from her coat Walker smiled. "Ah, she's a blue nose" Blue nose? "That's the type of Pitbull she is." Truth be told Mr. Walker I-Ive never seen a Pit bull before, well at least not up close.

"Beautiful animal, isn't she?" V-Very "Does she have a name?" Quasimodo held up the collar with her name on it. Nova. Nova perfect name for a Canadian dog if I do say so myself. "You look tired kid, go home get some rest."

"But I-No buts I'll take her to the animal clinic in the morning, I'll get my grandson to look at her." Quasimodo looked worriedly at the puppy. "Don't worry, she's in good hands, go." Quasimodo didn't talk for the rest of the ride back to his apartment.

"You did the right thing Quasi she'll be fine." I hope so. Go on get some rest we'll go to the clinic first thing tomorrow, get some sleep." He clambered up the stairs up to his apartment to tired to bother taking the elevator up to his floor.

He lived on the fifth floor, so he was pretty high up he collapsed on his bed exhausted. "Nova." He remembered the pups scared eyes, they reminded him to much of his own scared eyes, of the scared kid he used to be.

"S-She'll be fine." He said his voice shaking. "I did the right thing. Didn't I? " I hope tomorrow comes soon. His eyelids fluttered shut as he fell into a deep sleep.