'tsaveEsmeralda.Buthere,inthisamusementpark,IswearIwillprotectyou.Always."
Reyastoppedreading.
ShehadneverreadTheHunchbaotre-Dame,butsheuoodexactlywhathemeant.
Nowthatshethoughtaboutit,eachtimethatsleazymanagerhadtriedsomething,Julianhadbeenthere.
Aclumsyinterruption.Anawkwardtrip.Asudden,unnecessaryrequest.
Hehadbeenullingherfromthefire.He''''''''dbeelyprotegherthiswholetime,andshehadn''''''''tnoticed.
Juliahergaze,andforamomenthelookedasifhereyesalonemightbreakhim.
Shesliddownfromthetableandwalkedtowardhim.
Julianwasaheadtallerthanher,buttheskinaroundhisnedshoulderswhichweretightfromburns,limitedhismovement.Hewasalwaysslightlyhunched,asiftheworldhadforcedhimtoflinchallthetime.
Shedidn''''''''tknowhiswholestory.Butsheknewenough.Enoughtheacheofbeingdifferent,enoughtouandthesilenceofloneliness.
Theywerebothunwele,uedbythisworld.
Thekindnessshehadshownhimhadneverbeendeliberate.Shedidn''''''''tcareaboutbeautyordeformity.Sheckedthehumaninstincttojudgethese.Shesimplyfeltthattheenergyhecarriedwascalm,alwayslikeaquietkeinthemoonlight,andshelikedthat.
Butnoling.
Shesteppedcloser,closeenoughtoalmosttouchhim.
Juliandidn''''''''tretreat.Heloweredhishead.Hisnervousgaze,flickeringanduain,filledslowlywithsomethingelse.
Reyaclosedhereyes.Inthedark,hiscolorbloomedagainsthermind—paleyellowatfirst,softaive,thendeepeningintosomethingwarmer,steadier.
Twoarmsencircledher,hesitantatfirst,thentighteningwhenshedidn''''''''tresist.
Warmbreathbrushedherlips.Sheopenedhereyes.Hisface—distorted,scarred,unbearablyfragile—wasonlyinchesfromhers.