" I just wanna be myself " (A Hunchback Of Notre Dame fanstory)

Chapter 20

A new year, a new school. This time, Middle school. More classes, a whole new building.

Edgar and his friends, Fatima, Gary, and Natsuo were all in middle school. School had gotten harder and harder on the poor kids, making them exhausted even though they were only 11 years old, they shouldn't have to be dealing with such hard things.

Not only that, but they were also dealing with a thing much worse than school could ever give them: Puberty.

The kids all hated puberty, the thought it was far worse than school or homework.

But, at least one thing positive happened; Fatima got to start wearing Hijabs! Aisha had an abundance of hijabs in various colors and in various types of cloths. From Silk, to Chiffon, to Wool, to Cotton.

However, the acne, the scratchy-cracking voices, the sudden growth spurts, the body aches, the zits, the body hair, and the excessive tiredness was absolutely ruining them, they hated it.

--------------------------------------------------------------

It was November 28th, a cold fall morning. The sun hadn't even come up yet.

The sound of an Alarm clock went off, waking Edgar up. His body was already in pain, a lot of pain too. His eyes seemed heavy and full of sleep as he picked himself up, his blanket sticking to his skin. He turned his alarm clock off and shoved it off of his side table.

" Maman..? " Edgar called out weakly, his entire body seemed to be pulsing in pain, especially his abdomen " What time is it? "

He swung his legs over the side of his bed, letting out a loud yawn. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, looking around his room for a minute, then out his window, indeed, it was still dark out, the sun barely coming over the horizon. Despite being in pain, he limped out of bed and opened his dresser, pulling out a sweater and a pair of sweatpants.

The sound of his door opening caught his attention as he turned and saw his older sister, Charlotte, standing in his doorway with a confused look on her face, and still in her pajamas that she wore the previous night.

" Edgar? " Charlotte asked, cocking an eyebrow out of confusion " Why are you up so early? It's like... almost 7 A.M, and school doesn't start until 8:00 A.M, did something or someone wake you up? "

Edgar sighed " F-flare up " he muttered quietly, placing his clothes on his bed " My stomach hurts, b-but i can't miss school " He looked around his room, trying to find his mom's pink hair scarf.

Charlotte crossed her arms " Why can't you miss school? You clearly don't feel good. " She looked around her younger siblings room, which had horror movie posters plastered everywhere, along with plush toys scattered on the floor.

Edgar groaned as he placed a hand on his stomach " The principal told Maman that i-if i'm out again, i'm gonna get suspended " he felt himself get nauseated as he spoke, tying his hair up into a ponytail.

Charlotte groaned as she headed back to her room. She always thought it was stupid with how if someone had too many ' sick days ' in school, they could get in serious trouble, it wasn't their fault that they had chronic illnesses and disabilities that made them in pain and get sick constantly. They couldn't control the flare ups either, they came and went as they pleased. God, she just wanted her sibling to be safe, they shouldn't have to go to school if they're in pain or sick.

Edgar limped out of his room, his hair tied into a messy ponytail. He looked sick, it was almost as if you could feel the fever coming off of him. Even his parents could tell he didn't look good.

" Mon Ange, why are you up? You don't look so good " Quasimodo said, his tone seemingly concerned.

Edgar sighed as he reached into the fridge and grabbed one of his protein drinks " I can't miss s-school again, my p-principal said i could get suspended if i miss more school. " He opened up his drink and took a sip before reaching up to the counter " Maman? Where's my medicine? "