Shrekanini

Chapter 3: Home?

"All Star" Shrek repeated. It was so beautiful, Shrek thought. So incredible, so... captivating. Shrek wiped away a tear. "signor Shrek?" Paganini questioned. "it's nothing mate" said Shrek, regaining his composure, "that song, it was just a real good tune. that's all." Paganini felt his heart flutter. Shrek had liked his song, he had moved Shrek, emotionally and spiritually. Paganini felt like the luckiest person in the world. "I'm, I'm glad you like it, Shrek. Paganini said softly, clutching his violin close to his heart. His eyes were locked in Shrek's. Shrek's loving gaze made Paganini feel at home, like he belonged.  All the fame and fortune in the world could never equate to the way he felt right here, right now, with Shrek. 

"well" Shrek said, breaking the silence, "guess you'd better get going now, it's getting a wee bit late." Paganini felt his heart  sink. The moment was over. "I thank you, Signor Shrek," Paganini said. "for liking my song, for inspiring me. I truly do.  There were a few seconds of silence, then Shrek spoke. "No, thank you Paganini." Shrek said quietly. "Never have I heard such an exquisite tune." Paganini held out his hand,"It's been a pleasure" Shrek took Paganini's hand in his own "the pleasure's all mine." 

Paganini mounted his horse, gazing once more at the swamp. The setting sun over Shrek's home created heavenly shadows,"a gorgeous sight" Paganini thought to himself. "But I must go" Paganini gave a final wave to Shrek, who was silhouetted  in the doorway of his glowing hut, and began the long trek home. A sinking feeling in his heart. He didn't want to leave Shrek. Paganini had barely made it out of the clearing when he heard Shrek yell, "Paganini!!" 

Paganini shot around, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes. "wait!" Shrek called. He came running through the field, as fast as he could towards Paganini's white horse. He caught up, breathlessly, placing  his hands on his knees. "Signor Shrek?" Paganini questioned, "what is it?"

Shrek looked up, his eyes meeting Paganini's. There were a few seconds of silence, then Shrek spoke.  "Paganini, Shrek began. "Please. Stay with me"

Paganini wiped a tear away from his eye, grateful for Shrek's act of kindness, but he did not want to seem too desperate. "Yes please. Thank you, Signor Shrek. Paganini let Shrek take the reigns of his horse and guide him back to his hut. When Paganini walked inside, The hut had a strong aroma of onions. Shrek explained himself, "I'm making french onion soup" Paganini suddenly had an idea, "Oui j'amme la soupe a l'oignon."(yes, I do like french onion soup" Paganini told him. Shrek turned, surprised to see Paganini speaking a different language. "You speak French?" He asked him. "Oui Oui" Paganini answered, a sultry tone in his voice. "le languge de l'amour, pleux tu me cumprende?" (the language of love, Can you understand me?) 

Shrek chuckled, clearly not comprehending what Paganini had just said. "maybe sometime you can teach me this language of yours." Shrek set two bowls of delicious onion soup on the table , and lit a candle.  The light from the candle produced a warm glow around the small table. Paganini felt at peace.He felt at home.  "you know Shrek," Paganini said, "all my life  I've felt like I've been missing something." Shrek raised an eyebrow. "what would that be Pago?" "I don't know" Paganini said softly. "It's just that... right here, right now, I feel like that hole has been filled. " Shrek smiled. "well that's good to hear"he said. Paganini stared down at his soup bowl quietly. His emotions bubbling up inside of him. How could he ever tell Shrek how he really felt? Paganini couldn't take it anymore. 

"Shrek?"

"yes?"

"I-I-I love..."

Paganini stopped. Shrek would never understand. Shrek stared at him questioningly, "What?" 

"I love this soup" Paganini answered, a sinking feeling in his heart. "well then why aren't you eating it?" Shrek teased. Paganini laughed nervously, playing around with the spoon in his bowl. After a few seconds of silence, Paganini stood up, "signor Shrek, I sure am tired. It's been a long day of traveling and all, I need a place to rest my weary eyes."  Shrek nodded, although a little confused. "there's a spare bedroom right down the hallway" Shrek explained   "But Paganini, I'ts not very late yet, are you sure you don't want to stay up a little longer? Perhaps fiddle me some tunes?" "That's very kind of you Signor." Paganini said, pushing his chair back under the table. "But I am So very tired, I can hardly keep my eyes open." "well in that case, you'd better get some sleep."Shrek said. "Goodnight Pago." Paganini smiled, he liked Shrek's nickname for him. He wandered down the hallway, and unpacked his bags into the guest bedroom, placing his violin softly onto the bed. After, he shut the door and sat on the edge of the bed, holding his head in his hands. Maybe this was a bad idea, Shrek would never love him.

" It was foolish of me to think so." Paganini muttered to himself.

 He stood up and looked out the window and onto the swamp, this is where he belonged, where he truly felt at home.  A feeling Italy had never given to him. He had to stay, this place was... home.

Meanwhile, Shrek sat alone at the kitchen table, just moments after Paganini had left for bed, finishing his soup. Why was Paganini shutting him out like this?

" I can't believe he ever might love me." Shrek thought. " I need to stop making things up in my head. Things that will never happen. It's obvious he doesn't care about me, I mean, he probably went to bed to get away!"

Shrek felt tears forming at his eyes. He wiped them away.

" I'm wasting my time." Shrek thought, facing the inevitable truth, " I need to tell Paganini to leave. He'll never understand how I feel. Feel about him, feel about his smile, about his passion, ABOUT HIS MUSIC!" 

And with that Shrek stood up and walked down the hallway to Paganini's room and knocked softly on his door. It was already cracked open, and the force of his knocks pushed it open further, giving him a view of the room. Shrek's curiosity piqued and he looked into the room. Paganini stood facing away from him, oblivious to his presence. Shrek wanted to look away from him but couldn't, even when Paganini began to undo the buttons at the front of his shirt. Shrek blushed bright green, and continued to watch as Paganini shrugged the shirt of his shoulders, exposing his bare back. Shrek watched as he rolled his shoulders back, flexing the muscles, toned after hours upon hours of violin playing. Paganini stared down at the violin on his bed and sighed deeply... then he began to turn back to the door.

Shrek tore his eyes off of Paganini's figure so fast he got whiplash, and then he retreated back down the hallway to the kitchen. When he sat down again he heard Paganini's door close completely. Relive that he hadn't been found, Shrek made a promise to himself. He promised himself he'd confess... no matter how scared that made him. Then he decided,

Paganini could stay.