The Fire of Notre Dame

Chapter 3: Entering the Cathedral

After we finished our final classes, Violetta, Jane, Davy, and I gathered at my locker. We did a quick run through of the plan, double checked our supplies, and set off for the cathedral.

It was a good twenty minute walk from our high school to Notre Dame. During those twenty minutes, Violetta, Jane, and Davy talked. I, instead, chose to go over our plan in my head a thousand times, as I had never done anything like this before.

You see, I've never exactly been one for adventure. I would prefer to sit at home and read a book over, say, going to a party. I don't have many friends, so it's not like I'd even be invited anyway. I don't mind that, though. I've never liked being the center of attention. I have anxiety, so I get a bit freaked out in large groups.

That's why I like out little gang. It's just the four of us, nice and small. That's the way I prefer things.

In all truth, Violetta was the one to mastermind this whole thing. She said that we had to do one big thing together, that pulling stupid stunts like this was a rite of passage as a teenager.

I fought it at first. "It's dangerous," I said. "We'll get caught," I argued.

But my sister didn't listen. "We're doing this," she sighed, "with or without you."

I decided that it would be better to go with them than to be left out. Now, I almost wonder if it would have been better to have stayed home, knowing what I do know.

Daily, I reprimand myself that I should have stopped them. I should have told my sister that it was a bad idea in the first place.

But anyway, that's not important now. Not yet.

"Gigi," my sister said softly, "are you alright? You've been so quiet."

"Hm?" I hummed. "Oh, I was just going over our plan again. I just want to-"

"Make sure everything goes smoothly," Violetta finished, cutting me off. "I know, but can't you just focus on the adventure? We're spending the night in Notre Dame. Notre Dame, Gigi!"

"I know," I sighed. "It's just..."

"Your anxiety?" My sister guessed.

"Yeah," I admitted sheepishly.

Violetta put an arm around me. "Don't worry, sis. Nothing bad will happen. It's just a fun, little excursion."

"Yeah," Davy agreed, flashing one of his devilishly handsome smiles at me. "What could go wrong?"

I shrugged. "A lot, actually. We could-"

"Do yourself a favor," my sister said abruptly, "and don't finish that sentence."

"Alright," I sighed. "Focus on the adventure?"

"Focus on the adventure," Violetta nodded.

The four of us walked for a few minutes longer before reaching the cathedral.

"Wow," Jane said breathlessly. "The architecture is beautiful, isn't it?"

"It is," Davy nodded.

My sister also said a few words of agreement. "Don't you think so, Gigi?"

"Yes," I replied with a small smile. "It is quite beautiful."

With a deep breath, the four of us walked inside the cathedral. We quickly searched around for a place to stay the night.

We decided on a room on an upper level.

"So," Davy sighed, setting down his backpack, "we made it inside. Now we just have to get through the night."