A/N: So sorta AU, I suppose, it's a bit different than it happened on the show. Basically, Belle is recently released of her prison with Regina (if this turns into a multi-chapter, I'll go more into that) so she just has her Belle memories. The curse has ended so everyone's gone back to their fairy-tale characters and this is Red and Belle's blossoming friendship Enjoy!

Red watched her new friend nibble on her food daintily and couldn't help but giggle, causing the small brunette to blush.

"What? It's really good," Belle said sheepishly.

Red grinned, "I'm glad, do you remember what it's called?"

Belle bit her lip down, "A hamburger!" she said proudly.

Red laughed, "Yup and remember, we make them best," she winked, "Hey, how's the library going?"

"It's amazing," Belle nodded, before she frowned, "But I don't get the…computer thing… oh, and do you think you could help me with this communicator thingy? The sheriff, Emma, lent it to me, but I don't even understand it," she pulled the small phone out of her pocket, "I mean, what do you even do with it? Why don't I just write a letter?"

Red couldn't help smiling at the girl's curiosity, "It's called a phone," she explained as she took the phone from Belle and turned it on, making it light up much to Belle's wonder, "You call people on it. Like you know, um, hang on, okay? Stay here," she quickly went through the phone before she stood up, handing the phone back to her friend and walking away, before she quickly turned back and lent over, "Press this button when it lights up, okay?"

Belle frowned, "Okay," she agreed, "But where are you going?"

Red grinned, "I'll be back," she recited the number she'd looked up in Belle's phone until she got out the back of the diner and dialled it on her own phone. It took a few rings but Belle pressed the button, not saying anything, "Belle? Can you hear me?"

Belle squealed as she put the phone to her ear, "What? Whose that?"

"It's Red, Belle, see this is what a phone is for."

"Red?" Belle was yelling, earning a few glares and a few laugh's from the other patrons, "Where are you? Are you in this thing?"

"Don't yell," Red laughed, "Just speak normally."

"What kind of magic is this?" Belle asked curiously.

"It's called technology," Ruby replied as she walked back to the table and hanging up, watching Belle continue to try speaking into the phone, "Hey."

Belle looked up and put the phone down, "That was weird. You were in my phone thing."

Ruby shook her head, "No I wasn't, I have one too, see," she held up her own phone, "And there's a number you press in and they um, they connect. So we can talk, even if we're really far away."

Belle nodded, "Really? That's pretty cool."

Ruby licked her lips, "You haven't even learnt about texting yet," she winked.

"I did what the book said, I swear, but it just started beeping at me," Belle stressed as Red walked in the library door.

"It's okay, it's an old computer, I'll figure it out," she squeezed behind the desk, beside Belle and pressed some buttons on the keyboard, making the machine cease its beeping.

Belle groaned, "It was that easy? I'm never going to get the hang of this."

Red smiled encouragingly, "You will, it just takes time," she shrugged, "We're all lucky, I guess, we just got the knowledge with the curse."

"The curse…" Belle shivered visibly.

Red frowned, "I'm sorry," she said quickly, "I didn't mean to upset you."

Belle shook her head, "It's okay," she smiled, "I wish I'd been part of it. I mean," she spoke quickly, "I only mean, I wish I'd been free…even if it were with fake memories than locked up in that…" she stopped speaking, feeling Ruby's intense eyes watching her.

Ruby wasn't sure what to say; she'd never really heard Belle speak about her time locked up by Regina, "You know, if you ever want to talk about it… I'll listen," she settled on.

Belle smiled up at the taller girl, "Thanks, Red. Are you very different from your cursed self?"

Ruby laughed, "My cursed self…well, that's where I get the name Ruby – "

"That's why people call you Ruby sometimes," Bell observed.

Red nodded, "Yeah. But I don't know, I guess I was a little different… Ruby is a little more outspoken, a bit more rebellious, flirty," she blushed slightly, shrugging.

Belle only smiled, "So, Red doesn't flirt?" she giggled.

Red barked a nervous laugh, "I don't know. I think I'm a little more shy," she shrugged.

Belle tilted her head slightly, "I wouldn't call you shy," she commented.

Red grinned, "What would you call me, then?" she quirked an eyebrow, a sparkle in her eye.

Belle nibbled her bottom lip, "You're very kind," she said quietly, and looked down, "And very beautiful."

Red's smile grew, "Oh, yeah?"

Belle blushed, "I've never felt like this before… It's so different than what I felt with Rumple…"

Reality struck Red harshly, "What is going on with you and Rumple?" she asked gently.

Belle shook her head, "It just hasn't been the same here. The spark…it's gone. I-I told him it was over last week," she raised her eyes to meet those of Red.

Red nodded, "I'm sorry, Belle," she said earnestly.

"I'm not," Belle mumbled and much to both women's surprise she lent up and connected her lips gently to her friend's, who took a moment to react but quickly placed a hand on Belle's cheek, deepening the kiss. They remained like that a few moments before Red's phone started buzzing loudly.

Belle jumped away violently, "Is that the computer again?" she whispered, as though lowering her voice would stop the loud, buzzing sound.

Red smiled as she rolled her eyes and pulled out her phone, "It's my phone," she said, "Just a text."

"A what?" Belle asked.

"Uh, it's sort of like a short letter," Red explained, putting her phone away, "Hm, I have much to teach you," she winked as a wolfish smile took over her face, "So, um, do I get to take you on a date?"

Belle smiled, "One request?"

Red narrowed her eyes, "Sure, what's that?"

"Don't bring your phone."