"Belle I need those roses up front, pronto!" Her father shouted barely lifting his head up to look at her as struggled to carry in the two buckets.
"I am trying father but if I had some help I am sure I could bring them in much fast." She said as she placed one of the floor and struggled to place the second one gently.
"You better watch your tone young lady." He snapped at her, this time giving her his attention. "Besides if I could lift them you know I would."
"I was talking about Gaston, where is he anyways?" Belle asked wiping her hands off on her apron.
"I just sent him out to harvest the newest batch," He said placing his paper work in the desk and walking around to look at the roses. "These ones he just cut are indeed the best we had all summer."
She could not help but smile at them, as if they were children. Something so mesmerizing and complex about a rose always drew her in. The colour did not matter but red ones were always her favourite. They were so sensual and exotic to her, it made her inner romantic blossom and the ideas of passion immediately came to mind. Picking up one with a gentle touch, as to avoid the thorns. She pressed it to her lips first as too appreciate the petal's smoothness before taking a soft smell of the sweet aroma. This was a ritual she performed each time she grabbed one of her family's roses. These particular red ones had been a favourite of her mothers, breaded for her specifically.
"I need you to take this money to Mr. Gold's." Her father said, interrupting her train of thought. "This money is already late so I am hoping…"
"That if I bring it he will show me some leniency." Belle said smiling at her father. "I know. I will be back in ten minutes."
Taking the money from his hand, she tucked it neatly into her pocket as she took the rose with her. Storybrooke never seem to change in all the years she lived her. Granny's diner still served the same burger, the clock tower was still broken and everything was as it was. Even the people remained the same; Regina was still mayor and still as cutthroat as ever. She could never figure why they continued to vote for her, mind you there was never anyone else to vote for. There were no other men in the town either which served as a problem. Everyone expected Gaston and Belle to marry much to her dismay. While where was nothing wrong with Gaston, she found herself tolerating him rather than loving him.
Yet despite it all this was her home. She loved this town but wished more for than just simplicity. Since Belle was younger, she had read the books of her mother's, which told of adventure, danger and the call for courage. Belle dreamt about just packing her bag one night and hitching ride somewhere. Yet every time she had jumped out of bed to do so, she remembered her father and their shop. He loved her dearly even though at times it didn't seem so. She knew if she were to disappear it would break his heart. So she stayed and continued to read her books and dream.
The shop was something that everyone feared. The appearance of the shop was welcoming enough, however, it was what inside that frightened them. Belle had only run into Mr. Gold one or twice before her father would quickly whisk her away. She had heard the stories and seen him once in action but she did not see what was so terrifying about him. Something about it did not scare her but rather interested her. No one knew why he was the way he was, all they knew was that when Gold wanted his money you gave it to him.
The ring of the bell was sharp and gave sense of false warmth. Entering slowly, she hesitantly called out "Hello?"
There was no response and silence was throughout the shop. "Hello?" She asked again this time entering the shop fully.
"Yes, Yes I heard the bells." A hoarse voice said from the back. Looking up, Mr. Gold saw before him the young lady who's imagine was not foreign to him. He had seen her several times however it was rare for him to get a good look at her; and she was lovely.
The sound of his cane hitting the old wooden floors was what first got her attention. While he was not old enough to need one, and his limp did not seem as bad to require one, Belle was unsure why he used it. She had never been able to pinpoint his age and while he was older, he was not old. He was handsome in his own way. As she looked at him she could not help but smile. A sense of familiarity came across her, as if they have had conversations before and knew each other as friends.
"Good morning Mr. Gold," she said with her smile still across her face as she approached the counter.
"Miss Belle," He said placing his hands on the counter. "Here to do the dirty work of your father."
"I see nothing dirty about paying the rent sir." She said placing the envelope beside his hand.
"It is if its already a month late." He said grabbing it and silently counting it. "You will remind her father that it is due the first of EVERY month."
"Of course." She said continuing to smile at him. "This is an extraordinary shop you have Mr. Gold, I am surprised I have never been in it."
"Probably because like everyone else in this town, your father refuses to allow you to do business with me." He said slipping the envelope into the cash register.
"Well cannot see why that would be the case, I mean with the welcoming greeting I received." She teased although he seemed less impressed with it.
"Thank you Miss Belle. I am sure that it is my costumer service skills that are in need of improvement." He said looking at her staring into her lovely green eyes.
While his humour was lacking, she could not help but laughing at the joke he did produce. She found herself staring into his eyes, and while his expression said stern his eyes seemed to be portraying sadness. "Here, I figured your shop needed a pop of colour."
Sticking out the rose, he appeared to not know what to do. He stared at it for a moment and then looked up at her with his face turning from confused to stern. "What am I suppose to do with that?"
"Well you have a few vases I am sure one could be spared to house this." She said looking at him with her grin turning from friendly to sarcastic.
"Yes but what is the purpose?" He asked.
"Flowers are a wonderful thing to have, they brighten a place up and every once and a while people too." She said placing it down.
"And in return you expect what?" He said still looking at her sternly.
Laughing at him, she realized pretty quickly that he was indeed seriously. Shaking her head at him, she stated, "Have a great day Mr. Gold."
Still unsure what do, he watched as she giggled her way out of the store and closed the door. Her smile remained even as she walked passed the window and out of his sight. He felt as if lightening had struck his chest and he could not breath. She was the most beautiful girl. She was enchanting, as if from a fairy tale. A small grin began to form in the corner of his mouth as he thought about her lovely smile but quickly it faded when he realized she was here only to pay the rent. She probably asked to drop off the money knowing that her smile and laughter would ease the tension. She came here to get something from him and yet as the day went on Mr. Gold could not help but think of that beautiful smile.
