Books were her escape, the only thing that kept her mind busy with happy thoughts and dreams of being in a place where everything was just- perfect. Life was never going to be perfect,but books were the only thing that made it pretty damn close. She would choose reading her favorite novel over anything else, even if it meant hanging out with her best friend Ruby after school. She liked Ruby, they would hang out during lunch and even in the hallways in between classes, but after school, Belle just wanted to go home and read. However, Ruby wasn't like that.. At all. After school for Ruby was going to get food and go watch a movie and do everything social that Belle didn't quite enjoy. Ruby also loved to party. Every Saturday night, it was someone else's house, Ruby would call Belle around 7 and tell her to get 'her party dress on" and that she was gonna come pick her up. Belle, being the loyal, supportive friend she is, wouldn't object and go, even if it meant a miserable time sulking in the corner while Ruby was talking to every guy there and getting drunk.

And just like every day after school, Ruby was waiting for her by the doors leading out to the parking lot.

"Hey Belle, guess who scored movie tickets this afternoon to see the newest Halloween movie?" Ruby smiled and held up two tickets. Belle slightly smiled.

"I'm guessing you?" She walked closer to her and began to walk with her out the doors.

"Yep, movie time is 3:30 at the Center Theater. We can go grab something to eat and then head over there right as the previews start, I love watching all the movie trailers." Belle just kept walking beside her, looking down. She hated horror movies. They were always so unnecessarily gory and always had such cliche plots. They didn't scare her anymore, she had seen so many of them that now she was just bored watching them and would critique them as they went. She never really cared for movies anyway.

"Look Ruby, I wanna go, I really do but I have so much homework and Robert-

"Oh come on Belle, you can do homework alter and Robert, well he can wait." Belle sighed. She hated using him for an excuse, but she really just wanted to go home and relax.

"We hang out everyday after school, I just want to go home and get my homework done now so I don't have to do it late tonight, please." Ruby stopped and looked at her, kind of rolling her eyes.

"Fine, but only today." Belle sighed softly. Thank god.

"Okay, fine. Only today. I promise we will hang out tomorrow." She smiled at her. Ruby kinda smiled back.

"Alright, I'll see ya tomorrow." She turned around and walked towards her car. Belle stood there for a second before pulling her phone out. The first thing she saw was a text, from Robert.

'"U still at school?" Belle raised her eyebrow and unlocked her phone to answer the message.

"Uh, yeah, why?" She hit send and waited for a reply. Belle had a slight idea as to why he would suddenly text her like that, but thought it was best to just keep things cool. Three little dots appeared on the screen, indicating that he was typing.

"I got in trouble, I need you to take me home." Belle sighed louder then she intended to. First having to reject Ruby's movie date and now she had to take Robert home. She knew she couldn't say no to this one, she would be in a lot of trouble. She began typing.

"Where are you at?" Send. She began pacing around, waiting again for him to reply. He just couldn't stay out of trouble. There was already so many times that he has been caught for doing stupid things and yet he wasn't expelled. Her phone buzzed and she looked at it.

"Front office" Belle quickly typed "Okay" and began to walk in that direction, having to go back inside. Each step she took, her nerves grew. She hated being the "rescuer" in this situation, it made her look bad. She rounded the corner and made her way down the hallway towards the front office. When she got there, Robert was sitting outside the office on his phone.

"Uh, hey" Belle stopped and looked at him. Robert looked up at her.

"Belle," he stood up and went over to her, "you came." He kinda smiled.

"Uh, well of course I'd come. Ready to go?" Belle kinda looked at the wall.

He smirked and grabbed her hand. "Yeah, but I was hoping I could have you maybe come inside my place for a bit.. you know, so we could catch up." Belle kinda blushed and looked down. Only looking up to see another student pass by them, her eyes clearly on them. She ignored her and looked at Robert.

"Look Rob.." Robert placed his hand on her shoulder, tightly.

"I'm not asking." Belle just stood there for a second and slowly nodded her head.

"Okay, yeah okay." Robert smiled and backed away.

"Good, then let's get going." He grabbed her hand and started walking, initiating for Belle to follow him. She started walking and heading back down the hall before she heard the sound of a female voice from behind her.

"Where do you two think you are going?" Robert stopped and turned around and so did Belle. Behind them was one of the school's principal's, Mrs. Mills.

"Robert, you were under strict orders to stay in school until a PARENT came and picked you up, not, whoever this is."

Belle chimed in, "I'm his girl-"

"I don't care," snapped,"he needs to have a parent pick him up. I'm sorry but this is a rule that has been established for quite some time and has been strictly enforced. I'm writing the both of you up for detention." Belle's heart dropped and she was pretty sure she turned pale right then and there. Never before has she gotten in trouble for something before, let alone gone to detention. She definitely couldn't say the same about Robert, he practically lived there.

"But- .." Belle stuttered. Mrs. Mills looked at her sternly, crossing her arms.

"You will be serving your time tomorrow directly after school in the library til 5, understood?" Belle nodded frantically, her face a mix of fear and embarrassment. Robert just shrugged.

"Okay." She sharply turned around and headed back into her office. Robert came close to her.

"Well, looks like I won't be in detention alone tomorrow," he smiled, "maybe we could sneak off to the bathroom together and have some fun." He grabbed her hand and practically pulled her, urging her to walk with him. Belle just followed him and didn't say anything. She was too scared.