The bell for fourth period rang throughout Storybrooke High School. Classroom doors opened and the frantic locker runs and bathroom breaks began. Storybrooke was considered one of the very best public institutions on the east coast. That's the only reason Robert Gold was attending. His parents had a reputation to uphold after all; and since Robert had flat out refused to go to a private establishment, Storybrooke was the next best thing. He was a senior, finally, and he had the school, and everyone in it, wrapped around his finger.
Robert wasn't the tallest, he didn't have the most muscles, and he wasn't the most good-looking guy at school. He was around 5'10'', with brown hair and eyes whose color resembled dark chocolate. He didn't have a six-pack or raging biceps, but he was well toned, and his parents had money. He lived in a mansion big enough for a family of thirty, even though it was just him, his parents, and the maid. He had an indoor swimming pool. There were tennis and basketball courts in the backyard. The entire basement had been transformed into a movie theatre, that was able of seating sixty comfortably. The latest gaming systems, the designer clothes, straight A's, and never having to worry about how much something cost; Robert had all of that.
He turned the dial on his locker, switching out American History for AP Calculus. Pulling his calculus book out, he started pushing his locker closed, when someone else finished the job for him. "So, have you seen the new girl?" It was Robert's 'best' friend Jefferson. Or Jeff, as he liked to be called. Robert simply ignored him, knowing full well he would give him every single obnoxious detail on the walk to class. "She's a junior. Her name is Belle. She is dressed in black. There are already rumors going around that she's depressed or cutting herself, I don't really care, because Robert..." he grabbed Robert's arm to halt the walking, "she is the hottest chick, that has ever walked the halls of Storybrooke High School."
Robert pulled out of Jeff's grip and rolled his eyes, resuming his now brisk walk to calculus. Jeff was trying to keep up with him, but Robert was determined to get as far away from him as possible. The last thing Robert cared about was another attractive, shallow, brainless girl that was going to try to work her way into his pockets. They never understood that he wasn't the one with the money, it was his parents. And while their pockets were chuck full, his had nothing but a little pocket lint.
As soon as Robert sat down at his desk, the late bell rang. Even though Storybrooke was well known for its superb academics, there were only six people taking calculus this year. The class was passing by quickly, Robert had finished the pop quiz and was doodling in his notebook when his teacher received a call. Principal Hart wanted to see him in his office, but for what?
Robert knocked gently on his open door, noticing the pretty brunette already sitting down. "Come in Robert." Robert took the second seat next to the girl, who he automatically assumed was that Belle that Jeff had been ranting on and on about, and with good reason. She had long and curly brown hair, that looked softer than a pillow. She was dressed in all black, but she looked good in black. She had deep blue eyes and porcelain skin that looked as soft as silk.
It wasn't until Principal Hart cleared his throat that he noticed he was staring at the girl, and she looked very uncomfortable sitting next to him now that she thought he was a creep. "Robert, this is Storybrooke's newest student, Belle Carlyle." Robert nodded his head at her, afraid what him speaking might do to her, since she looked like she was about to fall apart at the seams. "I'd appreciate it if you could give her a tour of the school. Show her where the rest of her classes are and tell her about the school, since you are the student body president."
"Of course sir, I'd be happy to." Robert tucked his books under his arm and stood up out of the chair. He glanced down at Belle, "Ready to go?" She didn't look him in the eye, but still followed him willingly out of the office.
They walked through the halls, carrying around an awkward silence. Every now and then Robert would say something about the school, but he felt as though he were talking to a brick wall. He showed her where her classes were, where the library was, how to convince the nurse to write you an excuse for P.E., but Belle's face remained expressionless.
"So, where did you transfer from?" Robert was trying to not show his interest in the girl, but she was the first person he'd met in this town that wasn't jumping at the chance to be even remotely acquainted to him.
"Does it really matter?" Her voice was sharp, biting, and not welcoming in the slightest. "I'm here for now aren't I?" Robert was baffled by her viciousness. He wasn't sure what he had been expecting, but it most definitely wasn't that.
He tried to shake off the overwhelming desire to ask her to the winter formal, knowing that she would most likely say no. Just with those few snarky comments, she had enchanted him. It was like a spell had been cast. "Well, I.. I guess." He was stumbling over his words? That never happens. "What-a, what do you mean for now? Aren't you here to stay?"
Belle stopped and leaned up against the lockers, "Look. I know you're deal" Robert stared at her, leaning against his own locker. "You are the king of the school. You get all the pretty girls to fall for you, you make them feel important and sexy and eventually convince them to let you into their pants. You get what you want and move on to the next innocent victim. They let you do it to, because by letting you degrade them, they feel like they've accomplished something. Well I'm not like those girls." Robert wasn't sure if he should be ashamed or offended.
Everything she said was technically true, but he never looked at his sleeping around that way. "Did you ever stop to think that maybe I wasn't using them, but they were using me?" he found himself asking. He was beyond interested in this girl and he wasn't about to lose his chance with her because of something as stupid as past relationships; if he could even call them that. She really wasn't like the others.
"No. Not for a second" she replied defiantly. "You can stop trying. This" she gestured to the both of them, "is never gonna happen." With that said she walked away, not bothering to wait for a reply.
Robert stood there dumbly, staring after her like she was the most amazing creature he had ever had the honor of meeting. The bell rang loudly throughout the hall, but he didn't hear it, nor did he acknowledge the swarm of bustling students blocking his view of the new girl. He was in a trance. A lovesick trance. It wasn't until Jeff's hand waved over his eyes, startling him out of his daze. "What the hell happened to you?" he asked as Robert came back to his senses.
"You were right Jeff" he admitted with a bittersweet tone to his voice. "Belle is something special."
The remainder of the school day was uneventful. Robert searched the school valiantly between each period, but he couldn't find his new crush anywhere. It had started raining after lunch, and Robert wasn't looking forward to the long walk he had to take to get to his car. He pulled hit jacket over his head and walked as fast as he could, trying to avoid puddles. He peeled out of the parking lot, wanting to get out of his now soaking wet clothes as soon as possible. As he was driving he noticed the unmistakable curls of a certain brunette, a bit wilted because of the rain, but it was her none the less.
Pulling up along the curb, he rolled down the passenger window and shouted out to her. "Hey Belle!" She turned her head to look at him briefly before presuming to walk. He released the break peddle, cruising slowly beside her. "Let me give you a ride!"
She kept her gaze in front of her, head held high, blatantly ignoring him. "I'm fine" she stated. Her voice was so muffled by the rain, Robert could barely hear her.
"Come on, it's pouring!" Robert tried again. She kept walking. Having enough of her foolishness, Robert stopped his car. He got out quickly and ran in front of her. "This is ridiculous, just let me give you a ride for Christ's sake."
She looked up at him, lips pursed. "I don't need a ride, thank you." She tried to side-step him but he caught her arms, holding her in place. "Let me go!" she shouted.
"I'll let you go" he told her casually, "if you let me drive you home."
She let out a frustrated sigh, stomping her foot in a puddle, splashing the both of them. "Fine."
Robert opened the car door for her like a gentleman, but Belle was the least bit impressed. "So, where am I taking you?" he asked as he pulled away from the curb. Belle remained silent, slumped back in the seat, staring out the window longingly. He cleared his throat, "Where do you live?" he asked again.
She mumbled something under breath, nothing he could hear, so he asked her again. "Prescott St." she told him more clearly this time.
He stared out at the road in front of him. He understood why she had rejected the ride now, she was embarrassed. Prescott St. was in the bad part of town. The very bad part of town. Nobody who wanted to be somebody lived on Prescott. He realized now that she must come from a rough background. It explained why she would be so distant and so angry.
"Well?" she asked him. He glanced over at her. She was looking at him like she was expecting him to say something.
"Well what?" he asked her for clarification, terribly confused at what she was trying to get at.
She rolled her eyes, "Tell me you're sorry." It came out as more of an accusation than a demand.
Robert let out a breathy laugh. "Why would I do that?"
Belle turned in her seat to face him, even though she knew he couldn't focus his attention on her. "Because you are. You have pity etched all over your face. You feel sorry for me because of where I live. Just admit it." The strength in her voice was intimidating, but Robert kept his cool.
"I'm not going to apologize to you because you live in a bad neighborhood" he told her. "You may think you have me all figured out, but you don't."
He turned onto Prescott, and thanked God that it was raining. Not even the lowest of the low would be caught out in this rain. "Which house is it?"
Belle was looking at him, he could feel her eyes digging into him, like she was trying to uncover his secrets. "It's the last on the left" she said robotically. He pulled into the driveway, and putting the car in park, turned to her. She hadn't made a move to open the car door yet, but her head was cast down.
"Maybe we could have lunch together tomorrow" Robert suggested. Belle's head perked up a bit, her eyes still not willing to meet his. "You know, at school? Not a date just two people eating shitty cafeteria food, making small-talk" he continued to ramble on until Belle finally put him out of his misery, accepting his invitation.
Her hand went to the door handle, but before she pulled it, she looked back over her shoulder at Robert. "I'm sorry I assumed that you were an arse" she told him. He didn't get a chance to respond before she bolted from the car. He watched as she closed her front door, staring at the run-down apartment building where she was residing. Not wanting to seem like a stalker, he put the car in reverse, and began to make his way home.
Not a home exactly. His father was always working in his study, never to be disturbed. His mother never put her phone down. He was alone in a big, empty mansion, and he couldn't wait to get out. His parents were expecting him to go to university. Harvard or Yale. His father was the greatest defense attorney in New England, and so he was expected to become the second greatest. His mother was the CEO of a multinational cooperation, and at the moment she was trying desperately to play match maker for him. Since he was considered upper class, they were expecting him to marry an uppity, ditzy princess, who wanted nothing more from him than his parent's money.
Grabbing a pear off the kitchen counter he snuck upstairs, past his mother and locked himself in his room. He wondered if his parents knew that he wasn't planning on going to college after graduation. Robert had been working at the local supermarket for three years. He never spent a cent of the money he earned. He was saving it for Europe. He planned to go backpacking. Something his parents would never approve of. He knew none of his friends would get it either. They were all society children as well, and unlike him, they listened to their parent's plans for them. Maybe he could talk to Belle about it?
"Robert!" his mother called from downstairs, "It's time for dinner." Robert pushed his laptop to the side, and reluctantly went to join his parents downstairs. His dad, Malcolm, sat at the head of the oversized table with a newspaper in his hands. His mother, Cora, sat opposite him, staring at her BlackBerry. 'Some family dinner' he thought. Taking the seat in-between them, he waited for their maid to bring out their dinner. Some kind of meat, in some fancy sauce, a vegetable, and rice. He ate as quickly as he could, in silence. When he was finished, he pushed his chair back, ready to retire to his room for the remainder of the evening.
"Hold on young man" his father said to him without lifting his eyes from whatever article he was reading. "How was school today?"
Robert leaned back in his chair, wiping the hair out of his eyes. "Nothing unusual" he reported. "Same as ever."
His mother laughed, "Don't lie to us dear, we know there's a new student."
"How could you possibly know that?" Robert asked perplexed.
Malcolm finally dropped his paper, leaning closer to the table. "Principle Hart keeps us in the loop. He also told us of her background, and we don't want you associating with her" he said sternly. "She'll ruin your reputation."
Robert pushed his chair back and stood up angrily. "You mean ruin your reputation!" He didn't bother to stick around and hear the rest of the lame speech they had prepared. He laid back on his bed, staring at the white ceiling. He kept taking deep breaths, until finally, sleep overcame him.