PRESENT:
Chapter 1- First Day
Belle's heels clicked as she strode down the sidewalk. Her thoughts whirled, making sure she brought everything necessary to be, or so appear to be, a well, put together, shop employee. She had to double check, because she wasn't working for just anyone, but a positively wretched man named Mr. Gold.
Belle had only moved into her apartment two weeks ago, yet she already heard the whispers around Storybrooke of the harsh, intolerable creature that owned the pawn shop, the nunnery, the school- basically the entire town. Was Belle intimidated? Well, she just hoped she didn't look so.
Belle's life in Australia with her Mum was nothing short of fantastic all her life. Sure, at age 13 her parents did divorce, but they were on good terms still. Her father came down for holidays and such all her life, and she often called and wrote to him, always addressing her letters to the mystifying town of Storybrooke.
After the seperation, Maurice decided he wanted a fresh start, sticking with his passion: gardening. Henceforth, he moved to America, Maine specifically, to start a small shop. Belle always found it odd he moved so far, but then again, Maurice was born in America, maybe he wanted to return to his roots?
At the age of 22 Belle made the long awaited decision to come to live by her father. They're relationship, though long distance, was never strained nor temporarily tarnished. Belle loved her father dearly, as he did her, which was why he was so worried his precious daughter was working for the meanest man in town.
Lost in her thoughts, Belle didn't see the pawn shop sign ahead, nor did she prepare herself when she tripped with her tall heels and she went flying towards the concrete. She had no time to brace her hands in front of her for the fall, so she closed her eyes awaiting the impact.
Suddenly, a strong hand gripped her shoulder and prevented her from a the scrapes and bruising that would've come.
"I hope you don't do that often, dearie."