Chapter 2
"Rose, can we go to the village again? I want to pick a dress out for the festival." Belle asked with eager eyes. Belle loved to go to the village on the week before the Rose festival. I disliked the village this time of year. But there was no arguing; Belle always got the things she wanted.
"Maybe someone will ask you to be their partner." Belle said hopefully. She tucked a strand of gold hair behind her ear.
"Alright we can go. But we play fair and no magic what so ever." I said in dismay.
Today was the day when the men picked their partners and in some cases the ladies picked them. But I was doubtful. I knew she was trying to help but it didn't work. The partners I had, loved Belle and only went as my partners because Belle asked them to. I knew I would never get picked unless my sister made them. She has done it for the past three years.
As we walked to the village the men huddled around Belle and asked her to be his partner. Belle said "Thank you but I am waiting for someone special" to each and every one of them.
And then Belle turned her head she gasped "It's him, he's the one."
I was wondering what she was looking at. I turned my head there in the shadows was the handsome man from yesterday. He looked this way and he was looking at me. The only ones who were looking at him were Belle and I. Belle saw that he was looking, I was ashamed and then the next thing I saw was Belle running through the mob and to the man. She ran up to him and started talking to him. I knew what she was asking him. I couldn't take seeing her win him. It's not like I knew him or even like him. But he was the first guy that ever seemed interested in me. Belle laughed and put her arm on his shoulder.
I turned and I walked through the village unnoticed and away to the cottage. The men's mouths open wide.
"Who is he?" "Is he her partner?" "They look good together" Whispers coming from the astonished crowd. I didn't want to hear it from the other villagers or see it for my own eyes as he fell for her.
I turned for a second I saw him looking at me with pleading eyes that asked me to wait. I didn't listen to them. I started to walk again; feeling ashamed that I fell for a guy that my sister would get his heart.
As I got near the house I ran past it into the forest. I sat on one of the boulders near the stream, I felt the gentle breeze against my redden cheeks. I only saw the forest's darken before I realized how long I was sitting there. I seemed to be there for hours, but it didn't matter, it was calm. I needed fresh air, and chance to clear my head. There was one emotion swirling in me; hopelessness. I as soon as I saw those eyes that were full of sadness I was heartbroken. I knew Belle was going to win him over, but there was still hope he would refuse her. I knew that he was looking at me with longing that I would notice him.
I loved my sister but she always got her way. I was the plain ordinary girl, unlike me she was the extraordinary, beautiful, magical girl. Why would a man go for a drab, little, cursed good-for-nothing girl when he could have a prefect girl that was an angel like my sister?
I decided to walk back home at sunset. It took sometime but I got home in one piece. I was exhausted and miserable. As I went inside Belle was beside the bed with father next to her. I knew why she was crying and I was happy and sad. Happy he refused her and sad for her.
"What did you do to your sister? Apologize now! Why oh why did we have a cursed child. You devil child to make your sister cry" my father bellowed with anger when I got back. Belle was the favorite child and I was the worthless second born. My parents prayed that their second child be a boy, but instead they had me.
"Rose…he…refused me….Me…!" She said between sobs, I saw she was very upset. But I never saw my big sister cry. She was always so sure of herself. My father looked in shock.
"Maybe he already loves someone deeply"
I knew the only way a man could not fall for her was that he was already in love with someone. My heart sank deep into my chest maybe he loved another pretty girl in another village.
"I asked him if he loved someone and He did not say a thing I asked was it was. He looked around he said in barely a whisper 'where is she?'"
"I never met him, he must love someone else that left the group and who he was looking at to stay." I said as gentle as words would go.
But both Belle and I knew I was lying to myself. We knew he was looking at me and was looking for me when he said those words. I was now Belle's rival.
"Leave devil child, go to your room." My father ordered. And I did so before he said a word.
I kept saying "he said no, he said no"
…
The same dream happened again with the beast and the wonderful rose castle. This time when I saw the silhouette I felt something warm in my chest. I pushed the feeling aside. I was wondering if this was a sign that this will be my future. I prayed to God it wouldn't be.