"Pretty lights on the tree. I'm watching 'em shine. You should be here with me. Baby please come home".
- U2
"Well, I would greatly like to oblige, Mr. Collins, but I cannot make this reindeer fly".
"I didn't think so".
"He only flies on Christmas Eve".
Belle watched television without really paying attention, on air 'Miracle on 34th Street' that she had seen every year of her life since she had memory. It was a sort of tradition in her family since she had been little. Her mother began it, and her grandmother started it with her mother when she was a wee thing.
Only a couple of times her father joined them during the movie, but she and her mother were every single year on that couch with their pajamas on, enjoying their hours together, reciting the lines of the film, laughing.
Along with the movie, as a rule, there were glasses of milk and baked chocolate chip cookies on the coffee table. Accompanied throughout by a duvet where she and her mother wrapped themselves like burritos.
Now, Belle was sitting on the couch, milk and fresh cookies on the table, 'Miracle on 34th Street' on and a duvet on her legs. She turned her head to her right, her mother's place that had been desolately empty for a couple of years now. Belle sighed, forcing herself not to allow the ever-present sadness to drag her down, although it was really hard.
She gasped when she felt a weight jump on her lap from nowhere. She looked down and found Sultan squatting on the duvet, on her legs, purring happily. Belle shook her head and stroked his head, earning more purring from him. Sultan was a young orange American Shorthair she found by accident when he was still a kitten with his eyes still closed, abandoned without restraint in a dark corner near her uncle's home during a visit to Mount Eliza, about 3 years ago. At that time, she was unable to refrain from bringing him home, feeding him at the best and then going to the nearest veterinarian. Since then, she had been in love with that little furry ball, and it seemed that he was totally in love with her too. He followed her everywhere, never missed an opportunity to pounce on her to get all the pampering of the case. He was an excellent companion for movies too.
Belle looked back at the telly when the cellphone beside her beeped, disturbing Sultan that meowled as a sign of dissent. Belle scratched him between the ears, kissing him on the head, and then stretched out to take the phone. Ruby was telling her to call her ASAP. Belle sighed and rolled her eyes. She knew what she'd have said to her, the same thing she had repeated to her for the past two weeks.
They had been on Christmas vacation for a total of two days, and that year the usual Christmas school play was postponed to 2 days before Christmas Eve. The reason was because the school principal, Mr. Mills, wanted to organize a big party for everyone: students, professors, staff and families of all. So, the time to organize and coordinate everything was stretched, as well as the staging of 'A Dickens Christmas Carol'.
For the first time, Belle decided neither to act nor to organize the play. Everything happened quickly, she was chosen as one of the main characters of the play, and also Viktor was chosen, but no Ruby. So, she immediately stepped back and left her place to her friend with pleasure. Despite assurances from Ruby that she didn't want to join the cast because of Viktor, Belle didn't want to hear any excuse. But now she regretted her choice since Ruby had never acted in front of an audience and constantly called her for help, for advice, and for a shoulder to cry on.
Belle called Ruby, who answered after only one ring.
"Please, I'm begging you, come here".
Belle smiled in spite of herself "Ruby, for the last time, no".
"But why not?! You were the one who wanted me to be in the cast, I didn't want to be here!".
"Oh, how ungrateful, I've sacrificed myself for you and your future and possible husband Viktor, like you said right after the concert, and this is your gratitude?!" Belle chuckled, hearing her friend whining.
"I know, you're right. And after this, better for him to become rich and marry me soon after because this is a great demonstration of love on my part".
Belle laughed "What's the problem this time?".
"The dress! Belle, I swear, it'll fall apart. Only you can fix it. Please, please, please".
Belle laughed again and sighed "Ok, fine. But this will cost you…Let's say that you must choose me as the godmother of your first child. And your maid of honor!".
"Marked! I'm waiting for you, hurry up!" and Ruby interrupted the call.
Belle closed her phone and sighed, finding Sultan with his paws on her chest, sniffing her "I know, Sultan, but we've to be patient. We love her, so we've our hands tied" she said and then kissed him again in the head, leaving him on the couch, turning off the telly and going to the door to take her coat, boots and gloves.
"Dad! I have to go to school, Ruby needs me" she screamed at her father upstairs.
"Okay, precious, do not be late" her father answered from his room.
"Don't worry. I'll see you soon!" and she went out.
"No, no, no! Mr. Kristoff, I'll tell you for the last time. You have to go in as soon as you see Mr. Will enter the scene. Not a second first, nor a second later. Is that finally clear?!" Mrs. van Cent said nervously to Kristoff. Poor him, he had never acted in his life and always forgot the proper start of his scenes.
"Mrs. van Cent? So, I've to come in at the end of the scene or while Kris is speaking?" Anna asked from the back of the stage, popping only her head out from behind the open curtain.
Mrs. van Cent sighed and pinched her nose "Anna, darling, why do you think there are the scripts? And why do you think that we write on them the signs of entry and exit from the scenes?!" she concluded almost yelling.
Anna quickly disappeared behind the curtain and Mrs. van Cent turned back to the group on stage "All right. Let's calm down for a moment. A 10-minute break" she said "And I need a drink" she muttered to herself before taking her shawl and heading towards the coffee machine in the hallway. At the door, she nearly collided with Belle.
"Miss French, have you finally decided to join us again?" she asked, folding her arms with a mischievous grin.
"Good evening, Mrs. van Cent. No, I just came to give a hand to Ruby with the dress" Belle answered, smiling.
Mrs. van Cent huffed and rolled her eyes "Oh Gosh, you all really want to row against me, am I right?" and she walked away towards the vending machine.
Belle stared at her for a moment and then shook her head, entering the theater.
"Hey, look who's back. The traitor!".
Belle turned towards a side door and found Mary Margaret smiling and waving at her to come closer. Belle smiled and went to her "Don't you think it's enough with this story of the traitor?" she asked, hugging her friend.
Mary Margaret shook her head, smiling "Uh-hu, we're behind with rehearsals, script and costumes. Not to mention that most of the actors of this year haven't seen a script in their entire life...and Ruby is the leader of said group!" she sighed and took Belle by the arm, going behind the scenes.
Belle chuckled "And this is my fault because...?".
"Because you're one of the few who knows how to act, organize scenography and take care of the costumes. It will be a catastrophe, I can feel it" Mary Margaret said dramatically.
Belle gave her a gentle nudge "I don't think so. I think it will be a success. And it's also right that other people are involved in our theater. So, it's a price I pay happily".
"Oh my God, there's still hope!".
Belle and Mary Margaret looked up and saw a half-undressed Ruby running toward them.
"Ok, I don't want to be pessimistic, but I think the only thing that works here is the vending machine in the hallway. For the rest, it's a sinking ship".
"Today you are all very positive, I see" Belle chuckled "Come on, let's go. Let me see what's wrong with your dress" she said, taking Ruby's hand and walking toward the tailoring corner.
Belle stayed more than she had intended to, of course, helping with the costumes and helping Ruby and a few others to study and repeat their lines. It was already 7 pm when she finally managed to untangle herself from Ruby's vice and flee that chaotic theater. Before going out, she was accompanied by Ruby's words 'You'll have me on your conscience! And I will torment you in your dreams tonight!', just before closing the wooden doors which led her out.
Belle took a deep breath as soon as she was outside. She felt tired, she didn't remember that theater could be so tiring. And, moreover, experiencing it from the outside.
She straightened the hat on her head and the gloves and began to walk. She had to hurry to be able to find the butcher still open and get dinner for her and her father. And then she had to rush home to fix everything. She would make it. And If she was a little late, well, her father wouldn't have died of starvation for a half an hour late.
She turned the corner of the building and was almost thrown backward by something that stood in her path. Only a hand on her arm saved her from a bad fall on the cold snow.
"I think we have to stop meeting like this. It does no good to either of us".
Belle looked up and found Nick's amused grin. They looked at each other for a few moments until she straightened and gently moved her arm from his grip.
He let her go, putting his hands in the back pockets of his jeans.
"Thank you" Belle murmured, looking down.
A week had passed since their last meeting, three from their meeting at the pub. And nothing had changed. Indeed, it seemed that he was trying to avoid her more than usual. And even If she had had a faint hope of being able to start a sort of relationship with him, she realized that all his actions spoke differently. She wasn't stupid, she had tried to approach him with good intentions, with jokes and in the hard way. But none of that had stirred something in him. Then, well, it was time to stop being silly and move on. Although she was sorry about it.
"What are you doing here?" Belle asked, cursing herself for that question. 'It doesn't matter to you, Belle. It doesn't matter'.
He shrugged "I'm giving a hand to professor Phillips. With the cables and the lights. They say that could help me with the report card or something similar" he concluded, nodding a few times.
Belle nodded, unsure on what to do.
"And you?" Nick asked, glancing at everywhere but her.
She looked at him for a few seconds, clearly not expecting his interest and his question "I was helping with the costumes and the scripts. I believe that Miss van Cent will have a nervous breakdown before Christmas" she said with a little smirk.
He huffed and said "That woman just demands a perfection that she will never have. From nowhere and no one. Although, I've to admit, I've seen them play and some of them are really bad" he smirked amusedly again.
Belle crossed her arms "And how do you know how to distinguish a good actor from a bad one?".
He looked at her for a moment and then said "Well, you don't have to be a genius. Anyone with two eyes and two ears is capable of seeing that".
"Yeah, but at least those guys are putting themselves on the line with this play. It's true, many of them are inexperienced and aren't very good, but at least they're putting effort and passion in it. And most importantly, they are interested in art, in culture…" Belle said vehemently, giving him a hard look.
"Woah, calm down, little girl. I didn't know you were so sensitive. I promise I won't tell anything about your little friends again" he stopped her, raising his hands as to calm her.
She snorted and clenched her teeth, trying to calm down. She knew she was exaggerating, but she was finally venting the sense of irritation that she felt for him "Listen, I gotta go. I'll see you" Belle said and walked past him, heading for the exit.
He stood for a moment and then turned to her, watching her walk away. She was different, more detached, angrier. He knew that it was his fault. He did nothing to respond to her proposals and invitations, but seeing her like that was…unsettling. He had become accustomed to her looks, the anticipation to be able to meet her somewhere, her smiles. And that outburst felt as a step toward her departure for good.
'And that's what I've always wanted, right?'.
Nick sighed and kicked a stone. It was time to decide what to do with her, If he wanted to understand why this girl could attract and intrigue him like no one else, stepping in an unknown territory, or If he didn't want to give her any attention and stay in his safe place.
Coming up with a quick decision, he looked up and went after her "I know it because I know the play. I know the book and I know its adaptations. And, although the scenography is bad, in my opinion, Mrs. van Cent's work with the scripts is good. About the actors, let's face it, you can find better anywhere" he said in one breath, watching her turn to him from a few meters away.
"And you're telling me this because...?".
He shook his head and smirked "To tell you that I'm right because I know what I'm talking about. And, again, you must always look for a reason for everything, isn't it, little girl?".
Belle snorted and put her hands on her hips "Stop calling me little girl, you're insufferable".
His grin widened "Ohh, terrible mistake. Now I'll call you little girl forever. You've written your own condemnation, miss".
Belle stared at him for a few moments and then chuckled, shaking her head "Suit yourself" and turned to walk away again.
His smile vanished and watched her take a few steps.
Last step into the void?
"Hey, I'm leaving too...You want a ride?" he said, looking down. Feeling like an idiotic blushing kid.
Belle stopped again and waited a few moments before turning.
This guy was the contradiction personified: gruff and cold one day, clumsy and talkative the other…And she liked it.
"I'm not going home".
"Good, me neither".
"I have to go to buy dinner" she said.
"Good, me too".
She laughed a bit "My father is waiting for me".
"Hmm, I can't agree with that one" he smirked "Come on, I'll drive you wherever you have to go and then I'll bring you home safe and sound. I swear" he said, putting a hand on his chest and taking a few steps toward her.
"Why do you want to drive me around? I had the impression that you didn't want to have anything to do with me? It won't do any good to your reputation to be seen with me, you know?" she said, arching her eyebrows.
"And who cares? And I didn't give you any impression, it's all in your mind. I'm grumpy 99% of times, deal with it. So, you coming?" he said, gesturing toward the parking lot on the opposite direction.
Belle stared at him, he hadn't answered to her first question but that had still to mean something, right? And who was she to stand in the way of fate?
She smiled slowly "Yeah, why not".
TBC…
