Disclaimer: I do not own the Shrek series or any of the characters apart from Belle Penrose. I do however own this story and the plot (whatever it turns out to be in the end) and I am rather possessive when it comes to my work, so just don't steal please, thank you!

Always the outcast, never the princess

Friend

Since returning to Far Far Away, Arthur had been slightly distracted. It had been a few weeks since then, but his Aunt Lillian had noticed it instantly. Even for a teenager he seemed moodier and more thoughtful than usual.

"What is wrong dear?" Arthur, who had been staring into space for the past ten minutes solid, jumped, replying rather ignorantly with a grunt of,

"Huh?" The former Queen, though she was still called Queen Lillian, smiled at her nephew, politely repeating her question with no lecture on his absentmindedness.

"Nothing." He replied quickly, turning back to a pile of letters on his desk, all to do with royal business or whatever, pretending to be working just to avoid speaking to his Aunt further.

After a few further minutes, (Arthur was beginning to think his Aunt was persisting simply for her own amusement) his Aunt left and Arthur slumped back into his chair, throwing his head back and closing his eyes in thought.

What exactly was wrong with him? He hadn't felt this rubbish since he was still in school. Maybe it was because he wasn't thinking about Guinn anymore. Guinn! He slapped his forehead at the thought. He'd completely forgotten about her! Did that mean he was over her? He couldn't be, could he? He'd loved her hadn't he?

"Guinn… I've always loved you."

"Like, eww-eth."

Ok, so telling her hadn't exactly happened the way he'd planned, and he hadn't really hoped for that particular reaction, but still. Him? Over her? He shook his head. When had that happened?

He shook his head, looking back at the pile of papers, this time hoping something there would intrigue himself away from his own thoughts. He titled his head, surprised when he saw a letter there, the return address was Worcestershire Academy.

Unable to restrain his curiosity, he picked it up and looked at it. The curly writing that looked slightly shaky had run here and there, dark spots marked the parchment and it took him a moment to realise that they were tear stains. He turned it over, peeling off the unusual blue wax seal and opening the letter.

'Sorry to trouble you like this Artie, but I guess you are the only one I can talk to. I'm tired of getting paper aeroplanes stuck in my hair and notes pinned to my back saying 'you sucketh'. I'm tired of being scared too. I guess I'm just tired.'

Arthur frowned at that. It sounded like she was finding things harder than he thought she was.

'I tried to do as you said… I told you it wouldn't work, didn't I? They threw me into the rubbish heap again just like I said.'

Arthur sighed. He knew he should've kept his mouth shut.

'I'm not blaming you, honestly, God, please don't think that I am! I'm not going to be so stupid as to blame the only person who knows how this feels for trying to help.'

Ok, that made him feel better, and a little creeped out that she seemed to know how he thought. 'I guess we have more in common than I thought.'

'To be honest, I don't honestly know why I'm writing this letter. I guess its because I just wanted someone to talk to… I've never had that before. Not for a long time at least and definitely nothere

You're probably busy though. Doing what kings do and things like that. I suppose I should really be doing my homework too.'

Arthur couldn't help but grin at how she wrote. It was so distracted and so… insecure. That thought made him frown, but reading the passage again got him smiling once more. She was so honest, that was clear to see. What he couldn't understand though was why she being honest to him. He supposed that is was because of the fact that they were both awkward outcasts, both had tried fitting in and both had failed miserably. They'd both been picked on and both of them had been hurt by their families.

He was right. They did have a lot more in common than he had thought.

'I really am sorry to have bothered you Artie. Take care and… well just take care.

Belle.'

Her hasty conclusion to the letter confused him slightly, but what surprised him even more was the fact that Belle Penrose, Miss Shyness herself, had, at least not to his knowledge, given a second thought to writing a letter to a practical stranger, well almost stranger. Not to mention the fact that this letter had been hidden amongst the 'royal business' papers. 'I bet Aunt Lillian had something to do with it.'

He re-read her letter again. It made a nice change from all the letters from people fawning over him, it was either that or like when he'd returned his book with people not giving a damn. It was only short, but it was honest, it was simply what it was and it made him smile.

Who cared if it was only, what, twelve lines or so? He saw it as proof.

Proof that he had someone who understood him. Proof that he had a friend and what's more, a friend his age.

Belle Penrose. His newest friend.

Aww bless him :) Ok, so I suddenly thought, Guinevere! and it gave me the idea for this chapter, plus I thought I'd give Belle a bit of a break... Then did a u-turn and put her letter in, but what the hell, its drama people! Anyway, please rate and review please!