Chapter 9: Halfway Denied

The next day, Gaston had come over to the castle again. I don't know why, though. He knocked on the door, and I answered it. My smile faded and his smile widened. I asked, "What Gaston?" He said, "Belle, your soon-to-be-ex-wife, said that I should wait till today to propose to her. I am here to see what she says." He was about to walk in, but I stopped him. He said, "Please move." I said, "Belle is not here. She is… out in the town." He gave me a confused look, and then said, "Come on. Tell me the truth. I know you're lying to me." I stammered, "N-No I'm not. She really is out of town." Then he asked, "Wait… how do you know that I proposed to Belle last night?" I said with a little anger, "She told me. Now leave!" He said, "No. I know she's here. Don't lie to me." I said once again, "She's not here! Leave!" He frowned angrily and then Belle came down the stairs saying, "Hi Gaston!" My eyes widened and I turned to face her. He told me, "See, I told you that you were lying. Nobody lies to Gaston." I sighed with frustration, and Gaston walked to Belle, who was coming off the stairs.

I turned around and saw Gaston pick up Belle and kiss her. She had her arms around his neck, and she said, "Okay, okay. Put me down." They were smiling and Gaston put her down. He asked, "How are you doing?" She said, "Great. You?" He replied, "Good." She asked, "So what are you doing here?" He said, "Last night, you said wait till today to propose to you. Then you would have a decision." She smiled and I mumbled, "Oh boy." She said, "I'm surprised you remembered. I would've forgotten." They laughed together, and then Gaston got on his knee. She gasped, and then he took her hands. He smiled at her smiling face—this was sick, so I just walked out of the room, but I stayed close enough to hear them. He asked, "Belle, now that you have a decision, will you please marry me?" I started quietly gagging, and I peeked over to look at them.

Belle almost said something, but she didn't say anything. She looked over at me, and I looked at her. She made an "I don't know" face, and then looked at Gaston again. She said, "I'm really sorry, but I think you might have to wait again. I still don't know. Come back later tonight, and then I promise I'll have a final decision." Gaston's smile faded, and he sighed frustratedly. Belle said, "I'm sorry. I just don't know yet. It's hard to answer this question. Please just come back tonight, and I promise I'll have an answer." I smirked and turned back around. Gaston said, "Okay… I want you to say yes when I ask you again. You will soon divorce that 'husband' of yours." Offensive! She's MY wife; not yours! Belle gasped quietly after he said that, and then she looked at me when I peeked over again. We both smiled, and she said, "Well… I don't know. Please just come back later tonight and I'll tell you my decision." Gaston frowned and sighed angrily; I smiled and laughed quietly. He got up and stormed out of the castle.

I stopped hiding from Belle and I walked to her. She was smiling at my smiling face, and she said, "Hi…" I grabbed her face and I said smiling, "Hi…" She asked laughing, "What are you doing?" I said, "Uh, I don't know. I'm getting this feeling that you love me… you weren't mad at me last night. You… just wanted to be mad at me…" She made an "I'm sorry" face, and she said, "I don't know. I feel like I love Gaston a lot… but I don't know about you. I have a lot of apologies to make." I let go of her face, and she gently grabbed my hands and said smiling, "Don't let go. Hold onto me forever." She put my hands on her face again, and I smiled. I asked, "You love me, don't you?" She smiled a little, and then she said, "Well… maybe my memory's halfway back. Cause I still kind of love Gaston… but I'm starting to like you." Oh, boy! I knew it all along! Belle is still in love with me! She asked smiling, "Do you like me?" I smiled and said, "Belle… I love you more than anyone and anything. You are the best thing in my life. I can never forget you, and I never will." She smiled, and then she said, "Come on. Give me it." I asked laughing, "Give you what?" Then, she hugged me tightly. I hugged her back, and we both were smiling. When I looked out the window, I saw GASTON staring right at us! I gasped, and Belle looked at me and asked, "What's wrong?" I pointed at Gaston and she turned around and screamed. She backed up into me, and I wrapped my arms around her.

He stormed into my castle, and he slammed the door. He said angrily, "Belle, you hugged a man you don't love! You have told me that you don't love him, and that I'm the best thing in your life! How can you do this to me?!" She said, "Gaston… I had a life in the past, I guess, when I was married to Adam. Yes, I love you, but I like Adam, and you are going to have to deal with it! I don't know for sure what to say to your propose." Ha! The loser is getting burned! I smirked and Gaston yelled at me, "Stop smiling! When I come back tonight, you will be dead!" Belle screamed, "No! Gaston!" He smiled evilly and he said, "Oh yes, Belle! You'll be married to me! Exactly what I said a year ago! You'll be sorry you didn't let her go, Beast!" I yelled, "I'm not a Beast! I'm clearly human!" Gaston scoffed and said, "You're still a Beast to me!" Then he walked out of my castle saying, "Say goodbye Beast!"

He finally left, and Belle looked at me in concern. I said, "I'll be fine. He won't get me." She hugged me, and then started crying in my shoulder. I hugged her and rubbed her back. I know Gaston won't get me. I'll make sure of that. Belle will even make sure of that because tonight is the night she will remember everything.