Belle didn't really like the mall. Too crowded, too noisy, horrible pop music blasting inside every store, overly perky shop assistants trying to direct you over to their sale was too much. She only went when she had too for occasional new clothes or gift shopping and such. Practical trips, an 'in and out' kind of deal. It wasn't somewhere she'd really hang out just because she had nothing better to do.
But here she was, standing in the middle of Barnes and Noble, flipping through book after book on a friday night. She checked her phone. It was only 6:30. Belle huffed, annoyed. She could have sworn she'd wasted at least another half hour since she last checked, but it'd only been ten minutes.
"Do you need any help miss-"
"No, thank you" Belle cut off the shop assistant girl curtly before she could finish her sentence. She slunk away quietly, looking a little peeved, but Belle ignored the look. That was the fifth one to ask her that. You'd think they'd get the hint. She shelved the Oriental cook book she'd been flipping through and wandered over to the travel section, picking up a guide to the city of Berlin and opening it onto a random page. She'd already spent the last hour looking at all the books in all the interesting sections and now she was really reaching for anything to waste her time on.
The reason she didn't want to go home just yet was because of her father. Even just admitting that to herself made Belle feel guilty for even thinking that way but she couldn't help it. He was so miserable over how imminent it was that he'd lose his job. For the past week Belle had been as supportive as she could, comforting him and crying with him, trying to cheer him up. It was emotionally draining to deal with that every night in a row, and as much as she loved her Dad, it was hard. It brought her back to the months after her Mom died and she hated that time. She really didn't want her home to be a sad place again like it had been, even in the slightest. Belle just wished she could at least try and help her Dad, even just a little bit, but ultimately she knew she was in a pretty useless position, which only made it more frustrating.
So for this one evening she just wanted to be on her own and she'd gotten on a bus straight after school to come here. It was just a break, she promised herself she'd be 100% dedicated before the weekend came. She would spend the next two days being there for him.
As a man motioned to shuffle past her in the aisle, Belle dropped her gaze from her book to politely move out of his way and in that second her eyes flicked past him she did a double take as she noticed a very familiar boy walk in the entrance of the shop.
The boy from the library!
Belle didn't entirely know why but her mind went on high alert but she just knew she didn't want to be spotted by him. She quickly threw the travel guide back on to the shelf and ducked down low in the aisle out of his sight. Maybe it was because she worried she looked pathetic hanging around on a friday by herself, or because she only had on an old faded cardigan and denim skirt she'd gotten from target for $10, but she usually didn't care about what people thought of her. Maybe it was because she had this image in her head of the next time they'd meet after their brie exchange in the library. She would be sitting serenely in the park in her best dress, reading her brand new copy of the Hunger Games at her leisure, when he would walk past her and for some reason, maybe an uprooted branch or something, he would trip and fall into a huge mud puddle, his own undeserved copy of the book being damaged beyond repair. He would come up to her, muddy and embarrassed and beg to borrow her copy so he could learn the ending, but she would refuse with a casual wave of her hand. Maybe he would also beg at her feet and apologise for being so rude. She would still say no though. Also he would totally get a huge fine from the library for ruining the book.
That was the revenge she fantasised about anyway.
As she shimmied commando style across the floor to the safety of the classic fiction section, thinking it the safest way to avoid him and get to the doors, she ran into a pair of ugly brown loafers. Belle stopped and peered up at the shop assistant.
"Miss, what are you doing on the floor?" She tutted in a voice that was far louder than it had to be. A few people turned to look.
Belle had half a mind to just keep crawling past her to safety but she was blocking her way in the aisle.
"Um...I...was looking for a book...on the bottom shelf"
"I thought you said you didn't need any assistance" The lady said in a smug tone, arms folded.
"I don't"
"Oh, really?"
"yes" Belle hissed, wishing the women would just go away. In the silent book store she was attracting a lot of attention, she needed to get out fast.
"Look, miss, i'm going to have to ask you to get up off the floor-"
"Ok, ok, I'm getting up-" Belle froze mid crouch as she looked past the assistant and saw the boy walk right past the end of the aisle they were in.
"Uh, miss?"
Without another word Belle abandoned the shop assistant as she hightailed it down the length of the aisle and turned around to go down the next one, deciding she would zig zag down the rows of book cases, doing a loop around the boy to get to the doors without him spotting her. She made it down safely and peered around the end, checking if the coast was clear. She turned to go down the next one but froze. He was there, right in the middle of the aisle flipping through a book.
She should've made the split second decision to turn around on the spot right there and run back the way she came but she didn't, she panicked. His head turned towards her and Belle hurriedly grabbed a random book, any book, off the shelve closest to her and shoved her nose in it, trying to look casual.
She didn't even focus on the page she had in front of her, she just held the book at an angle that she hoped was doing it's best to hide her face.
'Please don't let him have seen me, please don't let him have seen me, please don't let him have seen me'
Belle chanted in her head as she winced, hearing footsteps close in towards her.
He had seen her.
"Belle. I thought it was you"
The first thing that flashed across Belle's mind was 'How the hell does this guy know my name', and the second was to put on a big fake smile and try to act normal like she totally hadn't been trying to run out of the store to avoid him.
"Heeeeeey you, oh my god, small world, fancy seeing you here!"
It came out so high pitch and strained she instantly regretted even opening her mouth. The boy just nodded, tight lipped.
There was an awkward pause until he started speaking again.
"So, um, doing some light reading?"
Belle was confused as he smirked at her and nodded down to the book she forgot she was holding, until she flipped over to its cover and actually read the title.
'1001 sex positions for experimental couples'
Belle stood rooted to the spot, her smile frozen, her eyes widening.
If somehow lightening could somehow appear from the sky, blast its way through the roof of the mall and somehow find its way to her to strike her dead, she wished it would.
"I, uh...yeah" Belle tried to remain calm as she felt her face burning "It's for..a..um...school assignment. Sex education. Yeah" she said, that being the best she could come up with.
"Sure it is" he said, smiling, obviously not believing her.
"Oh, It is!"
"Mmhmm"
"Yeah!"
"Especially since no one in our year has sex ed classes until next semester"
"...it's...an online course that I take for extra credit"
"An online sex ed course? That sounds like some kind of metaphor for porn if you ask me"
Belle pulled a face "Ugh, no! Of course it isn't, don't be crude"
"Says the girl who was reading up on the 'lotus' position in the middle of a bookstore" He said, peering over her shoulder at the page she had open until Belle snapped it shut, now blushing beyond belief.
"You just...shut up" Belle snapped, giving him a very clear look of dislike as she turned and stalked away to the exit.
Bad move.
As soon as she tried to move through the doors the automatic alarms sounded off, making her jump. She forgot she still had the book in her hands.
Everyone in the store was looking at Belle as she turned to face the Shop assistant who had made her way over to her.
"You need to pay for that" she said coldly, her eyebrow raising as she caught a look at the title.
"...I know that" Belle tried to sound as dignified as she could as she walked stiffly over to the counter, avoiding any and all eye contact. She silently handed over her bank card to pay for the book she didn't even want, her eyes widening as she realised it was thirty five dollars, but still she said nothing. The lady at the cash register even slipped the book into a brown paper bag, which made Belle feel like she really was buying a porn book.
"Thanks" She said briskly ,tucking the book under her arm, head held high as she made her way out of the shop as fast as she could.
As Belle power walked through the mall she let out a deep breathe. She could honestly say that had been the single most embarrassing moment of her life. It hadn't quite sunk in yet. This was one of those moments that you would look back on time and time again and it will make you cringe. Maybe she could move to a different school, a different town even. Hell maybe even a different state. She had relatives in France, maybe they would let her stay there...forever.
Screw hanging around the mall any longer, she needed to get home. She needed to scream into a pillow for a few hours and then try and sleep without this scene playing over and over in her head.
As she just about to walk out of the big glass sliding doors of the mall, she forgot to look where she was going and as she walked past a large group of people making their way in, someones stray elbow knocked it's way right into her shoulder which sent her sprawling to the ground, the book falling from her arms.
"Oh, shit sorry!" A guys voice called out, doubling back to check if she was alright.
"Jeez man, look where you're going" Another guys voice added.
Belle blinked as she was helped up by the boy. He was wearing a Disney High Varsity jacket. The ones the football team wore. So was his friend.
"Are you ok?" A girls voice asked worriedly. She was wearing a Disney high cheerleading uniform.
"Uh, yeah I'm fine" Belle brushed herself off, wondering how many times in a day she could be embarrassed and just what kind of bad karma she'd racked up to deserve this, when she heard his voice.
"Belle!"
Oh god no.
"Heeeeey Gaston" Belle used the same voice she'd used on the boy in the bookshop.
"You know her?" One of the three identical blonde girls asked, and Gaston nodded, not taking his eyes off of Belle.
"Yeah, she's a sophomore at school" he said, sidling up to her and Belle stiffened as he slung an arm over her shoulders "One of the prettiest"
Belle smiled awkwardly, not knowing what she should say. She saw all the three of the triplets eyes narrow.
"We were just going to grab some pizza over at the food court, you should come with" Gaston asked, oblivious to the blonde girls as he looked to Belle.
"Oh, no. I couldn't, I was just going home now anyway and-" but Gaston didn't let her finish.
"Come oooon, it's free, it's with us, what's not to like?"
Belle tried to slip out of his grasp but he only tightened the arm he had around her, keeping her by his side.
"Its nice of you to offer, but I planned to have dinner at home with dad so I really can't"
At this point Gaston put on some kind of face that was a mix of a pout and Ben Stiller's 'Blue Steel'.
"Pleeeaase?"
Belle got the idea that this was meant to be endearing.
I't wasn't.
"Sorry" she said, gently taking his arm off her shoulder and sliding away from him "But I really do need to go" Belle smiled apologetically as she once again made her way to the exit "Bye"
She finally thought she'd made it out as she waved but then she heard Gaston call out to her.
"Hey wait, you dropped that thing you were carrying"
Oh
God
No
Belle could feel the alarm Belle's in her head ringing and her insides freeze as she saw Gaston bend down and pick up the paper bag containing the book.
"I, uh, yeah thats mine" she forced herself to laugh casually as she quickly walked back to grab it off him, but he swiped it out of her reach at the last second, a playful smile on his face.
"You want it?" He teased, holding it just out of reach.
"Gaston, seriously, just give it back" Belle said, trying to keep cool while making another lunge for it but again Gaston was too quick.
"Oop, too slow" he laughed, holding it above his head.
"Haha, yeah, very funny" Belle laughed along with the others. Gaston dipped it down again and Belle swiped it again, unlucky for a third time, making them laugh harder.
The smile slipped from Belles face.
"Ok, ok, I'm sorry. I'm just playing around, here, you can have it back" Gaston said seriously, holding it out to her.
"Thank you" Belle said, reaching for it but at the last second Gaston pulled it back and laughed.
"Okay, seriously! Cut it out" a slight edge crept it's way into Belle's voice that made Gaston raise his eyebrows.
"Ooh, serious face
"Give it back now"
"Why so urgent, jeez, i'm just messing with you. Calm down. There something in here you don't want us seeing?" He joked but he saw the flash that crossed Belle's face. "Ooh I think there is"
"Ok, come on guys" Lottie stepped in "You're not in grade school anymore, just give it back to the girl"
"Yeah, come on, it's not even funny anymore" Giselle agreed, feeling bad for Belle who she could see was turning pale.
"No, I wanna see whats in the mystery bag, don't you guys?" Gaston stared round at his football friends who nodded in agreement.
"Yeah open it!" One of the Bimbettes called out gleefully, her sisters nodding.
"No, please, don't! Really, this isn't funny" Belle practically begged to Gaston as she desperately tried to reach the book but Gaston easily held her back with one of his huge arms. It was no use though, in one swift movement he tore off the paper to see the book. In the second it took for his eyes to scan over the cover Belle really wished that lightening bolt would come and strike her down for real this time, or that the ground could open up and swallow her, anything that could stop her from being here right now.
" .God" Gaston said slowly, looking at the book, a huge grin on his face "You are joking!" he cracked as he began to laugh.
As the others peered over to see Gaston hold up the book, all of their jaws dropped too and they let out splutters of disbelieving laughter too.
"No way!" One of the Bimbettes shrieked.
"Oh, wow..." Giselle peered at the book and then at Belle.
The boys were all falling over each other laughing, making disgusting noises and cat calls.
Gaston was the first to stop laughing but in a way that was worse. The self satisfied look he was giving Belle made her want to throw up in her mouth a little. He smirked and shook his head, staring down at the book again.
"It's always the quiet ones, huh? I really would never have guessed"
"It's not what you think.." Belle said quietly, her face bright red as she stared down at her shoes.
"So what's your favourite? Position I mean. Apparently there's 1001 to choose from" he laughed at his own joke.
While he was distracted Lottie quickly grabbed the book from his hands, he didn't seem to mind much though, and she walked over to hand it back to Belle.
"Heres your book" Lottie said, not exactly looking Belle in the eye as she took it "and uh...sorry about them"
Belle mumbled a thanks, feeling so ashamed right now she could barely stand it. It took all of her effort not to just run full speed out of that door but she tried to handle it calmly and just walk right past them, but Gaston grabbed her by her wrist and bent down low to her ear, a horrible smile on his face.
"You know learning from books is great and all, but if you ever want to learn some moves first hand, you can always come to me you know"
Belle pulled a disgusted face as she tried to pull away "You pig!"
Gastons grip tightened and he scoffed "Whoa, no need to be rude. I was just offering my assistance-"
"Well I don't need your assistance!" Belle scowled up at him and he frowned.
"Hey, just because you're pretty doesn't mean you can act like a bitch to me"
Belle still struggled against his grip "I am not being a bitch, you're being an asshole!" she said, her voice growing louder. "Now let me go!"
He twisted her wrist just enough to cause her real pain and she winced "Maybe you should be a little nicer considering I could tell the whole school about your slutty book"
"Gaston, calm down-" Giselle stepped in, putting a hand on his shoulder but he shrugged her off, still glaring down at Belle.
"Yeah, come on man, she ain't worth it" One of his friends added from in the background.
Gaston still ignored them as he glared down at Belle "I always thought you were such a nice girl too, all those times you turned me down I thought it was because you were shy, but nah, turns out you're not so shy after all" he nodded cruelly down at the book and Belle gasped. With her free hand she slapped him hard across the face.
Everyone looked shocked at what she'd done, even Belle, and for a second Gaston gave her a look like he was going to slap her right back but just then a voice called out from behind them all.
"Let her go"
Belle turned as she heard the recognisable voice. It was the boy.
He stood there defiantly a few metres away, his expression hard as he looked at Gaston.
Gaston scoffed "Who are you man? You got a problem?"
"Yeah, I got a problem. Let the girl go and then it's solved. Simple"
"Why the hell should I? You don't even know what's going on, you don't know what a rude little bitch she's being. Why the hell should I do anything you tell me too?" Gaston sneered. Both boys stepped up closer to each other, in Gaston's case he dragged Belle with him.
"Yeah, this is none of your business man, back off" one of the other footballers joined in. Within seconds all of his friends had rallied behind Gaston for support, the girls in the background looking worriedly on.
"So you all think it's ok for him to push around a woman?" he said defiantly, even though he was outnumbered.
"Whoa! Who said anything about pushing her around" Gaston had the nerve to be offended "She hit me man, I'm holding her to keep her off me!"
"Yeah man, we saw, she's crazy"
"She went at him"
"Look at his cheek you can see the mark"
"Where do you get off making accusations"
The team of course were going to back up Gaston and Belle looked at the boy , silently begging him to just step away now. What was he even thinking? He was a big guy, sure, but so was Gaston and even if those two were evenly matched, Gaston had a whole team backing him up. Boys and fights! God, it made them stupid.
"Okay, enough! Everyone settle down!"
Lottie seemed to agree as she stepped up to the group of testosterone riddled males and held up her arms to keep them apart, her shrill southern voice making everyone wince.
"Were in a mall for gods sake! If you start something here we'll all get busted big time by those little mall cops on their segways, and personally, I would rather just get my pizza!" She scolded the football players by giving them disapproving looks, and you wouldn't think that this would be too effective but they seemed to settle down a bit, even if they were still glaring.
"Yeah, come on. Lets just go, ok?" Giselle took a couple of boys by the arms and gently pulled them with her to get them to walk away, and Lottie did the same.
Gaston shot one more dirty look on the boys direction before letting go of Belle. He didn't say another word as he followed his group towards the food court, but as one of the triplets passed by Belle, she saw her mutter the word 'whore' her way before sidling up to Gaston.
As Belle stood there with her book and watched them leave she let out a haggered sigh. She felt so shaken up by all that. The embarrassment, the shock, the anger. She'd never even fought with anyone like that before, never had someone act that way to her face.
"You okay?"
"What? Yeah...yeah, I'll be fine"
Belle didn't even know what to say to the guy. He'd stood up for her. They barely even knew each other. She didn't even know his name.
"Thanks" she said simply, not feeling like that was enough, but it was all she could think of at the moment.
"Don't worry about it" he shrugged, seemingly not even phased. "You wanna go get a coffee or something?"
So that was how Belle found herself sitting at one of the upstairs coffee shops at a little secluded table with a boy she had just an hour ago been commando crawling across a floor to avoid. Funny how things turn out, definitely not what she expected.
Then again she didn't expect to own a sex therapy book today either.
"You're gonna keep that?"
"I paid thirty four dollars for it" Belle shrugged "Would be a waste of money to just throw it away. I'll hide it under my mattress or something, I dunno"
She tore open another sugar packet and poured it into her hazelnut latte. Belle heard him sniff as he noticed. He'd done the same thing at the register when they ordered, said it was a girly, pretentious drink. Figured, he was the straight black coffee type.
"So why'd you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Help me" Belle stated "You didn't need too, I don't think he really would have hurt me" she said, not completely sure that was true.
He shrugged "Mainly because I don't like those guys. I would have liked a good reason to punch Gaston in the face"
"Oh"
For a second Belle had thought it was some kind of act of chivalry on her behalf, but ok then. Maybe that was a little arrogant to assume. She felt silly for even imagining it now.
"And also because of this" Belle looked up as Adam slid a hand into his jeans pocket and pulled out a bank card. Belles bank card "You left it at the counter in the bookshop. The shop assistants were in no hurry to run after you so I said i'd take it. Lucky it made me come after you really"
Belle took it "Um, thanks, I didn't realise"
"My names Adam by the way"
"Hm? Oh, yeah. Sorry, it totally slipped my mind to even ask. My minds just a little everywhere right now" Belle look sheepish, feeling rude. "I'm Belle"
"I know"
"You do? Wait, you called me Belle in the book store didn't you" Belle said, more to herself than him "Um, no offence but how-?"
Adam let out a kind of humourless laugh "Because were in the same year maybe?I'm in your science and english class, I sit a few rows behind you in math?"
Belle blinked at him, studying his face to see if he was joking.
"Really? Nothing?"
"But you look way older! When I saw you in the library I thought you were a senior, or at least a year older than me. We cant be the same age, I'm about up to your armpit!" Belle said, feeling too shocked to start feeling stupid over not noticing this guy in half her classes.
"Everyones shorter than me, even most of the seniors are" Adam said, sipping his coffee.
"Were you in any of my classes last year? Come on, I can't have been that blind" Belle laughed but Adam stayed serious.
"I was in your home EC class, but I did use to ditch that a lot, so I guess its understandable"
Belle looked like she was racking her brain to try and mentally place him anywhere in that classroom but she still came up with nothing.
"I could tell you were a bit of a space case but this is a whole other level"
"Space case?"
"In your own little world all the time. Don't notice anything around you. Self involved" He shrugged and Belle looked a little offended.
"I am not self involved. I notice plenty of things"
"Like me for example?"
Belle stayed silent.
"Exactly"
The silence between them crept on as they sat and drank their coffees. Adam with his unreadable poker face staring off into space, Belle looking at him intently over her mug as she sipped. It really did annoy her that she couldn't recognise him at all.
Then her mind seemed to suddenly snap back to that conversation she had with Mulan in the hall the other day, bits of what she said coming back to her all at once like a wave.
'Adam!'
'-guy in our year? Tall, kind of long hair-'
'-His dad is the director of G.E.D!-'
"You! Your the guy who's dad owns G.E.D!" Belle blurted out.
Adam looked a little taken a back by the question but nodded slowly "Yeeeah" he trailed on, looking at her to continue.
"I ..I do know you. I mean I've heard of you. Once, from a friend. I just didn't know it was you...if that makes sense. I thought you were just some rude guy in a library and then you ended up being a guy who kind of sort of saved me but then it turns out your the guy i've wanted to talk too all week and now I'm having coffee with you, not even knowing it was you!"
Adam gave her a tired look.
"Ok, stay with me right now, I don't really know where to start with this exactly so lets just ignore that fact that i'm freaking out about how much of a coincidence this is and i'll just start talking, ok? Ok"
Adam watched Belle in silence, his expression unreadable, as she rambled on at rapid pace about her dad and his job and the eazy-cheezy. She mentioned her mother and her families money troubles, how his dads company planned to lay her father off and how he was desperate for an interview with the board of directors to pitch his product. She practically tried to pitch the product to him right there, describing ten different ways of making a grilled cheese that he had never heard of before. He didn't pause her once and just let her go on and on nervously until she ran out of things to say.
"-and uh, yeah. That's about it really" she stopped and gave him an anxious look, waiting for a reply. Adam was quiet for what felt for a long time.
"Soo?" she prodded gently "Could you help me? Help my father I mean"
Adam nodded slowly as if he was trying to understand what she wanted him to do "Just so were clear, You want me to go and talk to my dad, your dad's boss, to get him to take a look at this Eazy-Cheezy thing?"
"Yes"
"In the hopes that he'll love it and it will make you both rich and your dad can keep his job?"
"Well, ah, yes but not just to make us rich per say, just-"
"So basically you want to use me? Go through me to get to the big guy, an easy way to the top"
"What? No, it's not like that...exactly" Belle flustered.
"That sounds exactly what it's like"
Belle frowned at him "You're twisting my words"
"You think you're the first person to come to me to get to my dad? Not even just for jobs but for money in general. It's pathetic"
Belle gaped "Hey, theres no need to get defensive, geez. I just wanted to help my dad. I didn't know what else to do and i'm desperate!"
"Desperate enough to come and beg for a favour from someone you didn't even notice for a whole year?" Adam said as if he found it funny, but there was no trace of a smile on his lips.
Belle shook her head "Whatever, if you don't want to help that's fine. No need to be like that about it" she went to grab her book and stand up but Adam suddenly spoke up.
"Didn't say I wouldn't help" He gave her a look that made her pause.
"I don't get what you mean" she said suspiciously, taking her seat again.
"I mean i'd be willing to go to my dad about saving your dad's job"
Belle blinked "Wait, what, really? But you seemed annoyed that I even-"
"Just not as a favour. It wouldn't be fair of you to ask this giant favour of me and then I don't get anything in return, right?" He asked, making direct eye contact with her, making Belle shift in her seat.
"I guess?" she said nervously "So this means you want something from me?"
Adam finally gave her a smile, or as close to a smile as he had gotten. One of the corners of his mouth twitching upwards, as if to congratulating her on finally getting it.
Belle took a deep breath "What is it? I don't have much money"
"I thought it would be obvious, since I'm the son of one of the worlds richest CEO's, but I don't need money"
"Then what?"
Adam shrugged casually "Not much, i'd just want you to do a few small things for me. Like my homework, write essays for me, fetch my lunch from the cafeteria, carry my textbooks for me, get me coffee-" he started listing off all these mundane tasks and Belle's eyes narrowed.
"Wait wait wait, are you really asking me to be like your little slave?" She let out a laugh, hoping he was kidding but he looked completely serious.
"I prefer the term unwilling personal assistant"
"Oh my god what is this, a bad 80's sitcom episode? I'm not going to be your school slave for a day!"
"Who said it would be a day? I was thinking the whole term"
Belle looked at him in disbelief "You're kidding"
"And it wouldn't just be at school either, say if I wanted you to come to my house and clean my room or alphabetise all my DVD's for example"
"Oh my god you're not kidding"
There was a silence as they looked at each other across the table, Adam looking smug.
"There's no way i'm doing this" Belle said sharply.
"It's a pretty good deal considering you also owe me for what happened with Gaston"
"You can't use that! It was an act of chivalry"
"It really wasn't" Adam deadpanned, draining the last of his coffee.
"I didn't even ask for you to do that anyway" Belle sniffed as she grabbed her book, really intending to leave right now. She rifled around in her purse for a bit of spare change and she threw It down on the table "That's for the coffee. I don't need to accept any charity and I don't need you to demean me either by making me some sort of slave-"
"Personal assistant-"
"Call it what you want I'm not doing it" she said fiercely, turning on the spot to storm out of the coffee shop.
"Not even to help your dad? I thought you said you were desperate?"
Belle almost turned around as he called out to her, but she didn't, she just clutched the book to her chest in order to hide its cover from passer bys and kept walking.
Even when she heard his footsteps follow her out into the halls of the mall she didn't slow down. Unfortunately, even with her quick steps, she couldn't out walk his freakishly long legs and he caught up with ease to stroll besides her. She made a point to not even look at him.
"Wouldn't be too bad. Being a personal assistant is a real job you know. You could probably even put it on a resume once you're done"
Belle still didn't acknowledge his presence.
"What else do you have in mind to help your dad then? Any back up plans now that this one doesn't seem to be panning out how you'd hoped?"
"I'll find something" she said curtly.
"Yeah, like what?"
Belle went back to being silent.
"Thought so"
She suddenly came to halt all together and turned to face him, malice in her voice "Is there a reason you're following me? I didn't forget my bank card again last time I checked"
Adam silently swiped out a card from his wallet and held it out to her. She took it off him and glanced over it. It was a business card. She decided not to scoff over that fact the he had his own business cards.
"My numbers on it. Just go home and think about the offer" and with that he didn't say a word of goodbye and he walked back the way he'd came. Belle didn't watch him leave as she turned the card over in her hands.
She couldn't help but think that she'd been saved from one jerk today only to end up in the hands of another.
A/N: So I ended up dedicating an entire chapter to Belle. Gosh I ended up embarrassing her so much, but I love her really. But I also love awkward comedy. So yeah. Poor Belle.
I guess most of you probably didn't know where the hell I was going with the whole 'Belle's dad made a thing called the eazy-cheezy' thing , but now you know. I hope all the allusions to the movie aren't too predictable, but yeah, Belle is forced into being Beasts prisoner to save her father and this is the modern day equivalent I could come up with.
Not many questions I can think of for this chapter, I can only ask what you hope happens for the future! I have a solid plan for what happens to everyone, but that doesn't mean I alter things as I go along and I love hearing suggestions, so feel free to drop in a review :D I appreciate every single one I get.
