AN: Just a short, little chapter to get you thru the waiting. Things are starting to get into motion! Thanks to everyone who's been reading and/or reviewing =D
Disclaimer: To my heart's dismay, I do not own any offspring of the creative minds at Disney.
"What happened to you?" Lia practically screeched when she saw Belle the next day at school.
"Yeah, Belle. Are you okay?" Lenny asked with concern. Their eyes had widened in shock as they took in Belle's appearance; there was a bruise on her forehead and wrists, and a small cut on her neck just below her ear, and they immediately began asking questions. "You look like you took a tumble down a flight of stairs!"
"Guys, relax. I'm okay." Belle said as she gathered her books from her backpack. Her shoulder was sore and she was a bit bruised up, but other than that she felt fine. If Adam hadn't shown up, who knows what could've happened. She shivered slightly at the thought as she struggled to put her books on the top shelf of her locker, wincing at the pain when she saw a bandaged arm take her books and put them in place for her.
"Thanks Adam," she told him with a smile.
"No problem. How are you feeling?"
"Better than yesterday. How about you?"
"Good. Put a new bandage on this morning and it looks like its healing already."
"That's good." They were oblivious to the three people standing in front of them until Charlie coughed to get their attention.
"Adam, you know what happened to her? Why are you all cut up? Would one of you mind telling us what the hell is going on?" he said hotly.
"Yeah," Lenny chimed in, "and why you guys are best friends all of a sudden?" Belle and Adam looked at each other with small grins on their faces as they relayed the story of the night before to their good friends. Other kids who were walking by stopped to listen, but far enough to make it seem like they weren't eavesdropping. By the time lunch came around, the whole school was talking about what happened. They were all asking if Belle was alright and if she needed anything, while they treated Adam with more isolation than before. Anyone who beat up an entire gang with their bare hands (on their own turf no less) was someone you didn't want to say the wrong thing to, so they avoided him. Adam didn't seem to mind at all; he walked from class to class without anyone bothering him while Belle had a horde of people surrounding her everywhere she went often shooting him a look of annoyance whenever she saw him, but he just grinned as he shrugged his shoulders and told her, "Just be thankful it's Friday."
Belle poured herself a cup of coffee when she got to the bookstore the next morning to warm herself up. She had worn two sweaters that morning because it was so cold, but soon put away the extra one after ten minutes as she got used to the warmth of the store. Adam was going to meet her here when she was done with story time so they could get a proper study session in, hopefully not having it turn into another disaster like last time. When Martha had seen her, she nearly knocked her over.
"Belle! My goodness dear, are you all right? I heard what happened with you and that gang of ruffians the other night." Martha explained as gave her a tight hug. Belle grimaced at the pain and let out a heavy sigh of relief when Martha finally let her go.
"News sure travels fast in this town." Belle said, turning to rinse her cup.
"You should have called the police! They won't be so nice to you next time, you can be sure."
"There won't be a 'next time' Martha. Someone took care of them already."
"Who? Who, dear?" Belle was about to answer her when the children for story time started to show up and made their way to the reading area, Belle having to leave a very curious Martha alone with her questions.
"...and the princess and her prince lived happily ever after." Belle finished as she looked out at the small faces that were sitting patiently. Some of their parents had already shown up and they seemed to be just as into the story as their kids were; some were leaning against the wall, listening quietly, others had shown up early had taken seats and even ordered a cup of coffee or a pastry. She smiled as she closed the book and placed it on her lap and told the children that their parents were here to take them home, each one talking excitedly about the book. Chip was there, waiting for Lia to take him home but she was taking an unusually long time to get here today so Belle had treated him to a chocolate chip cookie and a cup of milk while he waited for here. When he was settled, she gathered the books from the reading circle and ventured to the shelves to put them back in place when she heard the door open and Chip's little voice chimed up.
"Hi!"
"Hey, buddy. How is it going?" Belle peeked through the bookshelf to see who Chip was talking to. It was Adam!
"I'm good. Wanna piece of my cookie? I can't eat it all...if I do I'll get a tummy ache." Belle was surprised when she saw Adam take a small piece of the cookie and eat it, but not before he secretly rubbed some chocolate on his lip and asked Chip if there was something of his face at which Chip started giggling like crazy. Belle never saw this side of him before; he was completely different with Chip than with anyone else almost...happy. She rushed to the back room to get her coat and scarf so she and Adam could leave as soon as Lia got there, not knowing that there was a small smile on her face.
Adam wiped the chocolate from his face and looked around.
"Is Belle still here, bud?"
"Yup. Do you need to talk to her?"
"We're going to study together."
"Why do you have to study?"
"Because my grades aren't good and Belle is going to help me do better."
"I think Belle's pretty. Do you think she's pretty?"
Adam hesitated. He knew that you had to be careful when you said things around kids at this age. "Yeah, I think she's very pretty."
"Why don't you be her boyfriend?" Adam stared at the little boy in shock.
"Uh...I don't think so, Chip."
"Why? Don't you like her? If you tell her you think she's pretty then she'll be your girlfriend."
Adam had to laugh at that. "It's not that simple buddy. But listen, you have to promise not to say anything about that to anyone, please? Promise me."
"Okay. Let's pinky swear. But I still think you should be her boyfriend." Adam shushed Chip as Belle came around the corner.
"Hi Adam," Belle took the empty plate and glass from the table and set them on the counter. "Lia's still not here? She was supposed to pick up Chip ten minutes ago."
"Lia's at home working on an essay, so she asked me to bring him home."
"Oh. Okay, well then I guess we can study tomorrow."
"Why don't you go to Adam's house? He's got a big house...and a big room just for studying!"
"The room is called a 'study', kiddo. You don't just use it to study. Besides, Belle doesn't want to-"
"Okay," Belle interrupted. "I mean, it doesn't make sense for you to drive all the way to Lia's house and then come all the way back here. I'll just go with you and then you can bring me home later." Adam didn't blink until Chip tugged on his sleeve and brought him back to reality.
"O-okay. Let's do that then."
"Great. Let me just get Chip's coat on and we'll get going." As she walked over to the coat rack Adam crouched down to Chip's level.
"Did you do that on purpose?" Adam eyed him warily. Chip shrugged his shoulders with a smile stretched across his face.
"Why?" Adam groaned.
"Because," Chip stated as he hopped down from his chair, "you're chicken."
