A/N: Cliffhanger alert! Hope I don't get shot by the fans... I promise, no matter what happens, I am not killing anyone. It is just the usual Regina scheming, and I can't help the fact that she is manipulative and cruel. So if you think or see that a character has "died," they have not. Love you all! Joanne 3
28. Numb The Pain
I began to shove all my things into bags as I hurriedly packed with the intention of never returning to that house ever again. I should have known better. I should have never moved in with him. Despite what I wanted to believe, everyone was right about him; he was the town bastard. He owned everything and everyone in town, and I was just a pawn in one of his games.
"Belle, listen to me," said Mr. Gold from behind the door.
"She doesn't want to talk to you!" shouted Ruby, who was holding the door shut. "You have no idea what kind of pain and misery you have inflicted on her! And now that the word is out that we used to work at Moe's… my Gran is going to kill me!"
"I swear I didn't tell her," he said as I threw the last pair of sneakers into my bag. "I made a deal to never reveal that confidential information, and I never break a deal dearie."
"Just leave her alone you liar!" screamed Ruby. "Jeeze, and I was starting to believe you had changed too! But I guess some people never change."
"Ruby, clear the door," I said quietly. I handed her several bags, and I took the rest, as she stood aside and opened the door. I looked down at the floor, refusing to meet his gaze. "This is the last time you will see me, the last time you will ever hurt me."
"Belle, please," he choked. "Please listen to me…"
I ignored him as I walked out of the front door of his house, not even looking back as I packed my car, and drove off with Ruby in the passenger seat.
When we got to Granny's Diner, I parked and entered the diner with Ruby. As soon as we entered, everyone inside was staring at us strangely. I wiped my tears, thinking it was just how upset I looked that attracted attention. Then, Granny came out.
"RUBY!" she shouted as she walked purposely over to us. She grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. "IS IT TRUE? ARE THE RUMORS TRUE? IS MY ONLY GRANDDAUGHTER A STRIPPER?"
"Gran," sighed Ruby.
"Oh my God," Gran wailed as she began to cry. Then she turned on me. "And you brought her into this sin den didn't you? You two were always inseparable. You convinced her to dance and strip to make money."
"I didn't do anything-" I started. There was a loud SMACK, and I fell to the floor, trying to register how such an old lady had that much strength. Tears welled in my eyes.
"You two are not welcome here, or in my home," she said quietly. "Get out. I do not allow whores as patrons. LEAVE!"
"But Granny," pleaded Ruby. "I'm your granddaughter. Where am I going to find a job? I've quit working at Moe's, and Belle has too. We need a place to stay, especially since she's left Mr.-"
"SINNERS!" she screamed. She looked right at me. "Both of you… Especially you, Belle. Living with THAT man. Do you have any idea what he has done? That man is the lowest of low. He has committed acts too heinous to even discuss. And you thought you could change him? Make him a better man? Make him love you so you could get some money and jewels from him? You are just as bad as Mr. Gold, Belle!"
I was speechless. The one woman who was like a mother to me growing up was rejecting me. "Come on Ruby. We're obviously not welcome here…"
"Gran, please," sobbed Ruby. "Please, don't kick us out. Not now, when we need help…"
Granny turned her back, and looked at her customers who were enrapt in the scene that was unfolding before them. "RETURN TO YOUR BURGERS AND FRIES!" she shouted dangerously. There was a clanking of utensils, and I took Ruby, and helped lead the sobbing girl out of the diner.
"She kicked me out!" she wailed. "What am I going to do?"
"There's only one thing we can do," I said, wiping her now distorted mascara-ed eyes. "We are going to party until the pain goes away…"
. . .
Like a G6 blasted at the Blue Fairy as Ruby and I took another Jello shot. "Fuck them all," said Ruby as her drinking began to lighten up her mood slightly. "Who needs them? All I need is my best girl right here, and I can conquer the world."
"Ditto to that," I said as I knocked back a shot of whiskey. It burned my throat, but the pain wasn't as bad as my broken heart. I figured in time, I would get used to the sensation, but with each passing shot, it began to burn a bit more. "Thank you daddy for the gift of alcoholism!"
Ruby laughed loudly, and I laughed at the hilarity of her laughter. She sounded like a hyena on steroids. "Oh shit, we make some pair don't we?"
"Bartender, I think this drink needs refilling!" I shouted, pointing to my empty glass of whiskey.
"I think you had enough," said a familiar voice that sent chills up my spine.
"You don't own me or Ruby," I said, not turning around to look at him. "You aren't my father, nor are you responsible for me. I am not a child, and I will do as I please!"
The bartender passed me another glass of whiskey, and I downed it quickly and got up. "Watch it, dearie," said Mr. Gold as he caught me as I stumbled.
"Get your hands off of me," I said, wriggling out of his grip. "I don't need you to protect me. I can take care of myself."
"Really?" he said with a small smirk. "I bet this is your first time really drinking Miss Belle. You've had too many as it is, and I think I should take you and Miss Ruby back to my place to rest and recuperate. You're both going to get nasty hangovers tomorrow, and it's best you quit now while you're ahead."
I stumbled past him towards the bar as I asked for another drink, something, anything stronger than the whiskey that was doing nothing but making my head pound at the moment. I quickly downed the dark liquid without asking what it was, and I began to cough as it burned down my throat worse than the whiskey did. I began to see double, and I stumbled through the bar, trying to find Ruby's and my seat.
"You were always so hard headed," sighed Mr. Gold. His voice became distorted, and the room began to spin. My stomach began to lurch, and I called out to Ruby, wondering where she was.
"Ruby?" I asked, my words reverberating in the room. I looked around, and could not find her. "I feel sick…"
"Come on dearie," said Mr. Gold as he picked me up and carried me outside to his car. "Ruby's already inside."
"Let me down!" I said, trying to get out of his arms. I gave up after a few seconds of struggle. "Why do you care so much? You want Regina, not me. Well, you can have her!"
"Dearie, you know how manipulative she is," he sighed.
"Leave me!" I screamed. "Leave me alone!"
He let me down, and I stumbled off in a drunken run away from his car. "BELLE!" he shouted as I heard him chase after me. I ran down the road, and heard a loud honking noise, and before I knew it, I was knocked off of my feet, and my world went black.
