Disney owns everything related to the Beauty and the Beast story-I own the rest!
Chapter 8 Positively Primeval
All the gloriousness of finding a kindred, book loving spirit seemed to shatter when I saw Cameron's car parked in the dormitory driveway. I saw Emily lean over and kiss him and giggle as she walked away. Certain that he wasn't looking towards me after Emily walked in, I decided to attempt to go in, as well.
'Julie!'
Ugh. I put on my fakest smile, and turned around slowly to face him. 'Uh, um, Hi, Cameron.'
His eyes looked at me long enough to be uncomfortable until he finally said, 'Watcha got?' looking at the book in my hand. Before I could even answer him, he snatched it irreverently out of my hand and flipped through the pages.
'Don't tell me you read this romantic trash!' His nose wrinkled in disgust, 'Stick to comics and graphic novels, at least they have pictures in them.' He chuckled later.
'It's not trash, it's a classic! You know, rich literature that stands the test of time, not like you would have ever read anything like that. Probably exceeds your vocabulary abilities.'
While not the brightest person by any stretch, he knew an insult when he heard it. His dark eyes seemed 5 shades darker and narrowed. I stretched myself as far as my petite frame would let me, and yet I still felt absolutely swallowed by Cameron's presence. No matter how much I glowered at him, his body inched closer and closer until he suddenly grabbed my book. I gasped.
'This book is just like you, too wordy.' The precious classic was airborne and landed in a water filled pothole. Air escaped me and my chest grew tight-tears stung my eyes and I used my absolute rage to push Cameron aside and dug the soggy book and tucked it under my arm carefully. Cameron had already shrugged his shoulders and muttered 'how can she be so pretty but be so weird!' before storming off. My own thunderstorm was brewing and as soon as I got up to my room the floodgates were opened.
'What am I going to tell Hugh?!' I screamed through my tears.
'Julie, are you okay?' Emily started and ran over to me, draping her arm around me.
'It's…uh…well, Cameron just ruined a very expensive, rare book.'
'Oh! A book, girl, I'm sorry-what a jerk, huh?' She chuckled! Actually chuckled! It was a nervous one, knowing how much I did care for books. She had no idea just how wonderfully rare this book was, and how it wasn't mine, and how expensive. How ever was I to tell Hugh that the precious book he had let me have had met such a tragic end.
I pulled myself away from Emily and took the book to the bathroom to try to dry some of the pages with a hair dryer. Sometimes I wished I could just live by myself-but then again, it was cheaper to share with a roommate, so wishing would do no good. Instead, the bathroom would have to be my haven for the tears that couldn't stop flowing. It wasn't just about the book, I suppose. It was about the handful of people who would tolerate my bookish introverted ways, couldn't even do that.
As the tears finally started to subside, I started thinking over everything that had happened and was thankful that Emily hadn't asked me who Hugh was-one of the solitary things I was thankful for. Hugh-What was I going to tell him, I kept asking myself. That book was so precious, so rare, and after only having it a few hours I had ruined it. I kept replaying everything that had happened. Perhaps if I hadn't glared so much, or told Cameron he was stupid, maybe then I would be giggling over Lizzy's ridiculous family, instead of sighing over a wrinkled swelled mess.
…
The book felt ridiculous in my hands. I had planned to give him the book anyway, but now it felt like such a poor tradeoff as I made my way towards the one person in this college town that valued books as much as I did. Person. I didn't think of him as a creature, thing, no-he was a person. Something had happened to him, and it was something I was dying to find out. The Victorian mansion was easily becoming the adventure I had always dreamed about. I wasn't going to push him though. It was apparent that the events that led up to his 'change' were traumatic and emotional, and I wasn't about to push the story, however sorely I was tempted.
Cold as it was, I stopped short at the door, hesitating to relate to Hugh that the precious gift he had given me, only yesterday, was ruined beyond repair. I took a deep breath, and opened the door.
Hugh was bounding down the stairs in dignified excitement. I momentarily forgot my unfortunate mission and smiled back and waved.
'Julie! I'm so glad you're back! I wanted to show you something. Come with me!' And so without formal greetings, I was ushered upstairs as quickly as I could possibly go, doing everything in my power to keep up with Hugh. He looked back as he reached the top and realized how out of breath I was.
'Oh, sorry, Julie, I, um, forgot you can't take several steps at a time, or that you walked all the way here. Sorry.'
'Don't worry about it! I probably need to do this a few times a day-I'm not the most fit person in the world.' I chuckled in between catching my breath.
He led the way, a bit slower this time, to a room with massive wooden doors. Before opening he turned to me.
'Do you think you could close your eyes?'
I smirked. 'Okay, but I'm warning you, I don't do good with sudden noises or surprises. If something jumps out at me, my reaction won't be dignified, I guarantee it. My dad says I get my jumpy nerves from my mom.'
'I promise this is a good surprise.'
I gave him another quizzical smirk and then dutifully closed my eyes. I stretched out my hands.
'Lead the way, sir!'
For a second I wondered if I had hurt his feelings, as the air seemed to suddenly be sucked out of the hall and though I couldn't see him, I could almost feel him going stiff. After an eternity passed (but was probably mere seconds), large, warm paws encompassed mine and pulled me gently into the room before me.
'Alright-you can open your eyes now'
Nothing could prepare me for what I saw. Floor to ceiling books, spiraling bookcases, cozy nooks, thick rugs with high back chairs. Books, and books, and books. Five of my father's bookstores could fit in here. My mouth wouldn't close, my eyes couldn't blink for fear that perhaps the books would disappear.
'Well, what do you think?' Hugh finally broke my awed silence.
'I don't know what to think! It's wonderful! I've never seen so many books in my entire life.'
His smile went all the way up to his eyes.
'I thought you might. You're welcome to borrow any book you might find interesting.'
His words sent me crashing back to reality.
'Oh Hugh' I choked 'I don't deserve to borrow these beautiful books!' And with that I told him the whole story. His eyebrows knit in concern which turned into anger as I relayed Cameron's words and his disregard for the book. Or at least that's what I thought he was upset about -the book.
'And so,' I ended the story. 'I am so sorry about the book. I don't blame you for not wanting me to borrow any books after what happened.'
'He didn't hurt you, did he?' He interjected before I could finish.
'Oh no, just made me really mad and abused a $100,000 book.'
Relieved, but still upset. 'Man, I hate that guy. It's okay, Julie, this wasn't your fault, okay? It was the idiot jerk's fault. I've seen the way you treat the couple of books I've had downstairs. I trust you with any of my books, first edition or otherwise.' He smiled reassuringly.
I smiled back and awkwardness creeped into the silence for a second, before I remembered.
'Oh! I almost forgot! I have something for you. It isn't a first edition by any stretch of the imagination, but I think you might not have it here, and thought you might enjoy it. I'm sorry it's not in the best condition-it's just been really well loved.' I hardly dared to look at him to see what he thought, but his excited gasp relieved me.
'I haven't seen this book in almost 10 years!'
Shocked at his declaration, and relieved at his excitement, I looked up to see him longingly opening up the pages to The Hobbit. He started reading the transcript found within, 'To Julie on her 12th birthday, May you find adventure on the road that goes ever on and on. With all my love, Mom'
'Julie, this is from your mom, I can't take something as precious as this' He said breathlessly.'
I tried to shrug and chuckle at the same time, 'Well, I think it might actually be safer here. As long as you are okay with me reading it here from time to time, I think there's no place I'd rather it be. After you read it, we can discuss it, okay?'
'Deal'
...
Authors note: Muddy book and library scene! I am having so much fun with this story now that it's starting to move a long more. let me know what you think!
