Author's Note: I know you're
going to hate me for this, but I know I'll redeem myself eventually. To start
the story, Belle and Shawn haven't seen each other in almost 10 years. If I
worked the math out right, Belle is 27 and Shawn is 28. Belle's a teacher in
Orlando, and Shawn's still a Merchant Marine stationed in Los Angeles. Oh, this
is kinda important. Shawn's single, and Belle's engaged. There's the lowdown.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: The only characters
that are mine are the names that you don't recognize from the show. I'm not
making any money off my story. I'm not that good, people.
Second Chances
by leiadude
'What
am I doing here?' Belle Black asked herself as she stepped into her old high
school gymnasium. 'Oh, yeah. It's called the ten-year reunion. I can't believe
I actually came. I thought I swore to myself that I'd never come back to Salem
once I left. Oh, well. It's a good chance to see everyone again.'
"Belle!"
Belle turned at the sound of the voice and saw Chloe Lane
waving like a maniac on the other side of the gym. They made their way towards
each other, meeting in the middle with a huge hug. Belle stepped back and
looked her old best friend over. "Chloe, looking good, looking good. So, I hear
you're making it big on Broadway," she commented, remembering that she had read
articles about the success of Broadway musical star Chloe Lane.
Chloe simled. "Yeah, well, I just followed my dream and
made it. What about you? You wanted to get a job and see the world."
Belle shrugged. "Yeah, well, I got to Florida and stopped.
I'm teaching history in a high school in Orlando, and it's great. I love it.
So, you married yet?"
Chloe shook her head. "Nope. I'm as single as single can
be. Broadway keeps me busy, you know. You? Did you ever marry the man of your
dreams?"
It was Belle's turn to shake her head. "Nope. I'm engaged,
though, to a middle school science teacher," she mentioned, holding out her
left hand to show Chloe her engagement ring. "We're getting married next month,
on July 23rd."
Chloe gazed at the ring for a few minutes, then looked up
at the door briefly and froze. "Oh, my God. I can't believe he came."
Belle turned around to look and saw none other than Shawn
Brady looking around the room. "Why? Did he say he wasn't?" she asked, turning
back to Chloe.
"Well, he said he wasn't sure if he could. He's still in
the Merchant Marines, you know," Chloe pointed out. "They had him in Israel for
a couple of years, but now he's stationed in LA. Did you two stay together
after you went to Florida?" she asked.
Belle turned back around and saw that Shawn was walking
towards her and Chloe. "No, I told him it was me or the Marines. He, of course,
chose the Marines," she explained. "That's the short version, anyways. The long
version could take about a month to tell."
Chloe looked at her best friend in surprise. "What? You
actually said that? Don't take this the wrong way, but that was possibly the
stupidest thing you could've done. The only reason Shawn's not married is
probably because he moves around so damn much." Their conversation had to stop
there because Shawn reached them. He took off his hat.
"Good evening, ladies," Shawn greeted them formally,
bowing his head.
Chloe laughed. "Shut up and give me a hug, you big-shot
marine you," she joked, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Shawn visibly relaxed. "Yes, ma'am," he laughed, hugging
Chloe back. When they broke apart, Shawn looked at Belle and saw that she had
taken a step back. "You're not getting away that easily, Perfect Girl," he
said, hugging her.
Belle embraced Shawn for the first time in 10 years. "Hey,
Tough Boy. You know, we need to get a new nickname for you, because Tough Boy
just ain't working. After all, you're no boy anymore," she pointed out.
Shawn flashed his sexy grin Belle's way and almost made
her heart melt. "Yeah, well, we'll have to change yours too, because you've
definitely changed into a woman," he shot back. "So, what's going on in the
life of Isabella Black?" he asked, noticing that Chloe had slipped away,
probably to talk to old friends.
Belle cleared her throat. "Well, I'm a high school history
teacher in Orlando, go to Disney World as often as I can, and met a great 8th
grade science teacher two years ago. We're getting married next month. You?"
Shawn's eyebrows shot up at the mention of her getting married.
"Wait a minute. You-you're getting married?"
