Chapter IV: BETRAYED!
A/N: This narrative switches points of view from Omniscient Third Person Narrator to Mr. Gregorio to Belle's friend Jade.
(OTPN) Belle collapsed on her bed, enjoying the first day of her week of freedom. "Spring break, ain't it wonderful Philippe," she said, addressing her Jack Russell Terrier. The dog barked in response. Belle picked up her old teddy bear, Chip, and hugged it. "I wonder if Polly wants to help me shop for Saturday," she mused. Saturday, Ross was taking her out for her birthday using the coupon they won at the school Valentine's Day Dance. She wanted to look special that night and knew Polly would jump at the chance to go with her. Maybe, they could get permission and go shopping in the city, with Belle's other friends Joanne and Jade. That would be great, Belle thought. Her two best friends meeting her new best friend. They would be friends too. Belle had introduced them over the phone and they seemed to hit it off. Maybe Joanne and Jade could stay over her house then and meet Ross too. They weren't able to talk to him, but were dying to see him. She was about to reach for her phone when she heard the door open. She knew it was her father right away. "Papa!" she cried, leaping out of bed and running down the stairs like an eight years-old girl. Philippe followed behind. Mark Lagrange stood in the door way, taking off his coat. Next to him, he had a bunch of boxes. "What are those for?" Belle asked, picking up the boxes. "Are you making another design from boxes?" Mark was an architect for a famous firm and had been known to make his models from eccentric items. "No, not today old girl!" her father said joyfully. "I got a promotion!" "You get promoted and they gave you boxes?" Belle asked. "Forget about the boxes and celebrate!" Belle hugged her father, who finished putting his stuff away. "Oh, Papa, I was wondering, could Jade and Joanne stay over a couple of nights. I was planning on going shopping for Saturday-my date with Ross, remember?-and I wanted them to come with me and Polly! Or, if Polly gets permission, could we stay with one of them in the city? Please, Papa," Belle begged. Her father turned grave. "I'm afraid you'll have to break your date on Saturday, Belle," he said. "What? Break the date? Why?" "With the promotion also comes a new office. In the city. That's why I have all these boxes. We're moving back to the city, Belle." "WHAT?" Belle panicked. "Tell me you're joking, please!" Her father shook her head. "You're already enrolled back into your old school and we'll be living in the same apartment complex as Jade and her family. Isn't that great?" "Yes," Belle snapped, "just dandy!" "Belle," her father warned. "Can I say something?" she asked. Her father nodded. "Good. I know I complained the whole way here and-guess what?-I'll complain the entire way back. I actually like it here. Yes, I want to see Joanne and Jade again, they are my best friends and always will be. But to move near the end of my senior year, from all my new friends, from my boyfriend, is just cruel. If I get permission, could I move in with Polly until the end of the school year? Then come back afterwards? I mean, I'm still going to school in the city. Remember, the top school for writing accepted me? But let me finish the year out here, in Enchanted Falls, please?" Belle begged. "No, and that is final. Here are your boxes, begin packing. We leave tomorrow." Belle slammed her door. She was moving too soon. She went to call Polly, but the phone was off the hook. She sat down at her desk and quickly wrote a long note to Ross, apologizing and saying she would call as soon as she had phone service again. She finished packing. Dinner was a strained affair between her and her father. This was a new side of him, normally he would consider all the options. Then Belle remembered that she was all he had since the death of her mother. He didn't want to be separate. She sighed, told her father she was sorry and went to bed. She cried herself to sleep that night. Polly was really nervous about her friend. She had been trying to reach Belle for the past three days. No one was having any luck. Lance couldn't reach her, nor Chris, nor Ross. Robin had shown up at Polly's a few times; she wanted Belle to help with the Spring Party at school. Both couldn't find their friend, and most times, Robin left dejected. Finally, on Friday, Ross and Lance took a quick drive over to Belle's house. There, they noticed the lack of both cars in the driveway. "Maybe she went to the city for the week, and the phone service was cut again so she couldn't tell us," Lance suggested. "She would call from the city," Ross said. "True," Lance replied. They knocked on the door, once, twice. They tried the doorbell, once, twice. A neighbor approached the fence. "Hey, you two looking for the previous owners?" the old lady asked. "Yes, Mrs. Higgins," Ross replied, knowing the old woman. "Well, they moved on Tuesday," Mrs. Higgins said. "Tuesday?" Ross and Lance said together. "Yep, Tuesday. Mr. Lagrange was given a promotion, a new office and a new apartment in the city. He came home Monday with all these boxes. The poor girl, her second move within nearly six months. And towards the end of her senior year. She looked so dejected when she got into her car to follow her father. It was horrible," Mrs. Higgins said. "Well, have a nice day boys." "You too, Mrs. Higgins," Lance said. Ross turned around and stormed down to his car, Lance followed. "She didn't tell me," Ross said. "She couldn't. She found Monday she was moving Tuesday. Her father probably already cancelled the phone service that day. And she couldn't stop packing to drive to see you. Her phone probably isn't working in her apartment yet either," Lance tried to reason with his friend. "She could've left a note!" Ross said, slamming his door. Lance got in muttering true, true.
(Mr. Gregorio)
In school the week later, things were somber when the senior class found out about Belle. I asked Robin to fill Belle's vacant spot on the club, but she had to decline. "I'm involved in too much already," she said. "I know, but out of everyone in the club, you were the closest to her," I told the senior. "I know. We were the only seniors, that's why. Besides, once you give her a chance to come out of her shell, she's a wonderful friend. We need more people like her. But, I think you should give the position to that junior Ashleigh, who was the first member after Belle. But I promise this Mr. Gregorio, once I can, I'll find out Belle's address in the city and I'll give it to you. I have some friends in the city and can call in a favor or two," Robin said, before leaving. Polly was distraught. She really didn't have any female friends; Belle was her first true one. She wasn't too angry at Belle for leaving, knowing that her friend probably didn't have any choice in the matter. "Mr. Lagrange loves his daughter greatly, but when it comes down to it, he does push her feelings aside. She's learned to do the same as well. She will always put her father first in her life, we shows her dedication. Her father probably wouldn't let her stay here. According to Belle, after her mother died, her father wouldn't let Belle go anywhere. She was home- schooled the entire year. Out of pity, her friend Jade's mother home- schooled Belle, Jade and a little boy across the way. Little by little, Mr. Lagrange let Belle have more freedoms, but he would never let her leave him until the last moment, meaning either college or marriage," Polly confided in me later on. "I'm not angry at Belle, no I feel sorry for her. I'm most betrayed by Mr. Lagrange. He didn't even give the girl time to say good-bye to her friends, her boyfriends, her new life. Most people say it's good to go home, but I thing this time that old saying is true: you can't go home again. The city isn't going to be the same for Belle anymore." Ross was the most distressed of all. The Beast lost some of his swagger and became even more aggressive. The boy had detentions for fighting building like a house of cards. I normally ran detention and nearly everyday saw Ross Angel on my roster. Finally, one day, I excused the boy from detention but made sure he went to the counselor. Since then, the detentions started to dwindle but he still had a stronger mistrusting of women. I saw him give Polly the cold shoulder for a week. The Beast started to ignore everyone again, no matter what. Robin asked if he would help her find Belle, he walked away. Polly, Lance and Chris tried to recruit him on a trip to the city; it didn't work. He turned himself off to the world once again.
(Jade) Ever since Belle came back, she's been quiet. Not like the spunky girl I became friends with. Joanne and I became afraid she was suicidal, and kept sleep over vigils over her. Nothing turned up and soon she was starting to return to normal. Except we had to hear something about Enchanted Falls every single conversation. She really liked it there. Honestly, I like the sound of it too. I will always be a city girl, the rush of the city thrills me, but a close knitted community sounds wonderful to me. Plus the fact that I could lose the pepper spray my mother made me carry around since Lauren, the girl in the apartment above Joanne's, got mugged. Belle misses Enchanted Fall, and we've offered a million times to take her back. For some odd reason, her father won't let us go back. He keeps making excuses of unpacking, but Belle says they do everything but! Her computer isn't even up yet, and has tried to sign on to the internet on mine, but I don't have the instant messenger service she needs. Joanne and I haven't told Belle this, but we think he wants to keep Belle out of Enchanted Falls. Maybe there was something going on that Belle was unaware of and he wants to protect her. But, we aren't saying anything. Not yet, that is.
A/N: Hello, I'm back. Thanks again to all who reviewed! This chapter is an experiment. Just let me know if switching POVs is too confusing, I'm open to the criticism. Any suggestions are also welcome, I love to hear from you guys. I may not use the criticism, but at least I know what you feel of my writing style. Thanks again and stay tuned for Chapter V: Secrets and the Truth. Will Belle ever make it back to Enchanted Falls? Why did her father really relocate her? Did he honestly receive a promotion? Is this starting to sound like those annoying soap commercials?
A/N: This narrative switches points of view from Omniscient Third Person Narrator to Mr. Gregorio to Belle's friend Jade.
(OTPN) Belle collapsed on her bed, enjoying the first day of her week of freedom. "Spring break, ain't it wonderful Philippe," she said, addressing her Jack Russell Terrier. The dog barked in response. Belle picked up her old teddy bear, Chip, and hugged it. "I wonder if Polly wants to help me shop for Saturday," she mused. Saturday, Ross was taking her out for her birthday using the coupon they won at the school Valentine's Day Dance. She wanted to look special that night and knew Polly would jump at the chance to go with her. Maybe, they could get permission and go shopping in the city, with Belle's other friends Joanne and Jade. That would be great, Belle thought. Her two best friends meeting her new best friend. They would be friends too. Belle had introduced them over the phone and they seemed to hit it off. Maybe Joanne and Jade could stay over her house then and meet Ross too. They weren't able to talk to him, but were dying to see him. She was about to reach for her phone when she heard the door open. She knew it was her father right away. "Papa!" she cried, leaping out of bed and running down the stairs like an eight years-old girl. Philippe followed behind. Mark Lagrange stood in the door way, taking off his coat. Next to him, he had a bunch of boxes. "What are those for?" Belle asked, picking up the boxes. "Are you making another design from boxes?" Mark was an architect for a famous firm and had been known to make his models from eccentric items. "No, not today old girl!" her father said joyfully. "I got a promotion!" "You get promoted and they gave you boxes?" Belle asked. "Forget about the boxes and celebrate!" Belle hugged her father, who finished putting his stuff away. "Oh, Papa, I was wondering, could Jade and Joanne stay over a couple of nights. I was planning on going shopping for Saturday-my date with Ross, remember?-and I wanted them to come with me and Polly! Or, if Polly gets permission, could we stay with one of them in the city? Please, Papa," Belle begged. Her father turned grave. "I'm afraid you'll have to break your date on Saturday, Belle," he said. "What? Break the date? Why?" "With the promotion also comes a new office. In the city. That's why I have all these boxes. We're moving back to the city, Belle." "WHAT?" Belle panicked. "Tell me you're joking, please!" Her father shook her head. "You're already enrolled back into your old school and we'll be living in the same apartment complex as Jade and her family. Isn't that great?" "Yes," Belle snapped, "just dandy!" "Belle," her father warned. "Can I say something?" she asked. Her father nodded. "Good. I know I complained the whole way here and-guess what?-I'll complain the entire way back. I actually like it here. Yes, I want to see Joanne and Jade again, they are my best friends and always will be. But to move near the end of my senior year, from all my new friends, from my boyfriend, is just cruel. If I get permission, could I move in with Polly until the end of the school year? Then come back afterwards? I mean, I'm still going to school in the city. Remember, the top school for writing accepted me? But let me finish the year out here, in Enchanted Falls, please?" Belle begged. "No, and that is final. Here are your boxes, begin packing. We leave tomorrow." Belle slammed her door. She was moving too soon. She went to call Polly, but the phone was off the hook. She sat down at her desk and quickly wrote a long note to Ross, apologizing and saying she would call as soon as she had phone service again. She finished packing. Dinner was a strained affair between her and her father. This was a new side of him, normally he would consider all the options. Then Belle remembered that she was all he had since the death of her mother. He didn't want to be separate. She sighed, told her father she was sorry and went to bed. She cried herself to sleep that night. Polly was really nervous about her friend. She had been trying to reach Belle for the past three days. No one was having any luck. Lance couldn't reach her, nor Chris, nor Ross. Robin had shown up at Polly's a few times; she wanted Belle to help with the Spring Party at school. Both couldn't find their friend, and most times, Robin left dejected. Finally, on Friday, Ross and Lance took a quick drive over to Belle's house. There, they noticed the lack of both cars in the driveway. "Maybe she went to the city for the week, and the phone service was cut again so she couldn't tell us," Lance suggested. "She would call from the city," Ross said. "True," Lance replied. They knocked on the door, once, twice. They tried the doorbell, once, twice. A neighbor approached the fence. "Hey, you two looking for the previous owners?" the old lady asked. "Yes, Mrs. Higgins," Ross replied, knowing the old woman. "Well, they moved on Tuesday," Mrs. Higgins said. "Tuesday?" Ross and Lance said together. "Yep, Tuesday. Mr. Lagrange was given a promotion, a new office and a new apartment in the city. He came home Monday with all these boxes. The poor girl, her second move within nearly six months. And towards the end of her senior year. She looked so dejected when she got into her car to follow her father. It was horrible," Mrs. Higgins said. "Well, have a nice day boys." "You too, Mrs. Higgins," Lance said. Ross turned around and stormed down to his car, Lance followed. "She didn't tell me," Ross said. "She couldn't. She found Monday she was moving Tuesday. Her father probably already cancelled the phone service that day. And she couldn't stop packing to drive to see you. Her phone probably isn't working in her apartment yet either," Lance tried to reason with his friend. "She could've left a note!" Ross said, slamming his door. Lance got in muttering true, true.
(Mr. Gregorio)
In school the week later, things were somber when the senior class found out about Belle. I asked Robin to fill Belle's vacant spot on the club, but she had to decline. "I'm involved in too much already," she said. "I know, but out of everyone in the club, you were the closest to her," I told the senior. "I know. We were the only seniors, that's why. Besides, once you give her a chance to come out of her shell, she's a wonderful friend. We need more people like her. But, I think you should give the position to that junior Ashleigh, who was the first member after Belle. But I promise this Mr. Gregorio, once I can, I'll find out Belle's address in the city and I'll give it to you. I have some friends in the city and can call in a favor or two," Robin said, before leaving. Polly was distraught. She really didn't have any female friends; Belle was her first true one. She wasn't too angry at Belle for leaving, knowing that her friend probably didn't have any choice in the matter. "Mr. Lagrange loves his daughter greatly, but when it comes down to it, he does push her feelings aside. She's learned to do the same as well. She will always put her father first in her life, we shows her dedication. Her father probably wouldn't let her stay here. According to Belle, after her mother died, her father wouldn't let Belle go anywhere. She was home- schooled the entire year. Out of pity, her friend Jade's mother home- schooled Belle, Jade and a little boy across the way. Little by little, Mr. Lagrange let Belle have more freedoms, but he would never let her leave him until the last moment, meaning either college or marriage," Polly confided in me later on. "I'm not angry at Belle, no I feel sorry for her. I'm most betrayed by Mr. Lagrange. He didn't even give the girl time to say good-bye to her friends, her boyfriends, her new life. Most people say it's good to go home, but I thing this time that old saying is true: you can't go home again. The city isn't going to be the same for Belle anymore." Ross was the most distressed of all. The Beast lost some of his swagger and became even more aggressive. The boy had detentions for fighting building like a house of cards. I normally ran detention and nearly everyday saw Ross Angel on my roster. Finally, one day, I excused the boy from detention but made sure he went to the counselor. Since then, the detentions started to dwindle but he still had a stronger mistrusting of women. I saw him give Polly the cold shoulder for a week. The Beast started to ignore everyone again, no matter what. Robin asked if he would help her find Belle, he walked away. Polly, Lance and Chris tried to recruit him on a trip to the city; it didn't work. He turned himself off to the world once again.
(Jade) Ever since Belle came back, she's been quiet. Not like the spunky girl I became friends with. Joanne and I became afraid she was suicidal, and kept sleep over vigils over her. Nothing turned up and soon she was starting to return to normal. Except we had to hear something about Enchanted Falls every single conversation. She really liked it there. Honestly, I like the sound of it too. I will always be a city girl, the rush of the city thrills me, but a close knitted community sounds wonderful to me. Plus the fact that I could lose the pepper spray my mother made me carry around since Lauren, the girl in the apartment above Joanne's, got mugged. Belle misses Enchanted Fall, and we've offered a million times to take her back. For some odd reason, her father won't let us go back. He keeps making excuses of unpacking, but Belle says they do everything but! Her computer isn't even up yet, and has tried to sign on to the internet on mine, but I don't have the instant messenger service she needs. Joanne and I haven't told Belle this, but we think he wants to keep Belle out of Enchanted Falls. Maybe there was something going on that Belle was unaware of and he wants to protect her. But, we aren't saying anything. Not yet, that is.
A/N: Hello, I'm back. Thanks again to all who reviewed! This chapter is an experiment. Just let me know if switching POVs is too confusing, I'm open to the criticism. Any suggestions are also welcome, I love to hear from you guys. I may not use the criticism, but at least I know what you feel of my writing style. Thanks again and stay tuned for Chapter V: Secrets and the Truth. Will Belle ever make it back to Enchanted Falls? Why did her father really relocate her? Did he honestly receive a promotion? Is this starting to sound like those annoying soap commercials?