Hi everyone! This is only an ickle chapter while I write the remaining big scary climactic chapters. Enjoy!
Disclaimer:- Basic plot:- Property of Disney. Word and waffle:- Property of me
The moon shone brightly as Bastian guided Bella into the attic and showed her his private world. To Bella, it seemed a different place than the one she had entered without permission so many days ago. It was warmer somehow, more inviting. Her eyes were once again drawn to the drawings on the desk. There were more of them now—beautiful landscapes, shining sunsets and underneath those were some unmistakable pictures of her. Her dancing, her smiling, her laughing-all uncannily accurate down to the last freckle on her nose. Her heart swelled with a peculiar mixture of emotion--happiness, pity, anxiety, joy—and she felt a single tear fall from the corner of her eye and move delicately down her cheek. She realised that he loved her…but why? She would only break his heart. She could never give him what he wanted. The tear fell onto the drawing in her hand, smudging the ink and smearing the intricate artistry.
Suddenly and silently, Bastian, who had been preoccupied with something on the other side of the room, took the papers from her hand into his own.
"You don't want to look at those. They're just silly drawings," he mumbled, as he folded them up and made as if to throw them away.
"No!" Bella caught his arm. "They're really good. You…you have talent…"
Her breath caught in her throat as she struggled to think of a good way to phrase her next question, not even sure if she wanted to know the answer to it.
"Erm…Bastian…you know, before…when I came in here and…well you know what happened…erm…" she cleared her throat "…there was a drawing of…of me that must have been done before you met me. How…How did you…?"
Bastian said nothing, he could not speak. Wordlessly, he pointed to an object near the window; his father's binoculars. Bella picked them up, puzzled. Bastian found his voice and said everything in one breath as if he would lose his nerve if he let himself pause.
"I used to watch the village through those a lot. One day I saw you. You were standing on the edge of town crying. You looked so sad and…and beautiful that I had to draw you."
He stopped and took a gulp of air. Bella chose not to look at him and ignored the blatant meaning behind his words.
"Can I try them? I think I'm beginning to forget what the village looks like."
"Sure. Go ahead," said Bastian, unaware that he soon regret it.
Bella peered through the binoculars and saw her home town. It was still and eerily quiet. No living soul could be seen on the dark streets that were illuminated every so often by a tall and imposing street lamp. She could see the book shop, the video rental place, the general store—all the places she knew so well and realised now that she missed. She felt so detached from it all, almost as if she was in another world, and in many ways she was. She was now just an observer on a life that had once been hers--a life she had longed to escape from just days ago but that now beckoned her heart back towards it with welcoming arms. Normality had never looked so inviting to her as it did at this moment. There was the cobbled courtyard she has stumbled on so many times. There was the newsagents where she bought the morning paper and there was the news stand outside that proclaimed the headlines so proudly. It was cleverly positioned in the light given off by a solitary street lamp nearby and the words on it seemed to jump out at her, begging to be read. Bella found the 'zoom' button and pressed it eagerly so she could read the latest news from home. Everything stopped within her as she read the headline.
OLD MAN'S HEART BREAKS OVER MISSING DAUGHTER
Black on white. Clear as crystal. Etched onto her vision so that when she closed her eyes it still burned there. There was a photo accompanying the words. Her photo. Her fingers trembled as she pressed the 'zoom' button again in order the read the smaller print below it.
Morris Verte, 62, was rushed to hospital last night after collapsing at his home. There is still no sign of his only known family, his daughter, Bella, 19.
Bella could read no more, even if she wanted to, for her vision was starting to blur. The binoculars could not lie. Her father was ill and she was enjoying herself in some house in the woods. She started to sob. Bastian heard her cries of pain and instantly moved to comfort her, but she tore away from his arms.
"I have to go. I have to leave. I have to go," she chanted between sobs like a mantra whilst she ran out of the room and down the stairs.
"Bella…wait! Bella!" shouted Bastian after her. "Bella!"
She was fast but he was faster. He caught up with her and held her arm gently but firmly. She tired to twist out of his grip.
"Bella! What is it? Tell me…please?" he pleaded as she senselessly battled with him.
"Let…me…go!"
"Tell me what's wrong and I will!"
She stopped struggling long enough to choke out "My father!" and then she took advantage of Bastian's stunned state to wrestle free and continue running. Bastian didn't follow her. There was no point.
………………………………………………………………………………………
Minutes later, Bella was running through the forest punishing herself with her thoughts. She was too determined to let herself get lost. Tears ran like rivers down her face. How could she be so stupid? How could she have let herself stay when she was needed at home? Why did she get herself caught up in some ridiculous fantasy world when reality is what mattered? And now her father—the most important person in her life—was dying and it was all her fault. Well, not all HER fault. It was Bastian's too. How dare he allow her to forget herself! How dare he wave an impossible dream in front of her! How dare he make her love him!
The trees flew past her and their roots shied away from tripping her up. The forest that had scared her so much when she had left now parted to let her through with no hassle. The mud dared not catch her heels; the twigs dared not reach out to tangle themselves in her hair and the village was soon in front of her as if it had been all along. Bella had no time to cherish the feel of familiar pavement beneath her feet. She raced to the hospital.
You like? You know what to do :)
Ok I'm actually going to reply to the reviews this time. Yay!
First up, we have LumBabsFan. Thanks again for a wonderful review :) You're the best gives you a hug And no worries about me guilt-tripping you over the fact that you update far quicker than me. Lol I'm just looking for other people to blame all the time. And the file you sent me was brilliant, it really made me smile. Rest assured, I shall be pestering you for others in the near future!
And then we have TrudiRose. First of all, thanks again for checking this chapter over for me and all the words of encouragement. gives you a hug too As for your guess about the ending, like you said, you'll just have to wait and see...trails off in an irritating manner
Next up:- bellamegs, I'm glad you were happy when the e-mail that said I'd updated, at long last! It doesn't happen that often so I think you should print it off and frame it for posterity lol You said such sweet things in your review, I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. gives you a hug too Hope you enjpy this chapter as much :) And the Oscar thing? I promise that if I ever win an Oscar (which is extremely unlikely) I will thank you and everyone else here at fanfiction. lol the list of people to thank is getting bigger every day. I want to annoy them by listing everyone I've ever known and carrying on even after they play that hurry-up music until I have to get dragged off by security lol
And next is beautygirl, I'm so happy that you thought I did the updated ballroom scene very well. It wasn't easy to do, but after a lot of advice from all the wonderful people on here I'm pleased with the result. And, yes, romantic and poignant...sighs I LOVE romance (lol that sounds weird) I can't wait to write the rest of the romance that will come, but until then theres a lot of action so I'll have to wait. Grrrrrrrrr! And glad you spotted the 'beef ragout, cheese souffle' link, I just HAD to put it in lol seeing as I'm giving out hugs quite freely today, you can have one too gives you a hug
And Damian (Levana)...don't think I've ever written you a proper review response. Well, here's your first one :) (asides from the mention of the Oscars, see bellameg's response above to see what I'm actually going to do if I get an Oscar) I am really glad you liked that chapter, and yes they are cute together, not quite as cute as Lizzie and Joshua, but still cute. Did I update quickly enough to get that kiss off...ofa completely fictional character? Hmmm...I do worry about myself sometimes. I would send Bastian round to kiss you but he's kind of stressed at the moment... oh, and heres your hug gives you a hug
And last, but by no means least, jr.Journalist. Haven't ever written you a response either. And I just realised I didn't mention you at my fake awards ceremony, I am sooooooo sorry. I really appreciate your reviews :) gives you a hug Fluff does indeed rule. Unfortunatly, fluff is going to be absent for a short period but dont' worry, there will big bags of fluff near the end. Yay!
