Belle still didn't understand what had come over her or the Beast. But no one could deny it: they were beginning to feel and see each other as mutual friends rather than intrusive enemies! The night she'd imprisoned herself in his castle, his kind servants had given her a beautiful bedroom to stay in rather than that dreary old dungeon. And they'd graciously treated her as a special guest. Then after the Beast frightened Belle because she'd gone near his enchanted rose, he'd saved her from a pack of wolves. Belle could've left him there to die and made her escape, but after he'd risked his life to save her, she didn't have the heart. Ever since then, and she'd learned of his past as she nursed him, their acquaintance was deepening to something more.
The Beast was walking around the hall, his nose buried in a book he was reading. Not watching where he was going, he stumbled into the wall and the book slipped. Snarling at himself in annoyance, the Beast stooped down to retrieve it when Chip slid underneath him and took it. "Chip! Do you mind?" The Beast huffed.
"Come on, Froufrou. Come and get it!" Chip announced, hopping away with the book. The barking footstool ran after him.
"Hey! Give that back!" Beast growled and gave pursuit.
Belle was coming out of the storage room when she heard a commotion. She listened curiously and chuckled when she saw Chip hurrying with a book and the Beast scurrying after him, huffing and puffing. Belle couldn't help grinning at the scenario. Chip twirled, losing the book. It skidded at Belle's feet and she raised it up in the air before the Beast could get it. Chip and Froufrou scampered away. "I'll get you next time!" Beast shook his paw at them. Then he glanced at Belle. "What are you looking at?" He huffed.
"Having fun?" Belle teased.
"Eh." Beast rolled his eyes.
"So...what's this?" Belle asked, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
"It's...nothing." Beast said quickly. "Give it to me...please." He held out his paw.
"Nothing?" Belle asked, clearly enjoying herself. "Ah, so...Guinevere and Lancelot, hmm?"
"Can I have that?" Beast growled.
"You do know this is a romance, don't you?" Belle eyed him.
"Well, actually it's King Arthur. Men, swords, and...things." Beast shrugged. "Would you just give it to me?"
"Mmm..." Belle seemed to be considering, "...nope!" She giggled then ran off with the book.
"Hey!" Beast hollered after her. "Oh, not you too! I demand you give that back!"
"You can't tell me what to do!" Belle shot back as she ran. "I'm not one of your servants. Catch me if you can, slow poke." Beast narrowed his eyes, but couldn't help feeling amused. If it was a chase she wanted, then that's what she would get.
Belle eluded Beast by romping through much of the castle. He griped and fussed the whole way while she laughed. Finally, she darted into the library and hid behind the door as she shut it. Beast slowed down to catch his breath as he slowly approached. He had a pretty good idea of where she was. He grinned sneakily, chuckling evilly and cautiously pushed the door open with his paw.
"All right, you conniving little book snatcher." He growled, trying to wipe the grin off his face. "I know this castle inside out. You can't hide from me!" Belle struggled to stifle a giggle behind him. His ear twitched and he smiled with satisfaction. Belle made a dash but Beast whirled around and caught her by her apron strings.
"Hey, let me go!" Belle pretended to be angry, trying not to laugh. "You'll get nothing out of me." She clutched the book. Beast raised his eyebrows.
"Oh, is that so?" He retorted. He shuffled over to a ladder running along the shelves. "Give up?" He asked.
"No!" Belle shook her head. Beast snorted and tied her apron strings to the rim of the ladder. Belle tried to move forward but she couldn't. Her brows furrowed as she looked behind her. "Hey!" She gaped and dropped the book, trying to undo herself.
"Ahem." Beast cleared his throat, holding the book up in front of her nose. "Told you I'd catch you." He said smugly.
"You did not." Belle squinted.
"Well, either way...I won!" He announced triumphantly.
"Humph." Belle rolled her eyes crossing her arms. "You were reading a romance." She grinned.
"All right." Beast resigned. "So what? It's my castle. I can read whatever I like."
"Not in my library." Belle joked.
"You're right. I don't have to read in your library. I'll read it wherever I want." He held his head up.
"Why don't you then?" Belle smirked, with her hands on her hips.
"Are you flirting with me?" Beast cocked his head. Belle made a face.
"Maybe." She smiled. "So, just how long do you intend to keep me here?"
"I'll never tell." Beast teased, and tightened the knot in the loops. Belle grunted. Then Beast walked away. "Have a nice read." He said sarcastically then shut the door behind him.
Belle's jaw dropped. "Why that..." She tried to be more annoyed, but she couldn't help having enjoyed their friendly banter. "Have a nice read, he says. Ha!" She growled to herself. Then cocked her head with a smirk. "Thank you. I will!" If she was stuck, she'd make the best of it. So she turned around as best she could and after finding a good volume to read, she sat on a rung of the ladder and read a book.