Date Written: 04/27/15

Chapter 4 Getting to Know You

Belle

Through time Belle had made it to the middle of the woods. Until, a growling sound had made her stop at her tracks. Belle knew the growling sound was coming towards her at the right side, and she could see a tall figure that was shaped into an animal. However, she noticed that the animal was not walking on all fours. The animal was walking on two legs like it was a human being, but Belle had grown curious and decided to walk up close as possible towards the beast to get a closer look. She made it to a tree trunk and hid behind it as she looked up at the beast from head to toe. Belle saw the beast turn his head towards her way as he also walked towards her as well.

"I know you are behind that tree trunk come on out," Beast said to Belle in an angry tone.

"I'm sorry for staring at you, so long without introducing myself." Belle said to Beast as she came out of her hiding place.

"My name is Beast. What's your name?" Beast said to Belle politely.

"My name is Belle and I'm sorry for spying on you," Belle said to the Beast apologetically

Beast outstretched his arm towards Belle, so she could shake his hand. Belle hesitated at first to shake Beast's hand, but she grasped his furry hand and shook it. Belle looked into the blue eyes of the Beast, and Beast looked into Belle's brown eyes. Neither one of them could stop staring at each other until they broke away their gazes at each other.

'For someone that looks like a beast. He sure can talk like a true gentleman.' Belle thought to herself.

She blushed at what happened between her and the Beast. Belle was even surprised that she didn't fear the Beast's appearance. She had assumed that since Dahlia took her soul away that her instinct of fear was taken away from her as well.

"Why is a young maiden like you out in the woods by yourself?" Beast asked Belle curiously as he kept looking into her eyes.

"I'm on a quest to find the Enchantress Sanctuary. What are you doing out here?" Belle said to Beast as she broke her gaze away from him.

"Would you mind me accompanying you on your journey?" Beast asked Belle as he watched her eyes looking around nervously.

"It would be great if you came along with me. I do need the company after my traumatic day," Belle said to the Beast as she gave him a small smile.

Beast

'Belle seems like something is going on serious in her mind. Hopefully, through time if she feels comfortable enough to talk to me about then I will be there for her,' Beast thought to himself as he looked at Belle as they started walking together onwards into the woods.

"Beast why are you out here in the woods?" Belle asked Beast as she looked up at him.

"I was a human man who was a jerk to an old beggar," Beast said to Belle casually as he grunted with regret over the memory.

"You were unkind to an old beggar? How could you be so cruel to her like that?" Belle asked Beast astonished that he had did such a thing.

"Well I am learning my lesson right now, but I have no idea how long I will be punished." Beast said to Belle as he down casted his eyes in shame.

He noticed that Belle turned around to look at him and then she looked away from him in disbelief.

"You must feel like a terrible person and feeling cursed with your shame and guilt," Belle said to Beast secretly hoping that he would feel ashamed of himself.

"Your words are making me feel bad and I honestly do feel terrible about it." Beast said to Belle with sadness in his voice.

"Don't feel bad I'm going through something tragic and I can't get it out of my head." Belle said to Beast in a broken tone.

"You shouldn't pity me for doing something wrong," Beast said to Belle as he felt full of guilt.

Beast put his hand on Belle's right shoulder he wanted to see how she would react if he made direct contact. He noticed that Belle had frozen up with fear but he could also tell that she felt comfort in his touch. Her right arm raised up and touched Beast's furry hand and he could see that she appreciated his comfort.

"Before I completely pity you. What exactly did you do to be turned into a beast?" Belle asked Beast as she looked up at him.

Beast had told Belle everything that happened when he was human and up to his engagement break up with Adelaide.

"Did you love her?" Belle asked Beast as they continued to walk through the woods.

"To be honest I don't know why I loved her. All I remember is how great the sex and her body was," Beast said to Belle as he felt ashamed of herself.

"Sounds like you are a macho man and was in lust," Belle said to Beast feeling disgusted with him.

Belle

'Ugh, Beast seems like a real gentleman. However, he seems like he doesn't know what love is about at all which is sad in a way.' Belle thought to herself as she tried not to judge Beast.

"What was your life like up until now, Belle?" Beast asked Belle curiously.

"I use to live in a small cottage away from town with my three brothers, two sisters, and my father. We became poor because of an incident over my papa's finances," Belle said to Beast casually.

"Is there something troubling you that you would like to share with me?" Beast asked Belle in a concerned tone.

"I was molested by a man name Gaston back in my town and I decided that I wanted to leave so I could go on my dream adventure," Belle said to Beast with sadness in her voice.

Belle watched as Beast's hands formed into tight fists and she could see that he was really angry. She hoped that he wouldn't punch down a tree or roar out in anger. Beast looked down at Belle and controlled himself.

"I can't believe a man would do such a thing to a woman," Beast said to Belle as he closed the distance between them and gave her a hug.

"Beast you are too sweet to have let a womanizer change you so much that you have gotten yourself turned into a beast," Belle said to Beast as she tried her hardest to not cry on his shoulder.

Beast reached for Belle's hand and held it in his furry hand. She looked up at him shyly with a smile on her face. Something silver swished in between them and hit the middle of the tree where they were both standing. Belle turned around and her eyes widened with shock when she saw who threw the knife at her.

"No, it can't be you! How did you find me?" Belle shouted out to the mystery knife thrower.