Chapter 13: Be Our Guest

While Ariel was on her date with Eric, Belle was staying at home doing her homework when she heard an unexpected knock. It came from the front door, which surprised Belle. So she put down her book and looked through the peephole in the door. In it she saw the grinning face of Gaston wearing a red shirt with the sleeves rolled up, black jeans, and matching shoes. Sighing irritably, Belle left the door and tried to continue reading her textbook but Gaston kept knocking. Eventually, Belle got so annoyed that she unlocked the door and opened it partway with the chain still attached.

"Gaston," Belle said trying to sound pleasant. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm glad you asked, Belle," Gaston said grinning. "Now if you would kindly let me and my friends in, that would be swell."

"Friends?" Belle pushed back as Gaston pressed his huge hands against the door. "What's going on?"

"I've been thinking about what you said the other day, and I thought it might benefit you to bring a party right to your home," Gaston answered, shoving his face closer to Belle's. "Doesn't that sound grand?"

"Not tonight," Belle said shaking her head. "I have a lot of homework to do, and my father doesn't want me to have parties while he's away."

"There you go again," Gaston said, pushing harder against the door. "Nothing but excuses."

Gaston's strength proved to be too much for Belle as she was pushed back from the door. This in turn caused Gaston to push the door open so hard to the point of causing the chain to snap. As Gaston and several other students poured in, Belle made her way to the home-phone and attempted to call the police. But in the middle of dialing, Gaston grabbed Belle from behind and picked her up with his bare hands.

"Put me down, Gaston!" Belle shouted as he carried her on his back.

"Nope," Gaston said as he carried Belle past the living room. "Tonight's the night when all your dreams come true."

"What do you know about my dreams?" Belle asked as she lightly punched Gaston on the shoulder blades.

"Plenty," Gaston said approaching Belle's bedroom. Once they were inside, Gaston set Belle down and held her close while waving his hand in the air above their heads tracing out imaginary objects. "Picture this: a rustic hunting lodge, my latest kill roasting on the fire, my little wife massaging my feet, and the little ones playing with the dogs."

"You mean—

"Yes, strapping young boys like me."

"Well, that's nice, I guess," Bell said, shifting under Gaston's arm.

"And you know who that little wife will be?" Gaston said putting his hands on Belle's shoulders.

"Um, who?" Bell said, already knowing the answer in her mind.

"You, Belle!"

"Oh, Gaston!" Bell said, getting out from under Gaston's hands and backing towards the bedroom door. "I'm, uh, speechless."

"Then say you'll be my girl and then when we graduate we'll get married," Gaston said standing inches from Belle.

"There's one small problem, Gaston," Belle said slowly turning the door-knob. "I'm just not that into you."

Then before Gaston could protest, Belle opened the door and shoved him out of her bedroom. After locking the door behind her, Belle tried to consider what to do. She figured Gaston wouldn't be leaving anytime soon, and neither would his friends. There was no way to contact her father or the police from inside her room due to the fact that she didn't own a cellphone. So the only option left would be to stay somewhere else for the night. Unfortunately, Belle didn't know anyone from school who lived nearby except…

Though the window in her bedroom, Belle could see the faint outline of Adam's house at the top of the hill in the moonlight. What happened the last time she approached the house still frightened her, but Belle knew she had no other choice. Quickly packing a change of clothes and some bathroom stuff into a small pack, Belle opened the window, stepped outside, and closed it quietly. Then she trudged across the lawn, over the fence, and up the sloped street till she was standing at the front door of Adam's house.

She pressed the answering machine and heard that same booming voice she heard before. "Who dares to disturb me at this time of night? Speak quickly or leave now!"

Belle gulped and said, "Adam, it's me, Belle. I gave you some homework assignments a couple days ago and—

"Yes, I remember you! Now get to the point!"

"I was wondering if I could borrow your phone."

"I don't have a working phone!"

"Then can I stay here for the night?"

"Why?"

"Because my house has been invaded by some rude people, and I don't have the strength to deal with them. You know Gaston Huntsman?"

Adam snorted. "I think so. He's the star football player of our school, right?"

"Yes, so anyway, he decided to throw a surprise party at my house because I told him I've never been to parties and then he tried to persuade me to be his 'girl' but I kicked him out of my bedroom before coming here."

"He didn'tdo anything to you, did he?" Adam asked hesitantly.

"No, but he probably would've tried to if I hadn't kicked him out," Belle answered, shivering at the thought of what could've happened.

"Is he interested in you? In a romantic sense?"

"I'm not sure. He keeps hitting on me, but I don't think he really loves me."

"You're not the first girl he's tried to make his," Adam answered remorsefully. "To him, girls are just prizes to conquer."

"How do you know this?"

"I used to be on the football team, before"

"Before what?"

Adam paused and then said, "You can't stay here."

"Why not?" Belle asked, sounding offended.

"You wouldn't understand."

"Please, I don't have anywhere else to go," Belle begged.

"I'm cursed!" Adam shouted. "You'll run away as soon as you see me."

"What do you mean 'cursed'?"

"Are you stupid or something? Get out!"

"No! I won't leave until you let me in!"

"Fine, then sleep outside for all I care!"

After that, Belle didn't hear anything. So she sat with her back to the door and soon fell asleep.

###

When Belle woke up, she found herself in a queen-sized bed with her pack by the door.

"I must be in Adam's house," Belle muttered to herself.

"You are."

Belle was startled, and saw a tall teenage boy standing near the door to the bedroom. He wore a long cloak and hood that covered most of his face and feet.

"Did you…watch me while I slept, Adam?" Belle asked drawing the covers closer.

"No, but I did bring you inside an hour after you begged me to let you in," Adam said.

"Thanks," Belle said and started to get out of bed.

"I take it you slept well."

"I did," Belle replied kneeling down to take a change of clothes from her pack. She tried to glance up at Adam to get a better look at his face, but he noticed and immediately turned away.

"Did your father try to stop Gaston?"

"No, he wasn't around. He's out of town attending a science fair."

"Oh, I see."

Belle went into the bathroom to change and came out wearing a blue dress with a white blouse underneath. Adam was still by the door, but kept his head down.

"If you want, you could stay here until your father comes back," Adam said nervously.

"That's very kind of you, but I'm sure I'll be fine," Belle said walking toward the bedroom door but Adam stepped in to block her.

"I'm not sure if that's a wise decision," Adam said firmly. "It seems Gaston vandalized your home once he realized you were gone."

"He wouldn't do that!" Belle exclaimed. "He's not that stupid."

"Look into this magic mirror if you don't believe me," Adam said taking a small pocket mirror out of a hidden pocket in his cloak. "Just tell it what you want to see."

Hesitantly, Belle took the mirror from Adam's surprisingly furry hand and said, "Show me the Maurice house."

The mirror flashed bright-green for a second and was horrified by what she saw. The house's windows were broken, there were egg stains on the walls outside, the furniture was turned over inside, and the house-phone was scorched.

"This can't have all been the work of Gaston," Belle said, shocked.

"Probably not," Adam said. "His friends probably helped him. But the scorched phonethat looks like Hades' doing."

"Hades? You mean the leader of the Pandemonium Gang?"

"He's good friends with Gaston, so I wouldn't be surprised if he was there."

"But I don't remember seeing him, though I was picked up by Gaston and taken to my bedroom so I didn't get the chance to see all his friends."

Belle sighed wearily while Adam took the mirror back from her. Neither of them said anything for a while and then Adam said, "You don't have to stay here if you don't want to. It's ultimately your decision."

"Well, my father was going to come back Friday but I take it he's not at the house yet so something's holding him up and this is the only place I know. So I wouldn't mind staying here for the weekend, at least, but on the condition that you explain to me about your 'curse.'"

Adam shifted slightly. "That's all?"

"Yep," Belle said folding her arms. "You can take it or leave it."

Under his breath, Adam grumbled and then in one swift motion he removed his cloak. Belle's eyes widened as she beheld not a teenage boy but a humanoid beast with rough brown fur, black horns, claws with black nails, white fangs, and lion's feet. His clothes were slightly torn but his eyes were sky-blue and seemed to shimmer even in the darkness.

"Now do you understand why I wanted you to stay away?"

"I do," Belle said, keeping a steady gaze on Adam's eyes. "But I'm not afraid. How did you get this way?"

"It would take too long to explain," Adam said, as he started to leave the bedroom. "You can go to any part of the house except the West Wing."

"What's in the West Wing?"

"It's forbidden!" Adam shouted and slammed the door behind him.

End of Chapter 13