A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay but with getting accustomed to my new job, and I was working on a new Phantom of the Opera story, I neglected this one. I still intend on wrapping this up. I'm posting 2 chapters—one is for the Best Friends verse and the other is for The Best Man? I hope you all enjoy!

Best Friends

Grace5231973 prompted: More of Robby's first day at school.

Twyla Mercedes prompted: During lunch, a bully tries to intimidate Belle and to Robby's surprise, the little girl does something surprising. (Rated K)

So far his first day was surprisingly speeding along. Typically the first days would take forever to end, but Belle was making his experience an adventure.

When Ms. Shirin started the morning's lesson on grammar, Belle informed Robby that the sentences on the board were a group of villagers that had lost their precious valuables to the evil, greedy sheriff and it was up to Sir Pencil to return what was missing back to them. As she copied the work on her blank piece of paper, Robby followed suit and watched with fascination as Belle made little en garde noises as she added the punctuation and capitalized letters.

In fact, Belle had some story in mind for each lesson that they had to accomplish. It was amazing how quick her mind was in developing these ideas that Robby wished he had tiny figment of her imagination.

When she noticed his look of despair, she had asked him what was wrong.

"I wish I could make things up like you. I'm not that good."

Belle frowned. "That's silly. Anyone can make anything up. You have to try!"

He scratched his head. "Okay. I'll try." Since they had moved on to mathematics and the lesson was all about subtraction, Robby tried to think of something good. "There's a dragon and he's… That's stupid. Dragons like to collect things, not get rid of them."

Belle gingerly poked him. "Go on. I like the idea of a dragon. What is he doing?"

He shrugged. "I don't know."

"C'mon Robby. I know you have it in you!"

But he didn't. Sighing, Belle tapped her chin before an idea came to her. "The way I see it: This dragon is unlike most dragons. Instead of collecting, he likes to give away. He feels good when he can make people smile. Every time the number goes down, the dragon does a little dance."

To demonstrate, Belle did a problem and in her seat, she did a little dance with shaking her butt and twirling her pencil in her fingers.

Robby laughed and he solved the next question. Then it was his turn to shimmy too.

The two went back and forth until Ms. Shirin announced it was time for lunch.

"Yay! I'm starving!" Belle exclaimed.

Grabbing his hand, she dragged Robby to her cubby where she had her lunchbox and off they went to the gym, which was now converted to a cafeteria.

Robby's stomach grumbled and he realized that he forgot to make his lunch. Da never did because he had other things on his mind, but Robby was so nervous about school that it slipped his mind. Reaching into his pocket, he managed to find a dime and two quarters. He looked at the menu sign to see if he could buy anything for that amount and he was able to buy only an apple.

He found Belle waving to him as she patted the empty seat next to him.

"Is that all you're having?" she asked, pointing to his apple.

"Yeah."

Belle shook her head. "That won't fill me up and I know me. Here. You can have some of my carrot sticks and half of my sandwich. I hope you like peanut butter."

"No jelly?" Robby asked.

She scrunched her face as her tongue rolled out. "Ew! No. I like only peanut butter."

As much as Robby did like jelly on his sandwich, he knew he couldn't be choosy so he took a grateful bite of the sandwich. It was tasty and he wished he was able to have some milk to wash it down.

As if reading his mind, Belle pushed her carton of chocolate milk towards him. "We can share," she said.

He didn't know what to say but thanked her anyways. He was starting to come to the conclusion that Belle was an angel in disguise. She knew exactly what to do and say to make him feel comfortable.

Robby was so happy that he made a friend that he hardly noticed the shadow looming over them.

"Go away Keith."

Belle's voice had him turning his head to see what was wrong when a boy, a tall boy, probably a fifth grader from the looks, was standing behind them, his pudgy arms crossed.

"I thought I said this was my spot," the kid, Keith, said flatly.

Belle nonchalantly shrugged. "I didn't see your name on it."

"I always sit here," Keith went on without skipping a beat.

"Well, today my best friend Robby and I beat you," Belle replied as she bit off a carrot stick with a resounding crack.

Even though Keith was bigger than the two of them combined, Robby was in awe that Belle just called him her best friend.

"What are you smiling at you doofus?"

Robby didn't realize Keith now had his sights set on him as he gulped, shrinking in his seat. "N-n-nothing."

"That apple good?" Keith now reached over and snatched the fruit from the table.

Robby's eyes widened as he tried grabbing it back. "That's mine!"

"It's mine now," Keith told him as he opened his mouth to take a huge bite.

What happened next was amazing.

Belle had stood up on her seat so she could be as tall as Keith was, her hands on her hips, as she lowered her voice in a warning, "You better not take a bite out of that apple."

"Or what?" Keith taunted. "You're an odd funny girl. No one even likes you anyways."

For a second, Belle's blue eyes darkened but not in anger, in sadness as her bottom lip quivered. It lasted only a second before she launched herself at Keith, knocking him to the floor, the force causing him to let go of the apple as it bounced and rolled around.

Robby reached down and got it, setting it on the table, as he watched Belle using her fists to punch Keith in the chest. There was a huge commotion as the other kids all began to gather around and to watch the fight unfold, but it was quickly broken up as the lunch moms and Ms. Shirin were there to pull the struggling Belle off the crying Keith.

Ms. Shirin set her down and checked Belle for any injuries. When she was satisfied that Belle was not hurt, she helped Keith up on his feet and saw that apart from his dignity being hurt… Keith was not injured either.

"Come with me," she told the two children as she took them hand-in-hand out of the cafeteria.

Robby, worried, got up and ran after them. He didn't want Belle to get into trouble. Not when it was his fault that Keith wanted his apple.

He found them as they entered the office and Robby ducked inside.

Ms. Shirin had them in the principal's office as she spoke calmly about the incident. Belle was strangely silent but Keith was anything but as he protested loudly that Belle attacked him for no reason.

Robby knew he shouldn't interrupt but he couldn't understand why Belle was not defending herself. So he pushed open the door and instantly got the attention from everyone in the room.

The principal, a Miss Blanchard, rose from her chair as her eyebrow quirked. "And who is this young man?"

"I-I'm Robby Gold," he stammered. "M-m-miss." Looking at Belle, he licked his lips as he found his voice. "Belle's not to blame. She was helping me. He wanted my apple and I forgot to make my lunch and I didn't have enough money to buy anything but the apple and I was hungry and he was so big and I was scared so I let him take it but Belle stopped him from biting it so I could have it," he said in a rush. "The end."

"My word," Miss Blanchard said, sitting back down as she looked from one child to the next. "Is that true Mr. Nottingham?"

"Na-huh," he answered. "It was my apple that he took from me."

"No!" Robby exclaimed. "It was mine! He said something mean to Belle and he tried taking a bite…"

"Miss French?" the principal questioned the little girl who kept her eyes on the floor. When her name was heard, Belle snapped her face up as she bit her lip.

"Robby said the truth but I did punch Keith. I know it was wrong…" She swallowed thickly as Keith jabbed his finger in her face.

"See?! She admits it!"

"Actually, she admits to punching you," Miss Blanchard clarified. "But I know you Keith. You like to bully the third graders and how many times have I had you in my office this week? And so far nothing has been your fault."

Keith flushed hotly as he stuck his fat hand under his seat.

"Now, we can't go around fighting other students, even if they are being mean or in the wrong," the principal said. "But seeing that no harm was done, let's leave this as a warning. No more fighting. Now, Belle and Robby—is it?—you two may go back to lunch with Ms. Shirin. And…" She reached into her drawer and pulled out a couple single dollars. "Make sure he has a proper lunch," she told the teacher, sending Robby a wink. "As for you Mr. Nottingham… I think we should call your mother about your bullying."

"Oh no! Please no!"

xxXXxx

They finished eating lunch and with Robby having a full stomach… he felt he could tackle anything else left in the day. But Belle was quiet and he couldn't understand why. She wasn't in trouble. Even Ms. Shirin didn't seem that upset as she escorted them back into the gym. So what could be making Belle blue?

"It's nothing," she insisted as she picked up her garbage and threw it out.

"It doesn't seem like it," he said.

She sighed glumly. "No. If I tell you… you won't be my friend anymore."

Robby balked. "No way! Belle, you're the nicest and coolest person in the world! You're the only friend I ever had!"

A flicker of a smile played on her lips, but it faded as soon as it appeared. "No. You'll change your mind. They always do."

"That's not fair!" Robby stood in front of her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Belle, you stopped that kid from eating my apple. I… No one has ever done that before. Please Belle. Tell me why you're sad."

Taking a deep breath, she looked him in the eye. "Keith said I was an odd funny girl."

"I remember."

"Well, all the other kids think that too. I like to read and make up stories and I don't really like to run around on the playground," she explained.

Robby shook his head. "Is that why you're afraid I don't want to be your friend?"

Belle nodded. "That's why my friends stopped talking to me."

"I don't care," he declared. "You're my best friend. And—" He stopped talking when he realized he let his accent out. He stared, heart beating fast, as Belle tilted her head as she narrowed her eyes.

"You have an accent," she pointed out.

"No—I don't," he said.

Shaking her head, she said it again. "You have an accent!" Face beaming now, she started talking once more, but this time, she also had an accent. It wasn't Scottish like his, but it was unusual and one he instantly recognized from one of his favorite animal shows.

"You're Australian!" Robby exclaimed.

She giggled. "I am. That was the other reason too. The kids make fun of my voice so I stopped so I would sound like them."

"Same here." Robby and Belle continued to stare at the other with new appreciation and understanding.

"I have an idea," Belle told him. "Let's talk like us. No more hiding, okay?"

Robby liked the sound of it. "Deal. Friend?"

"No," she said, grinning. "Best friends."

I have to say once more I loved this prompt.