The Unpopular Finds a Home- In Which a little orphan realizes she doesn't have to be alone anymore.
She was known around the village as "La Petite Oaf," for being a bit of a simpleton. But not because she wasn't educated, or particularly dull in the head.
It was because she wanted to be educated. She wanted to learn. So when Belle found her attempting to write in the dust behind the orphanage, the Petite Oaf was shocked to hear the beautiful girl knew how to read. Belle had plopped down next to her in the dirt and spent the rest of the afternoon helping her with her letters.
That was the first time the orphan felt cared for.
They'd begun their lessons in the privacy of the church, with Pere Robert looking on as he cleaned the rafters. Belle taught her how stories were more than just words and letters printed together, but instead worlds to visit and places to fall in love with.
They would work hard all afternoons until Belle would place the book back, give a wistful sigh, and gather her things before heading back to her home. The orphan would sit longer, hidden in the shadows, trying her hardest to memorize as much as possible so she could impress Belle. Then maybe she would take her in as a sister. Maybe she could be adopted. Maybe she'd have a home.
One evening Belle asked something that would leave the orphan smiling the rest of the month.
"Would you like to come for supper? Papa's favorite roast is cooking. Does that sound nice?"
The girl just stared at her, mouth hanging at the jaw in surprise. It was happening! She was one step closer to a home! Belle had laughed at her, grabbed her hand, and they were off, headed through the winding streets until they came to her cozy little cottage. They didn't give the orphanage a single glance.
They all sat around a warm fire as the last snow of winter roared outside, hot roast warming her belly in a way she'd never felt before. They'd given her tea and he'd shown her all his beautiful clocks and inventions. Her favorite, one that sent chills down her tiny back, was the music box. The food and the fire and even Belle was forgotten as she stared at the figure of her mother, holding a child tight in her arms. There was nothing but love decorating the inside, and the orphan stared until when she closed her eyes, she could picture the mother holding her close instead. It was hard not to feel a little jealous of Belle, for having a mother at all. But she couldn't feel jealous because soon, they'd adopt her and then she wouldn't need to feel bad because her mother would be their mother. She played the tune to the music box again and again, until finally Belle's Papa asked her very formally to dance. The orphan tripped and blundered until Papa finally lifted her onto his boots, and one two three, one two three, one two three...
They'd spun around the tiny floorboards, ignoring the creaks and instead laughing until they could barely breathe. Belle had stood by, humming a dance tune for them while she cleaned the dishes.
After supper, Belle told her she would have let her stay the night if it weren't for the orphanage being worried about her. The orphan didn't feel the need to tell Belle they would've been delighted to see her disappear. So instead she followed Belle back over the snow covered roads
It was the first time she'd felt real, genuine hope.
And then she ruined it. It had been an accident, she hadn't been thinking clearly. It was all her fault, she knew. Oh why had she asked her then?
It had been an innocent request, just begging Belle to teach her a few more words that morning. They sat down at the well, quite alone and at peace. Belle was happy to help, and there was no reason for the orphan to feel something was about to go terribly, horribly wrong.
The townspeople were onto them like vultures faster than she had time to scream, yanking away Belle's laundry and spilling it out over the grimy street.
The orphan had never felt more ashamed and angry with herself as she ran away, unable to look Belle in the eyes. It was as if she'd betrayed Belle, she should've known how the village would react. Now Belle was in trouble, and all she'd done is run away. But none of them would've listened to her anyways.
She remained hidden in the corners and crevices of the church for hours, until finally Pere Robert found her, covered in cobwebs and tears.
"Child, whatever is the matter?" His face twisted with concern and she began to feel more tears run down her cheeks.
That was the second time she'd felt cared for.
The little girl felt her heart break the day Belle went missing. She was nowhere to be found, and her beautifully warm and inviting house was cold and empty. The girl couldn't help believing that somehow it was her fault, that they did something awful to Belle for helping her learn to read.
SHe cried more those days than ever before.
Belle's Papa didn't help the situation when he returned from the woods, frantic and apparently gone mad. No one would listen to him or let him come near, so she was forced to watch from a distance as the man that had given her her first dance was mocked by the crowds and taken away with Gaston and LeFou.
The first time she felt loved was when she saw the castle for the first time.
It was alive and bright again, flowers blossoming the closer they stepped and snow melting away rapidly behind them. She had forgotten her cloak in the orphanage but was too excited and nervous to feel cold. Belle was here. Belle was alright.
She wasn't sure if that last part was true, but it was beyond every wish of hers to see her again and apologize. It was more than she could bear to think about any longer, so she ran ahead, weaving through the crowd.
In less than two minutes she was at the marble steps, staring up at the palace. It was so grand she almost fell backwards trying to see it all.
A group of finely dressed servants were pouring over each other by the entrance, hugging and laughing and loving each other.
It was the first time she smiled at strangers.
Then the doors opened, and all breath left her.
It was Belle!
She tried to move towards her, but seemed to be frozen to the steps.
Belle looked ragged and weary, but happier than she'd ever seen her in the village. She was arm-in-arm with someone that felt familiar to her…
She could hear the crowd around her gasp as all at once they remembered.
But the little girl no longer cared where she'd seen him before, or what it could mean, because Belle had found her in the mob of people and was rushing towards her.
The orphan girl grinned and flung herself into Belle's awaiting arms.
"Genevieve! Oh how I've missed you! How are you, how's your-"
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, oh you've got no idea how sorry I am! It's all my fault, I didn't want you to get hurt. Belle I'm so sorry I never wanted to hurt you or your father I just wanted a family so much, and…" She let out a sob, burying her face in Belle's shoulder. She felt Belle suck in a breath, then she held Genevieve impossibly close.
"None of it was your fault, you hear? You've got no reason to be sorry, Genny. My goodness, have you been worried about that silly accident this whole time?!"
Genevieve pulled away and nodded, rubbing her nose against her sleeve. Belle tilted her head to glance back at the Prince as she laughed.
"Genny, I want you to meet the-ahem, I mean Adam. His name is Adam." She blinked a few times, as if even she wasn't sure.
Adam towered over her, but his smile was warm enough that she didn't feel frightened.
"Hello, Genny. I've heard all kinds of wonderful things about you."
Genny's heart began to pound, and she stared at Belle hopefully.
"Does that mean…?"
Belle took her hand and led her over to a family that was embracing each other quite loudly. Belle cleared her throat and the group disbanded to reveal a beautiful older woman, a kind man she recognized from the village, and a tiny boy about her age.
"Mrs. Potts, this is my dearest sister from back home. Her name is Genevieve. Would you mind watching over her for the next few days?"
Mrs. Potts beamed at her and was scooping her up in her warmth before Genny could blink in surprise.
And just as suddenly, it clicked. Belle knew what she wanted. Belle was giving her a family!
Genny gasped and wrapped her arms around Mrs. Potts, holding on tightly.
It was the first time she understood love.
Thank you so much for all of the views and favorites and requests! The more reviews I get, the more gets added onto this story. I am definitely going to include the requests that have been made so far, because they're all very brilliant.