AN: Thanks so much for all the lovely reviews. I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying it. Here's the next chapter, it's rather short but the next couple will be longer.
Another day, another date, another bloody salad. Belle eyed Gaston's fried chicken and mashed potatoes enviously as she stabbed away at the offending leaves. She had stayed over at Gaston's apartment the night before so she had been relegated to a few bananas for breakfast while Gaston had wolfed down pound of bacon and a stack of pancakes. She was absolutely starving!
"How's your salad Babe?"
It was lettuce with no cheese, no dressing, no bacon bits, no croutons, no nothing. There was absolutely nothing to it. It sucked. "It's great Baby. Just the way I like it."
Gaston puffed up like peacock as if he was proud of ordering her another crappy salad. Belle really had to wonder how someone as simple as Gaston had managed to gain enough of Cora Mills trust to earn a spot , even a small one, in her organization. It wasn't that he was stupid really, just very dense and extremely self involved.. Anything that was complex, or that didn't involve him, usually went right over his head. Part of her wondered if he truly understood the Communist agenda he supported of if someone had just hoodwinked him into all of it.
"So are you staying over again tonight Babe?"
No way in hell. She wanted more than rabbit food thank you very much. "I can't. I've got to work the early shift at the library tomorrow." Part of her cover was that she was a part-time librarian which meant a couple of times a week she had to put in a few hours at the town library. It was actually part of her cover that she truly enjoyed. She loved being surrounded by books and all that knowledge. There was something about reading a book that could make everything better. Plus it was certainly more enjoyable than other aspects of her cover.
"Aw can't you just blow it off?"
"It's work!"
"Yeah but you could just call in sick and spend all morning with me. It's not like you're doing anything important there."
"Gaston you know I can't just call in. I get off at noon. I can come over then."
"I'll be at work."
"Why don't you just call in sick?"
"Be serious Belle, I've got to work."
So it was okay for her to blow off work for him, but he couldn't do it for her? That seemed fair. Oh wait, that's right. His work was 'important.' "Well what other option do we have?"
"Gaston seemed to hesitate, weighing his options, before responding. "Well I suppose you could come to the office for lunch. You could meet the guys and maybe I could get out early."
This was it! This is what she had spent six months eating crappy salads for. This was her chance! She was finally going to breach The Heart. Her joy was genuine when she wrapped her arms around Gaston and gave him a kiss. "That sounds great. I can't wait!" For once she was telling the truth.
That's all for this one! Hope you enjoyed it! I'll have another chapter posted probably on New Years.