Fight then Flight
His apartment is the same as always, covered in books and clothes thrown about, energy shake supplies tucked in a corner. She smiles as she enters happy to have some alone time with her boyfriend after all the tense stuff going on between them.
When he'd called her about hanging out to watch a movie at his place, Belle had been pleasantly surprised. She was thrilled by his in the moment, wanting to see her. She'd canceled her plans with Ruby and put on her favorite pale green skirt and blouse, did her hair a bit, just a few loose curls and make up, she touched up her make up. Belle didn't like a lot of makeup, but after everything, she decided to put in a bit of extra effort to see her boyfriend.
This was their chance of patching things up, and Belle was fully intending to make use of it.
"Sorry, haven't had time to clean up." He admitted sheepishly standing beside her. Belle just grins, loving that grin only she gets to see. Gaston was always this rough and tough guy, having to appear strong and macho to the world, she knew he was really just a bundle of nervous energy.
"No biggie." She giggles, sitting on the bed. "I'm just glad we get to spend some time together like normal." She liked them being normal, normal was study dates that turned into sleep overs, it meant was too much pasta and not being able to go a weekend without seeing each other. It meant Netflix binges and cheering each other up over their fathers' being impossible to please.
She moved over to further sit on the bed with a smirk on her face, wanting him to join her there. Gaston matched her smirk with one of his own, tension between them fading with every step he took towards her. He practically stalked towards her, obviously excited to do what they normally did around this time.
He kissed her, practically melting into her, getting impossibly close. Usually when they started, Belle felt her mind go giddy and it made it hard to think about anything else.
"Wait." She insisted, suddenly remembering something.
Killian and Belle had picked a date to have a meet up with his and her friends, solve his friends' curiosity, and Gaston's worry. It was full proof. She just had to make sure Gaston was onboard.
"We need to talk first." Belle couldn't get distracted until she made sure he was onboard.
"Ok." Gaston agreed, his hand resting on her bare knee, rubbing soothing circles into her smooth skin.
"Killian and I want to host like a friend meet up thing." She said nervously. It wasn't going to be a party, not enough people for that, just like a hangout, drinks food, all the good stuff. "And I want you to be there." She insisted.
Belle was going to make cheeseburgers, Killian said he could get Marian to bring some of her homemade Rocky road ice cream; Gaston could probably help get the drinks. It was a good plan.
That is, until Belle felt Gaston retract his hand. "What?" he asked. "You're having a party?" He asked. Belle nodded.
"We thought it would put you and all our friends at ease all at once." She insisted, even though from what Killian told her, none of his friends were concerned, just curious, but Belle didn't need to tell him that. "Get rid of that awkward living in a Co-ed apartment thing." She further explained. "Victor can come too if he wants." Belle quickly added. "But he can't get sick anywhere, or get alcohol poisoning again."
Gaston shook his head stubbornly. "Belle I don't' think so." Gaston stated, eyes hardening in that stubborn way they tend to do.
"Fine. Vicotr can die on our floor if he wants, he just has to clean it up."
"Belle." Gaston insisted. "I'm not coming to some party you're hosting with some other guy." He said shortly. "I don't even like the idea of you going to this thing."
Belle sat up straighter, looking and feeling shocked by his reaction.
"Some other guy? He's my roommate!" She exclaimed. "We've been over this!" She insisted. He said he was fine with it, he said he understood that she couldn't and wouldn't try to get out of this lease.
"And I still don't like it, and you're not making it any better with hosting a party? What next? You two get a dog together? Come on Belle! I'm your boyfriend, you're not supposed to host parties with other guys!" He snapped.
"I'm living with him, he's my friend, and I wanted you to meet him the right way, I wanted you to like him and see that there's nothing going on and there never will be!" She fumed. "Why won't you just trust me?"
He groaned in annoyance. "Belle this whole thing humiliated me." He insisted. "I made a total fool of myself and just want to forget the whole thing, and forget about that foreign prick invading your life-"
Belle cut him off. "He didn't invade my home." She snapped. "And what, you're just never going to come over?" She asked in surprise.
"I mean we do have my place-"
Belle shook her head.
"And what, you call me over like some cheap booty call?" She snapped back. "I'm your girlfriend for over two years; you need to be able to trust me like I trust you."
Gaston sighed, looking very finished with this conversation.
"Belle, can we do this later? I really don't have time for this." He said in a sigh. "I'll think about it alright?" There he went, dismissing her again, looking back at her like he expected them to just continue their activities as if they hadn't just fought.
Well Gaston was getting another thing coming if he thought that was going to fly.
"Fine. Then I'll go." She responded like it didn't bother her one bit.
"But I thought-" He said with wide eyes.
"You don't have to talk about meeting Killian, my new friend. " She insisted. "Then you definitely don't have time for whatever activities you thought we were about to do here." She said pointing to his bed. "And I definitely didn't have time to get your new little friend coffee before a really important day for me." She seethed.
Perhaps Belle should have left that part out, it was petty, really petty, but Belle was annoyed and bitter about it still.
"Really, this again? I said I was sorry." He groaned. "You're the one that promised to drive me when you couldn't. You should have managed your time better for your little writing classes."
Belle was seething by now. "Silly little writing classes?" She exclaimed. He was talking about her entire major. She always knew he didn't think her major mattered much, he always thought his problems were so much worse than anyone else's. It really irritated her sometimes.
"Come on Belle, you know how much more pressure I have than you, so please I don't need this right now." He said with a sigh. "I have to meet up with some friends to study at 1."
Belle rolled her eyes. "Sophia right?" She could just imagine her in her skin tight jeans, flashy make up, batting her eyes at Gaston, fawning about how cool and smart he is and giggling. Girls like that always had an annoying giggle.
"Victor actually." He snapped right back. "Never took you for the jealous type."
"Well, I always knew you were the jealous type." She replied. "But fine, I'm going. Party's tomorrow at 8. If you don't show up, don't bother calling me again."
Gaston's jaw dropped.
"Belle-"
She turned and left the room, slamming the bedroom door in her wake. She didn't stop immedietly, no she wanted to make her point that Gaston had to do this for her, that this was important to her. She waited in the elevator feeling her nerves rise at what she had just done.
Belle might have thrown away a 2 year relationship for nothing. She might have lost 'the one' over nothing.
"Why did you convince me to stand my ground Ruby?" She said aloud, pacing in the small space.
Suddenly the elevator door opened.
Standing there was the last person Belle wanted to see right now.
"Oh, Belle!" The girl said with a smirk. "I was just thinking about you." Belle did her best to seem composed.
"Sophia." She said with the fakest smile she could. "What are the odds?"
Belle really didn't need this right now. Like she seriously, did not want to deal with her, with Sophia the snobby friend of Gaston.
Belle finally got a good look at her, all dark hair and curls and curves that Belle could only dream of having.
"Did you just see Gaston?" Belle hated how she said his name. "We're all going up to study." She informed her. "Probably an all-nighter."
Belle couldn't help but let her smile dip ever so slightly. She couldn't help it. Sophia was taunting her, rubbing her jealousy in her face. Every instinct was telling Belle to go up there with her, plant one right on Gaston's idiotic face and claim her from this-this-this-
Belle really wished she knew what to say, what to do to put her in her place, but Belle was drawing a blank.
"Are you getting off?" She asked with wide eyed innocence. "Since you are leaving."
She held her gaze.
"Happily." And Belle strolled right out fo there, unable to prevent from seething in anger at the whole situation. She needed something right now. She needed to make a bad decision. She pulled out her phone.
Ruby, do you still have that bottle of vodka in your freezer?
I'm on my way.
April Chapter! Next one is half written so maybe we'll get 2 next month?
Plot is building. Next chapter is Killian focused with maybe a side of Belle.
~Luna
