Well would you look at this... I'm still alive and no one has shot me yet... Just kidding, thank you TheIronMask, jorholic73, Iamthebookthief and Autobot21 for reviewing and assuring me... Your reviews and words of comfort just absolutely made my day:) Also, thank you bookbelle.314 for following my story, means the world to me... Well here it is... Enjoy and review :)
Morning dawned over the castle with the sun rising out of the clouds, its strong rays awakening Beau from his slumber. It took him quite a while to remember where he was... Locked up in a castle... Far away from his family and friends whom he'd probably never see again... With a beast... Still, he couldn't help but feel a tiny bit better as the events of the previous day came flooding back to him... With a deep sigh, Beau dragged himself out of the too soft bed ... Smiling at Madame de la Grande Bouche as she offered him clothes for the day... Slipping on the simple white suit and black breeches, he proceeded to open the doors of the balcony to allow in some fresh air into the stuffy room... Enjoying, the cooling breeze that blew in, he decided to go the extra step by walking out to the balcony... As he peered over the railing he spotted no other than Angela herself strolling through the gardens.
Suddenly from the bushes sprung out what looked like a red footrest ... Sultan... Beau recalled... remembering Lumiere calling the latter as such... He watched in amazement as Angela gently caught Sultan as it leaped into her arms. Raising an eyebrow as she giggled like a small girl as the footrest repeatedly licked her face. Watching the two oddities play, Beau couldn't help but smile at Angela's antics, with Sultan she seemed to have transformed into a whole another person... A happier...less bitter person... Beau rubbed the back of his neck. Maybe there was more to Angela than meets the eye...
Angela giggled one last time before watching her dog run off to cause more mischief... Last night had proved to be one of the worst... and best nights of her life... Worse because... Well if it weren't for Beau... She wouldn't be covered in bandages would she? Angela cringed as she patted the bandage on her arm... she'd be exaggerating if she were to say she was in agony... But Angela did awaken with a throbbing head and an immensely sore body...
"Stupid boy..." she smiled. Although she did blame him for all of this... Angela was genuinely surprised that Beau actually... didn't leave her out in the wilderness to die... That was admirable of him... If their fates were swapped, she doubted she'd do the same...
"No... You would have most definitely left him out there to die..." she whispered somewhat ashamed... Angela blinked, surprised that she felt guilty about that decision... What was wrong about looking out solely for yourself? It wasn't wrong... It was just a case of... ethics... something she just found beyond her comprehension to care about... Shrugging and not wanting to give this matter anymore thought... she strolled back into the kitchens and made her way to the main foyer before travelling silently up the four flights of stairs to her safe haven. The library...
Grabbing the gold handles Angela proceeded to enter, ready to drown herself within the comforts of her precious books only to stop short in surprise discovering that she wasn't alone...In the middle stood a gaping Beau, his eyes wide with amazement by the sheer number of books the library contained... Angela stiffened, completely shocked by this man's presence, unsure on what to do next... Should she just stand there until Beau noticed her? Or leave to avoid another hostile confrontation? Honestly she couldn't decide but before she could do either, Beau turned around and gasped in surprise.
"Beas...Angela... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to intrude... I'll...I'll leave now." Beau stuttered before turning to exit, knowing all to well what this beast would do if she got angry. Angela blinked at his hasty retreat... Almost reaching out to stop him only to freeze... Surprised by her own actions...
"What are you doing?" Angela growled at herself, her clawed paw subtlety returning to the safety of her long cloak... She wasn't comfortable spending time with him... She wasn't even comfortable sharing a castle with him... Angela knew this... It was awkward, she felt silly, exposed, scrutinized... Out of place in her own home... She didn't like this... Not one bit... BUT THEN AGAIN... she didn't want Beau to keep avoiding her ... It really just defeated the whole point of her holding him as prisoner... So, with great difficulty, she bit the bullet and sighed.
"It's ok Beau... You're allowed in here... I just didn't expect you up so early..." Angela mumbled... her fists clenched.
"Oh... I'm an early riser..." Beau said unnaturally while running... a little too eagerly back into the library.
"Really?"
"Of course..."
Another tensed silence formed with Beau cracking his knuckles and Angela biting her lip.
"You have a beautiful library... With so many books... Its gorgeous!" Beau blurted swinging his hands back and forth nervously. Angela couldn't help but chuckle a little at his enthusiasm.
"I love to read..." She admitted.
"Really? I'd never imagined you as a reading type... no offense..."
Angela shrugged. "None taken..."
They stared blankly at each other, both tongue tied before Angela tried again, with much reluctance and difficulty.
"So you like books huh... Any type of genre you prefer? A favorite author perhaps?"
"I adore Shakespeare..."
"I adore Shakespeare too..." Angela smiled excitedly. Beau flinched. Fear suddenly reflected in his eyes. Angela quickly turned her face away, her ears flattened, her hand over her mouth...
Tension filled silence arrived soon after with both Beau and Angela unsure on what to do next... Beau felt obliged to apologize... He didn't mean to react the way he had... BUT THOSE FANGS... BY GOD...THEY WERE TERRIFYING... Reminded him too much of the wolf that had attempted to tear him to pieces... However, judging by the way she had reacted... She was hurt... And being a gentlemen, he... He reached out to apologize but drew back a second later...
Wouldn't apologising just draw emphasis on her... strange appearance... Wouldn't it just make her feel worse?
Angela on the other hand nervously inched away from Beau... Cursing herself repeatedly for letting her guard down... What was she thinking? Had she forgotten... Forgotten that she was a monster... Did she honestly think... that Beau would not be repulsed by her appearance? How unbelievably naïve and stupid she was... Angela bared her teeth... Maybe she should just leave the room... Yes... Just disappear and act like it didn't faze her... However before she could even move, she saw Beau reach out to her... Instinctively, she moved quickly away, feeling that pity... His pity...was the last thing she needed for her already tattered self-esteem... Freezing in their respective position, they eyed each other cautiously, both looking at each other for any signs of danger... It was a full minute of this before Angela broke the tension.
"Shakespeare's this way..." she said flatly before walking off...
After that... The two spent almost an hour of silence between them. At first Angela tried to squeeze in a word but the years of ignoring everyone's existence had taken its toll and she couldn't find anything appropriate to say... Besides... Beau was to busy "oohing" and "ahhing" at the books he surrounded himself with... He was so blissfully happy with whatever he was reading that it almost felt sinful to interrupt him. Angela groaned silently... She never thought being in a room with a boy... A boy her age could be so... boring... Romance novels always made it clear that being in close proximity to someone of the opposite gender should exciting... A life altering sensation... So far... the whole hour had been rather...unremarkable...
To entertain herself, Angela set it upon herself to study Beau... If he was going to stay here, she might as well get to know him...She noticed that he had a tendency to brush the loose strands of hair off his face only to have them fall back once again... That he enjoyed sitting slanted, to lay his head on his left hand while the right flipped the pages... Angela soon found herself completely mesmerized by this young man... Everything about him seemed so... perfect... His physique, his posture, his mannerisms and God was he attractive... In fact, Angela was so busy staring at him it took her a few minutes to even register that he was staring back...
Right... So this is the part you scream... WHY NO ROMANCY FLUFFY PLOT... Well... 1) I am generally bad at that so yes... Give me some time to acquire that skill..2) They just met... I don't think ANYONE would give someone they barely know a whole library... Thats... Let me quote the Snow Queen's words "You don't just fall in love with a man you just met..." ok fine its "You can't marry a man you just met..." but same basis... Also, my beast LOVES her library... Its her private garden of eden so sharing it with someone is quite a remarkable feat on her part...Lastly... I don't think the both of them even like each other yet... Its more of a, we got past last night without tearing each other's throats out type of... acquaintance... so that is why... Like it, hate it review and let me know... Also, do you readers prefer that I write these little justifications at the bottom or should I just not do it? Let me know!
