"I heard your boyfriend got the best of Hercules."

Meg looked up from her locker to see Hades standing next to her. She wasn't particularly happy to see him, but since Hercules was the one who usually found her after school she was somewhat relieved it was Hades instead.

"Yeah he did," Meg said. "And his name is Thomas."

Hades shrugged. "I don't care if Tinker Bell did it; as long as someone put him in his place."

Hades ran his hand through his hair and Meg noticed the cigarette tucked behind his ear. Hades seemed to think school rules no longer applied once the final bell rang.

"You're not supposed to have cigarettes on school property," Meg said.

Hades gave her a look that told her he thought what she had just said was the dumbest thing he ever heard and Meg rolled her eyes.

"There's only five weeks left of school; getting kicked out now would just be stupid," Meg stated.

"Fine. I'll go across the street." Hades tried to make it sound like he was doing her a favor, but he knew she was right.

Meg slung her backpack over her shoulder and followed Hades outside. Once they were off campus, Hades lit his cigarette.

"So, how are things with Gothel?" Meg asked.

Hades took a drag off his cigarette. "Fine. She's kinda twisted, but she puts out."

Normally a statement like that would bother Meg, but she was used to Hades' rude comments and she knew, in his head, that was actually a compliment.

"You know who I would actually like to get with is Villain Barbie," Hades continued.

Meg made a face. "Never gonna happen. She loves Gaston."

Hades shrugged as he took another drag. "I'm not talking about getting into a relationship with her. I just want to get into those tight little jeans of hers."

Meg groaned. "I'm so done with this conversation."

"Oh, please. Don't pretend you're Miss Virtue, Nutmeg. I know all about what you did with Hercules over Spring Break," Hades scoffed.

"What the hell!" Meg couldn't keep her voice from going up a couple octaves. "I didn't do anything with Hercules."

Hades gave her a mocking look. "Right."

"I didn't," Meg said, flatly. "Hercules made the whole thing up."

"I don't know how things between you two got this way," Hades said, flicking ash on the ground. "You guys were good together."

"Oh my God! I really don't want to talk about me and Hercules," Meg snapped. "I love Thomas and I no longer care about Hercules."

"And why don't you care about him anymore?" Hades asked.

"Because he's a jerk."

Hades let out a short laugh. "He's a guy."

Meg shook her head. "No. He can't cop out behind that lame excuse. Thomas is a guy, too, but he never acts like that. And why are you defending Hercules? I thought you hated him."

Hades flicked his cigarette butt out in front of him. "I'm not defending him. I honestly don't care about your relationship problems. I was just trying to keep the conversation going so I had something to do until I was done smoking."

With that Hades turned and walked away.

XXX

Belle stared blankly at the cover of her Edgar Allan Poe book. They were no longing reading his work in English, but Belle still carried the book around for sentimental reasons. It was, technically, what had brought her and Adam together. Normally today she would be tutoring Adam, but he hadn't come to school that day.

The chair across the table from Belle moved and she looked up. Tiana and Jane were standing in front of her and they slowly sat down at the table. Jane smiled sadly at Belle and Tiana reached over to take Belle's hands in hers.

"Are you all right?" Tiana asked.

"Yes," Belle replied.

"What happened on Friday?" Jane asked, hesitantly.

"Oh. It was just a small fire," Belle said. "No big deal."

Belle wanted to downplay the whole incident so everyone would forget about it. She didn't want any of the other students digging too deep into what happen and finding out about Adam's dad. Though, Belle still believed Adam should tell the police what his dad did, that was up to Adam to decide and it was best to keep his secret for as long as possible.

Tiana and Jane exchanged glances, then looked back at Belle.

"That's not what we heard," Tiana said.

"What did you hear?" Belle asked.

"We heard you were in the tree house while it was on fire and Adam saved you," Jane said.

"Oh. Well, yeah, that happened," Belle said.

Jane's eyes lit up a little. "That's so romantic!"

Tiana rolled her eyes at Jane. "We're glad you're okay, Belle."

"Yeah, I'm fine," Belle said. "But I really need to get my homework done, so..."

"Of course," Tiana said, standing up.

Jane made no attempt to get up. Jane was a hopeless romantic and Belle knew she was waiting to hear more about Adam's heroic rescue. Tiana grabbed Jane's hand and pulled her to her feet.

"I'll call you later," Jane told Belle as Tiana dragged her away from the table.

Belle watched her friends leave the library, then looked back down at her book. She wondered if she and Adam would ever get to have a normal relationship like Jane had with Tarzan and Tiana with Naveen; a relationship without fear. Belle sighed and ran her fingers over the cover of the book.

"And this maiden she lived with no other thought than to love and be loved by me."

Belle quickly looked up to see Adam standing over her, holding a rose. He handed the rose to Belle as he sat down next to her.

"I was a child and she was a child in this kingdom by the sea," Adam continued. "But we loved with a love that was more than love- I and my Anna-belle Lee."

Belle felt herself become teary-eyed. Her breath caught in her throat and she was completely speechless. Her heart was racing when Adam leaned forward lightly kissed her lips.

"I'm so happy to see you," Belle said quietly, not knowing what else to say. "When you didn't come to school I got worried."

"I wasn't ready to deal with everybody asking me about Friday," Adam said. "But, I wasn't going to miss our session."

Belle smiled at her boyfriend. "Well, your poem memorization was perfect. However, we're no longer studying Edgar Allan Poe in English."

Adam pretended to be disappointed. "Does that mean you wouldn't be interested in seeing The Raven with me this weekend?"

Belle looked down at her rose. "No. I'd love to."

Adam pushed Belle's hair back and pulled her into another kiss. Belle gripped the stem of her rose, ignoring the thorns as they pricked her skin.

A/N: I do not own the poem "Annabel Lee". It belongs to Edgar Allan Poe.