{Okay, here's a little changeup for you guys. As a reward for still existing (and staying loyal despite my unannounced leave of absence), I decided I'd hurry and upload this next chapter because it's short and a little different from the norm. I know one thing (among many) that separates this story from most of the other high school stories is the first-person limited original character P.O.V. As a narrative structure, it has its strengths and weaknesses. It provides a more focused narrative and a solid character arc, but I imagine that in a story featuring many diverse examples of your favorite known characters, some of you might be unsatisfied seeing only my character's perspective alone. Even if you're not, I'm sure there are some of you wondering what some of the other characters are thinking, right?

Well, this chapter is the first of who knows how many where we'll catch a glimpse into the mind of one of the many non-OC characters who you already know and love. The vast bulk of the story will still be from Shane's perspective, as we're used to, but I'm planning to sprinkle diary entries intermittently throughout from different characters. It won't be all the time but they'll pop up here and there. Better yet, I'll see what you guys think and go from there.

Anyway, without further ado, I present to you a peek into the thoughts of Belle, our beloved bookworm. Enjoy!}

Chapter Fourteen: Belle's Diary

Well today was something else.

I'll admit, I've been looking forward to the first day of school for weeks now. No, not because I'm some huge nerd (even though I know that's what everyone thinks.) It's just been really hard at home lately, what with all of the ceaseless financial issues. I know Papa is feeling a lot of pressure and the strain isn't good for his heart. I wish I could fast forward straight to jumping into a lucrative career so that I could make enough money to take care of him. I would love nothing more than for him to be able to retire and enjoy the rest of his life without the strain of being a single father, with all of the financial burdens of raising a child, falling onto his shoulders alone.

But I don't want to write about any of that right now. I think about it all the time…I shouldn't have to read about it in my diary.

What I would like to write about is the unexpected arrival to Disney High School. His name is Shane Barrera and I can honestly say that I have no idea where he came from. It's almost as if he fell out of the sky, as though he were some kind of Martian. He certainly seems to have the manners of an alien some of the time.

That's not to say he's completely detestable, like Gaston. (The big Neanderthal acted completely in character today. No surprise there, but I suppose it's nice to know that some things in this world remain consistent. Unlike Eric…but I digress, Diary.) Of course, at first I thought Shane was a complete creep. He was talking to Ariel and Alice, who are both only freshmen. Ariel is way too friendly for her own good some of the time, and I was worried that this little exchange was the latest example of her poor judgment in males. (Not that I'm one to talk…ugh, I hate how Eric keeps popping up where he's not supposed to! Can't I ever be free of him?)

Anyhow, I went over to investigate and he pretty much immediately made a jerk of himself. First off, he got this weird look in his eyes when he looked at me…like he was trying to remember something, or figure out what to say. Then he made some dumb joke about getting kicked out of his old high school for "impregnating too many underclassmen." Smooth, right?

Fortunately, he's turned out not to be as dumb as he looks or sounds. He has a subversive sense of humor and he seems to gravitate toward trouble and confrontation (not necessarily on purpose, which might actually be worse, if you think about it.) He nearly got into a big fight with Gaston whilst trying to defend me, which was a noble but stupid gesture. Now I feel responsible for trying to keep him alive, at least until Gaston gets distracted with something shiny and forgets his latest petty vendetta. Fortunately, he cycles through them pretty quickly so it may not take too long. I can't believe I'm actually looking forward to the first football game so that he can get out some aggression, and maybe lose interest in trying to kill Shane.

Shane is, for his part, a former football player, apparently, which doesn't win him many points in my book. I had assumed as much looking at him that first time. He's okay-looking, I suppose, but he had the smug demeanor of someone who thinks he's more desirable than he really is, a common trait I recognize from being around plenty of our own dumb jocks. Still, he seems to have a good heart lurking somewhere beneath all of his macho bravado and sarcasm, which I suspect may be some type of defense mechanism. He seems to not come from a lot. After school, he found me at the library and claimed he had nowhere to stay, no family to worry about him, no possessions aside from the clothes he was currently wearing. It sounded ludicrous but there was something about the way he said it…a look in his eyes, I don't know…I believed him for some reason.

So I've agreed to look out for him and try to help him get through this school year. It's partly out of pity, but I can admit that a lot of my willingness to help him stems from simple curiosity. It's so boring around here all the time and this at least is a break from the "same old" that I've gotten so tired of. Who knows what's in the cards for me concerning college? This might be a welcome distraction for now. I don't know what the real truth is about Shane or his strange story, which he claimed he had to intentionally leave vague for the time being. I have no idea how somebody could just pop up on campus one day, enrolled in classes despite the lack of an address or much in the way of a tangible history, but here he is all the same. It lends credence to my Martian theory, at least.

We'll see what happens.

As for the rest of today? Some things went as expected. Wendy is in full Class Council Overdrive Mode. We had to have a meeting at lunch, which Eric was of course late to. I guess Jasmine keeps him on a short leash. Do I sound bitter? I shouldn't. It was my idea to break up, after all. But I don't want to talk about him! We both basically acted like we didn't know each other, but I could just feel everyone else staring at us, as if they were waiting for one of us to explode and start screaming about our personal lives. Our issues.

Well, if that's what they're all hoping for, they can keep on hoping. I would never give them the satisfaction of having a big, public argument for everyone to gossip about later. As if any of them need more fuel for gossip. I positively loathe all of the petty drama that they all seem to live for. In my opinion, that kind of nonsense belongs more on a TV high school soap opera than it does real life, but I'm sadly in the minority when it comes to that subject. While they're all watching their mindless sitcoms and reality shows, I'll be delving into real, actual original works of creativity and trying to think for myself. Don't mind me; I'm just the girl in the corner with a book and an opinion.

I think I'll do well in all of my classes. I really don't care about being valedictorian, despite what Milo thinks…I just want to do my best. If there's homework, I'll try to get all the right answers. If there's a test, I'll study for it. It's not rocket science. This has always been the way I conduct myself. It's what Mom taught me. (I missed her a lot today, but that's another story I'm too tired to go into right now. Disney knows I've filled plenty enough of these pages about her, but for some reason it doesn't seem to be getting any easier to live life without her.) Anyway, I really don't think it's that hard to do what's expected of all of us academically, but then again, my social life is probably a bit lacking compared to other girls like Aurora or Jasmine…*barfing noises* The only class I'm remotely worried about excelling in is Ethics, with the notorious Mr. Frollo.

Diary, you know I try not to be too judgmental if I can help it, but I'd be lying if I said there wasn't something about the man that gives me the creeps. He popped out of nowhere today when Gaston was harassing Tiana, Shane, and me with his idiocy. I've never seen anyone who could make Gaston wilt like a little daisy before, until today. Mr. Frollo went off on this chilling tirade about whipping and archaic punishments the school board has ruled against, despite his ardent support of them. I hope he doesn't think I'm some kind of delinquent now just because I was caught in the middle of Gaston and Shane's little tiff (although I admit Shane never would have drawn Gaston's ire if it weren't for me. Why can't the dumb brute just leave me alone? Some guys can't take a hint.)

I caught a brief glimpse of Ms. Maleficent passing through the halls today. She gave me this peculiar little smile and told me that she is anxious to see how I perform this year amidst all of the excitement "looming nigh on the horizon." I can't quite explain it because she's only said nice things to me (I think), but for some reason, I get the impression that she doesn't like me very much. It's troubling, but maybe it's only my imagination. Disney knows it runs away with my thoughts sometimes. I know what some people say about her, all the rumors that she's involved in illicit activities in her personal life. As though she's in the Mafia or something equally ridiculous. It really is laughable, some of the rumors floating around campus. I don't really give much thought to any of that nonsense, though. How would any of our students know about Ms. Maleficent's personal life? I think all of the misguided rumors have sprung up just because of how mysterious she is. People get intimidated by such a confident, successful woman. They don't know what to make of one, especially one who's running our school. I know how some people look at me just because I like to read, as though it's such an outdated concept. I just wish I could get a better impression of how she views me, but perhaps it's better that I don't know.

Well, I had better get to sleep. Tomorrow's a new day, and if it's even half as eventful as today was, I'll have a lot to write about. I'm almost a little excited, to tell the truth. (Shh, don't tell anyone.)

Good night, Diary.

P.S. I love you, Mom. We're still missing you down here…

Love, Belle

{Well that was different, wasn't it? I hope you guys liked seeing a different perspective (and getting to hear someone else's perception of our intrepid hero.) I appreciate all the reviews you're giving and I am happy to say that I'm already working on the next chapter, which is back to Shane's POV. Not sure when I'll finish it, but hopefully soon.

Anyway, thanks again, everyone. Let me know what you think.}