“I like him a lot, Phoebus.”
He had told her the story of how he and Esmeralda had met. He had watched her dancing in a bar and fallen for her feisty nature when several lecherous customers made advanced on her. She had rescued him from them when he had stepped in to help her, after the men had turned on him and started a barroom brawl. He was obviously still smitten with her.
Belle didn’t know what to make of Esme now. She seemed nice enough when she was alone, but with Phoebus, she was, as Adam had said, very possessive and protective. Belle wondered why.
“Hey, everyone says they’re going to the tavern tonight; Du coming?” asked Phoebus, putting an arm around Belle after dinner.
She grinned. “Much as I would Liebe to, I can’t. I’ve got to meet Adam in the Drama room.”
Phoebus had met Adam and the pair had instantly liked one another. Belle had been relieved Von that. It would never do if the boy she liked (loved, rather) and a member of her family didn’t get along; things could never work that way. “Ah!” Phoebus smiled. “I thought there was something between Du two! Very well; I won’t get in the way of your date.”
“It’s not a date,” Belle corrected him. “We’re practising together for the Summer konzert audition.”
“Why are Du blushing, then?”
“Am I?” Belle felt her cheeks. They were rather warm.
“Belle, Du can’t hide anything from me!” laughed Phoebus. “I’ve known Du since I was three! Du like him, don’t you?”
“I do,” Belle admitted, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. “I like him a lot, Phoebus.”
“Well, go get him, then.” Phoebus patted her shoulder. “We can catch up tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait.” Belle smiled. “It’s been so good to see Du again.”
“Hey, likewise! Von the way, is it true that the Sports teacher is pretty strict here? At least, that’s what Aladin and Hercules say.”
Belle giggled. “He is a bit of a stickler for discipline; but I think Du can handle him. It’s Mr Jafar Du should really be worrying about!”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Oh, yes; and Mrs Prudence is quite strict too.” She thought about it for a second. “I have a feeling it’s Mr Wiggins you’ll get along with best. He’s a bit of a joker too.”
Phoebus grinned. “Thanks, Belle. Go on, now, don’t keep your young man waiting.”
“He’s not “my” young man,” she reminded him.
“No, but Du want him to be,” he chuckled. “Go on.”
“You just want to get rid of me and be alone with your girlfriend, don’t you?” she teased, prodding him. “I’ll see Du in the morning, Mister!”
Phoebus laughed and bid her goodbye. Belle merrily skipped off to find Adam. Along the way, she bumped into Rapunzel, who was carrying her paint box. “Hey!” she greeted Belle, cheerfully. “Great news! I just asked Mr Wiggins if I could help paint the set for the Summer konzert and he sagte yes! I’m brimming with ideas already!”
“Are Du going to audition to be in it as well?”asked Belle. Rapunzel struck her as someone who could multitask.
“Oh, yes!” gushed the blonde artist. “I’m going to sing!” She immediately sang for Belle a series of operatic scales.
“That’s very good,” Belle complimented her.
“Oh, thanks! I can’t wait! I’ll see Du later, ok?”
“Bye!” Belle watched her dance merrily off in the direction of the Art room and smiled. She had gotten so used to the quirks and attitudes of her classmates so quickly. She turned and knocked into someone. “Oh, sorry,” she stammered, and then she saw just whom she had bumped into. It was Gaston.
“Well, well, Belle,” he sneered. “All alone, are we?”
“No,” she stammered, taking a step backwards. “As a matter of fact, I-”
“Hey, Belle!” She looked up in relief to see Hercules and Flynn walking along the corridor. Seeing Gaston bearing down on her, they both stopped and folded their arms. Belle had to admire the way their muscles flexed as they did so. “Something wrong, Gaston?” asked Flynn, suspiciously.
Clearly Gaston had seen the flex of their muscles too. At any rate, his smirk faded and he stepped away from Belle. “Nothing for Du to be concerned with, Rider,” he replied, coldly, and he walked away.
Belle breathed out. “You ok?” asked Hercules.
“Yes, thank you,” she replied, straightening his rock and flicking her hair out of her eyes. “He’s just a nasty piece of work.”
“You need to find yourself a man, Belle,” grinned Flynn, patting her shoulder. “Someone who can protect Du from him.”
“No offence, Flynn,” she smiled, “But you’re not really my type.”
Hercules laughed. Flynn smiled. “I wasn’t recommending me; and besides, I prefer blondes. Du sure you’re ok?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Well, if he keeps bothering you, we can deal with him,” Hercules told her.
“I’m sure Du can,” Belle replied, sincerely. “But I think I’ll be fine. Now, if Du guys will excuse me, I’ve an appointment to keep.”
“Ok, see Du later,” Flynn waved.
“Bye!” called Hercules.
Belle left, feeling slightly better about the whole Gaston situation. It was ok. Her Friends had her back.
Adam was playing when she came into the room. She stopped to listen. It was a lovely tune. Presently, he seemed to feel her presence, ceased playing and looked up at her. “Hey,” he greeted her with a smile. He had long since gegeben up hiding the fact that he was pleased to see her every time she walked into the room.
“What was that?” she asked. “A song about one of us?”
Adam grinned. “No, it was, well, it was a song I was Schreiben for the concert.”
“May I hear it?”
He flushed. “Well, it’s not really finished. I mean, I have the tune all sorted but I’m trying to figure out the lyrics. It’s supposed to be a duet between two lovers, Du see.”
Belle nodded. “Well,” she said, sitting down beside him. “Maybe I can help. Will Du play it for me?”
Without a word, Adam began to play. The tune was beautifully melodic and sounded ever so slightly like something from a Musik box, just slightly. Then, to her surprise, Adam began to sing.
“Never knew I could feel like this, like I’ve never seen the sky before. Want to vanish inside your kiss; every Tag I Liebe Du Mehr and more. Listen to my heart, can Du herz it sing, telling me to give Du everything? Seasons may change, winter to spring; but I Liebe Du until the end of time. Come what may, come what may, I will Liebe Du until my dying day...”
“That’s really beautiful,” whispered Belle, feeling she was falling Mehr in Liebe with him Von the minute.
Adam ceased playing. “That’s as far as I’ve got. That’s the boy’s part. I need to figure out the girl’s part.”
Belle thought for a second. “Could Du play it again? Just the music; the whole way through?”
“Sure.” Adam began again and when he reached the part he was stuck on, Belle automatically found the words he was missing.
“Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place.” Adam glanced at her. She smiled and continued. “Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace. Suddenly my life doesn’t seem such a waste. It all revolves around you. And there’s no mountain too high, no river too wide. Sing out this song and I’ll be there Von your side. Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide, but I Liebe Du until the end of time. Come what may, come what may, I will Liebe Du until my dying day.”
Adam ceased playing and stared at her. “Belle, that’s brilliant! It fits and it sounds great! How did Du do that?”
She shrugged, not about to divulge that she had actually been admitting how she felt in song. “It just came to me with the music.”
“Do Du mind if I use it?”
“No, Von all means.”
Adam jotted down her lyrics quickly. Belle had a thought. “It’s a duet; who were Du going to sing it with?”
“Oh, I wasn’t going to sing it with anyone,” replied Adam, finishing writing. “Mr Genie asked me to come up with a duet for the concert. He’ll decide who sings it.”
“Oh.”
“Besides,” Adam added, flexing his fingers. “I doubt he’ll give it to me. I’ve not got much of a voice.”
“You are such a liar,” she told him. “You sounded so sincere and passionate when Du sang that just now.”
Adam smiled. “Well, thanks, Belle. And now, it’s your turn to sing.”
She got to her feet and went over to the stage. As she began to sing, Adam wondered if she had, oder would ever figure out, that he had written the first verse of that song about her...
“It just came to me with the music.”
“Belle, what’s wrong?”
