Beauty and the Beast ⋆n.h

Chapter Five

I shivered as I felt someone breathe on my swollen cheek. I pulled the duvet tighter around my body. I relaxed as i felt it cease. I opened my eyes to expect my father waiting for me. Instead I found "The Beast" (his new nickname), standing above me. I shot up, sitting in an upright position.

"What are you doing?" I asked. His faced turned red and he backed away from the bed.

"I-I was checking your bruise." He stuttered. I nodded and signalled to the door.
"Can you leave, please?" I asked, stiking my hands out towards him.
"I need to get changed." He nodded as zoomed out the door. I brought my legs over the side of the bed and walked over to the bathroom. I examined myself in the big mirror. I did have a bruise on my cheek.
Oh well. It wasn't like I would be going anywhere anytime soon.
I peeled off my clothes and hopped in the shower.
I waited until it was scorching. I quickly washed my hair and shelved and grabbed a nearby towel.

I wrapped my body with the white fluffy material. I walked over to the big closet and picked out some clothes. I threw a big white sweater over my head and put on some yoga pants. I hung the towel up of the rack.
On the edge it read, Emilie Jane in fancy writing.
I stared at it for a while. Who is Emilie Jane?

"She was Niall's old lover." A voice said. I turned around to see Mrs Potts leaning on the bathroom door.

"What happened to her?" I asked.
"She died." She responded simply. I nodded. And walked out with her.

We sat down at the dinner table. Eggs and bacon sat before us. Niall sat across from me and Mrs Potts beside me. I began eating. I watched as Niall stuffed his face with the food.

"Where's the rest?!" he yelled. "Get me some more!!" he yelled and hit the table with his fist. Mrs Potts stood up and ran into the kitchen. I flinched as he looked back at me, food covering the bottom half of his face. His expression softened and he wiped his face with his sleeve.

I slowly push my empty plate away and wipe my mouth with the red napkin. I stood up, picking up my plate and walking into the kitchen. I gently put my plates in the sink. Mrs. Potts quickly walked out with two plates filled with food.

"Here you go Mr. Horan.." she said and scurried back. She looked up at me, with her eyes filled with fear.
"Can I help you, Ms. James?" she asked me. I shook my head and smiled.
"Everything's alright."I said. She took my dirty plates and began washing them.
"I can do that." I said a began to take them from her. She froze in her place.
"Really?" she asked. "You want to?" I slowly nodded. She placed them back in the sink and stepped back.
I took her place and began to wash. She looked at me intently.
I put the last plate in the other side of the sink.
She tore away her gaze from me. She smiled and let out a nervous laugh. I smiled back at her and walked back into the dinning room. I stood by the table and waited for Niall to finish. He swiftly got up and threw his red napkin on the plate. He looked strait into my eyes and stormed off. I picked up his plates and walked back into the kitchen. I quickly washed them and sat down at the table. My eyes scanned the room, but stopping at a picture of a girl. She looked just like me but with darker eyes and long hair. She was smiling and was being pulled back by Niall, who was also smiling.. I felt a chill go through me, i wonder who she is.. It could be Emilie Jane.. 

Suddenly, a young chubby man walked in. He eyed my curiously.

"Hello," he said. "Who are you?" he asked. He wore a tight vest and a dress shirt.

"I'm Charlotte James," I said. "but you can call me Charlie." I smiled up at his. "What's your name?"

"I'm Cogsworth."