2 Seconds •LT•

VIII

9 September, 2015

"Don't fear the enemy that attacks you, but the fake friend that hugs you"- Pinterest post

What I looked forward to every day now. More of whom I looked forward to seeing every school day now. Talking to her. hearing her soft tender words. All she had to say. I didn't need to music, because she was the tune stuck in my mind all day. No other tune could ever had the same effect. I played in my mind as I hummed along to the words. If my ears were a record player, I would have broken the replay button by now.

" Why does Belle come in- in such rubbish?!" Spoke Miss Axep.
Why do you talk such rubbish? Axep's words had sent me into the daydream, and brought me back quite harshly. I had to bite my lip and clutch onto the wooden table before doing something regrettable. Damn the after school meeting I had to sit through. Half a dozen other teachers sticking around for the meeting were lining up for the basket of lies she was to hand out. "Belle-"

      She was to continue, but I interjected, "Miss Axep" I stated calmly, "I am pretty sure you know better than to speak of our students in such manner, right...?" Her cheeks rosed and she was left in embarrassment. Quite frankly, I didn't care if I had.

      The surrounding watchers were left speechless and wide eyed. I'm done with this drama, so done. I picked up my cup of tea, faked a smile, " I look forward to seeing you all soon!", followed by walking out the door. I definitely don't regret standing up for my beautiful beautiful Belle.

     I heard rapid footsteps attempting to catch up to my quick pace, so I stopped to wait around without looking back.

       A tired figure stopped next to me, panting hard. " I- I think that was really brave. Brave, what you did back there" spoke Diana, Miss Axep's teacher's assistant. She pushed her glasses up her nose and buttoned up her pale pink cardigan. She was young, skinny, yet she resembled a kind old woman whom baked goods during her free time and never got mad.

        I scoffed, "That wasn't brave. I was just speaking my mind."
"Well, I wouldn't have worked up the guts to tell her that"
I chuckled at her wallflower traits. "You think it through too much. Don't be afraid to harm the feelings of others as long as you are speaking the truth"
 
       "But then you make enemies"
"Most of the time, enemies are better than false friends. It's just a matter of time before you can tell one from the other"

      She seemed fascinated by the sudden wisdom I supplied her. I wasn't very frazzled by it. I'd know the condition for some time now. Enemies over false friends.

       "W- Well, I've got to, get um , back there" she shivered from the cold, being the reason she stuttered.
"Who am I to stop you" I joked taking a step back.

      Diana nodded urgently, not really taking in my last words and made her way back. I walked over to my car, tossing my items inside the trunk, before making my way to the driver's seat.

      The thoughts of what Miss Axep was saying made me wonder how blind her and the others were. Belle must be their blind spot in the sea of students.

       The thoughts of Belle fogged my mind. They fogged up my window as well. I used my sleeve to wipe the clean. My vision dilated, as I gazed out the car's window. I slowed down the speed of the car.

       Her brunette hair was damp, she shivered, hugged her fragile figure, drenched as she ran a hand through her hair, attempting to put on a confident, sane expression. It faded quickly to a saddened one.

       The street was deserted. She was the only occupant. Her self assurance face was the same one she had worn when I had caught her dancing after school. She always seemed to be doing that to no one.

       I pulled over next and got out, "Belle..." I exasperated.
She turned around. Her hazel eyes were dull, and lifeless. Her skin was pale. Her eyes weren't as full of life and joy as they had been the first time I made her laugh. Her lip quivered. "Are you alright? Do you need a ride home?" I asked worried for her.
"No, it's alright. I- I'll walk home" she assured, but her quivering lips and dull eyes told a different story.
"I can take you home" I offered.

"Really?" Hope sparked a bit of color in her hazel eyes.

"Yes, of course! I can't let you walk home all wet"

Sh*t. I got a bit turned on by those words.

         I lightly gripped onto her arm, luring her to the passenger's seat, before driving. " Thank you" managed her soft words. I beamed.

       "Belle" I spoke gently, "I'm going to take you to my house, to dry you up, alright?" I wasn't going to drive her home wet. So I drove her to my home. Yet, it had puzzled me. It hadn't been raining, so how did she get so drenched? I didn't ask. I refused to make Belle feel out of place.

By taking her to my home, give her warm clothing, and dry her clothes, then, maybe she might talk.

       "Oh, no, it's alright, you don't have to-"
"I don't bite" Unless you want me to.
She offered a tight lipped smile "Thank you"

        Belle let me take her. That was great. Belle trusted me. It felt great. I took her home. She wandered around like a lost kitten. I found it adorable, as I waited for her in the kitchen with stupid grins, "I don't have any clothes your size, so they'll fit you rather large, is that alright?" I asked her.
Belle nodded as I handed sweats and a shirt of mine to her. "Do you have somewhere to change?" She asked.
"Uh.... Yeah. Yeah. The first door down the hallway"

       "Belle, I want you to know you are always invited here if you ever need anything"

       My beautiful, beautiful Belle handed me a golden grin and a nice burning sensation in my chest, "Thank you"

       " I'll be right back..." she trailed off. I mindlessly walked through the corridor, and into my room. First door down the hallway. It had somehow slipped my mind that I had sent her there. I remembered when I saw her changing. "Uh, I'm so sorry... Forgot"

"It's all right" she muttered inaudibly.

       This term, I was the awkward one, and she was the comfortable one in the room. Either way I still walked out, and did something teachers don't tend to do. I was powerless, and I didn't care if it was obvious, so I flipped out my mobile and took a picture of her changing. No flash. She hadn't noticed and I decided not to draw attention to having my phone out.
      
       Crazy or not, the photo I took brought us together. Not then, but time after that very photo was taken. Even before we had drawn apart: My darkest days. The days she was my only light.

Still Wondering why Belle was soaking wet?! Or whatever happened to Astrid?!

Keep on reading :)