Belle

The smile

Belle

The boy sitting next to me in the car looks completely different. Not so feral and more... hot. I mean, I already thought he was attractive but minus the beard and dressed in normal teenagers clothes he looks darn sexy.

I smirk as I think back to his reluctance to emerge from the bathroom. Once he did I had to very much keep my eyes on his face to avoid eye raping him. "You suit it" I tell him honestly. He picked out a plain black T-shirt and some black jeans to wear, the plainest of my choices but the basic gist of what I was picking. They fit well to his muscular frame.

"I feel like a hoodlum" He grimaces and I howl with laughter in response. "Who- the hell... says hoodlum?" I choke between laughter "You look hot, now let's go" I can't believe those words just left my mouth, and he looks shocked as well. Before I can react in any way (IE blush enough to stain my skin permanently purple), I use my crutches to navigate my way out of the building.

"So what's on the agenda when we get to the shops?" I ask.

"Um, I need to get my hair cut. I've long since let Mrs Potts touch my hair with scissors after that fateful day" he winces and I desperately want to pry but manage to refrain from it. He'll tell me when he's ready.

"I guess I'll be seeing dad soon enough, better clean up for it" he shrugs. "And just for the record" he turns to face me "These clothes are super comfy, you were right" he sighs in defeat, I pump a fist in the air, taking my victory proudly.

The start of a smile forms on his face as his eyes meet mine for the first time since the razor revelation earlier, but a shutter seems to close over his happiness and discomfort swells instead as his eyes drop with the smile.

From my perch on the passenger's seat in the idle car, I take a dive and turn his face softly to mine, feeling his stubble against my fingers. "Beast, you don't have to be ashamed. Everyone has demons to face and yours are huge, I'm just glad you've grown enough to fight them back. And never stop fighting. Your past is behind you, it's up to you to shape your future" I smile softly into his eyes. And with one painful jolt in my heart, he smiles at me.

A genuine, breathtaking smile that makes me feel like I just legitimately died. Because when he smiles... he's so beautiful. That resentment that forms the ugly scowl on his face is replaced to show something true to what Beast wants to be.

Subconsciously my eyes fall to his lips, which he's licking nervously. The tension in the car skyrockets but it's not conflict, it's quite the opposite as Beast's lips descend to hover just before mine. "Belle, Beauty, I hope that you can help me with that" he breathes. My eyes find his again and I smile back at him, warmth cascading through my body "I hope so too" I respond before we both get startled back into reality by the ringing of a phone.

Beast's phone.

He looks down at it and fear etches into his face, that face that was so happy just a second ago. I look down to see it's a reminder, a countdown. The numbers are seemingly dwindling for him before his family reunion and quite frankly I feel hostility grow in my heart towards the people who fucked up Beast so much, who should have been supportive and present for him instead of leaving him to face abandonment.

"No phones" I suddenly announce airily as I take his phone from his hand and place it on top of mine before placing them both in the dashboard pocket.

"You know what? I think that's exactly what I need" he smiles again, not as dazzlingly but it still provokes a reaction in me. "So whilst I get my hair cut how about you go and check out the book store for us?" he asks. I feel like my heart's gonna burst with happiness at his use of 'us'. I'm not sure when I started feeling for Beast honestly, but I know it wasn't just with his show of kindness at my injury.

No, it was before that. Last month ago or so.