Beastly Beautiful (On Hold)

| Chapter 14- Laney |

|4-16-18|

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Heyo! Hope y'all liked last chapter ;) Get ready for this one! I think y'all will like it :D

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| Chapter 14- Laney |

*Fresh starts are always shaky but enchanting nevertheless.*

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Fresh starts are always shaky but enchanting nevertheless. That was something Jace always told me before I pulled away and I never really believed it until now. It's been almost two months since I've been in the Wallace's household and I had finally broken down crying. Who knew hearing your baby sister on the phone asking when you'd come visit would be the final blow?

I stared up at the ceiling, basking in the darkness of the room. It must've been nightfall by now. I only had a dull headache from the breakdown I had and my eyes felt puffy. But I felt rested...better....free.

I smiled softly and touched my forehead. I could've sworn I felt someone place a kiss there while I slept. And a whispered 'I love you' that sounded eerily like Jace. But it was my imagination. I was dreaming. Jace didn't love me. How could he love the beast?

I gave a dark chuckle. Who knew I'd become a beast? Funny, seeing as Beauty and the Beast was my all time favorite Disney movie and I always wanted to be the one to tell the beast that he could be kind. Looks like I became him, in a different way of course.

I sighed and turned to my side, eyeing my phone that rested quietly on the desktop. Suddenly, it started buzzing and Donovan's name lit up the room. I slowly sat up and reached for it, sliding the answer button.

"Hello?" I asked. He always called me once a week to check on me.

"How you doing Laney?" he asked back in response and I smiled softly, toying with my silver necklace.

"I'm doing...great honestly," I breathed out, loving the freedom I felt as I spoke the truth. I honestly felt free. I felt like my old self. No more figure to uphold. No more actress on display. No one to watch me mess up or critique me on every little thing. I could be myself without the fear of judgement.

I heard him suck in a breath and like if he were here in person, I could practically see him beaming. "So it's working?" he asked hopefully and a bit apprehensive as if I were just pulling his leg and would snap at him.

I gave a breathy chuckle. "It's working alright," I whispered and the line was quiet before he chuckled in relief.

"Laney, I'm sorry that the measures seemed so tough back then but I hope you can forgive me and see why I did it," he stated and I smiled softly.

"I do now. And I want to apologize for treating you like you were the root of my problem when it was me. I'm the one who brought it upon myself and I took it out on you when all you did for me was try to bring out the best I could offer. I'm sorry," I apologized sincerely, hoping he knew I meant it.

I heard him suck in a breath and clear his throat before he shakily replied. "I accept your apology Laney. I'm glad to hear you're doing better."

"Me too," I whispered. It was quiet for a little while before I broke it. "So how's the other side doing?" I asked and I practically felt him smiling.

"It's good. People are finding new topics to gossip about. You're almost out of the limelight," he told me and I felt another weight lift off my chest. Good. I felt so embarrassed that happened to me. And it truly was my fault. I couldn't blame Daniel anymore. He did what he did because I allowed him to.

"Good," I simply said.

"If everything goes accordingly, you could come back by the end of this month," he told me softly and I felt myself grin before it faltered, the faces of the Wallace family flashing through my mind.

I felt like we were on a truce field after Sabrina came and gave me her forgiveness and asking for my own. I had to talk it out with them and make it official before I took off back to LA.

"That's great! Just keep me updating okay Don?" I asked and if I were there, I'd see him nodding his head.

"You got it Laney. Be good and I'll hopefully see you sooner than soon," he replied and I chuckled before saluting him and hanging up.

I put my phone down, not wanting to look at messages or news articles. Things did significantly slow down about me but there was the occasional news article that asked where I went and how long I'd be gone. They also made up some bullcrap story about me probably changing my identity to escape the public or that I got fired for my behavior. That second one was closer but I didn't actually get fired. I needed a break and a break much needed now that I think about it.

I got up and stretched before going to the restroom and turning on the shower. I walked back to my room and grabbed undergarments and my pink, silk pajama bottoms and a black tank top that rose slightly over my belly.

I then grabbed a towel and walked in, locking the door and stripping. I jumped in the warm water and released a sigh of content as I let the warm water run over me, relieving me of the tension in my body. I felt like I washed away my old Wicked Witch of the Set self, making way for a new and better me.

Getting out, I wrapped a towel around me and wiped the mirror with a hand towel. I gazed at myself and marveled at the spark of life that seemed to radiate from my eyes. I hardly recognized myself. I had a glow on my face that I haven't seen in a long time and when I smiled, it was genuine.

I scoffed in disbelief. I felt like myself again. The girl I was in high school. The girl who loved theater because of the thrill of it but who hid from the spotlights when off the stage. The girl who Ash and Danny would tease for being a worry wart of people recognizing me off stage and I would give them a piece of my mind.

My heart stuttered thinking about those two. When was the last time I talked to them? It must've been a while if I couldn't even remember when. I frowned and finished toweling my hair, allowing the rest to air dry.

I then picked up my stuff and walked out the restroom. In the process, I caught a shadow slipping into the kitchen and I felt myself grin. Somethings just don't change, do they? I tossed my stuff in the room I was occupying before I quietly crept towards the kitchen, avoiding the squeaky parts of the floorboard.

As I peered into the kitchen, I smirked as I saw Philip rummaging through the fridge, his Superman boxers flashing my face. I hid my snort. He really hasn't changed. As if walking on air, I crept behind him and slowly released a small stream of air on his neck.

He squealed and shot his fist backwards but I anticipated this and ducked, trying hard not to laugh out loud seeing as the rest of the house was quiet. His brown eyes were wide with fright and something else before he calmed down enough to notice me.

"Laney!" he whisper-yelled and I chuckled under my breath, still trying to hide my laughter.

"That...that was priceless!" I answered back in the same tone. He glowered at me before his own lips quirked upwards. His chuckling soon followed mine and we both laughed.

"Mom will kill you if that fridge doesn't get closed now," another voice spoke up and both me and Phil jumped with small yelps. 

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Tada! Hope y'all liked this chapter! Do let me know what you think by commenting and voting and sharing your opinions. I'd love to see what y'all think. Thanks and till next week!