Belle noticed Gold immediately as he entered the coffee shop. He - TopicsExpress



          

Belle noticed Gold immediately as he entered the coffee shop. He didnt fit in with the usual clientele, but he was clearly as welcome as the scent of brewing coffee. He was probably a basis for many imaginative stories from the creative caffeine-cravers. She could envisage the wonders they could weave around the rich, elusive man they knew nothing about. This was, she supposed, how rumours like the ones Gaston told her began. But Mr Gold was fascinating and Belle often caught herself dreaming up her own ideas for him. It was strange to think that she hadnt known the man a few weeks ago, now he seemed to pop up at every turn. If this was her fairy-tale, he might possibly be her Fairy God Father, complete with a wispy, silver halo. It didnt matter to her that Gaston seemed to think Gold was some kind of beast, she didnt worry about rumours and hearsay. She saw people for who they were and trusted her judgement. Gold had been nothing but civil and (mostly) polite to her on the few occasions that theyd spoken. That was what was important. :: Although she might not have been surprised to see him, he was clearly a little startled by her. But then this washis favourite place. This was where they knew his coffee order and saved his seat in the most distant booth. Still, hed have to accept that she too had a spot here now, which was to perch on a bar stool at the counter. For my Belle, Charlie charmed, distracting her with a mug of coffee. Hed put a pattern on the top, a heart shape made from the foam. She smiled her thanks warmly at him. You like it? he confirmed. Its so perfect, she marvelled. I could never make anything that well. You wouldnt need to, Im sure. You just flash that pretty smile and every man in sight jumps to your every whim. He was effortlessly charming, and it was a long time since anyone had said such kind things to her. She shook her head, allowing her chestnut curls to hide her blushing cheeks and hoping her didnt notice. Ah, Mr Gold, he acknowledged the man as he came into earshot. The usual? Mmm, the mysterious man confirmed gracefully. Ill have it my booth if you dont mind and, he cast a disdainful gaze to Belles heart-adorned coffee, dont bother with the artwork. Save that for the women who are set to be married. He was gone in a blink. Charlie had moved to machine to make up the usual and Belle was left to stare at the heart in her mug through new eyes. The foam was starting to disintegrate and the heart was melting into a messy blob. It was probably a fair representation of what was happening her actual heart; the longer she stayed with Gaston, the more it turned into mush. How dare Gold judge her, when he knew nothing of the situation! She was angry, and she was absolutely certain Gold should hear about it. Belle got to her feet and marched across the wooden floor towards him. She had enormous heels on, which raised her from her diminutive, girlish height of 52 into a woman not to be reckoned with. How dare you! she accused, clutching the edge of his table and leaning down to confront him at (almost) eye-level. You know nothing of my relationship with Gaston and yet you presume to judge me! Im not judging you, dearie, he placated, with a dismissive wave of his hand. I understand your situation all too well. He reached into his deep coat pocket and pulled out a book. Her book; singed and blackened from where Gaston had burned it in the car park a few weeks ago. Ive read this crappy book too, remember, he placed it on the table and slid it towards her. Im fully aware of how it begins, and, his eyes seemed to flick towards Charlie, how it ends. Where did you…? she trailed off, her knees buckling beneath her, forcing her onto the seat next to him. How did you…? I have told you about the sentence thing, havent I? he snapped. But she didnt hear his angry tone. She was so happy to have the book again. Yes, it was ruined and most of the middle pages were turned to ash, but the front page – the part with the message from her idol – was very much intact. No matter how dark Mr Golds mood, Belle was tearfully happy. Thank you, she whispered. And louder: Thank you. And before she could stop herself, she found throwing her arms around his neck. The angle was awkward and he stayed stiff in her arms, but she was too happy to care and held onto him anyway. Long enough to notice that he smelt of peppermints, printing ink, and expensive shampoo, and long enough to feel the softness of his hair against her cheek and tops of her arms. She only let him go when his coffee arrived. Charlie was fixing her with a strange look. Mr Gold found my book, she explained, holding up the charred pages. Isnt it wonderful? Its burned, he frowned. Not all of it. She clutched it close to her chest. What Charlie couldnt understand – what Mr Gold refused to let himself understand – was that these bound, charred scraps werent just the left over ashes of a novel. They were hope, just a small glimmer of it, in her otherwise bleak existence. Okay, Charlie shrugged, acknowledging a customer gesturing to him from across the room. I need to go and serve this girl. Come back to the counter when youre done with the old man? Id, er, Id like to keep talking to you.. Sure, she agreed, her heart fluttering just a little. He was so lovely and kind; so unlike Gaston. She turned to thank Mr Gold one final time. He nodded curtly, but just as she was leaving, he spoke again: The inscription…. Do you really want to...? …be an author? she interrupted. Its my deepest, darkest secret, she smiled weakly. All she could think was that if even 2% of the things shed heard about Mr Gold were true, a pipedream about being a writer was not enough to be considered dark. Its just fantasy, isnt it? she conceded. I need to be more grounded. I guess visiting this place for the first time, and meeting Ms Jotting … I got a bit carried away with it all. Still, it was a dream and its over now. Dreams can be very powerful, dearie, he said calmly. He hardly looked at her as he blew gently on his beverage. You should never give up on them. Belle squinted just a little, really taking in the man ahead of her. He was strangely graceful, had something sort of intriguing about him. He wasnt the beast Gaston spoke about, or the decrepit old zombie that Charlie described. There was something about it. It was there just behind his scowl, and it took a bit of looking to see. She could feel Charlie at the counter staring at her, willing her to join him, but she wasnt quite finished yet. You know, Mr Gold, youre not the monster people say you are. Its just a book, dearie. And as though shed forgotten: Most of the pages are ruined and I only picked it up because it was littering my carpark. I know, she clutched the novel across her heart, but you kept it for me. And Gaston told me you gave money to that homeless man we were arguing about. He probably used it to overdose on heroine, Gold shrugged. I was simply helping to clear the streets of riffraff. You dont have to act like this, you know. Like what? So heartless all the time. Its no act, dearie, his fingers fluttered around his mug, the mark of a showman. She just tipped her head to the side and smiled the slightest of smiles. Mr Golds mask might have been cruel and ruthless, but it was just that; a mask. Belle had stopped being scared of people in masks a long time ago. She leant close to him, lips almost brushing his ear and whispered three, very simple words: I see you.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 00:36:00 +0000

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