You Belong To Me
Chapter
Three
Belle hesitantly stepped out of the dressing room and twirled a few times for
her appreciative audience. Mimi and Chloe 'ooh'ed' and 'aah'ed' in unison for
her. She stood in front of the three-way mirror and glanced at her reflection.
Chloe got up from her chair and stood next to her. "What do you think,
Belle? Did I pick the right dresses?"
Belle looked at her and smiled widely. "Definitely... These are
perfect."
Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh thank God... I was a little worried
about having to pick the bridesmaids dresses without you."
Belle frowned slightly. "I'm so sorry, Chloe. I'm such a terrible friend, I
should have been here to plan all of this with you."
Chloe hugged her tightly and shook her head. "Don't say that, you are the
best friend I've ever had. You're here now, and that's all that matters to me.
Besides, Mimi has been a huge help."
Belle leaned out of the hug and stared at Mimi in shock. Mimi looked up from her
magazine somewhat offended. "Hey, don't be so surprised... I'm good at
helping... sometimes. When I don't forget things..."
Belle laughed and rolled her eyes at Mimi. "Will wonders never cease?"
Chloe stood back to admire the simple, elegant, light blue gown that Belle was
wearing. "I tried to find a color that both you and Mimi would look good
in."
"I think you chose the right one. I love it. And it fits perfectly
too."
Mimi stood from the chair and muttered under her breath, "Lucky
you..."
Belle wrinkled up her nose and looked at Mimi in her matching dress. "Looks
good now... did you have it fixed before?"
"Yup, had to loosen it a little in the bust..."
Belle grinned slightly. "Why am I NOT surprised?"
"You shush."
"Alright, alright... I'm going to go change out of this before I
accidentally rip it or get it dirty."
Mimi nodded in agreement. "Yeah, me too. I've already pulled the hem out
once before. Must be careful..."
Chloe smiled proudly at her bridesmaids and ushered them off to the dressing
rooms. "Hurry it up, so I can model MY dress for you two."
Belle went into the dressing room and quickly slipped out of the beautiful blue
dress. She changed back into her regular clothes and stared at her reflection in
the mirror for a moment. Belle combed her fingers through her blonde hair, now
grown out past her shoulders and sighed deeply.
*****FLASHBACK*****
(One month after the Last Blast, 2002)
Belle stood at her bedroom mirror fussing with her short blonde hair. She moved
the part to one side and then wrinkled her nose in disgust. She changed the part
to their other side and shrugged. Belle turned around to Shawn who was sitting
on her bed, engrossed in a magazine.
"I don't know, Shawn... I'm thinking about growing it long again. What do
you think?"
Shawn kept his nose buried in the magazine and muttered a disinterested, "Hmmmmm."
Belle turned and stared him down. "Shawn... are you still on this planet?
Should I send a shuttle to come get you? Helloooo?"
"Mmmm-hmmm..."
Belle sighed in frustration and sat on the bed facing him. "Are you
listening to me at all? I mean, I know I'm not discussing anything as
fascinating as whatever you're reading there... but could you at least PRETEND
that I exist?"
Shawn nodded but kept reading. "Yeah..."
Belle tore the magazine out of his hands and threw it against the wall. "Damnit,
Shawn... What the HELL is going on here?"
Shawn finally looked her in the eyes, his own brown eyes filled with confusion
and surprise. "Are you mad?"
"Am I mad? What do you think? How often do I throw things and scream at
you?"
"What did I do?"
Belle looked at him with shock over his complete obliviousness. "What did
you do? Shawn, I was tired of being IGNORED... so I did something about
it."
Shawn shrugged like it was no big deal. "Sorry... I was reading something
interesting."
"I'm not just talking about today. I'm talking about EVERY day. You act
like this every day. You don't kiss me anymore, or hold me, or even talk to me.
I think the only reason you come over here is so you don't have to be at home.
Listen, when the truth came out about JT, you and I made a decision. We decided
to not let it ruin what we have together, and we're going to stick to that. But,
I need you to hold up your end of the bargain too."
Shawn looked downward and nodded. "I know, I know that's what we said. But,
it is so hard. This isn't like other challenges we've faced. It goes far beyond
everything."
Belle tried to reach out to him and put her hand on his face, but he jerked away
from her touch. She had tears running down her face and her voice wavered when
she spoke, "Shawn... you are so strong. You'll get through this, we both
will. You have always come through everything in your life, and this is no
exception. When I was in a coma, and when we got stuck in the elevator, or when
we were in that stupid cavern on that island... YOU were the one that got me
through it. You've always been the strong one."
Shawn looked at her and shook his head. "Maybe I'm tired of being strong.
This isn't like all of those times. Mind-control, microchips, a Princess who
looks exactly like my mom who was in love with your dad... this is almost too
ridiculous to believe. I can't handle it this time. I don't want to deal with
it..."
"And you don't want to deal with me either apparently..."
Shawn wiped a few tears off of cheek. "Belle, I love you..."
"Then act like it... don't shut yourself off from everybody who cares about
you. I love you too and I need you... but not like this. I want the old Shawn
back."
Shawn looked away from her again. "The old Shawn is gone..."
Belle suppressed the urge to sob, even though the tears were still falling.
"Don't say that, Shawn. I don't believe that."
"I'm sorry, Belle. I'm sorry that I made you cry."
"Then don't do it again... Just promise that you'll TRY to make this work,
cause I can't bear losing you right now. You're the only thing that makes sense
to me in this stupid world, and I can't lose you."
Shawn nodded and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll try. That's all I can
promise.
*****END FLASHBACK*****
A few tears fell down her cheeks and Belle quickly wiped them away. She hung the
dress back up on the hanger and exited back into the bridal shop. Mimi had
already changed and was waiting for her in the same chair she had been in
before.
"Geez, Belle... what took you so long? Zipper issues?"
Belle chuckled and shook her head. "No, I just got... lost in
thought."
"Again..."
Belle nodded and sat in the chair next to Mimi's. "Yes, again."
They heard Chloe's voice yell at them from behind the main dressing room door.
"ARE YOU BOTH READY?"
Belle and Mimi shouted in unison, "YEAH!"
Chloe gingerly walked through the door, swathed in white satin. Both girls
sighed softly at the sight of her. Chloe had never looked more beautiful.
Mimi's mouth was agape in amazement. "Wow, Chloe... I mean, I thought it
was pretty on the mannequin... but WOW. You look amazing."
Belle nodded in agreement. "Chloe... You look so beautiful. My brother is
going to freak out when he sees you walk down that aisle."
Chloe smiled gleefully and sighed in relief. "Oh, thank you, thank you
both. I just feel so... happy. I didn't know it was possible to feel this
stupidly joyous."
Belle chuckled and stood to hug her. "Congratulations, Chloe... I am so
happy for you."
Chloe smiled at her friend but noticed the tears beginning to well up in her
eyes. "Then those are tears of joy in your eyes?"
Belle hadn't noticed until Chloe did and she quickly swiped them away with one
hand. "Yes, of course. Weddings always make me a little sappy."
Mimi groaned from behind her. "A little sappy? When Jack and Jennifer got
remarried, they had to mop you off the floor."
Belle laughed and nodded. "Alright... you got me on that one."
Chloe checked her watch again. Apparently, being an engaged woman with a
deadline had turned her into something resembling a human desk calendar. Every
minute had become planned, and nobody was allowed to stray from the schedule.
Chloe looked at both of them and tapped the watch with one finger. "Well,
if I go change right now we have plenty of time to meet Brady and Phillip for
dinner."
Mimi and Belle nodded as Chloe hustled herself back into the dressing room to
change.
Mimi rolled her eyes and looked at a seemingly amused Belle. She muttered under
breath, "I just wish I could rip that damn watch off of her wrist
sometimes."
Belle grinned and nodded. "She's been like this the whole time,
right?"
"Uh-huh... She's lost her mind ever since they set the date."
"Well, she just wants everything to turn out perfect. Can't say I blame
her."
Mimi shrugged slightly. "I know... I just hope she returns to the sane
Chloe that we used to know after all this is over."
Belle sat back down in her chair with a sigh and nodded in agreement. The two
girls waited in silence for Chloe to change back into her regular clothes. Belle
had been looking forward to seeing her brother since she got home, and waited
patiently until Chloe was ready to go.