Part 2
2 Months later
Belle is making the costumes as a favor to her sister, even though she doesn't really enjoy sewing.
"Belle." Lily complained. "That's the third time you poked me with a pin in the past few minutes."
Belle didn't answer as her mouth was filled with pins. After a repeat of the complaints Belle muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "Shut up."
After an agonizing half an hour the fitting process was finished. Belle helped her little sister wiggle out of the stiff costume. The sisters sat down, Lily with a magazine and Belle with the dress in her lap. Lily launched into a diatribe on Mickey's behavior lately. "It's like sometimes I think maybe he's flirting with me and sometimes I think he treats me like an annoying little bug, like Brady does when he's really stressed." She finished.
Belle smiled at the fabric. "How does that make you feel?"
"What?" Lily asked.
"The flirting. How does it make you feel?"
"Well it's never obvious enough that I can tell, it's little stuff, but,"
"But nothing. When you think he's flirting with you how do you feel?" Belle was trying hard not to laugh.
"All warm and tingly inside. Like I just had some champagne or something." Lily tried to articulate her feelings towards Mickey. Before now she had viewed him as a big brother, someone whose business should be investigated and annoy at all costs. Now however things were different. She couldn't put her finger on it, but it was there.
"Do you think he likes you?" Belle asked.
"As a friend, yes. As anything else, I don't know." She frowned. "Sometimes he acts like I'm a pest and sometimes the way he looks at me gives me goose bumps."
"Like when?" Belle asked.
"Well, the other day we were painting a ladder. He had like the only paint smock in the school. I was getting black paint all over everything. I got this big smudge of it on my cheek." Unconsciously she traced where it had been. "He was laughing at me, and I kept asking why and he finally came over and put his hand on my cheek and wiped it off. His hands were so soft and he smelled so good!" Lily enthused. She didn't notice Belle's sharp gasp or suddenly alert face. "I thought for a second he was going to kiss me, but he practically shoved me out of the way and muttered something about the tech booth."
"And?" Belle asked.
"And he wouldn't talk to me for the rest of the night." Lily sighed. "Then the next day he acted like nothing happened." She sounded frustrated. "Why are guys so hard to figure out?" She asked.
Belle laughed. "Well, I don't think Mickey's too hard. He likes you, but doesn't know how you feel. That's why he's flirting with you."
"So what do I do?" Lily asked, paying close attention to her more experienced sister.
"Well that depends." Belle had not met Lily's eyes since her comment about Mickey's hands.
"On what?"
"On how you feel about him."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you want to pursue a romantic relationship with him?"
Lily's jaw dropped. "A romantic relationship? With Mickey? Gross!" She exclaimed, before thinking too clearly. Lily began to laugh and did not notice Belle's grimace.
"Well, you need to send him some 'don't go there' vibes." Belle suggested. "Let him know you aren't interested but don't try to hurt his feelings. Flirt shamelessly with someone else if you think it's necessary."
Lily winced at the thought. "I think that would hurt him more than anything else." She said honestly.
"Well, It is up to you, you lucky girl." Belle said sarcastically.
"Belle?" What's wrong?" Lily asked.
"Nothing." Belle said sharply. She raised a hand to her head and massaged her temples. "I just have a headache."
Lily patted Belle's knee. "Want some tea? The Hortons swear tea will cure anything you've got."
I doubt it will cure a broken heart. Belle thought miserably. "Sure, that's sweet of you." She forced a smile for Lily's sake. "When you get back I want you to tell me all about rehearsal."
"OK!" Lily grinned and went into the kitchen. Me and Mickey? She thought, pulling some cups out of a cupboard. Ridiculous! She giggled. Isn't it? She was troubled. Belle had definitely given her something to think about.
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