cten

   Belle pulled the sleeves of her jacket around her tighter against the blowing wind. She walked alone, with Chloe, Philip, and Mimi lagging behind, yelling for her to wait up and gently teasing her about her hurry. She thought back to earlier in the day.
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"Belle, where's Shawn at?" Philip asked, coming up to her locker. "We always meet at my locker when we get here" She sighed and shut her locker.
"Philip, Shawn was..." she started.
"Shawn was what?" Chloe asked, coming up from behind and taking Philips hand.
"Last night, Shawn was in a motorcycle accident" she said. Chloe gasped.
"What happened? Is he alright?" Philip asked, in concern for one of his good friends.
"He was driving to get his costume and they think the ground was wet or something" Belle continued. "The motorcycle slid out from underneath him and some people who witnessed it took him to the hospital. He had a concussion and some bruising but he's ok now"
"Why didn't anyone let us know?" Chloe asked.
"It was late and things happened so quickly" Belle said. "The only reason I knew was because he was supposed to call me and I got worried when he never did"
"Wow, I can't believe this" Philip said, shaking his head. "Is he home?"
"He's going to be released in about..." she said, checking her watch. "Two hours"
"We should go visit him after school" Chloe suggested. "Just so it looks like we didn't forget about him"
"I think he'd like that "Belle said. "We can meet here after classes are over and walk over"
*        *         *          *           *           *           *           *             *              *
      Belle hurried up the sidewalk and onto the front porch. She waited impatiently for the others to join them.
"House looks empty" Philip said, peeking in a window. Belle held up her hand for silence and heard a slight noise.
"He's there, I can hear something" she said. She knocked lightly.
"Come in!" someone yelled and Belle pushed the door open. She held the door open and the others followed her lead.
"Hey Shawn" she said, entering the living room where he was lying on the couch.
"Hey Belle" he said. "Hey guys!" as the others entered.
"How are you doing?" Mimi asked, settling herself on an armchair.
"I'm alright now" he said. "You know me" Chloe and Philip slid into another chair as he took the remote and turned off the cartoons he was watching.
"Here, sit" he said, taking her arm and pulling her so she was perched on the edge of the couch by him.
"How's your head?" Philip joked. "Any damage?"
"Nah, no scars to this handsome face" Shawn said, lightly touching the bandage.
"So what happened exactly?" Philip asked.
"I don't remember really..." he said, closing his eyes. "I remember driving and I was trying to be careful because the leaves were wet. But I don't remember falling or hitting my head. I remember voices and then I woke up"
"Voices?" Chloe asked, interested.
"Yeah" he said. "It's weird, I could hear people talking around me and to me but I couldn't answer. But I knew they were there. Like Belle"
"Belle?" Mimi asked, looking at her best friend.
"I kinda snuck back in the room to see him" she said. "And they told me that talking to him would help-so I did"
"And I woke up" Shawn finished. "She saved my life"
"Well, not exactly" Belle said. "It could've been anyone in there"
"Yeah, if you say so" Philip said, giving Chloe a knowing look.
"So, did I miss anything in class?" Shawn asked, changing the subject.
"Trig quiz" Chloe said.
"Shit!" he said. "Anything else?"
"I got assignments from the teachers we have together" Belle said. "And I told them what had happened-they said just to concentrate on getting better before anything. But you have the rest of the weekend to catch up on all your assignments" Shawn groaned.
"Yeah, I'll jump right on that" he said, as Belle handed him his Physics book. He dropped it to the floor with a thud. "Anything else going on this weekend, besides my catching up?"
"Big pep rally Monday" Mimi spoke up. "Are you going to be back for that?"
"Oh, yeah, definately" he said. "Wouldn't want to miss that"
"And of course, the dance tomorrow night" Chloe added, and Philip squeezed her from behind.
"Oh, that's right" Shawn said. He nudged Belle lightly. "What time do you want me to pick you up?"
"What?" she asked. "You can't go!"
"And why not?" he challenged her.
"Shawn, you were just in an accident" she said. "And I understand-my costume is returnable and..."
"Belle, I was still planning on going" he said, sitting up to emphasize his point. "I'm fine"
"Don't play Tough Boy for me" she said. "I understand-maybe next time" Shawn grumbled.
"Well, maybe we should let Shawn get some rest" Chloe said, standing up and stretching.
"Belle, I really can go..." he started again, but was silenced by her finger on his lips.
"Shawn, it's alright" she said, standing up to leave.
"Fine" he said. "Thanks for coming to visit me"
"No problem" Mimi said, stooping to give him a hug.
"Hey, Phil, can I talk to you for a minute?" he said. "Alone?"
"Yeah, sure" he said. "I'll meet you girls outside". On the porch Belle paced for warmth and tried to distinguish their conversation through the window.
"Belle is so stubborn" Shawn complained.
"Like you should talk, man" Philip said, grinning.
'Yeah, and that's why I refuse to sit home and miss this dance" Shawn continued. "So here's the plan...I need you to have Chloe call and convince Belle to go to the dance alone. Tell her that you all will pick her up at her house and will go as a group. But instead..."