csix

    It was finally Wednesday afternoon, 3 days from the dance, and Belle stood at her locker getting her things ready to leave. She turned away from her locker with her arms full of books just as someone slammed into her from the side, sending her books flying and almost throwing her down too.
"Shawn!" she exclaimed, once she caught her breath. He was laughing hysterically.
"Belle, I am so sorry, I was in this giant hurry to get home to relieve my mom and I didn't even see you..." he blurted out, in between his laughter. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine" she said, her anger evaporating by his grin. He laughed again and brushed his hair back and she found herself also laughing at him.
"Here, I'll help you" he said, leaning over to help her pick them up. She knelt down next to him and started scooping up her various belongings. They both reached for her French book at the same time and his shoulder caught her on the side of her head. The impact threw her back a little and he turned to her with his mouth hanging open.
'Belle!" he said, standing up and trying not to laugh even though he found the situation extremely amusing. She stood up slower, holding her hand to her head.
"Are you ok?" he asked. She nodded and he grabbed her by the neck and gently pulled her head to his chest, rubbing the back of her head lightly. "You're bad luck for me today!" Even though her face was smashed up against his t-shirt she found herself also laughing-his laughter was infectious.
"Shawn, I'm really fine, but you better make a run for it before someone else gets hurt" she said, pulling away and smoothing her hair.
"Sounds like a good idea" he said, reaching for her backpack at the same time that she did. "No, let me" he said, stopping her hand and picking it up. "Here you go, doll" he said, handing it to her with shining eyes.
"Thanks" she said. "Now hurry home...carefully!"
"Ok, I'll see you...wait, we need to make our plans for Friday" he said, stopping in the hallway and almost causing another accident as someone came close to running into him. He patted the guy on the back as he continued and shrugged his shoulders at Belle.
"How about you call me? There's no danger involved over the phone" she said.
"I'm sure I could find something" he said, grinning. "But I'll call you when I put the baby down...is that ok?" She shrugged.
"Sounds great" she said.
"Ok...talk to you then!" he said, turning and taking off into a brisk run down the hall. Belle watched him run and shook her head at him.
*        *            *            *          *           *             *          *
    She had just finished her reading for English when the phone rang. She rolled over on her bed and grabbed her cordless.
"Hello?" she said.
"Is Isabella there?" she heard him say.
"No, but Belle's here" she retorted.
"Touche" he said. "What's up, girl?"
"Nothing..." she said. "What's up with you? Why are you so wound up?"
"Oh, lots of things" he said.
"Care to elaborate?"
"No" he said, bluntly.
"Fine...be that way" she answered.
"I'm just kidding, calm down" he said. "Well, for one I'm excited about the upcoming dance...and it's such a nice day out that it's improving my mood"
"Well, I'm excited too...I finally got a costume" she said, getting off her bed. She opened her closet door and looked at the shop's bag.
"Oh, yeah? And what will you be dressing up as, my beauty?" he said, and Belle could feel his smile through the phone line as she giggled.
"I kinda like this new you" she said. "You're very charming"
"Well, get used to it" he said. "Things are going really well so there's no reason for me not to be overly optimistic"
"Good" she said. 'I'm happy for you"
"Thank you" he said. "So...back to your costume"
"Oh, it's a surprise!" she said. "And don't even try to get it out of me!"
"I wouldn't hear of it!" he answered. "Even though, you're pretty easy to get secrets out of"
"No, I'm not" she protested.,
"Oh, yeah" he said. "It's always been the same for you...a little patience, persistance...and knowing the right spots where you're ticklish"
"Good thing that doesn't work over the phone!" she said, turning from her closet and sitting down at her vanity to brush out her hair.
"Then don't try and get mine out of me" he said. "Even though I haven't picked it up yet..."
"Wait, are you telling me you haven't gotten a costume yet?" she asked, putting down her brush. "Shawn, the dance is Saturday!"
'Relax, sweetheart" he said. "It's picked out...it's paid for...just not picked up yet"
"Oh" she said. "Well, when are you going to get it?"
"I'm thinking about later today..." he said, distractedly.
"Shawn? Are you busy?" she asked.
"What?" he said. "Oh...no, I'm not busy. It's just so nice out...I might take the bike out for a ride"
"Think you can do that without getting arrested?" she joked, alluding to their last trek on the bike. He laughed.
'Yeah, I think so" he said. "Actually, I think I will. I'll take it to get my costume"
"Sounds like a plan" she said. "So, anyway, I was talking to Chloe after school"
"Yeah?" he said.
"And we decided that we're all going to meet at the dance cause it'll be easier that way" she said. "And that maybe we'll go out afterward, you know for dessert or ice cream or something like that"
"Yeah?" he said. Belle frowned.
"Oh, and guess what else?" she continued. "The doctor called-I'm pregnant. With twins. And they're yours"
"That's great, Belle" he answered.
"Shawn!" she exclaimed.
"What?" he said.
"You're not even listening to me!"
"Yeah I am" he protested.
"Ok...what was the last thing I said?" she asked.
"Well, you were talking about the dance...and you said..." he stumbled, obviously guilty. "Ok, you caught me"
'What's the deal, Shawn?" she asked.
"It's just so nice out, I can't wait to get out there" he said. "I want to get out there and back before it's dark"
"Then don't let me hold you back" she said, a little hurt.
"No, Belle, don't make it seem like that" he said. "It's just that it's almost November so my dad will be putting the bike away for winter and the sun sets early and you know it wouldn't be safe for me to go out after dark..."
"Ok, ok" she said. "Go ahead"
"Are you sure?' he said. "I'll call you later...I promise"
"What time?" she asked.
"Well, I need time to get out there and back, plus dinner..." he said. "So I'll call by seven, ok?"
"Promise?"
"I promise on my life" he said.
"Ok, then you have my permission" she said.
'So you're not upset?"
"Not at all" she said.
"Thanks Belle" he said. "Have I told you lately how amazing you are?"
"Nope" she said, a smile spreading across her face.
"Well, you are competely, amazingly amazing" he said. "You're too good to me"
"I know..." she said. "So get going before it's too late"
"Ok, thanks Belle" he said.
"And Shawn?" she continued. "Please be careful"
'I always am" he said. "Seven o'clock...it's a date"
"I'll be waiting" she said.
"Ok, bye hon" he said, hanging up. She smiled at the phone, shaking her head.
      Meanwhile, Shawn had grabbed his leather jacket and started down the stairs. AT the bottom he turned to see his mom sound asleep on the couch, with his little brother sound asleep on her chest. He gave her a small kiss on the forehead before grabbing the keys and heading outside. He got out the bike and pushed it out to the road before strapping on his helmet and starting it up. He started down road with the wind blowing around him and an incredible grin across his face-he never felt more alive.