chap25

"Shawn!" Belle screamed, as she saw him start to fall over the side. His arms flailed wildly as Eric suddenly reached out and caught him around the waist. "No!" she screamed, as he hung in balance and people began to gather to help.
"Pull him in" someone shouted.
"I can't, I'm losing my grip" Eric said, bracing his feet against the railing. Bo and John noticed the commotion and came hurrying over.
"Ok, I need everyone to step back" John said, pushing the crowd back as Bo went to aid Eric.
"What happened?" Bo asked.
"I don't know, he just...shit!" Eric exclaimed as the waistband from his jeans began to rip from the weight.
"Ok, we better hurry" Bo said, after checking out the rough waters slamming against the rocks below.
"Shawn..." Belle said, starting to run over to help. Greta grabbed her around the waist and held her back.. "Greta, let me go, I have to help him" she protested.
"No, you're better off staying out of the way" Greta said. Belle shook gently and Greta held her. "It's ok, they'll get him back" They stood there and watched helplessly. Bo climbed up on the railing and John held him around the waist for balance. Another man came up and helped Eric keep his hold on Shawn as Bo leaned over to pull him up.
'Why aren't they getting him?" Belle cried out, impatiently.
"The angle is too steep" Greta said, still holding him. "But they almost have him, hold on" Bo hung over the edge and John held onto him tightly, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Ok, pull on three" Bo directed, from over the edge. "Ready? One...two..." A gasp spread throughout the crowd as the two of them almost plunged over the side. John and Eric both adjusted their grip and their footing as other people came to aid them.
"We better hurry" John shouted. "Ready...pull!" Everyone pulled at once and Bo came back onto the pier, clinging to Shawn. Shawn came a second later and fell to his knees, suddenly weak.
"Shawn!" Belle screamed, pulling herself from Greta's grasp. She shoved her way through the crowd and pushed past her father. She threw herself on him, now sobbing at the fact that she had almost lost him. Someone came and put a blanket around Shawn, who was shivering uncontrollably.
"Hey, perfect girl" he said, weakly. "What's wrong?" She didn't answer him, only buried her face further into his shirt. Eric came closer to Greta who also instinctively wrapped her arms around him, realizing that she could have lost him too. A man came over to check on Shawn but Belle never let go of her grip on him. He was announced to be ok, with only some bruises and cuts from the railing.
"Well, son, had enough fishing for today?" Bo asked, stretching out his hand and pulling him to his feet.
"Yeah, well, you were almost fishing for me there for a minute" he said, as his dad pulled him in for a hug.
"Well, at least it all worked out" John said. "And it's starting to rain, so we better go". He and Eric began to gather up their fishing gear and return it. Shawn pulled away from his dad and looked back down where Belle was still sitting on the ground, embarrassed by her reaction. She looked up when he extended his hand and took it, pulling her to her feet.
"You ok?" he asked, looking at her concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine" she said, turning away. He grabbed her shoulder and turned her so she was again facing him. "Seriously, I'm fine" she said, again turning to face the sea. He shrugged and followed his dad to the van, Belle bringing up the rear. By the time they got there, they were all soaked and Bo put the heat on high as they drove. Shawn noticed that Belle had distanced herself from him, both emotionally and physically, as she sat as far away as the bench seat would permit. He looked over at her periodically, as she stared out the window at the pouring rain and wrapped her arms around her for warmth. Without words, he reached out and put his arm around her, drawing her closer. She didn't object to his touch, curling up closer to him as her shivering subsided.
They reached the house shortly after and they all hurried out through the rain. Once inside, they all gathered in the kitchen where there was coffee and Shawn told his story. But this time there were comments made by both Bo and Hope about how stupid it really was of him to even attempt to get his line back. But they all dismissed it, saying they were happy he was ok. Putting her mug away, Belle caught sight of her reflection the window. She paused, looking at her smudged eye make up and matted hair. She quickly rinsed out her mug and gently pushed through Eric and Shawn out of the kitchen. Eric shot Shawn a look and he quickly followed after her.
"Belle" Shawn said, following her down the hallway. She didn't answer so he followed her into her room, despite the fact that the door was shut.
"Belle" he tried again, when her back was facing him.
"Ever hear of knocking, Brady?" came her reply, as she dug through her drawer.
"Well, I thought it was important so I..." he said, stopping when she turned to him with a cold glare.
"Thought what was important?" she asked, seemingly upset. "What was so damn important that you just barged in?" *Wow* thought Shawn. *What did I do now?*
"Belle, what's wrong?" he asked, trying to make his tone sound as gentle as possible, contrasting to her angry one.
"Nothing!" she said, throwing her hands up in the air. "Nothing at all. It's just you come flying in my room, without knocking, when I have no make up on and my hair is a mess..."
"Belle, you don't need that" he said, gently cupping her chin. "You're beautiful" He was extremely surprised when she brushed his hand off and turned away.
"Shawn, don't" she said.
"But Belle..." he started.
"Just don't, ok?" she said. "I don't need...this"
"What?" he asked, confused. "I don't understand. What do you need?" She sighed heavily.
"I need to get cleaned up. I need to shower." she said. "And...I need you to leave"
"What? Why?" he asked.
"Just go" she said. "Please"
"Can we talk about this later?" he asked, pleading, as he walked backwards to the door.
"There's nothing to talk about" she said, watching him leave. "Just...go" She watched as he turned and silently let himself out of her room. With a muffled cry, she grabbed her things and rushed into the bathroom. Shawn jumped when he heard the bathroom door slam and then heard both sides of the bathroom lock. He settled himself down on his bed, gently rubbing his now throbbing head. "What did I do wrong?" he asked himself, out loud.
Belle in the meantime had started up a steaming shower. The hot water was soothing to her cold body but she felt as confused as before. She sighed and reached for some shampoo, not paying attention as she poured it and began to lather it. A smell reached her nose and tears came to her eyes. Shawn's shampoo-she could recognize that scent anywhere. She leaned her head up against the shower wall, shampoo still in her hair, as she began to cry. She cried harder than she had let herself cry in a long time, just trying to be careful that no one would hear her. Her strength gave out and she slid down against the shower wall, the water now pounding on her shoulders and back.
"Why does he get to me?" she asked herself, her voice breaking. "Why?"