I looked over at Belle, she seemed so small sitting in the passenger seat of my car. It reminded me of when I first picked her up from the airport, months ago. I was so angry at my father for making me baby sit some girl I’d never met, but then I saw her and things began to change. I remember she looked small then too. It’s only been a few months since then but I’ve come to love her and a selfish part of me doesn’t want to let her go, but I know that I have to. We arrived at the airport and I helped her carry her bags to the security entrance. The envelope the teacher had given her had her boarding pass in it so the only thing she had to do was go through security. I looked down at Belle and sighed, I don’t want to say good bye to her. A tear rolled down her cheek and I couldn’t help myself any more, I pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her. She rubbed her nose in my shirt and took a deep breath. I ran one of my hands through her soft brown hair, we didn’t say anything to each other. I don’t even know what I would say if I tried. I hugged her tight before letting go, without saying a word she turned from me and walked through security. I watched her go until I could no longer see her. I took my time heading back to school, without Belle the place would seem cold and empty. It took over an hour for me to find my way back and when I pulled in to my parking place I found all of my friends waiting for me.

“What happened?” Jane asked as soon as I got out of the car.

“Her father got hurt at the lab and is in the hospital. She went to him.”

“Oh gosh, is he okay?”

“I don’t know. Belle will probably call when she finds anything out.” Lumiere pulled me aside and let Zan and Jane walk past us.

“So did you tell her?” I looked away from him.

“No.”

“Well why not?”

“I didn’t think it was the right time.” I sighed and looked at him. “I’ll tell her if she comes back.”

“If?”

“She never said she was coming back.”

“What?!”