Wichita North High School. The new life of Andriana Belle Decker known as Verena Danvers. Wife of Victor Gibson known as Clark Danvers.
She didn't ride together with Gibson to school. Every morning Craig gives her a ride, even after school. Craig will send her home. Those were Gibson plans that no one can't know about.
He felt jealous over Craig, Belle happy beside Craig compared than he is _ her own husband. He never saw her smile like that, a smile she hadn't shown to him.
She looked very happy.
Loud, belching and turning heads as Craig parks, mortified. All eyes are on her as she climbs out of Craig's car and steps in a puddle. Soaking her sneakers. She blinks toward school.
"Belle?" She turns to Craig. "Later I will pick you up okay".
She noted with thanks and watched him leave.
She watches him for a while then makes her way through kids who stare openly; a few brave ones say Hi.
They're all talking about her. This is her hell.
From the window upstairs, Gibson saw her with Craig. Now she's alone as she walks through the kids entering the building. He knew they talked about her. He hated that, he hated them talking about his wife.
He wants to kill them all. He sighs, turning his head towards his table. "Danvers?"
"Dick". He smiled. "You brought me coffee, I see that".
Dick gives him coffee and takes a seat, he said. "Wasn't me actually. But she is _"
He pointed his finger towards the female teacher. Her name is Veronica Bilson. She's the ballet teacher. She is beautiful, but not as beautiful as his wife, Belle.
"Veronica".
"Thanks". He smiled. "Why sudden?"
Dick shrugged. Dick Watson is P.E teacher in school. Mid age single man. He leaned his back.
"She likes you maybe. Look at you, Danvers? You handsome man, of course she wants to know you".
"You're funny. Anyways thanks for the coffee".
"Not me. You should say to her". He wink, push the chair. He walked to his desk.
Preparing.
"Anyhow? There's a new student arriving today. Verena Danvers I think. Principal Xanders said she was coming with her cousin yesterday. Abusive parent seriously? What kind of parents do that".
He slipped his cell phone inside pocket. "Got to go. Drink that coffee, Danvers' '. He bolted out of the room.
Gibson pushed the cup aside, didn't think to drink it. He too rose up, grabbed his book. He met Veronica with a smile and thanks for the coffee. He saw her blush as he said that to her. He nodded, then walked to his class.
He wants to see Belle but _?
Belle wanders the walkways looking for room numbers, lost. Constant stares at Belle, the outsider _ series ends when a sweet, nerd cute, motor mouth boy. Someone appears in her path.
"You're Verena Danvers, the new girl. Hi. I'm Sebastian. The eyes and ears of this place. Anything you need. Tour guide, lunch date, shoulder to cry on".
She just looks at him. Is he for real?
"I'm kind of the suffer in silence type".
"Good headline for your feature _ I'm on the paper, and you're news, baby, front page".
"I _ no, I'm not news. I'm serious, not at all".
"Okay. No feature".
She sighs with relief. "Would you mind just pointing me toward the administration office where I could find Mrs. Darbus. That I need my things before class start".
"I will help you with that". He smiled. He leads her away, enjoying the attentive stares, as she cringes from them. "You've missed a lot of the semester, but I can hook you up. Tutor, cliff notes, medical excuse _"
They arrive. "Mrs. Darbus. You can see we're dating now". He points at Belle. "New girl".
"Ah, Miss Danvers. This is your schedule, your keys, did you require something specific, Dear?" ask Mrs. Darbus.
Belle shakes her head no. "Good. In that case, the locker is on your right, straight to the left. If you need anything this boy could help what you need".
Mrs. Darbus pointed at him. "And welcome to Wichita's".
"Thank you, Mrs. Darbus". She smile, looked up at him. "I guess this is it. Thank you, Sebastian".
He smiled sweetly. "Anything. So, you know the way to the locker. I leave you here, I'm gonna meet the macho's man at the gym class for a while. Exclusive bullshit news".
"Alright and thanks".
Grab her book, they walk separate ways. She walked towards the corridor where the locker room stood. She found her locker, unlocked it but failed to open it. She tries to open again, suddenly a hand knocks hard at her door then it opens by itself.
She looks to her left to save her life.
"New girl? I'm Betty. Betty O'hare. You must be Verena Danvers".
She said in a smile. Belle was stunned, shocked. Not because of her beauty but _ this is Betty O'hare we talked about. Unique is Emma's face and her body figures. Exactly the same as her own dead best friend standing right in front of her now.
And she's dead like a month ago and how did this happen?
"You okay?" She asked. "You look pale as you look at me, why?"
Belle chuckled. She wanted to cry so hard. "No. Yes, yes. I'm Verena Danvers. Nice to meet you, Betty".
"You too". They two shake hands. "They start to talk about you after you arrive. Abusive parent? Trust me, I've been there before. It's okay, you got me".
Her jaw dropped. She shook her head again. "I'm sorry. Your face reminds me of my best friend. Her name is Emma".
"Is your high school friend back at your place? What was her reaction as she found out you're moving here".
"She's dead". Betty was shocked. "Month ago. Someone killed her".
Yeah, that maniac killed her.
"That's why, _ I don't know what to say as I see you now".
Betty nodded and laid her hand on Belle's shoulder. "I'm sorry. Sorry for your loss. Well, we can be friends. As you said that I remind you of her. You're pretty _ did I say that?"
"Just now. Thank you. I'm not pretty. We are all pretty".
"Awe. That is so sweet of you. So, what next?" Belle blurred, Betty pointed to Belle's schedule that she kept under her armpit. "Your class?"
"Oh". She looked down her schedule. "Biology".
Betty's smile widened. "Sit beside me then".
"Oh yes".
"See you there. I'm waiting".
She turns her feet and walks. Behind her, Belle tears rolled down her cheeks. As she watches Betty walk toward Biology class.
Oh, she missed Emma very much.
Now she has her back. But inside the body of Betty O'hare. Quickly she put her things inside the locker room, grabbing what she needed. Then follow Betty from behind.
She forgot about Gibson. Her husband, she forgot everything that she married to him.
Emma. Her name is all in her head now.
From Gibson class. He saw Belle walk in the corridor hallway, he had her schedule in his bag without Mrs. Darbus noticed. He knows where she goes. Biology class. Where she met Mr. Martin Heiz as her Biology class teacher. Smirking. He turned to his classroom.
"Okay student. Turn to page 16. We're going under".
Biology class, a room of black topped lab tables. Two to a table. Belle and someone behind her enter together. His name is Tony Ritcher.
Tony takes his seat and help her points toward Mr. Martin Heiz, birkenstock, enthusiastic science teacher at the head of the class.
As Belle moves to the teacher with her class slip, she notes _ Betty waving at her in a smile. Mr. Martin Heiz takes Belle's class slip.
"Welcome, Ms. Danvers. Follow along as best you can still you get caught".
He gestures to the only empty seat next to Betty O'hare. She walks toward the table, slinks reluctantly into her seat.
"Today we'll be observing the behavior of planaria, known as flatworms". As he distributes two petri dishes per table. "We're going to cut them in half, then watch them regenerate into two separate worms".
Belle glanced at Betty. "Worms? It Sounded so jelly and wobbled". She said to Belle. She takes a dish, then slides the second one across the table to Belle. She takes her dish in the smile of Betty's jokes.
"Yes, folks. Zombie worms! They just won't die".
After biology class. She went to gym class. The boys basketball team runs drills on half the basketball court. A girls volleyball game occupies the other half.
Belle in gym clothes, avoids the volleyball like it's radioactive. An energetic, athletic team captain, Rosie. Motivates the players.
"Block it, Moon! Yeah! Good attack!"
Unfortunately, the volleyball heads toward Belle, she closes her eyes and flails at it. Smacking it. It flies off the court and beans a basketball player in the head.
He is Tony that she and he met in Biology class earlier. Good looking, affable with brown spiky hair.
"Ow, wow!"
Belle hurried to him, embarrassed. "Are you alright? I warned them not to make me play".
"Nah, it's only a flesh wound". He grins and she smiles, relieved. "You're Verena, right?" She nodded yes. "You in my class. Biology. I point you _ Mr. Martin Heiz".
He looks at her a second too long, clearly taken by her. Suddenly, Rosie appears, stopping between them. Subtle, but possessive as she nudges Tony.
"She's got a great spike, doesn't she?" She turns to Belle. "So, where are you from actually? Nebraska?"
"That's why they kicked me out".
Tony laughs, and because he does, Rosie does. Belle just feels uncomfortable with the attention. She turns her feet and walks out from the gym class.
Cafeteria later. Follow Belle, Tony and Rosie as they carry their trays to a table. Sebastian appears, and squishes into a seat next to Belle.
"Tony, you met my home girl, Belle".
"Your home girl?"
Rosie to Belle. "It's first grade all over again, and you're the shiny new toys".
Belle smiles awkwardly. Suddenly, a flashbulb blinds Belle. She looks up at the photographers. It was Betty O'hare. Rosie's childhood friend. She took a seat next to Rosie and smiled at Belle, she said.
"Feature. Memories". She turned to her friends. "So, you guys know, Belle".
"Gym class". Said Rosie. "Tony at Biology and Sebastian since the beginning. Where'd you eat?"
Betty laid the camera on the table. "Locker room. Belle pretty I confess, am I right guys?" They nod agree. "And I look like Belle's best friend back where she came from".
"Seriously?" ask Rosie. Betty nods.
"And she's dead". Her eyes to Belle. "Someone had to kill her for no reason. Ashamed".
Belle's smile is gone. Rosie, followed by Sebastian and Tony calming her. Sorry to hear that sad story. Tony spoke.
"Did they catch her killer, Belle?" She shook her head no, knowing she lied. She had too. The killer is just around the corner.
Her eyes look up at the teacher tables. Where Gibson and other teachers ate their food. Noticed his eyes on hers since she enter the cafeteria, faking her smile. She grab the fork and start to eat.
"We're sorry, Belle. Don't be sad. You have us here. We're your friends now". Said Rosie in excitement. "We are all your friends".
Sebastian patted her back. "Yeah. We are here for you".
Gibson eyes on Sebastian. He saw that bastard patting the back of his wife. How dare he! No one can touch her beside him. This must end.
"Danvers? Who are you looking at?" ask Dick as his eyes look around the tables. Gibson breaks his eyes on hers. "Whoa".
"What?" He chuckled.
"I know your eyes went to whom?"
"Who?"
Dick smirking. "Veronica".
"Nonsense".
His eyes on Veronica. What Dick said about Veronica was right. She eyed him for no reason, as their eyes met. She blushed and looked down at her plate.
"You are dreaming. I wasn't".
He made a loud sound from the chair, to get Belle attention again. Not just her, everyone does. He dropped the plate then left the cafeteria without turning his back on her. Rosie spoke.
"That Mr. Clark Danvers. He teaches English. Hey, your last name is the same as his. Are you two connected?"
"Principal Xanders said it was a coincidence".
Betty leans in, swinging into gossip mode. "Rosie had a crush on Xanders". Said Betty. "She could have drowned him with the chemical toxins of her love".
"He's a nice man, Betty. You know his wife didn't appreciate him. And they lived together, that was weird".
"Because she is his wife. Of course they lived together. That's not weird, you're weird. Having a crush on an old man".
Rosie rolled her eyes, spoke back. "He's not an old man. He just _ ?" She stopped. "What age is he?"
"Before the dinosaur went extinct he had already been there for a long time. His pets Pterodactyl and his enemies are T-Rex".
They all laugh so hard. Students and teachers in the cafeteria stare at them. For the first time Belle had her laugh back. She missed her laugh with Emma and Jake.
How is Jake doing now? Did he miss her?
Night with Gibson's. He cooked dinner. She eats in silence. He sipped his wine then wiped his mouth with cloth. He stared down at his wife, no smile. He asked.
"I can see you have lots of friends around you. How's your day darling? Anything you want to said". She stopped. She plays with her food. "Well?"
"They ask me if I had a phone number?"
"Then what you said".
"I don't have it. You smashed my phone before we left the cabin that night". She looked up at him. "The night we fought and you kidnapped me".
Gibson cleared his throat. "So you expect me to buy you a new one so then you can call the cops and catch me. Hmm? Is that what you plan? Involving them does not mean ''I believe what you said".
"Believe me or not. They ask me at the cafeteria".
He stared at her. She sighs out loud, then pushes the chair, bringing her plate on the sink. She washed it. Wiped her hand, and suddenly she took a seat on his lap. He was shocked as she kissed him. Soft kisses suddenly turn into passionate kisses.
He grabs her back head, yanking it back. He nips her collar bone and sucks it. Hearing her moaning, he pulled down her bra but she stopped him before she was completely naked front of his eyes. Both shared a last passionate kiss before she rose up from his laps then went upstairs toward their room.
He licks his lips for a moment. Then he brought his plate toward the sink. Turning off the light. He too went upstairs. Saw Belle brushed her teeth before she went to sleep. He'll do the same thing she did. He hugged her from behind.
"You're mine and always be mine, Belle". He muttered and went to sleep.