3 CHAPTER THREE

Belle linked her arm with Jo and dragged her out the front door, both of them laughing. They walked down the street, followed by everyone else. Joshua's house could clearly be seen at the end of the street, lights flashing and music booming.

They made it to the house and there were a bunch of people in the front yard. One of them throwing up in the bushes, someone else getting a blowjob behind the wooden swing, and another couple making out.

They walked past the mess in the front, none of them flinching as this was normal as far as parties went. Inside, they were greeted by louder music. The living room to the side had been cleared of the furniture and there was a dance floor and a DJ set up in front of them. Some colourful lights were installed and it looked similar to a club.

To the other side was a massive kitchen with tons of alcohol on the table with shot glasses and other cups. There was a cooler filled with sodas and beers as well. Then, a door from the kitchen led to the backyard where some people were in the pool, and there were some more coolers and a few tables with people playing beer pong.

"Call if you need us." Wren mock-saluted before he left with the rest of the boys, presumably to find the basketball team or their other classmates and introduce Nicholas to everyone.

"Shall we get shit-faced, ladies?" Aurora grinned.

"Absolutely." Luna nodded, while the other two smirked. They walked into the kitchen and Belle snatched a bottle of tequila from the table whilst Jo grabbed them some shot glasses. The French girl poured out some shots and they all downed them quickly, before she poured another round and they downed them again.

At this point, Belle was definitely tipsy, but she still had a ways to go. She grabbed a beer bottle from the cooler and popped it open. After she took a sip, Aurora grabbed her hand and dragged her into the living room to dance.

"Dance with me, princess." Belle smirked at the elegant blonde, who laughed. The music changed to one of their favourite songs, and they jammed out. Belle's hair getting messy and slightly wet from the beer spilling from her bottle, and Aurora's hair had fallen from her half up half down style and instead tumbled down her back messily.

They were singing along and laughing drunkenly until Atticus showed up and whisked Aurora away, shooting Belle an apologetic look. She stuck her tongue out and pouted at him. Then, she stumbled into the kitchen to find Jo pouring out another shot for herself and Luna.

"I want one too, Jo!" Belle called, sitting down on the island. Jo happily obliged and handed her another shot filled with a clear liquid. She downed it quickly. "Do you guys wanna play beer pong?"

"Hell yeah!" Luna cried out, grabbing both their arms and dragging them out to the backyard and towards one of the tables. A few basketball players were there, she recognised some of them from Wren's team, but Wren wasn't there.

"Can we play?" Belle asked. She was met with a series of cheers. Belle was known as a beer pong champion. The game started and she never failed once, downing countless cups of beer. Cheers grew louder and louder, but no one was really surprised.

On the other side of the house, Nicholas furrowed his eyebrows. "What the fuck are all those cheers?"

"How much you wanna bet it's Belle playing beer pong?" Caspian raised his eyebrows.

"It probably is." Duke agreed.

"Belle's known as beer pong champion of our school." Wren explained to Nicholas. "Let's go support our girl."

And so, led by Caspian, they went outside and sure enough, it was the French girl doing her thing. She grinned when she saw all of them approaching. "Hey guys!"

"Evening, Belle." Wren greeted. "Winning as usual?"

"You know it." She winked. "You guys been having fun?"

"We always do." Caspian stood beside her, leaning his arm on her shoulder. "How much have you drank?"

"Not enough." She scoffed. "No, I have had a few shots. Beer from this, and another beer. I drank a bit." Belle didn't really slur her words much when she was drunk. She stumbled around sometimes, got more reckless for sure, and started more fights. She was more honest as a drunk as well.

Another group of girls walked over. They were from another school because Belle didn't recognise them. One of them stepped forward, one of her perfectly shaped eyebrows raised. She was dressed in a short red dress that reached mid-thigh and was backless. Her brown hair was up in a messy bun and her red lipstick slightly smudged.

"Are we letting terrorists into parties now?" She scoffed, nodding her head towards Luna, who's mouth dropped open as small tears pooled in her eyes. Luna was always self-conscious about her looks, knowing that she looked slightly Arab. It was because her mother was Arab. Luna was proud of her heritage most of the time, but rarely, when people said things like that, she lost faith in herself, because it hurt. Of course it hurt.

"What the fuck did you just say?" Belle stepped forward, cracking her knuckles, a menacing look on her face.

"Are you short of hearing? I said, are they letting terrorists into parties now?" The girl smirked, flicking a stray strand of hair from her eyes.

"Oh, I heard you the first time. I just wanted to give you the chance to fix your mistake before I beat the living hell out of you." Belle rolled her eyes, shrugging.

"You're going to beat me? So, your little friend can't fend for herself. That's just precious, isn't it. She needs a bodyguard." The girl pouted mockingly. "How precious."

"We'll see if you think it's so precious when I beat the shit out of you, you little bitch." Belle snarled. "Luna doesn't need anyone to protect her. But, she's my friend, and I won't stand here and let you insult her."

"Come on then. Let's see how tough you really are." She gestured to her to come closer. Belle did so, and then stood there for a bit, before rearing her head back and smacking it into the other girl. She stumbled back, a hand pressed to her, now bleeding, nose.

"Whoops, guess you'll have to get daddy to fork over some money for another nose job." Belle cracked her neck, before throwing herself onto the girl and yanking her hair, pushing her down to the ground. While the girl went down, she didn't go down without a fight.

Her wickedly sharp nails attacked Belle's face, cutting her and drawing blood in some place. Belle retaliated with some punches to the face and a few yanks of the head, then someone pulled the girl from under her, and she felt someone pull her up.

The girl got in one last punch to Belle's mouth and Belle's face snapped to the side. "What the hell is going on?"

Belle leaned over and spat out some blood that was in her mouth, before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand and turning her gaze to whoever spoke. It was the boy that pulled the girl away. "That little bitch called my friend a terrorist. Don't think I was going to stand there and let her do that, was I?"

"So, you punched her?" He stepped forward, but Caspian, who was behind Belle stepped in front of him, holding one hand out to stop him, and the other behind him, holding Belle's arm.

"Woah, listen. Your girl messed up. it's done. You guys should leave."

"Leave?" He laughed. "Funny."

"Joshua!" Belle called over to the party host.

"Hey, Belle. What's up." He walked over, grinning, before his face turned into a mask of concern. "What happened to your fucking face?"

"That girl called Lu a terrorist. I punched her, naturally. Some kid comes out now and he isn't happy. Cas asked them to leave. They won't listen."

"I'll take care of this." Joshua clenched his jaw. He walked to Caspian and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, Cas. I'll sort this out, man."

Caspian nodded and moved back towards Belle, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Who the fuck are you?" The other boy asked Joshua.

"This is my house, punk. My house. My party. So, you better get your ass off my property, and your little friends too, before I call the cops." He pulled his phone out and held it up. "I'm not fucking around. Get out."

The boy grumbled and helped the girl out, a bunch of others following behind them. Joshua turned to Belle, who smiled at him in thanks. "You gonna be alright, Belle?"

"I'll be fine, Joshua. Thanks."

"Anytime."

All their friends rushed over as Joshua went back into the house. This time, Atticus and Aurora with them. Luna threw her arms around Belle, hugging her tight. "I love you, Belle."

"I love you too, Lu." Then, she winced. "Ow."

"What? What is it?" Luna panicked, looking over Belle's face.

"My face hurts." The girl pouted.

"That chick had wicked nails." Wren whistled lowly. "She left her mark on you, Belle."

"Great."

"Does this- does this happen often?" Nicholas asked.

"Every party, someone gets in a fight." Duke shrugged as Aurora ran her fingers over Belle's eyebrow, pulling her finger back and finding it covered in blood.

"You're bleeding."

"No shit." Belle rolled her eyes. Aurora raised an eyebrow and smacked her on the back of the head. "Ow!"

"Alright, Rory. Come on. She's got battle wounds." Atticus pulled his girlfriend back.

"Thank you, Atticus."

"I got you, hothead." He nodded, patting her head.

"I think Belle and I are gonna head back. Need to get her cleaned up." Caspian gestured to Belle's state and she nodded.

"Sounds good. See you guys whenever you're back. We might pull an all-nighter. Skip school tomorrow."

"That sounds nice." Caspian agreed. "Anyways, see you lot later. Adios."

Then, him and Belle left the garden, walking through the busy house once more and coming out the front. They passed the messy front yard again and began walking down the empty road. "Do you wanna call someone at home?"

"My parents don't give a damn. Probably won't even notice I'm gone. I'll call Elias, he can tell the school." Belle took her phone out. Her brother was taking a gap year with the rest of his friends, and their parents certainly didn't approve but he did it anyways.

He had turned 18 a year and a half ago, and as soon as he did, their parents made him Belle's guardian, because they travelled so much. None of the two siblings complained. They preferred it this way anyways.

Belle tapped on Elias' number and held the phone up to her ear, listening to it ring for a few seconds before it clicked and her brothers voice came through.

"Belle? Hey, what's up?"

"Hey, E. I got into a fight at the party tonight. Skipping school tomorrow. Can you cover for me?"

"Yeah, of course. Please tell me the other person is in worse shape than you are."

"Of course they are." Belle scoffed. "Come on, who do you think I am?"

He laughed. "I'm sorry I asked."

"Did you come to the party? I didn't see you."

"Nah, I bailed with a few buddies." He explained.

"Sounds nice. Anyways, I'll see you tomorrow. Bonne nuit."

"See you. Bonne nuit, little sister."

Then, she hung up and looked at Caspian with a smile. "Mission success. I love my brother."

"Hurray!" He held a hand out and she high-fived him, laughing lightly. They finally arrived at his house and he quickly unlocked the door. They walked up to Caspian's room and Belle grabbed the same pair of leggings she wore before and snagged one of Caspian's sweatshirts before changing in the bathroom while he changed in his bedroom.

When she was done, she walked out and saw he was dressed in sweatpants and a Queen graphic tee. "You want to wait by the pool while I get the first aid kit?"

"Yeah. Can you maybe grab me water. I need to sober up more." Belle requested as they walked down the stairs and she opened the back door.

"You got it." He nodded. Belle smiled in thanks and then walked outside barefoot, sitting down cross legged beside the pool. The only light being that from the house and the little lights hung on the inside of the walls surrounding the garden.

She was only sat there for a little while before Caspian sat down beside her, two bottles of water in his hand and a first aid kit in his other hand. He handed her the water and she cracked open one bottle and drank its contents as he opened the kit.

Firstly he grabbed the other water bottle and poured some of it on a towel and cleaned the cuts on her face, the one above her eyebrow, under her left eye and her cut lip. He cleaned all the blood away and dropped the towel on the grass, it being red now. Then, he pulled out a little napkin and some rubbing alcohol.

"Shit." Came her response when she saw it, cringing.

"Yeah. I gotta sanitize them." Caspian smiled sheepishly. He covered the napkin in the rubbing alcohol and brought it to her eyebrow, gently pressing it to the cut above it. Belle hissed lightly and accidentally squeezed the bottle in her hand too tightly, causing the water to spill out over her hand. She set it down and instead clutched the grass between her fingers. "All good?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. It's fine. Go ahead." Belle nodded. Caspian turned his attention back to it and continued sanitizing that one wound, before moving onto the others. Then, he dropped the napkin on top of the towel.

"It's only the one above your eyebrow that needs a plaster." Once he got a nod in return, he unpeeled a plaster and placed it over her cut.

"Thanks Cas. I'll take it all inside. Be right back." She said as she grabbed everything. She kissed his cheek and walked back inside, dropping the towel in the sink and pouring some water on it and then just leaving it. She tossed the napkin in the bin and returned the first aid kit back with the other medicines.

Then, she ran to Caspian's room and grabbed her pack of cigarettes, and his lighter, before walking back outside. She waved the pack in the air once he looked over. "I brought something."

He grinned when he saw it. "Did you bring a lighter?"

"I stole yours." She shrugged before sitting down and opening it, taking two out and handing one to him. Then, she flicked the lighter open and brought it towards the cigarette which she propped in her mouth, covering the flame with her hand.

Once it was lit, she handed the lighter to Caspian and took a drag of the cigarette before pulling it out and releasing the smoke into the air. He lit his own cigarette and then tucked the lighter into his pocket. "Belle."

"Hm?" She turned to look at him.

"Do you ever wonder how different we would be if our parents spend more time with us?"

"Sometimes." She nodded, lifting her cigarette to her mouth once more. "I don't know if it would be a good different or not, though. Because them leaving us to our own defenses helped us get used to the harshness of life. I don't know, Cas." She sighed.

"No, no, you're right. I get it. We wouldn't be as sure about ourselves, I suppose."

"What brought this on?"

"I don't really know. The thought has always been there, you know? Lurking in the depths of my mind." He laughed.

"Mhm. Yeah. Same here. We have it a bit different, because you've got a younger sister to take care of. I don't have anyone to take care of. Elias is my legal guardian, so he takes care of me. I don't know where I'd be without him."

"Six feet under, probably." Caspian teased.

"Hey!" She whined and shoved him before smiling. "But true."

"I worry about Willow. She has too much faith in our parents."

"She's young, Cas."

"So were we."

"I get it. But some people don't want to accept it. you know? She probably thinks they'll change. She wants to have hope and I really don't blame her. Ignorance is bliss." Belle sighed.

"I'm glad I know what I know though."

"Same."

Eventually they stamped their cigarettes out and tossed them in the bin. "I'm hungry." Caspian whined as they made their way inside.

"Pizza?" Belle suggested and yawned at the same time.

"Sounds good." He laughed. "Then we can fall asleep to a movie."

"Oh, that sounds amazing. Should I call the others and ask if they want pizza?"

"Yeah." Caspian nodded, and Belle took her phone out and tapped Wren's number. She put her phone on speaker and sat on the kitchen counter while Caspian leaned against it beside her. The phone rang before he picked up.

"YO!" He yelled.

"Sounds like you're having fun." Belle laughed.

"Oh yeah."

"We're ordering pizza. You guys want some?" Caspian asked.

"Hell yeah! Get the usual." Wren called.

"Will do. See you later. Make sure no one dies, please. Or tell Duke to make sure no one dies." Belle reminded. Once she got a sound of agreement from him, she hung up. "Call the pizza place!"

"Aye aye captain." He saluted before pulling his own phone out and calling the same pizza place they always visited. "Yo! Luke! What's up bro? Yeah, it is late, I know. No, we're not breaking the law, not today." He laughed. "Can we get the usual delivered to my house? Yeah. Awesome! You guys are the best, really. See you in a bit. Bye."

Then he looked over at her with a grin as he placed his phone down on the island surface. "Mission success?" She asked.

"Mission success." He confirmed. "You wanna pick the movie?"

"Yep." She hopped down from the counter. "Movie room or living room?"

"Movie room. It's comfier than the living room." Caspian decided. The living room couches were more for show than for people to actually sit on them, which is why whenever his friends came over, they were either in the movie/game room, the kitchen or outside.

"Let's go, then."

And she ran down the stairs into the basement, which was essentially the movie/game room which was a huge room that Caspian's parents got renovated for Caspian as a sorry for missing one of his birthdays due to travels, and there was also a small kitchen (with all the junk food you could possibly imagine) and a bathroom.

Belle made her way into the movie/game room and immediately headed for the shelf of movies, where she ran her finger across all the titles she knew and loved. "I don't know what to pick. Genre?"

"I'm in a Disney mood."

"I could never say no to a Disney movie." She sighed dramatically before pulling out a few of their favourite classics; Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Hercules, and then some new ones; Tangled, Moana and Frozen. She put Hercules in first. "I missed seeing Megara on screen."

"She is a beautiful woman." Caspian agreed, placing his phone beside him on the couch so he could hear it if it rang. Belle sat beside him with her own phone out in case someone called and they started the movie, keeping the lights on, but dimmer than normal.

Fifteen minutes into the movie, Caspian's phone rang and they both exchanged an excited look.

"Pizza!"