What Should I Do? (Talen)

[Belle Harrington]

Belle had sent a text to Talen that day asking for him to meet her by the Courtyard. She had been really sad the past few weeks due to Lucah distancing himself, and she didn't know who else to turn to. Over the last few weeks Belle had been talking to Talen through text message and phone calls about her sadness over Lucah, and she felt it was finally time to get some physical comfort from her friend. Usually Belle would have turned to Robbie for help, but she had already put so many of her problems onto Robbie's shoulders that she didn't want to bother him even more. She felt like a burden to him sometimes.

Belle was sitting on the ground by the tree she had first met Talen at, and because she was wearing her dress, she sat there with her legs placed elegantly at her side. She was excited to speak to her friend. She hadn't really had much contact with anyone either than Amelia the past little while due to her sadness because of Lucah.

Belle sat there waiting patiently for her friend, she had been trying to keep up lately with him, and see how he had been doing. But Talen seemed to be just as busy, emotionally, as she had been. So maybe this meeting and talk would make him feel better too. Belle thought to herself. Usually Belle would have brought her binoculars out with her, but she wanted to focus solely on getting advice to fix things with Lucah at this moment.

Finally she saw her tall friend coming towards her and a smile grew on her face. It had been the first smile in a long time, and she was sad that it was Talen that brought the smile and not Lucah. Waving at him now, Belle cried out happily, "T-T-Talen!" Getting up, Belle ran over to her friend, and threw her arms around him, hugging him. "Th-thanks for c-coming!" She said, letting go of him and smiling up at her friend.

She wouldn't lie that he was an attractive guy, she had thought that from the very first time she met him, but he wasn't Lucah. He didn't have Lucah's beautiful blue electric eyes. And Belle was so into Lucah that she couldn't even think or imagine herself with another guy. But she was just grateful to have such a great friend like Talen.

Belle led the way back to the tree, and sat back down. The smile on her face slowly falling into a frown. Looking over at Talen, Belle's whole body dropped and she couldn't hold back anymore. She let her tears slowly fall down, "T-T-Talen...?" She asked softly, her eyes looking into her friend's eyes. "I-I-I d-don't know wh-what I did wrong..." She whimpered softly. "H-he barely t-talks to me anymore..." She sighed, and wiped away the few tears that fell from her eyes.

[Talen Trahan]

He was a good friend, that much he was confident about. He just wasn’t confident about his abilities as a boyfriend to anyone. The thing with Adrianna had blown up in his face, leaving him single once more, and now that Ariana was back in his life…things were just complicated for the Cajun boy. He had news that his father was doing better, which made him feel a whole lot better, and his sister was back in school, so that was someone he could talk to if things got bad for him.

When he had gotten the text message from Belle, it had been a shock. The blonde had barely any interaction with him, but they had managed to become friends anyway simply by texting each other back and forth. She had told him about her relationship with a guy named Lucah and he had spilled his secrets about Adrianna and Ariana, careful to leave Rhett’s name out. The mention of the blonde boy made his blood boil a little, but the distress that screamed to him when he read Belle’s text made the anger simmer back down. He put his phone away and looked up as he walked.

Her smile soothed his heart as he looked at her, watching as she ran into his open arms. He held her close for a moment before she pulled back, looking at him with her innocent smile. He smiled back as he followed her to under the tree, sitting down beside her and watching her body language. He looked as her smile faded and the tears came rushing to the forefront, each drop breaking his heart. He hated to see girls cry. He scooted closer to her and put his arm around her shoulders, making her lean into his side.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Belle,” he murmured softly to her, his voice soft and caring. “Maybe he’s just dealing with something in his family, or school. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

[Belle Harrington]

Belle sat there wiping the tears from her eyes, as she watched Talen move closer to her and put his arm around her shoulders. She knew that if someone saw the two of them like this that the situation would be thought of differently. But really it was just one friend consoling another, and honestly at this point Belle didn't care who saw her cuddle up with Talen. He was here to help her, and make her feel better, and the physical touch is what she needed. Belle leaned in and curled up snugly against Talen's side. Her arms hugging her stomach, as she starred at the floor thinking.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Belle," Belle heard Talen say softly to her, his voice was soothing and caring. So different from how Lucah's voice had been recently. "Maybe he's just dealing with something in his family, or school. You didn't do anything wrong." Talen said, and Belle sat there quietly thinking to herself. She knew Lucah's father. She knew what kind of monster he was, but she also knew that if there was a problem that Lucah would have come and talked to her. He wouldn't have shut here out like this, she knew that Lucah liked having her around for comfort when he was dealing with his father. Could it have been Jezebel? But Belle knew again that if something was wrong, and Lucah had to be distant he would have said something to her.

So Belle thought of the second option, could it have been school? Lucah's dad did say that he was going to bring Lucah back to Romania. And that Lucah would probably end up finishing school over there. But again, that's something Lucah would have told her about right? Belle really didn't know anymore. She knew that the old Lucah would have told her everything, and that he wouldn't be distant with her like this unless it was necessary, or she already knew it was coming. But this new Lucah... It was like he wanted nothing to do with her at all, and it broke her heart.

Finally Belle shook her head and looked up at Talen, "N-n-no... I did d-do something w-wrong..." Belle sighed and looking back down again, started to pull some grass out of the ground, one blade at a time as she thought to herself for the right words. "I-I-I told him I l-l-loved him..." Belle sighed again in disappointment and then shrugged, "I guess I-I sc-scared him a-away..." She whimpered, throwing the blades of grass she had collected in her hand. Belle looked up at Talen, and scrunched up her face a bit, "I sc-screwed up T-Talen..." She let out a forced chuckle that exuded fakeness. "I h-hope things are g-going better with y-you...?" Belle asked hopefully.

[Talen Trahan]

He felt her move against him, settle comfortably against his side and he smiled, looking down at her. On his end, he didn’t care who saw them; Belle was his best friend and he would never see her in any other context. Sure, before he had dated Adrianna, he had seen the blonde as a cute girl, even thought of asking her out…but now they were content with just being friends, and that was all Talen wanted at the moment. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of a dark brunette with dreamy hazel eyes, but he knew it would be a while before he saw her again.

She was quietly thinking, as was he, when he felt her head move and her voice begin to stutter again. He sighed and closed his eyes as she spoke, her heart in her voice. “You didn’t do anything wrong by telling him about your feelings, Belle,” he reasoned with her, knowing he was in the same boat as her. “You didn’t screw up, and things aren’t going much better for me.” He chuckled softly and moved a strand of her hair out of her eyes, letting the golden strand be tucked behind her ear.

“You see, there was this girl who used to tutor me in math,” he explained. “We became friends, and I had a crush on her. She went to New York for a drama workshop and I missed her like crazy. She came back and we hung out a lot, and I finally kissed her for the first time.” He smiled a little. “We were supposed to go to this fair together, but she left before we could go. I started dating Adrianna, and she came back, and now I’m single and stuck in a hard place like you.”

[Belle Harrington]

As Talen spoke, Belle watched his face. He was so different from Lucah. Talen had a more masculine jaw, a tougher exterior, but he was gentle inside. Lucah on the other hand, had a softer exterior, but was cold inside. Belle hadn't seen the full extent of Lucah's icy attitude, but the amount that she had seen was enough for her. She didn't want to think of Lucah this way, and she hated herself for doing it, but she had no other choice. She couldn't hold onto that perfect image and idea of him if he wasn't going to be that person. If Lucah wanted to distance himself and possible follow in his father's footsteps there was nothing Belle could do. She had reached out to him many times during this two week period and she had barely gotten any form of response.

"You didn't do anything wrong by telling him about your feelings, Belle," She heard Talen say, and she wanted to scoff loudly. She was wrong about telling Lucah about her feelings. They had only been together for a little while, and he obviously wasn't ready to hear those three words. And the simple fact that Belle didn't even know how she felt towards Lucah made the situation worse. She knew she cared very deeply for him, and liked him very much. But she didn't honestly know whether or not she was in love with Lucah. And yet she still uttered those three words, and messed everything up.

Listening now, Talen told Belle his story about this new girl and Adrianna. Adrianna...? Wasn't that Lucah's friend? Belle thought to herself, and then mentally slapped herself for not paying attention to Talen's story. Not everything revolved around Lucah. Belle needed to learn that. So she sat there, quietly, cuddled up to Talen, and listening to his problems. "H-Have you told th-this girl y-you l-like her...?" Belle asked once Talen was done talking. "D-Do you k-know how she feels about y-you? Wh-what happened to A-Adrianna? And w-w-why don't you j-just tell the m-math t-tutor how you f-feel? Sweep h-her off her f-feet?" Belle giggled and blushed softly. She had always wanted to feel like she was in a fairy tale. That she had found her prince charming, and that one day he would come and sweep her off her feet and take her to her happily ever after. Belle originally thought that Lucah was her prince charming, but now she was beginning to doubt herself. Hell she was beginning to doubt Disney all together. How was she supposed to know what love was? Was it just one true kiss that'll let you know that he's the one? How do you know?

"May-maybe the k-kiss wasn't e-enough? Maybe sh-she needs to h-hear how you feel...?" Belle asked, hoping Talen wouldn't get uspet with all the questions she was firing at him. She didn't mind listening to Talen's problems, it was like hers were gone while she focused on his. But she knew that once she was alone again that all her problems and all her emotions would come running back to her.