On the way home I saw a shop. There women’s jewelry was sold. Through the window I saw a necklace in a form of an airplane, it was so cute, I liked it.

I couldn't stop thinking about the bet, about Belle. She wanted to help me, and what I was doing instead.

It was a cold stormy night. I couldn't sleep. I was looking through the window.

In the morning I went to college. Belle was sitting outside. She was crying.

''Can I tell you something?'' I asked.

''Leave me,'' she said.

''I am sorry.'' I said.

''You are sorry? Really? You can't imagine what I feel now. It's like I am a toy for someone. My feelings aren't made to play. I don't want to listen to you. Leave me.'' Belle said.

''I will prevent it from happening, I promise.'' I said.

''You want me to believe? Believe someone who is a part of it? Are you having fun now? Leave me, please.'' she said.

She was crying. I didn't want to see that, I just couldn't.

''I will fix my mistake,'' I said, ''don't cry, please.''

I said and went to the auditorium.

''Boys!'' I cried.

''What is with you dude?'' they asked.

''Forget about the bet.'' I said.

''What?'' they asked an laughed.

''I have already told you'' I said.

''Who are you? You can't forbid us to do what we want.'' they said.

''If you don't stop this, everything will be bad for you. '' I said.

''Okay, okay,'' they laughed, ''what will you do? ''

''I don't want to repeat.'' I said and left.

Mark came to me.

''What is with you? '' he asked.

''Mark, Belle knows about the bet. She was crying. The boys can't continue it.''       I said.

''OMG. I will tell boys,'' Mark said. ''But how does she know?''

''I don't know,'' I said, ''I am going.''

''Where?'' he asked.

''I feel bad. Be careful, please.'' I said and went.

I was thinking only about her. I remembered her face, her tears. Tears are words the mouth can't say. I wanted to be close to her, to apologies, to see her smile.

The next day I went to college. Mark had told the boys that Belle knew about the bet. They agreed to stop, but Henry came to me and said that he wasn't interested in what I had said.

''I want her'' he said.

''What?'' I asked.

''I want her'' he said.

I hit him.


I can't say how it happened, but I hit him and we started fighting. Boys parted us. We got wounded. Belle came to me. She was so frightened.

''Don't worry,'' I said, ''everything is okay.''

''This all is because of me,'' she said, ''I am so sorry.''

She was treating my wounds. She was like an angel. She was heavenly. My heart started to beat faster.

''We need to go to the doctor.'' she said.

''Don't worry Belle, I am okay.'' I said.

The lecturer entered the auditorium.

''What has happened here? '' she asked. ''Nobody will answer? Okay, in that case you all will be punished.''

''I am guilty,'' I said, ''punish only me.''

''Ok Ray, follow me.'' she said.

And the last thing I managed to see was her frightened face, her beautiful eyes. I just wanted my parents not to know about it. It was the only thing I wanted. I gave long explanations, but everything wasn’t like I had expected. The lecturer said that I am forgiven. I was surprised, but happy.

When I entered the auditorium everyone had already gone, but there was someone waiting for me. It was Belle. She was like a fairy. I just didn't understand what was going on in my heart. I approached her.

''How are you?'' asked Belle.

I didn't want to say a word. I hugged her. She was amazed.

''Sorry'' I said. She went.

My love was growing with every second. To see the smile on her face and her eyes gleam with joy, it was all I desired. I was looking at her, even I hugged her. I felt that I was alive, I was breathing. I could not tell that I loved her the first moment I saw her, or if it was the second or third. But when I hugged her I felt I was dreaming and thinking and feeling with her.

                                                            
With the passing day I loved her more. She was avoiding me. She was shy.

Two weeks later. A day Belle didn't come to college. I was so worried. I asked Sophia what had happened.

''Do you know why Belle hasn't come?'' I asked Sophia.

''She is ill.'' she said.

''What?'' I asked.

''If you want I can give you her address, I know Ray you love her.'' she said.

''Will you do it? I will be very thankful.'' I said.

''Go there, I think she will be happy too.'' Sophia said.

I went.

When I was knocking the door, I heard her voice. She opened the door. She was so surprised.

''Ray?'' she asked.

''I have heard you are ill.'' I said.

''There is nothing dangerous. I just feel a little bad.'' she said.

''Even if you feel a little bad, it is dangerous for me.'' I said.

She smiled.

''Come in.'' she said.

''Would you like a cup of tea?'' she asked. ''It is cold outside.''

''Okay, thank you, I will drink.'' I said.

''Thanks for coming.'' she said.

''You are welcome.'' I said.

We smiled.

''Belle, will you give me your phone number? '' I asked, ''I just want to inquire about your health.''

                                                              
''I think I will come to college tomorrow.'' she said.

''I promise I will not give you trouble.'' I said.

''That's not the problem, okay I will give you. '' said Belle.

''Thank you.'' I said and went.

In the evening I wrote her.

''Is everything okay? ''

''Yes'' she answered.

''How are you? ''

''Good, and you? ''

''I am good too, thanks for asking.''
Late at night when the entire world was sleeping, I stayed up and thought of her. I wished she was thinking of me too. Even a single thought of her was enough to bring a smile on my face. I had never felt anything like that. Thinking of her kept me awake. Dreaming of her kept me asleep. Being with her kept me alive. That was the power of love. That was love.

The next day I went to college earlier. Belle wasn't there yet.

''Ray?'' asked Sophia.

''Yes Sophia.'' I said

''Today is Belle’s birthday.'' she said.

''What?'' I asked.

''Sorry for not telling you earlier.'' she said.

I left the auditorium. I wanted to buy a present for her, but I didn’t know what and I didn’t have money. I went home.

''Ray?'' asked my mother, ''you are early today.''

''Can you help me, mom?'' I asked

''What has happened?'' she asked.

''I need a little money.'' I said.

''I trust you.'' she said and gave me money.

I left home. I didn’t know what to buy. Toy maybe, or perfume. I suddenly remembered that necklace. I went there. The shop was closed. There was a phone number on the window. I called.

''Hello.'' said a woman.

''Hello, I want to buy a necklace, but the shop is closed." I said.

''It is time-out,'' she said, ''will you wait half an hour?''

''Okay.'' I said.

I waited. She came.

''This necklace is very nice. It is for your girl, isn’t it?'' said that woman and smiled.

I smiled too.

''I see, I see. Don’t be shy.'' she said.

I bought that necklace and went.

They would no longer be at college. I would go to her house.

When I reached I wasn’t sure to knock the door. I looked at her window. She was near it. She saw me. I greeted her with hand. She smiled.

She opened the door.

''Hi,'' she said, ''come in.''

''Happy Birthday.'' I said.

She smiled.

''Thank you.'' she said.

''You have got very beautiful smile,'' I said, ''I have a small present for you.''
                                                                
''Thank you, but there was no need of it.'' she said.

When she saw the necklace, she smiled again.

''So cute, I like it.'' she said.

''I am happy for it.'' she said.

''Why didn’t you come to college today?'' she asked.

''I had something to do.'' I said.

''Okay.'' she said.

''Tomorrow is Saturday.'' I said. ''Would you like to go for a walk?''

''Don’t know.'' she said.

''Have a nice day. I will write you, okay?'' I asked.

''Okay!'' said Belle.

I was so happy. My heart was full of joy.

When I entered home Jackie laughed.

''What Jackie?'' I asked.

''You have a winning smile.'' said Jackie and laughed.

''Hey.'' I said and laughed too.

''Don’t you want something to eat, Ray?'' asked my mother.

''I would like.'' I said.

''Okay, come to the kitchen.'' she said.

I had supper and went to my bedroom.

I saw my phone there. I wrote her.

''Hey Belle, how are you? ''

''Good, what about you? ''

''I am good too. What about tomorrow’s walk? will you come? ''

''Okay, I will. ''

''Okay, thank you.''

''Have a good night.''

''You, too.''

I was tired, but couldn’t sleep as usual. I just closed my eyes because I might see her face. I just closed my mouth because I might hear her voice. I was thinking about her, I was feeling her. I was hers.