treacherous,
chapter twelve.
✧˖°࿐·̩͙✧ BELLAMY GILMORE sat happily at Emily Gilmore's vanity, her hair being wrapped around a hot curling iron. she sat next to Rory, who didn't look nearly as excited.
maybe it was because her hair dresser had pulled her hair back into a top bun — the idea of a top bun made Bell shudder. "look what i found"
"ooo, tiara!" Emily walked behind bell, holding a silver crown embedded with jewels.
the girl felt like a princess. she didn't exactly know why she was there, nor why her grandmother had insisted on dressing them up. but she didn't mind.
"tiara?"
Bell laughed at Rory's confusion, before sending her a look. "don't question it, live in the moment" she instructed, knowing better than to ask her grandma questions that she won't get a straight answer to. instead she knew she'd find out eventually, and go with the flow.
"you know, i actually bought this one for you when you turned six" Emily told Bell, a proud smile on her lips as she admired her granddaughter in the mirror after placing it on her head.
the girl widened her eyes, "really?" the surprise in her voice was made clear by a slight crack, Rory couldn't help but watch Bell with furrowed brows.
she couldn't understand why Bellamy always acted as if nobody liked her — everybody liked her. why couldn't she see that?
"mhm. i took you shopping and you couldn't take your eyes off of this one, so later that day i had Elly go back and buy it. so that one day, i could give it to you" she held back her tears, placing her hand on her shoulder where Emily's was resting.
"it's beautiful, grandma. six year old me had exquisite taste, i've gotta say" she joked.
Emily nodded, "i have to agree." she then went back and grabbed the other tiara, "i got this one for you, Rory" she said and held out a simple silver crown.
"are you sure you want me wearing all this stuff? they must be very expensive . . and, if something should happen—" the grandmother cut Rory off, "— nothing's going to happen. and yes, you look exactly the way i want my granddaughter's to look to all out guests. shall we?"
Bell nodded. "please, i need a drink"
"non-alcoholic, i assume you're referring to?"
"right"
✧˖°࿐·̩͙✧IT WAS some sort of scheme to set the girls up with Yale boys. and while Bell would normally be open to new friends and conversing with boys — she couldn't help but wander to her own little love life.
she was confused, in all honestly.
there was Elliot, a man that had charmed her effortlessly. just two weeks ago, she was under his spell. two weeks. she was the first to admit she could dwell and hold grudges.
at least with Jess, she was still angry and hurt — there was something lingering. no feelings, just unresolved betrayal. but with Elliot, she no longer felt any feelings. hurt, definitely.
he had lied to her for months, and she still had to see him every day in school. she had to move on, he was her professor and she wanted nothing more than to succeed in Law school.
there was pain there, but no more romantic feelings.
she wondered if she every truly did have feelings for him. or if she was simply burying her feelings for another.
there was Logan.
a boy she used to find so incredibly annoying when she was younger he'd tease her and flirt with her and always be in arms reach — never leaving her or kitty alone.
those factors used to be annoying, until she let him in. now, she felt odd anytime she would extend her arm and he wasn't next to her. or if she saw something funny, she'd turn and he wasn't there to share her laugh.
those feelings, the true feelings were always buried deep inside of her — because if she opened it up, and looked inside . . she'd have to deal with potentially getting hurt again.
she didn't know if she could take another heartbreak. she was strong, but not that strong.
Bell stood in the foyer with a glass of champagne in hand, it was all Emily allowed her to have — staring boredly at a boy who continued to go on and on about biology.
"oh wow, that's so cool" she nodded, faking a smile as she took the last sip of gold liquid. "glad you acknowledge that. so—"
"—actually, would you excuse me for a minute?"
she didn't wait for his answer, before stepping away from the conversation. as rude as that may have been, if she stayed any longer she would've broke her glass into pieces and started swallowing the shards.
that boring.
she exited the house, and found herself in the backyard. she needed air, as the inside was getting a little too crowded for her liking.
her eyes set on a familiar brunette boy, squinting her eyes as she approached him. "how'd you guys slip through the house without me seeing?"
"oh good, we've been searching for you everywhere. Finn!" Colin called over the Aussie who indeed, was looking in the . . bushes?
Bell let out a chuckle, and hooked her arm over Colin's shoulder. "you could've called me to let me know you're here"
"what's the fun in that? hide and seek is just my kind of fun" Finn smirked, approaching the two wide open arms. "Jump in, darling"
she did as told, and jumped into his arms causing him to dramatically stumble back.
"okay . . i'm offended" she told him.
"nah, my body's just sore. had a fun night, if you know what i mean" Bell cringed at the idea, pulling away from him. "where's Logan?"
her questions didn't need to be answered, as she watched Logan hook his arm over her sister's shoulder. "i've been looking everywhere for you, i'm late. i'm sorry. don't be mad, Logan Huntzberger." he spoke, introducing himself to the man standing in front of her.
he was saving her from a creep. that's all it was.
so why was there a pit in her stomach?
"Jordan Chase" the man shook his hand. "good to meet you. thanks for keeping my girl busy." he's acting. he is act. ing.
Bell looked to Finn, "can you grab me a drink from the bar?"
he nodded, and twirled away.
"is someone a little jealous?" Colin whispered.
she furrowed her brows, acting clueless. "jealous?" she shook her head. "why would you ask that?" she crossed her arms.
he sent her a knowing look. "c'mon, Bell. you and i both know how you really feel. remember, in Australia we all got high and drunk and we were the last two awake, we spilled all our secrets."
she completely forgot. flashbacks of the night came rushing back, widening her eyes.
drunken words, were sober truths.
she was in love with Logan Huntzberger, and she didn't even know it.
"maybe a little bit" she admitted, referring to the jealousy part. "i don't know what you're so afraid of" he told her. "you, someone who avoids relationships at all costs, don't know what i'm afraid of?"
he sighed, and shoved her lightly. "touché"
her eyes set back on Logan, realizing they were talking to her grandfather. "oh, god. i'll be back"
Bell's high heels pattered against the pavers as she rushed over to the three, placing her hand on Logan's shoulder.
"ah, there you are Bellamy. i was just asking Logan where you were"
"oh, we were playing hide and go seek, apparently" she joked to her grandfather. he didn't get it, and nodded his head.
"alright, girls. since i see that you are in capable hands, i will make another round and end up at the bar."
Logan placed his hand on Bellamy's hip.
"it's been good seeing you, Richard."
"good to see you, Logan."
the man walked off, leaving them alone. "you know my grandparents" Rory stated in confusion. "my folks are good friends with Richard and Emily."
he turned his attention to his friend, "okay, now that Birdie is found, Lesson one in coping with painfully boring parties: form a sub-party. Finn!"
Finn walked over, handing Bell her drink.
"thank you, Finny"
"what's that?"
she ignored the question and sent a wink to her sister, "you rang?" asked Finn. "time for a change of venue" Logan said, following Bell's lead over to the pool house.
the group hung out for a bit, before her phone began to ring. it was an unknown number, which she wouldn't normally answer — but she figured she'd mess with them a bit, whoever they were.
ੈ✩‧₊˚
"Hello?"
"Bellamy."
"Elliot" Finn's eyebrows furrowed at the name, his full attention on her.
"Come out front"
"Out front? What do you mean?"
"I'm outside"
"I'm at my grandparents house" she shut him down.
"I'm here"
ੈ✩‧₊˚
Bell closed her phone, before excusing herself and making her way out through the house and out the front door.
Elliot stood against his Jeep, "what are you doing here?" she asked him.
"i overheard a couple of my students talking about this party . . and, i had to talk to you."
she shook her head, "you shouldn't have come here, this is my grandparents place — i don't want them to know about . . us"
he parted his lips, "Bellamy, you have to know i'm sorry. i never meant to hurt you, Victoria and I haven't been together for over a year—"
"—you still could've told me. given me some sort of warning, you're married. separated or not, i'm nobody's mistress"
"you weren't—"
before he could finish, a fist was being slammed into his jaw, stumbling him back a few steps.
"Logan!"
el oh el
whats up w the punches fr