Chapter Twenty-Five: Tates Revenge

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Tate. She was here.

“TATER! What are you doing?! Get outta here!” Webster cried, running to her.

“Webby!” Tate couldn't help but brighten up at the sight of her beloved Webster. For a moment, her eyes mirrored his for colour and wildness and they could have been siblings for all anyone else knew.

But then the darkness returned and the sick smile came with it.

“When are you coming home Webby?” She asked coolly.

“Pleasantville is my home now Tater. I'm not going back.” Webster replied.

“Pleasantville won't exist very shortly.” Tate frowned.

Realisation dawned on Websters face. Tate was behind the destruction of the University. Tate. The girl who had followed him around like a little lost puppy, pumping him up when he felt down, annoying him at every opportunity. Who always smiled and wanted to help the world.

“Why are you doing this?!” Maddy cried.

Tate glared at her.

“Tater, please, I'm not going back. If you're really that upset, why don't you come to Pleasantville too? You can live with Maddy and I.” Webster tried.

That was too much. Tate stormed off.

“Tate! C'mon Tater, don't be like this – ARGH!” Webster tried to run after her, but was cut off by a bulldozer.

“We have to get out of here Webster!” Maddy cried.

The exit now blocked, Webster pulled Maddy towards a broken fence. That was blocked off by another dozer.

They were trapped.

“Darn it Tate!” Webster tried to look for another exit. Suddenly he felt himself being pulled up alongside Maddy.

“Webster! Is that your Tate?” Giggles asked as she lifted them to safety.

“Yes. It is.” Webster sighed.

“Oh dear.” Giggles dropped them outside of the fence.

“You're going back?!” Webster cried as Giggles prepared to take off again.

“I have to try and stop them.” Giggles replied.

“Where's Chuckles?”

“I don't need him.”

“Let me go and talk to Tate. She'll listen to me. She always did.” Webster begged.

“It's too dangerous.” Giggles replied.

“Please Giggles. She's not a bad person, she just needs help.” Webster began to tear up. Giggles sighed.

“Fine, but keep out of my way.” She warned.

They both went back to the war zone. Webster ran off to find Tate, and Giggles resumed taking down the bulldozers.

“YIKES!” Giggles slammed her body to the ground as a large crane swung at her. “Where did THAT come from?!”

She rolled out of the way of a few bullets, trying to scramble to her feet. The crane swung at her again, clipping her leg as she got to her feet.

“Darn it!” She cried, trying to get away from the constant barrage.

The crane was coming again for a third shot. Giggles was doomed. There was no way it was going to miss this time!

She closed her eyes and prepared for the worst. A loud clang made her open her eyes.

“CHUCKLES!” She cried. The Arm Scythes had been strong enough to deflect the crane.

“The others are here too. What were you THINKING taking this all on yourself?!” Chuckles scolded her.

“Whatever.” Giggles scowled.

The Knights were busy disabling the bulldozers as Giggles had been doing, only with a little more difficulty owing to the fact they can't fly.

Giggles watched Sunny expertly jump from one bulldozer to the other, kick the driver out of the cockpit and steal the keys. No wonder Charlie liked her better.

She got up and flew around trying to find Webster. She found him trying to talk to Tate.

“Tater, call this off! You're going to get someone killed!” He begged.

“Come home to Brisvegas.” Tate replied.

“Tate, this is ridiculous.” Webster got angry. “I don't love you. I can't love you – not someone who will throw temper tantrums just because she can't get her own way! You've always been a brat, and enough's enough!”

Tate glared at him.

“I gave you everything I could. I would have followed you anywhere. You were my hero.”

“I never asked for any of this.” Webster replied.

Giggles flew down and stood in front of Tate.

“I know how you feel Tate. The man I love doesn't want me either.” Giggles sighed. “Please call this off, it's not going to change anything.”

“Definitely not.” Webster glowered behind her. “Not ever again. You let me down, and I have nothing left for you.”

Tate looked at Webster. Her heart shattered. He would never love her. He couldn't love her.

She picked up her phone and pushed a few buttons. Soon, the bulldozers had left, leaving a ruin where there had once been a proud University.

Giggles hugged Tate tightly. “I'm sorry Tate. I know it hurts, but you're going to be okay. You and Webster will be brother and sister, the way you were meant to be, and you'll both be happy.”

Tate stared blankly into space. Her eyes were dead. Her body slumped.

“I know I'll be okay.” She said hoarsely, before pushing Giggles off and walking away.

“Webster! Are you okay?” Maddy ran over and hugged Webster. Webster kept his eyes trained on Tate, who disappeared into the dust.

He began to cry. He DID love Tate, just not the way she wanted him to. Now she hated him.

His heart was broken too.

–

Belle walked with Webster and Maddy to Tates hotel room the next day, hoping to talk to her and cheer her up a little. The plan was to talk her into going home to Brisvegas and getting some counselling.

“Poor Tate.” Webster knocked on the door. “I didn't mean for any of this to happen.”

“I know. It's not your fault.” Belle replied. She thought of Charlie and Sunny and cringed.

She still hadn't spoken to Charlie. In fact, he was the LAST person on earth she wanted to talk to. She just wanted to hide away and not see anyone ever again.

“TATER! It's me!” Webster banged on the door. “Open up!”

“BELLE! Get out here now! Talk to me! I'm not going until you come out here! BELLE!” Charlie banged on the door of Belles room the previous night.

No way had she been getting out of that room and talking to Charlie.

“TATER! Come on! Let me in!” Webster kept banging on the door.

“What if she's not in?” Belle pointed out.

“She's in.” Webster assured her. He grabbed the door handle and was surprised to find it unlocked.

“TATER! I'm coming in!” Webster called out, opening the door. The room was huge and very nicely kept, decorated in blues and whites. It had a tidy little kitchenette and a massive bathroom with a huge tub. The curtains were drawn, but the room looked out onto Lake Pleasant. There was a large four-post bed against the wall.

“TATE!” Websters scream would haunt Belle forever. Hanging from the top of the four-post bed was a limp Tate.

She was dead.

Webster pulled her down and laid her on the bed. “No...no Tater no...why?! I loved you Tate. Please don't leave me. I'm so sorry. Please don't be dead Tate. I love you!” He sobbed into her chest, holding her hand tightly in his own. “Please don't leave me.”

Maddy had her hands over her mouth in shock. Tears began to fall from her eyes too.

Belle felt cold. Cold and sick. Webster was devastated. Tate had supported him, encouraged him, helped him, and now because of him she had taken her own life.

“You were my baby sister and I was supposed to look out for you. I'm so sorry Tater. I'm so, so sorry.” He sobbed.

–

Webster cried through the whole funeral, Maddy holding his hand. He couldn't speak when it came time for the eulogy, and could barely hold up the coffin as he helped carry it out of the church.

Belle could feel Charlies eyes on her throughout the whole ceremony. It made her uncomfortable. He should have been doting on Sunny, not thinking about what he would have done if it had been Belles funeral they were attending. If Belle had died fighting away the bulldozers, that she had so stupidly taken on by herself. All she'd had to do was push in the button on her watch, and they would have all been there and fought as a team.

Charlie kept a firm eye on Belle. He was angry with her for nearly getting herself killed, angry with her for not talking to him and angry at her for being jealous.

It hurt him that he'd hurt her. It hurt him that she now hated him. Their friendship had now changed, and he didn't think he liked it.

After the ceremony, Sunny went to speak to Belle, who was sitting near the creek.

“Hey Belle.” She sat down next to her.

“You don't need to say anything.” Belle replied. Sunny sighed sadly.

“It's fine Sunny, really. I'm okay.” Belle quickly added.

“Please talk to Charlie. He misses you like crazy.” Sunny said.

“Why would he miss me when he has you?” Belle sighed.

“You're his best friend!” Sunny protested.

“I know.” Belle looked at Sunny. “I'll get there. I promise.”

“I'm sorry Belle. If I had known-,” Sunny started.

“It's okay Sunny. He wants to be with you.” Belle interrupted.

Sunny couldn't think of anything to say. She got up to walk away.

“Sunny?”

She turned back to look at Belle, who was standing up.

“I'm glad you're happy, if anyone deserves it, it's you.” Belle hugged her tightly. “And thank you for making Charlie happy.”

Sunny gripped Belle tightly. “Thank you.” She whispered.

“Besides, you're pretty much my sister. Which would make Charlie my brother.” Belle joked.

“Yeah.” Sunny smiled.

“Well, it's nice to see you two cooperating.” Charlie walked over and put his arms around both of them.

“I'm sorry for being a brat.” Belle looked down.

“It's okay.” Charlie hugged her closer. Belle pulled away.

“You ARE allowed to hug him y'know.” Sunny joked.

“I'm going to go and see what Dad is doing.” Belle excused herself. Charlie sighed.

“C'mon, let's go find the others and cheer her up.” Sunny suggested, taking his hand.

“Yeah, okay then.” Charlie went with Sunny, sending one last wistful look after Belle.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Tates Attack

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Charlie was worried. Belle was avoiding him as much as she could, and he didn't know why. It stung, she'd never treated him like this before and it put a nasty damper on his new relationship with Sunny.

“Maybe she's just busy, you know she's had a lot of work to do for uni.” Sunny stroked his hair as they sat down for lunch one day, a week or so after the first kiss. Belle had scooted off to the Library almost the moment Double English had been dismissed.

“It can't be, she'd ask for my help if that was it.” Charlie groaned.

“I think criminal law is a little bit out of your reach Charlie.” Sunny chuckled, tickling him.

“Hey, I'm plenty smart enough to handle it thank you!” Charlie laughed, tickling her back.

Belle caught a brief glance of them out of the window as she put a book back on the shelf, and it cut her like a knife. Then the mere fact that she felt like she was cut started to stab at her. Charlie was HAPPY. How on earth could she call herself his best friend if she couldn't be happy for him?

The constant struggle of her emotions followed her to uni the next day, where Maddy noticed she was a bit quieter than usual.

“What's up chickie?” Maddy asked, popping a piece of chicken in her mouth.

“There's a reason cutlery was invented.” Webster frowned at her.

“Bite me.” Maddy sassed back. Webster smirked.

“I'm in love with someone who's already got a girlfriend.” Belle sighed.

Webster suddenly looked mock-serious.

“Belle. You know I'm far too old for you, and I'm too in love with Maddy.” He took one of Belles hands in his, making both girls laugh.

“Webster, sweetie, I'm sorry, but it's certainly not an old man like you I'm interested in.” Belle replied with the same mocking seriousness. Webster feigned heart-break while Maddy roared with laughter.

“Forget him Belle, seriously. You deserve someone who will love you so completely that he won't even see another woman even if he's about to walk into her.” Webster continued.

“Thanks.” Belle smiled.

“You're still young, and I bet your friend is too. There's still plenty of time for him to grow up and smell the roses. It's not like he's married or anything right?” Maddy nudged her. Webster rolled his eyes.

“Horrible.” He kissed Maddy.

“Seriously?! GROSS!” Belle pretended to spew up while the couple made out.

While this was happening, someone was watching them from a distance.

Tate missed her boy. She wanted to see him – badly. So she'd snuck onto the campus and stalked her prey for the day.

But she hadn't expected this. Not for him to have someone else. To be in LOVE with someone else.

Pain spread out from her chest. Jealousy. Grief.

Anger.

She was going to make sure he had to come back to Brisvegas. To her.

She had built a small business empire trying to lure him back. She had made so much money over the past year that neither of them would have to work again if they so desired. She thought of all the things she'd tried to make him love her – growing out her hair, working out, encouraging him no matter what, paying for him to take the entrance exams to the University in Brisvegas...

Belle felt someone watching them and turned around, but couldn't see anyone. She tried to shrug it off, but the feeling lingered.

Tate could feel the tears stinging her eyes, but she fought them back. He was hugging her, kissing her, looking at her with such love that Tate wanted to vomit.

A sense of helplessness came over her. She HATED Pleasantville! It was a dinky little town compared to the majesty of Brisvegas! Brisvegas had decent public transport for a start, and crime was almost non-existant there. There were spacious parks and a beautiful river and the shops were open 24/7. Why did Webster want to live HERE of all places?!

She turned away and headed back to the hotel where she was staying. She grabbed her phone and called Master Revolver.

“Miss Tate! Lovely to hear from you. What can I do to help you today?” Master Revolver answered the phone, sounding so sickly-sweet that Tate was disgusted. She knew he was just buttering her up and would turn on her in an instant if it would benefit him.

“I want the University gone. Wiped out. Off the map. Completely destroyed.” Tate said bluntly.

“Oh now you are talking my language!” Master Revolver laughed. “How shall I do it? Explosives? Arson?”

“Whatever way you see fit. Make sure it's in the middle of the day where people will KNOW what happened.” Tate commanded. “I want them all to be afraid.”

“You DO realise that runs the risk of provoking those pests Chuckles and Giggles?” Master Revolver pointed out.

Tate grinned. She knew that if she took out the heroes of Pleasantville, it wouldn't be long before the rest of the city fell. Then Webster would come back to Brisvegas, because there would be nothing left here for him.

“Perfect.”

–

“Maybe she's busy with her new uni friends?” Petunia suggested.

“Belle wouldn't ditch us like that though.” TJ replied.

“Charlie's distraught. She's his best friend and now she isn't talking to him at all.” Sunny sighed.

“She could be jealous.” Daniel piped up.

“Jealous?” Sammy asked.

The Knights of the Last Order were sitting at the tip that Saturday morning. They were supposed to be sparring, but instead were talking.

“I think Belle might have had feelings for Charlie. They've been inseparable since the day they met.” Daniel explained. “Now Charlie is with Sunny, who, if you all remember correctly, coveted everything that Belle had and made her life a living hell.”

Sunny looked down. She hadn't meant to hurt Belle. It was just that she had so much in common with Charlie, and got along with him so well.

“Don't feel too bad Sunny. Belle will get over it.” Sammy said brightly, while Tammy took her hand. Sunny tried to smile but it faltered.

“Belle is almost like a sister to me now. I can't believe I didn't think of her before I acted. Oh lord, we were even TALKING about Belle before I kissed him! How insensitive am I?!” Sunny buried her face in her hands.

“Sunny, it will be okay. Belle loves Charlie. She'll want him to be happy, even if it's with you. She just needs some time.” Petunia tried to cheer her up.

Sunny still looked downcast.

“Let's spar.” Sammy jumped up. “I'll pretend I'm Master Revolver and you guys can try and take me out.”

“Master Revolver huh?” Daniel looked at him, amused.

“Duh, I'm Master Revolver, I like guns although I don't know how to use one.” Sammy put on an exaggerated voice and crossed his eyes. Even Sunny had to howl with laughter at that one.

“I'll be Mobster Marion.” Petunia got into it. “Oh, I'm so beautiful, I'll just stand here and look at my reflection all day long.”

“Oh Marion, your beauty is so magnificent! But it's nothing compared to this shiny object I stole!” Sammy continued.

The group roared with laughter. Suddenly Sunny perked up.

“Hey Charlie!” She bounded over to her boyfriend who had just walked over. He smiled as she hugged him, and gave her a kiss on the nose.

“I heard laughing, what are you guys up to?” He asked as he walked back to the group with Sunny on his arm.

“Mocking Revolver and Marion.” Daniel chuckled.

“We think we might have figured out why Belle is MIA.” TJ said as Charlie sat next to him.

“Oh? She completely ignored me this morning and rushed off to her stupid open day at the uni.” Charlie looked upset.

“She's jealous of you and Sunny.” TJ said.

“You what now?” Charlie looked confused.

“Seriously Charlie, you're thicker than you look. Did it never occur to you that Belle might have liked you more than a friend?” Petunia shook her head at him.

“Ah...no?” Charlie looked sheepish. “Whoops.”

“You moron.” Sunny poked him.

“She'll get over it though.” Charlie said brightly. “She's bouncy like that. Once she gets used to it then she'll be okay.”

“I hope so.” Sunny looked downcast again. Charlie hugged her.

“I know so. She's pretty awesome like that.” Charlie bragged. As much as he loved Sunny, he was still very proud of his Belle.

“Do you think we should go see her at the uni? Make her feel a little less excluded?” Daniel suggested. “She probably feels left out.”

Tammy jumped up immediately. Sammy grinned too.

“Let's go!” He ran off.

The others followed, all laughing.

–

It was a good thing they decided to head to the University, because Giggles was in trouble.

Belle had just finished watching a presentation done by the art department, and was walking back to the Legal facility with Webster and Maddy when the Death Valley Mobsters struck.

“Oh NO!” Belle ran into the toilet block with her friends at her heels.

The Death Valley Mobsters had gotten a hold of some bulldozers, and were chasing the attendees around. The Science building was quickly destroyed, and several others were badly damaged.

“Why are you hiding in here when they're destroying the buildings?!” Webster cried as a loud bang sounded outside.

“Can you keep a secret?” Belle got into a cubicle and quickly pulled her Giggles gear out of her bag. She got into her gear as quickly as she could.

“Of course we can keep a secret Belle, we're your friends! What's up?” Maddy asked.

Belle holstered her guns and grabbed the Backpack and her helmet. She then opened the cubicle door.

“Just call me Giggles.” She said, pulling on her helmet and running out to fight off the bad guys.

Webster and Maddy ran

“We'd better find a better hiding spot!” Webster dragged Maddy away.

“We've been friends with Giggles this whole time?” Maddy was impressed.

Giggles ran up to one of the dozers and jumped up to the cockpit.

“Hi there. Where's Revolver?” She asked of the Mobster that was driving it.

“None of your business! He's left Miss Tate in charge of this one!” The Mobster replied.

“Miss Tate?!” Giggles stepped back. “Who on earth is Miss Tate?!”

“Some rich chick from Brisvegas.” The goon replied. “Now rack off!”

Tate? Brisvegas? Rich?

Giggles didn't want to believe it. She kicked the windshield of the dozer in, knocking out the Mobster. She then turned off the dozer and took the key out of the ignition.

“Only about twenty more of those to go...” She muttered. She saw another dozer heading for her, and quickly flew upwards to dodge the collision.

Webster was running hand-in-hand with Maddy, looking for an exit. He finally got to the front entrance, when he stopped dead in his tracks in shock.

Chapter Twenty-Three: I Want You Back.

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Belle got out of uni one day a few months later feeling flat. The work was a lot harder than she was used to, and the extra work was cutting into her social life. Plus the University had just lost funding for her tutor, so life was even harder.

In fact, a lot of funding had been lost recently, especially for the Legal studies. First they'd upped the price of the course, then they fired a few staff, and then the price of textbooks went up. Webster was getting pretty annoyed, and Maddy thought it was a conspiracy.

Belle sighed to herself, wondering at her misfortune and the misfortune of the University. At all the work she had to do. At how unfair life seemed at that moment. But still, at least she could still walk home with her friends, right?

“Where's Charlie and Sunny?” Belle asked as she approached the group.

“They're staying back to work on a project together for Wood Work.” TJ replied.

“Cool.” Belle said. Inside she felt cold and upset. Charlie had been spending a lot more time with Sunny recently. Even when Belle was in school she felt like a third wheel.

Charlie had been her best friend for as long as she could remember. To be honest, she wouldn't have been surprised if they ended up together – in fact, she was hoping for it, and had been since she was ten. Now Sunny was on the scene, and Belle didn't like it.

'She was always jealous of me.' Thought Belle. 'So she's finally decided she's stealing my best friend.'

“Anyway, we're heading off to Dan's place for his parents anniversary. We'll catch up with you later Belle!” Sammy patted her back as the group headed off towards Dans place.

Belles shoulders were slumped as she walked back home. Didn't ANYONE want to hang out with her?

–

“This.” Said Master Revolver. “Was a brilliant idea.”

“I can't believe we didn't think of this before.” Mobster Marion agreed.

The third figure at the table was a boyish-looking young lady with jet-black short hair and green eyes that could turn wild in a heart-beat. They hadn't been wild in a long time though, they'd been dark and downcast for a good year.

“I did tell you it was a good idea. The less students they graduate out of the Legal program, the less prosecutors there'll be to send you to gaol.” She said smugly.

“Yes, plus with the Council tipping less money into education, they have more to devote to projects more in line with our interests.” Master Revolver sipped the dark red wine.

“You get what you want, and I get what I want.” The young lady said, eating another spoonful of soup.

“You still haven't told us what you want.” Mobster Marion eyed her warily. “Why are you helping us?”

“What does it matter?” The young lady looked up. “You should just be grateful I've joined your cause.”

“You're one of the richest self-made business owners in the country. Why would you want to lower yourself to the level of us petty criminals?” Master Revolver asked.

“You certainly rose to prominence quickly. It must have been a lot of hard work.” Mobster Marion mentioned.

“I had a good example when it came to hard work.” The young lady sipped her drink. “I knew the only way I could meet my goals was to work harder than I ever had.”

“We certainly have much respect for you. Your should be proud of your achievements.” Master Revolver toasted her.

“They're nothing but a stepping stone to what I really want.” The young lady frowned.

“I like her. So much lust for power. You will go far indeed.” Mobster Marion grinned.

The lady merely smiled back, and continued eating the delicious soup that was on offer. It wasn't power she was after of course, although it would help in her in the long run.

No. What Tate wanted was her beloved Webster back.

And she would stop at NOTHING until he was hers, even if it meant destroying his dreams.

Even if it meant destroying Pleasantville.

–

Belle was sitting in the tree petting Meow, bored out of her skull. Her father had forbid her from studying, saying she was starting to look pale, and told her to go out and play with Charlie.

One problem – he was still at the school with Sunny.

It annoyed her no end. Sunny had been downright cruel to them for YEARS. Belle could still remember the time Sunny had taken her favourite school bag and set it alight – thankfully Charlie had stepped in and saved the contents from harm at least. Then there was the time she and Daryl shoved Charlie down the stairs of the English block – thankfully Belle had caught him before he fell too far and broke any bones.

Now Sunny and Charlie were all buddy-buddy. Belle was going to fix that. This weekend she was going to take Charlie on a picnic – just them. She'd gotten her licence a while back and was going to drive him to the Silver Coast for the weekend. They would do all the things they used to, go for walks, watch movies, sing loudly and obnoxiously to the car radio...

Belle sighed, thinking of how much fun they were going to have, when she heard voices.

It was Charlie and Sunny!

“And then my Dad smacked the living daylights out of the two thugs like it was nothing!” Charlie chuckled, recounting the story of Peter and Johannas.

“Wow, poor Belle.” Sunny replied.

“Yeah. He won't ever hurt her again though.” Charlie promised. Belles heart gave a little leap.

“She's really lucky to have a best friend like you.” Sunny looked at him wistfully.

“Don't fall for it Charlie!” Belle muttered to herself. Slimy, no good Jones!

“I'm not ALL that great.” Charlie laughed bashfully.

“I think you are.” Sunny continued.

“You're pretty awesome yourself. Everything you've been through...” Charlie trailed off. He looked at Sunny. She was beautiful. Even the little scar under her eye added to her allure.

“I have you and Belle to thank for getting me out of that.” Sunny smiled shyly. Charlie wasn't the most handsome boy, but he was still charming, polite and kind. Sunny couldn't help but want to be close to him.

“Friends look out for each other.” Charlie an arm around her.

“It means a lot to me that you consider me a friend. Especially after everything I did...” Sunny looked down.

“Water under the bridge. You were a different person.” Charlie lifted her chin up.

“Not really. I still get jealous of you and Belle sometimes.” Sunny admitted.

“Knew it.” Belle muttered.

“There's nothing to be jealous of. You're one of us now.” Charlie told her.

Sunny smiled up at him again. Charlie couldn't help it. Neither could she. They kissed.

Belle nearly fell out of the tree. Her blood ran cold and her heart stopped. She couldn't breathe. Tears began to burn at the backs of her eyes and she felt like she was dying. Charlie had KISSED Sunny Jones!

The pair pulled apart. “Umm...” Sunny smiled shyly again.

“I'll see you at school tomorrow?” Charlie asked.

“Sure. See ya!” Sunny gave him another peck on the cheek and bounded off, the happiest girl in Pleasantville. Finally, she felt like she had someone, someone who was hers and hers alone. It wrapped around her like an invisible cloak, not even her cold family could hurt her that night!

Charlie couldn't believe it either. It was as if all his Christmases had come at once. He bounded inside, kissed his sisters, hugged his mother, thumped his father on the back and bolted upstairs.

He had to tell Belle!

He scrambled out of his bedroom window into the tree, nearly falling head-first into the ground below in his haste.

“BELLE! Belle! Something AMAZING just happened! Belle? Belle, are you home?” Charlie knocked on the closed window, the blind drawn down. Odd. “Belle!”

Inside the bedroom however, Belle was sobbing, completely and miserably heartbroken.

In her heart, she felt that she had lost her Charlie forever.

To Sunny Jones, who had once made her life unbearable.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Back To School

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 Surprisingly enough, Pleasantville recovered pretty quickly from the flood. A few months passed, then school was back in and Belle was looking forward to it.

“Tuesdays and Thursdays at uni, three days chilling with you guys!” Belle walked to school with the rest of the group (minus Daniel, who was working at the local timber mill).

“I'm glad you're excited.” TJ deadpanned. He hated school with a passion, and was looking forward to being able to leave and join the police force with his father.

“We're in the same roll call class too!” Sunny took Belles arm. Belle gave her a friendly bump with her hip. The two were almost like sisters nowadays, with Sunny staying over most nights.

“I know! Charlie is with us too.” Belle looked up at her best friend. He put his arm around her and squeezed her tightly.

It turned out that the three of them had several classes together. They all shared Maths and English, Belle and Charlie had Business Principals together, and Belle and Sunny had Music. Charlie and Sunny shared the rest of their classes, which were Wood Working, Metal Working and Technical Drawing.

“I can't wait for my first day at uni tomorrow. A few of the guys in Legal Studies were giving me heaps over it.” Belle said over lunch.

“It must be so exciting. You're going to be a uni student!” Petunia smiled.

“It's gonna be a huge responsibility though.” TJ pointed out.

“Belle can handle it, no problem. She's awesome.” Charlie grinned. Belle beamed. There was no higher praise than what came from Charlie in her eyes.

The rest of the day passed in a blur, and soon Belle was standing at the entrance of the University on a warm Tuesday morning.

Nerves overtook her as she walked in. Her hands were trembling as she tried to figure out which building her lecture was supposed to be in.

“Hey there. You look a little lost.” She heard a voice behind her.

She turned around to see a man smiling down on her. Belle silently cursed her short stature and smiled back.

“Yeah, I'm a little lost. I'm supposed to be in Introduction to Criminal Law in about fifteen minutes.” She blushed slightly.

He laughed.

“I know where that is, I took it last year. Come with me, you're not too far off where you need to be.” He led her to a tall building that Belle had passed about four times and took her inside.

He was very handsome, with wild green eyes and jet-black hair. Belle couldn't help but stare a little.

“And here you are.” He showed her a lecture theatre where people were already sitting inside.

“Thanks!” Belle grinned with relief.

“No problem. You look a little young to be a uni student though.” He smiled back.

“I'm doing it part-time while I'm still in year twelve.” Belle explained.

“Well then, you'll probably see a lot of me around then! My name is Webster.” He held out his right hand.

“I'm Belle.” Belle shook it.

“I've gotta go, but if you want to go to the Rec at lunchtime you can sit with my girlfriend and I.” Webster offered.

“That sounds great, thank you!” Belle felt a lot better. She sat down and pulled out the new Tablet her father had bought her just for her uni work. She turned it on and attached the keyboard that her uncle had bought to go with it. She also flicked open her notepad and pulled out her new pens. A few other students had their textbooks open, so Belle got hers out too. She'd read a few of them already, she had been so excited.

The lecture was interesting too. Belle jotted down as much as she could without getting lost. She thought of her father and what he did. It felt good that she was getting the tools she needed to really make a difference.

Afterwards, she headed to the Rec hall to get something to eat. Her next lecture wasn't until after lunch, and she was grateful to have a bit of a break.

She saw Webster sitting with the most beautiful Asian woman Belle had ever laid eyes on, with chestnut hair and blue eyes. He noticed her and waved for her to sit with them.

“Hi Belle. This is Maddy, my lovely lady.” He grinned at the woman cheekily. She smiled back and shook hands with Belle.

“Don't listen to a word this man says, he's more trouble than he's worth.” Maddy chuckled, poking her boyfriends ribs. “So you're our new part-timer huh?”

“Yeah. I want to go into criminal law eventually.” Belle sat down, stomach rumbling. She was thrilled with the choice of food here, and had neatly stacked her place with roast meat and veggies.

“Excellent! Do you have family in law or something?” Webster asked. “My grand-father was a prosecutor in Brisvegas.”

“My Dad's a prosecutor too – Peter Masters.” Belle said with a huge swelling of pride. Maddy and Webster looked at each other.

“YOU are Peters daughter?!” Maddy gasped. “Wow!”

Belle blushed slightly.

“Why did you leave Brisvegas?” She asked Webster.

He looked uncomfortable. Maddy sighed.

“Tate.” She replied.

“Tate?” Belle asked.

“I'm not originally from Brisvegas. I moved there to live with my grand-father about ten years ago. It was alright for the first few years, until I met Tate. She started following me around. It was pretty cool, like having a little sister.” Webster pushed his meat around the plate. “But when I told her I was coming here to study law she got really upset.”

“Oh...” Belle felt awkward.

“It's okay. I do love Tate, just not the way she wants me to.” Webster put his arm around Maddy.

“Tate sounds like a bit of a pain.” Belle ventured.

“She's not really. If it wasn't for her encouragement I wouldn't have even got into law. I would have just gotten the first job I could.” Webster said. “She just...it's complicated.”

Belle understood. Tate wanted to be with Webster, but Webster simply wasn't interested.

“Then I got here last year and met Maddy.” Websters grin returned. “I'll probably stay here for the rest of my life now.”

“Trust me, there'll be no shortage of work.” Belle said bitterly, thinking of her hated enemies.

“Not with Chuckles and Giggles keeping things in order. Not to mention the Knights of the Last Order. We're big fans of theirs.” Maddy said.

“Really? So am I.” Belle smiled, secretly wondering how her new friends would react if they knew who she was!

Speaking of which, her watch suddenly started flashing orange. Sir Lionheart was in trouble!

“I'm sorry, I have to go, something came up.” Belle quickly excused herself. She looked at her real watch. She had an hour to go until her next class. Plenty of time to sort out any of her regular foes.

She stuffed her uni gear in her locker then hid in an old shed and changed. Pretty soon, Giggles was out and about!

–

Giggles crept up to the Council building, where Demon was now holding hostages. Johannas was with him, laughing at how scared the Councillors were.

“Psst!” She heard someone hiss behind her.

“Chuckles! I thought you were in school!” Giggles whispered.

“It's lunchtime, so I thought I'd come and help. The others are stuck unfortunately.” Chuckles replied.

“How is school anyway?”

“Pretty good.”

Giggles turned around. She saw Daniel standing next to a load of wood that was being used for an extension on the building. He'd been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“C'mon, what are we waiting for?! Why are we sitting here whispering if we can just go and get him?” Chuckles was ready to go.

“Because we don't know if he has any more of his minions around. We don't want innocent people getting - FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND JUST IN THIS WORLD! CHUCKLES!!” Giggles roared in anger as Chuckles ran out with the Lions Claw Blade ready to strike.

“Chuckles and Giggles. I thought you two would be at school or something.” Demon frowned. “Johannas! We're leaving!”

“You're joking, right? You're just going to up and leave?” Giggles looked at Demon, dumbfounded.

“Yup.” Replied Demon.

“You didn't bring any back up?”

“Nup.”

“You're just going to run away without a fight?”

“Yup.”

Giggles could feel the familiar twinge of her eye twitching. The smoke bomb went off, and Demon was gone.

“I love being right.” Chuckles came over and leaned on Giggles. “How Improbable was that?”

Funnily enough the teachers believed him when he explained that his black eye had been the result of an unfortunate slip in the toilets.

–

The rest of the lectures were not quite as entertaining as as the first one, but Belle still enjoyed them. She packed up her things and headed out towards the school, where she'd walk home with the others.

She got to the front gate of the school and was about to wait for her friends, when she saw that they'd already walked off.

“HEY! Hey you snobs! Wait for me!” She ran to catch up with them.

“Hey Belle! How was uni?” Sammy asked excitedly.

“Really fun. I made some new friends already.” Belle replied. She looked over at Sunny and Charlie, who were laughing.

“What's the joke?” She asked.

“They won't tell us.” TJ frowned.

“You had to be in Metal Works to get it.” Charlie snorted. Belle rolled her eyes.

“Anyway, how's Dan going? I hear you two saved his bacon.” Petunia asked.

Charlie was about to answer, but a warning glance from Belle silenced him. “It was fun.” He said sheepishly.