When Forever Ends

Belle's POV

I woke up to the sound of my alarm blaring in my ear, but it was the weight on my floor that really jolted me awake. I tried to sit up, but my foot landed on something soft and squishy instead. A groan echoed from the floor.

"Theo, what the...?" I trailed off, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

My best friend, Theodore Shawn, was sprawled out on my floor, his blonde hair messy and his eyes half-closed. He looked adorable, but I wasn't having it.

"What are you doing on my floor?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice down.

Theo slowly sat up, rubbing his stomach. "Your mom let me in. I didn't want to wake you."

I raised an eyebrow. "My mom let you in? At what time?"

Theo shrugged. "I don't know. Late, I guess."

I threw my hands up in exasperation. "Of course she did. Because, why not?"

Theo chuckled and stood up, towering over me at 6'7". "Hey, don't be mad at your mom. I'm the one who should be apologizing for crashing on your floor."

I rolled my eyes, but a smile crept onto my face. "You're always welcome to crash here, Theo. Just next time, warn me so I don't try to kick you."

Theo grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'll try to remember that."

As we both got ready for school, I couldn't help but think about how weird it was that my mom had let Theo in without waking me. But then again, my mom was always a bit...unconventional.

We headed downstairs, where my mom was already making breakfast in the kitchen. The smell of scrambled eggs and toast filled the air, making my stomach growl with hunger.

"Morning, kids!" my mom chimed, beaming at us.

I raised an eyebrow at Theo, who just shrugged and smiled. We exchanged a look, and I knew we'd be discussing this later.

As we ate breakfast, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. But with Theo by my side, I knew I could face whatever the day threw our way.

We grabbed our backpacks and headed out the door, ready to take on another day at Springdale High

*******

As we walked into school, the sounds of chatter and laughter filled the air. Theo and I made our way to our lockers, exchanging morning greetings with our classmates.

When we reached my locker, I spun the dial and opened the door, revealing a messy interior. Theo chuckled and shook his head.

"You need to organize this chaos, Belle."

I rolled my eyes. "I know, I know. But I'm a creative genius. I don't have time for organization."

Theo smirked. "Creative genius? You mean chaotic disaster?"

I playfully hit him on the arm. "Hey, watch it."

Just then, our friends Valerie and Fiona appeared, chatting excitedly about the upcoming school dance.

"Hey, guys! Oh my god, have you heard? The theme is going to be masquerade!" Valerie squealed.

Fiona nodded enthusiastically. "I know, right? I've already started thinking about my costume."

Theo smiled politely, but I could tell he was zoning out. He wasn't exactly the type to get excited about school dances.

I, on the other hand, was thrilled. "Ooh, that sounds amazing! We have to start planning our outfits ASAP."

As we chatted, I noticed a group of girls staring at Theo from across the hallway. I elbowed him playfully.

"Hey, Theo, you've got an audience."

Theo followed my gaze, his expression unreadable. "Just ignore them, Belle."

I raised an eyebrow. "Easy for you to say, Mr. Popular."

Theo chuckled and shook his head. "I'm not popular, Belle. I'm just...visible."

I laughed. "Well, whatever it is, you're definitely making an impression."

As we closed our lockers and headed to our first class, I couldn't help but feel grateful for my friends – and for Theo, who always knew how to make me laugh.

We walked into our English class, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. English was my favorite subject, and I loved delving into the world of literature.

Theo, on the other hand, looked less than thrilled. He dropped into his seat beside me, his eyes fixed on the teacher, Mrs. Johnson.

As Mrs. Johnson began to discuss the day's lesson – Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet – I found myself getting lost in the world of Verona and its star-crossed lovers. Theo, however, seemed more interested in scribbling notes in the margin of his textbook.

I nudged him with my elbow. "What's so fascinating?" I whispered.

Theo glanced at me, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Just some thoughts on the futility of love."

I raised an eyebrow. "The futility of love? That's deep, Theo."

He shrugged. "Just something that occurred to me."

Mrs. Johnson's voice cut through our whispered conversation. "Okay, class. Let's discuss the themes of love and loyalty in Romeo and Juliet."

As the class discussion unfolded, I found myself engaging with the material, debating the merits of Romeo's impulsive decisions and Juliet's courageous defiance. Theo, however, remained quiet, observing the discussion with an air of detachment.

After class, as we packed up our things, I turned to Theo. "Hey, you were pretty quiet in there. What's up?"

Theo shrugged. "Just didn't have much to add, I guess."

I raised an eyebrow. "That's not like you, Theo. You always have an opinion."

Theo smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Maybe I'm just saving my thoughts for another time."

I laughed. "Well, whenever you're ready to share, I'm all ears."

As we walked out of the classroom, I couldn't shake the feeling that Theo was hiding something......But what?