Hey everyone!!! We decided to post this chapter a little early (was supposed to go up tomorrow) 

Anyway, this chapter is in 3 parts (it was hella long)

Hope you all enjoy!

And BTW~ Sorry for the Jeremy obsession. But that smile of his~ YUMMY!!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Ariel,

It doesn't matter who I am.

What matters is you taking that first step into the ocean, Little Mermaid.

So, you can stand on your own again.

Yours forever,

Prince Eric

The next morning arrived way too soon, and so did my driver for the day. At exactly seven on the dot, the sounds of someone banging at the front door commenced.

"Will you stop?" I seethed as I struggled to open the door. Sitting in this wheelchair put me at a distinct height disadvantage, and after the hellish morning I had already, I did not want to deal with Sebastian Birch.

"Well someone's in a chipper mood," Sebastian smirked.

Yeah, I was already in a chipper mood when he left last night. That was after being informed he would be my ride to school for the next couple of weeks. I tried arguing, unsuccessfully. It seemed that Brenda, Sebastian's mom and my aunt, Sarah had already made these arrangements without consulting Sebastian or myself. Something along the lines of I'd always ridden with him, and it would be just like old times.

Bullshit.

That meant Sebastian pretty much had their permission to do what he did best. Torment me. Plain and simple.

"Yeah." I rolled forward and ran over his giant foot. "Oops. Not sorry."

Sebastian grunted low in his throat while sidestepping me to gather my bookbag. He gave me a once-over and shook his head. "Well, at least you somewhat combed your hair."

And so the messing with me began. I slapped Sebastian's arm in retaliation. "What's wrong with the way I look?"

"Nothing. I've just never seen you go to school without your war paint on is all." He motioned toward my face and shrugged. "I could care less if you wanted to wear a brown bag over your head."

Feeling more than a little self-conscious, I pushed myself over to a nearby mirror and took a good long look. Was it my hair? I was wearing it up in a messy bun to keep up with the whole I don't give a shit vibe I was channeling today. I pressed against my cheeks, seeing if someone could notice my scars. Just a little. My lips could use some gloss, and my lashes some mascara. Ugh. Maybe I should go back to my room and try again?

Sebastian leaned down and chuckled, amusingly, at me and my sudden vanity. "Stop. You look fine."

Glad to see he thought this was funny.

Green eyes locked with gray in the reflection. "Fine?" I turned the chair to retreat. I'd just try again tomorrow. "Cause that's what every girl loves to hear...'you look fine.' Even I know that's not what you meant, Bass."

He crouched to my level and forced my chin upwards. "Hey, I didn't mean just fine. You look good, au naturel. Beautiful."

I tried hiding my blush, but he was the first person to say that since the accident. His piercing eyes stayed on me, watching for my reaction and damn it, by that dazzling smile on his face, I apparently gave him what he wanted.

Ugh! What was wrong with me? Sebastian hadn't been here but five minutes, and already he had the upper hand. I was definitely off my game. I wasn't one of his groupies or his fan-girls that swooned at the sight of him! My emotions had to go on lockdown and fast.

All I had to do was remember this was how Sebastian played—down and dirty.

Sebastian pushed me to the front porch. "Is this everything?" My bookbag bounced a few times in front of my eyes.

"Yep," I said as he steered me down the temporary metal ramp situated over the steps.

"Downsizing huh?" He chuckled, and the husky sound irked me. "I'm used to you taking at least four bags with you every day to school."

"Meh. I'm not cheering. So, there's one bag down. The rest was mostly makeup and extra clothes for gym class, but again." A quick gesture to my missing left leg finished the sentence. "Talk about downsizing." I grabbed the wheels to keep him from moving me any further.

"Oh...that."

I glanced over my shoulder at Sebastian and noticed that nervous smile on his lips. "Yeah, that. Where's Bert?"

Bert was Sebastian's souped-up, monstrosity of a bright yellow Dodge Ram truck he had since—forever. I'd named it Bert from Bert and Ernie after my choices of Banana Boat and Big Bird were shot down. The wheels on it were almost as tall as me. No really. And every time I rode in it, either Kyle or Bass would have to hoist me up, or I'd use a step-stool. That reason alone caused me to freak-out last night. How in the hell would I ever get in the cab without his help?

"Bert's been benched. Permanently." He forced the wheelchair forward again and stopped me right alongside the passenger door of a black Jeep four-door Wrangler. It was pretty, shiny and new. Regular tires were also a plus.

"Okay," I said, now suspicious. "But you loved Bert. What happened to Bert?"

"Just." Sebastian paused to open the door. "Nothing."

After some fancy maneuvering on my part, Sebastian didn't lay a hand on me to help. The two of us were on our way to Patterson High. And all further discussions about Bert were tabled for the moment.

"Do I get to name this one?" I patted the leather dashboard and smelled the distinct scent of new car and Armor All. Sebastian sure liked to baby his vehicles.

"I get veto rights still. But I was waiting for you anyway to name it before I get my plates. Making it official and all."

I smirked. Why in the hell would he wait for me? Like what I said mattered? Yeah, whatever. "Satan's spawn?"

Sebastian cut his eyes to me. "Really?"

I nodded, and he mouthed, "no."

With a scrunch of my nose, I knew I could do better. This car, like Bert before it, would signal an extension of Sebastian's personality and the name had to mean something. I had it. "The Beast." Adding a cheer hand wave to the name made it more befitting.

Sebastian slowly smiled and muttered the name to himself a few times. "Beast. I like it." He nodded his happy approval. "I plan on getting it all fixed up like Bert. Wheels. Trim. Lift kit."

"Hopefully I'll be driving myself by then," I said absently and watched his face fall.

For the duration of the ride, Sebastian didn't say a word. Which was weird. Usually, he was all Chatty Cathy and never knew how to shut his mouth. I just ignored it as my nerves took hold.

Per my usual and rather crazy routine, I began humming. It was my way of coping with being nervous and had done it ever since I was little. Before a big cheer competition, I'd hum. My first date with Connor, humming the entire night. During finals—my mouth would sting by the amount of buzzing coming from these lips. The songs were always different but somehow revolved around Disney movies.

This time it was the Beauty and the Beast theme song.

Sebastian chuckled once he realized what I was doing. "Is that what I think it is?" He hummed the tune also and bobbed his head a few times to add to the musical performance. By the time we finished, we both were cracking up laughing. "Feel better?"

I sighed deeply and smiled. "Yeah."

Within minutes, the two of us were in the school's office. Mrs. Grady hopped from behind her desk and enveloped me in a huge hug. "Oh, Shelby...you don't know how happy I am to see you."

"You too," I said a little breathless from the force. "I'm just here to get my schedule."

A bit frazzled, the silver-haired woman waved her hands around frantically as she tossed papers and shifted books to find what she needed. Once she located the document, she held it high. "Ta-dah." She hurried around the front of the desk and handed it to me.

I scanned the sheet and found nothing surprising. AP classes across the board, with two study halls per day. Easy peasy. Well except the AP calculus class that needed acing to guarantee I could go to the college I wanted. If I still wanted.

"Now, Mr. Jenkins and Mrs. Smith has given Sebastian and Trina, special permission to escort you to all your classes. You can leave about five minutes before the end of each period." Mrs. Grady hurried and scribbled something on a sheet of paper and held it out to Sebastian. "Here's the code. Do not under any circumstances go handing this out, Mr. Birch."

He saluted her. "Yes, ma'am. I wouldn't think of it."

She waved a warning finger at him in response. I couldn't help but laugh at how this little old lady was putting him in his place.

"What code?" I asked.

"Oh, to the elevator, dear. That way you can get to your classes safely without any problems. Sebastian was the one who recommended it."

"I'm sure he did." I glared at the giant over my shoulder. He was using me to get access to the elevator. First chance he got, I bet he'd ditch me to use it for a make out session with one of his groupies. He probably had them scheduled already. I wouldn't put it past him.

The school bell shrieked, signaling it was first period English.

Sebastian turned my wheelchair to leave the office. "Time to go."

"If you need anything at all, Shelby. You know where to find me," Mrs. Grady called out.

***********************************************************************************************

Comments are like Nutella to Shelby!!! We LOVE them!! Please share this story with your friends and please remember to vote!

P.S. ~ More chapters will be posted tomorrow!!!

Instagram : Princess4life_999

Twittter: @9princess4life

Facebook: /99Princess4life/