Chapter 20

The light of the sun hurt Belle's eyes while the snow stung her knees. Due to the angle of the handcuffs, the only choices were to sit, kneel or crouch. Sitting was preferable, in terms of both dignity and pain levels, but the snow was beginning to melt and soak her skirt.

Her heart sank as the bell rang and the playground flooded with the ruckus of teenagers shouting, shoving each other and kicking balls about.

'Please don't notice me,' she thought, trying to disguise herself behind a bush that was more like a fine collection of twigs. The only attention she wanted was Damien's.

When a ball hit the gate, she heard the skid of trainers approaching and tried to ball herself up smaller.

"What the heck," a boy cried. "What are you doing there?"

With a defeated sigh, Belle unfurled herself and looked up at him. With a head of blonde curls, pink cheeks and dimples, he looked