Beauty and the Beast

Chapter 1 Meeting Marian

Marian sat on the front steps of her house for the millionth time, usually either drawing or reading, drawing today. This was the only spot in the whole world where she could feel safe and protected from the rest of the cold, heartless world. Especially from her dreaded childhood. Children had ridiculed her about her horrible name for as far back as she could remember, "harmless fun", as the adults would always call it. But Marian always felt like a tormented little whelp-for-nothing when they would fire their insults at her full-force. And oh, what they would say to her!

"Hey, Marian! Where's your Robin Hood?" they would say, making kissing noises. And to make matters even worse, there really was a boy named Robin in her first-grade class. She couldn't have two minutes with him with him without someone coming up and saying, "Robin and Marian sitting in a tree; K. I. S. S. I. N. G…."

But it was her past and she couldn't change it, try as she might. Eventually, she found herself attracted to dark, ethereal things. No, she didn't follow the herd and become interested in punk rock bands and wear black all the time, like her life was really all that horrible. She tended more to Tim Burton films than anything else, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Beetlejuice" in particular. She would wear all black occasionally, but only if she was having a terrible day. More often, she would wear a black hooded shirt and jeans, the toes of her high-tops just visible beneath the denim pants, her hair tied back in a somewhat messy ponytail.

Though beautiful, she was still self-conscious about herself. She never felt very pretty, though her parents had always told her that she was. All her life she had to suffer finger pointing and snickering. She was never quite sure why and it made her feel uneasy at times. She dreaded Drama class, knowing she'd only look foolish on the stage, under all the bright lights that were obviously meant for someone else.

After a half hour of observing the world around her through her art, Marian closed her sketchbook and slipped the mechanical pencil she always used through the rings and headed inside. She then realized upon stepping inside her sketchbook was about full with her many, many drawings, people, mostly, and decided she'd make a quick run to the art store. Her dad, John, wouldn't mind, or notice, for that matter, that she had left. He was always in "his" garage, coming up with new ideas for the Disney Imagineers all the time. His most recent was an idea for a Mary Poppins ride-he was already constructing the chimney sweep Audio-Animatronics and breaking down the geometry of how to construct a Mary Poppins figure. He was a very intelligent man for someone at his age; he was just a little absent-minded at times.

Marian grabbed her backpack and slung it over her shoulder and headed out the door. The nearest art store was only about a block or two from her house. Marian started humming a song she had heard when she was a very small girl, but she could only remember the melody; the words had escaped her years ago.

As soon as she had crossed the street, Will, a complete Chad Michael Murray look-alike, came up behind her. Marian sighed and rolled her eyes before turning to him.

"Well, hello, Marian. Nice running into you. On your way to the art store, I see." Nice running into you my hiney, thought Marian. Your house is right there.

"Nice running into you, too. Well, if you'll excuse me, I have to be going. Good-bye." Said Marian, backing away.

Just as she said this, Will's little brother, Louie, walked up behind his brother. Though still very young, he had the mind of his brother, meaning he was much more intelligent than the other third-graders in his class.

"Come on, Marian. I'll take you to the music store; maybe we could sample some of my albums."

"Please, Will. I have to get home to help my father." Said Marian, making an excuse that really wasn't necessary as she backed away from Will as he tried to put his wrestling-team arm around her slender waist.

Louie burst into a fit of laughing.

"That insane old wierdo? He needs all the help he can get his hands on! Even that wouldn't be enough!" Soon Will had joined in the laughter. Marian looked furious.

"Don't talk about my dad that way!" she snapped. Will and Louie straightened up instantly.

"Yeah! Don't talk about her dad that way!" said Will angrily to a frightened Louie, about to give him an "atomic wedgie".

"My father's not who you think he is! He's a genius!" said Marian bitterly to them, Suddenly, a huge explosion emerged from her house, causing alarm to jump into Marian's throat. She ran back to the house, having completely forgotten why she had ever left her father alone in the first place. She could hear Will and Louie's fits of laughter as she ran the path back to her house.

Disclaimer: I do not own the film "Beauty and the Beast" or any of the characters. Disney does. I do not own "The Nightmare Before Christmas" of "Beetlejuice". Tim Burton/Touchstone Pictures/Disney does.