fandomhighdorms | The Gym, Late Sunday Afternoon

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The Gym, Late Sunday Afternoon

Bel decided to take out some agressions on an innocent punching bag, giving it the faces of any of half a dozen people. Crowley was an obvious target. Marty, too, for what he had done Friday night. He still hadn't heard from Darla or Dru so he had little idea what condition they were in after Team Angel had finished with them.

But at the very top of the list today whoever had cast that stupid spell that made everyone sing their true feelings. Not only was it embarrassing enough, he'd scared Phoebe by letting her see what the demon in him felt -- if he couldn't have her, no one would. Now he'd never get her back. If he even wanted to take her back at this point.

[OOC: Open for interaction or for your afternoon gymly needs.]

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After getting home from the hotel and settling back in, Lana decided she could do with some exercise. She entered the gym, heading straight for the standing bag, then froze when she realized Bel was there.

"Oh, um... hi?" Memories of yesterday swept over her and she blushed and wondered if it might not be wiser to just flee.

"Hey," he said neutrally, eyeing Phoebe's friend. "Have fun last night?"

"Not... exactly..." Lana wishes she could just sink through into the floor. "I'm, um, sorry about the whole getting in your face thing. Not really something I do. Just... the music and then there was dancing and... Yeah, you probably don't care, right."

"Given that I said things I didn't want to," Bel said carefully, "I'm inclined to believe you." He paused for a long moment. "So, um, what did you guys do after leaving the park?"

"Well, Phoebe and Kiki and I went back to the hotel and I just crashed. I felt more exhausted than I think I ever have in my life. And when I finally woke up today I pretty much just came back here to get some stuff done."

Lana hesitates, "So, you don't... hate me or plan to, you know, hurt me or something later?"

Bel laughed. "Contrary to popular belief, I don't go around terrorizing young women," he said. "All you did was sing. I have bigger things to deal with, no offense."

"None taken," Lana said, looking relieved. "I mean, I don't know you that well, just mostly from class and the time you helped me out in self-defense - which as probably not so good by the way, 'cause I used one of those moves you showed me to break free of someone and then I hit somebody else, which -"

She stopped. "I'm babbling. Sorry. I guess, I wanted to say I've always thought of you as a really nice guy ~~in fact I told my boyfriend that if he and I weren't dating I'd totally be into you~~, but yesterday was... you were... pretty scary."

Bel scowled. "Yeah. That was...that wasn't really me. I never would've said anything like that to Phoebe." She might not listen to him now, but maybe he could get word back to her through Lana. "Not that she'll believe me, but...."

Lana looked at him intently, then nodded. "No, I don't think you would have."

She hesitated, not sure if she should say anything to him or not, then took a chance. "I think something strange is going on. I think someone or something is messing with the two of you. You two have always seemed to just... fit and now... I don't know." She paused again. "I have to be there for Phoebe - she really needs someone who's not going to judge her- but... if there's anything I can do to help..."

"Keep an eye on her," Bel said. "Make sure she's safe. She doesn't know what she's doing with Crowley. She thinks she understands him or something, but she doesn't realize how evil and deceptive he is. She's so damn naive." He hit the idle punching bag in frustration. "She's in danger but doesn't see it."

Lana nodded. "I will. And I made her promise to call me or Shep if, well, if she ever feels like hurting herself again."

"Hurting herself? Oh, the balcony thing?" Bel said. "She still doesn't believe that I did that, does she? She said I was there but I wasn't."

"She's convinced it was you," Lana replied. "It didn't sound like something you'd do, but..." She shrugged. "And she said yesterday that she... well... that she found you in bed with someone else at the hotel. I suppose that wasn't you either?"

Flinching, Bel said, "Yeah, that was me. But...it wasn't like it looked. I thought it was her. Either way, what does she care? She's marrying Crowley."

Lana sighed. "I know. And I don't think she wants to, really." She shakes her head. "I just don't understand this whole situation. I just know that something about it is not right and I wish I could figure out what it is and do something about it."

"Best thing you can do is keep out of Crowley's sight but try to convince Phoebe to get the hell away from him," Bel said. "I know people think I'm bad, but Crowley is a thousand times worse, and Phoebe has no idea what she's doing. She's going to get herself killed...or worse." He hit the punching bag again so hard he knocked it from the ceiling to the floor.

Lana jumped as the bag fell, then cautiously went over to Bel and put a hand on his arm. "I'll do what I can," she said quietly. "And I don't think you're a bad person."

Bel didn't flinch from her touch. "Thanks," he said. "But...you don't know what I am."

"Shep told me you were a... a demon," Lana said carefully. "I guess that means you've done some pretty bad things. But you've always been good to me. And I don't believe you would ever deliberately hurt Phoebe."

She sighs, "Which probably just means I'm really naive, but... I don't know. Maybe I like trying to see the good in people."

"I can't tell you what to believe about me," Bel said slowly, "but Crowley is no good. He's thousands of years old and a lot more powerful than me. Anything I've done? He's done worse, a lot worse. And Phoebe is spending her every free moment with him. What the hell is she thinking?"

"I think she's confused. And hurt," Lana says even more carefully. "And I don't quite understand this contract thing, but she says she did it to try and protect you and now she feels like there's no way out of it. I think maybe Crowley is playing on all that - and of course last night didn't help. You were pretty frightening.

Bel looked guilty. "I didn't mean to...I never would have...."
He shook his head. "I don't care if she's not with me," he lied. "Just so she's not with him. He's going to corrupt her, and she knows it, but she won't try to get away from him."

"I don't know how much I can do, but I'll try. And in the meantime, if there's some way I can help you..." Lana looks at him seriously. "I'll do whatever I can. From what little I've heard of this Crowley... he scares me."

She glances down at her watch and sighs, "Somehow I don't feel like working out now. I'm going to head back up to my room. You know where to find me if there's anything I can do."

Bel nodded. "Thanks," he said. "For, uh, being a friend to Phoebe. And listening."

Lana gave him a rueful smile. "You're welcome. I just wish..." She shakes her head. "Doesn't matter. Anyway, thanks yourself for understanding and I guess I'll see you around."

She touches him gently on the arm again and leaves the gym quietly.

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The Gym, Late Sunday Afternoon

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