U.ST (University of Storybrooke)
Summary: U.ST has always been the acronym for the University of Storybrooke…and no it does not mean Unresolved Sexual Tension between the librarian and one of the department chairs.
Prompt: “I need a place to stay.” No. 6 from this list. Written for Rumbelle Is Hope.
[Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [AO3]
“I need a place to stay.”
Belle looked up from her desk just as her boyfriend locked her office door and all but collapsed on the couch.
“What’s wrong?”
Dr. Caelan Gold’s head all but fell back on the couch as he groaned. “Damn Blue Bug is stalking me. Pretty sure she’s trying to catch us in the act.”
“Wouldn’t you being in my office be exactly where she’ll find you?”
“Not when you’re off to that seminar on Literature in campus and everyone knows that Dr. French locks her door since she has students leave their papers at the circulation desk.”
“You really staying here for the next four hours?” asked Belle in amusement. Gold reached into his coat and got out his small tablet.
“I haven’t had time to look over the new studies on Archeology. Best use of my time instead of answering stupid questions from the Blue Bug.” said Gold with a shrug. “Even left my phone at my office.”
“Suit yourself,” said Belle as she stood and gathered her papers. She was just going to give the opening remarks at the seminar. Maybe she could slip out early. No one would probably notice. “I’ll try to be back as soon as I can. Maybe we could have coffee later.”
Gold smiled and stood to give her a kiss. “That sounds lovely but don’t leave the seminar if the topics interest you. I’m a big boy--”
“I know,” teased Belle as she stole another kiss.
“I meant to say I can take care of myself, minx,” replied Gold with a smile. “I can manage to entertain myself for four hours with many papers on Archeology and Anthropology.”
“Alright then,” said Belle as she got her papers and walked towards the door. “I’ll be back. Don’t destroy my office.”
“Wouldn’t dare,” replied Gold as he sat on her chair. “Why do you lot get the better furniture? I’m raising a complaint to Regina.”
Belle rolled her eyes and locked her office door. She was definitely leaving as soon as she gave her opening remarks. The picture of him on her desk just gave fuel to all her fantasies.
xXx
Belle wasn’t able to slip out as fast as she could as Rheul Ghorm was in attendance. The other woman had given her a look that pretty much rooted Belle in her seat. Blue must have noticed Gold’s absence and knew that Belle had an idea where the other professor was.
Belle thought to inform her boyfriend but Gold had said he left his phone at his office just to throw everyone off his trail. And so Belle finished the entire seminar and even conversed with her other literature enthusiasts.
By the time she had left the auditorium, Blue was nowhere in sight. She breathed a sigh of relief as she headed back to her office. Hopefully Gold had found a way to entertain himself for four hours straight.
She had just reached the library and fished out her office keys when someone called her name.
“Dr. French.”
Belle was distracted for a moment but that was all Blue needed as the other woman grabbed the key from Belle’s hand and quickly opened the office to find…it was empty.
Much to the annoyance of Rheul Ghorm.
“Ummm,” began Belle, thankful for the one second Blue had been too focused on her office to mask her own surprise that it was empty. “Anything I can help you with, Ms. Ghorm?”
Her acting was exemplary, thankfully because she herself had no idea where Gold could have gone.
“Nothing, Dr. French,” said Blue as she handed Belle back her keys. “I had thought I saw someone hiding in your office. My mistake.”
“Right,” began Belle as she tried very hard not to show her amusement. Blue fumed past her, probably in search of her problematic staff member. Belle quickly closed the door and looked around her office. True enough, not a trace of Gold could be found.
She dropped the papers she had on her desk and made to leave once more in search for him when she yelped in surprise to see said man laying at the back of her desk, his feet having been hidden by the small shelf she had by her desk.
“Wh--what?” asked a now awake but still groggy chair of the History, Anthropology and Archeology Department. “Oh, you’re back.”
Belle shook her head as a smiled played on her face. “Why are you down there? I have a perfectly comfortable couch.”
“Perfectly comfortable and yet short,” said Gold as he rubbed his eyes and sat up. He had grabbed one of the scatter cushions and laid down behind her desk. “This place was the only one long enough that was comfortable.”
“I hardly think the floor is comfortable,” said Belle as she helped him stand.
“Better than most of the beds Dr. Rogers and I have slept in while on an archeological dig,” said Gold as he stretched. “Anything noteworthy at your seminar?”
“Oh you’d probably interested as to what happened outside my office,” said Belle as she grabbed her purse, ready for their coffee date. “Blue followed me, thinking you were hiding in my office.”
“Oh,” said Gold with a sly smile. “I would have loved to have seen her reaction.” He paused as Belle looped her arm around is. “This just proves that I know all.”
“More like an opportunist,” replied Belle with a smile. “She’s still looking for you.”
“No, by this time she would have accepted the idea that I’ve gone home,” replied Gold and suddenly a thought had occurred to him. “Why don’t you call that friend of yours and ask of Blue had left for the day? Usually, especially if she’s no longer looking for me, she’d gone home by now.”
“Astrid? I can ask her,” began Belle, confused. “Why?”
Gold smiled. “Well, I have a bigger couch in my office. Maybe we could test if it fits two?”