Jasmine got to school early on the first day of senior year. She hadn't planned it, but she barely slept the night before. She had spent almost the entire summer with Aladdin and it had felt like it would never end. But it did and now she was about to start a new school year without her boyfriend. On top of that, today was Aladdin's first day as well and he was about to start a new school year with his ex-girlfriend.

Jasmine couldn't help groaning as she made her way to her new locker. She worked the combination and instantly began hanging photographs of her and Aladdin on the inside of the door.

"You have a boyfriend? Damn. I guess that means I can't ask you out for Friday night."

Jasmine froze and slowly turned around. Her heart leapt to her throat and she thought might faint when she saw Aladdin standing in front of her. He gave her a crooked smile. She laughed in excitement and threw her arms around his neck.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"My dad was promoted to head manager of the company's branch out here so we had to move back," Aladdin replied, not letting go of her.

"So, you're gonna be here for senior year?"

"I'm gonna be here for senior year."

XXX

There weren't a lot of students at school when Aurora and Phillip arrived; mostly freshmen hoping to learn the layout of the school before their classes started. Aurora remembered being a freshman and getting lost in the hallways with Belle trying to find their first period classes. She was glad that time in her life was over. Though, she was a little sad that high school itself was almost over and after graduation she wouldn't be seeing most of her classmates again.

"Hey, babe; I have to get ready for the freshman assembly," Phillip said. Since Phillip was the senior class president, he volunteered to talk to the incoming freshmen about what to expect at AHS in the next four years.

Aurora nodded and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you later."

She watched Phillip walk away and she suddenly felt a small sense of relief. She had spent practically every minute with him this summer and this was really the first time she had any space from him. As much as she hated to admit it, she was starting to feel crowded by Phillip.

XXX

"I have so many college essays to work on, it's not even funny," Tiana muttered, slumping against the locker next to Belle's.

Belle and Jane exchanged looks. "The first day of school has barely even started, yet," Jane pointed out. "Why are you already stressing over college essays?"

"Why are you not?" Tiana retorted.

Jane shook her head. "It's senior year. We have to have fun, Tia. We can't work the whole time."

Tiana stared at her as if she had just sprouted horns and a pointed tail. She then glanced at Belle. "Back me up here, Belle."

Belle closed her locker. "Sorry, Tiana. I'm actually with Jane on this one. It's our last year of high school. Our last year of no real responsibilities and being able to enjoy being young and carefree."

"Carefree…" Tiana repeated slowly, as if she didn't understand the meaning of the word; and Belle suspected she probably didn't. "High school is about preparing you for college; it's not about being carefree and having fun."

"We can do both," Jane said. "And I plan to."

Belle nodded in agreement. "Me too."

XXX

Rapunzel strutted down the hallway in her cheerleading uniform with Charlotte. Despite not making head cheerleader like she had wanted, Rapunzel was still excited to be on the squad. The head cheerleader last year, Helga Sinclair, had kicked her off the squad; but then Rapunzel's good friend, Charlotte, had been made head cheerleader and invited Rapunzel back. It felt good to be back in the uniform.

It felt so good, she couldn't help shouting out, "Go Dragons!"

A couple of nearby students echoed her cheer and she smiled brightly at them. As they turned the corner, Rapunzel spotted Flynn at his locker. She faced Charlotte. "I'm gonna meet up with Flynn. I'll catch you later."

Charlotte nodded. "All right. Oh, and Rapunzel; your hair looks great."

Rapunzel ran her hand over her hair. It had grown out a few inches over the summer and she was letting her blonde hair grow back out over the brown dye. She thought the over-running roots looked tacky, but evidently the look was called "ombre" and was currently trendy, so she didn't bother to try and hide it.

She ran down the hall to Flynn. "Hi, boyfriend!" she greeted.

Flynn smiled lazily at her. His hair was messy and Rapunzel could tell he overslept; despite her morning texts to wake him. "Hey," he muttered.

"Happy first day of school!"

Flynn groaned. "Don't remind me."

XXX

This year, Meg's locker was right next to John Smith's. John hung out with her before first period as she hung up photos of hers and Vanessa's band at different gigs over the summer in her locker. Since both Thomas and Pocahontas were gone all summer, Meg and John found themselves hanging out a lot over the summer. Meg couldn't remember exactly how it happened; it just kinda did. She didn't mind, though. She found herself actually enjoying his company.

Meg was just finishing hanging up the last photo when Thomas approached them. He was obviously coming to see John, but Meg's heart did a little flutter at the sight of him anyway. She hadn't seen him since the last day of school.

"Hi, Thomas," Meg greeted as if he hadn't broken he heart and she hadn't been pining over him all summer like some naive school girl.

"Morning," he replied quietly.

After a few awkward moments, Meg cleared her throat. "I should get going." She closed her locker and walked away without looking back.

XXX

Esmeralda catwalked down the hallway, showing off her new, expensive clothes and taking in all the attention she was getting. The summer had been real good to Esmeralda. After shooting the music videos in New York, she had gotten hired to do some modeling for A&F, shot some commercials and starred in various other music videos back in LA. She now had more money than she knew what to do with and had even become a celebrity.

Yes, the summer had been real good to her.

As she walked down the hallway, Esmeralda heard people whispering about her and a couple students even pulled out their cellphones and took pictures of her. Though, some girls glared at her as freshmen boys oogled her. Esmeralda smiled flirtatiously at everyone.

However, as she neared the senior hallway, everyone suddenly got really quiet and all eyes diverted to something behind Esmeralda. Esmeralda slowly turned to see Ariel had just arrived. Esmeralda couldn't help staring, too.

XXX

Ariel was very aware of all the eyes on her and she kept her own eyes on the floor as she walked. She clutched her binder tightly against her chest, using it as a type of shield; though she knew it offered no real protection.

"That's the one I was telling you about," a girl whispered to her friend as Ariel approached.

"Eric's girlfriend?" the girl's friend asked.

"Ex-girlfriend," the first girl corrected.

Her friend snorted. "I don't blame him for breaking up with her after what she did."

Ariel felt hot tears sting the corners of her eyes and she did everything she could to fight them back. She turned down the hallway and the silent judgment from her classmates was deafening. Everyone stared at her as she walked passed, but no one whispered like the other students had done.

They didn't have to. The bold, black word painted on her locker spoke louder than they ever could: Murderer.