"Daddy Issues Rising. Pretty interesting name. How'd you guys come up with it?" Intertwining her fingers, Snow White straightens her back. She was trying so hard to remain professional. Uma had to give her some props. She wouldn't even last a minute under Harry Hook's gaze.
The camera zooms in on every member. Staying a couple of seconds longer on Harry Hook. Uma stifles a longing sigh. She couldn't let her friend Mal realize she didn't really hate Daddy Issues Rising. Mal would never let her live it down.
Harry Hook, the lead singer, and Uma's favorite member answers. "We've all bonded through our issues. Mostly, our daddy issues. Hence, the name." He tries his best to give a modest smile but fails.
"I don't have daddy issues." Carlos, the second lead rapper, says nervously gripping the sides of his chair. "Never even met the guy."
"And the rest of us wish we never met ours." Jay, the lead rapper, adds with his signature playful smile.
"Well, my dad's quite nice. I speak to him every day, and we love each other a lot. He's a great dad." Ben, the secondary vocalist, quips happily.
Harry shoots Ben a dirty look then says, "Our fans are called the daddies or daddy individually to fill that void inside."
"I thought we did that because you like to pretend the compliments are from your dad?" Gil, the backup vocalist, pips earning a glare from Harry.
"Shut up, Gil," Harry grumbles.
"Gods, can you turn this off Uma?" Mal complains looking up from her diary. "Just hearing those overplayed boys makes me nauseous."
"There's nothing else on TV."
That was a lie. Uma hopes Mal doesn't call her bluff. Thankfully, she doesn't.
"Turn it off then. They're poppy music voices is ruining my aura of malice."
"Can you believe they're actually coming to our school?" Uma asks while grabbing the remote. Her finger hovers over the power button. "Audrey and Jane seriously collected all of those box tops."
And how they made a show of it. Audrey rented a garbage truck to deliver her box top donations. The whole school cheered so loud that day, Mal still gets headaches just remembering it.
"I still can't believe that stupid boy band has their own official cereal. And did you forget our plan? They're not coming to our school."
Uma presses the off button by accident. Was Mal seriously going through with that? "That's still happening?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't it? I can't wait to see their faces when their dream goes up in flames. Literally."
"Are you sure about this? It's fun messing with Audrey and Jane, yeah. But we're messing with the entire school now."
"So they don't get to see a depressingly bad generic boy band perform? How sad."
Uma starts to retort but bites her tongue. She couldn't share with Mal that Daddy Issues Rising has a lot of great songs. Songs she'd listen to when she's down and unsure of herself. Mal would just laugh at her and call her...she couldn't even think the name.
She needed a cover. A way to hide her real feelings. "Everyone in our school is talking about the concert. It's supposed to stream all over Royal media. Auradon Prep is gonna get mega publicity from it."
"As if Auradon Prep needs publicity? Everyone that goes to our school is rich."
"Not everyone is rich in our school. There are scholarship students too."
Picking up her diary, Mal shoves it under her pillow. She checks the clock. School started soon. Even with her epic prank on the horizon, she still wasn't looking forward to going. "Doesn't matter. And you sound scared. Afraid to get into a little trouble, shrimpy?"
Uma's body tenses up at hearing the name. Mal knew she hated it. She only uses it when she wants to get her way. I won't let her bait me into an endless argument.
Taking a deep breath, Uma replies," Don't blame me when everything goes wrong."
Mal picks up her backpack, putting it on with a smug smirk. She grabs Uma's backpack and throws it where Uma's sitting. Uma jolts from her seat turning to face Mal. "Time for school. And nothing I ever do goes wrong."
If there was a level to rate how wrong everything went. It'd be over 9000. Every single box top Jane and Audrey collected was on fire. There was no way to control it. Mal was freaking out. She grips the front of her shirt in a fist, while she tries to catch her breath. Uma stays calm by frantically looking around for a fire extinguisher. When she finally found one, however, it was much too late.
"My hair! It's on fire! Someone help me!" Jane screams at the top of her lungs.
Running over to Jane, Uma sprays the fire extinguisher all over her. Jane sobs when the fire is finally put out. Uma felt like the personification of guilt was choking her. Mal did too but she hid it well. Uma extinguishes the rest of the stage but the damage had already been done.
"I'm so sorry," Uma whispers to Jane.
Jane runs off the stage and into the crowd. Leaving a distraught and angry Audrey stomping towards Mal and Uma.
"You guys think acting out will earn your mommies love? News flash: it won't. No one in this school likes either of you. You guys are monsters!"
Hurt flashes across Mal's face, but she easily shakes it away. Her guilt disappears too covered by the need to protect herself."You really want to go against me, princess?"
"This is it for you, Mal." Audrey gestures to both Mal and Uma. "The end for both of you. You won't even be students by the end of today. Bye forever, losers!" Audrey roars in disgust.
She walks away before Mal or Uma can reply. Not that either could. Audrey was right. This was it for them.
It wasn't long till they were in the principal's office. Headmistress Fairy Godmother looked at them both with disappointment. Every time she started to say something, she stopped herself. Unable to express her feelings in words. They sat in silence for what felt like hours. It didn't break until both their mothers showed up. Mal's mother, Maleficent, immediately started arguing with the Fairy Godmother.
"Do you know how much money I've donated to this school? And you're still telling me you want to kick my daughter out?!"
"She could have seriously injured another student." Fairy godmother replies with a frown.
Uma's mother suddenly interjects with a different approach,"How were they able to sneak fireworks onto campus in the first place? I thought student safety was the number one priority of this school."
That was all the ammunition Maleficent needed to build a solid case. She talks Fairy Godmother down until she only gives Uma and Mal two weeks suspension.
Two weeks pass by and their first day back was a living nightmare. In biology, someone had turned on the chemical washing station soaking both Uma and Mal. Uma ran into the bathroom with Mal trailing behind her. She grabs a handful of paper towels not caring if it wouldn't work. She could pretend.
The paper towels soak through, so, Uma crushes them into a ball. She throws the newly crushed paper towel ball at Mal. Mal glowers at Uma. "Do you really care if those people like us?"
"They hate us because of you, Mal. You and your stupid need to have people tremble before you. Was it worth it?"
Mal thinks for a moment. It wasn't worth it at all, but she'd never confessed that aloud. "My need? And what are you in this? An innocent bystander, perhaps?"
"I told you that it was a bad idea. You didn't listen. You never listen to anyone! It's always what you want."
"What about before this? Where's the Uma who made someone cry just for fun last month? Don't play innocent."
"You went way too far this time. Jane could've seriously been hurt!"
"And you were my accomplice, Uma"
Uma wanted to deny it. Remind Mal she told her she couldn't be blamed. But she made no effort to stop it. She went along with everything. In the end, the blame was also on her. She needed to fix this. Find some way to redeem herself. But how? Her mind runs through a list of things to do. Settling on the perfect choice, Her face lights up.
Someone posted earlier on Instaroyal about an impromptu Daddy Issues Rising meet n' greet. If she could just speak to them...maybe everything could be fixed.
Uma leaves the bathroom. Mal runs behind her grabbing her hand. "Where are you going? Your clothes are still wet."
Uma shakes Mal's hand off her. "Why do you care?"
"We're friends. And friends can be concerned." Mal reasons.
Uma stifles a laugh. Mal concerned. And for her? Mal only cared about herself. Uma starts walking away ignoring Mal calling for her. But one thing Mal says causes her to stop.
"I drove you, remember? There are also no bus stops by Auradon Prep. You're pretty much stranded here. Unless..."
Uma stays frozen. Mal was right. She had no way of getting anywhere, without her. Mal walks up to Uma with a smug grin. "So where are we going?"
They change clothes and arrive at Uma's requested destination in under two hours. Mal taps her fingers on her steering wheel, lifting her head to peer at the long line surrounding the store. Uma pulls down Mal's car's mirror checking her appearance. Finding herself satisfied with her appearance, she closes the mirror back up. Unbuckling her seatbelt, Uma leaves, ignoring Mal's questions and protests.
Uma leaves the car, running to the end of the line. Mal still in the car takes out her cellphone, she searches the store's location and drops her phone when she sees the top result.
Mal grabs her phone, runs out of the car and locks it behind her. She finds Uma at the end of the line.
"You're gonna ask them to play at our school? To what repair your reputation?"
"You can leave."
Mal huffs but makes no effort to go. The line moves forward and soon Daddy Issues Rising was right in front of them. Uma was at lost for words. Her tongue felt dry and her thirst was real. Security motioned for her and Mal to come forward but Uma couldn't move. Mal gently pulls her behind her.
When they approach the table Uma regains herself for a minute. Her words pushed together as she explains their situation to the boys.
They all looked like they didn't believe a word she said. Seeing Uma fail miserably, Mal takes things into her own hands.
She pulls Uma closer to her. "My friends dying." Covering her eyes with her other hand she fakes a sob.
Ben hated seeing people cry. He gets up from his seat and gives Mal a hug. She stops her fake sob, staring up at Ben. Her cheeks redden as she pulls away.
"Don't tell me you believe this?" Jay questions crossing his arms over his chest.
"Why would they lie?" Gil insists, pouting.
"What does your friend have?" Ben looks down at Mal with gentle eyes. She stutters lost in them for a moment.
"She's dying of a bad reputation. As am I. The only cure is Daddy Issues Rising performing at our school."
Ben frowns. "You lied."
He walks back over to his seat and sits back down. A disappointed look on his face.
Harry, who hadn't yet spoken, comments. "Wow. Your social livelihood? Well, we'd be happy to!"
"Wait, really!?" Uma and Mal both say shocked. Uma looks at Harry, who appeared to be studying her this whole time.
Harry nods in agreement, holding his hands out for Uma to take. She does nearly passing out at the touch. He leans closer. "We'll do your concert. Just as soon as my dad loves me."
"Your dad will never love you. It's your whole premise." Uma reminds Harry.
Harry winks at her, pulling his hands away from hers. "Exactly. Security!"
Two security guards grab Uma and Mal from behind. Mal tries her best to kick out of their hold, but they were too strong. Uma tries to wiggle her way away from hers but it also doesn't work. They yelp as they're dropped in front of the store. Mal and Uma turn to each other. Their thoughts entirely in sync. With both of them yearning for revenge.
A.N. My friend requested I write a fic based on our favorite movie Taking 5, so, I had to. I'm so sorry. It's been fun writing a fic where Uma falls for Harry first though. This will be short! Very short. All canon ships will happen, probably. Evie also has a big role in this, so, I'm excited. Anyway, thanks for reading! New Shadows chapter will be up this week, hopefully! Bye~