Begin!

Note: the premise here is that the Baudelaires were immediately sent to Prufrock after the fire and have been there ever since. No Count Olaf. So AU, I guess if that's enough for one.

Another note: this series doesn't have a definite time period so just imagine that the songs mentioned exist in universe.

~Normal POV

"There was once a turtle named Susan. She had eighteen baby turtles. The end," Mr. Remora droned as he peeled open a banana before shoving it into his mouth.

The class quickly wrote down the details of their teacher's "story." Such was the typical day at Prufrock Preparatory School. Mr. Remora was supposed to be an English teacher, but all he did was tell random stories, and then quiz you on them later while he ate bananas.

Duncan Quagmire, an aspiring young journalist with black hair and green eyes, sighed. Class had only started five minutes ago and he already felt like throwing himself out the third floor window. Mr. Remora's stories were enough to drive anyone insane. He glanced to his left at one of the few things keeping him tethered to this world: his crush Violet Baudelaire.

She was resting her chin on her palm, looking just as bored as he was. He felt a faint blush cover his cheeks as he couldn't help staring. He had only just met her six months ago at lunch on her first day. She had transferred to this Hell-hole of a school with her two younger siblings after their parents tragically died in a house fire. Duncan and his triplet sister Isadora had immediately befriended them on the first day. They too had lost their parents in a house fire, along with their brother Quigley, so they knew best what they were going through. The Baudelaires and the Quagmires have been inseparable ever since.

The first time he had laid eyes on her that fateful day was one he wouldn't soon forget. She had pale skin, ebony hair that went down to her lower back, and lovely dark eyes. Duncan smiled shyly; he thought she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever met. She was incredibly nice too, at least to those that were nice to her, and very smart. How could one girl have all that at once, he wondered. However, before he could continue his not-so-subtle staring, the loud buzz of the school intercom interrupted the class.

"Attention students, this is Vice Principal Nero, I have an announcement," The man's grating voice echoed over the speakers, "Our board of directors has insisted that we are to hold a formal school dance in two weeks. Don't ask me why, they said something about improving student relations and morale or something. All students are invited to attend on the eighth, two weeks from today, in the gym at 7 p.m. In the auditorium, we've been supplied with suits and dresses of all sizes for students to rent for the festivities or whatever. You will not be keeping these outfits! They must be returned within two days after the dance, or you will be punished! The directors threatened to cut our funding if we don't do this so just go with it and don't complain. Nobody is forcing you to go anyway. Now get back to work!"

The intercom was silenced as much of the class erupted into conversation about the news. Duncan suddenly felt his insides turn to mush as Violet turned her attention to him.

"Can you believe that," She scoffed, "They're just doing it so they don't get in trouble, and everyone gets all up in arms about it."

"People are strange, aren't they," He responded with a smile.

"Agreed," She chuckled softly.

Despite being a nervous wreck when it came to his feelings for her, Duncan was still able to speak to her pretty well most of the time. At least he wasn't like Violet's brother, Klaus, who could barely get a full sentence out around Isadora. Duncan smirked slightly, he knew that bookworm was head over heels for his sister and he didn't mind one bit. Between him and his brother, Duncan was usually the over protective one of Isadora, but he didn't mind this time. Klaus was a perfectly nice guy, and his best friend, and Isadora liked him a lot.

"Everyone be quiet," Mr. Remora shouted, "We have work to get back to so pay attention!"

~At lunchtime

The Baudelaires and the Quagmires were sitting at their table discussing how their day had been going.

"When the intercom shut off everyone started talking about the dance. Mrs. Bass got so mad she screamed at us for the rest of class," Klaus explained, "My ears are still ringing."

"Mine too," Isadora nodded, "I don't understand why she got so upset."

Duncan chuckled, "Maybe she's just bitter because she never got asked to a dance."

"Gota," Sunny said, which probably meant, "I wouldn't be surprised."

"We're with you there, Sunny," Violet smiled as the others nodded in agreement, amused by the idea.

"Good morning, cakesniffers!"

The five children held back their groans as they turned their attention to the shrill voice that greeted them. Carmelita Spats was standing by their table with a smug smirk and her hands on her hips.

"I hope you weren't thinking of going to the dance. There's no way a bunch of cakesniffing orphans like you should even bother. You'd just make it so boring. And besides you're all too ugly to even get dates anyway," The red haired girl taunted before walking off to join her friends at their table.

Violet rolled her eyes, "Who does she think she is? She can't tell us what to do."

"It's like she's daring us to go," Klaus added.

The table went silent for a moment before Isadora spoke up.

"What if we did go?"

"What are you talking about, Izzie," Violet asked.

"We could go to the dance just to spite Carmelita," Isadora smirked, "She can't stop us."

The other children shared glances as they contemplated the idea.

"It sounds fun sis, but none of us have any money to rent the outfits," Duncan noted.

"Sunny does," Violet responded, "She got paid yesterday."

Sunny nodded. The youngest Baudelaire child wasn't even a year old, and had been forced to work as Vice Principal Nero's secretary. She was too young to officially attend the school, and her siblings were very annoyed about her unwanted employment. But it seemed that she still got paid regardless.

"Capo sipa," Sunny replied, which meant, "I don't care much for dances, you guys can go. I'll be happy to give you some money."

"She said she doesn't want to go herself, but she'll pay for what we need," Violet translated.

There was another pause as they thought it over. Duncan glanced at Violet nervously. He couldn't help imagining the possibility of getting to dance with her. Without thinking, he broke the silence once again with one of the most embarrassing things he had blurted out in his life.

"And Carmelita didn't seem to realize that we could just go with each other as dates. Me and Violet, Izzie and Klaus."

Duncan felt like punching himself. His cheeks burned as he had just inadvertently asked his crush on a date. He hadn't noticed Violet's face reddened as well upon realizing what he had suggested. Klaus and Isadora had their heads down so they wouldn't let each other see their own blushing faces.

"Fuga," Sunny said, meaning, "Well he's right, you should go with each other."

Violet smiled at Duncan, "I wouldn't mind that. If you guys want to go then we'll go."

Isadora grinned, "I'd love to see the look on Carmelita's face if we went without her permission. I'm in."

Klaus' face was still very red as he dared to look at Isadora, "I'm in."

"Then that settles it, we're going," Duncan said.

~End of Chapter!