(Well, here's the prologue for the third and final story in the Lost in Manhattan trilogy. Enjoy!)

High School Daze

Prologue

On a hot August Saturday, the gang were hanging out in or by the Goofs' new in-ground swimming pool, clad in swimwear for the heat and water. 15-year-old Frankie Tuck was wearing a strapless bikini with half green leopard and half pink zebra prints, and simple black rose earrings. Her white Converse sneakers, which resembled ballet flats, were next to her as she sat on the ledge with her feet in the warm water. Her blonde hair had grown out, so using a pink and a green hair band, she had it up in two short, low ponytails.

Her little sister, 14-year-old Shenzi Tuck was in a black and white tuxedo bikini, a white extension in her long black hair, where her long bangs covered her left eye, black spike barbells in her ears, and had black and white flip-flops on the deck. Her dark hair still reached her lower shoulders, and she still wore thick, black eyeglasses. But soon, that was going to change.

14-year-old Roxy Zimmeruski was wearing a navy blue and white polka dot bikini with matching striped flip-flops to her left, blue stud earrings, and a navy extension in her hair, where it was next to the right side of her face. Her shoulder-length orange hair was in a high ponytail with a navy bow band. 14-year-old Maxie Goof was to her right, only wearing camo-print swim trunks. Ever since the Living Skills class in middle school, they started going out; They became official only days ago. "Can you believe that in September, we'll be in high school?" Roxy asked Maxie.

"Nope," He shook his head, "It's going to be epic." He blushed when Roxy kissed his cheek.

"Aww guys, don't act to lovey-dovey in front of me," Shenzi playfully teased them, "You're making me miss Chuckie." 15-year-old Chuckie Finster, his younger sister 14-year-old Kimi Finster, and their parents were on vacation in Las Vegas for the summer, and wouldn't be back until just before school started. That was actually very close to the present time, but Shenzi still missed him. They had been going out for 2 months now, but they weren't official yet. Despite that, they were the best months of her life so far. After she received a cell phone as a graduation present from her parents, she and Chuckie exchanged numbers, and while he was on vacation, they would chat whenever they both had some free time.

"They'll be back soon, Shen," Frankie assured her, "Once they are, you'll be back with your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend!" Shenzi blushed in embarrassment, "We're dating, but we're not official yet."

"But you guys are dating, aren't you?"

"Yeah, but we're not exactly official yet," Chuckie shrugged. He, Kimi, and their family were staying at the Red Rock Hotel with casino for their vacation. He was wearing a light blue button-up t-shirt that had a yellow and red Saturn patch of the left shoulder, and black and white plaid swim trunks. He was sitting on one of the lounge chairs in front of the pool. Kimi was in a black triangle-top bikini with side-tie bottoms, and a Pikachu allover print on both pieces. Her hair was in two ponytails with black ribbon bow bands, her ears had yellow flower earrings, and her black wedge flip-flops were on the deck next to Chuckie. "I wonder why she hasn't called me; I hope she's okay."

"She's probably busy," Kimi suggested from her place in the pool, "I bet she's alright." She hoisted herself on the deck. "You need to relax, big bro." She poked his left foot teasingly.

"Hey!" He giggled, jerking his foot away from her. "I'm just worried about my best friend, a'ight?" He smiled.

"O-kay," She raised her palms up in playful defense before jumping back in the warm water.

"I'm going to call her." He whipped out his phone, dialed Shenzi's number, and waited eagerly for an answer.

In Yucaipa, Shenzi quickly looked to her purse when her phone started ringing. She turned to Maxie. "Can I, um?"

"Go ahead; I don't mind."

"Thanks." She swam to where her purse was, pulled out her phone after drying her hands on her black Ouija board towel, and pressed answer. "Hello?" She smiled widely upon hearing who had called. "Oh, hi Chuckie! How're you doing?"

"I'm doing fine," He replied, "I was just worried, since we haven't talked in a while."

"Oh, s-sorry about that, Chuck; I've been... busy," She told him.

"Busy with what?"

"You'll see," She giggled.

"Aww, come on," He playfully whined, "Why can't you tell me?"

"I want it to be a surprise." She then decided to change the subject. "So, what're you doing right now?"

"Talking to you?" He teased her.

"You know what I mean," She giggled.

"I know, I was kidding," He chuckled, "I'm just lounging by the pool at the hotel we're staying in."

"Red Rock?"

"Yep. It's great; I wish you were here."

"Aww, I wish I was too," She smiled sadly, "I miss you, Finster."

"I miss you too, Tuck."

"Sorry I took so long," 12-year-old Matt Goof came back outside. "That Dil is a chatterbox; He would not shut up." He was wearing red floral swim trunks, a light green alien face t-shirt, brown and beige checkerboard Vans, and his signature Sherpa hat.

"It's okay, little bro," Maxie assured him.

"Who's Shenzi talking to?"

"She's talking to Chuckie," Frankie replied, "Her boyfriend."

"One sec, Chuck." Shenzi turned to her friends. "How many times do I have to say it? We're not official yet!" She then returned to her best friend. "Sorry about that. I'm at Maxie's house, in his new pool; Everyone thinks we're already official."

"Ah," Chuckie nodded, "Kimi's the same way." His Japanese stepsister was underwater, so she didn't hear him. "So the Goofs got a pool?"

"Yep," She nodded, "Only a few weeks ago. It's pretty sweet. What about the pool you guys are at?"

"It's great," He smiled, "They have all these lounge chairs around it; Some are even on the water!"

"Whoa," Her eyes widened, "That is cool. Are you sitting on one?"

"Nah," He shook his head, "I'm wearing a shirt right now, and I'd rather not get it wet."

"In that case, I hope it doesn't rain where you are," She teased him with a giggle.

"Very funny," He chuckled.

"Are you afraid that Kimi would push you in?" She stifled more laughter.

"Yep," He nodded, "For some reason, Vegas gets her fired up."

"Ah," She let her giggles out.

"If you want, I can at least take a picture of the lounge chairs for you to see."

"Actually, I would love that; Thanks, Chuckie."

"No prob; I'll do that after we're done, if I remember."

"Okey-dokey." They chatted for a few more minutes, before they decided to talk later, and hung up. Before hanging up, they made kissing noises in their speakers to each other. After a minute, her phone's text tone went off; She looked and smiled at the picture he sent her. "Wow, these are cool." She turned to the others. "You guys want to see?" Her phone was carefully passed around, before it was given back to her. "Pretty neat, huh?" She put it back in her purse, and her friends agreed. "I miss him." She rested her cheek in her hand, "I wish he was here."

"He will be soon, sis," Frankie assured her, "Just be patient." Hey eyebrows furrowed in confusion when Shenzi was suddenly stifling laughter. "What? What's funny?" She yelped in surprise when she felt fingers briefly tickling her feet underwater. Her legs jerked up, and a laughing Bobby resurfaced in front of her. "Very funny, Zimmeruski," She smirked.

"I thought it was!" He laughed, wearing only Captain America logo swim trunks.

Frankie didn't know why, but ever since the Living Skills class in middle school, Bobby had been messing with her in various ways. He would tease her, call her friendly nicknames, and even poke at her. It made her a bit uncomfortable; The last part. So she tried to avoid him, but no matter where she went, he was there. It was weird, and a little unsettling. But she kept her discomfort to herself, to avoid worrying Shenzi and their friends, and to avoid hurting Bobby's feelings. She decided to change the subject. "Oh Shenzi, I almost forgot; You have an appointment with the eye doctor this Tuesday, at 1:30. You just might get new glasses."

"Thanks for telling me."

"No prob. This is perfect timing, isn't it?"

"What?" She was confused.

"It's the perfect time to get new glasses," Frankie explained, "Because in September, you and I, along with the Zimmeruskis, the DeVilles, and the Finsters will be moving to high school."

"Ohh. I understand now."

"I'll help you pick out the perfect frames."

"Thanks, sis."

On Tuesday, Shenzi and Frankie were getting ready for the former's appointment with the optometrist. Shenzi put on a black Emo-like emoji t-shirt, blue watercolor skulls high-waisted shorts, black and dark blue lace-trim socks with a small, yellow palm tree on each of them, black Converse low-tops with blue fake paint splatters, a violet blue extension, and black bow earrings. Frankie chose a black Disney Villains dark forest dress with a purple skirt and criss-cross front, black opaque tights, purple Vans, purple pearl earrings, two black ponytail bands, and a black and purple spraypaint ombre vertical hair bow.

Felicia drove the two girls to the optometrist's office, and before long, it was time for Shenzi to pick out new glasses. "What about these?" Frankie held out a pair of frames that were completely circular.

"... No thanks; I'm not Harry Potter," Shenzi stifled giggles after trying them.

"Right." Frankie put them back. "These look kind of thick." She grabbed a pair of black bottle cap frames.

"Yeah, they do," Shenzi giggled when she tried them on, before her sister put them back.

"Ooh! Ooh!" Frankie grabbed a pair of black cat-eye frames. "What about these?" She put them on Shenzi's face, and smiled widely. "Ee-yes! Perfect!"

Shenzi looked in the mirror, and smiled at her reflection. "Yeah, these are perfect. Thanks, Frankie. Mom, I choose these."

"Alrighty then," Felicia smiled, "Those look great. Wait 'til Chuckie sees you once he comes back. Then there'll be two major surprises for him."

"Yep," She nodded with excitement. When they were home, Shenzi's heart leapt with excitement when the door opened. "Ooh, Dad's home! Wait 'til he sees my new frames." She covered her glasses as much as she could with her small, black-polished hands.

"Anyone home?" Friar Tuck called out.

"In the living room," Felicia called out back to him, "Shenzi has something she wants to show you."

He walked in, and saw his youngest daughter covering her eyes. "You have something to show me, Shen?"

"Yep," She replied, looking straight and unintentionally away from him.

"Um, sis, he's over here." Frankie gently moved her so she was facing the right way.

"Thanks. Now then..." She whipped her hands away from her eyes, unveiling her surprise. "Ta-da!"

"You got new glasses? They look great."

"Thanks," She blushed, "Frankie helped me pick them out."

"Uh huh," The older sibling nodded, "So now, she has two surprises for Chuckie when he and his family come back."

"Yes he does," He smiled, "And boy, will he be surprised."

(A/N: Sorry that this is short. Maxie, Roxy, Bobby, and Friar Tuck belong to Disney. Shenzi, Frankie, and Felicia belong to me. Everyone else belongs to Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo, and Paul Germain. I hope you enjoyed the start to the final LiM story!)