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"This is ridiculous. This is cruel. This is inhuman. This is a miscarriage of justice. This is-"
"-Is you whining for the sake of whining, now shut up and put the rest of your costume on" Esmeralda threw the fairy wings they got for ten dollars at k-mart back at Flynn.
"But these! These are just …." Flynn pulled at the galaxy print purple and blue leggings he was being forced to wear.
He did look stupid.
All the more reason for Esmeralda to force him to keep wearing them.
"The plays set in space. You need to look spacey"
"I look like a hot topic hipster"
"But with fairy wings"
"I hope this whole theatre burns to the ground" he muttered "Plus your wig looks stupid"
Esmeralda admired herself in the mirror as she adjusted her bright blonde wig "No it doesn't, I look amazing"
"Where did you even get that thing anyway?"
She shrugged "Found it in a closet back stage"
From behind a few racks of assorted clothing, Phoebus appeared in his grecian tunic "How do I look?" he asked.
Flynn wolf whistled "Nice skirt"
"Nice leggings" he shot back.
Flynn muttered something about gasoline and a concrete alibi.
Esmeralda admired the costume as Phoebus did a little twirl.
"Is this hemline a little north of the knee? I don't want to look slutty" he said.
Esmeralda laughed as Flynn just frowned
"And how is his outfit 'spacey' at all?"
Phoebus pointed to his belt, where a technical looking silver gadget was clipped.
"Space equipment"
"That's a G.I. Joe walkie talkie you spray painted silver"
"...space equipment"
"Esmeralda, that's not fair, he should have to wear leggings too, save the audience the horror of his pasty legs" Flynn pointed.
"Oh, well, now you've just made me self conscious"
"He's just bitter, Phoebus" Esmeralda said, as she grabbed some 'galaxy glitter' body spray and began to apply it generously to Flynn's arms "Mm, he just wishes his skinny, little chicken legs could pull the Lysander skirt off"
"My calves are tanned and toned thank you, very much"
"So you'd rather wear a skirt? Because I can arrange for one to go over the tights. I'm thinking box pleats"
"...You're enjoying my pain aren't you"
"Mmm, a little"
Flynn snatched the body spray off of her "I can glitter myself, thank you"
"Ok, ok, everyone in, thank you! You can work on your costumes later! Someone push those racks of clothing back a bit, get them out of the way. It's time for us to practise from the top" Clopin called the class to take a seat in front of the stage, everyone drifting down to get comfortable.
"Ok, everyone present in act one, scene one, arrange yourselves on the stage and-" Clopin stopped and noticed Flynn's hand up "Yes, quickly, what is it Flynn?"
"Why do all our costumes have to be so tragically D.I.Y?"
"Because we're an underfunded student play in the education system, not the American institute of performing arts. We don't have a costume department"
"But Gaston's literally wearing a plastic donkey mask from Shrek-"
"Hey, woah, what's wrong with my mask?"
"It's a kids halloween costume from the dollar store!"
"Better than your lame ass tights!"
"They're leggings"
"Both of you, shut up" Clopin said, ever the professional teacher who totally didn't regret any of his career choices in life "And Flynn, since you're so vocal today, you can step in and read the part of Duke Theseus, since we have an absence in class today"
Flynn groaned as he slumped up to the stage, along with Esmeralda, Phoebus, Naveen and Aquata.
Aquata, as well as playing Titania's young child, would also get to play the small part of Queen Hippolyta, which she was glad about.
Flynn was allowed to read from the script for his temporary part, while the others had to recite everything from memory.
"Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour draws on...in space" Flynn read, groaning inwardly.
The original line was meant to be 'apace' but Clopin thought he was being rather genius. He sat in the audience, nodding as he watched.
This went on for awhile. Flynn going on about being excited to get married to Aquata. Then Egeus comes in on stage, complaining about his daughter Hermia, and how she would rather marry Lysander, than the guy she was actually engaged too, Demetrius.
Esmeralda had to stand in between Naveen and Phoebus, for the sake of very obvious symbolism.
"What say you, Hermia? Be advised, fair maid: To you your father should be as a god" Flynn read aloud "Demetrius is a worthy gentlemen"
If there was a rough modern translation, it would be something like "Hey, Hermia, do what your dad tells you and marry this Demetrius guy, he's not that bad"
To which Esmeralda reads "So is Lysander" as she stands by Phoebus's side, And that part doesn't really need a translation "But I beseech your grace that I may know the worst that may befall me in this case, if I refuse to wed Demetrius?"
Translation: "How much trouble would I get in?"
"Either to die the death or to abjure forever the society of men. Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires. Know of your youth. Examine well your blood- wether, if you yield not to your fathers choice, you can endure the livery of a nun, for aye to be in shady cloister mewed, to live a barren sister all your life, chanting hyms to the cold, fruitless moon" Flynn read, monotonely
Translation: "Your lifes gonna suck, basically"
Esmeralda shot a disdainful look at Naveen, which was probably only half acting at this point"So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord. Ere I will yield my virgin patent up onto his lordship"
Translation: "I'd rather die than give up my V-card to this douche"
Naven stepped up to deliver his line as Demetrius "Relent, sweet Hermia- and Lysander, yield they crazed title to my certain right"
Translation: "Back off pal, I had her first"
"You have her father's love, Demetrius. Let me have Hermia's. Or do you marry him?" Phoebus said, with a smirk towards Naveen.
Naveen glared at Phoebus "What the hell, as if that's in the script!" he said, suddenly breaking character "Come on man, haven't you already pissed me off enough already, know you've got to slip gay jokes in on this!"
Everyone glanced around, confused, some laughing under their breath, most people looking lost.
"I don't know what you mean, man, that's literally my line" Phoebus said, but Naveen caught his slight smirk.
"Ok, seriously, you need to stop-" Naveen almost yelled, losing his temper, but Flynn shoved his script under Naveen's nose at an arms length, pointing to Phoebus's line which...really did have a gay joke in it. Written plain in sight.
Naveen deflated a little, looking embarrassed.
Clopin dragged a hand over his face "Can we continue, please? After...whatever that was, I don't know, I don't wan't to know. Let's just keep the ball rolling"
Phoebus cleared his throat "I am, my lord, as well derived as he, as well possessed. My love is more than his. My fortunes every way as fairly ranked as Demetrius, and which is more than all these boasts can be, I am beloved of beauteous Hermia"
Translation: "I'm just as cool and rich as him, plus Hermia totally digs me. Suck it"
Then Flynn had to read out a long boring passage about telling them to stop being horny teenagers and suck it up, because he's off to plan his marriage to Aquata some more, and now he stands off to the side with Aquata and Naveen, leaving Esmeralda and Phoebus to continue the scene.
Phoebus turned to Esmeralda "How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale? How chance the roses there do fade so fast?"
Translation: "You bummed out?"
Esmeralda remembered her stage directions and stepped closer to Phoebus "Belike for want of rain, which I could well beteem them from the tempest of my eyes"
Translation: "Yeah, I'm pretty bummed out"
"The course of true love never did run smooth" Phoebus said.
Translation: "The line everyone knows from this play ,wether they've seen it or not"
"Ok, good, good, you're both doing very well, but now it's time for the romantic monologuing so just step a little closer to each other, would you? embrace each other, gaze into each others eyes, all that nonsense" Clopin directed from across the stage.
Phoebus and Esmeralda tried not to laugh as they took one tiny, unsure, step towards each other, still about a foot apart.
"Oh, no, no, no!Come on, you're both passionately in love! Put a hand to his chest, put an arm around her waist. Give me romance!"
Phoebus found himself looking at Esmeralda and stalling. They really had to try not to laugh. It was just weird, the two of them. She was one of his best friends. It would be like putting an arm around Flynn and embracing him.
Kind of.
Not really.
"Today, if you'd be so kind" Clopin drawled, tapping his script.
Esmeralda was the first to make a move, and place a hand on his chest. She didn't say anything, but she smiled and raised one eyebrow, like she was taunting him. I can do it, can you? Chicken.
And then it was just like normal. Them messing around together, and Phoebus couldn't let himself be one upped. If she wasn't nervous, neither was he. In one swift move, aimed at surprising her, he pulled her right in close to him with an arm around her waist.
Esmeralda let out a little noise of surprise but she laughed "Ooh, very buff action hero" she said, low enough so Clopin couldn't hear.
"I dunno, I was going for more of a 'fabio on the cover of a tacky romance novel' vibe"
Esmeralda nodded snidely "I'm feeling it" she said, before continuing on her lines.
"If true lovers have ever been crossed, it stands as an edict in destiny. Then let us teach our trial patience, because it is a customary cross, as due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs, wishes and tears, poor fancy's follow"
Translation: "Love sucks, but what can you do?"
"Therefore, hear me, Hermia. I have a widow aunt, and she hath no child. From... Jupiter... is her space ship remote seven leagues, and she respects me as her only son. There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee. And to that place the sharp saturn law cannot pursue us. If thou lovest me then steal forth they fathers house tomorrow night, and in the wood there I will stay for thee"
Translation: "Come on, babe, lets ditch this place and get married vegas style"
Esmeralda made sure to look right into Phoebus's eye's as she spoke her next line, but she hadn't noticed how close their faces would be, now that they were pressed together. As she looked up they were only a couple inches apart, and she become very aware of any, and all, body contact.
"My good Lysander!" she breathed, as if overcome with her love "I swear to thee by cupids strongest bow, by his best arrow with the golden head, by the simplicity of venus' doves, by that which knitteth souls and prospers loves, and by that fire which burned under the carthrage queen when the false troyan under sail was seen, by all the vows that ever men have broke, in number more than ever women spoke, in that same place thou hast appointed me, tomorrow truly I will meet with thee"
Translation: "Hell yeah, lets get vegas married!"
Thrilled by that fact that her scene was almost over and she hadn't messed up a line once, Esmeralda smiled, which in turn, made Phoebus smile, and there was something about standing there, being held by him, being able to how warm his chest was, even through that dumb tunic, as she held her hand there...and he was looking down at her...and somehow she was forgetting they were in front of a crowd...
And then all of sudden, without warning, his lips came crashing down on hers. It was a kiss. He was kissing her!
Then their was a shriek from Clopin, gasping from the rest of the class, and laughter. Phoebus pulled away suddenly, and Esmeralda stood their wide eyed in front of him. It all happened very fast.
"Flynn!" Phoebus yelled, grabbing behind him, trying to get his hands on his friend, who was in hysterics.
Flynn, in his usual state of great decision making, had decided it would be real funny to creep forwards during their monologue and not-so-gently push Phoebus's head down into Esmeralda.
It took a second for Esmeralda to react to what had happened, adjusting her wig as she heard Aladdin losing it laughing in the audience, as Phoebus now had a hold on Flynn by the fairy wings, threatening to spray every inch of his body with galaxy glitter, including up each nostril and ear cavities, as Clopin sat with his head in his hands.
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"Adam!"
Adam spun around as he heard his name called in the halls and almost collided with Belle, who had popped up behind him.
"Woah, what? what is it?" he asked, worried as he saw her face.
"It's about my Dad" Belle started straight away "I know our agreement was for you to talk to your Dad about his job as soon as I finished doing my...sentence, or whatever you want to call it, but I need to call it in early because he's been called for an interview and we think this is it, that he's going to be fired this week and-" Belle had to stop as her voice cracked and she felt the tears pricking at her eyes "Oh my god, this is so embarrassing"
Of all the people to cry in front of, she thought.
However, a hand just planted itself on her shoulder, and she looked up to see Adam giving her a reassuring look.
At least that's what she thought it was. It wasn't quite a smile, but it was much softer than his usual stony expression, and it was one she hadn't seen before.
"Don't worry, I'll talk to him tonight"
Belle grabbed the sleeve of her cardigan to wipe at her wet eyes "And he's really going to help? My Dad won't lose his job?"
"Your Dad won't lose his job" he repeated "I promise"
And without warning, he felt Belle crash into him for a hug.
"Thank you.." he heard her mumble again.
Adam had to pause for a second, as he looked down at her, arms wrapped around his torso and her face pressed into his chest. He gingerly put his arms around her too.
He felt awkward, but he didn't push her away. He hadn't been hugged in a long time.
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Audrey opened up her locker door and glared into it, searching for her textbook for next class. She was having one of those mornings.
She burnt her toast at breakfast, and it was the last slice of bread in the bag.
Her new pair of Vans she was still breaking in were giving her a blister.
She'd handed in her Bio homework this morning and got a D.
Ariel had been talking to her non-stop this morning between classes and she couldn't decided wether to knock herself out by slamming her locker door into her head repeatedly, to put her out of this misery, or do the exact same thing to Ariel.
"-Jasmine said I should wear heels to the dance, because she said she would be wearing heels, but both Rapunzel and Mulan already said they won't be wearing them because they can't walk in them, so she doesn't want to be the only one wearing heels, but I actually can't walk too well in heels either, and it's probably not a good idea because I might be jumping up and down a lot on stage and I don't wanna faceplant it in front of the whole school , you know? but then they also might make me look taller, plus my sister said I could borrow one of her nice pairs if I promise too-"
Audrey slammed her locker door and tried to give Ariel a sweet smile.
It probably came off more like a slasher smile.
"Ariel, no offence, but I kind of have a headache"
"Oh...ok. Did you want an aspirin? I think I have aspirin in my bag. One sec" Ariel rifled through her backpack "Folder, no. Lunchbox, no. pencil case, no. Winnie the Pooh keychain, no. Old sandwich from last tuesday that I totally forgot was still in here, ew, no-"
Audrey felt the urge for head-slamming rise with every passing second.
"Here we go! Wait...no. No, sorry. Those are Mentos...did you want a Mentos? It's got a little fluff on it, but you can dust that right off, they're still good"
"...no. Thanks"
God, can't one of you're equally peppy little friends come and whisk you away to talk about shoes, lets say, ten million miles away from me?
"Hey, Ariel"
Oh sweet lord jesus in heaven, he hears our prayers!
Audrey spun around in relief, expecting to see Mulan, or the quiet one, or the one who wore too much gold jewellery.
But no, both her and Ariel were surprised to see it was Ursula.
"Uh, hi" Ariel said, a little unnerved as Ursula sauntered over to them "What's up?"
"So you know that favour you still owe me?" Ursula said, cutting straight to the chase.
"Oh, that.."
"Yeah. Well, I'm deciding to cash it in"
Audrey frowned, glancing between the two. Ariel looked worried. Ursula looked predatory. What was going on? What favour?
"Um...ok. What did you want? I told you I don't have money"
Ursula waved her off "No, no, I still don't wan't your money. Keep your daddy's pocket change"
"Sooo, what do you want?" Ariel eyed her suspiciously.
"Nothing big, nothing major, nothing that you can't make happen. See, I was in Social studies this morning, and I'm in Eric's class by the way, and I heard him talking about his band and how you guys are going to play at this dance thing that's happening"
Ariel nodded "Riiight"
"Weeeell, I wan't in" Ursula smiled.
Ariel was a little slow on the uptake.
"In...on the band, you mean?"
Ursula gave her a withering look "No, I wan't in on the tacky high school dance that's completely V.I.P. And too expensive for me to get into. Of course I'm talking about the band"
"Oh, wow, I dunno, Ursula. I don't think we're taking new members..." Ariel looked towards Audrey for some kind of support, but Audrey back away with a little shrug.
She was happy watching on the sidelines, she didn't want to get dragged in.
"But I'd be great in a band. I've been told I have a lot of stage presence"
Ariel didn't know how to respond to that.
"Urrhh, ...yeah. I totally see it, the stage presence and all, but um...I just don't know if I can do that. We kind of already have everyone we need and-"
"I'm a good singer. I could be the singer"
"But I'm the singer" Ariel said nervously as Ursula's face grew more and more impatient.
"Well, you can do something else. You can be on the tambourine, or do back up vocals, we can figure something out, I don't mind"
Ariel tried to grin as she sucked air through her teeth "Mmm, yeah...I'm really sorry, Ursula, but is there possibly, maybe anything else you wanted, instead of...this. Because I don't want to sound mean, but..." Ariel didn't actually want to finish her sentence as Ursula's glare cut through her.
Now she understood why she was known as the evil goth bitch that hung around the basement level bathrooms.
"So you're saying you're not going to honour our agreement?"
"No, no, I'm not saying that! Because really, if there was anything else you wanted I'd be happy too-"
"But I don't wan't anything else, I wan't you to let me in the band" Ursula said fiercely.
Ariel just shrugged, looking ten kinds of sheepish "Well, I'm sorry, but...no"
Ursula looked like she could've easily punched Ariel in the face, right there, right now.
Audrey only felt a fraction of guilt for kind of wanting that to happen, as her eyes darted back between the girls like she was watching a frantic game of tennis.
"Fine, be that way, you lying, two faced little bitch" Ursula spat, making Ariel wince "The deals completely off. I wan't all the clothes I gave you back by tomorrow morning, or I swear I will trash your locker, throw your backpack in the pool, and cut off your ponytail in the middle of the halls!"
Ariel clasped at her hair, protectively. Ursula's eyes were crazy. She looked like she'd actually do it.
"I hope you come to school tomorrow in your old Hollister skirt and lame ass hand me down cardigans, and Eric dumps your because he realises that your nothing but a pathetic little poser who's about as punk as Avril Lavigne's k-mart clothing line" Ursula said under her breath, right up in Ariel's personal space "What about that, Red? Is that what you want?"
Something about being called Red by Ursula flipped some kind of switch in Ariel.
That was Eric's nickname for her. No one gave her permission to use it.
"Actually, yeah, that's fine!" Ariel tried to say that polite sentence as fiercely as she could right back at her "You can take every single piece of clothing back. I don't care. I know Eric, and he's not going to dump me over what I wear"
Ursula looked a little surprised Ariel was standing up for herself. That usually didn't happen. But she could still see the flicker of fear in her eyes. She was still such a novice at this, while Ursula had practically spent every waking minute of her school life making sure freshmen and seniors alike averted their gaze out of fear as she walked past them in the halls. It was like a puppy dog yapping at a pit bull.
"Hmph. That's cute. You think Eric's dating you because of your stale, boring personality, and not because he just thinks your a cute girl who matches his image and can sing in his band for him. Aw, you're so dumb it's almost endearing...almost."
Ariel was trying to keep up the confident facade, but she winced at that. She still kept looking towards Audrey for any ounce of help, but Audrey kept avoiding her gaze.
" Yeah...well...even if Eric does dump me, that still wouldn't be worse than having you in our band, because you're mean and scary, and I don't like you and... you smell like smoke and...and...I bet you totally don't have stage presence anyway!"
Ariel didn't think it was possibly, but Ursula's face grew even darker, and if looks could kill...
"Look, princess, you could have just left it as is. Been a little pain in the ass, given the clothes back, and I would have cut the deal off just out of the goodness of my heart...But now you've just gone and upset me. And do you know what I do to girls who really upset me?"
Ariel didn't ask to find out, but Ursula was going to tell her anyway"
Theres this old tub of blueberry yoghurt me and my girls have been saving behind the basement hall radiator since the end of last year, and its had all summer to get nice and mouldy and disgusting, ready for me to pour all over you when you least expect it. Maybe not this lunch time, maybe not tomorrow in the halls when your reaching into your locker to get your books, ….but one day soon. It's got your name on it. I might even make you eat a little too"
Ariel stood rooted to the spot in fear she could barely disguise, as Ursula stalked off to class as the bell rang, a smug look on her face.
She wondered if maybe getting her ponytail cut off was actually the better option.
"Oh, and one more thing- maybe the best thing of all-" Ursula called back to them, just when Ariel didn't think it could get worse
"- remember how I made you sign your name on our bathroom wall? Well, guess how much the school loves school vandalism? I'd expect a suspension, or at least a ban from all school social activities for the next couple months. So as soon as I get the chance, I'm going to go straight to Mr. Walt and explain how you graffitied so blatantly, and you can forget even going to the dance at all, let alone singing along with the boyfriend I doubt you'll have by tomorrow"
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"What the hell am I going to do!" Ariel ran her hands over her face, as Jasmine, Mulan and Rapunzel tried to comfort her as best they could "This is just...how do people get so evil!? Did her parents not hug her enough as a child? This is like evil mastermind, cartoon villain crap I'm dealing with right now!"
"I know" Mulan sympathised "I mean, that yoghurt's gotta be like months past expired by now. Even just smelling it would probably make you vomit-"
"That's not even the biggest deal, Mulan!" Ariel snapped "She's going to get me banned from the dance! I'm going to let the whole band down and ruin it for everybody. Even if Eric doesn't care about the clothes, he's sure as hell going to care about that...Oh god. This is messed up. I shouldn't have made any deal, this is so stupid"
Mulan and Rapunzel shot Jasmine looks that warned her not to say anything akin to 'I told you so' in any way, shape or form. Jasmine actually managed to look offended.
She wasn't that much of a group Mom.
...Ok, she was, but she knew when to keep a lid on it.
Rapunzel put an arm around Ariel "You could just explain what happened to Mr. Walt, how Ursula's being so mean-"
"OR just deny you wrote anything in the first place. Say she framed you!" Mulan said.
"It's my signature! My exact handwriting"
"Oh..."
"Well, now we know why she makes people do that" Jasmine said, trying to think rationally while Ariel suffered a minor breakdown at their lunch table.
Ariel hunched down and mumbled into the table sadly, drowning in a puddle of regret "Shouldn't have gone down to that bathroom...shouldn't have taken those clothes...shouldn't have picked up that stupid pen...I just want to travel back in time and never have anything to do with her in the first place, make it so it never happened and I could just-"
Jasmine slammed a hand down on the table, making Ariel jump up.
"Got it! I've got a plan"
"Throw me in front of an oncoming train to help me avoid my inevitable fate?"
"Don't be dramatic. Come with me. I'll explain on the way" Jasmine said as she frantically slung her bag over her shoulder, leaving the others to exchange hesitant glances, before following her as she strode away across the cafeteria.
Then almost as soon as she started, she stopped, the other three stopping with her.
"Wait. We're going to need help for this"
"For what? What are we doing right now, exactly?" Ariel asked.
"To be honest, I'm making it up as I go along" Then she turned to Rapunzel.
"Rapunzel, me and you are going to the quad. You two-" she nodded to Ariel and Mulan "Meet us at the entrance to the school's basment level in five minutes"
Ariel looked like she was about to open her mouth argue, before she paused, and shrugged.
"Well, I guess whatever it is has to be better than the train option"
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Flotsam, Jetsam and Ursula were hanging out in their basement bathroom, where they usually ate lunch together, despite whatever hygiene issues most people would have, all while sharing the one cigarette between them.
"-and then I said to her, I said 'I might even make you eat a little too' and you should have seen her face, she looked like she was about to puke right there in front of me" Ursula laughed.
"Oh my god, I would love to see that"
"Yeah, imagine how bad a green face is gonna clash with her fire engine hair"
Ursula rolled her eyes as she took a drag on the cigarette "I know, she looks like a raggedy ann doll with that colour. Gag me"
Their laughter was interrupted by a knock on the door.
The three of them stopped and turned, exchanging glances.
"Go answer it" Ursula ordered after a pause.
Flotsam got up from her seat on the edge of the sink and opened the door, greeted immediately by the smiling face of Flynn Ryder as he leant against the door frame.
"Ladies"
The three girls stared.
Ursula frowned "...who the hell are you?" she said, in a haze of smoke.
"Oh, me? I'm just a guy...looking for some girls and-urgh *COUGH * cough * hack"
Flynn proceeded to have a minor coughing fit as he wheezed in the second hand smoke that had just hit him like a wall. The three girls looked on unimpressed.
"Ahem, excuse me...it's a...little hazey down here"
Ursula responded by blowing out another puff of smoke.
"Do you want something?"
Flynn shrugged "Nah, no, just...well, I've just been seeing you three around lately...caught my eye" he said, smoothly "I like your style, you know? That bad girl vibe. I'm into that, it's what I respond too. Names Flynn by the way"
"Oh really, Flynn? I got something you can respond too" Ursula smiled as she flipped him her middle finger, and Flynn stood there smiling as the twins burst out laughing.
"Haha, yeah. Funny, funny... See, that the kind of quirky sense of humour that I'm attracted too in a girl-"
"Hey, aren't you that senior who's going out with that home school girl?" Jetsam said.
Flynn paused "Ah, no, I don't know who-"
"Yeah, yeah, he is" Flotsam agreed "He's always making out with her in the hall when I leave my Lit class, I see them everywhere together"
"Look, I think you have me confused, see, I'm actually single at the moment and I came down here to see if you three would like to join me out in the quad to-"
"Isn't she a freshmen, too?" Flotsam continued, the both of them ignoring Flynn presence.
"I think so, she looks about twelve anyway"
"Hey, she's a sophomore, thank you very much, and she does not look twelve, she's actually very developed, ok? I should know, I've been noticing!"
All three of the girls turned to stare at him as Flynn's face fell.
"I mean...crap. uh-"
"So you are dating this little baby face fresher-" Ursula said.
"Sophomore"
"-and yet here you are still trying to hit on us?"
Flotsam and Jetsem pulled disgusted faces "What a creep"
"Urgh, boys are so pathetic"
Flynn licked his suddenly very dry lips "...I...uh...I know. I've got that thing Russell Brand has, you know...sex addiction...nymphomania. I have a problem, I'm a very sick person"
Ursula raised an eyebrow as Flynn put on a tragic sounding voice.
" You know what? You should go tell her. Go tell my sophomore girlfriend what I have tried to do here today, and set me free with the truth I am too much of a coward to face. I'm not kidding. I want-no- I need this to happen. Go and tell her...tell her right now. Lets just leave here and go and speak to her immediately and I can start my road to recovery. This can be my wake up call-"
"Oh my god, can you just shut up, you're so full of shit, it's not funny" Ursula groaned "I don't care who you are or what you want, you're annoying me. Leave"
Flotsam and Jetsem attempted to hassle him out the door but Flynn resisted "No, but seriously, I just-"
"God dammit, just shut up"
"Go back and bang your little baby face slut, poser" Flotsam said as they managed to shove Flynn hard enough to send him skidding back into the basement hall.
A smart man would have walked away.
But Flynn Ryder was not a smart man.
And like hell he could let them call Rapunzel a slut without at least one or two insults thrown back at them.
"Yeah, well, screw you! You're all trashy, goth bitches anyway, like I'd even want to touch any of you! Bet you taste like an ash tray and...and you two's hair look's like seaweed! And I bet you couldn't even fit on a bed!" Flynn hurled that last ditch attempt at an insult over his shoulder at ursula, just as the door was about to close behind him.
But it was flung back open again with a bang, and Flynn froze on the spot.
"What...did you just say to me?" Said Ursula, as she stood there, fists clenched, murder in her eyes.
Flynn stood rooted to the spot
"Um...I mean...your hair look's pretty today?"
I mean really, if there's one thing everyone at Disney High should know.
You should never, ever, under any circumstances, call Ursula fat.
But like I said. Not a smart man.
Flotsam appeared behind her, pulling something out of her bag.
For a second Flynn thought it might be a knife.
He held up his hands as he backed off a little "Ok, ladies, please, this is all just- we can work this out like mature, level headed individuals and-wait is that a stapler?"
"Damn right it's a stapler" Flotsam clicked the piece of desk stationary menacingly "Ever wanted your ears pierced?"
"Um, not particularity-"
"Well, that's too bad then"
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"Ok, run over the plan for me. One more time" Aladdin said, as he crouched down around the basement stairwell with Jasmine and Ariel, about twenty metres down the hall from the goth girls bathroom. Rapunzel and Mulan were over on the other side of the door, hiding around the corner of the next hall, all of them keeping an eye for Flynn to reappear.
"I don't know what you're not getting, it's real simple. Flynn distracts the girls, lures them out of the bathroom. We go in and get the signature off the wall-"
She held up the heavy duty stain remover and dust rag she'd stolen off the back of the janitors cart as he was mopping the science hall floors.
"-and you stay outside as a look out, just in case they come back"
"And what's the signal if I see them coming back?"
"I dunno, Just open the door and tell us to run"
Aladdin nodded "Ok, sounds simple enough"
Then they heard a scream echo of the walls.
"WHO USES A STAPLER AS A WEAPON, YOU GIRLS ARE CRAZY!"
"BOY, YOU HAVE NO IDEA"
"YOU WAIT TILL WE STAPLE YOUR LIPS TOGETHER, SHUT YOU UP FOR AWHILE"
"OH SH-"
Aladdin and Jasmine darted their heads around their hiding spot some way away, just in time to see Flynn running in the other direction as fast as he could, the three girls racing after him, stapler in hand.
So much for simple.
They were headed straight towards Mulan and Rapunzel's corner.
"RUN, RUN NOW" Flynn yelled at them, knowing they were there, and Mulan grabbed onto Rapunzel's hand, Pulling her along as they both screamed, as Flynn and the stampeding horde of goth girls rounded the corner.
"Hey, what the hell are they doing here-" Flotsam frowned as she saw the girls up ahead of them.
"Who cares, get them all!" Ursula shouted as they struggled after them.
Meanwhile, behind the stairwell as the chase went out of sight, Jasmine tugged on Ariels jacket
"Come on, come on, lets go!"
"But that wasn't in the plan, that wasn't the distraction?!"
"That's a distraction. Take what you can get!"
The girls dashed to the empty girls bathroom, Jasmine quickly turning back to Aladdin "This whole basement level is like one big loop around, we have about two minutes tops before Ursula chases them back around here. Keep an eye out and come get us as soon as you see them back around the corner!"
"On it!" Aladdin nodded.
Jasmine and Ariel burst into the girls bathroom.
"There!" Ariel immediately spotted her signature on the tiles as she skidded over to it "Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
"I'm hurrying!" Jasmine said as she squirted on the stain remover as Ariel frantically began rubbing at it with the wash cloth.
It stayed firmly in place.
"It's not coming off! This stuff isn't working" Jasmine panicked.
"Scrub harder!" Ariel said, grabbing the cloth off her and trying herself.
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Rapunzel's breath was ragged as she struggled to keep up with Mulan and Flynn, the sound of the girls footsteps not far behind them.
Flotsam and Jetsam were hot on their tail, while Ursula was straggling some way behind.
"I cant..*huff *...keep up.." she panted, physical exercise never being a big part of her curriculum during her home schooled years. The best she got was a few yoga lessons on her Mom's Wii fit.
"Come on, we just need to get back around to the stairs! They won't hurt us when there are teachers around!...I think. Maybe" Mulan called back to her.
Flynn heard Rapunzel from behind him, and he looked back to check on her "Rapunzel, you doing ok back the-ERE!" Flynn let out a startled cry as his body twisted, his foot caught on one of his shoelaces, and in an instant he was sent flailing to the ground with a hard smack.
Mulan kept running, with Rapunzel's hand still in hers, but Rapunzel stopped to turn back "Flynn!" she cried, seeing him wince as he tried getting back up. He was too slow though.
Flotsam practically fell on top of him to keep him down, Flynn yelling as he was smacked back down to the ground, Jetsam taking a hold of his arms as she skidded to his side.
"Prepare to get stapled!"
Even in the midst of being assaulted, Flynn couldn't help himself "Prepare to get stapled?! What the hell kind of lame ass kids TV show battle cry is-oh mY SHIT SHE ACTUALLY DID IT, SHE STAPLED ME, I'VE BEEN STAPLED!"
Flynn let out a cry of pain as his ear burned, Jetsam puncturing a good two times.
"What the hell is wrong with yo-oOW!"
"Get off of him!"
Mulan watched in a kind of stunned horror as she watched Rapunzel practically launch herself at Flotsam, rugby tackling her off of Flynn, both girls crashing together on the floor about a metre away with a shriek.
Flynn may not have been strong enough to knock off two mad goths, but he could definitely handle one. He managed to get an arm away from Jetsam while she was distracted, and made a grab for the stapler. She pulled back but he grabbed a hold of her wrist while she clicked it together in vain, little scraps of metal falling to the floor.
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"Guys, what's taking so long?" Aladdin poked his head around the door.
"Aladdin, what are you doing? You're supposed to be the look out!" Jasmine snapped, scared half to death as she heard the knob being turned.
"I am looking out, and I heard screaming. I think you need to hurry up"
"Were trying, but it's not coming off!"
Aladdin took one more look down the hall before ducking in to help.
"Here give it to me" he said, taking over. While he scrubbed almost viciously, Ariel began to pick at it with her nail.
"Urgh, this isn't working at all. We need something else" Jasmine said, rummaging around in her bag "Do you think nail polish remover would work?"
She handed it to Aladdin and he began throwing splashes of it on.
"Hey, hey, easy, you want to buy me a new one when your done?!"
It still didn't work.
"Oh my god..." Ariel muttered, their plan falling to pieces before her eyes.
"Quick, what's in your bag" Jasmine wrenched open Aladdin's satchel.
"Oh, yeah, just grab the industrial strength bathroom cleaner I always keep next to my Math notes" Aladdin said.
Jasmine grabbed out a can of mens deodorant "What about this? Would this work?"
Ariel and Aladdin just gave her a look.
"What, like you guys aren't desperate either?!" she snapped.
Then something else caught her eye from under Aladdins Gym shorts. A black sharpie. She pulled it out all three of them looked at it in one big collective 'Duh' moment.
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By the time Ursula had caught up to everyone, Flotsam had Rapunzel wrestled onto her back, pinned down, but Rapunzel had managed to grab on to a chunk of her lank, green hair, and Flotsam shrieked as she pulled. Flynn was still struggling to get up as Jetsem hung on desperately to his arm to keep him from helping Rapunzel, especially now that Ursula had her mean eye on her. She was practically three times the size of the girl, and Rapunzel looked up at her in fear. This was a fight they were not going to win.
Then there was a cry that made all of them freeze.
"EVERYBODY CALM DOWN!"
They all turned to see Mulan, who, while everyone was distracted, had run up ahead to the very close by radiator.
Mulan held up a very old looking tub of yohgurt, with the label peeled off, and the contents inside looking a not too healthy shade of green, as well as her cellphone in her hand. Ursula, Flotsam and Jetsam looked at it in fear.
"Yeah, you know what this is, don't you?" Mulan glared triumphantly.
"Where did you-How did you even know where that-" Flotsam stammered.
Ursula's eyes narrowed "I know what this is. You're that little red haired skanks friends, aren't you?"
Mulan nodded "Damn right we are. She told us all about this little thing-" Mulan held up the tub, like she was aiming it, and all three girls flinched "-And unless you want to get off my friends right now, it's gonna end up allll over you"
"You wouldn't"
Mulan moved her fingers to the lid "I would"
Flotsam let go of the front of Rapunzel shirt, and Jetsem let go of Flynn, the both of them scrambling up to stand back with Ursula.
"Ok, ok, fine, let's not to anything crazy" Ursula backed away a little bit.
Flynn spluttered indignantly "Oh, lets not do anything crazy? You just stapled my goddamn ear!?"
As he helped Rapunzel up and the two backed behind Mulan, it was a stand off between all of them.
"Ok, heres the deal" Mulan said "You back off my friend. You leave Ariel alone and stop asking to be in the band"
Ursula smirked, eyeing the tub of Yoghurt "What, are you going to start carrying that thing around everywhere you go? Even if you get out of this one, we can still come for her tomorrow"
Mulan smirked back as she held up her cell phone "Yeah, well, considering I know have pictures of you assaulting my friends with a stapler, pictures I could easily show the school principle any time I want, I doubt that"
Ursula's smirk fell into a glare.
"Ooooooh, she got you. She got you so good" Flynn said, a lot braver now that the stapler was on the other side of the room.
"Fine. Whatever. I don't even care" Ursula tried to save face "But you just tell Ariel that I still want those clothes back tomorrow...and I changed my mind about the money thing, she has to give me a fifty as well. That's my last deal"
Mulan nodded "Fair enough"
With one final look of utter hatred, Ursula turned and stalked back down the hall the way they'd come, Flotsam and Jetsem shooting them looks as well before following.
"Come on" Flynn said "Lets go"
"But what about the others? Do you think they're still back there" Rapunzel asked, as the three of them hurried to the exit.
"Call me cold hearted but I think we've suffered enough, they're on their own. Besides, I think I need a Tetanus shot..." Flynn rubbed gingerly at his ear.
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By the time the three of them had rounded back to the stairs and headed up to a more civilised, above ground, part of the school, they were immediately spotted by Jasmine, Ariel and Aladdin.
Ariel and Jasmine raced over to their friends.
"Oh my gosh, you guys got out ok. We were freaked when we didn't see you already up here!" Ariel pounced on Rapunzel in a hug, but pulled back when she heard her hiss in pain "What wrong, are you ok?"
Rapunzel smiled "Yeah, it's just my side. I tackled one of those girls and I hit the ground pretty hard"
Jasmine gaped "No way!"
Flynn looked proud of her as he pulled her close "Yeah way, all to protect me. My big strong hero" he laughed.
"So they did catch up to you? I told them I heard screaming" said Aladdin.
"Yeah, but don't worry. I handled it" Mulan said, proudly holding up the tub of Yohgurt.
Everyone took a step back from her.
"Oh my god, what is that?" Jasmine stared at it in disgust.
"The stink bomb they were planning to use on Ariel. I stole it off them"
"And you're going to keep it?"
Mulan shrugged "Why not? Better than giving it back to them"
Ariel began laughing hysterically "I can't even believe we pulled this off, you guys are amazing!"
"So you got rid of the signature ok?" Rapunzel asked.
Jasmine smiled "Eventually..."
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Ursula kicked open the door to their bathroom with a scowl, in a thoroughly bad mood that not even another cigarette could fix.
She then kicked the sink with some very choice words about a certain red headed 'blankety-blanking-blank who could go choke on a blank'
Her mood was not improved when she saw that the one thing she could still use against Ariel, the signature, had now been throughly scribbled over in marker. No trace of Ariels name could ne seen, just a great big, nondescript, black smudge.
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As the end of lunch bell rang, Esmeralda opened her locker and adjusted a few loose strand of hair in the mirror she had hanging up on the inside of the door.
"Quasi, you think this wig looks good, don't you? I can totally pull off blonde?"
Quasi looked up, shrugging lightly "I think anything would suit you"
Esmeralda looked down in pleasant surprise at his sweet comment "Aw, thank you"
Pocahontas just shook her head "Please don't encourage her, she's been wearing that thing all day"
Esmeralda shut her locker as they headed off down the hall "Didn't you just hear? It suits me?"
"You're my best friend and I love you, so just trust when I say Blonde is not your colour" Pocahontas laughed "Your skin is way too dark"
"Urgh, racist"
Pocahontas had to restrain a roll of her eyes.
"What about when Rihanna went blonde? And Beyonce?"
"Yeah, well, you're not Beyonce"
Esmeralda let out a wistful sigh "If only..."
Pocahontas looked over and saw that her friend wasn't carrying any of her books "You forget something?" she said, holding up her own History text book.
"Oh, actually I was...not...planning on going" Esmeralda started that like she was going to come up with some good excuse, but it was Pocahontas. She knew a lie wouldn't fly with her, even if it was a good one.
"Ditching Frollo's class? I mean, home ec, maybe, but he's going to report this one. You know how he is, especially after yesterday"
"Yeah, well, he can deal with it" Esmeralda said, agitated.
Pocahontas stared at her, worriedly "Is everything ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine.." She smiled, glancing down at Quasi so Pocahontas would notice "I'll text you later, ok?"
Esmeralda nodded, getting the hint "Yeah, ok"
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Phoebus looked up as Pocahontas and Quasi drifted into history class, without Esmeralda following them.
He let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding.
At the same time it was both a relief and a worry that she hand't shown up.
"Hey, man, let me look at the answers you got for the homework"
Phoebus gave Flynn a cold look before turning back to the front of the class.
Flynn let out a groan "Awww, come on, are you still mad about drama class?"
"Yes" Phoebus said, bluntly.
"It wasn't even a big deal! So you touched lips with Esmeralda, whatever, I don't know what your mad over. Half the guys in our year would kill to get that opportunity,and it couldn't have been that bad-"
"What's bad Flynn-" Phoebus snapped "-Is the fact that she has been avoiding me all day because of it! You saw her back in drama class, she practically ran out!"
"She said she needed a drink of water"
"For half an hour?!"
"...maybe your lips were so dry it made her extra thirsty"
Flynn regretted saying that, as his friends face told him it was clearly not the time for jokes.
"Plus she didn't show up at lunch, and now she's ditching history. It weirded her out. You made it weird!"
"No, maybe you two are making it weird. You're super close anyway, I didn't think it would even matter"
"What if me and you kissed? Would it be weird then? Because I think it would be weird"
"...I don't know where your going with this argument"
"It's like that with me and Esmeralda. We've been friends for years and yeah, we're really close, and now...you...it's weird now"
Flynn frowned "Why? Have I awakened a dormant passion you never knew you had for her?" he said sarcastically.
Phoebus blinked a little too much for it to be normal "...no"
Flynn's eyes widened "Holy shit, I did, didn't I!"
"What?! I said no! That was a very firm no that I just said!"
Flynn was gaping as this dawned on him "Maaaan, oh my god, how did I not see it. You always hate the guys she dates, you two always hang out together even when none of us are around. You do, don't you? you wanna give it to Esmeralda-"
"Would you keep your voice down!" Phoebus hissed at him "Pocahontas and Quasi are sitting right back there!"
"You don't want them to know about your burning desire?"
"There is no burning-...Flynn. Listen to me. We're just friends. Close friends"
"Then why are you this freaked out about a stupid kiss-"
"Because you know what she's like with guys when they become more than friends!" Phoebus snapped
"Esmeralda...its like...like she puts guys into the 'friend' category or the 'boyfriend' category. You have to have noticed it too. We, us two, are firmly in her friend category, and that's cool, I'm fine with that. I don't want to screw that up. Maybe that kiss would have been fine if we could step back and laugh about it afterwards, but we didn't do that. She practically ran away out of that drama class, so now I don't know where that puts me. Am I still her friend? Am I that friend she's going to distance herself from because maybe she think I like her? I don't know what's going through her head right now, but the fact that she'd now avoiding me like the plague doesn't fill me with hope"
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Rapunzel dumped her school bag in the hall as she walked into her apartment.
"Hi, Mom" she called out, taking off her shoes and lining them up next to each other, before sliding on the hardwood floors in her socks, heading for the kitchen.
"Hi, dear" Gothel said, sitting up at the dining table with her laptop open, and a bunch of work papers spread around her "Anything interesting happen at school today?"
"Nope" Rapunzel said as she went to the fridge and grabbed a yoghurt, peeling back the lid and grabbing a spoon from the drawer. Just as she ate one bite, her mind flashed back to the expired weapon of gross destruction that was the yoghurt from earlier today. With a grimace she pulled the spoon back out from her mouth, accidentally spilling a bit down her top, as she threw the whole thing in the bin, no longer hungry.
"Oh, before you do anything, Rapunzel, grab anything that needs washing and put it in the hamper. I'm taking things down to the laundry"
"Ok" Rapunzel said, skidding off in her socks again to her room.
She rifled through her clothes that lay discarded down the end of her bed, the past weeks outfits. She picked up a cardigan from the floor and gave it a sniff. Ooh, yeah, that definitely needed washing.
As she grabbed a pile and headed for the hamper, she looked down at her now yoghurt stained top. She shrugged, throwing down her clothes and then stripping off her shirt then and there, throwing it in with the rest of the stuff.
As Rapunzel back was turned, Gothel happened to walk past, and before she was noticed, her eyes settled on a nasty looking bruise on Rapunzel's side.
Gothel's mind instantly flashed back to that time Rapunzel had come back from that night out, a bruise on the back of her leg. This couldn't be normal. What could she be getting up too? Rapunzel wasn't the type to fight...surely that looked like it had to hurt, why didn't she mention anything? And the worst thought of all, was she hiding any other bruises?
Gothel almost said something, but thought better of it. Before Rapunzel even knew she'd spotted her, she backed out to the kitchen again, her mind simply racing with possibilities.
Over everything else, her mind kept coming back to one glaring thought.
That boyfriend.
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"-Look, I don't care what John from the marketing office says, I sent that invoice off two days ago and it should have arrived, so make some calls and find out where it's gone-"
Adam gently pushed open the door to his Fathers home office, side stepping in as he watched him pace around, phone in hand.
"You know what it is, Frank, it's that whole department. They haven't landed on their feet ever since the new management was hired four months ago, and they need to get it together before more than just invoices go missing-and wait, hold on a sec' Frank, my sons here-"
The CEO of G.E.D, Adam's father, Put his phone to his chest for a second to mouth words at Adam "What is it?"
"Dad, I need to talk to you about something"
"Adam, I've got one of my department directors on the phone, can't it wait?"
"It's almost midnight, I've waited all day to try talk to you, I wan't to go to bed" Adam muttered.
His Dad shot him an impatient look before putting the phone back to his ear "Look, sorry Frank but I have to put you on hold- No, no, I'll be maybe ten minutes tops, just hold onto the line"
Adam watched as he clicked the button on the phone and turned to him.
"Ok, what is it? What's up? You need money for something?"
Adam tried not to sound annoyed "No, Dad,...it's about this thing I promised someone at school.."
He just raised an eyebrow, so Adam continued.
"Her Dad, Maurice, works for you and she said you have plans to fire him"
He shrugged "Not me, I don't really fire workers, that's not my department. That's more to do with his area manager than-"
" But I told her I could get you to make sure he keeps his job. Make sure he doesn't get fired"
There was a brief pause before Adam's dad ran a hand over his face, letting out one long sigh.
"And why did you have to go and promise something like that?" he said, staring at Adam with a shake of his head.
Adam shrugged, frowning "But can't you? What's the deal, you're the boss, you can just tell them not to-"
"Adam, Adam, no, that's not-I can't do that. I won't do that"
"And why not? It'll probably take one phone call and you could just-"
"Look, don't act like you know how running a company works, and If this man is being fired, it's probably for a reason, so I'm not going to get involved" he tried to say firmly "I don't even know this man, and it's not my place to step in and change company plans just for one person-"
"But I promised-"
"And you shouldn't have done that" His dad snapped "That was irresponsible of you to promise something like that to someone"
"But Dad!" Adam pleaded, his temper rising.
"No, Adam! I'm sorry, but no. You're just going to have to tell your friend you're sorry but there's nothing that can be done about it"
And before Adam could get in another word, his Father had picked up the phone again and taken it off hold.
"Yes, hello, Frank? I'm back. Sorry about that, anyway-"
Adam watched him, helpless and angry.
He felt like knocking that damn phone out of his hand. He felt like screaming at him. But he didn't. He just left, making sure to slam the door on his way out, as he stalked back down the hall.
As soon as he was alone in his bedroom he slumped against the door, head held in his hand.
This was one of those times he felt his temper get the best of him. Whenever his Dad didn't listen to him, whenever a problem he had was passed over as un-important. If it was a problem that couldn't be solved by throwing money at it , it wasn't a problem his Dad was interested in hearing. Adam tried to breathe deep, the way he'd been told to do by the therapist he'd been forced to see a couple years ago had taught him to do, to calm himself down.
It didn't work. He found himself standing up and swinging a punch at the wall, putting a dent in the plaster with a hiss of pain.
As he felt his hand throb, he paced his room, running a hand through his hair.
He was mad at his Dad, but he was more mad at himself.
His Dad had been right . He shouldn't have promised anything to Belle. He didn't have the power to actually help her at all.
He stared at his phone , sitting on his bed.
She was going to hate him.
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Belle was woken up by a buzzing sound. Her phone vibrating on her nightstand, the light of the screen hitting her eyes. She reached out to grab it, rolling over on her pillow.
"Hello?"
"Belle?"
"Oh, hey Adam" she said, more awake in an instant "Did you talk to your Dad? Did it go well? Please tell me it went well, I've been stressing all night. I only just got to sleep"
"Oh, sorry, didn't mean to wake you up, kind of forgot what time it was.."
"It's fine, fine. I want to hear from you" Belle said, sitting up "So? Is the meeting cancelled? My Dad still has his job?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line "It, um...yeah, It wen't well"
Belle's face broke out in a huge smile " Really? Oh my gosh, thats fantastic. Wow, you don't even know how happy I am right now. Happy and relieved" she laughed, flopping back down on the bed, kicking her legs up in the air "Thank you, thank you! You're a life saver!"
As she flailed with happiness, Belle couldn't hear anything on the other end of the phone "Adam? You still there?"
"Huh, yeah? Sorry"
"You know, I really wish you were here right now. I need to hug you again, even though I could tell that one earlier probably freaked you out" she laughed.
"No, it was...it was good. I didn't mind"
"Well, expect one tomorrow then, wether you wan't it or not...and really. Thank you. I can't say it enough"
"Yeah, well,...it's good to hear you so happy"
"You have no idea" Belle smiled "Ok, it's late, I won't keep you. Thanks for calling, I'll see you tomorrow"
"Yeah, seeya"
Belle heard the click of Adam hanging up, and she put her phone back down on the night stand.
Tonight she could sleep easily, pulling up the covers with a smile that wouldn't leave her face, because it had all worked out ok.
Adam, on the other hand, lay on his bed, running his hands over his face.
He doubted he would be getting much sleep at all.
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A/N: Literally so many people have asked me about Snow White's prince...and I'm going to give anyone an answer.
Because I'm mean.