A/N: Would you guys believe me if I told you I was kidnapped by mad corporate biscuit makers and forced to only write fortune cookie notes in a deep, dark cellar underground, hidden away from the rest of the world and internet, with only a type writer to work on and a box of cornflakes to sustain me?
No?
Ok then. Well, wether that happened or not, I am so sorry for the late update, you have no idea. My time management skills are non existent. One minute I've just updated the last chapter and thought, great, I'll start writing the next one straight away. Then work gets in the way, and planning a trip to England, and catching up on Geoff Johns entire run of the Justice Society of America because its only ninety something issues long, and then some days there are comic conventions, and days to hang out with friends, and drawing, and out of nowhere feelings of utter despondence about my place in the world and my future life decisions and the fact I don't have any goals or aspirations to work towards as my life slowly passes before my eyes with no clear path to follow, coupled with the feelings that I'll never amount to anything...and also some days you've just got to set aside time to marathon an entire two seasons of Orange is the new black. You know how it is.
Anyway. I'm determined to not slip so bad again. I promised myself, and you guys, that this fic will be finished, and finished it will be.
You're all wonderful, patient, lovelies. Thank you for putting up with me.
"I can't believe you made us walk"
"It's a chance to exercise. It'll do you good"
Pocahontas scoffed "Says the girl who was painting her nails during P.E. yesterday"
Esmeralda stretched out her hands to admire her polish work "Point taken"
"Better walk faster if we don't want to be late" Pocahontas checked the time on her phone "Would it really have been that bad getting our usual ride from Phoebus? If anything you're making the whole thing worse by being weird around him"
Esmeralda groaned "I know, I know. I told you I'm gonna' talk to him...eventually. Maybe next monday"
"Esmeralda"
"Don't give me the scoldy Mom tone.I just didn't want to launch into it first thing in the morning. I'm barely coherent until ten AM, and if I don't have time to mentally psyche myself up to it, I'd probably just blurt out something really smooth like 'My face touched your face, whats up with that?' or something equally uncomfortable. You know how my filter is"
"Yeah, your lack of it. I just thought you were over him by now. At least that's what you say all the time...but I guess theres always a difference between what people say and what they mean, right?" she glanced over at her friend.
Esmeralda chewed on her lip, her eyes not moving up from the footpath "...right"
Pocahontas sighed " I don't want to be harsh, I know how much you used to like him, but I've seen you waste your time on this crush for, what, years now? I really wanted to think you'd moved on from it to be honest. It's better for you"
"Obviously. I didn't ask for all this feelings crap to re-surface. I mean, I spent the last couple years jamming it down,do you really think I'd want it to start overwhelming me again? It was just that stupid kiss that just...I dunno. Brought it all back. It's so stupid"
Pocahontas's expression softened "It's not stupid if you can't help it...I just remember how upset it used to make you-"
"We don't have to talk about it, really, don't worry too much. I've shoved down my feelings for Phoebus into a deep forgotten part of my brain before, and I can do it again"
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"Hey, watch it!"
Adam turned back to glare at the freshmen he'd just knocked past in the hall.
He didn't have to say anything, the fresher had realised his mistake. Adam's grumpier-than-usual expression sent the boy fast on his way.
Adam turned back to keep walking, when he spotted Belle headed straight towards him.
He had to muster a smile as she beamed at him, looking happier than he'd ever seen her. He'd enjoy it more if it didn't make his guilt slap him in the face all over again.
It also didn't help that over Belle's shoulder, Adam could clearly spot Gaston down the hall, and he wasn't being at all subtle about glaring at the two of them. It took considerable will power to stop glaring back as he turned down at Belle.
"Hey, whats up-"
Belle wrapped her arms around him in a hug, quickly pulling back, smiling, a little embarrassed.
"Told you I'd do it"
Guilt slap.
"And you know I'm still going to see this whole deal we had till the end. You held up your end, I'm going to hold up mine"
Guilt slap.
"Belle-"
"Hey, I'll even do a better job than I was doing before. I'll get you two coffee's in the morning from now on...or actually, maybe not, that can't be good for digestion"
"Belle-" he tried again.
"Ooh, you know what? I can bake. I should bake you things!"
"Belle, shut up for a second" Adam said, as...politely as he could.
Belle shut up but she gave him a look about it. He probably wouldn't be able to get away with that twice, so he needed to get this out fast.
"I wanted to show you something"
She paused, suspicious.
"Um, ok?"
Adam gestured for her to come follow him "Come on"
"What? What is it? Where is it? We have class in fifteen minutes"
"It won't take that long if you hurry up"
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Belle followed Adam down to the schools basement level, inadvertently walking past the spot that a stapler massacre had taken place just the day before.
"Ugh, it smells gross"
"Kids smoke down here"
Belle frowned up at Adam.
"Not me"
He led her down one of the smaller corridors that ended in a brown door, the paint nearly all chipped away, the fluorescent light overheard flickering intermittently.
"You're not showing me a dead body are you? This feels like an opening to a Supernatural episode. You know, when the curious teens die?"
"I thought you didn't watch that much TV" Adam said as he opened the door.
"I don't, but you only need to see one horror movie to know going down to creepy basements with flickering lights never ends well" Belle said, peering into the room.
It was dark, and cramped, and she could just make out that it was some kind of utility room. There was a huge boiler in the corner, as well as an old sink that didn't look like it had been cleaned since the late eighties. There were racks of old Janitorial supplies, a couple of projectors, plus a pile of scratched up desks and chairs, old boxy computers stacked on top of them to make a haphazard mountain of abandoned school supplies.
"Yeah, the whole 'I'm going to die if I go in there' vibe isn't going away"
"Don't worry. I've been down here plenty of times, and I didn't even die once"
Belle followed him, cautiously stepping over a dead cockroach.
"This isn't going to be like that movie where you tell me you've actually been dead all along, and that's the reason I'd never noticed you before?"
"I'm starting to think you watch more TV than you let on"
"Can we at least turn a light on? I just stepped on something that crunched"
"Light's broken. We only have to get to that other door there"
Belle tried to squint, the only light came from behind them in the flickery hallway. She could barely make out the outline of a door on the other side of the room. If Adam hadn't mentioned it was there, she wouldn't have noticed it.
They had to climb over a couple of desks to reach it, and squeeze past a pile of old gym mats that had been stacked against the wall, and when Adam finally opened the door, it was even darker inside.
"Are those stairs?" Belle asked.
Adam took out his phone to use as a flashlight "Yeah, watch your step"
The steps in question were solid concrete, and their steps echoed in the way they always did in narrow stairwells. It reminded Belle why she always took the elevator in multi-storey car parks. That, and those places always smelt like public bathrooms.
As they made their way up, Belle did her best to keep looking up ahead to follow the light of Adam's phone, as well as looking down to watch where she placed her feet.
All the good it did her though. She slipped as she stepped a little too far off the edge of one of the steps. Belle fell down on one knee, gasping as she caught herself just in time.
"Tch, told you to watch your step"
Belle was about to ask Adam just why exactly it was his idea to come up here anyway, but she looked up to see his hand outstretched in front of her.
"..It's not that much further, is it?" she asked, putting her hand in his, as they kept walking.
"No, just one more flight"
Belle was glad it was dark. She could feel the heat of her face blushing as she held Adam's hand. She was surprised at how soft his grip was.
As they turned the last corner, she could see cracks of light from a door up ahead, and heard Adam push hard against it. Belle winced as light suddenly filled her eyes as they walked out into daylight.
She had to blink a few times as Adam led her outside, and the first thing she could see was the view.
"Oh, whoa. We're on the roof"
"Yeah, tallest point"
They were standing on a small patch of bare concrete, a huge air-conditioning unit behind them. There was barely even a ledge to the sides of the building, so Belle didn't exactly feel like walking all the way to to the edge. She could see the tops to the rest of the school buildings, and the tree tops of the senior quad just below them, and even the buildings of the town down the road.
It wasn't a spectacular view, and it wasn't peaceful, what with the hum of the AC unit behind them, and she couldn't see anything that stood out as something Adam would wan't to show her.
"So...this is it" Adam gestured around.
Belle glanced around again, in case she missed something.
"And this is..what?"
Adam's face fell a little "This is my place"
"Your place?"
"Yeah, you know...my place"
Belle smiled "Oh. You mean the place you come and hang out when you skip class so you don't get caught?"
He shrugged, slumping down to sit in the shade of the AC unit "And to have lunch, and just go to think. Read. Get away from everyone"
"Now I know why nobody ever see's you around" Belle came over to sit down next to him "How'd you find this place? I didn't even know people could get up here"
"Bored. Didn't want to go to Math class. Just went wandering one day"
"And nobodies ever caught you? This place is right over the quad"
"They can't see you unless you hang over the edge. I think the only time people come up here is maintenance workers if the AC needs fixing. Far as I know I'm the only student who knows about it" he nodded to Belle "And now you of course. You can come up here whenever you want"
Belle laughed "I feel so privileged to be the first and only V.I.P to get an open invitation to Adam's super secret rooftop hideaway"
The corner of Adam's mouth tilted up in an almost laugh "I just think it's important to have a spot thats just yours, you know? Nobody to bother you, nag you, hassle you. You can do what you want. Not worry about things. It's just kind of calming knowing theres a place the rest of the world can't get to you, even if its just for a little while"
Belle studied his face as he talked. He wouldn't look at her
"Well, it's not that secret now that I know about it"
Adam shrugged, looking over the view "Guess I Always wondered what It'd be like to share with someone, too"
Belle let those words sink in, the two of them sitting in each others silent company for awhile.
"Hm, it is pretty nice up here. Thanks for sharing it with me"
"S'nothing" She heard Adam murmur.
But she knew it was a pretty big something, really.
Then the bell rang.
"Ugh, no!" Belle panicked "I'm going to be late even if I run through that basement" she said, scrambling to pick up her bag, but Adam didn't move "Aren't you coming?"
"Nah. Just wood shop. Mr. Gepetto doesn't even take attendance anyway" he glanced up at Belle "You should stay here. Skip class"
"...surprisingly, I'm actually considering it. But I have a test today, so it actually matters if I'm not there"
"Suit yourself. But here. You'll need my phone if you're going to make it back down those stairs"
Belle took the offered phone "You don't need it?"
"Don't worry,I know my way back through that basement blindfolded"
"Im sure, but what if you miss a call because I took it or something?"
"Who's gonna call me? All I use it for is to play candy crush"
"You play Candy Crush?" Belle smiled.
"I thought you were going to be late to class?"
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Belle made her way back down the stairwell, and through the supernatural-esque utility room, just in time for the second bell to ring and she groaned. She was a lot faster getting out than she was heading in, because she was a lot more assured she wasn't going to die this time, but now going to have to haul ass just to get in less trouble than she already was. Thanks, science lab, for being all the way across the campus. Thanks a whole lot.
As she quickened her steps to round the corner, Belle almost screamed as someone appeared in front of her.
"Oh my god, Gaston! what the hell!" Belle clutched her bag to her chest.
"Oh my god me? Oh my god, you, Belle, where the hell have you been?" Gaston said, and Belle was surprised at how angry she noticed he was.
"What? What are you talking about?"
"I have been looking down here in every classroom for you!"
"...Why?" Belle sneered.
"Because you disappeared! I saw that asshole take you down here and then you were both just gone, god knows what had happened to you-"
Belle shook her head, half laughing, thoroughly confused "Ok, ok, I don't even...why did you follow me down here anyway, why do you care?"
Gaston looked at her like she was an idiot "Oh gee, well excuse me for worrying when someone takes a naive girl down to the school basement alone, and then disappears with her! I heard what he said to you ' I have something to show you' I mean for god sake, why did you even go with him? How did you know that wasn't dangerous-"
Belle's mouth hung open "Gaston, if you're implying what I think your implying, thats disgusting and I can't believe you even thought-and why were you listening in on our conversation in the first place?!"
Gaston ignored her question "I've seen it happen, Belle . You ever hear what happened at that Flynn guy's party a few weeks ago? Some girl almost got her stupid ass attacked by some creep losers who lured outside alone, you've gotta be careful.
"Adam is my friend, not some creep loser! And...and...what do you even know about it?! You don't know either of us, you don't know anything, so don't act like your some big saviour looking out for my welfare, because as far as I know, you're the only one who's ever been a 'creep loser' to me!"
"I know you said you were 'friends' with him, but I see how he looks at you. The freak loner finally has a girl paying attention to him and you don't know when he's going to get sick of waiting for you to want to put out , and then he'll decide to show his true colors and take what he wants fro-ARGH "
Belle had slapped him right across the face.
Belle looked just as surprised as he did as they stood there in silence, the slap almost echoing in the halls. She was almost worried he was going to slap her back.
"Fine" was all he eventually said "Do what you want. I'm just the nice guy trying to warn you away from the guy everyone knows is a beast. You gotta wonder why he doesn't have friends"
Belle laughed. Actually laughed.
"Oh my god. Guys like you have it so twisted. The only thing I wonder about is how you have friends" she muttered, hurrying away, leaving Gaston standing there, fuming, with a bright red mark on his face.
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"You don't look bad, Ariel, promise"
"Yeah, it's the same stuff you used to wear before, and you didn't hate it then. It can't be that different"
"I'm sure Eric will think it looks cute"
"Its an Aeropostale polo shirt and a skort. This is the least punk rock look in existence" Ariel mumbled, her head slumped down on her desk.
Jasmine, Mulan and Rapunzel looked at each other. Couldn't deny that.
"At least Ursula didn't hassle you when you gave the clothes back" Mulan smiled.
Ariel grunted.
"Look, if Eric even says anything, then he's not worth your time!" Jasmine said "You shouldn't have to look a certain way just so he likes you!"
"I know that!" Ariel whined, lifting her head up "This isn't all about Eric you know!"
Jasmine stopped "...I...thought it was actually. You only got your 'makeover' to impress him in the first place, all the black and the music and going to the skatepark and-"
Ariel cut her off pretty quick "Is that what you think? That I just played dress up to get Eric?"
"Well, I...that's not how I put it, but..."
"I didn't just want to change just so eric would like me. I like the black clothes. I like that kind of music. But one time I wore a top with a skull on it and Dad told me to stop being gaudy, so I just...didn't bother. Eric just ended up being a reason to go ahead with what I've been wanting to do anyway...and I don't care if people like ursula just think im a try hard. I finally liked how I looked, They made me more confident. Confident enough to sing in a band! I don't want to go back to being boring Ariel who just wore hand me down jeans from her sisters"
Ariel's shoulders slumped a little again " I know its stupid and they're just clothes, they don't define you, blah blah, afterschool-specialness...but I dunno...I finally felt like me in them you know?"
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As the bell rang, Ariel exited the classroom like she was heading down the green mile.
She was supposed to meet Eric at his locker so they could have lunch together, talk over some song choices. Chances were he'd take one look at her, gasp, give her the kind of look Tim Gunn did to the garments that 'just weren't working'.
"This is it. This is the end"
Mulan rolled her eyes "I think you're being a bit melodramatic"
"I'm going to die alone"
"Oh, no, my mistake, perfectly reasonable line of thinking"
They stopped at the end of the hall, were Ariel could see Eric putting things away in his locker.
"If he does actually say anything stupid, just remember I have that atomic yoghurt bomb, and I'm not afraid to use it"
"Ok, seriously, I think your power tripping over that thing"
"Pssht, no I'm not"
"You threatened to use it on Tiger Lily because she said your Pokemon key chain was lame"
"I got it in a happy meal and it's cool..."Mulan mumbled "And I wasn't being serious...at least not one hundred percent serious. I'm saving it for an emergency. Like if one of my best friends boyfriends acts like a jerk" she smiled.
Ariel smiled back "Thanks. I'll see you in English?"
"Yeah, see you later" Mulan gave her friend a clap on the back before she left "I bet It'll be fine"
Ariel tried to look like she believed that, taking a deep breath as she walked up to eric, her books clenched tight in her hands.
"Hey, Eric" she said, nervously, while his head was still stuck in his locker.
"Oh, Ariel? Hey. Guess what" he said, his voice muffled.
"Uh, what?"
Eric finally managed to pull a plastic zip bag, containing his lunch, free from under a pile of History text books, slamming the locker door and finally turning to Ariel. She winced, ready for him to glance her up and down and wonder what the hell was going on.
"Wendy had the best idea"
Ariel let out the breath she had been holding as Eric smiled at her with his dumb grin.
"Huh?"
"Yeah, yeah, Peter told me about it. She said maybe we could do, like, punk covers of popular songs, you know like, Kesha or Taylor swift, but make them actually cool"
"...Taylor Swift?" Ariel mumbled, waiting for him to comment on her outfit. Her tragically boring, pastel, colored outfit. I mean she was wearing Toms for god sake.
"I know, I was skeptical too, but they sent me links and a lot of bands do it. There are whole CD's dedicated to rock covers of pop songs, and some of them are pretty decent, and this way we're playing songs that everyone knows, but we're still being us, you know?"
"Ah...yeah...yeah, that's an awesome idea. We can do that"
Eric spun the dial on his locker and gave Ariel a look "Are you alright? You sound spacey? You sleep alright last night?"
Actually, she didn't. Ariel was up 'till three AM worried about how this exact moment was going to play out, but that was besides the point, since she was not acting worried about how suspiciously well this moment was going "I'm fine" She said, moving her books away from her chest, letting him get a better view of her outfit. She needed a reaction, any reaction.
"Ok. Cool. So you wanna head off and eat or...?"
Ariel raised an eyebrow "Eric, do you notice anything different about me?"
Eric paused. Then looked panicked.
"Shit, you didn't get your hair done, did you?"
"No"
"...are you...did you have a growth spurt?"
"No!"
"Um, crap...I don't know. Is this one of those things were I'm supposed to have noticed you started wearing a new lipstick, and I'm an asshole boyfriend for not noticing?"
Ariel thwacked him on the arm "No, I don't even wear lipstick. My clothes! It's my...just look!?"
She gestured down at the skort and Toms.
"Oh, are those those shoes were you buy them and they give a free pair to a needy child or something? That's cool"
Ariel let out a kind of groan, sigh, scoff and laugh of astonishment, all at the same time. But mostly she just laughed.
"Oh my god, you really haven't noticed what I'm wearing at all, have you?"
Eric pouted like he thought he was in trouble "Sorry, I don't really...I'm not really up with the whole fashion thing, even with guys clothes. Girls clothes are a whole other level of me not understanding" he shrugged his shoulders "...You look nice though?"
He looked surprised when he saw Ariel beaming at him, laughing.
"Are you mad?" he asked, cautiously, not entirely understanding what was happening right now.
"Do I look mad?" Ariel said, tucking herself under his arm at his side, and Eric instinctively put an arm over her shoulders.
"Well, no, but...what was that all about then?"
They started walking down the halls and Ariel shook her head "It's stupid, don't even worry about it"
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Mulan was sprawled across the couch after school, already in her sweatpants and a hoodie, watching cartoons, with her grandma off to the side in the recliner.
"-and why is that one pink?"
"Because she's made of bubblegum"
"Made of bubblegum?"
"Yeah, she's the princess of the candy kingdom"
"Oh, I guess that makes sense then"
"Mulan!" both Mulan and her Grandma turned as Mulan's Mom bustled into the living room, holding her I-pad up.
"Oh, Mulan, you should look at this. Julie Tan put up pictures of her daughters graduation"
The I-pad was shoved into Mulan's face.
"Um...cool?"
"She graduated with honors from her university. She's already got interviews from companies wanting to hire her"
Mulan shrugged, turning back to the TV "Yeah, Cool"
"What was her degree in?" Grandma asked.
Mrs. Fa waved her hand "Eh, I don't remember. But ooh, look at this picture of the after party, just look at her dress" she gushed, the I-pad again being forced into Mulan's face.
It was a floor length navy blue number, with diamontes scattered along the bust.
"Nice" Mulan said, barely glancing at it.
"I'd love to see you in something like that" said, with the subtly of a brick "You'd look so pretty"
Mulan felt like adding 'would you also like to see me graduate with a bachelors degree in whatever-you-don't-even-know-or-care-what' but she just kept her eyes glued to the TV in a hope her Mom would get the hint that she didn't want to have this conversation.
Mrs. Fa's smile tightened "You know, you shouldn't be watching cartoons before you finish your homework"
"I have finished it"
"Really? I didn't see you doing any"
"I did it at school"
"And your special maths club work?"
"Yeah, I did that already too"
"Really?"
"Yes!" Mulan said, annoyed. God, don't be so paranoid.
I mean, it was a total lie, but still.
Mrs. Fa shuffled out of the room without another word.
"...You know, I thought that dress on that girl was kind of tacky"
Mulan had to stifle as laugh as her grandma smiled at her.
She had another couple minutes of peaceful cartoon watching before a shout came from down the hall.
"FA MULAN"
Mulan had time to sit up on the couch before her Mom marched back into the room with her backpack in hand, open, and a crumpled piece of paper in her hand. The algebra homework she had shoved down the bottom of her bag, all the questions blank...
"This homework doesn't look very done to me, young lady!" Her Mom shouted.
"Th-that's only due next week-"
"It says the due date on top of the sheet, Mulan, you think I'm stupid?!"
"No, I just...was gonna' do it later" Mulan tried defending herself, knowing she didn't really have a leg to stand on.
"How do you expect to do well in this math club if you don't even do the work! You've only just joined and your already slacking and it's not good enough! All you do is watch stupid cartoons all afternoon!"
"I'm just tired, ok! I was just taking a break before I started working on it, I'll do it after dinner!"
"Oh, you're tired? From what, you don't do anything to be tired from, this is all just excuses to be lazy"
Mulan felt like telling her she was tired from running laps, and learning high jump, and practicing relays for most days of the week, now that the inter-school competition was coming up, but that wasn't really an option if she was going to keep pretending she was on the math club instead.
"I'm handling it, as long as it gets done, what's the problem-" Mulan argued.
"The problem is that the grades you're getting aren't good enough, so I would expect you to want to do better!"
"I do want to do better!"
"Well, you don't just get into university wanting to do better, you actually have to try Mulan, and at the rate your going, you wouldn't last a second in university. Sophomore year is ten times easier than all the work you'll have to do there-"
Mulan lost her temper "I do try! I'm sorry that I'm not as good as you want me to be!"
"That's not what I said!"
"But it's what you think! you never say it but I know you wan't me to be different, to be smarter, and more like whatever her name was's daughter and get a degree, and wear a stupid tacky dress and graduate and show off to your friends, instead of being stuck with me like I am"
"Stop putting words in my mouth, and theres no need to yell at me!"
"I'm not yelling, you're yelling!"
"You're both yelling!" Granny interrupted them both, standing up from her chair to put herself between her daughter and Mulan "The both of you need to just calm down, there's no need to get heated"
"You're right, there isn't, Mulan just needs to do her homework and not be a liar and a slacker-"
"-And a disappointment, and an embarrassment, and a bad daughter" Mulan shot back.
"Oh, for god sake, stop the dramatics! What do you want me to say, Mulan? You know what I want from you, What do you want from me?! Please, enlighten me" Her mother snapped.
Mulan glared, seething over her Mother sarcastic tone.
"I just want you to...I don't know...be proud of me" she said, her voice still angry, making her words sound more hateful than she wanted them too.
"I'll be proud of you when you do something worth being proud over" Her mother said flippantly, turning her back as she moved back towards the kitchen,
Her words hit Mulan right in the chest.
She stood there for a few seconds as they really sunk in, hurting her more every second as she repeated it over in her head. She didn't say another word as she picked up her backpack and bolted to the door.
She heard her grandmother call out her name but it didn't slow her down. Mulan was already thundering down the street path by the time she heard the door slam behind her.
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Pocahontas watched on a little smugly as John Smith darted across the main intersection of town, having already spotted her, giving a little wave.
The smug smile came from noticing a pair of girls, women actually, they looked at least mid-twenties, check out John Smith as he strode past them without a second glance. They followed his gaze and noticed Pocahontas, and Pocahontas could practically feel them give her a solemn nod of sisterhood in a 'you gettit, girl. Well done' moment.
And it was well deserved. Smith looked like he'd just walked out of a Tom Ford fall line catalogue. The well fitting jeans. The casual dress shirt with the top couple buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up. The leather low top sneakers that were only slightly scuffed in that 'I'm not too high maintenance but I'm not a cheap slob' either kind of way.
Pocahontas didn't know if she would ever be able to go back to dating boys her own age again, not after getting a taste of this.
"Hey there" she smiled as he reached her, and she smiled even more when he went in for a quick greeting hug.
"Hey" he smiled "You look good"
"Yeah, you too" Pocahontas said, in the understatement of the year "I didn't know if this was super casual or not, so I'm so glad you look a little fancy. I would have felt like an idiot in these heels if you showed up in a T-shirt and cargo shorts" she said as they began walking down the strip, a few people milling around as it was friday night.
"Cargo shorts? Please" Smith acted offended "And I always try to look at least a little fancy when I'm on a date"
Even just hearing the word 'date' again made Pocahontas glow.
"So, where did you want to eat?" she asked.
"Ladies choice"
"Hmm, you like Italian? I know a place just down here that does the best cheese breadsticks you will ever taste"
"Well, that argument has completely swayed me. I could probably eat an entire meal of just breadsticks and walk away happy"
"I know, they're amazing, and the ones you make at home never taste the same" Pocahontas laughed.
"Never" Smith agreed "I think you just have to be born Italian to be able to make breadsticks like that. It's probably in their genes"
"Are breadsticks an Italian food? It might be one of those things like chicken tikka masala, which isn't even real indian food"
"What, really? I didn't know that. Either way the Italians are lucky, they have all the best food, really. Pizza, pasta, cannoli's...what do the english have? Kippers, Marmite, black pudding.."
"Black pudding sounds nice. What is that, some kind of chocolate cake?" Pocahontas said, innocently.
Smith gave her a sly smile that let her know she was way off.
"Ok, what is it? You have to tell me now, I'm curious"
"No, it's disgusting, you don't want to know"
"Well, now I have to know"
"You'll feel ill"
"As If I would"
"It's a type of sausage made of pigs blood mixed with oatmeal and onions"
Pocahontas made a small gagging sound.
"Told you" smith laughed.
"Oh god" Pocahontas looked appalled "How is that even a thing"
"I know, it really lets us Brits down as a nation"
"And people make America feel bad over deep fried Twinkies. You guys are on a whole other level of abomination"
"I haven't even told you about eel pie yet" Smith smirked
"Ok, I know that ones a joke, that's not a real thing, you got that from the Simpsons"
Smith gave her a look "And where'd you think the Simpsons got it from?"
Pocahontas smile fell "...We need to stop talking about this, or I won't be able to eat a thing. Even delicious breadsticks"
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Mulan stared in the shop window at a mannequin modeling a pair of Aqua green skinny jeans.
Would she be able to pull them off? Was Aqua her color?
Mm, not really. Much more Jasmine's kind of thing.
There was a lilac pair next to them and Mulan decided that was Rapunzel's pair. The only other color left was pale canary yellow, which Mulan decided would be hers, even if she didn't like yellow that much. Ariel could have a pair of black ones, which wouldn't match the whole pastel color scheme, but Ariel didn't seem to suit pastels these days.
As Mulan daydreamed, she suddenly noticed a pair of eyes on the other side of the glass. The boutique owner was giving her a funny look as she folded sweaters. Mulan quickly hurried along.
She managed to walk down all the way from her house to the town, and after looking in a few shops, scrounging enough change from the bottom of her bag for an iced donut from the bakery, now she was just bored.
Mulan had run away from home once before. She was nine and had been caught drawing on her bedroom walls and the fight with her Mum had been so huge she'd decided she was going to leave and live in the park down the road for the rest of her life. She ended up sitting on the swings for about an hour before she got hungry and went home. It wasn't very dramatic.
It was already dark by now. Sundown had happened in a blink of an eye. She'd already gotten three missed calls from her Mom, no doubt she was worried.
Good, Mulan thought, childishly. Let her worry, she deserves too.
At least for a little bit. Of course she'd go home eventually, sooner rather than later, probably. Just enough for the heat to die down, so she could just slink in the front door, exchange a tense but muted apology with her Mom that both of them didn't really mean, and then she'll just wait another week until they have the same argument. Rinse and repeat.
Another missed call. And a message.
'are you coming home soon...?...worried...message back...I'm not angry anymore'
Why did Mothers always do the three dot pauses in texts? Why? Just to make themselves sound constantly hesitant and unsure? Whatever. Mulan decided to do another lap up and down the strip before heading back home.
She walked past the second hand bookshop, where three out of four men inside had beards and jean's on that were way too tight. Past the Travel Agency, where Mulan wished she had a thousand dollars to go on a cruise to Phuket. An adult store which she bashfully turned her head down to the pavement, not wanting anyone to think she was looking at the neon 'xxx video's two for $20' sign. Then she stared in the window of the modern late night gym, watching people running on treadmills and lifting weights and-hold on a second, she knew one of those treadmill runners!
Mulan did a double take as she pressed her face against the glass to peer in and she was right, there was Shang, his earphones in as he ran.
As if he could feel he was being watched, Shang glanced up, his eyes widening as he caught sight of Mulan in the window.
Mulan smiled and waved excitedly.
Shang gave a little wave of acknowledgement back, then his smile tightened as he noticed her hurry over to the entrance and push her way in the front door.
As soon as she was inside, Mulan hurried over to Shang, all smiles.
"Heya!"
"Mulan...hey" Shang said, slowing the treadmill down to walking pace "You uh...you need to pay too be-"
Mulan looked over to front desk she had just breezed past, the girl who was apparently meant to be watching it had her nose buried in an issue of 'In touch magazine'.
"Oh, don't worry, I'm not actually gonna' use anything .I'll be in and out, they won't mind" Mulan waved it off "I just noticed you in the window and thought I'd say hi"
"Ok...Hi" Shang said, with all the social skills of a stale bagel.
"So do you always work out here?"
"Yeah, friday and tuesday nights"
"It's a pretty nice place"
"Yeah, it is"
"Kinda' empty though"
"Well, it's closing in a couple hours"
"Oh"
Mulan rocked back and forth on her heels as a silence drifted over them. She stepped up onto one of the treadmills and pressed a couple buttons, just messing around.
"How do I work this thing?" she muttered out loud, jabbing randomly at what looked like an unnecessarily confusing looking control panel.
"You said you weren't going to use anything" Shang said, worriedly looking back at the girl at the desk.
"Relax, she's not looking" Mulan smiled, having just managed to get her machine going. Then it kept going, getting faster...and faster...and then Mulan was running, and then running faster " . . Help!" Mulan laughed as she panicked, the treadmill relentlessly picking up speed as she struggled to keep up.
Shang quickly stepped off his own machine to come over and help, pressing the stop button.
He obviously meant to help, but the sudden stop made Mulan fall flat on her face and flying off the back of the machine, into a display of exercise balls.
Her scream was loud enough for the girl at the desk to finally pay attention.
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"Amazing. You were in there for, what? Two minutes? And you managed to injure yourself, and get kicked out" Shang said, annoyance mixed with his amusement "No wait, both of us kicked out"
Mulan pulled her jacket closer to her in the cold night air, looking sheepish "I'm really sorry..."
"Yeah, you said that already"
"They'll let you back in right?"
"They'd better. I have a membership"
Mulan tutted "I can't believe they're so strict. Is people really sneaking in to use gym equipment that much of a problem?"
"I guess its a problem when they break things..."
"They were big bouncy balls! They bounced safely around! They totally over reacted!"
"One flew off and bounced into a sixty five year old man!"
"Well, he probably shouldn't have been at a gym at that age anyway!"
They walked down the strip in silence before reaching the intersection, with Mulan feeling like an idiot , her embarrassment catching up with her.
"I'm going down this way" Mulan nodded at the turn "See you at school then" she said quickly, wanting to get away.
She only made it a few meters before Shang called back to her.
"Wait, your walking back on your own? It's dark"
"It's only like, seven"
"That doesn't stop it from being dark. You can't get your parents to pick you up? Catch a bus?"
"I don't have any money on me and...look, I'm fine walking, it's not a problem"
But Shang had already caught up with her "I'll walk you home"
"What? No, you don't have to-"
"Mulan, come on. Do you really want to walk home in the dark at night on your own?"
Mulan tried to look determined, but looking up ahead of her at the quiet streets, devoid of the movement and the bustle of the town centre, she wavered.
"But you don't even live up this way"
"I don't mind. I'll probably jog back anyway. It'll be good training"
"...ok, sure" she said,giving in as they set off.
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"Hey! Yeah you, bar guy with the ponytail, two shots of tequila. Not the cheapest stuff you got, but like...the second cheapest" Megara yelled down the var of the Crews Cup.
"Oh, Meg, you shouldn't have, I'm not really a 'shot' kind of person and especially not tequi-"
Jane cut herself off as she saw Meg down both shots as they were placed in front of her.
"Sorry, what? Didn't hear you over the crowd?" Meg asked, handing her money, and the now empty shot glasses, back to ponytail bar guy.
"Never mind" Jane smiled "Um, I'll just have a glass of the house white wine, thanks"
Before bar guy could walk away to fetch it, Meg let out a groan "Ugh, no, boring. Get something else, something good. Look, they have margaritas here or, ooh look, they have something called a 'Rockstar martini' you should get that!"
"What's in a 'Rockstar Martini'?
Meg shrugged "I 'unno. Alcohol. Rockstar alcohol"
"I'm not getting that, I don't even like regular martini's"
Meg made a face like a child who had just been told they had to get apple slices instead of nuggets in their happy meal, because Mom said so.
Jane weakened "Alright, fine. Excuse me, sorry, I'll have a Bacardi and coke instead, thanks" she turned to Meg, who was clapping her hands together "There, better?"
"It's like watching a butterfly emerge from its cocoon" Meg laughed as they headed back through the reasonably sized crowd of the bar.
"Oh, look, Milo and Kida got us a booth" Jane spotted the pair waving them over.
She could see that Tarzan still hadn't arrived yet, though Jim Hawkins and Hercules, had.
"Hey, it's the new teacher guy, what's his face. God, can you remember his name? Did I even learn his name?"
You'd think Meg would be asking this out of earshot, but no, they were already at the table and she was sitting right next to him.
"Um, yeah, I met you in the library, photocopied some things?" Hercules said "And I see you...almost every other day in the staff room"
Meg eyed him up "...I vaguely recall"
Jane looked embarrassed for the both of them as she sat across from Jim.
"Did you guys order food? We we're thinking of getting food" Kida said.
"Just stuff to share, bar food" Milo added "If I get fries, will everyone else have fries?"
"Get two baskets of fries, there's six of us. Oh, plus get nachos. I am craving nachos right now" Said Meg.
"Seven" Jane piped up "They'll be seven of us, you know, when Tarzan gets here. Should we wait 'till he arrives to order food?"
Meg pulled a face "No, I'm hungry now. His fault for being late"
As everyone settled on the food they wanted and handed their money to Kida and Milo, who went to go and order at the bar, Jim turned to Jane.
"So who is Tarzan? Your boyfriend?"
Jane choked a little on a sip of Bacardi and coke.
"What? Gosh, no! No, he's the janitor, I don't have- I'm not..." Jane laughed uncomfortably, and Jim looked embarrassed.
"Oh, sorry, my bad, I just never knew what the guys name was before. The guy with the dreds?"
"Yes, that's him"
"Yeah, I've seen him 'round. I kind of suddenly feel really bad about not talking to him before. It was nice of you to invite him"
"Well, he is staff too" Jane shrugged "And don't feel bad, you can talk to him tonight! You know, that's the point of after work drinks. Getting to know colleagues outside of work"
Jim smiled at her "Yeah, can't believe we've never done it before"
"Mm, it took as awhile didn't it" se smiled back.
Jim shrugged off his jacket and hung it on the back of his chair "So, you, ah...said you didn't have a-"
"You know what, I'm getting another drink. You guys want another?" Meg said,cutting Jim off as she slid out of the booth.
"I'm still on my first. Don't you think you should pace yourself, Meg?"
Meg waved off Jane with a flick of her wrist "Honey, don't you worry about me. I don't know how you are after a couple of Bacardi and cokes, but me? I can handle my liquor"
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"And thEN-no wait, listen, seriously, just..just listen, I'm getting to the good part! *hic * excuse me-" Meg slurred, only forty five minutes later "-So then the guy tells me, Miss, I don't care if he's on a leash, you can't bring that rabbit in here, Denny's has regulations-"
Jane let out a sigh under her breath as Meg ranted on, spilling a bit of her drink on the table as the others laughed.
She looked down at her phone in her lap, wishing she would get a text from Tarzan to explain why he was so late, but knowing that was impossible because she hadn't worked up the nerve to ask him for his number yet.
"-so then after I'm 'escorted out', this girl who looks exactly, and I mean exactly, like Jimmy Fallon-"
Jane slipped her phone back into her purse, only to look up and catch Jim looking her way. He looked as sober as she did.
"Are you not drinking?" she asked, suddenly feeling rude for being glued to her phone. She should make conversation.
"Nah, driving home. Plus I have a tonne of papers to grade this weekend, I wanted to get a start on it tonight" he lifted his glass "This is just plain lemonade"
"I think most of us have papers we're neglecting tonight" Jane nodded to the others, who were too wrapped up in Meg's story to even notice their conversation.
"-so then this hideous nipple of a person is blackmailing me into paying off their library card fine and I'm like? Bitch, if you like the Josie and the Pussycats movie so much, just go buy the DVD! Like your Meryl Streep's dog walker, I'm pretty sure you can afford it"
"So much for handling her liquor" Jim muttered making Jane stifle a laugh.
"To be honest I can't tell if she's actually that drunk, she's that much of a loud mouth when she's sober" Jane said, in as nice a way as possible.
"Does anyone wanna' hear my Arnold Schwarzenegger impression? No seriously, I'm really good at it"
"...Ok, so she's maybe a little drunk"
"Hasta la Vista, baby"
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"So, uh...what were you doing hanging around town on a friday by yourself anyway?"
Mulan looked up, surprised Shang had finally said something. They'd been walking in relative silence for the past ten minutes.
"Oh, you know, just...hanging around"
"Were you stood up or something?"
Mulan shot Shang a look and he turned a little red.
"I-sorry, that was...I didn't mean it that way, I'm just...sometimes not always the best at..hm"
Mulan couldn't help but smile as he flustered.
"No, it's ok, but I wasn't stood up. I was...I had a fight with my parents" she admitted.
"Oh. What about?"
She shook her head "Just stupid stuff. Didn't do my homework, which means the end of the world as we know it, as I fail at everything I set out to achieve and bring shame upon the family for being a useless non-contributing member of society when I don't go to college and drop out of high school to get a job at McDonalds "
Now Shang shot her a look.
"...I was exaggerating...mostly. I mean I might end up working at McDonalds but the worlds probably not going to end"
Mulan kicked a rock along the path as the silence crept in again.
It was another couple minutes before Shang spoke up again.
"Im not trying to sound rude again or anything, but parents getting mad at you for not doing your homework is pretty normal"
"Yeah, I know" Mulan muttered quietly, kicking her rock.
"Nobody likes doing homework, but everyone has to do it, so we're all in the same boat"
"I know, I know-"
"-and storming out to hang around downtown over something small like that is kind of-"
"It's not just about the one bit of homework!" Mulan snapped, giving one hard kick to the rock that sent it flying across the street "I could do it, sure, like I can do all the other tests and projects and work sheets, but it's hard! And I know I sound like a brat saying I don't want to do it because it's hard, but that's how I feel. School is hard and I hate the work and I'm not good at it, and even when I try my best I just come middle of the class!"
Shang looked at a loss for words "Well...maybe if you practise you'll get better-"
"And that's what everyone tells me, but why should I? So I can get into college? So I can be a lawyer or a doctor, or some...math..person...whatever! Why should I have to try so hard for something I don't even want?! Even if I do get through high school with the best test scores, and get into college, and struggle through that in the same way , and get the degree my parents want me to get, what then? I'll just have a job I hate, so whats the point?"
Mulan stopped to breathe and realised she'd just had a minor meltdown in front of her team captain who she barely even knew that well.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to get all...y'know" she mumbled.
"No, it's fine. I kind of get what you mean, parents can be hard to deal with sometimes"
Mulan looked up at Shang in surprise "What would your parents have to yell at you about? You're the captain of the athletics team. Audrey told me you run track times that could get you a scholarship to like, a dozen different schools
"They mostly just give mostly just partial scholarships" Shang corrected her "But, you know how my Dad's head of the sports department, right?"
"Yeah? I always thought that'd be a good thing though. Aside from the obvious suckiness of having your parent as a teacher. At least he seems supportive"
Shang looked like he wasn't quite sure of the way he should string his words together "Yeah, he's super supportive. It's...not always the best thing. Did you know he won gold in the 1988 Olympics?"
"What?! No way!"
"Yeah, the american team dominated that year, twenty six medals in total, thirteen gold. My Dad got two of them for the hundred metre and long jump"
"Wow, that's so cool. I wonder why I've never heard of him"
Shang actually laughed "And you can list all the other 1988 Olympic gold medal winners off by heart?"
"Ok, fair enough. I'm googling this when I get home though"
"Anyway-" Shang continued " Dad was the sports hero, and since I was little he always encouraged me to follow in his footsteps. I wouldn't say he pressured me exactly. It was always my choice, It was what I wanted...but I dunno. There's always this kind of un-mentioned pressure. He doesn't need to say anything, you can just kind of feel it. Like if I don't get as far as he did, he'll be disappointed. I know it's not the same as it is with you, but I do get the whole 'parental expectations' thing. I'm just lucky to be living up to them at the moment"
Mulan walked alongside Shang in silence. It was weird to see the stoic 'Admirable Douche' talk like this. It was easy to get wrapped up in your own problems and forget that everyone has something weighing on them, even guys who came first in every race.
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"Ok, ok, I got one!" Jim announced the table of how now quite tipsy co-workers "Have you guys heard the chemistry theme song?"
"Oh no, science joke, nooo, boooo!" Meg hollered but Kida clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Don't listen to her, Tell it!"
"I dunno if it'll top Herc's one about the Greek government and Hummus" Milo said "Seriously you need to write that one down for me"
"Ssh, let him tell his joke!" Jane hushed them all.
"Ok, so, the chemistry theme song-" Jim cleared his throat "...sodium, sodium, sodium, sodium, sodium, sodium, sodium, sodium, Batman!"
It took a few seconds but then everyone got it and burst out laughing.
"Oh my gosh, that was awful" Jane said, between laughs.
"Science teachers have the worst jokes, I swear" Meg shook her head.
Just as the laughter was dying down, Jane went to grab a nacho, and as she did she looked up just in time to see Tarzan heading towards their booth.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, dropping the nacho back on the plate before standing up to greet him "You made it!"
The others turned and noticed him too, letting out their own hello's.
"Hey, look who finally made it" Meg called out.
"Better late than never" Milo said as everyone slid around in the booth to make room for him.
Jane felt an embarrassing rush of excitement when he came and took a seat next to her.
"Sorry I'm so late guys, really. I got held up at school, some kid threw up in the pool last period and thats like, a code red in my department...well, my department. I'm the only janitor so there isn't really a department and ….It's my code. I made up the code. But yeah, it was bad" Tarzan rambled.
"It fine, you made it, that's what matters" said Jane, Tarzan smiling at her.
"So, uh, what are you guys talking about? I heard you laughing when I came in, it's how I spotted you"
"Oh! Jim just told the most brilliantly bad joke, you have to hear it!" she turned to Jim "Do it again, say it again" she urged.
"Ok, so, do you know the chemistry theme song?" he asked Tarzan directly, the others stifled their laughs in the background.
Tarzan looked blank "I, um...no, should I?"
"No, no, it's part of the joke" Jane said.
"Oh, ok"
He looked back to Jim who had paused for dramatic effect again.
"...sodium, sodium, sodium, sodium, sodium, sodium, sodium, sodium, Batman!"
As the others all burst out laughing for the second time, which lets be honest, was mostly due to alcohol, Tarzan sat there a little lost, a curtesy smile on his face.
"...I don't...was that it?"
Everyone settled into silence, looking back between Tarzan and Jim.
"Um, well yeah...you know. It's like the batman theme song. Like, na na na na na na na na, Batman!"
"Right?"
"...but you say Sodium instead of Na"
Tarzan looked to Jane like she could help him out here.
"...because Sodium on the table of elements is represented as Na"
"Oh"
The joke had fallen completely flat by now and the laughter was replaced by an awkward silence.
Jane didn't like it at all.
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"I'm so full on breadsticks, I think I clogged an artery" Smith said as he walked down the strip with Pocahontas, having just left the restaurant.
"I told you they were good"
"Why did we get two whole baskets, that was a terrible idea. A terrible, awful, idea" he looked down at Pocahontas "And I have no idea how you managed to put a whole basket away by yourself, and that whole plate of pasta"
"I didn't" Pocahontas smiled, coyly, opening her purse to reveal a stash of breadsticks tucked away in make-shift napkin wrappings "Don't think I'm weird, but Esmeralda gets so mad if I don't save some for her. Our friend Flynn used to work there as a dishwasher in sophomore year, and we got addicted to the breadsticks since he used to bring leftovers to school the next day"
"Devious. Let me guess, he was fired for stealing breadsticks?"
"He lasted just over a month"
As they walked, Pocahontas was thrilled at how the date had went. Her first proper restaurant date. She hadn't gotten any pasta sauce on her nice top. Smith was completely nice to all the waiters, and he tipped. Her feet were only a little sore from this completely impractical heels, and best of all, there hadn't been one awkward pause, one flat moment, one uncomfortable topic of conversation or even an embarrassing laugh.
It wasn't like Pocahontas had been on many dates in her life to compare this one too, but she could safely say the standard had been set pretty high by this one.
And as if the universe felt dared to make her night even better, she felt something brush across her hand, and then grip it softly.
Smith was holding her hand. Smith had gone in for the hand hold.
Oh god, stop it, you're on an official, mature, restaurant date, do not get giddy over him just holding your hand, you're not five!
But she couldn't help it, she must've had some dumb grin on her face. When she looked up at Smith she smiled even wider when she saw he had a similar look of his own. It was like a shared triumph. Look at us, holding hands. We did it. Well done us. Pocahontas even felt him run his thumb gently across her skin, just the smallest gesture and it made her absolutely melt.
It only took another look between them, there eyes catching for that second longer than they needed to.
Kissing near the end of a date is almost inevitable for the most part, unless your dates a little more shy than usual, or hasn't taken a complimentary mint after their meal, but Pocahontas still didn't know wether to expect it or not. Though when their steps lingered closer to each other, their paces slowing to a lingering stop on the sidewalk, the hum of the night air around them, Smith took a hand to her hip and his face hovered above hers. He had to brush a piece of her long hair away from her face, and Pocahontas had to wonder if he was holding back just to make her agonize with the anticipation on purpose. Seeing just how blue his eyes were this close up, breathing in what she knew must be some kind of cologne, but it was so subtle enough to mix with his natural scent, just to be perfect.
In reality it was probably only a pause of a few second, but that was far too long. Regardless, Pocahontas was the one to close the gap between them, the first to plant her lips on his. She could feel Smith's hand clutch a little harder on her hip as he tilted his head, deepening the kiss. Her shirt slid up just a fraction, enough that she could feel the coldness of his hand meet the warmth of her skin, and she stepped towards him, just wanting to be closer.
On paper, going from talking about breadsticks to having the best kiss of your life in the span of about thirty seconds doesn't sound likely, or at all romantic, but Pocahontas didn't care, because it all felt absolutely perfect to her.
"Get a room!" Came the disgruntled voice of a passerby. No doubt someone who wasn't hugged enough as a child.
It snapped the two out of their own little bubble, and they pulled away.
They stood there, awkwardly, before bursting out laughing.
"He's just jealous he's not the one kissing you" Smith gave her a smile, and Pocahontas looked down at the pavement in embarrassment,
"You know I always thought people were so tacky stopping to makeout in the middle of the halls before going to class, but here I am having my own P.D.A"
"Next time I kiss you I'll have to make it more private then"
Smith only realised how that sounded immediately after he'd said it.
He opened his mouth to apologise but Pocahontas smiled, a little deviously.
"Guess you will then"
Smith was left with his mouth hanging open for a small second before snapping it shut. He allowed himself a small smile.
"So, uh, anyway, it's not that late yet. Did you still wanna' hang around? I'm sure there's probably a coffee place still open" Smith glanced around and noticed the local bar "Or we could get a drink, finish off the night?"
Smith was not doing well on the 'thinking before speaking' front, tonight, because a second later he remembered "Oh, crap. Legal drinking age. Right"
"Yeah, the law. That old pesky thing" Said Pocahontas.
"...well, the Crews Cup isn't the highest of establishments and I know for a fact they're not the strictest with ID checks.." Smith shrugged, testing the waters.
Pocahontas shared his look "You know, I think I remember my friends saying something about being able to sneak in one night for an hour without being checked.."
Smith put an arm around her shoulder "God, bread stealing, under age drinking. Are you going to be a bad influence on me?"
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"You know it's legal to drink when your eighteen in Australia?"
"Whatever loophole makes you feel better, delinquent" Smith smile, handing Pocahontas her drink. He'd been the one to go up to the bar and buy them, why she hung back discreetly. Just in case.
Maybe she was just kind of riding on her own high horse now, but Pocahontas really did feel Smith's own age. She was sitting at a bar, sipping a Malibu and coke, in heels, having conversations that didn't involve wether rainbow road or Bowser's castle was the harder level of Mario Kart. It was a known fact that girls matured faster than boys anyway. She was practically a women now. She felt ready to go out and get a mortgage, and make her own doctors appointments and start couponing. You know, adult things.
Then she turned her head slightly, and her face froze, the universe coming along and pushing her off that high horse, into the dirt, with a hard shove of reality.
Across the room, in a booth, were her teachers.
Pocahontas snapped her head around to stare at the wall, panic ebbing through her.
Smith frowned "You alright?"
No. She needed to get out of here. They needed to get out of here.
But they only just got here, she couldn't ask Smith to run out now, he'd paid for their overly priced drinks and everything, and she couldn't be weird about it, and frankly, the less attention she could draw to the fact that she was still in highschool, the better. I mean, come on, getting scolded by your teachers in front of your date? Nothing could be more mortifying.
Oh, and the fact that this would probably get back to school officials, and her Dad...who thought she was at Esmeralda's sleeping over right now...so not only mortifying, this was downright life ruining.
"Um, yeah. Fine" Pocahontas smiled "Just this seat is a little, I dunno, sticky? Maybe somebody spilled something on it or something?" she said innocently.
"Did you want to find another table?"
"Actually, do they have an outside section? Maybe we could go there"
Smith nodded, oblivious "Sure"
They moved through the bar, Pocahontas making sure to drop her head down and subtly position herself behind Smith, as they walked.
She only had to make it through maybe twenty minutes tops. Easy enough. Stay outside, out of sight. No problem.
…..
She should've just stayed out on the sidewalk making out.
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"-And the kid who always picks his nose at the back of class when he thinks no ones looking?" said Milo.
Jim pulled a face "Oh, god, that guy. The one who wears the Alf shirt all the time?"
"Yeah, that one"
"Awful. That is actually one of the reasons I didn't want to become an elementary school teacher, I should not have to deal with it in a high school" Meg threw up her hands in disgust.
An inevitable truth about teachers is that, when put together, they will mostly just bitch about being teachers.
In a loving way of course.
Jane laughed and talked along with the others, but she kept glancing over at Tarzan. He was so quiet. She hoped he was having a good time. She didn't really know him that well yet, maybe he was just a quiet person?
"What about you?" Jane asked him directly "Any student stories?"
"I, uh, not really" Tarzan shrugged.
Then he was back to silent. Jane internally panicked. Was she being boring? Was he bored? Should she tell a joke?
"What did Caravagio say to Rembrandt?" She blurted out to the table.
Everyone stared.
"If it's not Baroque, don't fix it!"
Jim was the only one who laughed.
Meg had to use all of her will power not to let out a deep sigh.
"Jane, I need to use the bathroom" she instructed.
"Um...ok?" Jane said, blankly.
"Come with me"
"But I don't to-"
"Come. With. Me" Meg gave her a pointed look.
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Ok. so this was nice, Pocahontas thought, as she stood with Smith outside. It was a little cold, and the air smelt like stale cigarettes from all the smokers forced out here to aid their addiction, but there were cute little lanterns strung up around the place, and it was a much more relaxed atmosphere than inside.
She was still terrified and paranoid about being found, but still. Nice.
"You look cold. You sure you wan't to stay out here? I'd offer you my jacket, you know, if I'd brought one"
Pocahontas smiled, making a conscious move to stop rubbing her arms for warmth "No, it's fine. I like it out here"
Smith gestured to her now empty glass "Did you wan't another one?"
"Oh...no. No it's fine" she declined, having already downed her first just to get out of here faster. Good thing bars fill most of the glass with ice, it hadn't gone to her head at all.
She checked her watch. It had been fifteen minutes already. Close enough.
"Actually, I was thinking Id better go soon. It's getting kind of late"
"But it's not even a school night" Smith smirked.
"Ssshhh" Pocahontas hissed at him, laughing nervously.
Smith fake panicked looking behind him "Shit, your right, I'm sure there's like, five bouncers waiting in that bush over there waiting to card you"
"So funny"
"I like to think so"
"I'm just gonna' go to the bathroom real quick before we leave-" she said "Be right back"
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"If it's not baroque, don't fix it?"
"It was a joke! It was funny!"
"Jane, look inside yourself, you know that's not true"
"I was just trying to engage him in conversation"
"With your nerdy art jokes? He's a janitor, he's not gonna' know who rembrandt is"
"That's a bit of a stereotype, I'm sure there are plenty of lower income job workers who love classical art!"
Meg paused from re-applying her lipstick, haphazardly due to intoxication, to give Jane a doubtful look.
"...well, you don't know, do you" Jane pouted.
Just then, the bathroom door swung open.
Pocahontas froze as she looked up at the back of Jane and Meg. It took 0.5 seconds for survival instincts to set it, and she dashed into the first cubicle, her heart racing.
Jane and Meg briefly looked up, having only got a glimpse of Pocahontas's dark hair before the door slammed shut. They turned back to the mirror, none the wiser.
Pocahontas stood in the cubicle in total panic. Shit.
Shit, shit, shit.
"Why are you so worried about conversation anyway? Just get him drunk and hit on him, I thought that was the whole idea of this night"
Jane blushed furiously "It was not!"
"Do it though, put your hand on his knee, 'accidentally' fall in his lap, ask for a ride home and then jump him"
"Those aren't flirting techniques, those are minor harassment charges"
"Pffffffft" Meg waved her off.
Pocahontas peed nervously, feeling a bit surreal, as she listened to her teachers talk about hitting on guys.
How long we're they planning on staying in here? She would just have to wait until they leave. Pocahontas realised with embarrassment what John Smith would think if she took too long in here herself. Great.
"Ugh, this night hasn't turned out at all how I thought it would..." Jane sighed.
Pocahontas couldn't help but laugh silently in agreement.
"Whatever, we'll think of something else to get him with" Meg said, snapping her lipstick back in her purse.
"Meg, that's the thing. I don't want to get him, I want to know him. I want him to know me...see if it goes anywhere. Hoping it does..." Jane smiled to herself.
"God, you're so wholesome. I don't understand it" Meg held out her purse "Here, hold this for me for a sec"
Jane took the purse and watched as Jane ambled over to a cubicle "What? Why-"
Then she heard an awful retching sound.
"Oh for crying out loud, Meg, you're an educator!"
Meg coughed and hacked over the toilet bowl, her nacho's making an encore appearance "Librarian assistant, there's a difference!"
Pocahontas pulled up her jeans and dropped her head down to stare through the gap of the cubicle and the floor. She heard Meg give another heave and could see Jane step over behind her.
"Here, let me hold your hair" Jane muttered.
Pocahontas saw the chance.
She unlocked the door, darted out, head ducked, and made it outside the bathroom without even looking back to see if they noticed.
She noted with a grimace that she didn't get to wash her hands.
Smith stood up when he saw her emerge out on the back patio again "Oh, there you are. You ready to lea-"
"Yes!" she smiled a little to wide eyed to look casual "Lets go!"
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"Just hold the purse open in front of you in case your going to be sick again" Jane instructed, leading Meg through the bar with an arm around her.
"I'm fiiiiiiine, Mom"
"Watch out for the-"
"-OW, shit!"
"...step"
Meg now hobbled a little as she leant more on Jane.
"Hey, woah, is she alright?" Jim was the first to ask as they appeared back at the table.
"She'll live, but I think Miss I-can-hold-my-liquor needs to be getting home. I'm going to get a cab for both of us" Said Jane, Hercules getting up to help keep Meg upright.
"Mmm, getoff, I'm fine, I don't need you to-" Meg stumbled away from Hercules and swayed a little on the spot "...ok. Nope. No, come back" she said, clutching back onto his arm.
"Yeah, this might be a good time to call it a night" Kida agreed.
"Still, this was fun" Milo said "We should do it again some times. It's good to get out once and awhile, away from the staff room"
The others murmured in agreement as they grabbed their coats and bags, while Jane glanced over at the still silent Tarzan, regretting the missed opportunities of the night, and just now thinking of all the things she would have liked to say to him.
They made it outside without any more accidents, with Kida and Milo splitting off to head to the bus station, while Jane quickly spotted a parked cab in the taxi lane.
"Oh, over here!" she called out, before anyone else could grab it.
"You gonna' be alright to get home?" Jim asked "I could give you a lift, if you wanted?"
"No, don't worry about it we'll be fine" Jane smiled "Plus I wouldn't want her being sick in your car"
"Huh?" the cab driver looked up from the paper he'd been reading to pass the time "What was that about your friend being sick?"
"Nothing! She's fine, don't worry about it!" Jane said quickly.
"If she pukes, you pay for cleaning!" the old cab driver barked, getting in the front seat.
Hercules helped bundle Meg in the back of the cab, while Jane gave a little wave to Jim and Tarzan.
Then she noticed someone over both their shoulders, just exiting the Bar.
"Oh my gosh!" she cried out, making both Jim and Tarzan stare behind them "John Smith!"
Smith stopped in surprise as he heard his name, Pocahontas looking up as well.
"Oh my god, Janey!" He said, with open arms.
To Pocahontas's horror, and Jim and Tarzan's surprise, Jane rushed over for a hug.
"This is insane, what are you doing here?! I thought you we're still in England?" she said, stunned but delighted as she pulled back to look at him.
"I thought you were too!" said Smith "This is what happens when you lose touch with friends after high school, you lose track of everybody"
Jane turned to Smith and Tarzan "Gosh, sorry, where are my manners. This is John, my old boyfriend from when I was...oh, lord, how old were we? Fifteen wasn't it?"
"It's been so long, I think that was it" Smith laughed "God, nobody's even called me John since I moved out here"
While this serendipitous reunion was happening, Pocahontas was frozen to the spot, a kind of serene freak out happening in her mind. That eerie calm that washes over men as they're led to the firing squad. There was no stopping the inevitable, you just have to accept your doom.
"Oh, and this is Pocahontas-" Smith gestured, with all his good intentions as Pocahontas felt the lump in her throat drop to her stomach.
Even as she heard the name, a little light bulb went off in Jane's head.
It wasn't like it was a common name.
And as soon as Smith stepped aside, and Pocahontas was forced to raise her head and face them, Jane's smile dropped, her eyes widening.
"Pocahontas..." she gaped "You..." she looked lost, her eyes darting between Smith and her student "What are you doing?"
Pocahontas had no idea what to say. Words weren't really forming. She was a deer in the headlights.
Smith could feel the mood in the air shift. Everyone could. Pocahontas looked scared wittless, and Jane's face was slowly turning to a frown.
"I'm...sorry, I'm a bit lost. Do you two already know each other?" Smith glanced between them.
"She's a student...she's only eighteen...this is a bar!" Jane's voice hardened as it all hit her "Pocahontas what are you doing?" she turned to John "And what are you doing? Is this a date? Do you know how old she is?"
Smith started to look a little like a deer in the headlights as well "Janey, I, um...oh, god, i just remembered how you always planned to be a teacher and...well,I guess you followed through on that then-" Smith joked nervously, but Jane didn't look in the mood.
"You can't be in a bar, you're underage! This is...it's illegal!" Jane stared in shock at Pocahontas, ignoring John.
"Do your parents know your here? Smith, god, please tell me you didn't know how young she is-"
Smith stammered a little bit "Look, Jane, please-"
Before anyone said anything else, Pocahontas set off running.
"Wha-? No, wait, don't-" Jane cried after her, watching as the former track star belted down the street.
"Pocahontas!" she heard Smith shout after her as her feet pounded against the concrete, dashing past passersby, making sure to get lost in the crowd.
That was probably a dumb move. No, scratch that, It was definitely dumb. But she didn't know what else to do. There was no talking yourself out of that one. No point in it either, she was in trouble any way you looked at it. But the embarrassment, the shame,...the knowing the guy you just went out with used to date your teacher. It was all too much. It was like she shut off, a web page freezing when you open too many tabs. Pocahontas just needed to get away, even if she knew this was going to catch up with her.
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A/N: I hate when I don't get to write about every character in every chapter. But this one reaching almost 14,000 words. Got to be a cut off somewhere. Flynn and Phoebus and ….well, everybody who wasn't in this one will be featured next chapter, which will be set entirely around the mall (*Robin sparkles 'lets go to the mall' plays gently in the background*) plus Anna and Elsa will finally make their appearance.
Lets hope I don't get kidnapped again.
(and Hercules joke was: The Greek government are stopping the production of taramasalata and humous in order to avoid a double dip recession)