Chapter 8

Ali and Jasmine entered the room of Ali's friends and watched as they bantered.

"Just because you lived in a lamp for 10,000 years doesn't make you smarter than me." Ameer said to Genie.

"Yes, it does." Genie said smugly as the kids once again agreed with him.

Ali stood by with a smile as he watched them banter. Jasmine stood by a little awkwardly waiting for them to notice their presence.

"Yo." Ali said as everyone turned to them.

"Hey Ali! Who's that lovely lady next to you!" Genie exclaimed.

Ali looked down at Jasmine with a smile before speaking again.

"Everyone, this is Princess Jasmine. Jasmine, these are all of my friends."

As they all introduced themselves to Jasmine, Abu came and perched himself on top of Aladdin's shoulder. Jasmine politely introduced herself to everyone until she came to Genie.

"Hey, I'm Genie. Ali's best bud!" Genie said turning himself into a rocket that exploded into fireworks.

"Wait you're a real genie?" Jasmine asked with wide eyes! Genies were supposed to be myths!

"Ding ding ding! Correct my lady!" Genie said turning himself into a game show and showed flashing lights for the correct answer.

"But I thought Genies were myths?" Jasmine asked still stunned.

"Nope! We're around. Just trapped inside lamps is all." Genie replied.

"How…" Jasmine trailed off but Ali knew what she was going to ask.

"We met at a cave that was a little ways away from Ababwa." Ali started to explain. "It gets a little complicated but I found his lamp."

Jasmine took a seat as she began to process the tale. Genies exist, and one was standing (or floating in this case) right in front of her. This was surreal!

"Yeah. 10,000 years of staying in that lamp. Thank god you came when you did Al! Another 100 years and I would've gone crazy!" Genie said smiling at Ali. Ali returned it laughing.

"Anyways, we got out of the cave because we kind of tricked him into helping us without using a wish." Ameer said and Genie laughed.

"That's right! You little trickster Al!" Genie exclaimed floating next to Ali.

"But, we were given 3 wishes and we used them." Abdullah said to Jasmine.

"Wait all of you guys here went to that cave?" Jasmine asked. She was intrigued by that. She had always wanted to see the world and explore. Maybe she could finally do that now!

Everyone nodded their heads at her before she spoke again.

"What did you guys use the wishes for?"

"Our first wish…" Ali said before trailing off looking at Genie. Genie then popped up a lot of food for everyone on a makeshift table.

"Was for Genie to pop up food for us at any time." Ali finished before grabbing a croissant off the table and eating. Everyone at the table followed suit eating whatever they could get their hands on. The kids asked Genie for milkshakes and he obliged giving them the best ones he could.

"Genie don't give them too much. They need to sleep soon." Ali said with concern. Last thing they needed was 3 hyper kids. They needed to sleep in a few hours.

"Don't worry I'll put these little troublemakers to bed no problem." Genie said waving his hand offhandedly.

Jasmine didn't believe how casual they all were around each other. They didn't treat a magical being or a Prince of a kingdom any differently. No fear or groveling. They just acted open and easy going around each other. That's all she ever wanted.

"What about your second wish?" Jasmine asked as she ate an apple on the table.

"We wished that everyone in Ababwa would remain strong and kind no matter what kind of hardships that they faced." Ali replied.

He stared down at her as she processed what he had said. "And the third wish?"

Ali and Genie smiled at each other. Genie floated to Ali and put his hand on his shoulder and looked down at him fondly. Ali looked back at Genie and put his own hand over his before replying to Jasmine.

"His freedom." Ali said with a smile looking back at Jasmine.

"F-freedom?" Jasmine stuttered.

"Yes Princess. I was trapped in the lamp for all those years. I had countless masters and I was only ever out to grant wishes and fulfill their needs. I've never had anyone want to help me before."

Genie paused and smiled looking down at Ali.

"Until him." Genie finished.

Jasmine felt her heart pound even faster. This prince had the opportunity with those 3 wishes to use it for his own benefit. Yet he used those wishes to help others. And freed a magical being who was trapped all those years. She felt herself falling for him even more.

"Yeah I made a promise once I found out that Genie was trapped all that time. After using our first 2 wishes, we would free him with our last wish. And that's what we did." Ali said.

"And I went and traveled the world for a bit before I came back here. I've gotten fond of this knucklehead." Genie said ruffling Ali's head.

"Yeah well I'm glad you came back Genie. We'll go see more of the world once we get a chance." Ali replied.

"Do we get to come too?" Jordan asked.

"Yeah of course. We'll all go together." Ali replied smiling.

"I would like to come along too." Jasmine said looking up at Ali and scooting closer to him. At this point, she figured that this was everything she could ever want. In both a suitor and her life.

"Yeah of course I'll bring you silly!" Ali replied looking back at her with a full-fledged grin.

They leaned closer and laid their foreheads together. Soon everyone gave them cat calls and whistles as they pulled apart blushing.

"You 2 shouldn't be talking! I can't wait to tell your girlfriends all your little secrets!" Ali said pointing at Ameer and Abdullah.

"What secrets?" Ameer asked smugly.

"Like how you thought the Loch-ness monster was real and we had to pry you out of your closet after you doused yourself in slime and looked like a mud monster." Ali said with a cocky look on his face.

Jasmine couldn't help giggling as she heard their banter. She had never been around people who were easy going around her like this. She watched as they continued joking around with each other.

"Remember when I turned into a zombie and started running at him?" Genie asked laughing at Ameer.

"Yeah! He ended up not going outside because anything green scared him!" Abdullah replied laughing with everyone.

Soon, the entire room became filled with laughter and joking around from all the friends. Jasmine felt comfortable and happy with everyone here. While the presence of a Genie did shock her, she resolved to treat him like a person just like everyone else in the room did.

"Hey! I'll have you know I've gotten over my fears since then. I'm as brave as they come!" Ameer said standing puffing out his chest.

Ali whispered something to Genie and Genie sent some magic right behind Ameer before Ali spoke.

"Oh really? Alright you brave warrior, what's that behind you?" Ali asked as the kids came and cuddled up to him.

"AAAAAAAAAH!" Ameer screeched as he saw a vicious man eating flower and jumped so high his head hit the ceiling!

Everyone was laughing as Ameer landed back in his chair and tried glaring at everyone to no avail.

"Oh yeah, well those kids would be scared too if they saw that thing behind them!" Ameer tried to defend himself.

"No we're brave and strong." Najima boasted and her brothers agreed with her following her boast.

"Alright alright." Ali said standing up chuckling. "I'm going for a run. Why don't you guys get to know each other more. I'd like it if you all got along."

Before he left though he whispered in Jasmine's ear. "Try not to let them con you into doing anything stupid. They can be a pain sometimes but they're still my friends. Remember to meet me at your balcony tonight."

Ali finished by kissing Jasmine's cheek before leaving the room and going to workout. He didn't notice her eyes widen and her cheeks turn red for him.

Soon though, Jasmine was engrossed in the conversations with all of his friends trying to get to know them better. She couldn't wait for tonight though. Hopefully his surprise was something special!