Disclaimer: I own nothing… actually, I own many things: a television, a computer, a throw pillow and a stash of paper towels. However, none of the things I own include Disney or their franchise. I just play with their characters before putting them back in the box.

I love your reviews! They remind me that people out there are interested in my story and are invested in my updates. I am currently trying to write the parent call just before the parent day debacle, but this may be interrupted if my muse inspires another chapter beforehand. You can read my other story "Scars Revealed" if you want an idea as to how Parent Day goes but, even though I have made point of view changes and fleshed it out a bit, it has a heavy spoiler alert.

Ghostowen asked me to include Chad, Lonnie and Jane. Lucky for you, I had this chapter sitting on the backburner, waiting for editing. Lonnie hasn't made an official appearance yet, but she has been sitting with the Core Four at lunch. I am trying to let this story grow organically, so I am not introducing characters until they add something to the story line. Aziz is in line for inclusion later on. I know he isn't mentioned in the movie, and I haven't read the books, but the fact that his parent's are Aladdin and Jasmine inspired an exciting conversation.

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Audrey's Disgust

Chad's Point of View

"Sweet! Chocolate cupcakes for dessert today!" I quickly grabbed two cupcakes. I would run of the extra calories in Tourney practice today, which would be my excuse to Audrey when I tried to talk her into giving me her cupcake too.

Audrey huffed and tapped her foot in annoyance. "You act like a kid," she said.

I looked at her, a bit confused. "I am a kid. We all are, which is why we're still in school." Sometimes, I just didn't understand Audrey. She was so ready to grow up, marry Ben and become queen. I was happy to stay a kid, play Tourney and dodge responsibility whenever possible.

I had been friends with Audrey and Ben since the three of us were little, and I know that Audrey now expected to trade on that friendship to stay close to Ben in a bid to become his wife. I wasn't considered the brightest bulb in chandelier, but even I could see that Ben would never marry Audrey. She didn't respect any of his decisions or opinions, and she ran roughshod over his feelings when trying to get her own way. I don't know why Ben hung on with her as long as he did, but I wasn't really surprised when he finally dropped her. The problem was, that she considered me to be her fall back option and simply told me we were dating without asking my opinion.

Normally I wouldn't mind dating a beautiful princess like her, but I had a big English paper due on Friday and no dewy-eyed girl to write it for me. I knew there wasn't a chance in hell that Audrey would write it for me, so she was cramping my style. It was easier to "delegate" my homework when I wasn't attached to another girl.

"Look, most of the Tourney team is sitting over by Ben. Let's join them." I started to walk towards the team's table when I was jerked backwards.

"They are siting with the VK's you idiot. And I am not putting myself in any proximity to those dangerous individuals. Who knows what kind of dark magic they're putting in everyone's drinks? They've been eating with Ben for three weeks now, and the number people sitting at their table keeps growing. I'm not about to fall into any traps." Audrey grabbed me by the ear and dragged me to another table.

"Ouch," I complained. "There's nothing I can do about the Isle kids being there, and you know that Ben hates it when you call them VK's. Their parents are villains, but they aren't."

"They may as well be," Audrey spat. "They waltz in here and start forming a bunch of followers so they can carry out whatever evil plan they've been sent to complete. I wouldn't put it past them to drop the barrier on the Isle and allow all the villains to run free again. We may not think that they're villains yet, but what else can they be after growing up on the Isle of the Lost."

"Hey Jane," I waved as she walked past. "Do you want to sit with us?" Maybe I could snag her cupcake too? She often passed up on desserts because she was worried about her looks. She might be a good bet to write my paper for me, she was usually easy to butter up because her self-esteem was practically nonexistent.

"Sorry Chad," she said, "I'm sitting with Core Four today."

"The core what?" I asked he in confusion. "Isn't that what you say when you're about to hit someone with a ball?"

Jane gave me an odd look. "I think that you mean 'fore', and that is only in golf. Mal and the others are called the Core Four on the Isle, and Ben has started using that term for them affectionately. Apparently, they take care of a bunch of homeless kids on the Isle, and the four of them are the core team supporting those kids."

Audrey crossed her arms in irritation. "You shouldn't name your own group in a new situation. It's tacky."

Jane laughed. "That's what Mal said, but when she let slip what they were called on the Isle Ben thought it was perfect. It's a good description of them too. You can see how close the four of them are and, despite what your jealousy would have you believe, they are good people down to the core." She tossed her head and shot Audrey a pointed look as she said, "and anything is better than VK's. You know that Ben hates that nickname, and the group of people agreeing him is growing by the day. We all take turns eating at their table at lunch time. Kids of people on the royal counsel are eating with them too, and getting to see how normal they are and realizing that they aren't evil just because their parents are. I wouldn't be surprised if that support spills over to their parents and results in more kids coming over from the Isle. I know that Ben wants to make that happen, but he's smart enough to know that getting the kids of the royal counselors on his side will give their parents an honest look at who they are helping when it comes time for a decision."

"That little witch is playing all of them for fools!" Audrey was practically foaming at the mouth in her anger. "We have to make people see what kind of social climber and underhanded dealer she really is."

Jane laughed. "If you think that any of those kids will believe Ben's bitter ex-girlfriend over the friendly Core Four at that table, then you are delusional. You had your chance with Ben and blew it all on your own. Your break up was a long time coming, and you have only yourself to blame for pushing him away. You've always been more interested in getting your own way than you were in him. He's just finally grown up enough to recognize your motives. Ben's not stupid, just a little too trusting at times."

Audrey latched on to Janes last statement. "Exactly, he's too trusting. We have to make him see that Mal is evil and only trying to entrap him so that she can become queen."

Jane rolled her eyes as she looked at Audrey. "Like you." Audrey's mouth hung open in shock as Jane flounced away. So much for my English paper.

Maybe I could get the new girl with blue hair to write it? Now what was her name? Eva…Elsa…Evalyn… Evie! It was Evie. She's pretty smart, and her mother is a dethroned queen. She's probably dying to snag herself a prince, and I could just imagine what she would be willing to do to get one. Her mother was ruthless after all, completely changing her looks just to trick Snow White into eating a poisoned apple. Although, having met Snow and seeing how bubbly she could be, I could understand how she might be annoying enough to poison. The last time she visited my mother I actually used the excuse of needing a nap to get out of the room. I just never said that I needed Snow to nap, instead of me. I wonder if her glass coffin is still in the woods? How did she pee in that thing anyway? Did she have a bed pan, did she hold it in, or did she wake up with a wet dress? I asked her once when I was six, but was immediately sent to my room for being rude. I've learned to ask those types of questions in my head, most of the time anyway, because it cuts down on the amount of grounding I get from my parents and detentions from the teachers. Some people can be so touchy.

Evie stood up with Doug and started walking towards the door. Doug took her tray to return it to the kitchen and I took my chance. "Hello beautiful," I said smoothly. "How would you like to study with me? We've got that English paper due on Friday and I could use a beautiful girl to help me with it."

Evie looked at me like I was something disgusting on the bottom of her shoe. "I'm not stupid," she said. "I know what your 'study sessions' entail. I already finished my paper, and I'm not about to write yours for you too."

Doug came up beside Evie and asked, "is something wrong?"

"Nothing," I said quickly. "I was just seeing if you were up for a study session?"

Doug scoffed and replied, "I know how those go. I don't need you to be popular or to get a girl anymore, so I won't be doing your homework. And Evie's not stupid enough to fall for your manipulation either. Go do your own homework for a change."

My jaw dropped as the two turned and exited the lunch room together. When did Doug grow a spine?