Okay, so it's the beginning of the end for the first part of the trilogy. And I'm not gonna lie. I'm getting worried. This was where it started getting fuzzy for me with my first fanfiction, which has since been deleted, as per my own personal rules, so I'm a little worried about Antoinette and group. I could really use a comment from you guys. So, per usual please comment, favorite, and follow.

CHAPTER 13

The sharp clack of heel pumps, and heavy footsteps of male dress shoes echoed through the halls of Auradon Prep.

"Any idea as to where the future king is?" Cris asked. Antoinette glanced at him sideways.

"I have an inkling. My question is where were you before all of this began?" She asked, critical of the one who was supposed to be her superior. It was his turn to glance sideways at her.

"You have your life. Ben has his life. I have my own life. It is simply impossible for me to be around Ben constantly. Besides, he didn't want that in his life anyways. He wanted an HR person, not a bodyguard." Antoinette blushed, having thought of the numerous times in which she talked directly to the press when they trespassed.

"What is done is done. We cannot change our past, but we can change the future." Cris' phone began to ring, he dug in his pocket.

"Hello, I don't care what you have to do-" Antoinette's phone started ringing as well, she didn't look at who was calling.

"Baker, yeah, listen I know you guys want a one on one interview," Antoinette began her own conversation. Cris glanced over Antoinette's shoulder, he jutted his chin out, motioning for her to go over there. She turned around to see the villains' kids. She nodded.

Both continued speaking. Antoinette had just finished her call when Ben beat her to the group of misfits.

"Forget about it. Let it go. Tomorrow after the coronation, everything will be okay," Ben explained.

"Ben." Antoinette grabbed the group's attention. She kissed Jay on the forehead gently.

"Antoinette. I see you and Cris have been busy," Ben mentioned. Ant glared up at him, before she started clicking on her phone.

"You have 21 requests for one on one interviews, 37 articles have already been written up based on the information- which we've managed to take 19 of those down, you're welcome-, and over a thousand different comments on the original video alone," she stated. Ant sent Ben a list of the journalists who wanted a private interview.

"I would suggest five lucky interviews, but I'm not your HR person anymore." Ben's lips lifted briefly.

"I'm afraid to ask. Anything else?" Ant glared at him.

"Yes. Your mother has requested tea with you in an hour, and the tailor wants you to meet for some last minute adjustments to your suits." Antoinette grabbed Jay's hand and held it. She tried to transfer any positivity and comfort she had to him. For a moment Jay's hand was slack in her's, refusing to give any sign of understanding. Then, one, two, three squeezes. Jay continued to squeeze her hand.

"Thank you, Ant. I appreciate you helping me," Ben said. He leaned over Mal's shoulders and whispered in her ear. "I have to go. I'll see you guys later."

Ben kissed her on the temple and left. Nettie turned to Jay and began playing with his fingers.

"I'm not going to stand here and say some lame, overused phrase like, 'Everything will be okay' or 'This is going to blow over'. I won't do that to you or your friends. Just, I promise you I will do everything in my power to assure you I will stand by you." She continued to play with his fingers, Jay watched her waiting to see what else she could say. Nettie stayed silent.

"Ant!" Chad's voice called out. Antoinette stiffened, her hands went rigid around Jay's hand. Chad put his hand on her shoulder, and Antoinette's eyes lit up in anger.

"Chad, remove your hand." Antoinettte turned around to stare at her cousin. "You did nothing to help matters."

"Nothing I said was a lie," Chad said. "Your mother has changed. They have not."

"And you refuse to give them the opportunity," Antoinette breathed out. A sharp ring caught everyone's attention. Antoinette looked at the caller. "I have to take this. You should go back to your table, Chad, before you embarrass yourself further."

Antoinette turned to Jay, her phone persisting.

"I'll swing by your room later tonight, okay?" Jay nodded to her. She kissed him on the cheek. Antoinette picked up the call and started walking away.

"Bonjour comment vas-tu? Bien bien," she started the conversation, her hair beginning to bounce with each forceful step.

"Non, vous ne pouvez pas interviewer le futur roi." Antoinette continued walking, she thought briefly she could hear some girls shrieking, but she didn't have time to do anything about whatever caused the situation.

"Eh bien, d'abord je ne suis pas son représentant, deuxièmement ce sera le choix de Ben, et troisièmement juste parce qu'on peut se parler français tous les deux, Angela ne veut pas dire que je t'obtiendrai une interview privée." Antoinette rolled her eyes. She watched as several girls ran past her, and a familiar bob which she hadn't seen for several weeks was in the crowd. She raised an eyebrow. Looked like Jane had to be thrown back down a peg or two.

Antoinette groaned when her phone rang again.

"I do not know who this is but no, you cannot have a private interview with the prince. He will decide who will determine who those interviews will go to. For further questions please refer to Cristian Andison-"

"Antoinette! Enough, please." The woman on the other end said. Antoinette stopped, she opened a nearby door to an empty classroom and walked in.

"Maman. I'm so sorry, I didn't know-"

"Hush, child." Antoinette took a gulp of air, almost suffocating herself. "How are your emotions?"

Antoinette had always been an emotional one, but as she grew she subjected herself to logic instead. Anastasia, though, knew her child, for she took after her mother.

"Maman, they're everywhere. I'm angry at Chad for not giving them the opportunity. I'm upset with Jay and his friends because of how they reacted to Chad and Queen Leah. And Queen Leah! I understand where she is coming from, but every vicious comment Audrey has ever made to me." Antoinette wiped her eyes, angry tears had started to form and she did not need to start crying. In fact, crying was the last thing which she needed to happen.

"Antoinette, you are safe here." Anastasia explained. She had always whispered this saying to Antoinette even when she was incredibly small. The saying had been a comfort to Antoinette as well as to Anastasia.

"But are they, Maman?" Anastasia was quiet for a moment.

"That will be their choice, my love." Antoinette finally allowed her emotions to break, and she crashed into an empty seat. Sobs started taking over her body. Antoinette's sobs rebounded over the desks and echoed in the classroom. Fat tears fell down her cheeks as her mother whispered comforting words in French. Hiccups soon followed. Then silence.

"Tell Papa I said 'I love him'." Antoinette said. Her mother agreed to deliver the message before the two got off their phone. All was silent.

Cris had told Antoinette to go to her room to rest. She had done as she was told and laid on her bed for an hour. She stared at the camcorder she had taken off of the waiter. He had tried to get it back, but Antoinette told him to keep his mouth shut and she hoped the few dollars he got off the paparazzi was worth it. The camcorder was small, and grey. Looking so innocently sitting on her desk next to her bed.

Something in Antoinette's chest stirred. Finally, she sat up and grabbed the camera, and her laptop. She hooked the two together. Antoinette was expecting images of Ben to pop up. Maybe a few of her, Audrey, and Mal. She did not expect what she saw.

Images of her and Jay started popping up on her computer. Even before the Isle kids came over, the camcorder had many more pictures of her then anyone else. Still photos of her everyday life from even a few months ago were there. Riding bikes with Ben. Talking to Doug. All sorts of photos were on the camera from her in public. She took a deep breath. This was not the first time something had happened like this.

Similar to all the other experiences, she saved copies of them on her computer, titling the file. Then Antoinette wiped the camcorder clean. She texted Cris the situation, but did not expect to hear anything from him right away. She laid back down on her bed and tried to sleep.

Antoinette was dressed in a long, slimming dress. Her shoulders were covered with butterflies that fell delicately down her arms. Around her people danced in fancy gowns and suits.

"There she is. Princess Antoinette of Auradon," a voice called. She turned around to find the face of her grand-mѐre. Antoinette had never heard her voice, but felt comfortable. Like stepping into a cool pond on a hot day.

"Grand-mѐre, thank you for coming to my party."

"Absolutely, my love." She said, kissing Antoinette on the cheek. The older woman wrapped a hand around her grandchild's arm.

"Make sure to keep your shoulders back child. You represent your parents." A pause happened. "Ah, and speak of the devils."

Antoinette and her grand-mѐre stopped in front of a couple. The tall man was Henry, and instead of finding her own mother, she found Aunt Cinderella.

"Mom," she said, kissing her cheeks. Something about this felt normal, as if this had always been her life. However, she watched her mother's eyes carefully and watched the emotions flicker.

"Are you sure you want to marry this boy? We can still hold off for a few more days," Anastasia asked. Antoinette grabbed one of her blonde hair and started playing with it. Her heart thumped.

"Yes, absolutely." Anastasia nodded. Something pushed her to turn around, a pull, a feeling. "Ah, and there he is now."

Antoinette turned to see her fiance. He was tall, and had a kind face. Brown hair and pretty brown eyes. Pale, though, as if he very rarely saw the sun.

"How are you, Benjamin?"

Antoinette woke up startled. Her dream was slowly coming back to her. She scrunched her nose at the thought of marrying Ben. They could never. A dull thud began in her right temple.

A knock at her door, thundered around in her brain. Antoinette walked over to the dorm door.

"Antoinette Baker? Your dress for the coronation," the man on the other side stated. He was dressed as an Aurdonian Guard. The dress was hidden in a gown bag, a very large gown bag.

"I'm sorry. You must have gotten the names mixed up. I have a dress fitting later today," she explained. The guard rolled his eyes.

"The Queen assured the dress would fit. She said something about knowing the sizes or whatever," the guard explained. Antoinette raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, thank you." She grabbed the dress, and closed the door after saying goodbye.

Antoinette hung the gown up on the back of the closet door. She opened the bag and watched the zipper, not really focusing on the gown. A little bit of sparkle, almost magical looking, fell out of her bag. She eyed the sparkle closely watching it disappear. Belle, what did you do? Antoinette thought curiously.

She pulled the bag away, and a gasp fell off her lips. Carefully, she pulled the bag down off the hanger. A yellow dress hung across from her, beaded flowers crawled up the waistline of the dress, and also fell down from the waistline. Antoinette pulled the dress off the hanger and held it up to her body. She looked in the mirror nearby.

Her lips began to curve into a pretty smile. Antoinette bit her lip in excitement. Suddenly, the afternoon didn't actually happen. It had been a bad illusion she had made up. For how could she be so excited on such an awful day?

Ben had texted her. That was why she was sitting on the bleachers by the tourney field under a starry sky. Antoinette had decided on wearing jean shorts and a purple hoodie. She watched the stars twinkle.

"Hey." Antoinette turned to find Ben. She smiled at him, before turning back to the stars.

"How are you feeling?" Ben took a seat next to her. He stared out at the field, not really paying attention to anything but his thoughts.

"Ant, what am I going to do?" Worry was laced throughout the young ruler's voice. Antoinette hummed.

"Become king. As is your birthright," Antoinette said. Her voice was hallow almost, as if she was too tired to have a tone.

"This is a mess. All I want is to give the children of the Isle a chance," Ben said. He put his head in his hands. Antoinette glanced at him before moving down the bleachers next to him. She put a hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up.

"That is what will make you a great king, Ben. As is your destiny. You want peace among the two worlds. It'll be difficult, but it is possible." She kissed his temple.

"Cris said the guy who's been taking all those pictures of you was working a special article assignment for a gossip magazine. I guess, people were starting to worry that you had manipulated me to do this proclamation." Ben rested his head on her shoulder.

The smell of freshly cut grass tickled Antoinette's nose. Antoinette rested her head on top of his. These were the moments which identified her friendships for her. Allowing her friends to be terrified of choices they have to make, and allowing them to be afraid in front of her. For if she could not be their strength when they were weak or them to be strong when she is weak then she felt her friendships could not grow.

"You'll figure it out. I believe in you." Antoinette stroked Ben's hair before they turned their attention to the stars above them, as if they held the answer to the questions they were asking.

"Wake up! Antoinette! Wake up! It's coronation day!" A voice called out. Antoinette sat up in bed. She ran to her door. On the other side she saw a blonde running down the hall. Shouting at the top of their lungs. "Wake up! It's coronation day!"

Antoinette shook her head. She retreated back into her room and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Matching pajamas with glass slippers, hair in rollers, no make up, a perfect start to the beginning of a lazy day. However, there was no time to be lazy. So, began the process of becoming a lady.

Antoinette sat at her desk, usually filled with school papers and a laptop had been cleaned. Her make up kit sat in front of her. An alert on her phone caught her attention.

Beast Bro: Today is the day

Antoinette smiled to herself, and texted him back.

It'll be amazing. Nothing will go wrong.