Jenny walked down the halls thoroughly miffed. Everything was going wrong. Jae was being a bitch, Heather and Hayley had left her(she didn't know why), and the Prince wasn't going to talk to her. She grinned. That would change.

She walked straight up to the door, and was about to knock when she heard yelling.

"What are you talking about!? I saw her first," a voice yelled.

"Well I'm the Crown Prince of Tortall, and you're just a big man!" Jonathon(she guessed)yelled back.

"Oh yeah? Well the bigger the better some women say!"

Dying of curiosity, Jenny opened the door. There stood two men. One, Jenny knew, was Prince Jonathon. She recognized the good looks. The other she didn't know. In the center of them, sitting on a bed, was a girl of about 17. Her hair was red and wavy, and it had this wild feel to it. Her eyes were emerald green that matched her very low cut dress. Jenny sighed she could never pull those dresses off. She assumed this was the girl they were fighting over.

The girl seemed perfectly content having guys fight over her, like it was an everyday thing. She looked up and saw Jenny. She seemed shocked, but she walked over to the door while the two men were fighting. They were so wrapped up in it they didn't notice her leave.

"Hello, I am Gaia and who might you be?" she said casually as she leaned on the door frame.

"I am Jenny and I hope you aren't going after my Prince," Jenny said as calmly.

"Your Prince?" Gaia raised her eyebrows then realized she was serious, " Fine, you can have him. Jon's a prick anyways. Besides I'm more interested in Raoul."

"Raoul? Is that the other guy?"

"Yes. He's a looker isn't he?" Seeing Jenny's reaction she continues, "Okay, I admit he's not perfect. I myself prefer a guy with an afro."

"Afro?"

Gaia laughed, "Where are you from?"

"Tortall, but I'm a Shang. We don't learn much there."

"Obviously, well an afro is when your hair goes into a huge ball." Gaia demonstrated.

"Ohh, why would you like someone like that?"

"Dunno, I just do."

"Are you just going to let them fight?" Jenny asked meaning the Prince and Raoul.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm anxious to see what Jonathon's like. It's not everyday you actually get to meet and talk to a Prince."

Gaia sighed, " Oh, all right." She walked back to Jon and Raoul,"Boys, boys, calm down. There's no need to fight over lil' ol' me. Now I've taken the liberty of deciding who I'm going with tonight. I'm going to go with Raoul" Raoul smirked at Jon." Now none of that. And Jon, you can go with my old friend, Jenny." Jon looked at Jenny, who looked 17 in the dress she was in. " Are we agreed?"

"Yes ma'am!" Raoul cheered.

"Yeah," Jonathon agreed and he walked over to Jenny and offered his hand. Three years isn't that big a difference, she told herself.

They walked down to the ballroom, everyone content.

"So," Jon asked, "where are you from?"

"I'm from Tortall, but I've spent my life in Shang."

Jon's eyes widened, impressed, "Shang? Wow, and at such a young age."

"Yes, I'm the Shang Ferret."

"Ferret?"

"Yes, I never wanted to be in Shang, so I tried to leave marks along the way so people would remember me-"

"And going out as a strange name would secure you for life."

"Yes."

"That's an interesting way to look at life though."

They reached the doors to the ballroom, and descended down. Somehow the announcer knew Jenny's name, and she was proud to hear the murmurs going on throughout the ballroom as they heard her Shang name.

"Your plan is doing quite well, " Jae said from beside the stairs.

"And it matters to you how?" Jenny retorted quietly so only the people close could hear.

Because you don't want people to think you're the slut that you really are.

Oh like you? and finally they were off the stairs and away from the black mage.

"So, what was that about?" Jon whispered in her ear.

"Long story, I'd rather not talk about it. Let's dance."

And they did. All night, until Jenny got thirsty and went to the refreshments table. Gaia followed.

"It's about time, I've been meaning to talk to you," Gaia said as they drank their punch.

"Why?" Jenny asked.

"I heard what you said to Jaelawyn Noble."

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean for nobles to hear that. Your poor ears, " Jenny faked sympathy.

"No, I agree. I've never liked her, and I just realized you didn't either."

"What? How do you know her?"

"We went to the same school."

"Wait-you're a mage?"

"A black-robe." Jenny was quiet. She'd only known one black robe mage and that was Jae.

"Hello girls," Jae calmly welcomed as she came over to the table, "Having fun, sucking up to the men? But I'm not exactly sure you're sucking up, if you know what I mean."

"Oh I know what you mean," Jenny growled.

Gaia was fuming, "You obviously don't know me very well, do you?"

"No, and I don't want to," Jae looked Gaia square in the eyes.

"Gaia, I'm really not in the mood to fight," Jenny tried to calm her new friend down.

"Well I am," Gaia turned to Jae, "Look, dearie, you always thought you were better than me, but I've done better than you. Everyone knows me, they don't know you."

"So I can be the belle of the ball and the center of attention? No thank you I have higher self esteem than that."

"A little to high."

"Jae, you taught my sisters, don't be mean. They still need the help and should think of you as a nice person," Jenny tried to pursuade Jae away from this.

"What do you mean?" Jae asked.

"Don't turn into a bitch now. Heather and Hayley won't like that. We already have one."

"Fuck off"

"Tried it, don't recommend it."

Jae turned to Gaia, "Look I'm not in the mood for this okay, and don't go sending your friends to me. I don't need them ragging on me. And you," she turned to Jenny, "You've been warned. Don't come near me, okay? I'm going to still hang around your sisters because they still need the training, but you stay away."

"Did she just warn me?" Jenny asked Gaia.

"Yes, I do believe she did."

Jenny turned to Jae, unfortunately Jae was taller, but she didn't care,"Look missy, I knew there was something wrong with you from the start, but I thought you meant well. I care about my sisters, they raised me, and I've meant to pay them back. You hurt them or turn them against me, and I will be on you so fast with my friends you won't know what hit you." And with that she turned away with Gaia following.

Jon and Raoul were waiting.

"What was that about about?" Jon asked.

"Oh nothing, just talking with an old friend," Jenny put emphasis on the word friend.

"You sure, because it sure looked like a cat fight," Raoul added.

"Positive," Gaia grabbed Raoul and dragged him onto the dance floor with Jenny and Jon following.

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k this is Jenny, i wrote this w/ heather and hayley gone. This may get deleted cuz heather and hayley will b mad