Chapter Three

Jim was riding high on his solar surfer when he noticed a large crowd of people down in the courtyard. Deciding that he better check in out Jim surfed back to the area where the equipment was stored, placed his solar surfer in its original spot, and walked onto the courtyard. Coming closer to the commotion, Jim looked up at the clock on the side of the building. 9:03.

Jim slapped himself for forgetting about the royal families arrival. Jogging up to the edge of the crowd, he tried to push himself past other boys to get a look at the family. After a few shoves, and cruses his way, Jim finally made it up close to the family. From his position behind a big burly guy, all Jim could see was two of the three daughters who were at the moment taking advantage of all the attention from the guys. Then behind the Queen and the King, who he could barley see, Jim spotted who must have been the other daughter. But Jims gazing was interrupted when all the greeters were rushed away by numerous professors and bodyguards.

Disappointed, but knowing that everyone would get a good look at the family sooner or later, Jim turned and headed back to the dorm building to pass the time while waiting for his friends and family to arrive. When Jim reached the door to the building, he looked back once more at the spot were the family was, and once more catching but a mere glimpse of the youngest daughter. Then he walked through the door and up to his dorm.

outside

Aubrianna, still standing behind her family, had her arms crossed across her chest and was giving the back of her sister's heads another death glare. Now many would think that she was bitter for doing so, and the truth was not far from that. Sure she liked being different, but there comes a time when enough is enough. Aubrianna had had enough of every one saying how beautiful, or how graceful, or even how kind the girls where (that part she never figured out). But she could do nothing about it. Fighting with her sisters wouldn't help her situation any further, and constantly pouting about it wouldn't make her any better then them. So, she just had to deal with it until, whenever it was, her time came.

The group was moving around the facility now, and the speaking from the professor came as a mumble to Aubrianna, for she was still lost in thought. A slight chill passed through the hall they were walking through and Aubrianna rubbed her hands on her arms for warmth. As they made their way into another hallway, the chill passed and the young princess was snapped out of her daze by the sound laughter.

Looking around she realized that her family was now talking to a student at the Academy, and someone had made a funny. Slowly walking up to the group, she stood on the sidelines listening in on the conversation.

"I mean some of the other students here are simply monstrous. They look like they've never even seen a high class ship." the young man said, chuckling with that rich and popular snob style. The others laughed also, but Aubrianna failed to see the humor. Obviously she had missed out on most of the conversation, or the family was just being nice because this boy seemed suitable for one of the princess's that he was making eyes at.

Giving an irritated sigh, Aubrianna rolled her eyes and looked around the hall for something of interest. Deciding on taking a glace out the window, she looked down upon the courtyard. Several people had gathered and she guessed the time for the students families to arrive had came. 'Sure seems a lot more exciting then this' she thought to herself, looking back behind her to see the rich snob still trying to win her parents over. Looking back out the window, a small smirk appeared across her pretty face and slowly slipped away to the stair way leading to the courtyard.

"They'll never miss me anyway." she said to herself.

courtyard

Sara Hawkins, Delbert and Amelia Doppler, B.E.N., and a familiar small pink blob walked around the courtyard waiting to catch sight of Jim.

"Ohhh, lookie at all the people and uh...things. Say have you ever thought of getting that removed. Cause I know a good doct...AH!" B.E.N. was saying to a big ugly, uh...thing when Sara pulled him away before he was torn apart and chucked to all parts of the courtyard.

"Where is he?" Sara questioned, mostly to herself. The Dopplers were walking closing behind her and Amelia had a slight smile on her feline face.

"Ah, brings back memories of Academy days. Not that I was all to fond of them...but it brings back memories none the less." she stated. Dr. Doppler was just looking around when he ran into the back of his wife, and she into the back of Sara.

"Jim!" Sara cried and ran to hug her son who had finally found his way through the crowd. They embraced and said how much they had missed each other and so forth. Jim also greeted the Dopplars, B.E.N. (who was rambling as usual), and Morphy, who cuddled up to Jim's cheek.

Right now Jim couldn't have been happier. He never thought it would feel so good to see everyone again. And he was going to enjoy every minute of it.

back with Aubrianna

Coming toward the end of the staircase, Aubrianna peered out into the courtyard and the hugging and happy families. She had never seen much of it, her family was more of the kind to just acknowledge that you're there and go on with their business.

Looking behind her to make sure her parents, her sisters, or one of those snobby guys weren't following her, Aubrianna stepped into the sunlight. She didn't worry about being recognized, no one ever saw her, and that was one of the high points of being an outcast. Of course seeing her royal duds, someone would figure out that she was one of the princess, but not one of her sisters, so she wouldn't be bothered.

Walking through the crowds of people, Aubrianna relished the freedom of being able to be on her own. Even though she was and outcast she was still a princess after all. Walking slowly with her hands resting behind her back, she felt happy and content. At these rare times it made her think that she really wasn't meant to be a princess, like fate had made a terrible mistake.

Still walking silently, the young girl got caught up in the sights and sounds and accidentally ran into someone in front of her. Regaining her balance she looked up to apologize.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going..." she trailed off looked at the guy she ran into. He had dark brown hair, with a strand or two hanging down in front of his gorgeous blue eyes. Looking closing she could barely see a braid like thing on the back of his head. She just looked at him when he didn't say anything back.

"Uh...yeah, um....sorry again. I better get going..." she stuttered, slowly walking past him, and noticing several other people, which she assumed to be his family giving her a friendly glance. Feeling sort of embarrassed, she looked down at the ground and started in the other direction. But she was stopped by a voice.

"No, no, sorry. Wait." the guy said coming up behind her. Biting her lip she thought to herself, 'oh god his coming over here, what do I do? What do I do?!'