The entire drive to Auradon Prep was completely unbearable for those who road in six people squished together, there was no room for anyone to move. Audrey was stuck at one end of the bench while Anthony was stuck on the other end, his fiancé one side and the limousine door on the other. Harry had the worst luck since he was stuck in the center of the bench like seat, just below the open sunroof.
That insignificant detail will be important later on.
On top of being crammed together, Audrey and Gil had to endure the constant interrogations from the Lady of the Court about their sex lives. She wanted to know how long they've been in a sexual relationship, if they used protection, and if she should have thought better about letting the two lived together for the last half of the punishment.
Wanting to keep no secrets, Audrey and Gil actually told the truth. They somewhat reluctantly admitted that the first time Audrey skipped school was the first time that they made love. Audrey just had to throw Harriet under the bus after commenting that the pirate convinced her to buy a couple lacy underwear sets. When asked how long they went for, Gil admitted to it being the majority of the day, much to nearly everyone's surprise.
Harriet had been the one to comment about the couple indeed using protection, to their momentary relief and embarrassment. The pirate couldn't help teasing the couple by reminding them of how many condoms they went through in just that one day, nearly an entire box. Harriet then reassured the fairy and old thief that she helped Audrey get on birth control since she knew it only worked a majority of the time.
It was almost as though she was speaking from experience.
As for the final question, the other three new transfers just had to make varying comments about the situation. Anthony recalled the first morning of them living together at the hideout, Harriet ran out of the building red face and horny. Uma commented on how Audrey stopped limping after the first few days. Harry joked about the couple practically running out of the school toward their temporary home so they could do it again.
"Was this even a punishment for you?" Mal teased. "It sounds like it was more of a reward."
"I'm not sure," Audrey admitted. "I made new friends. Harriet and I became best friends. And I found myself a loving boyfriend on the first day. Sure, there was some ups and downs, but I don't think it was a punishment, but something I just needed to experience. Honestly, I can't wait for the barrier to be removed so we could go back again."
"Remember to keep quiet about the barrier," Jay reminded, steering into the street leading to Auradon Prep. "Their Majesties want to keep it a secret until they announce it at their celebration a week after graduation."
"We're hoping by then, Ben and I will have everything ready for the Isle children," Mal informed, giving them the 'behind the scene' information. "The Royal Council has determined that all the children from the Isle will have to attend at least one semester of Auradon Prep, so they know the basics of living on the mainland and some lessons in Remedial Goodness. You five are the only exceptions. There are a few classes that the schools on the Isle have that Auradon doesn't. With there only being a week left until we all graduate, most of your time will be spent in Remedial Goodness, taking a crash course. The classes that the schools share will be the ones you'll take a final in, but modified for what you learned at both places."
"So when exactly will the tests be?" Uma wondered. "They would have to be soon since graduation is in just a few days, right?"
"All finals for seniors will be Friday,"Jay relayed, as it had been pounded into his head for the last few weeks. "Those who failed the final or failed the class will be required to attend summer school. Family Day will be Saturday morning—"
"Fuck!" Audrey exclaimed. "I fucking hate Family Day. My aunt sucks up to my grandmother and complains to her about bullshit, accusing me of doing whatever got her in trouble. My grandmother scolds me the entire time then expects me to pose with Ariana for a picture to show that we are so 'perfect' when we are nothing to admire."
Mal raised an amused eyebrow. "When we arrive at Auradon Prep, at least attempt to watch your language," the fairy requested. "No one is gonna be expecting you to go to the Isle with a filter and return with no filter."
"Graduation will be Saturday evening," Jay continued. "That way your families can watch you graduate. Sunday will be spent moving your stuff out of your dorms to wherever you will stay until the barrier is removed. Speaking of which, there is something a couple of you should know."
"First, Audrey has known about you coming to Auradon for a while," Mal revealed, causing some surprised glances to be cashed toward the mainland princess. "As soon as I told her, her mind went to one idea that she wanted to see be real."
"It's not anything special—"
"Bullshit," Mal argued, contradicting what she said a few moments before. "This surprise is going to be better than my proposal, the announcement of the VK Program, and the removal of the barrier. I wish I had come up with the idea since it is so brilliant."
"Who's the surprise for?" Gil wondered.
Pulling into the circular driveway, Jay teased, "Just look out the window. They'll know."
Confused, the Isle children gazed outside as the vehicle began slowing down. They didn't know what exactly to look for—
Until a pair of siblings gazed at the person standing next to the king.
Jaws dropping, Harriet whipped her head toward the mainland princess. Tears weld up as she choked out, "Did you really . . . ?"
Smiling at the reaction, Audrey answered the unfinished question, "Of course, I did. It's the least I could for you. You are my best friend."
Unable to contain her excitement and her overwhelming emotions, Harriet burst through the limousine door before the vehicle could stop completely. Stumbling on the first step, she ran as fast as she could toward the stairway.
Harry, on the other hand, was a little more extreme.
Being far too impatient for his own good, the first mate thought it would be a good idea to stand on the seat and climb through the sun roof. Somehow he managed to balance on the vehicle roof when Jay slammed on the brakes. He simply hopped off the limousine and jogged after his sister.
Next to King Ben stood a young woman, who wore a plain and boorish lavender dress, with dirty blonde hair that reached just above her shoulders. The main thing that stood out about her were her bright blue eyes that almost seem to glow. No one in Auradon had the exact same shade as her—
Except, for a brother and sister from the Isle of the Lost.
Seeing the teen running toward her first, the woman couldn't help being drawn toward her, jogging to meet her in the middle.
Within a few moments, the two met in the middle with the teen plowing into the woman, giving each other a tight hug as they cried into the other's shoulder. A few moments afterwards, Harry swallowed the two in a giant embrace of his own, allowing his tears to spill with theirs.
It took some time before the trio could pull themselves together. By the time Jay officially parked the limousine and the others were climbing out of the vehicle, the woman pulled away from the hug. Gazing at the siblings of nearly the same age, Jane Darling smiled through her happy tears.
"I have missed you two so much," Jane sobbed. "I didn't notice until now, but you two have my eyes."
Laughing through her tears, Harriet turned to gaze at her friend, she wiped away her tears as she said, "I can't believe you actually did this Audrey. Thank you."
Smiling almost mischievously, Audrey teased, "Who said this is the end of the surprise?"
"Welcome to Auradon," King Ben greeted the group before adverting his attention. "And welcome home, Princess Audrey. I hope the trip to the Isle of the Lost was better than you expected."
"First, I want to address the dorm situation," Ben announced to the still slightly overwhelmed group. "We only have three rooms available because it's so close to the end of the school year. One is at the girl's dorm while there are two at the boy's dorms. Luckily, they have single beds in each, which is all we need."
Ben turned toward the reunited family. Smiling as widely as he possibly could from anticipation, His Majesty declared, "Harriet and Harry, you two have permission to live off-campus in Auradon City, with your mother."
The siblings whipped their heads toward their still smiling mother. Harry was the one to ask for confirmation, "We get to stay with you?"
"A new house was purchased for us a few days ago," Jane Darling informed her children. "It's a small, three bedroom house just within walking distance of here and my new job. I thought the King and Queen of Auroria had bought it for us, but their daughter asked for them to purchase it using her inheritance money."
Once more, Harriet turned to look at the princess, definitely hurting her neck from how much she changed her gaze in the last few minutes. "You are way too generous for your own good," Harriet declared. "There is no way I can ever repay you for everything you have done for us."
"You don't have to repay me," Audrey insisted. "After everything you have done for me on the Isle, this makes us even."
"We're going to take a tour of the school," Mal informed the group. "Harriet and Harry, Ben or I will lead you to your mother's home when we are done."
"I'll take you out for dinner when you are home," Jane promised, wiping away the stray tears that still remained. "You can tell me everything that you couldn't in your letters."
"Can my fiancé and our friends join us?" Harriet requested. "I'd really like if Audrey could come too."
"If I'm going, we have to go shopping after," Audrey negotiated. "My treat as your gift to coming to Auradon. I've never got a chance to explore Auradon City anyways."
"It sounds like a plan to me," Jane agreed. "I'll see all of you after you finish your tour."
The tour of the school was much more cheerful than any thought it would be, thanks to the surprise at their arrival. As soon as her mother left for their new home, Harriet wrapped one arm around Audrey's, practically skipping together as the king and 'future' queen gave their usual spill about the school and various opportunities Auradon Prep had to offer.
Even Harry had a new, bright and joyful gleam in his eyes, one that not many have seen before. Reuniting with his mother, if only for a few moments, has already changed him for the better.
After leading the group to the dorms, Harriet made private jokes to the Auradon Princess about a certain someone sneaking out of his room to sleep with her. Audrey playfully rolled her eyes at the promiscuous suggestion, though the blush on her cheeks proved otherwise. It didn't help that her boyfriend slyly winked at her, having heard the jokes.
A few minutes later, after being led toward the classroom building, Audrey felt this overwhelming dread take over her. It was almost as though she could feel something bad was about to happen.
Sadly, it came true when none other than Chad Charming came blazing through the hallway. Shoving the others aside, he swallowed Audrey in a massive embrace, causing the princess to wince in pain. Before she could have the chance to push the prince away, Chad decided it would be a 'perfect' idea to kiss the princess—
Right in front of the broken-hearted Gil.