And now an all new episode of Lori Disney? (Not Likely!)

XXX

The familiar Stevens, freshly dressed in new clothes, approaches the desk at an airport. He looks over his shoulder and slaps a credit card on the table. "I need a ticket for Sydney." The woman nods, and after processing the information hands him his ticket. "Thank you."

He then goes to another airline and puts cash on the counter in front of another person. "I need a ticket for Ontario. I'm sort of in a hurry." The man nods and hands him his ticket and he heads for the gates, again checking over his shoulder.

XXX

So follow me down

(Lori stands with the book)
Where to?
Outta this town

(Charlie is sketching furiously)
With you
Girl, you're movin way
Too slow

So follow me down
Which way?
Down, down, down
I'll show you around
Okay
There's a place we gotta go

(The Disney Encyclopedia begins to glow. Lori sighs)

Follow me, follow me

(Lori and Charlie are running through the preserve, freezing once on each of their faces)
Fa la la la la

Follow me, follow me

Fa la la la la

(Lori comes to a halt and Charlie crashes into her, sending them both to the ground)

Lori Disney? (Definitely Not!)

Episode 3: Man's Best Friend

XXX

Hannah Frost sits on a small couch in a tiny room. She is perfectly straight and a forced smile on her face. She is dressed as impressive as ever. Across from her sits an elderly woman dressed in a skirt and blouse with thick glasses. She holds a clipboard and is writing notes. After a moment, she nods at Hannah. "Why did you request you two come here Hannah?"

Hannah clears her throat and somehow sits straighter. "Well, I just want to fix things. When I was getting ready for college… things just have gotten really out of hand."She turns and we finally see that next to her sits Lori Fitzgerald. Her face looks more peeved than usual, her arms are tightly crossed, her sneakers are on a small table in front of them, and she is sporting a black eye. "But I want to fix it."

The counselor notes this and then turns to Lori. "And you?"

"I was told there would be snacks," she states grumpily. Hannah glares at her before pulling a small bag of cookies from her purse. She tosses them at Lori and her disposition lightens. "Thank you!" Hannah gives the counselor a look as if this proves her point.

"Alright… how about we start where the problems truly began?"

There is a long silence and finally Hannah speaks up. "Well, I think it really started with this text I sent-"

"With my phone. Without my knowledge or permission. To insult someone." She takes a bite of a cookie. "Just saying."

"I was getting to that," Hannah snaps. Lori just takes another bite. "You see, I was coming back from class…"

XXX

Hannah waves good-bye to Victoria, heads up the stair of the dorm, and enters her room. Lori is sitting on top of her desk, legs curled up into her chest. She is staring out into the rest of the room but it is clear in her she's somewhere completely different.

"Hey," Hannah says quickly in passing. She then notices Lori's position as silence answers her. She waves her hand in front of Lori's face. "Lori!" She takes a prolonged moment before rising.

"You have some nerve," she begins. "You give me this whole big song-and-dance routine when you're the one sending messages with my phone," she holds it up, "insulting ones at that! Ones capable of really hurting people."

Hannah puts her hands up defensively. "I-I was just trying to help you. He just keeps stalking you… and you just let him. It's not healthy and it's not safe to keep letting him push you like that. I don't want to open the window some night to see him peeking in here or something equally creepy. It-it needs to stop."

"So you sent him a threat?" Lori scoffs. "Wow, that's clearly being a much better person. You must have learned that from Victoria.

"Please," Hannah begs. "I don't want us to fight. I messed up. I admit it. Can we just leave it at that?" Lori stares at her a moment before softening slightly. Suddenly, the filing cabinet starts making a racket- as if something is rattling inside it.

"What is going on?" The door almost springs open but Lori launches herself in front of it. She gets on her knees and tries to hold it shut as the inside starts glowing. "What is in there?"

"Nothing!" The cabinet manages to spring open, knocking her in the eye. She jerks back and grabs it. "Oww!"

XXX

"So that's where the black eye comes from?" the counselor notes. "I can say I'm relieved." The two look slightly horrified.

"What, you-you thought I hit her or something?"

"No," Lori says deadpan, "obviously it's far more embarrassing than that." She eats another cookie. Hannah turns to her.

"What were you doing up on your desk by the way?" Lori just gives her a look and doesn't answer. Hannah sighs and turns back. "Anyway, so she refused to tell me what had just happened. There was a literal light show inside! Finally, I managed to look in…"

XXX

Lori is still cradling her eye as Hannah pushes past her and looks in the cabinet. She pulls out the book and sees there is absolutely nothing else. "Seriously, what did you just do?" She examines the cabinet and sees Lori is still doubled over in pain. Finally, she gives in. "I thought you were going to return this book since it wasn't yours?"

"Oh, it's for me." Lori grabs it from her- the one eye still screwed shut painfully. "For better or for worse, I'm stuck with it."

"Who sent it to you?" Hannah asks innocently.

"I wish I knew so I could personally thank them with a bat to the head." Hannah just looks at her as she locks the book back up. "Thank God the lock held up this time. I'm still pissed at you by the way."
"Like I said, I'm really sorry. He just somehow got your number-"

"I gave him my number," Lori shoots back. Hannah looks taken aback.

"You… wait what?"

"I needed help with a problem in Math. He was explaining it to me in class but we ran out of time. He offered to text me through it and I agreed. No big deal." She shrugs. "I think I need to get some ice."

"Why didn't you tell me that?"

"Why would I tell you that?"

"Because we're roommates! This is the kind of thing we're supposed to gossip about as we fall asleep every night! When are you going to let me in?"

"I'm going to dinner to get ice." Lori storms out and Hannah just watches her go.

XXX

Lori is sitting at dinner with a bag of ice held over her eye. She is picking absently at her food when she looks up to notice Ben standing over her. He is looking at her now black eye with a smirk. "It was a filing cabinet."

"I'm sure it was," he comments before walking off. She sticks her tongue out at him. She then notices Hannah walk past with Victoria and Tyler.

"In the library?" she asks shocked. Lori just rolls her one eye and keeps eating.

XXX

"So did you two talk that night after you had cooled down," the counselor asks.

"She was out all night," Hannah remarks coldly, "just like seemingly every night."

"I was doing something super important that is not the point of this conversation! Let's move on…"

XXX

Lori is currently in a clearing wandering the forest preserve with her flashlight and book under her arm. Charlie is next to her furiously sketching something in a notebook. Lori thinks she sees movement and moves her light to see it is just a squirrel. She looks skyward in frustration for a moment before she keeps walking.

"I'm getting really sick of this. Like never want to eat a hot dog again because I got food poisoning that one Christmas sick."

"Lori, you just calm- wait… what? You had a hotdog for Christmas?" Lori shoots him a look.

"We're not friends. Hence there is no sharing of personal stories."

"Lori, the third time is the charm. At this point, I think we're officially friends."

"No," she answers firmly, "we aren't. So get lost. I don't even know how you figured I was coming out here tonight."

"I happened to hear Tyler telling all the guys on the floor the story of how you got your black eye."

"Now she's telling everyone! I'm getting so sick of her meddling." They walk for a moment. "Speaking of, that message about the police-"

"She sent it. I was capable of figuring that out on my own."

"Why didn't you tell me though?" He looks down at the ground.

"I didn't want to get her in trouble. She seemed too nice and she was just trying to protect you…" Lori groans as they come to the clearing they had begun in.

"We've been here before!" Charlie looks around, at his paper, and then nods.

"Yeah, definitely. I've been working on a map." He shows her a sketch in pencil that literally looks like a mess of scribbles in formations to represent trees. He points to an open space off to the right of the paper. "We're here."

Lori has been ignoring him and is now in the middle of the clearing. "Where are they? I need to get them into my life that way I can get them out with equal quickness!"

"A friend would have complimented the map I worked so hard on for her," Charlie mutters under his breath.

"We're not friends!" she shouts back, kicking at the grass.

Charlie rolls his eyes. "Maybe this one's about anger management." He sees her going off to the right. "Lori! We've already been that way!" He runs after her.

XXX

"And then this afternoon everything "fell apart" according to Hannah's notes here."

"Fell apart means they were together to begin with," Lori snorts. Hannah and the counselor straight up glare at her. "Just saying."

"You. Are. Impossible." Hannah growls, looking to the counselor for help. The counselor bites her lip.

"What exactly happened?" she finally asks.

XXX

Lori enters lunch, balancing a tray along with a Biology book under her arm. She looks over the different stations when she is shoved against a wall by Tyler. "So I hear you've been giving Hannah a hard time?"

Lori remains her collected self. "Let go of me you Neanderthal."

He pushes her harder. "I don't take too kindly to people being a bully to my friends."

"And what do you call what you're doing right now?" Victoria comes up and joins him.

"Something is really off about you," she growls. "The net, the lion, a glowing filing cabinet…"

For the first time, Lori looks legitimately frightened. "L-Let go of me." She tries to hide it in her voice, but the fear comes out loud and clear. "She had no right to tell you any of those things." The two smirk at her.

"Looks like you aren't so tough when your boyfriend isn't around to protect you, huh? You act all cold and put together, because you know deep down inside you're just a freak." He throws her behind him and she crashes into Hannah, who had been approaching the scene. Lori is sent toppling to the floor with Hannah's tray- containing a bowl of soup- tipping on top of her. She sputters a little bit as Hannah looks at her friends absolutely horrified and offers her hand.

"Oh I'm so… just let me help you…" Lori shoves her hand away and rises to her feet. She is covered in soup with noodles and celery in her hair. She looks honestly about ready to cry. "Oh, Lori. I'm sure they didn't-"

At that moment angry Lori returns with a vengeance. "I hate you so much." Hannah takes a step back. "You are HANDS DOWN the worst roommate! You pretend to be all happy and cheerful- like you don't see through how fake these people are! But you're too smart for that. When are you going to just drop the act?" Hannah becomes angry as well, and begins to raise her voice in retaliation.

"How about when you drop the heart of ice routine? You make everything so impossible!" She points her finger into Lori's chest and brings her voice down. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. You weren't supposed to be like this." Lori pulls back.

"Well, I'm sorry you're disappointed!" It's then she notices Ben watching the scene from behind Hannah at the salad bar. She watches him just shake his head and continue towards the tables. This seems to take the fight out of her as she turns and runs out the door.

"L-Lori!" Hannah calls, attempting to follow her. Victoria stops her.

"Ah, just forget about her. She'll be okay." Hannah shakes out of her grasp.

"You didn't have to do that! I can handle things on my own!"

Tyler looks at her. "I was just trying to help a friend- like you were with that text message." Hannah softens at this. "Let's take our seat and get you some new soup." He gently takes her tray and after a moment she follows him.

XXX

Charlie is in the dark alcove outside the library that Lori frequents for her studies. It is a lit bit cooler now and both have been forced into wearing pants. He is trying to make a nice sketch than his previous one and present to her after lab- the one class he couldn't get with her. In fact, his lab had been during lunch. But he had heard all about the incident. And he had also heard how Hannah had apparently scheduled a counseling visit for them. Lori had apparently raged up and down the halls about it. So maybe a nice map could make her happy when they went out searching tonight.

A dog pound truck pulls up to the library and a burly man climbs out. The librarian comes calmly out of the building. "Thank you for coming. We found it in the library yesterday afternoon. We locked him up in the printer room." The two go in after the man grabs a net.

Charlie watches a few minutes later as they exit, the man now dragging a dog. "Pluto…" he whispers, throwing everything in his backpack as the man pulls him into the back of the trunk.

"Probably just some kids pulling a prank," the man smiles creepily at the librarian. "He does have a tag and we'll see if we can find where he belongs." Charlie runs up to them.

"Excuse me, but where's this truck go?"

The man brings himself down to his eye-level. "The pound, kid. It's about five miles west. Now, I have to get going."

"You can't-"

"He'll be fine, squirt," he answers calmly, ruffling Charlie's hair. With one last smile at the librarian, he climbs into his truck and drives off. The librarian holds Charlie by his shoulders.

"There, there. It'll be okay." He rapidly shrugs her off, annoyed, and takes off at a run. He glances at his watch and heads right for where Lori's going to be.

XXX

The counselor finally puts down her notepad and stares at the two. "So now comes the most important part-"Charlie throws the door open and barges in.

"Excuse me, but we have an emergency. I really need to borrow Lori."

"I'm sure it can wait," Hannah comments coldly. Charlie locks eyes with Lori and she just nods. She rises. "Lori, we're in the middle of-"

"This was your idea, not mine. And I finished my cookies, so all bets are off!" She takes off out the door and Charlie follows with an apologetic smile. Hannah puts her head in her hands.

"I… I thought it was going to be like in the movies. College is where you reinvent yourself, where the things that mattered in high school just vanish." She is near tears. "She was supposed to be my best friend. In the movie your roommate is always your best friend, and I'm trying so hard to make my life like the movie in my head." She laughs weakly to herself. "This summer, I made this book. A book where I could put all the pictures we take together, the inside jokes, the crushes, everything…"

"Hannah, it doesn't always work out like that," the counselor points out kindly. Hannah rises.

"I know. I've realized that… and that's probably the worst part." She walks out the door and the counselor makes a final note.

XXX

The two are at the Trinity College sign at the front of campus. Charlie points west. "He said it's about five miles. How are we getting there?"

Lori rolls her eyes. "Obviously, I'll have to walk. There goes the rest of the day. You're sure it was Pluto?"

"If it wasn't it looked like him to a shocking degree. It's the only logical answer… when you factor in the fact you own a magical Disney Encyclopedia."

"I guess I'd better get going then."

"There has to be a way we could drive over there," Charlie ponders. Lori just looks at him.

"I don't have a car and you're thirteen." He looks back at her, annoyed. "Just stating the obvious."

"Doesn't Hannah have a car? I think I've seen her in one a few times."

"How would I know that?" Charlie shakes his head at her.

"She's your roommate. What if you need something from like Target at midnight?" Lori just stares at him, confused. "You are so weird. But we can worry about that later. Right now we should go ask Hannah."

"She's not exactly very happy with me right now, nor I her."

"You know some main traits of dogs?"

"They slobber all over you."

"No. They are kind, loyal, and show some decency and compassion. Maybe asking Hannah-"

"I'll walk."

"Before you do, reflect that I'm going with you whether you want me to or not. So it'll be ten miles of the two of us. Plenty of time to chat, reflect, become friends…" Lori turns and starts heading back towards the dorms. "I thought so," he comments to himself, smirking.

XXX

Lori opens the room to her dorm and shuts the door before Charlie can enter in after her. She walks in to see Hannah at her desk, looking at something sadly. She clears her throat and Hannah quickly hides it in her desk drawer before turning to face her.

"Hey, listen do you have a car?" she asks, nonchalant.

"Yeah…" Hannah answers, a little taken aback and unsure.

"I-"There is pounding on the door. "Charlie and I need a ride to the local pound."

"You're kidding."

"There's this dog they took away. I recognize him- he belongs to this old lady who lives across the campus. But he must have escaped the fence and she's… on vacation!" Hannah narrows her eyes.

"Lori, how would you know all this?"

"She takes a deep breath and continues. "Listen, I normally wouldn't care. But Charlie's outside and freaked out that they're going to hurt him… or worse. I just don't want him traumatized. So we'll pick the dog up and take him back… to the house…of the old lady… who is indeed on vacation… yeah."

"Lori…"

"Listen, I know. I know I've been absolutely horrible. And I know I'm just a heartless ice queen. That's not fake- that's me. But Charlie… he didn't tell me about the text. He didn't want to get you in trouble. He's a good kid and… he deserves peace of mind." There is a long pause before Hannah looks at Lori as if she has just figured something out. "Please."

"Alright."She grabs her keys from her purse. "Grab a car seat for the kid." They open the door and he's standing there unamused.

"Ha ha ha, I'm thirteen! Super funny!"

"Are you okay?" Lori asks.

"It's been a long day."

"Then stop wasting time and let's get out of here." The two follow Hannah out the door and down the stairs.

XXX

Hannah pulls up her modest car to the pound. She is about to kill the engine but Lori stops her. She then scrambles out of the car with Charlie behind her. "Let's move."

Hannah looks at them. "What are you going to say? How-"

"I have a foolproof plan."

XXX

Lori and Charlie are at the desk-forced smiles on their faces. Behind it is the man who picked up Pluto earlier. "No," he responds to them. Their faces fall.

"But sir-"Charlie begins.

"You kids are from the college. I recognize you from this afternoon. You're just going to take the dog and let him loose somewhere. He'll just end up back here. And this one's a nasty one."

"He's just scared," Lori defends. "He just misses his owner. This dog… he is the most loyal and compassionate-"

"Look at this." The man pulls up his sleeve exposing a whole host of teeth marks. "He's a stray mongrel some kids stuck a tag on. You know what is says: Mickey Mouse, Toontown. Kids today and their jokes. That one's too mean to even be adopted- barks too. We've had to muzzle him."

"You're not going to-"Charlie asks, horrified.

"We plan on putting him down tonight," the man answers simply. Charlie looks frightened and shocked, turning desperately to Lori.

XXX

Lori is pacing in front of the car as Hannah leans on the hood where Charlie is also perched."So wait… they won't let you take him?"

"No and they're going to put him down," Lori says desperately. Charlie looks about ready to cry.

"And you can't get in touch with the owner?"

"She's on vacation," Charlie covers. "Lori, they can't kill him. You can't let them."

"Just… just give me a minute."She continues pacing, clearly mentally freaking out. Hannah sees this and heads in. "Hannah!"She walks up to the desk and smiles her brightest.

"Hi, my friends just called me. Apparently, my dog is here. He's a real little guy- answers to Munchkin." She is lead to the back and emerges a few minutes later with Pluto trailing behind her. She puts him in the trunk of her car. "Let's get you home boy. We need to hurry!" she shouts and everyone scrambles into the vehicle as she drives off as fast as possible "He wasn't mean at all- at least to me. He seems like a big sweetheart. It's creepy how much he looks like Pluto."

"The resemblance is uncanny," Lori notes, seemingly uninterested.

"Now let's get this poor guy home."

"How'd you do that?" Lori asks.

"I just have good people skills… and I may have tricked the guy into trying to get me this real mean looking dog, grabbed his keys, got him out, and ran." The two look at her shocked. "What?"

Charlie smiles widely. "You are… awesome!" She smiles and continues driving. They all sit in awkward silence for a long moment.

"Thank you," Lori finally speaks up.

"You're welcome. Just tell me the address."

XXX

Lori and Charlie lead a happy Pluto behind a house as Hannah waits in the car. "She really saved us back there," Charlie comments. Silence greets him. "Lori, I'm serious. She really bailed us out."

"Thank you for stating the obvious Charlie. Let's do this before anyone finds us."She pulls out the book and flips through pages

"I'm just saying, you got really lucky with your roommate no matter how much I hear you complain about her."

"I guess I did."She finds the glowing poem. "Alright boy, let's get you home."Pluto barks. "I'm not sure what the tune on this one is though." Charlie looks at it.

"I think you just have to wing it. Here, allow me."He starts humming a fast little tune on the spot. She just stares at him.

"That won't be necessary." He abruptly stops and she starts singing, noticeably to the beat he had just made up. "'With a woof and a sniff and a bark Pluto's going home to play with Mickey in the park'" Pluto gives her a last lick before the bright light engulfs them and he vanishes. "I told that's what dogs are known for." She attempts to wipe it on Charlie but he back up, appropriately grossed out.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Only friends can wipe dog slobber on one another."

"You really are going to hold this against me at my lowest point, aren't you?"

"Yes, and then the hunter shall become the hunted."

"Keep dreaming," she replies with a smirk, blowing past him. He follows her out to where Hannah is waiting.

"Lori, I know we're holding up well all things considered. But maybe you should consider-"

"No," she answers, voice cold. "I'm not dragging her into this. I'm not ruining her life." Her voice has a strong note of finality.

"I'm here and it's not ruining my life! She could help us!"

"Yeah, but you're free to go anytime you want. Eventually, you're going to come to your senses and take the option- I hope sooner rather than later," she adds.

"I'm not going to do that to you!" She spins and faces him down.

"You will and you should! I'll say good riddance right behind you!" She keeps waling and mutters to herself "Just like everyone else."

XXX

Lori and Hannah enter their room. Hannah walks right to her desk and gets started with something on her computer. Lori watches her for a moment "Hey, he's happy and home thanks to you."

"It was nothing. What's his owner's name?"

"… Mickey."

"You're kidding?"She shakes her head and Hannah laughs. "Wow…" Lori takes a seat at her desk and puts the book into her filing cabinet. The two sit silently looking away from one another for a long time. "I'll try harder," she says finally.

"Me too." There is another pause. "I'm sorry I'm not who you were looking for."Hannah looks at the book she has tucked away in her desk drawer.

"Me too," she mutters to herself, shutting the drawer and returning to her computer. "But I guess there's always next year."

XXX

Tune in next week as Lori and Charlie break into the cafeteria and combat some family troubles while trying to still keep their secret from a prying Victoria and Tyler

XXX

Thanks everyone again. The theme song is 'Follow Me Down' by 3Oh3. Tune in next time and feel free to check out the tumblr- the link is posted in my author page. Right now we have author commentary, a little more on Hannah, and the story of Charlie's parents. Have a great week. And Brave was pretty epic, wasn't it?

Love, Dis