Saturday morning, Lori Fitzgerald sits curled up on her desk chair in her pajamas checking her e-mails. She quickly skims through them- deleting most on sight- before one catches her eye from her Resident Director.

She clicks it and reads it aloud. "'It is that time of year again' complete with fake exclamation points. 'It is time to select you living arrangements for next year. Digitally submit the following form by next Saturday. Only inquiries from both or all parties will result in selection of a single room together.'" She leans backs for a minute before glancing at Hannah's empty side of the room.

A few moments later, the door is thrown open as Hannah Frost enters. Lori instantly notices he seems a little off- looking exhausted. Lori rises and cuts her off as she heads directly for her bed."Hey. Listen, I really need to talk to you."

Hannah yawns dramatically. "Can it wait until tomorrow morning? I want to get some sleep."

Lori instantly becomes more suspicious. "It is tomorrow morning. The sun is up and everything. But anyway, Kenny's ex-girlfriend Rachel told me-"

She has instantly lost Hannah's interest as she irritably walks around her to grab a pair of pajamas from her dresser. "And why would you believe anything she tells you? Kenny dumped her because she was with another guy… in the same play no less. Can you believe that? Who'd want to cheat on Kenny?"

Lori can clearly see what her roommate's trying to do, so she switches her tone more to one of concern. "Hannah, you know I hate this conversation and hurting your feeling as much as you do. But I'm trying to be a good friend because quite frankly that guy is manipulative and quite frankly a real slime ball."

This doesn't work either as Hannah quickly grows angry and glares at her. "And I say he's the best boyfriend a girl could ask for. So who are you going to believe- your friend or some random chick whispering in your ear?!"

Lori is thrown off by this mood swing, and her suspicions quickly take hold. "Are you okay? You're acting- he didn't make you take anything did he? Rachel told me about-"

Hannah pushes past her, shoving Lori back. "There you go." She starts crying. "Another lie from your new best friend Rachel. Does Charlie know you're cheating on him?!"

Lori is now quite frankly lost on what to do. "Hannah, I just want to talk," she says sincerely.

Hannah crosses her arms. "And I don't. If I can't get sleep here, I'm going in the lounge." She exits, leaving Lori to groan as she runs a hand through her hair.

"Oh, it was so much easier when I didn't like her." She hastily follows her out the door.

About a minute later the book starts rumbling in her backpack next to her desk. It emits a glow before ceasing- everything appearing normal once again.

XXX

So follow me down

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

(Charlie examines his map)
With you
Girl, you're movin way

(Hannah is typing away at her computer)
Too slow

So follow me down

(Michael grabs the first aid kit from a cabinet)
Which way?
Down, down, down

(Ben looks at his phone and sighs, adjusting his tie)
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, Hannah, Ben, Michael, 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 the others crash into her, sending them all to the ground)

Lori Disney? (Not Likely!)

Episode 18: Expedition Everest

XXX

Michael Harms enters his Chemistry class early Monday morning and takes his usual seat behind a waiting Charlie Prescott. Charlie eagerly turns to face him. "Thanks for coming in early."

Michael gives his shoulder a squeeze. "Absolutely, squirt. What can I do for you?"

"Did you get the e-mail?" Charlie begins.

"I did."

"And do you know what you're doing next year?"

Michael gives a knowing smile. "I have an idea."

Charlie's face falls. "Oh. Well, I was wondering, and you could say no and you probably will if you have plans, but I was wondering if you'd possibly maybe be okay with being my roommate next year?"

Michael puts him at ease instantly with a warm smile. "I would absolutely like to be your roommate. We're friends. We get along." He puts his hand to his chin in mock contemplation. "You seem like the type who knows the difference between study time and hang-out time. I don't imagine you being a slob. And I'd be more than happy to help with the nightmares if you have any. You fit all my qualifications. I must fit yours. I say let's do this." Charlie abruptly hugs him over the desk causing Michael to laugh. Other students start entering a few at a time.

"I can't wait! I actually get to live with a friend next year! This is all I hoped for when I started college!" Lori enters and slumps into her seat next to Charlie. "Lori, Michael agreed to be my roommate!"

She musters a genuine smile, trying not to ruin his mood. "That's great."

"Have you and Hannah talked about next year?" he asks her.

She sighs. "No. We've argued all weekend. Kenny's ex-girlfriend stopped by Friday night and informed me of some things." Two girls walk in as they talk.

"Yeah, he's in the hospital," the first says. "He says something attacked his car, and it literally looks like something ripped the top off. He didn't see it though."

The second looks shocked as they sit down. "We'll have to make him a card or something. Poor Dr. Rice. Do they know what it was?"

The first rolls her eyes, pulling out her books. "Do the Rangers ever? Just what the President needs with the Alumni Donation Dinner this weekend, right?"

Michael contemplates what Lori has just told him in disbelief- the three of them having heard none of the previous conversation. "So wait, Kenny does drugs?"

Lori nods. "And she refuses to believe me. But I get the feeling she isn't telling me everything that happened that weekend. She couldn't sleep. I'm convinced she hasn't eaten much- she even skipped breakfast this morning."

"Can you call her parents?" Michael suggests.

Charlie nods, clearly worried. "That's a really good idea. You should do that and talk to the counselor."

"But first, do you believe this Rachel?" Michael asks. "If she's wrong-"

Lori nods, determined. "I do. And I'm not letting what happened to her happen to Hannah."

XXX

Hannah arrives in the room Tuesday afternoon after class. It has been a long day and she has a brief dizzy spell before regaining her balance. She plays with her jaw as she opens her laptop to do some homework. Her body instantly tenses when she hears the door and Lori whistling.

Lori physically ducks as a tape dispenser hits the wall behind her. She shoots back up, eyes wide as she sees how angry Hannah looks.

"The counselor and my parents! Seriously!"

"I was-"she begins desperately.

"It's one thing to not approve of my relationship, but to report me to the campus counselor! And then to call my parents?! What is wrong with you?! Why are you holding onto this delusion so tightly?! Why can't you let me have one relationship?!"

Lori grows frustrated with her anger, and rises to her full height to look down on her. "Because quite frankly you suck at picking guys!"

"Screw you!" Hannah shouts, poking a finger into her chest. "What do you know?!"

Lori desperately tries to gain control of the conversation. "Just tell me what happened Friday! I can help you! I want to help you."

Hannah refuses to fall for any of it. "Get out." She throws a container of markers that graze Lori's arm. "Get the hell out!" Lori exits the room hastily, almost afraid.

Hannah turns back to her laptop sees seven alerts from her monitoring system, still seething. "Screw all of this!" She drags them to her trash can and deletes them before taking a deep breath. She pulls out her phone and calls Kenny.

"Hey, can you come pick me up? I just want to go for a drive with you. Lori called my parents. No, of course I didn't tell them about the pills," she says harshly. "I told them she was making it up. They believe me over Lori, I mean I'm their own daughter." He says something that causes her to instantly relax and smile. "I love you too. See you in a few." She hangs up and heads out the door- slamming it.

XXX

At around the same time, Michael exits his last class of the day to find Ben Prescott waiting for him. The high-five one another and start down the hallway- Ben clearly nervous about something. "How are you holding up Harms?"

Ben sighs. "I'm managing Prescott. You?"

"I feel really guilty. Lori learned some stuff about Kenny that-"

"Listen, I'm just going to cut in here and ask something," Ben stops him. The two halt in front of the stairs. "Because I'm not used to this kind of stuff, so I'm really nervous and this I promise will be real awkward. Will you be my roommate next year?" he says so fast it's practically intelligible.

Michael gives a chuckle. "I missed that last-"

"I said will you be my roommate next year," Ben enunciates.

Michael frowns. "I don't know what to say… I thought you and your friends made plans ages ago."

"But they're not my real friends," Ben explains. This seems to depress Michael even more. "They don't know the biggest secret about my chasing Disney characters in the dead of night. They don't know me. With you, I wouldn't have to hide anything. And I'd like that." Ben winces at his choice of words. "That sounded like a declaration of love, which I assure you it was not."

Michael laughs. "No, it was cute. I was flattered." He thinks for a long moment and then something comes to him. "I accept of course."

Ben sighs with relief as they head down the stairs and out the Classroom Building door. "That was bad. I never want to do that again."

"Well, hopefully you'll have me for the next three years," Michael offers, elbowing him and laughing. "Now it's my turn to sound like we're a couple." They notice Hannah storming across campus in the distance.

"What's got her?" Ben snorts, used to seeing this kind of attitude from her. Michael looks sadder.

"Lori called her parents about Kenny. It doesn't look like she took it well." She climbs into her car and sits there. They both watch, Ben nudging Michael.

"We're her friends. We can't just stare. We should go-"

Michael shakes his head. "No. No. Let's just leave her alone." As if on cue, Kenny climbs into the passenger's seat, hugs her, and the two drive off. "She doesn't want us." Ben looks at him and realizes what he's really doing.

"Avoiding her Harms? Classy. Now I know if you start never coming home- this will never lose the double meaning will it?"

Michael can't even muster a smile at that one. "I don't think so."

XXX

Hannah enters the dorm Wednesday afternoon to find Lori sitting facing the entry with her finger on her laptop keyboard. As soon as she sees Hannah, she clicks the button.

Hannah just looks at her baffled. "What-"

"I just submitted you to be my roommate next year," Lori informs her. "And I did that because I know that even though we've been going through our probably tenth rough patch there is no one I want to live with next year," she admits genuinely. "I never expected to leave this year depending on someone and caring for someone. But I genuinely do. We're-"

"Lori, I sent my form in on Monday," Hannah informs her. "You weren't on it," she admits, almost a little sadly.

Lori looks shattered. "But that means-"

Hannah tries to bury her sadness and seem confident in her decision. "Lori, this year has been fun. But I didn't find what I wanted in you. I'm looking for my best friend, and you're not her. Quite frankly, I don't want you to be. I don't know if I can honestly deal with this much longer."

"I tried," Lori whispers, her voice cracking slightly.

Hannah doesn't really know how to handle this Lori. "I know you did. So did I. But it wasn't meant to be. Maybe we'll see each other in the hallway sometime and say hello."

"Who are you going to live with?" she inquires, trying to regain her composure.

"Kenny introduced me to some theater friends and they seem nice." Lori is instantly more annoyed. Hannah catches on. "And don't you say anything about it! It's about time we end this fight by you letting me live my life."

There is a knock on the door and Hannah answers it to find Rachel Ellis smiling awkwardly at her. Lori flinches at what's about to happen.

Rachel extends her hand. "You must be Hannah. I'm Rachel. Lori invited me over to-"

"Unbelievable!" Hannah rages. She pushes past her and heads off down the hallway. Rachel looks after her saddened.

"Hannah!" Lori shouts, officially lost on what to do.

XXX

Michael sits on the floor of his room Thursday afternoon with his laptop in front of him. Charlie and Ben sit across from him, both also with their laptops.

Michael puts his hands together. "So I have brought you both here today so we can fill out those roommate forms. You see, I have promised both of you that I would be your roommate." They both look at each other before looking at him.

"Why did you do that?" Charlie asks a little harshly.

"Because I had a brilliant idea," Michael announces. "What if we apply for a three-person room?" Charlie and Ben look at one another again, none too sure of the idea. Both think hesitantly for a long moment.

Ben speaks up first. "I don't know. Charlie and I-"

"Come on. We can be a trio of trouble," Michael promises with a smile. "I genuinely want to live with both of you. And with your relationship being better I figured you'd be okay with it too. We'd be able to support each other; because I think it's about time we admit our lives aren't normal."

This seems to get Charlie onboard as he smiles. "Alright. I like it." He types both of them onto his roommate form. "Instead of a friend for a roommate, I get a friend and a brother. It'll be fun."

Ben still hangs back. "How are we going to arrange the room with three-"

"I knew you'd bring that up," Michael says with a snap. "I did my homework. Three people means we get two bedrooms. My idea is we move the last bed in with the other two so we have a single bedroom. Then we can use the other room for studying- move our desks in."

Ben's resolve is waning. "It seems like you have this all planned out."

"I knew I'd need to. When it's three people it sounds less awkward," he adds with a nudge to Ben. "Just saying."

"Ah, we'll make it work," Ben finally admits and types both onto his form as well. Michael smiles in relief at his plan having worked. "Any word on Lori and Hannah?"

Michael frowns. "In lab she said they're not doing well at all. Hannah's not talking to her and she refuses to be roommates next year."

Ben looks down. "Well, did you talk to her?"

"No. Why would I?"

"You're hopeless. You-"

Michael cuts him off with a glance at Charlie. "We'll talk plenty about girls when we live together I'm sure. For now, let's just leave it at that." Charlie obviously notices this, and perhaps for the first time realizes how sad Michael looks. He seems to make a decision in his head.

XXX

At the same time, Lori is walking back from dinner alone. She is obviously still sad at how everything has turned out and lost on what to do. Rachel runs up to her, falling in step beside her.

"Hey. I'm sorry. I completely messed yesterday up. I'm an idiot."

Lori shakes her head. "No. It's fine. I've been going about this is all the wrong ways. I'm sorry she acted like that around you though."

"It's fine." Lori goes to cross the street. "Oh, we should go this way and stay away from the preserve."

"Why?"

"Haven't you heard?" Rachel asks. Lori shakes her head and Rachel sighs, biting her nail. "Last weekend some creature attacked Dr. Fry's car- ripped the top right off. And then students have sighted something- three got torn up pretty bad. The Rangers have no idea what it is."

Lori takes all this news in and instantly clues in to what it means, eyes widening. "It went off," she whispers. She pulls out her phone and starts texting like mad. "It went off and somehow we had no idea."

Rachel watches this confused. "I'm sorry but I'm lost."

"That's alright. Head on back. I've got some things I need to do." She finished her message and takes off into the preserve.

Rachel watches her horrified. "Lori! Where are you going?!" She hesitates shuffling her feet before finally taking off after her. "Have you lost your mind?!"

She chases after her until they both stop in the familiar clearing. "Lori, what is going on?!" she pleads as Lori looks around before noticing a few giant tracks in the dirt. She notices them as well and starts hyperventilating. "What is it?!"

Lori waves her off. "Just-"The woods echo with a thundering roar. Rachel grapples onto her as she even looks frightened, looking every which way. "It knows I'm here," she whispers.

She shoves Rachel off who is physically trembling. "What was that? Lori, what's going on? You're acting like you know," she accuses.

Lori heads to under a tree with an 'x' carved on it. "I'll explain later. Start digging. I don't know how much time we have." Rachel joins her as she starts digging, both constantly looking over their shoulder.

XXX

Hannah is walked to her dorm door by Kenny. She looks more at ease than she has been all week. "Thank you so much for this afternoon. It's been impossible these past few days."

Kenny smiles and kisses her nose. "Hey, you only have three weeks before summer and then you never have to speak to her again."

Hannah shakes her head. "I wouldn't be that harsh. In truth, I've been so busy with you this week I haven't talked with any of my friends- Ben, Charlie, or Michael," she says especially guilty on the last one.

Kenny shrugs, obviously not caring. "That's alright. I like having you to myself." He kisses her deeply. "I love you."

"I love you too. And I'll think about what you said for this weekend," she answers, faltering a little.

"You deserve to let loose. That's all I'm saying." He kisses her quickly again before walking away. She enters to find the dorm empty.

"That's weird." She picks up her phone from her desk and looks at her texts, opening the one from Lori. Her jaw drops. "No! How-?!"

She throws open her laptop and sees there are twenty-four new alerts She clicks on one and it pulls up a picture of a blurry blob on the outskirts of the preserve. It's as tall as some of the trees. "Oh my God," she breathes. She quickly texts Lori back, grabbing the book from Lori's bag, snagging their flashlights from by the door, and taking off down the hallway.

XXX

Lori holds the sword so tightly her knuckles are white as she carefully steps forward through the preserve. Rachel is plastered to her side, silently crying. Ben, Michael, and Charlie flank her with flashlights to illuminate her path and around her. They all remain tightly together and deathly quiet.

Rachel wipes her eyes and looks around. "I think it's about time I head back."

Michael stops her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "That's too dangerous. If it knows we're here we have to stick together." She nods and follows them.

"Do we have idea what it is, Lori?" Charlie whispers.

Lori shakes her head. "No. And that's what scares me more than anything." They continue in silence, only to all literally jump as Lori's phone begins to ring. She looks at it and answers. "It's Hannah." Everyone nods and they stop, facing back-to-back. "Hey. Did you grab the book?"

XXX

Hannah is on the phone with the book and both of their flashlights in her arms. She reaches the clearing and stops, rolling her eyes.

"Of course I made sure I grabbed it." She looks around, guilty. "I'm so sorry Lori. There were alerts on my computer, but I just- I let my own stuff get in the way." She frowns, annoyed. "Stop blaming yourself. This is much more my fault than yours and you know it. Listen… just tell me where you are so-"

A roar echoes from behind her and she is knocked off her feet. Everything falls into the grass around her as she screams. She tries to get up only for something to grab her leg and dangle her upside down as she screams again. She is brought so that she is face-to-face with a towering, dirty, and snarling creature. She screams again and tries desperately to free herself.

"Hannah!" Michael shouts desperately in the distance.

"Hannah!" Charlie echoes. The Yeti turns and growls in the direction of the sounds. Hannah seizes this distraction to kick him in the face with her free leg. He recoils and drops her, knocking the wind out of her. She starts to drag herself through the grass and dirt to the edge of the clearing.

As she reaches the edge, the other Companions and Rachel arrive. Michael helps her to her feet. "Are you okay?" Charlie asks.

Hannah turns to looks at the thing heading slowly for them. "No! It's the Yeti!" she shouts, panicking.

Ben stares baffled. "What movie-?"

"Ride. Expedition Everest," Hannah informs everyone. She looks around desperately but there is nowhere to run or hide really. The Yeti comes closer and they all keep stepping around the edge of the clearing. She looks at them, noticing the extra person and the missing person "Where's Lori? What're you doing here?" she questions Rachel.

"I don't know. I just want to go home!" Rachel cries. They all are backed up against a tree as he bear down on them. They all close their eyes when a whistle echoes from the other side. They all look to see Lori, holding the sword more like a baseball bat than a weapon.

"Hey! I'm the one you want!" she shouts. He barrels towards her and knocks her off her feet and against a tree before she can swing.

"Lori!" Charlie shouts, but Ben holds him back.

She recovers quickly. "Yep. I felt that one in my bones." She rises shakily using the tree for support, her lip bleeding. He is right over her and she swipes blindly, missing him completely. He reaches his arm to grab her, but she manages to roll under it just in time.

She rises and brings the sword down with all her might on his arm. He screams in pain and she smiles. "That's for Dr. Rice and his car!"

She then swings it into his shoulder, bringing him to his knees. "That's for those students!" Everyone starts cheering her on, but Rachel puts a hand to her mouth horrified as she takes in the scene.

Lori brings the sword down through his hand before pulling it out and holding it triumphantly as her side. "And that was for us!" she growls, spitting at him. He is whimpering in pain and trembling in agony as she takes a step back and smiles. "The book!" Michael brings it to her from the floor of the clearing.

"Here you are, Slugger." She ignores this. "Here it is Lori." She takes it from him and can't help but gloating over the Yeti. She takes a step towards him, pointing the sword in his face.

"Stop!" Rachel shouts, having had enough. They all turn and look at her. She is crying so hard she's shaking. "What kind of sadistic freak are you?! He's scared! Can't you see it?!"

Lori turns and sees he is trying to back-peddle as far away from her as possible. "It's all over his body language!" Rachel continues, pleading desperately. "I'm a theater major! I know my emotions! He doesn't get what's going on! He probably hasn't this entire time!"

Lori watches as he backs into a tree before pulling away, growling at it. Birds chirp and he puts his hands to his ears. She finally looks in his eyes and what she sees dissolves all her anger into horror.

"Oh my God." She desperately takes a step forward but he growls desperately at her. All the Companions begin to lose their air of victory as well, becoming somber as Rachel regard them all coldly.

Lori then looks at her sword, now covered in red from the wounds it caused- she caused. She drops it like it's burned her and looks at him again. "I didn't- I never mean to- I'm sorry," she pleads, voice cracking. "I'm so sorry."

Michael frowns from next to her. "Just send him home," he advises her, seeing her words inspire no change in the Yeti's fear. "Then this'll be just a nightmare. Don't make him stay here any longer." She nods numbly and opens the book to a glowing poem.

"I never meant to be so bad to you One thing I said that I would never do" He vanishes in a flash of light and she breaks down crying, falling to her knees. "Oh God," she sobs, choking. "What did I do?! What did I do?! I hurt him! He was just scared! I failed!" She grabs the sword from next to her and throws it into the trees. "I hurt him and he was just scared!" she wails. Michael heads back towards the others.

"Lori-"Hannah takes a step towards her, but Michael shakes his head. "We've been so busy fighting this past week neither of us knew," she laments.

"It's all our faults," Ben accepts, broken at seeing Lori this destroyed as she sobs into her hands.

Hannah takes a step back, forcing a realization upon herself. "It's a good thing we won't be friends next year then. And that means I won't see any of you." They all just look at her. "But I guess that's already started. It's almost like you're all avoiding me or something." She then freezes as Michael looks down, anger building. "She told you. You believe her and you all are avoiding me!"

Michael looks at her desperately. "Hannah-"

Ben rolls his eyes. "Don't be so paranoid. We've just been busy."

She shakes her head at both of them. "I've got to go. I need-I need to talk to Kenny." She runs off.

"I'm sorry!" Michael shouts after her.

"I'm done too," Rachel declares, reminding everyone of her presence on this whole thing. "I don't know what's going on here, but you people are awful, terrible, and selfish for hiding this from everyone. I'm getting out of here."

Ben grabs her arm. "Rachel!"

She wrests her grip free and they can see she's scared of all of them. "All of you just stay away from me!" She takes off as well and they just watch her go.

XXX

Charlie opens the unlocked dorm door that night, a freshly-cleaned sword in his hand. He enters the bedroom to find Lori sitting atop her desk, knees pulled to her chest. She stares off into space, guilt and terror in her eyes. He doesn't say a word before leaning the sword against the desk and climbing up to join her.

They sit for a long moment before she lets out a weak, trembling sigh. He wordlessly puts his hand atop her knee, squeezing gently, silently supporting his broken best friend.

XXX

Tune in next week for the penultimate episode as Lori and her Companions grapple with the consequences of her actions