Hannah Frost arrives at her dorm room Friday night, her pupils unusually large and her attitude light and airy. She hums to herself and almost bounces a little manically. This is a stark contrast to her roommate Lori Fitzgerald, who is curled up in bed and cradling the book to her chest while looking very glum. This doesn't stop Hannah from getting up in her face.

"I feel great," she begins- talking as fast as Kenny usually does. Lori only blinks. "I mean, for the first time this week I feel- honestly, I feel like I want to dance. We should call the guys and have a dance party! What do you say, Lori?!"
She doesn't answer, but turns around so her back is to Hannah.

Hannah just laughs this off, almost acting as if she answered. "You're crazy Lori. But that's what I love about you!" she coos. This seems to make her remember something. "Speaking of love, how do you know when it's time? Because, quite honestly as I'm nothing but honest with you, Kenny's been asking. And I know not to be peer pressured and wait until the time is right. But how do you know? Did you and your ex-boyfriend sleep together? If so, how long-"

"I'm not having this conversation," Lori answers, her voice sounding sad but still with enough edge for Hannah to put her hands up.

"Fine. I don't get how you can sulk and ditch class today when there is so much good that you're refusing to see! Just smile and get over it." Lori turns to face her and gives her a raised eyebrow. She smiles and pats her shoulder. "Good talk. You can thank me later. I'm going to get some ice cream." She starts for the door when the book starts rumbling in Lori's arms. She is instantly on her feet at the glow emits.

"Come on. Text the others," she orders, grabbing her flashlight.

Hannah frowns. "But it's late and I want ice cream. Can't we wait until morning?" she whines.

Lori gives a harsh look. "I never want to hear those words again. We are never waiting. We figure this out now and make sure that they're okay before we're selfish. Got it?"

Hannah rolls her eyes. "So I'm guessing the answer to my way previous question was a no then."

Lori is already out the door. "Are you coming or not?! And text the others!"

Hannah sighs dramatically before following. "Sure. Sure. Whatever."

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 19: She'll be Perfectly Safe

XXX

Lori and Hannah are joined by her other Companions- Ben Prescott, Charlie Prescott, and Michael Harms. The group is all wandering through the preserve shining their flashlight every which way. The Companions fall back slightly so Lori is out of ear shot.

Ben elbows Hannah, nearly knocking her over. "How's she holding up? She looks like she hasn't showered all day."

"She wasn't in any of her classes today," Charlie adds.

"She's pale and still has the blood on her lip," Michael notes.

Hannah rolls her eyes and sighs loudly. "Well from those observations, I'm sure you can infer how she's doing. She's sulking. Which I don't get, because everything is just so good!" Ben seems to pick up something in her attitude, but Michael just grimaces for a moment.

"I take it you went out with Kenny today," he says politely, regaining his composure.

"Indeed I did! So who's going to Formal tomorrow night?" she asks the group. They all look around and shrug at one another.

Ben finally speaks up. "I don't think any of us are."

Hannah drapes her arms around Ben and Charlie. "Come on! You three studs should totally ask someone!" Ben shoves her off and gets a good look at her eyes.

"Can we focus please?!" Lori shouts back to them. The three boys fall into line, but Hannah throws her arms in the air.

"One of you can ask Lori!" she shouts.

Charlie smiles. "Yeah… Michael could," he suggests.

Hannah grabs his arm before he can respond. "No! I want Michael to be my date. What do you say? I have a dress in the closet and I know you have a dapper tuxedo. That's a fun word… tuxedo."

He rubs the back of his head, desperately trying to play it cool. "Really? But Kenny-"

Hannah doesn't notice his fumbling. "Ah, he hates dances. We can go as friends, because I feel like we haven't hung out in forever. I'll talk to him and he'll be cool with it. What do you say?"

Michael beams. "I accept. This is great."

Hannah claps, excited. "So who wants to be Lori's date? Ben?"

Ben mumbles so quiet no one can hear, "Maybe-"

"I don't need a date because I'm not going," Lori shouts back. "That's it. End of story." Hannah knows to drop it as they arrive at the clearing to find someone lying in the middle of it. Lori goes white.

"Oh no. We're already too late." She runs up to them panicked, the others following. She starts beating herself up. "I should have known. I was too slow-"

Michael tries to comfort her calmly. "Lori, you need to calm down." They kneel down and see it's Aurora asleep in the grass. Lori physically sighs. "She's just sleeping. It's Sleeping Beauty." He puts a hand on her shoulder. "It's all going to be fine," he comforts.

Hannah suddenly screams, attracting everyone's attention. "Oh no! This is really bad!"

Lori begins to panic again, looking Aurora up and down as Michael sighs in defeat. "What's the matter?! What do you see?!"

"Lori, this is Princess Aurora," Hannah says as if it's obvious. "As in Prince Phillip is her true love. As in I kissed her true love and then knocked him out with a rock when he wanted to marry me!"

"He did what?!" Michael exclaims.

"You did what?!" Ben follows.

"I knew it!" Charlie finishes.

Lori smacks her arm. "Don't scare me like that!" This ruckus wakes Aurora. She sits up slowly and yawns, taking them all in.

Her eyes stop on Lori, confused. "Lori? It's you isn't it?" As Lori nods she looks her up and down. "You're not quite as the other Princesses and Phillip described I admit, but it must be you."

Lori can't help but smirk. "So you've heard of me?"

"Of course," she says enthusiastically, rising.

Lori claps, something finally having gone her way. "Great. Now we can skip all the formalities and get you out of here to somewhere safer."

"Lead the way," Aurora says with a sweeping arm gesture. "Oh, first… alright, I count four Companions here. Merlin has warned us against giving away spoilers to the group of you, so may I ask your names." Everyone starts leading her out, but Ben grabs Lori's arm to hold her back.

She tries to shake him loose, clearly not in the mood. "I have to-"

He pulls her closer. "I hate seeing you like this. I want to… I feel like I need to help you. I should be helping you through this," he concludes.

Lori pulls her arm free. "I'm fine," she says harshly.

"It wasn't your fault," he whispers sweetly in her ear.

She physically steps away from him. "I don't want someone to lie to me. It was absolutely my fault."

He tries a different approach, becoming sweepingly romantic. "I could take you to the dance, buy you flowers, sweep you off your feet-"

She starts walking away, cold. "Ben, no. You go though. Have fun."

XXX

The next morning Charlie arrives in front of the dorm door, obviously knowing Lori's had enough space and he's needed now. As he goes to knock he sees Hannah emerge from the lounge with a blanket and pillow, yawning and stretching.

"Did you… did you sleep there last night?" he asks her.

"I tried. I couldn't fall asleep for the life of me. I was too wired."She can tell his look. "I kissed her husband," she defends. "I don't want to be around her any more than I have to. And besides, Lori's so sulky she could probably use the one-on-one time."

Charlie shakes his head. "No, she feels guilty kind of like you do. You could try being sympathetic to that fact. After all, it was to protect you she ran in there like that in the first place. Did you even thank her yet?" he says a little colder than usual, defending his best friend.

She just pats him on the back. "I have to go get ready for Formal tonight. Tell Lori I won't be back until late. Oh, drop these off when you go in there." She deposits the pillow and blanket in his hands and exits down the hallway. He rolls his eyes and knocks on the door with his foot. Lori opens a moment later.

"Aurora's asleep," she whispers, still in the same clothes and disheveled appearance from yesterday. She gives a weak smile. "I'd let you in, but-"

"You should go to Formal," he declares.

This catches her off guard. "I don't-"

"Lori, I know we're never going to end up together. Deep down, I know that this ends with us being best friends. And that's what's best, really. I think that's what I really want more than anything else."

She crosses her arms. "Where is this coming from?"

He fiddles with his hands, looking down. "Lori, I've noticed things. And I know there's so much guilt eating away at you right now. So you… you having feelings for somebody is nothing to feel even the slightest bit guilty about." He musters the courage to look at her with a brave smile. "Now that I think about it, what I really want most is my best friend happy. So you should go to Formal with who I know you really want to go with. I won't be hurt. I promise."

She can see he's putting on a brave face and is touched. But she can see through him. "Charlie…"

"Okay, a little bit," he admits. "I can admit that. But I'm moving on. I'd move on."

She gives her first real smile in a few days. "Thank you. Really, thank you for that." She hugs him for a long moment. "You are really the greatest best friend I could ask for."

He pulls away, but puts a hand on her arm. "I know it's been rough. You made a mistake, but I have a really good feeling you're never going to make it again."

She nods, but this clearly doesn't register as much as Charlie would like. "Anything else you can do for me?" she asks, trying to change topics.

This makes him think of something. "Yes!" He dumps Hannah's items in her arms and pulls out a piece of paper. "I've been looking into that password- 'the place he promised to meet you'."

"Oh, with everything's been going on I haven't even thought of that," Lori admits.

"That's what I'm here for," he comforts her simply before returning to his notes. "But I've cross-referenced with every single Disney movie and that yielded no real results."

"How long did that take you?"

"Don't worry about it. So then I figured it's you- so then I cross-referenced it with every Doctor Who episode, type of pudding, Hunger Games novel, and a lot of other things. Nothing. So I have come to that fact there is only one logical conclusion."

"What's that?"

"It's personal. I'll never be able to find it because I can't find it. The only two who know what it means are you and this person. Further, I believe this person is the one who left you the book. And I have one key suspect. I'm looking into it now, so I can't give you much more. But you will be the first to know."

Lori takes this in for a moment. "Who are you looking into if it's personal to me?"

He shakes his head. "I don't want to bring him up if it's nothing. Just give me a little bit."

"Take all the time you need."

He puts the paper away. "So, will I see you at Formal tonight?"

She shrugs. "We'll see." He gives her a quick hug her and leaves with a wave. She closes her door and sighs, making it clear she's better from their talk but still has not forgiven herself.

XXX

Hannah emerges from her car, her hair now in a fancy up-do. She grabs her dress and enters the upperclassman dorm. As she heads up the stairs Ben sees her from exiting his room. He notices there's no one else around and takes off after her.

She notices and whirls on him when the reach the landing, accusing. "Why are you following me?"

He adjusts his tie nervously, not looking forward to this conversation. "I just… listen I know we've had our difference. They've been pretty hard to miss. But after everything, I consider you a friend. And you are getting into something way over your head."

She turns her nose up. "I don't know what you're talking about. Now, I have to go meet-"

"Ecstasy, right?" he says casually. She looks at him shocked and afraid. "It took me a bit yesterday, but I caught on pretty quickly. I'm hoping and praying right now it was only your first or second time because I know how addicting it can be from watching some old… what I thought were friends." He shakes his head to focus. "Hannah, this isn't you."

"You don't know me," she says coldly.

"I believe I do." He places a hand over hers, locking eyes with her. "Is he forcing you, because-?"

She pulls away, angry. "Just shut up! There's nothing going on. You have nothing."

"It makes too much sense Hannah," he argues, using logic. "Your mood yesterday, the paranoia now, and Lori says you haven't really been sleeping or eating. Honestly, I've been there once or twice with those so-called friends. In fact, honestly, I've probably done them all at one point. It isn't worth it for some guy you're desperately trying to please." She falters a little and he puts a hand on her shoulder. "I will help you," he vows. "I will do anything I can. He isn't worth it. You can do better."

That last sentence loses her and she shakes him off. "Get off me. Just… leave me alone."

He takes a step back. "Alright. I'm well aware I can't help you if you don't want to help yourself. Just know you can come to me anytime, or any of your friends for that matter."

"We're not friends." She walks away.

"I'm sorry you see it that way."

XXX

Lori watches from the window as groups and couples head past the dorms towards the Athletic Center, all dressed up. She finally turns away and climbs on her bed. Aurora emerges from the closet in a more timely dress of Hannah's and looks out the window.

"Why aren't you going?" she inquires. "I saw a nice dress in your closet."

"I don't deserve to go. It's that simple, really." She sighs, nodding towards the sword leaning against her desk. "Do you see that sword? I ran up to defenseless creature and hurt him- all because I wasn't doing my job. Granted, I never signed up for the job, but it's mine. And I'll never see him again. I'll never make it right. If you could have seen the way he looked at me, the way everyone was looking at me. I wasn't a hero, I was a villain," she chokes.

Aurora comes up next to her. "I know how you feel." Lori gives her a disbelieving look. "I do. My curse affected my whole country. It hurt my parents. It almost killed Phillip. And it haunted me for a long time once Maleficent was slain. But one has to move on. For me, that came through Phillip with his kind words and comfort. You might do well to find someone like that."

"I've already kind of got four someone's like that, actually," Lori admits.

"Then let them help you, Lori. Let yourself move forward. Now, I'm going to that dance. Will you be joining me?" She starts for the door, but Lori leaps off her bed to bar her,

"No," she says, panicked. "You can't go. You're not leaving my sight. You're staying right here."

Aurora scoffs, moving around her. "You may be my guide here, but I am still a princess. You do not get to order me. I will be fine."

"But-"

"I hope I will see you there." She exits down the hallway.

Lori sticks her head out and shouts after her. "I thought only the Nineties princesses were free-thinking and independent! Shouldn't you be off doing nothing- like you do for your entire movie?"

XXX

Michael stands at the entrance of the dance looking around in a nice suit and tie. He feels his phone vibrate and pulls it out to see he has a text from Hannah. 'Kenny surprised me by taking me out instead of to some 'stupid dance'. I'm sure you'll be fine without me :)' He sighs and stands awkwardly when Charlie comes up adjusting his bow tie.

Charlie sees Michael's disappointment and nudges him. "I'm sorry she didn't come. I really tried talking to her."

Michael's jaw drops. "What?! How did- what did you-"

Charlie looks down, guilty. "I know it's my fault. She won't date you because she doesn't want to hurt my feelings. But it's okay and I told her that."

Michael catches on and shakes his head. "Wait… Charlie, I don't like Lori. Honestly, I love Hannah."

Now Charlie looks shocked, his mind reeling. "I'm confused. She likes someone-"

"It's not me though. We're not like that. Quite frankly, the thought of dating her creeps me out. It doesn't feel right. But Hannah-"

"Who does Lori like then? She should still go for it if he makes her happy."

Michael puts his hands up. "I'm going to leave that one to her."

"Do I know him?"

Michael hesitates. "I believe you do." He thinks for minute before heading out the door. "Come on, let's go get her."

XXX

Lori is leaning against her desk. She tries to pick up the sword next to her but finds herself unable to lift it. She mopes, knowing what that means. There is a knock at the door, Michael and Charlie entering a moment later.

"It was that bad, huh?" she smirks.

"Hannah stood me up," Michael informs her. "I think that was the nail in the coffin." Lori gives him a look, nodding towards Charlie. "Oh, it's good. He knows."

"You should really come down there," Charlie offers. "The three of us will have a great time." She looks down and Michael steps up next to her, mentally grasping what he's about to do.

"My mom's really sick." They both look at him. He takes a deep breath before continuing, knowing he can't turn back. "Not like your mom Charlie, but ever since my dad was killed when I was eight she's been in this deep depression. But I've felt that since she's my mom I have no authority to order her around. All I can do is beat up the kids in school who made fun of her."

Lori takes his hand. "But now, every time I see her, this guilt cripples my chest. I didn't do enough when I was little. And the reason she's not better is because of me. I should have done more."

He's silent for a long time. Lori speaks first. "I had no idea."

"How could you have?" Michael inquires. "I don't tell anyone. I don't tell them how my dad was a nurse studying to be a doctor. He was shot when someone came into the ER demanding drugs." Charlie takes his other hand, not caring if it seems weird or not. "I don't tell them how that made my mom miscarry my little sister. I keep it to myself. I keep people away from me and just study so I could finish what my dad didn't get to. And I realize now that it would have eaten me away eventually- the guilt and the loneliness."

"What changed?" Charlie inquires cautiously.

"Lori got shot," Michael admits. "And then the group of you came along and I learned about how much all of it was destroying me. But the group of you made me feel better. You took me in and earned my trust, something no one's done. You made me realize what I could do. I could help her because it's what I do. I help people. Which is why I'm telling you this. I've felt what guilt can do when it festers. You were trying to do the right thing, the sword even knew that. We'll all do better next time. But you need to let go of this guilt. I know what you can become, who I used to be. I don't want that for you, Lores."

This has done it. Lori finally takes a deep breath, moving on as he shoulders are a little higher. "Michael, I- Lores?" she questions. The three immediately realize what just happened.

"She-she responded!" Charlie vocalizes.

"We have a winner!" Michael whoops, lifting their still joined hands into the air. The two laugh.

"Oh no…" she mutters, but can't help laughing as well.

Michael drops her hand. "So Lores, what do you say? Let's go to the dance and have fun. You deserve it before you start stressing about finals in a week."

Lori's eyes widen, almost having just realized that. But she gets a grip and nods, smiling. "I'll take a quick shower and throw my dress on, Doctor." She heads for the door, but turns back and hugs Michael. Charlie joins the two of them. "How's she doing now?"

Michael smiles, but a little sadly. "Thanks to you guys, I convinced her to start getting help. She's seeing a therapist as of Spring Break."

They pull apart. "That's great," Charlie assures him. "We're here for you if you ever want to talk." Lori nods before exiting to grab a dress from the closet.

"I know. And I will, I promise."

XXX

About an hour into Formal, Ben is leaning against the back wall in his fanciest tie and suit bored and upset. Aurora comes up next to him. "Now a gentleman like you deserves a dance," she says with a smile, taking his hand and leading him out on the floor. "Now I might be a little rusty," she admits sheepishly as a slower song starts. They start dancing grandly around the dance floor- her obviously leading, attracting attention from the others there.

"I wouldn't say that," Ben laughs.

"I never got your name. You're Ben, correct?" He nods. "Giselle never stops talking about you. I know I shouldn't give anything away, but I feel you need a bit of hope."

"Why?" he asks quickly. "What'd she tell you?"

"That she united you with what she believes to be your true love," Aurora admits. "I see the way you look at her. And it must be rough right now in your heart. So rest assured knowing it will happen." He beams.

"That's a huge relief. Thank you." The songs ends and they pull apart just as Lori walks in, wearing a perhaps too casual dress and her hair wet. But she doesn't care as she laughs with Charlie and Michael next to her.

Aurora gives a sad smile. "And I have a feeling my time here has come to an end." They walk over to them and head out into a dark hallway. Lori opens the book to a glowing poem.

"Thank you," Lori tells Aurora. "You're right. I need to move forward and I've got the perfect team to help me do that."

"Of course I was." Everyone laughs and she smiles. "It has been a great experience. Oh, before I go please tell Hannah I know and I forgive her. Keep an eye on her. Those looking for true love have the hardest road to find it."

Lori nods. "Tell the other princesses I look forward to meeting them. Now I know it's true The visions were seldom all they seemed" She vanishes in a burst of light and they re-enter the dance. Ben turns to Lori but Charlie manages to pull her onto the floor first. She looks back and him and shrugs. This doesn't stop his smile.

Michael nudges him. "You okay Prescott?"

"Yeah Harms," he answers honestly. "It helps knowing the ending." Michael looks at him and he just shrugs and smiles, watching Lori spin with Charlie. They gesture for the other two to join. Michael runs out and twirls with them as Ben just observes.

XXX

Kenny pulls into the parking lot of a local restaurant in her car. Hannah is leaning against the seat, looking ecstatic in her Formal dress. "Third time's the charm, right?" he whispers in her ear, making her beam.

"I just… I feel so good… it shouldn't-how is it possible to feel this good?"

Kenny kisses her neck. "See, Princess, Lori and those supposed friends of yours are just full of it. I'd never hurt you. I'm trying to make you happier than you've ever been before." He kisses her.

"You do," she whispers, kissing him back. "You really love me," she sighs dreamily.

"I can make all this better- make you feel even better." He slides his hand up her dress, causing her to freeze. "Please… let me show you how much I love you. I want to," he growls. She hesitates so he kisses her again. "I love you."

She sighs happily. "It feels so good."

"Please. Let's take this to the back." She thinks a moment before she smiles and nods, giving in. He instantly pushes her into the backseat and towers over her as she giggles happily.

"Yes. Yes."

XXX

After Formal, Lori stands in front of a door on the first floor of her dorm. She knocks and it opens to reveal Rachel Ellis still in her dress. She instantly tries to shut the door, but Lori prevents that.

"I bet you thought I forgot about you," Lori offers awkwardly.

Her eyes narrow. "I was hoping you'd stay away from me."

"I figure I owe you a lot of answers and quite frankly a few apologies and thank yous."

She crosses her arms. "I don't want anything from you," she says, the venom clear in her voice.

"Not even the truth?" Lori tempts. "Because I'm offering you the entire story. After what I put you through I owe you that much at least."

She shakes her head. "Forget it. I don't know what you do, but I have a feeling practically all the problems this school has right now are the fault of you and your little… gang. I'm going to find it all out and then parade straight over to the President to fix this mess you've put the entire campus in. We might lose the theater program to budget cuts to fix your mistakes! You're not getting away with this!"

Lori puts her hands up defensively. "If I could stop all this madness, I would. In a heartbeat- less than that even. But I'm stuck. If you get me expelled at worst then things will only get worse around here."

"Are you sure about that?" Lori hesitates and she smiles. "I thought so. So I'm going to do what's right for the safety of everyone here."

"I made one mistake," Lori pleads. "That isn't what we usually-"

"Our conversation here is done. Have a great night, Lori." She tries to close the door, but Lori stops her.

"Just stay out of our way, Rachel," she says sadly. "That's the only way I can guarantee you won't get hurt."

"We'll see." She closes the door and Lori holds her head in her hands before exiting to the stairs to her own floor.

XXX

Next week the finale arrives. And things are about to get much darker.