DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons" or "High School Story," I only own Diana.

Things were not easy since Brian left to attend school on the other side of town, and our school spirit was at an all-time low. There was no energy when I stopped by to pick up Caleb from football practice to head to the homecoming committee meeting, and when we went past the band room, the room was empty. We walked into the gym with only one person smiling: Maria Flores.

"Hi everyone! Welcome to the meeting! On today's agenda, we have dance music, followed by solidifying plans for Friday's pep rally. Any questions?"

I looked around to see Koh, a girl dressed rebelliously with short black hair, raising her hand.

"Why is the homecoming committee in charge of the pep rally? I thought we were supposed to be working on the dance?"

"The pep rally is part of the dance, Koh," Maria explained with a little too much enthusiasm. "It's where we first announce the nominees for homecoming king and queen! Besides, the pep rally has historically boosted ticket sales by up to 600 percent, so it's important we get it right. AUTUMN!" We all turned to look at Autumn, who was doodling on her hand. "Pay attention!"

"Sorry, Maria. I guess with everything going on, it doesn't feel like the right time to worry about homecoming."

"Autumn, you can't let one setback get you down," I tried to reassure her. "Yes, it's been a rough few days, but that doesn't mean the rest of the school year won't be amazing."

"Exactly! And if we won't boost our classmates' spirits, who will?" Maria asked. "Now, any suggestions for dance music?"

No one speaks up until Wes clears his throat.

"You should know better, Maria."

"What do you mean?"

"Even if we did manage to throw a half-decent pep rally, it's not going to bring back our star quarterback," Wes explained with sadness in his eyes.

"This just doesn't seem like the right time," Payton spoke up.

"Not you too!" Maria exclaimed, turning her head towards Payton. "You love pep rallies and homecoming. What happened?"

"Can we go home, Maria? Between Mia's injury and Brian's leaving… I just can't deal with you right now." Uh-oh.

"Deal with me?" I watched Maria close her eyes and putting her left hand on her forehead.

"I'm sorry!" Payton cried, putting her right hand over her mouth. "That's not what I meant."

"FINE! Go home, everyone!" Maria shouted out in frustration. "I'll just… I'll plan this whole thing myself!"

I watched as Maria ran out of the gym, slamming the door in the process, and we all looked at each other, clueless on what to do.

"Nice! I knew that chick was bound to snap eventually," Morgan, a girl with blue hair, said with a grin. "I'm out of here. Adios!"

"Well, I guess she's not coming back," Caleb said, speaking up after a few minutes of silence. "Come on, everyone. Let's go."

I walked out of the gym and to my locker when I heard a sound coming out of the computer lab. I walked into the computer lab where I found Maria in tears. I approached her and put my right hand on her right shoulder, and she got up and turned to look at me.

"Of course you're the only one that looked for me," Maria said, wiping her tears away on her sleeve.

"I'm sorry. It's just been a bad day for everyone."

"I… Yeah, that's pretty much it."

"But, I'm sure people will come around when they see how amazing the homecoming dance is!" I replied with optimism in my voice.

"Yeah, about that..." I watched Maria pull up a spreadsheet, where she was the only person signed up to go to the dance. "The email about ticket sales went out yesterday afternoon."

"I'm sure people are just procrastinating," I tried to explain.

"Every single person at this school? No way." Maria got up and started to pace around the room. "You know, sometimes I really wish I could be a normal teenager."

"What do you mean?" I asked in shock.

"I don't know. Things would just be easier if I didn't have to care so much about everything."

"Maria, you are who you are, and there is nothing wrong with that."

"I know, and I'm usually okay with that. It's just…"

"We all have our bad days. It happens! But hey, I promise that at least one other person will be at the dance."

"Who?"

"You're talking to her," I answered with a wink as I logged onto a computer, filled out an order form, and hit send. I watched a smile form on Maria's face.

"Well, Diana, as a special prize for being our second ticket buyer, I'm going to let you pick out the kind of music we'll have at the dance!"

"You're leaving it up to me?"

"Why not? You do make up fifty percent of the students attending." Touche. "Besides, I need to have a decision by five today."

"What did you have in mind?"

"Well, the most common way to get music is through a DJ," Maria explained. "I am also open to hiring a live band to play, or we could to outside of ordinary and use a karaoke machine."

"You know, a karaoke machine is not a bad idea?" I asked with a smile. "It is a high school dance after all. Why not have everyone dance to their own rhythm?"

"Are you sure?" Maria asked with shock in her voice. "What if people think it's silly?"

"They won't think it's silly. They'll think it's fun! I promise! My family loves to think outside the box!"

"Alright, consider it done. And Diana?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks for talking me down. We should hang out sometime."

"I'm down for that! Just let me know whenever you've got some spare time." I watched as Maria put a finger on her chin and looked up at the ceiling.

"The committee meeting was supposed to last for a few more hours, so I don't really have any plans."

"What did you have in mind?" I asked with a smile.

"How about the beach? I know we went to find Caleb that one time, but you never did get to see it properly."

"That sounds relaxing."

"Exactly. I think we could both use that right about now."

"Well, I'd love to go to the beach. Just let me text my parents."

"Great! We can take my car."

I sat in Maria's flying car while I texted my parents.

WonderWoman45: Just letting you both know I'm heading to the beach with Maria. She looked like she had a bad day.

RobinsonW23: Alright. Thanks for letting us know! Don't be out too late.

WonderWoman45: We won't.

RobinsonW23: Though hold on, I thought you had homecoming committee?

WonderWoman45: We did, but we cancelled it because no one had any spirit.

RobinsonW23: Still down about the weekend?

WonderWoman45: Yeah… I'm trying to keep my head up and keep moving forward, like you always tell me.

RobinsonW23: That's all you can do sometimes. I'm proud of you. I'll see you at dinner. I love you, princess.

WonderWoman45: I love you too, Dad.

We pulled up to the beach and took a walk alongside the edge of the water, watching the waves crash against each other.

"So, do you wanna swim?" I jokingly asked.

"Even if we had our swimsuits, I wouldn't recommend it," Maria answered. "The water's always freezing."

"Really? Even on a day as warm as this?"

"You don't believe me, do you?" Maria asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, I believe you. I'm just confused."

"You know how we're near the mountains?" I nodded. "This bay is connected to a river that's almost entirely melted snow. Even on the warmest days of summer, people don't usually swim in it."

"Usually? You've swam in it, haven't you?" Lord, I sound like my mom.

"Okay, yes, I went swimming in the bay once, but I was very young."

"Oh? How young?" I'm going to enjoy listening to this story.

"Ten."

"What happened?"

"You badly want to know?"

"Yes, because it's hard to imagine you doing something like that. You're pretty cautious!"

"You're not going to drop this, are you?"

"Nope!"

"So I had this best friend, Lauren, and we would compete over everything. It was late in the year, much colder than this, and our families were hanging out at the beach together. You see that cave over there?" I turned to where I could find the cave and nodded when I found it. "Lauren wanted to check it out. I wasn't going to go along, but she turned it into a race, and I couldn't back down from a challenge."

"So, who won?"

"Depends on what you mean by 'winning.' If you mean which of us got to the cave first, me." Maria's smile turned into a frown. "If you mean which of us was able to last in the freezing water without catching pneumonia, Lauren. But, it was worth it." Maria put her smile back on her face.

"So, how come I haven't met Lauren?" Maria's frown quickly returned.

"We… haven't talked much since the eighth grade. You know the magnet school on the other side of town?"

"Staples?"

"No, it's in Norwalk. She got in there, and I didn't."

"It's for the gifted, isn't it? They rejected you? How could they? You're one of the smartest kids at this school!"

"I'm hardworking, Diana, not smart. Not like Lauren, anyway. Whenever I imagined going to high school, I always imagined myself in Norwalk with Lauren. Then, two months before eighth grade graduation—"

"Your whole vision for the next four years changed," I finished, feeling sorry for Maria.

"And then everyone I knew was so excited for Lauren, and they threw her a huge party."

"Did you go to the party?"

"She didn't invite me. But I didn't ask her why because… I'd rather believe it was because she didn't want to rub it in my face than… you know." Maria paused to glance at her phone. "I'm sorry, Diana. I was going to show you the beach, but the sun's about to set, and we spent the whole time talking about me."

"It's alright, Maria. Besides, take a look!" I pointed to the horizon, and Maria's eyes followed my finger until she spotted a sun setting on the other side of the bay and turning the sky gold, purple, and pink.

"Wow… I'd forgotten what the sunset looked like from here."

"Maria, how could you forget something like this?" I asked with a smile.

"I guess I haven't had much time to stop and smell the roses the past few years," Maria explained, picking up a stone and skipping it across the water. "You know, I never really talked to anyone about this stuff. I suppose that makes you pretty special. And I'm not saying that because you're related to Cornelius Robinson."

"No worries! But you know what I think is pretty special? The way you won't go down without a fight. Maybe you won't always win, but you'll always give it your all. I'm the same way."

"I… never thought of it that way before," Maria replied, lost in thought.

"What are friends for?"

"We're friends then?"

"Is that a problem" I asked with a chuckle.

"No, it's just… nice to know for sure."

"How are you feeling?"

"Better, actually," Maria answered with a smile. "I think I needed this more than I realized."

"Everything's going to be okay, Maria."

"Thanks, Diana."

The next day, I had gathered the entire homecoming committee for lunch except for Maria and Morgan, who for some reason did not show up.

"Alright, Diana, what's this emergency?" Koh asked.

"The emergency is that this school has become a miserable place!" I answered sternly.

"Of course it's miserable," Michael replied. "We're in high school."

"That doesn't mean we have to surrender to the negative stereotypes!" I exclaimed loudly. And now I sound like my dad.

"Oh please—" Wes started to talk, but Payton interrupted him.

"No, she's right. We've been acting like jerks. Especially us seniors."

"All we did was tell the truth, Payton," Wes replied. "No matter how many times we 'beat' Staples, they'll always win in the end."

"But we only win when we stop fighting! Listen, I thought a lot after yesterday's meeting, and I don't like what this school has become. We may have won some playoff games, but I think we've lost our school's heart. We're the homecoming committee. School spirit should start with people like us."

"Whoa there, Payton, I don't recall the principal saying anything about school spirit when she forced me to join this committee," Koh retaliated.

"Yeah, we may have to be here, but we don't have to like it," Michael explained. "Maybe Morgan was right to skip."

I got into what I like to call "Wilbur Robinson" mode and sternly stared Michael and Koh down while crossing my arms, and I approached them.

"I'll tell you what. I've got an idea for how you two can contribute. If you don't like it, you don't have to participate."

"Okay, Diana. Try us."

"You two should start the rally by riding motorcycles from the front door to the gymnasium," I whispered in their ears.

"Really?" Koh asked in shock.

"What do you think?"

"Well, I'm down," Michael agreed.

"You're one heck of a negotiator, Diana," Koh said in agreement. "Count me in."

"What did you offer?" Sydney asked.

"You'll see," I replied with a wink, and then I got back in Wilbur Robinson mode. "Now, there's only two days until the pep rally, so we've got to get to work!"

I was focused on meeting Maria when I heard someone whispering my name.

"Who's there?" I asked, going into my fight stance.

"Over here!" the voice answered, and it sounded like Morgan! "Come in here. I've got something to show you!"

I followed Morgan into the girls' locker room.

"What are you doing, Morgan?"

"Cutting gym class."

"Look, Morgan, I have to be somewhere—"

"I know, that's why I called you here. I've got something for you. If this pep rally crashes and burns, Maria's never gonna let any of us hear the end of it. I'm just trying to make homecoming committee as un-miserable as possible."

"Heh, nothing wrong with that, alright."

"Anyway, not sure if you knew this, but I work at a costume rental place."

"Good to know."

"We had a couple of Trojan costumes that nobody had rented today, so—"

"You stole from your job?!" I exclaimed a little too loudly.

"It's not stealing if you bring them back. I'm just borrowing them." There was a long paused as I continued to stare at Morgan in disbelief. "Kidding! I got permission from my boss. Chill out."

"So, I'm guessing you're asking if you can wear one today?"

"No way. People would figure out it was me and I'd never hear the end of it," Morgan explained, shaking her head. "Besides, I have a feeling you would do a better job anyway. You have the figure, the muscles, the hair, and you're into stuff like this."

"Morgan, this is amazing!" I exclaimed as I examined the gladiator costume. "But this costume reveals too much."

"Whatever. It's just a pep rally after all."

"I should go. Maria probably thinks I've abandoned her or something."

I waved at Morgan and continued on my way to the other side of the gym. I approached Maria, who was doing some sort of warmup when I tapped her on the shoulder.

"Diana! Where have you been? The whole school is going to be here any minute!"

"I got sidetracked, I'm sorry. But you sound great!"

"Thanks. I just hope that—Oh my gosh!"

We both turned to see the entire student body rushing into the gym, led by Michael and Koh on motorcycles.

"Welcome to the pep rally, Westport High!" Koh shouted in excitement.

"Let's make some NOISE!" Michael shouted as the whole student body cheered.

"Koh? Michael? I thought you hated pep rallies!" Maria exclaimed in shock.

"We did. But then Diana told us to ride our motorcycles through the school and we couldn't say no," Koh explained.

"You planned this, Diana?" Maria asked, still in disbelief.

"Oh yeah. She planned everything," Michael answered.

"Ready, Diana?" Payton asked with a big smile on her face.

"Whenever you are!"

"Let's get this party started!" Payton exclaimed, speaking into the microphone. "Last class to their section of the bleachers is a rotten egg!"

We all watched as every student ran to their section in the gym bleachers, and I paid close attention to my class as we took the longest.

"Whelp, what all can we do, my fellow classmates?" I asked into the microphone with optimism. "It's our first time! But hey, we still have this year and the next three years to become the best version of ourselves. Let me hear y'all cheer out loud!"

The freshmen gave out the loudest cheer imaginable.

"Alright upperclassmen, let's give our support to the freshmen and cheer out loud!" Payton said, and the rest of the school cheered. "Thank you, thank you. But you know what this rally's missing? FREE T-SHIRTS!"

We watched as Sydney and Caleb ran down around the gym throwing the shirts at random students. Then I watched Caleb toss one to me, and I caught it with ease.

"Nice catch, Diana!" Caleb yelled. "Let's hear it for Autumn, who made all these shirts herself!" The whole school cheered, and Jeff handed the microphone to Sydney, who ran all around the gym.

"Is this not the gym?"

"Yes, that is the gym!" the crowd shouted as Sydney ran toward one of the baskets.

"Is this not the team's zone? Is this not the scoreboard sign? IS THIS NOT THE WINNING SCHOOL?"

"Yes this is the winning school!" the crowd shouted back as Sydney, Payton, and I started a chant.

"Winning school! Winning school! Winning school! WOOO!"

"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for!" Caleb announced. "Maria, tell us about this year's homecoming court!"

I watched as Maria got herself undistracted and took the microphone from Caleb.

"Thank you, Caleb. The following students have been nominated because you believe they represent the best of Westport High. Be sure to vote for whoever you think has the most school spirit! The nominees are…"

I got distracted as I thought about all of the effort we had put in to make this pep rally successful, if not the best one yet.

"Julian Castillo… Mia Warren… and… Diana Robinson!"

I instantly had a look of shock on my face when I heard my name called, and I put both of my hands on my face. Tears started to fall from my face as Sydney and Payton gave me a group hug.

"That's all for today, everyone!" Maria announced. "But, before we go, let's hear it one more time for this year's homecoming court!"

The crowd went wild before they made their exits out of the school, and I watched Nancy approach me with a big smile on her face after setting the microphone down.

"Thank you, Diana. I don't know how you did all this, but it means the world to me."

"You're welcome, Maria," I replied, holding my hand up for a high-five. Maria complied after a few moments of hesitation. "I know how much homecoming and this pep rally means to you, so I really wanted to do it right."

"You've done more than that. I don't know if I've ever seen people have this much fun at a pep rally."

"It really was the least we could do."

"And that goes for all of us," I heard Payton say as the rest of the homecoming committee approached us.

"Maria, we're sorry," Autumn spoke up. "After what happened with Brian, none of us wanted to think about school spirit or homecoming."

"But you were right," Sydney said. "We can't just celebrate when we win. We have to stay strong when we lose, too."

"And that goes for all of us," Wes said.

"There's nothing to worry about," Maria replied with a smile on her face. "You all did more than enough to make up for it this afternoon. But, we still have a lot of work to do!"

"I can't believe you allowed our students to ride motorcycles through the school!" I heard the vice principal tell the principal as they walked into the gym together. "The school board will be hearing about this!"

"Wonderful! I'm sure they'll be excited to hear about how our students are going above and beyond for their school," the principal replied as they walked outside. I couldn't help but chuckle at my principal's enthusiasm.

"Thank you, everyone," Maria said, still smiling. "This has really been one of the best days of my life."

"One more thing," Payton said, having a look of guilt on her face. "I'm super duper sorry for what I said about not wanting to deal with you. That was totally uncalled for."

"It's okay, Payton. I know I'm a little… much."

"Can we group hug?"

"Of course we can," Maria replied, pulling us all into a big group hug.