DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons" or "High School Story," I only own Diana.
The first meeting of prom committee was easier said than done. Our first order of business was to find a venue for prom, and Tucker was the only Staples student who was on time. Payton had explained that a bunch of students who had signed up bailed when they heard that Kara was joining the committee, so it was only her, Maria, Sydney, Tucker, Caleb, and me at the moment until we got to the parking lot when Kara, Zoe, and Kieran showed up with coffee. We had three suggestions: the biggest yacht, which the Staples students argued that the combination of both schools would not fit; a fancy hotel, which ended up costing way more than our prom budget; and Kara's country club, which proved to be the perfect venue, to everyone's surprise. While we were arguing about which prom venue was the best and which theme to use, I continued to observe Kara's bullying of Kieran, and she had even left him behind. I had understood that he, too, was a freshman and he was not sure of how to stand up to people his senior. Thankfully, Tucker was there to take Kieran home, and Caleb and I stayed behind to help Mia ride her horses.
But the attempts to sabotage my running for prom queen kept on going, and the more they went on, the more drained I felt. The next day, I had found a note in my locker telling me to "surrender the crown or else," and I had confronted Max and Kara, only for them to accuse me of writing the note myself and setting them up, which was something I would never do. They had sneakily told me to return when I had actual evidence. But, Caleb came in the save the day. I was heading to my locker after chemistry class with him and Sydney, when Caleb explained that he remembered a song that helped him memorize every single element in the periodic table in order. Just as he was about to demonstrate…
"SYDNEY KYM!"
We turned to see Mia walking towards us with something behind her back and stopping in front of Sydney.
"Yes, Mia? What's going on?"
Mia revealed a pie with the phrase 'Prom?' woven in the crust. Sydney jumped up and down and kissed her passionately.
"Like you even had to ask!" Sydney exclaimed. "By the way, the pie was a nice touch."
"Yeah, it looks delicious!" Caleb complimented Mia.
"I can't believe you got the latticework to spell out 'prom' so nicely!" I complimented, thinking that she might be better than my Great-Grandma Robinson, who had made the most delicious pies.
"Trust me, it took a few attempts to get it just right," Mia explained as she wrapped her arm around Sydney and talked to her about prom planning.
"That was a cute promposal," Caleb spoke up with a smile as we approached my locker.
"I agree, that was good," I replied with a coy smile. "But, I bet yours will be better."
"I've got something in mind. Just you wait!"
"I'm growing impatient by the minute," I jokingly replied as he kissed me on the cheek.
"You know, their promposal reminds me… there's an annual farmers' market opening a few towns away this weekend. My grandma and I always went every year, and then baked a pie together."
"That sounds so sweet! No pun intended!"
"My grandma passed away last summer, so I'm going by myself this year," Caleb said, his smile slowly fading away.
"Oh Caleb, I'm so sorry," I sadly replied as I closed my locker, and then I thought of an idea. "Would it help if you had some company on your trip? I would love to hear more about your grandma."
"I was actually just about to ask you if you wanted to come with me if you were up for it," Caleb explained, his smile coming back.
"I never knew you were such a farmers' market enthusiast!"
"Well, I wouldn't go as far as enthusiast, but they are a lot of fun. There's always lots of interesting stuff you can't find anywhere else. So you do want to come with me this weekend?"
"Caleb, of course I would. It wouldn't be the same if you went alone without someone special."
The rest of the school week zoomed past us, and Caleb and I drove to the farmers' market in Bridgeport. I absolutely loved how the farmers' market was set up by the beach, and we walked in the sand, enjoying everything the booths had to offer.
"It's so lively here!" I exclaimed. "Who knew we had a place like this just a few towns from home?"
"Right? Just being here puts me in a good mood," Caleb replied before making small talk with a vendor.
"They have purple broccoli here?"
"I got that with my grandma last time! They're great with a bit of parmesan and bacon."
"My mom's the cook in the family, so I'll have to get some," I replied, paying for a couple heads of purple broccoli.
"Have you ever been to a farmers' market before?" Caleb asked.
"I used to go a lot when I was younger," I explained. "Nikki would invite me to go with her and her family every weekend to the farmers' market in Westport."
"Then I hope you aren't bored—"
"Caleb, no! I loved it every time! It's like you said, the atmosphere here is amazing! And besides, it's my first time going with you." I paused as we continued to walk around. "So, you and your grandma made this an annual thing?"
"Yes. She passed away last summer, a few months before my sophomore year started. It's times like this when I really miss her."
"I miss my great-grandparents, too. My great-grandpa liked to wear his clothes on backwards and kept losing his teeth, but he was so optimistic, and he dearly loved his family. My great-grandma was a terrific cook and baker. She was always baking cookies whenever I came to Todayland with my family."
"Have you made peace with it?" Caleb asked.
"It was hard, but yes, we did. It's never easy losing someone close. What about you?"
"Yes, I have. Like you said, it's tough, but coming here and enjoying this with you is exactly what she would've wanted."
"Exactly!"
"I remember she always joked that when the time came, she'd be ready to smack the reaper with her slippers," Caleb said, and we both laughed.
"Both my great-grandparents were like that, too. Actually, my grandma would do the same thing when her time would come! But your grandma must have been a lot of fun."
"Definitely. There was never a dull moment with her around."
"I wish I could have met her, Caleb."
"She would've liked you!" Caleb exclaimed with a big smile on his face. "And you would've liked her. And you would've loved her cherry pie."
"I'm sure. I welcome all pies."
"You say that now, but once I mixed up the salt and sugar baking one with her."
"Oh no!" I exclaimed, breaking into laughter.
"It tasted so horrible that we couldn't finish it," Caleb explained, laughing with me. "The instant my grandma took a bite, she made the most hilarious face. She looked like she'd seen into another dimension."
"Correction: I welcome most pies," I replied, still laughing.
"So, what was your grandma like?" Caleb asked.
"My grandparents are still alive, actually! Well, my dad's parents anyway." My smile faded away. "I never met my mom's mom because she died when my mom was only seven."
"That's rough."
"Grandpa Edwards died of a heart attack while my mom was pregnant with Wesley, so he never got to meet his grandson. But I remember his proud face when I saw him for the last time." I paused, my smile returning when I started thinking about my Robinson grandparents. "As you know, Grandpa Cornelius Robinson is mostly known as the 'Father of the Future.' He is one of the world's most brilliant inventors, and he invented pretty much everything you see. My grandma's name is Franny, and she looks just like me and my dad, only with grey hair. She has been fascinated with frogs and music all of her life and even made a frog band with my grandpa's help."
"Did he mutate the frogs?" Caleb asked.
"Something like that! Grandma Robinson called them 'genetically enhanced.' She is also a karate master, and she taught my dad how to fight. After we moved here to Connecticut, my grandma became a music teacher at Todayland Elementary and High Schools, a job my mom had before we moved. It was her way of moving on after helping us move. My grandma is a very strong woman, but so caring."
"I would like to meet them someday," Caleb replied.
"Actually, my family would love to meet you!" I exclaimed with a big smile. "I talk to all of my relatives on the phone, and I've told them about you. They really want to meet you. Of course, you already know my godmother and godfather, Tallulah and Carl."
"Carl's the robot, right?"
"Yep! Tallulah is my cousin-twice-removed. She's my grandpa's cousin."
"Say, you look like you're up for some excitement," I heard a vendor enthusiastically yell out to me, and I approached him. "Have a taste of flavortown! On us!"
"Oh, thanks! Don't mind if I do!"
"NO! DIANA! DON'T!" I heard Caleb yell just as I put the small pepper in my mouth.
"What? It's not bad," I replied.
"You just ate a ghost pepper!" Caleb exclaimed. "It's one of the hottest chili peppers in the world!"
"Oh, Caleb, you're overreacting. This thing isn't that bad at all. I bet I'm immune to—OH MY GOSH! IT BURNS!"
My throat and mouth instantly felt like it was on fire, and I could not close my mouth as I jumped up and down, and I ran around the farmers' market looking for milk.
"I NEED MILK! IT BURNS!" I continued yelling as I continued running around.
"Is that helping?" Caleb yelled as I continued running around.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP ME FROM EATING IT?!" I yelled back as I continued to frantically search for milk.
"I tried! You didn't listen!" I felt Caleb eventually stop me as he gave me a glass bottle of milk, and I gulped it all down.
"Dude, I swear I thought I was going to die!" I exclaimed, still feeling some burn in my mouth.
"Calm down, Diana, I'm pretty sure no one's ever died from eating just one chili pepper," Caleb said with laughter. "That vendor did the same thing to me once, and it didn't scar me for life."
"Why are you laughing at me?" I asked with disbelief.
"I can't help it! This ghost pepper has turned you into an emotional rollercoaster!"
"Caleb, I'm not pregnant!"
"I'm never going to forget this," Caleb replied, still laughing. "If we do have kids together, remind me of this moment."
"Noted. But for right now, let's keep going. I need to take my mind off the pain."
We walked toward some live music, and we clapped to the beat, giving the musician motivation.
"Are you feeling better yet?" Caleb asked, clearly still amused at my incident.
"I think the worst of it is over," I replied. "And I'm kind of glad I ate it. I can brag that I ate a ghost pepper and lived."
"That's the spirit!" Caleb exclaimed as I got attracted to a crate that said, "fresh sour cherries."
"That's almost too honest," I said. "Who'd want sour cherries?"
"Actually, that kind is perfect for pies!" Caleb explained. "They taste really good after you've baked them."
"Well aren't you the resident fruit expert?" I asked, impressed with his knowledge.
"I promise, I'm not. It's just that my grandma has always picked these out and we baked pies when we get home."
"Why don't we continue that tradition and bake our own pie?" I suggested. "Just do me a favor and please don't mix up the salt and sugar this time."
"No promises, but I'll buy the cherries," Jeff replied, and we went off to his house.
"All right, Diana, the pie's ready to eat!"
"Yum!" I exclaimed as he set the pie on the table and cut it into eight equal pieces. "That smells incredible!"
I took a bite out of it and savored the taste of the crust and the cherries.
"You look so serious inhaling the pie's scent with your eyes closed," Caleb remarked. "I'm already halfway done."
"It's called enjoying it, Caleb!" I replied, opening my eyes and taking another bite.
"I thought about doing that at first too, but I couldn't hold myself back."
"I don't blame you. This is the best thing I have ever eaten."
"You're probably biased since the last thing you ate was a ghost pepper," Caleb replied.
"That is a possibility," I replied.
"You know, eating this really brings me back. I've been thinking, my grandma really lived life to the fullest, and I've always wanted to do the same. So making new memories now, both good and bad, makes me really happy. I couldn't have asked for a better day."
"Me neither! Thank you for taking me along," I replied as we drew in for a kiss. Caleb's lips tasted like the pie, and they were sticky, but sweet.
"Mmm, Diana."
"Caleb," I replied back in between kisses.
"Ezra." My eyes were wide open when I heard that, and I saw that Jeff's eyes were wide open as well, and we pulled away to see Ezra standing in the doorway. "Don't mind me. I'm just here because I smelled pie. Can I have a slice?"
"Uh, sure. Go ahead," Caleb replied as Ezra took a slice and gave us a thumbs up.
"I approve. Ten outta ten."
"Thank Diana. Making it was her idea."
"You're a really good girlfriend to Caleb, Diana," Ezra told me, and I blushed as he leaned in to whisper in my ear. "If you ever stop being good, there'll be heck to pay."
"What's your definition of good?" I asked. "Do we have to keep baking pies now?"
"Let's just say it can't hurt," Ezra replied as we continued to enjoy our pie.
The next week did not get easier. Not only did I have to deal with the whole prom queen thing, I also had to deal with my auditioning for the cheer solo, which was supposed to be mine in the first place. At this point, I was more frustrated than I was humble. Today, it was my turn to do the solo, and Mia was impressed as always. But things escalated when she gave me a compliment.
"So now you're giving her notes?" Kara asked in annoyance.
"Yes. I am the captain," Mia angrily explained. "It's my job."
"Your job is to give notes to the team, not provide private coaching for your favorites," Zoe shot back.
"She gave one note!" Sydney angrily replied. "How the frick is that private coaching?"
"And speaking of favorites, why is your girlfriend choreographing, huh?" Kara asked.
"Zoe, as long as I get a fair chance—" Kieran started talking before he got interrupted.
"Stay out of this, Kieran!"
"Hey! Isn't this between me and Kieran?" I asked with a little bit of anger in me. "We're the ones competing after all."
"Yeah, Kara, you're not even trying out," Payton chimed in. "What's the big deal?"
"This isn't about the solo section, Diana," Mia answered. "It never was."
"It's all about Staples and their stupid egos!" Sydney angrily exclaimed.
"Did you really just call us stupid?" Zoe angrily asked.
"No, she said your egos were stupid," I angrily replied, crossing my arms. "But you're getting real close."
"Zoe's right though," Kieran chimed in. "That wasn't very nice."
"So? Neither of your friends have ever said a single nice thing to me!" Sydney exclaimed.
"Mia, your choreographer is being a bi—"
"No, you know what? She's right," Mia interrupted Kara, now with anger in her voice. "You three have been nothing but trouble since this whole thing started. And I have half a mind to just call off tryouts right now and give Diana the part."
"You'd do that?" I asked, both with hope and worry at the same time.
"No, but only because I made a promise to Kieran that he'd have a chance."
"So like you, Mia," Kara chimed in. "You talk a big game, but when it comes down to it, you're too nice to pull the trigger."
"I think we should call it a day," Mia suggested, rubbing her forehead.
"Are you okay, Mia?" Emma asked.
"I'll be fine, but… everyone, just get out of here."
"That's what I thought," Kara replied with a smug on her face. "Some cheer captain you are. Come along, Kieran."
"Kieran, wait," I yelled out, and he stopped in his tracks and turned toward me. "Remember what Kara and Zoe did at prom committee?"
Kieran turned back around and left with Kara.
"Don't expect Kieran to ever stand up to Kara or Zoe, Diana," Payton sadly said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "It's not gonna happen."
"How could someone be so… hateful?" Emma asked.
"I don't know, and I'm sorry I shot off," Sydney chimed in. "I just… needed to say what Mia couldn't."
"It's okay, honey," Mia replied. "Kara was looking for a fight, and she got one."
"I guess I'll be going home," I spoke up, walking out of the gym with a downcast look on my face. I was just about to walk off school property when I heard a motorcycle stop next to me with Michael on it.
"Uh oh. I've seen that look before."
"What look?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "I don't have a look."
"Hate to break it to you, but you do. You're wearing the 'it's been a crappy day' look right now."
"People are just so frustrating!" I yelled out, not happy that Michael could read my expression. "Last quarter it was because of Ashley. This time, it's because of Staples! Why can't everyone just get along for once?!"
"Because high school would be too easy without drama?" Michael guessed, and I took deep breaths to calm down. "I've found in times like these, motorcycle rides are the only cure in the world."
"Somehow I doubt that," I replied. "I thought they were extinct?"
"Believe it or not, my grandparents saved this bike and gave it to me on my sixteenth birthday," Michael explained. "But don't knock it until you try it, because it works wonders. How about it, Diana? We can go for a ride around town. I'll even throw in a tour of my secret spot."
"My dad is going to kill me," I muttered, and then I put on a stern expression, getting on the back of the bike. "Let's ride."
"Hold on!" Michael yelled as we took off toward downtown Westport.
"I'm just tired of this rivalry," I explained as we drove around the park. "I mean, when we started tryouts, it was just Kieran and I going for the solo spot. Then Kara and Zoe butted in, and everything escalated. Now it's this whole Westport High versus Staples thing again! I just want everyone to get along. I don't care if I have to sacrifice the audition or the crown. I hate how much everyone fights now, and I don't know which was worse, this or the fighting when Ashley was principal. The rivalry was at least bearable when we were at different schools."
"If it's so bad, you could always quit."
"Michael—"
"I know, I know, for one, you're a Robinson and a Robinson never quits, and two, I don't have to look at you to know you're giving me the eye. But here's my serious advice: Give it time, and I'm sure things will blow over. They always do. I mean, Staples and Westport High have hated each other since the latter was founded. It'll take a lot to get everyone to come around."
"You said the same thing about being quarterback," I replied with a smirk. "And that turned out pretty well."
"Exactly! Just use whatever magic trick you used on me for these tryouts."
"You make it sound so easy."
"And you make it sound impossible. It's not."
"How long until we're at this special spot of yours?" I asked.
"We're almost there. In fact, close your eyes so you're really blown away."
"This better be good!" I replied, closing my eyes and hanging tightly onto Michael until the motorcycle stopped.
"We're here," Michael said, and I opened my eyes to a body of water next to a vast, green area surrounded by trees.
"Wow! This is incredible!"
"This isn't just any place. This is Brett Woods Park. It's my really good thinking place." Michael paused as we got off the bike and walked toward the water. "Remember when you found me at the park last fall?"
"How could I forget?" I answered with a laugh. "You were throwing rocks there and refused to be quarterback."
"Well, I came here afterward because it's a bit more secluded. This has been my place ever since. I came here after I joined the football team, after homecoming—"
"Michael, thank you for showing me this," I interrupted him.
"It seemed like you need it," Michael replied with a smile. "Just don't tell anyone else about this."
"Your secret is safe with me," I replied as Michael showed me how to skip rocks across the water.