Tiana managed to push through the first few weeks of school pretty well. A few people had signed up for prom and yearbook committee, more than she had expected, and today was the first meeting. That morning during homeroom, prom committee gathered around in the senior common room for their first meeting. Tiana was sat in her chair, upright, Charlotte was to her left shining in pink.
"Lottie, what if nobody shows up?" Tiana worried, her leg shaking with adrenaline
"Oh Tia, even if nobody comes we could do this thing with our eyes closed!" Lottie said calmly as she powdered her nose without a worry in the world. Tiana smiled at her friends assurance but plan prom? Just them? Was she crazy?
A few moments passed before finally Andrina and Adella strolled in,
"Hey girls! No Arista?" Charlotte asked
"Arista's all caught up with cheer, swimming and saxophone practice" Andrina explained "Besides she's terrible at organisation of any kind"
Then Cinderella and Aurora came in, Cindy had heard Aurora constantly talking about prom and felt that she should join too, both to make new friends and to try new things. Plus, any time spent from her step family, the better. As for Aurora, extra curricular were her thing. Cheer leading, school plays, committees. She couldn't help it, she loved it! Finally came Pocahontas and Esmeralda, who looked very tired. Despite the fact that no boys had turned up meant that prom plans would be slightly bias, but Tiana grinned, happy with such a huge turnout! She pulled out her green notebook and pens and began listing the names of everyone present.
"Right everyone!" she called "As we know our senior prom is coming up at the end of the year and we need to make it the best we can!"
The Triton girls squealed and Lottie bounced in her chair.
"Now I know it's only the first meeting but we need to talk basics, so-!" Tiana stood up and began pacing, getting excited now "Themes, foods, decorations, venue!"
"Oh, Oh!" Aurora put her hand in the air "I've totally thought of all of this!"
Tiana loved this organisation and energy. Suddenly she wasn't the only person in the year group who cared and who was being quick. Having a group of other girls sat there being just as thoughtful as her put her at ease.
"No terrible food" Esmeralda shook her head "Those freshmen disco sandwiches were gross!"
"Ew! And it was in the gym! We are not having our senior prom in a smelly gym!" Aurora said
"Agreed" Esmeralda seconded Aurora "We need the most breathtaking, amazing, venue!" Everyone nodded. "Right, Aurora and Esmeralda you're in charge of finding a venue" Tiana declared, jotting down notes.
"Pocahontas you're on themes!" she continued and Pocahontas nodded, she too started taking down notes
"Tiana! You should do food!" Lottie pointed out. Tiana smiled warmly, "Sure thing" she agreed, happy she had been thought of. Wherever their venue was, she hoped that they'd provide food but she had no problem helping otherwise.
"Adella, Andrina as soon as we have a theme you're on decorations! Lottie, you and I can work on technicalities and finance. And Cinderella, you need to keep an eye on dresses!"
"Dresses?" Cinderella asked in confusion
"Yes! I can help you, too!" Charlotte offered
"But what do you mean?"
"Colours, styles, prices, shops! We'll all need the best dresses and where to buy them. You do textiles right?"
Cindy smiled proudly "Yeah every since freshmen year" she had to admit, she had a passion for sewing and tailoring and fashion.
"Well you're in charge of helping girls with their colour schemes, styles and if they need any tailoring or adjustments- "
"-I'm your girl!" Cindy chirped.
The bell rang for first lesson and prom committee all cleared out. Tiana grinned broadly and genuinely, for once she didn't feel like the world was on her shoulders. In fact, she was on top of it!
Flynn swaggered down the empty corridor, late for second lesson and having missed the first period all together. He couldn't be bothered for history these days, or any lesson for that matter. Girls and burgers were the most important thing in his life... and his friends. OK, he had to admit that he did like his friends a lot more than he cared to tell them. They were good friends and kept him somewhat out of trouble. He walked along, his denim jacket slung over his shoulder and his satchel hanging across his body. He felt oddly confident today, like anything was possible. There was a spring in his step, at least until he heard sharp footsteps behind him.
Crap, he thought that's probably Mr Disney...
Flynn turned on his heel to face the principal and explain why he was late, but it wasn't the principal. It wasn't even a teacher, it was the cute, nameless girl with the green eyes.
"H-Hi" he said gormless
"Do I know you?" she asked with a smile
"I- I don't know you but may I just say..." he began "Hi, how's it going. Names Flynn Rider, how's your day so far?" he flattered with a cocked eyebrow and a smoulder
Rapunzel's eyes shifted left and right "Good" she replied awkwardly "I'm Rapunzel, do you know where the library is?"
Flynn snapped out of his flirty smoulder, "Library?"
"Yeah I've forgotten where it is" she said
"I can take you there!" he said, sticking his chest out and he began ushering her through the corridor.
"Thanks, that's super kind of you!"
"So, 'Rapunzel', what kind of name is that?" he asked
"Oh it's German, I'm not sure what it means my mother chose it" she shrugged. Flynn wanted to reply but he didn't actually know what to say. Usually he'd flirt and make a rude joke but as soon as his smoulder dropped he realised it wasn't going to work, this girl was different. She was more real. She wasn't like Adella or that girl Taffyta Muttonfudge he'd dated, she was sweeter and less materialistic. It seemed she couldn't tell flirting from friendliness. He was shocked, but happy. It made him realise that now other guys couldn't flirt with her. They neared the library as the bell rang and kids bustled out of lessons "So this is the library" he beckoned.
"Thank you, Flynn" she grinned "It was great meeting you" and she headed inside. Flynn stood for a moment, wanting more from her, conversation, to see her face!
"Hey wait!" he called rushing in after her, receiving a scolding "SHH!" from the librarian.
"What is it?" Rapunzel whispered. Flynn stood, wide eyed and uncomfortable. Rapunzel stared at him questioningly for a moment before frowning at his silence. "You-I-" he stammered "Maybe- I think- that-that is-"
"Are you OK?" she giggled and Flynn turned pink. "I like your hair" he said flatly. Rapunzel was taken aback and nodded "Oh.. thank you!" she skipped off leaving Flynn alone. He felt like the worlds biggest idiot.
Rapunzel had been hanging around with her new friends almost all the time now. After Mulan's audition she felt accepted for sure, they'd even invited her to Ariel's on Friday, but Rapunzel doubted her mother would let her.
"Dad's away on business Friday, so come on over we'll watch Harry Potter, order a pizza and stuff" Ariel said
"Sure" Anna agreed
"Sounds good" Jasmine nodded
"We haven't had a sleepover in ages!" Mulan said
"Rapunzel, come too!" Ariel said, and Rapunzel beamed happy to have an invite.
Usually when her dad went away, Ariel would invite her friends over for a sleepover down in the big basement that was more like the Triton sisters own clubhouse. Her eldest sister Attina was in university now in Atlanta, Aquata was in Australia taking part in professional surfing and part time life guarding. Alana had left school last year and now had a small apartment in Disney with some roommates and she had begun a new beauty styling internship at a salon in the mall. With Attina gone, everything was a lot less bossy and much to Adella, Arista, Andrina and Ariel's liking, the house was becoming less and less crowded. So, in the blessed occasions where their 'No boy!' father went away, Arista and Andrina would attend some party or the other, Adella would invite a boy round and they'd lock themselves away in her bedroom and Ariel would take over the basement for a slumber party.
"Guys, Aladdin hasn't even asked me out yet" Jasmine said with a little frown
"I thought you weren't interested?" Mulan smirked "Or have you changed your mind?"
"No!" Jasmine said defiantly "But... I mean... he's fancied me for years and now I just feel like they're making a fool out of me"
"Oh come on Jasmine, you said so yourself it's been years! He's probably nervous give him some time" Ariel tried. Jasmine shrugged but before she could say anymore the bell rang and they set off for science with Mr Hawkins.
"Right everyone, Science projects!" Hawkins announced as his junior class settled down. Anna and Mulan exchanged excited looks, having already decided they'd pair up and have the best project.
"So I've paired you all up already" Mr Hawkins said, the dreaded words every student hates and the whole class groaned. "Now, now, it's good to get out of your comfort zone!" He began read out the pairing lists.
"Rapunzel Solis and Ariel Triton" he named, Rapunzel sighed, relieved.
"Moana Motunui and Mulan Fa" Mulan waved at the kind girl sitting across the classroom, they had talked an awful lot last year in English and Mulan was glad to have been paired with her.
"Jasmine Raghba and Honey Lemon" Honey Lemon, a tall and intelligent girl grinned and waved flimsily at Jasmine. Honey was notoriously good at science which guaranteed Jasmine a fun project.
"Anna Winters and Kristoff Anderson"
Anna sighed and glanced over at the boy on the table to the right of her who's head was on the desk in a flop of messy blonde and a stubby nose poked out from his folded arms. "Now go and sit with your partners" the teacher instructed. Anna moved begrudgingly and sat by Kristoff, "Excuse me" she poked him. He sat up slowly and blinked at her with sleepy eyes.
"What?" he asked flatly
"We're partners" she told him and he blinked at her still "For the science project"
Kristoff nodded his head "Ah science" he commented,
"So you... you like science? You're good at it?" she asked hopefully
Kristoff chuckled "Of course I'm not"
Anna groaned. This was going to be difficult. She looked at the boy who had started munching on a raw carrot out of nowhere. Really difficult.