Mulan's grandmother had taken her to the mall that Saturday for a new pair of sneakers ready for her position on the soccer team. Mulan suspected that her place on the team was simply a result of somebody else dropping out or a difficulty making numbers, nevertheless she headed for first practice. She had been briefly introduced to everybody at try-outs and recalled Shang warning them all that "My father led this team to victory for twenty years! You will not let that legacy die anymore!" and how Lyle muttered, "His father? That explains why he's the team captain now".
That Monday, Mulan heard her alarm ring loudly and earlier than usual. It was 6am and she struggled tapping at the screen to turn it off before sitting up with sleepy eyes. Downstairs she could hear the coffee machine whirring and her grandmothers slippers scuffing about on the wooden floor. Mulan rolled out of bed and headed to join her grandmother downstairs.
"Good morning, ready for your first day of training?" her gran croaked. Mulan half heartily poured milk out over her cereal and nodded "I guess" she said through a yawn. Her gran nodded and poured two coffees. Mulan knew that her grandmother was always up earlier than everyone else in the mornings, she usually slept restlessly and would walk the dog before 7am. Her parents were still up in bed and would be for another hour or so, Mulan felt like she should still be up in bed too. Shang insisted on early morning Monday starts and late Friday finishes. Her week was going to fill itself with dawn practices and dusk games. She was absolutely dreading it.
Usually Mulan would have caught a ride with Ariel and her sisters, other times her mother would drop her which meant it was a rare occasion when Mulan had to actually walk to school let alone on a cold November morning when the sun was barely out. "7am" Mulan yawned, pacing down the street as the sky lightened into an ashy blue.
"Hey!" Mulan turned her head and saw a lanky boy with his hair in a ponytail, swaggering towards her and a chubby, shorter boy beside him with bushy eyebrows and facial hair.
"What's her name again?" the small one asked in a hoarse voice
"Ping?" Ling shrugged
"No, no it began with an 'M'"
"Mushu?"
"It's Mulan" Mulan said bluntly. The two boys blinked at her before they joined her to walk together.
"Is she wearing makeup?" Yao whispered
"She is a girl" Ling replied rather loudly. Mulan scowled as she pointed her head down,a way from the sharp wind and the stupid, sexist comments. It was becoming clearer why she never saw these boys with girlfriends. She headed straight into the girls changing rooms away from the boys next door. She shivered, her breathe was still causing a cloud of smoke. She changed into sweatpants and a sweater, her arms goose pimpled with cold and the empty changing room made her shiver. She felt colder, lonelier. As she shoved her bag into a locker she spotted Kida, the gym teacher, stroll through looking perky with her own little ice blue sweatsuit on and bouncing on soft white sneakers.
"Morning" she smiled flippantly passing without a second look. A part of Mulan yearned for the young gym teachers company, for her to have stopped and spoken. She wasn't quite sure why, perhaps because she felt lonely. Perhaps she wanted some reassurance, another girl around; but Kida slammed the door and was gone. Mulan closed her locker and then hesitantly walked towards the centre of the field where there were already plenty of guys stood around.
"You let a girl on the team?" Gaston turned to Shang as Mulan came to a slow stop by her teammates.
"We were low on numbers" Shang said bluntly, Mulan's heart dropped.
"Right. Warm up. Two laps and then some push ups" Shang clapped and the entire lot of boys began jogging the field robotically, Mulan following behind.
"We'll never win this year, especially with her" she heard Kokoum comment and was glad that wind was hitting her so hard, otherwise she was sure her tears wouldn't have just been from the pricking of the cold.
"We didn't have a great shot anyway, Disney never win" Yao said.
Anna spotted her friends that morning, Mulan looked muddy and tired and the others looked uncomfortable but they all waved anyway. Anna however, marched right past them and sat alone ignoring their mutters. She didn't need them anymore, not now she had Hans... or at least that's what she told herself. The way they had lied about him was jealous, ridiculous. First Elsa, and now her friends. She knew they were just being silly, none of them understood. Jasmine spent her life avoiding boys, Ariel only ogled that senior in the production, Mulan never mentioned any kind of guy and Rapunzel... well she hardly knew her. Anna weighed up the pros and cons in her mind before slumping her head on the desk.
No, no, no. I don't need them. She told herself. Anna instead spent her lunch time with Hans and his friends.
"Anna!" Hans cried, surprised "What are you doing?" Anna stood with her lunch tray at his table, Kronk, Kokoum, Gaston and LeFou and The Bimbettes blinked up at her.
"I- I thought I could sit with you... you are my boyfriend" Anna smiled. The bimbettes giggled but Anna didn't seem to notice. "Sure" Hans said with a smirk, and he exchanged looks with Gaston as they all shuffled along the bench for Anna who sat, nibbling a sandwich.
"So, Anna" Gaston leaned across the table "Your sister Elsa's pretty hot"
Anna coughed and looked up, "Oh yes... she is quite pretty"
"Is she single?" he continued
"Yes but-"
"I need a date for a party, I wonder if she's interested" Gaston smirked,
"She's a little shy" Anna tried bluntly. Gaston fell back into his seat at his tone and turned to talk to Claudia and Hans joined in, ignoring her all together while Anna tore into a chocolate bar.
"Hey, Anna" Anna looked up and smiled, she saw Kristoff looking down at her. His blonde hair was covering the top of his eyelids and he was loosely holding a can of cola.
"Kristoff!" Anna greeted. Suddenly Hans' head turned from his friends and he was looking irritably at the exchange between the juniors.
"I found some lavender oil, my mum had some, bottles of it in fact" he said, ignorant to Hans' annoyed expression.
"Oh great" Anna smiled "We can test it out before Hawkins wants it. We have until January"
"Cool, we'll do it over Christmas or something"
Anna nodded, "Sure!" Kristoff barely said goodbye before moping away to sit at another table.
"Who was that?" Hans half snapped.
"Kristoff, we're doing a science project" Anna smiled. Gaston pulled a face at Hans who nodded.
"How about we do something this weekend?" he slurred in Anna's face, "We could go to the movies with Gaston and Giselle- a double date"
"Or me!" Laura cried, "Not Giselle!"
Anna shrugged with a simpering smile, "Yeah OK that sounds cute"
"Maybe swap Giselle for Elsa?" Gaston chuckled and Anna just looked down at her lunch tray.
Tiana bustled about that lunch time, Mr Walt had given them an old office to use for yearbook committee. It was pretty small but had lots of desks for use and they had set up printers, computers and a design table for the book. Photos were hung up everywhere, sketches scattered across tables and a notebook entitled 'Quotes' lay across Tiana's appointed desk- empty. Tiana and Lottie sat, typing away and going over themes. Choosing how many prom pages and how many freshmen pages were sufficient.
"Hey, Tia" Lottie sighed, "I'm gonna head off and grab me a sandwich"
"Oh, sure Lottie, I'm sorry I didn't realise it was lunch already"
"You want me to get you anything?" she offered, pulling her pink coat on
"It's fine" Tiana smiled,
"OK Sugar, we can share a sandwich" she insisted and Tiana grinned at how good of a friend she was, and she headed to the canteen in her little clicking kitten heels. However, just a few moments later Tiana heard the office door open,
"Let me guess" Tiana said, not looking from her laptop screen "you forgot your money?"
"Forget money? Unlikely" a soft Mediterranean accent answered,
"Naveen?" Tiana looked up and saw him smouldering over at her, now casually sitting in Lottie's chair opposite her
"What do you want?" she snapped, "another non-obliging kiss?"
Naveen's face dropped somewhat, "Not quite- in fact I feel mislead"
"Mislead?" Tiana cried, "You kissed me!"
"Whatever" he shrugged with a grin, "dressing like that I thought you were..."
Tiana raised her eyebrows, "You thought what? I was rich?"
Naveen half nodded,
"You are shameful" she spat,
"Oh come on" he laughed "I'm not that bad... in fact I'm pretty good"
"Your modesty becomes you" Tiana shook her head, "you really should leave now, now you know I'm just a waitress"
"A waitress" Naveen repeated, "I kissed a waitress!"
Tiana tutted, "You really are a spoilt little rich boy!"
"Here Tia they had cheese and tomato and- Oh!" Lottie headed in, sandwich in hand but stopped suddenly when she caught Naveen swinging in her chair,
"Thanks Lottie" Tiana smiled
"Naveen what are you doing here, sweetheart?" Charlotte cooed,
"He was just leaving" Tiana stated, but neither were listening now
"I hardly saw you at that party!" She grinned,
"I was spending my time with the wrong people then" he flirted, "I hope to see more of you, my angel"
Charlotte giggled uncontrollably, "Oh please, Naveen I'm flattered!"
Tiana sighed loudly,
"A date then, Miss La Bouff" he grinned,
"Oh we could do lunch!" she beamed,
"Why of course" he agreed but didn't arrange anything, "I'll be seeing you"
And Naveen left, with a fleeting glance at Charlotte who was blushing and giggling, and a little wink at Tiana.
HSM rehearsals had been stretched to three times a week now and were slowly lasting longer and longer. No one found it boring or a chore, just very tiring. They had a good time learning lines and lyrics, acting out scenes and everyone was looking forward to choreography. Everyone was pretty excited... everyone except Ariel. Mainly Ariel had already learnt all of her lines. Keeping on top of her homework was easy and she had finished the schools swimming programme last year; the youngest student ever to do it. With the exception of Naveen's party Ariel had nothing to do and so she sat watching the real cast learn their lines and run scenes whilst she sat, knowing that in just a few months she'll be helping Vanessa lip sync and look great. Most rehearsals almost brought tears to her eyes, especially some days when Mr Crabs would ask 'how are you?' and 'are you sure you don't want to join choir?'. She knew he was being nice but sometimes she just wanted to scream at him that No! She didn't want to do choir she wanted a role! She wanted Vanessa to stop blackmailing her, she wanted Eric to notice her and to have spoken to her at Naveen's, she wanted everyone to know what was going on."
"Vanessa, Eric, let's run lines for the rooftop scene" Crab clicked. Vanessa flipped her hair and turned her body to face the room as though this was the moment everyone had been waiting for. Esmeralda rolled her eyes as Vanessa dramatically read her lines and Eric conversed back.
"She only landed this role because Clopin doesn't know how much of a bitch she is" Esmeralda tutted, flipping through her own script.
"Speak louder, she didn't quite hear you" Pocahontas replied sarcastically. Esmeralda rolled up her script and whacked her friends arm playfully, poking her tongue out.
"What are you two doing?" Mr Crab pulled his reading glasses off irritably.
"Nothing" Esmeralda and Pocahontas smiled in union. Vanessa and Eric continued reading, Esmeralda and Pocahontas stopped their chatter and watched on, at least until a loud, default ringing of a Samsung rang loudly. Everyone fumbled awkwardly in their pockets, even the teachers. The ringing stopped and Pocahontas put the phone to her ear, "Hello?"
Everyone looked up at her as though angry it hadn't been their phone and watched as Pocahontas quietly spoke to the phone and then hung up.
"I'm sorry, Sirs" she said quickly, standing and pulling her bag over her shoulder "I've got to go- family emergency"
Clopin casually nodded, "of course" and Mr Crab looked a little less happy but waved her off, Pocahontas left abruptly without any explanation to Esmeralda who was now left with just Phoebus.
Phoebus, after the kiss with his best friend at the party, now felt sadly awkward around her. Not that she had mentioned it, in fact, he doubted she remembered but it had a real effect on him and he didn't know how to act now. Even more, he wasn't sure if anyone else knew. Flynn had left the party early and hadn't been in school that day, Aladdin had acted normal and so had Pocahontas and Phoebus wanted to ask if they knew without telling them.
"Right" Clopin clapped and Phoebus shook his head of Esmeralda, "Come back for rehearsals Thursday and Friday we're going to begin singing lessons"
Vanessa smirked up at Ariel and Ariel's face reddened,
"Of course- you don't have to attend Vanessa we all know your throat's still in bad condition... are you getting it checked?"
"Oh yes" Vanessa lied, "In fact they think an operation may be in order over the Christmas period"
There were a few mutters and the teachers 'oohd' and Vanessa pouted. Ariel felt the anger boil up in her, she wanted to pull at her long brown hair and tell everybody what a liar she was but then she glanced at Eric, catching his eye for a bleak moment and wondered if after the play he'd consider a date- and then she could tell him everything.
"Off you go then- good work today!" Clopin said and everybody bustled for their things,
Ariel watched as Esmeralda shoved her cardigan into her bag and Phoebus lingered behind her. They had been nice to her and her friends at the party, they hadn't hung out with Hans or Vanessa or anyone remotely mean- dare she tell them what Vanessa was doing? Esmeralda seemed outspoken enough and Phoebus was pretty casual. How would they go about it?
"Hey" Ariel said abruptly and without realising
Esmeralda and Phoebus blinked up at her as Aurora and Naveen, Eric and Vanessa headed from the auditorium
"Hey" Esmeralda grinned, "Ariel, right?"
Ariel nodded meekly, she now had no idea and practically feared telling them, her crush on Eric was embarrassing enough but if his girlfriend knew would she be as ruthless as Vanessa? Worse?
"Did you enjoy the party?" Phoebus asked as the three headed up the stairs,
"Yeah it was really good-Vanessa was there"
"God she looked ridiculous" Phoebus laughed, and Ariel thought about his fake moustache and overalls
"Tell me about it, she takes everything way to seriously" Esmeralda grimaced, "but you looked cute, Red"
Ariel smiled at the nickname, remembering how Flynn had called her it too,
"Thanks it was pretty last minute" she chuckled,
"Hey don't be down about not having a role" Esmeralda softened, "Vanessa can barely sing- I mean have you heard her?"
Phoebus shook his head, "Nope"
"Exactly" Esmeralda smiled, "once she sings and it's terrible the cat's out of the bag!"
"Hey-Es we should go see where Pocahontas has got to" Phoebus said
"Sure sure" Esmeralda said, "anyway- see ya Red"
Ariel watched as the two headed off, glad she hadn't said anything. "Cat's out of the bag" she repeated in her head, but if Vanessa did sing- really sing- everyone would know about Eric and Ariel couldn't bare the embarrassment and awkwardness.
Singing for Vanessa, she thought is the only way I'm going to even remotely be in this production. I might as well get it done with.
Mulan was exhausted. The extra hour that morning running around the cold field tired her out, not to mention she was the slowest in the team. She was shocked that when she finished running laps it was only just the warm up and luckily for her, Shang decided that since the team were so out of shape they'd meet each morning for practice. Most of the team didn't mind but Mulan could have cried. Every morning she'd have to hear comments about her gender and how terrible she was? That didn't exactly sound fun. She even heard a bunch of them laughing afterwards about her pink sneakers. Admittedly, she shed a few tears in the toilets before homeroom but tried not to think much of it for the rest of the day.
She plodded home a little earlier than she was supposed too. She had a free period last and although they were supposed to be studying through it, Mulan decided to leave a few minutes early to avoid the hustle of getting through crowds. She was already drained, Jasmine would have usually convinced her friend not to skip school (even if it was five minutes) but she could see how drained her friend was and told her to get a good sleep. She headed out of the carp park and round the corner, taking a stroll to not hurt her feet anymore.
"Hey!"
"HEY!"
Mulan turned to the voice and saw a bulky and fair haired boy heading towards her,
She stopped and stared at him as he came to her side,
"Hey" he repeated with a smile
"Hi" she said slowly,
"Sorry- I'm Hercules from soccer" he said with a friendly smile
"Oh!" Mulan said, now recognising him, "right- hey!"
"Hey" he repeated with a chuckle,
"Listen if Shang sent you to kick me off the team-" she began with a sigh
"Oh no no" he said waving her to stop, "listen those guys gave you a tough time today"
"Right... yeah" she agreed,
"We've never had a girl on the team and I think you could be good" he continued, "I want to help... I mean I hate those guys they used to pick on me too"
Mulan raised an eyebrow, "they did?"
"Oh come on" he said, "I used to be a scrawny nobody"
Mulan tilted her head,
"Look you've got the build, and the stamina and if you have the determination we can do it"
"Do what exactly?" she asked
"Extra training. You could be great, so great that those guys won't say a single bad word"
Mulan just blinked unsure if he was serious or not, unsure whether to accept his offer or quit altogether.
"Hercules!" the two turned and saw a tall, thin girl heading towards them, as she approached Hercules blushed.
"Are we going bowling or what?" she latched onto his arm,
"Sure, Meg" he grinned and then turned to Mulan again "Just consider it, yeah?"
"Yeah... thanks Hercules" Mulan smiled
"Don't mention it" he saluted her and then he and his girlfriend (Mulan assumed) headed in the opposite direction, leaving Mulan to think over his offer.