Chapter 17: Romance

"Hey Archer." A sugary sweet voice said from behind his locker.

Archer closed his locker and was confronted by Audrey, standing not two feet away from him. He had to withhold himself from taking a step back and forced a smile on his face. "Hey Audrey, what's up?"

"I was just wondering if you wanted to sit with us for lunch?" Audrey said, and she pointed at a table.

Archer looked and saw five of the other most bubbly and giggly princesses of Auradon waving at him and smiling. Archer mechanically waved back before turning to Audrey again. "Ehm, I would love to, really. It's just-ehm, I have already told-ehm." He scanned the lunch yard, "Carlos I'd sit with him." Archer hurriedly said when he saw Cruella De Vil's son sitting with Evie and Doug.

Audrey pouted. "Oh, well see you later then Archer." She said with a wink and she turned back to her friends.

Archer breathed out. Danger averted. He then headed towards Carlos, Evie and Doug. "Hey, do you mind if I sit here?" he asked them.

"Of course not." Evie answered with a sweet smile. Carlos only nodded and moved some of the many papers spread in front of him to make room for Archer's plate.

"I hope you don't mind." Archer told Carlos. "Audrey just urged me to join her and the pretty in pink club and I needed a way out."

Carlos grinned at this. "No problem, I understand if they are a bit much for you."

"How do you like the school so far Archer?" Doug asked kindly.

"Oh, it's great." Archer said sincerely. "Having a steady place to sleep and no one trying to kill you is a nice change of pace, if you know what I mean." He said, and the others laughed.

"We know exactly what you mean." Carlos said with raised eyebrows.

Archer was about to apologize for not taking the isle into consideration but decided not to. In the first weeks he'd had numerous times where he forgot what the isle kids had gone through and he apologized every time until Mal took him aside and told him to not make such a big deal out of it, so he didn't. He could not help but get a stinging feeling of pity and remorse whenever one of them talked about the horrors they'd had to face on the isle.

"Where's the rest of the troop?" Evie asked kindly. "Normally you all still hang around."

"Ehm, I think Jay has taken Aden and Alex to tourney practice, Lance is still studying Freddie's magical abilities, he won't shut up about those and I'm not sure where Royce is at the moment." Archer quickly summed up. "And Ben and Mal had to go to Beast Castle to publicly reveal some new proclamation or whatever."

"Mal mentioned that." Evie said. "She did not sound very enthusiastic, but Ben's kingly duties have never been her favorite thing in the world though."

Archer grinned before taking a bite from his sandwich.

"Have any luck with finding new friends?" Evie asked.

Before Archer could finish his bite, Doug already answered. "Please, the entire school would want nothing more than to be Archer's friend, just take them for example." He said as he pointed at Audrey and her friends.

Archer made a sound which held the middle between a groan and a grunt.

"Something wrong?" Evie asked.

"Nah, it's just that- They don't really want to be my friend, not really." He said hesitantly. When the others still gave him a questioning look he continued. "They just see me as, you know, Archer the prince or Archer the warrior. I have long been able to tell which people are sincere when they talk to you."

"Oh." Evie said softly. "I guess we're kind of similar in that way." He looked at her questioningly and so she continued. "When we, the VK's, first arrived here. Many avoided us like the plague because of what they thought we were. They also just saw us one-dimensional like that. It's just that in your case people do want to hang out with you."

Archer looked at her. "I'm still sorry for what you must have gone through here. We are supposed to be the 'good guys' and we treated you like you were monsters."

"You shouldn't apologize." Evie said. There were still plenty of people who accepted us, like Ben and Lonnie and Doug." She said, and she grasped her boyfriend's hand as she gave him a smile.

"I'm glad that we've not all been self-absorbed pricks." He said with a laugh.

"You are most definitely part of the not-prick category." Carlos said as he grabbed Archer's shoulder. "You are pretty self-absorbed though."

The others laughed, and Archer pretended to be hurt, but laughed along anyway. "See, this is what I mean, you guys are so real. You don't care that I'm a prince or a soldier, you treat me like any other student here. I really appreciate that."

"You're welcome." Carlos said right before the bell sounded. "We better get to class."

"See you later." Archer said to Evie and Doug before heading of.

"Another Dance!?" Archer loudly asked Ben over the sound of explosions from the television and his friends' excited yelling. "You are hosting another dance!?"

Archer had been joined by his entire troop in his and Lancelot's room, and they were having a loud gaming tournament complete with snacks, when Ben entered the room with an announcement.

"Yes Archer, I am hosting another dance and I have already made sure that attendance at this dance is mandatory." Ben said.

Everyone in the room except for Lancelot gave an exaggerated groan and Ben couldn't help but smile.

"Ben, you are killing us." Royce said as he intensely moved his controller. "These dances require more energy than killing a grown troll."

"You've never even been to an Auradon dance!" Ben said with raised eyebrows.

Royce looked at him over his shoulder. "And that welcome party, what was that then?"

"A party!" Ben said loud and clear, and everyone in the room burst out laughing. "For a dance there are a lot more rules and traditions."

Everyone groaned again. "Will we all be expected to wear suits?" Aden asked right as he expertly managed to dislocate the head of Archer's character from his body.

"Yes. You all have to wear suits and you are all expected to bring dates." Ben said.

This statement made the entire room go silent and the half of the jelly donut still sticking out of Alex's mouth fell on the ground. "Say that again, but slowly." Archer said.

"You are all expected to bring dates." Ben said grinning.

A short silence followed.

"Have you already made this announcement public?" Aden asked.

"Ehm, yes. There have been announcements on all the bulletin boards and an official invitation online." Ben said.

Aden immediately got up, jumped over the couch and pushed Ben aside before exiting the room.

"What's he doing?" Ben asked as he brushed his shoulder.

"Probably gone styling his hair." Archer said as he turned off the gaming console. "So, what made you decide to host yet another dance?"

"Well, last year we had the coronation, but since that's no longer necessary, I thought it'd be fun to organize another dance at a similar time. This dance will take place the day after our first tourney match, so everyone will be extra pumped if we win." Ben said.

"Great idea." Royce said sarcastically. "Because there's nothing that athletes would want to do more than dance around in a suit all night."

Ben ignored this comment. "So, do you have any idea who you're gonna take?" Ben asked as he punched Archer in the shoulder and took Aden's place on the couch.

"I'll probably take Mal." Archer said dead serious.

All the others looked at him in shock, Ben more with indignation and the others with amusement.

"Sorry?" Ben asked, "You're gonna take Mal?"

"Yeah." Archer said while scratching his chin. "She and the VK's have really been nice to me so far, but since Evie is Doug's girlfriend she's kind of off the market."

"B-but Mal is MY girlfriend!" Ben said perplexed. And Royce, Alex and Lancelot had trouble keeping their faces straight.

"I know that, but I figured that you wouldn't mind me taking her. I mean, she's funny and beautiful and who else am I gonna take?" Archer replied, still dead serious.

Ben gawked at him before looking at the others who were now all laughing loudly. Ben looked back at Archer, who also started laughing and he punched him in the arm.

"Haha, very funny." Ben said sarcastic.

"You should have seen your face!" Archer bellowed. "What do you think of me? Of course I'm not gonna take Mal. She's your girlfriend."

"Like I don't know that!" Ben replied annoyed.

"Were you actually worried that she might say yes if I asked her?" Archer asked amused.

"N-no." Ben stuttered. "Of course not, she loves me, and I know that." When Archer kept grinning he asked the question again. "So, who are you taking?"

This wiped the smile off of Archer's face. "Not a clue, dude."

"Come on Archer." Alex said, "The girls will line up for you, you have nothing to worry about." He said, and he patted Archer on the shoulder.

Archer scoffed at his comment. "Like I don't know that. They'll start throwing themselves at my feet simply because I'm a prince. I don't want that."

"It could also be because your just so dreamy." Royce said, and he started blowing kisses at him until Archer threw a pillow into his face hard.

"Just pick someone fast, and the rest will back off." Ben said.

"But I'm not really interested in anyone right now, except for Mal of course." Archer said, which earned him another punch on the arm from Ben.

"Just take someone as a friend then." Lancelot said from behind his desk. "It's not written down that whoever go to a dance together have to start dating."

When Archer was about to reply, Aden loudly came back into the room and jumped on Archer's bed. He breathed out loudly.

"And where did you run off to in such a hurry?" Royce asked.

"I have a date." Aden said with a Cheshire grin.

"What? With who?" Alex said as he sat up straight.

"Arabella." Aden replied without a trace of embarrassment.

The others gaped at him. "J-just like that? You've been gone for barely five minutes." Royce said with a hint of admiration.

Aden pulled up his shoulders. "I work fast. She's a fun girl, and I didn't want someone else to beat me to her." he said smiling. "And, who are you all gonna take?"

"Mal." Ben said.

"No shit sherlock." Aden replied. "I was kinda only asking the single people in the room." He said with a look at the others.

"Maybe Jordan." Alex said. "She's really funny and always sits next to me in chemistry."

"Nice choice." Royce said. "To be honest I've got no idea who I'm gonna take, same as Archer."

Aden looked at Archer. "Pff, the girls will line up for you like you're a sale at a shoe store my friend." He said with a grin.

Archer simply laid his head back with a groan.

"Archer doesn't want a girl who does not look beyond his title." Ben said to Aden. "he thinks all the Auradon girls simply want to go with him because he's a prince."

"A dastardly handsome prince." Royce said sarcastically before dodging yet another pillow thrown by Archer.

"Well, it's not like you have to start a relationship with any of them. Just dance with them for one night and kiss them on the hand, done deal." Aden said.

"That's what I said." Said Lancelot quickly. "You guys are really making too much of a big deal out of this, it's just a dance."

Royce made an exaggerated gasp and stood up. "Just a dance! Just a dance! My good friend, this is an age-old tradition where men can show off fancy footwork without any swords. Furthermore it will be a night where everyone, especially the girls, are more willing to put themselves out there."

"Please try to think with your head for once, Royce." Archer said, though he couldn't suppress a smile.

"I simply want our esteemed Lancelot to let loose for once in his life. Come on guys, what do you say? Let's find him a date, teach him some dance moves and watch the train wreck unfold." Royce said rubbing his hands.

The others laughed, with Lancelot looking both annoyed and embarrassed. At that moment, there was a knock on the door and Mal came in.

"There you are!" she said to Ben, "I should have known you were with your buddies again."

Ben stood up. "Again? We've been hardly able to hang out at all. We were just discussing the upcoming dance."

"Ah." Mal said. "Any of you know who you're gonna take?"

"I'm taking Arabella." Aden quickly said.

Mal gave a short laugh. "Does she know about this?"

"I just asked her, so unless she has a real bad memory she should." Aden replied.

"You asked her already?"

"I work fast." Aden said.

"Sure you do." Mal said before looking at the others.

"I'm thinking about asking Jordan." Alex said.

"Oh, that's so sweet." Mal said sincerely as Ben walked up to her and put an arm around her.

"Archer, Royce and Lance don't know who to ask yet." He said as he hugged her from behind.

"What?" Mal said, "The girls will line up for-."

"I know that!" Archer said agitated as the rest of the group started laughing.

Mal looked a bit perplexed before Ben gave her the reason of Archer's doubts.

"Oh, you poor thing." Mal said as she ruffled up Archer's hair. "All the girls want to dance with you, what a horrible fate."

"You done?" Archer asked as Mal gave a pouty face.

"Sure." She said happily before walking back to Ben. "I need you for something." She said, and she grabbed Ben by the collar and dragged him out the room. "Bye guys."

The door slammed shut and the troop started grinning.

"She's a feisty one for sure." Aden said. "You think they've done the deed yet?"

The others all groaned in response and threw an item at Aden's head.

"What? Okay! Sorry for asking, jeez! I was just wondering." Aden said as he tried to dodge the projectiles aimed for his head.

"We don't talk about our Bennyboo that way." Royce said as he stood up. "Whatever he and his lady do, stays between them until he decides to spill the beans."

"Do you think we can get him drunk enough at the dance that he'll spill all the nasty details." Aden said eagerly.

"There's no harm in trying." Royce said with a grin.

"That's it!" Archer said. "Out! Take these unholy conversations elsewhere!"

The guys all laughed at this but stood up either way. Aden, Royce and Alex said goodbye and Archer closed the door behind them, so it was just him and Lancelot now.

"I really wish this dance thing wasn't so complicated." Archer said.

"You at least will have a choice." Lancelot said gloomy.

Archer put an arm around his friend's shoulder. "There's plenty of fish in the sea my friend, and all sorts as well. At least if you show up without a date the magazines won't put it on the front page."

That cheered Lancelot up a bit. "I guess. But we won't have to worry about that for a while."

"Precisely, let's just relax and go with the flow. We'll see how things end up."

"Hey Archer." A sweet voice from behind his locker said again.

Archer sighed. "Hey Audrey." He replied without having to look. And sure enough, when he closed his locker there she stood again, not two feet away from him. "What's up?"

"I just wanted to make sure you're alright, you seem kind of down lately." She said with a pout.

"I'm fine." Archer replied. "But thanks for asking."

"Have you heard of the upcoming dance?" Audrey hastily asked before he could turn around.

"Yeah, Ben told me and the guys about it yesterday." Archer said. He braced himself for what was coming.

"So, have any idea about who you're gonna take?" Audrey said while flirtingly spinning a curl around her finger.

"Ehm." Archer hesitated before someone suddenly grabbed him by the shoulder, it was Jay.

"Hey man, Lance said he needs you, something about a science project." He said.

"What?" Archer said confused.

Jay gave him a meaningful look and nudged his head in the opposite direction.

Archer suddenly got it. "Oh! Oh yes! I'll better go see him then. Sorry Audrey, I'll talk to you later." He said before quickly walking away with Jay.

"Talk to you later then!" Audrey yelled.

When he and Jay went around the corner, Archer loudly breathed out. "Dude, thanks for saving my ass back there." He said to Jay.

"No problem, I know Audrey can be a bit much." Jay replied.

"No kidding." He said laughing.

"Have you heard any news about the S.A.S.?" Jay asked.

"Ehm, no. But I'm sure it won't take long. And when I hear anything you and Lonnie will be the first to know." He replied.

"Great." Jay said, and he patted him on the shoulder. "Well, I'll see you later." He said as he walked away.

Archer nodded and headed upstairs to his room. He had still not received word from the official S.A.S. committee about him joining the Auradon prep team. The team had already started training but Lonnie had saved a spot especially for him. He really didn't want to let them down so he eagerly awaited word from the committee.

He was still deep in thought when he opened his bedroom door and was thus unprepared when a flying playing card suddenly flew towards his face. With a lighting quick reflex, he caught it mid-air and looked into the room perplexed.

He saw Freddie standing there with her hands pressed to her mouth as multiple other playing cards dropped out of the sky around her. Lancelot had been sitting in a chair in front of her with a notepad, apparently making annotations.

"Oh my god, Archer, I'm so sorry!" Freddie said as she kept her hands pressed to her mouth.

"It's okay." Archer said with a reassuring smile and he threw the playing card back to Freddie. "What is all this?"

"I'm studying Freddie's magical abilities." Lancelot said. "She already has learned basic controls and commands over her playing cards, so now we are investigating some of the more difficult protective spells. The one she used just now is supposed to make the playing cards act as guards, attacking anyone Freddie considers a threat."

Archer stared at her and she blushed. "I do hope I have not done anything to make me appear as a threat." Archer said with a sly grin.

"Of course not." Freddie replied. "It's just that the spell is really hard. I have finally managed to hold the cards up, but they just start attacking anyone for no reason. Just ask Lance."

When Archer looked more closely at Lancelot, he could see several paper cuts on his face and arms, as well as a spectacular bruise on the bridge of his nose. He started laughing.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up." Lancelot said. "I think that's been enough for today Freddie. We have our next meeting for Friday, so I'll look for any enhanced magical receivers in order for you to discover more of your abilities. Right now, you should eat something, magic does take a toll on you." Lancelot said as he stood up. "I'm gonna get some as well. You coming Archer?"

"I just ate, but Royce and Alex were in the yard when I just left." Lancelot nodded and closed the door behind him.

Freddie was picking up all the playing cards strewn across the room and Archer decided to help her.

"How's he treating you?" he asked her as he tried to remove a playing card which had somehow lodged itself in a wooden closet. "He can be a tat overenthusiastic sometimes."

"He kinda is." Freddie replied. "But he had really helped me control my magic. On the isle I never had the opportunity to use my magic, and in school I am only taught to follow a curriculum. Mal and Jordan have been helpful, but they don't know as much as Lance does."

"What did he say about magical receivers or whatever?" Archer asked.

"Ehm, you know, magical charms or amulets. Things that could enhance my magical capabilities and allow me to perform more difficult spells." Freddie answered.

"Are you really having that much trouble?" Archer asked, a bit worried.

"No, but I'm really quite psyched for this magic thing and I really want to reach my full potential. The receivers could help me reach them initially, afterwards I will be able to perform all that magic on my own." She answered happily.

"That's great. So, where do you get these receivers?" Archer replied.

"That's still kind of a problem, they're extremely rare and most have either been destroyed or have been stored in museums. Lance is still looking for any that might have been lost in time or that we can borrow from someone else." Freddie said.

"Can't you make one yourself?"

"No. Well, at least me and Lance wouldn't be able to. Only the most powerful magic wielders like fairy godmother would be able to do that. But since magic has mostly retired here, we're first gonna look for any existing receivers." Freddie said.

"Well, I hope you'll find one." Archer said as he handed her back all her playing cards.

"Thanks. If so, I might be able to conjure up cards whenever I want and send them flying into people's heads." She smiled.

"Do you wanna go to the dance with me?" Archer suddenly asked.

"What?" Freddie asked shocked, and she dropped all her playing cards again.

"Do you wanna go to the dance with me?" Archer repeated. "Just as friends."

Freddie stared at him wide-eyed. "W-why me?" she eventually stuttered.

"Why not you?" Archer grinned. "You're fun and smart, and not as annoying as those basic Auradon princesses."

"Are you serious?" she asked.

"Of course. Do you wanna go to the dance with me?" he asked a third time.

Now a large blush appeared on Freddie's cheeks. "Okay. Yeah, sure. As friends. Great."

"Great." Archer said smiling. "Now I can at least get Audrey off my back."

Freddie smiled and breathed out loudly. "Ehm, I'm gonna go get lunch. Okay?"

"Oh, don't let me stop you." Archer said as he stepped aside to let her pass. "I'll see you later."

"Bye." She said, and she closed the door.

Archer smiled as he heard her shriek from behind the door before he went back to his room and put away his stuff. He felt quite happy. He would now be rid of all the girls trying to flirt with him and casually ask who he was taking to the dance. He liked Freddie, and they would most likely have a blast at the dance. He didn't know if she could dance or not. If she couldn't they would most likely stick to the sidelines and send playing cards flying at everyone's head. It would be a fun night anyway.