(A/N: Over 9,000 words?! 8O This is my longest document to date! Enjoy!)


We Meet Again

Ch. 20


Almost a full year passed, and before long, Shenzi, Frankie, Kimi, and Chuckie were in their last year in middle school. Mr. Banks took Shenzi's suggestion to mind and applied for the job of vice principal, but kept his occupation as the history teacher. The emo girl felt much more comfortable in school since the creepy Mr. Pangborn was fired. She also felt like an idiot for not realizing earlier that he was practically undressing her with his eyes. She would shiver at the thought, but brushed it aside. It was over; He was never going to bother her again. She hoped...

After changing into baggy black pants with purple straps, a black and purple tie dye crop top with "Happy Thoughts" on the front in white letters, black and purple high-top persue sneakers, a purple extension, and black bow earrings, Shenzi walked into the kitchen to have breakfast. Little did she know, it was going to be a very interesting day at school.

"I cannot believe it," Frankie remarked while they were in the bus. "This is our last year of middle school. It seems like it was only yesterday we were rushing to avoid being tardy on our first day."

"I know, right?" Shenzi agreed, "Once summer break is over, high school, here we come!"

Before long, all the students boarded and they arrived at the building. Strangely, Chuckie and Kimi didn't come out; Their friends figured that they just had a late start. When Shenzi walked down the hall to the science classroom, she saw something that, for some reason, made her blood boil: Chuckie was at his locker, but a girl who was clearly prettier than her was talking to. And it didn't look very casual. "So Charlie," Samantha Shane smiled flirtatiously at him. She was in a pink and white gradated animal print dress, a pink camisole under it, cork wedge sandals, a zebra-print headband, and pink initial 'S' dangle earrings, along wih her usual light pink eye shadow and lipstick. He was confused at first, but then he remembered; When they were first introduced to each other, Angelica said his nickname was Charlie. "What do you say we get a salad at the mall later after homework?"

"Well um, to be honest, I'm..." He was cut off by an angry voice, belonging to someone he did not expect to be this furious.

"Stay away from my man, sister!" To his shock, Shenzi angrily tackled Samantha to the floor! Chuckie stood against the lockers, not knowing what to do.

"Whoa, cat fight!" 16-year-old Sean pointed out, before he and his friends went to watch.

Chuckie was baffled at them, before he decided to intervene; He cautiously walked up, and pulled Shenzi up as Ms. O'Keats grabbed Samantha. "Alright both of you, to the vice principal's office!" She ordered sternly.

"Okay girls, tell me exactly what happened," Mr. Banks told them as they sat in front of the desk that used to be Mr. Pangborn's. Both girls' hair was messy, and their clothes were disheveled.

"She just attacked me!" Samantha pointed at Shenzi.

"Ms. Tuck, why did you attack her?" He gently asked her.

"Because I...!" She started, before she paused. It was then when she snapped out of her fury-induced trance. She actually had no idea why she did what she did. "I.. I don't know," She said meekly. She glared at the older girl upon hearing her scoff. "I just saw her talking to Chuckie, and... I dunno, something in me just snapped. It was almost like someone else was controling me. I, I'm sorry." She didn't do anything when she received no answer.

"Well Ms. Tuck, you did break the rules, and it won't come unnoticed," Mr. Banks told her, "I'm afraid I'll have to suspend you both for three days." Shenzi filled up with dread. Suspension? Her parents were going to kill her.

"What?! Why me?!" Samantha stood on the floor angrily, "I'm the victim!"

"Ms. Shane, I suggest you watch your tone," Mr. Banks turned serious, "You could've just stood up and walked away, but you were as big a part of the fight as Ms. Tuck was."

"W-will the suspension start now? Or after the school day is over?" Shenzi nervously asked him.

"Well, considering it's the middle of the school day, it'll start after the day is over," Mr. Banks decided, "You can have a friend deliver your homework to you, and then to your respective teachers. Now go on to your classes before you're deemed absent or tardy."

"Y-yes sir," Shenzi nodded, before she stood up and nervously left the office. As the day went on, she was so scared that she wanted to puke. Because, suspension? She hardly ever got detention! What would her parents think? Would Chuckie think less of her, now that a suspension was on her record? She seriously hoped not; After the dreaded argument from 3 years ago, she didn't want Chuckie out of her life, ever again.

At the end of the day, as the bus was dropping students off at their respective homes, Shenzi filled up with even more dread than before. She was afraid of how her parents would think of her getting suspended; They wouldn't take it well, that was a fact. But what would they do then? Ground her again? Hopefully it won't be anything major. When the bus stopped in front of the Tuck residence, Shenzi took a deep breath before standing up and disembarking; A nauseating feeling almost completely took over as she was on the porch. After she finished her homework, she confessed on what happened to her parents and Frankie. Their reactions were exactly how she expected them to be.

"Suspended?!" Felicia and Friar Tuck exclaimed at the same time.

"What happened?" Frankie asked her a bit more calmly.

"Well, y-you see... I saw this girl, Samantha Shane, talking to Chuckie in a flirtatious way, and I don't know, something inside of me just snapped."

"Oh, I knew it!" Frankie smiled widely, "I KNEW you liked Chuckie!"

"I'm not into him that way!" Shenzi retorted, "I've said that a million times!"

"Okay, back to the suspension thing," Felicia said to them.

"Now, how long are you suspended for?" Friar Tuck asked the youngest girl.

"Th-three days," She stuttered out nervously.

"Well then, we have to ground you for those three days," Felicia broke the news to her, "You have to face the consequences of your actions."

"I understand," She nodded meekly.

That night, after changing into her pajamas, she laid in her bed wide awake. Why did she attack Samantha like that? She was just talking to Chuckie. She seemed flirty towards him, but still. Why was it such a big issue? Deciding to worry about it tomorrow, as she would wander around the house with nothing to do, she took off her glasses and closed her eyes.

But after a few minutes, it struck her like bricks as her eyes flew open. Why did she feel so comfortable around Chuckie, yet uncomfortable at the same time? Why did she always want to be around him? Possibly why she was so clingy with him when they were toddlers like her father said she was? Why was she so worried about braces being a turn-off to him? Why didn't she mind him staring whenever she wore swimsuits? Why did she enjoy dancing with Chuckie at the holiday parties at their school? Why did she crave his presence alone? Why was she such a wreck during their argument? Why did she open up to him so easily during that camping trip, despite feeling discomfort? Why did she feel so comfortable around him at Slosh Mountain, despite them playing hooky? Why did she give Chuckie so many casual kisses, whether they were alone or not?

And most importantly, why did she feel something spectacular whenever they kissed? Well, the answer was simple: Frankie and their friends were right all along. She had a crush on Chuckie. A big one. All this time, and she didn't even realize it until just now. But they had such an amazing friendship, and if they dated and broke up, then it would be gone forever. Besides, she wasn't his type anyway. She wasn't Nicole Boscarelli, Samantha Shane, or any of those girls that he crushed on in the past. She was just a plain, average, Gothic freak. What would he see in her? Maybe if she changed her image... then he would like her, right? After her suspension sentence is over, she'll try that.

In the Finster household, at the same time, Chuckie was wide awake in bed as well, kept from slumber by his thoughts like Shenzi was. And it just came to him. Why was he so protective of her? Why did he feel jealousy whenever she was with another boy? Why was he so determined to make her first time at the arcade her best time? Why was he such a wreck during their argument? Why did he feel so comfortable ditching school to hang out at Slosh Mountain with her? Why did he give Shenzi so many casual kisses, whether they were alone or not? Why did he hate hearing her put herself down? Why did he protest to her claims, and tell her she's beautiful?

And most importantly, why did he feel something spectacular whenever they kissed? Well, the answer was simple: Kimi and their friends were right all along. He had a crush on Shenzi. A big one. And he never realized it until that moment. He was such an idiot! Why didn't he realize it sooner? But then again, if they dated and had problems, their wonderful friendship would be ruined. Also, no girl as beautiful as her would go out with a boy like him. He wasn't like those in the popular crowd; He lacked the good looks, the smooth talk, and everything else. What redeeming qualities did he have that would make him datable? He respected others' boundaries, gave compliments whenever he could, and he would comfort anyone in need of it. Apparently, that wasn't enough. But then again, she stuck with him for 3 years now. Maybe she...? No, it was impossible. He was going to grow old and die alone, he knew it. Deciding to worry about it later, he drifted off to sleep.


Shenzi's days of suspension flew by fast, and before she knew it, she was allowed to go to school again. After showering and brushing her teeth, she changed into a black floral cowl-neck top, black boys' shorts that stopped at her knees, black and orange flame buckle creepers, a purple extension, a black fake leather jacket with studs on the shoulders, and black bow earrings, she ate breakfast and boarded the bus with eagerness. After waking up, she decided to get some help with changing her image to get Chuckie's attention. And she knew just who to go to.

"Girlify you?" Angelica raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Uh huh," Shenzi nodded, "So, will you help me?"

The older blonde crossed her arms. "What's in it for me?"

"What do you want?" The emo girl shrugged.

"I'll help you, if... you do my math homework for me."

"I'll help you with your math homework," Shenzi crossed her own arms, "I'm not doing all the work."

Angelica sighed, before she made her decision. "Alright, I'll help you." Shenzi smiled with eagerness. "But you must do everything I say. No ifs, ands, or buts, got it?"

"Understood."

"Excellent," Angelica closed her locker, "I'll come to your house later after school. We'll do the homework first."

"Wait, how do I know you're not going to ditch me after our homework is done?" Shenzi raised an eyebrow at her.

"You don't trust me?" Angelica smirked, but the younger girl stayed quiet. "Smart girl. But I never go back on my word. So, your house, homework, makeover. Today. I'll let you borrow my clothes until you buy some of your own."

"Deal." After they shook hands to seal the deal, they went their separate ways. At lunch, Shenzi sat at a different table than where Chuckie was, confusing him.

"Hey Shenzi, how come you're not sitting with Chuckie?" Frankie asked her, "You always sit with him."

"Because I need to tell you something, and I don't want him to know," Shenzi replied, "Can you promise not to tell him?"

"I promise. Now, what's up?"

"Well, last night, I realized that... you guys were right." Frankie's eyes widened and her jaw dropped a bit. "I do have a crush on Chuckie. I have for 3 years."

"I KNEW IT!" Frankie yelled.

"SHH!" Shenzi slapped a hand over her sister's mouth, "You have to stay quiet!"

The blonde took her little sister's hand off her face. "Right, sorry. So, you finally realized it, huh?"

"Yep," She nodded, "But... I'm not his type. He's not into Goth freaks like me."

"I would protest to that, but I know it wouldn't have any effect. So, go on."

"So... after school, Angelica's going to help give me a makeover," Shenzi told her.

"Angelica?" Frankie raised an eyebrow, "Didn't she call you a skank 3 Valentine's Days ago? And insult your outfit at her graduation party? Why are you asking for her help?"

"Well yeah, but the past is the past," She shrugged, "I forgive and forget. And because she knows more about "girly" than anyone else I know."

"What's the catch?"

"Well, it's not really a "catch", persay," Shenzi used air quotes, "I just have to help her with her math homework."

"Wow, that's it?" Frankie's eyebrows raised up in surprise, "I thought she would make you do it all for her or something."

"She tried to, but I stood my ground."

"Good for you, sis."

Later at home, her parents looked even more surprised than their oldest daughter did after Shenzi told them her plans. "Angelica?" Felicia's eyebrows raised up, "You mean the same girl who called you a skank, and published you and Chuckie in the school newspaper?"

"Yeah, but I forgive and forget," She shrugged, "The past is the past."

"But sweetheart, you don't need to change yourself to get Chuckie's attention," Friar Tuck told her, "You already have it."

"Well yeah, but I'm not the type of girl he would date," She pointed out, "He likes pretty girly-girls, not emo Goth freaks."

"Sweetie, you're not a freak," Felicia insisted, "Who told you such a thing?"

"No one did. It was all me."

"Well Shen, even though you shouldn't change yourself... I'll still let you do this," Friar Tuck decided.

"Thanks, Dad," Shenzi smiled timidly, before turning to Felicia.

"Okay, I will too."

"Thanks, Mom." A knock on the door surprised them all. "That must be her." Shenzi went and opened the door. "Hi, Angelica. Come on in."

The older blonde entered the house without a word, her high heels clicking and clacking on the floor as she held a pink, expensive-looking duffle bag. "Okay Tuck, let's go get this done." With that, the two girls walked upstairs to Shenzi's room. "Jeez, you actually sleep in here?"

"Yeah, why?"

"It's creepy," Angelica replied, "But I'm here to give you a makeover, not your room. But first, homework." Thankfully for Shenzi, they were done with the math problems fairly quickly. "Okay, now that those are done, now for the makeover. First off..." She stood up in front of the younger girl. "Look at my outfit for example; What's the first word that comes to your mind?"

Shenzi saw that Angelica was in a cobalt blue dress, a pink short-sleeved cropped cardigan, light pink and black bow high heels, red, green, and yellow dress earrings, an expensive-looking teal frog necklace, and teal eye shadow. "Ummm... expensive?"

"What else?"

"Uhh... I dunno, um... feminine?"

"Yes! Feminine!" Angelica exclaimed, "Instead of Goth, girly should come to mind when people look at you."

"How do we start?"

"How about with your glasses?" Angelica suggested, "Yours are too thick, nerdy, and... black." Shenzi raised an eyebrow, although it wasn't seen. "You need new ones, stat."

"New glasses? How will we get new glasses?"

"I stopped at the costume shop around the corner, and picked up these." The blonde took them out of the bag's front pocket.

"But those aren't prescription," Shenzi pointed out, "I wouldn't be able to see in them."

"Which is why I brought... this." Angelica took out a black cat contact lenses case. "I got a set for a pink one, but it only came with this one."

"Contacts?" Her eyes widened, "But..."

"A'ah! No buts, remember?"

Shenzi sighed nervously, before whipping her long bangs from her face and taking off her glasses. "Okay... do it."

Frankie, Felicia, and Friar Tuck nearly jumped out of their skin when they heard a shrill scream coming from upstairs. "What in the world?!" Felicia exclaimed.

"I'll go see what's up." Frankie ran upstairs and to Shenzi's room, where the door was closed, so she hastily knocked. "Shenzi, are you okay in there? What's Angelica doing to you?"

The older blonde opened the door a tiny bit to peek out. "You can't see her; She isn't done with her makeover yet."

"Why did Shenzi scream?"

"I put contacts in her eyes," She explained.

Frankie's eyes widened. "Contacts?"

"Yep," Angelica replied, before shutting the door.

Not knowing what to do, the younger blonde walked back downstairs and to her concerned parents. "Angelica put contacts in Shenzi's eyes," She explained with a shiver.

"Contacts?!" Friar Tuck's eyes widened, "But she wears glasses! She doesn't need contacts!" Frankie just shrugged, not knowing what else to say.

"Okay, now that that's done," Angelica said as Shenzi tried not to rub her eyes. "Now, your new glasses." She gave the soon-to-be former emo the costume glasses, and she put them on her face. Surprisingly, her vision was unscathed. "Not much, but better. Now, your jewelry. I'm saving the clothes and shoes for last." Shenzi took out her black bow earrings and set them in her jewelry box. The older girl took out another pair from the bag, and handed them to Shenzi. "Put these babies in." And she did just that. "Now this," Angelica took out the purple extension, "Has got to go. Extensions like these are for Goths and emos, and you're giving that up, right?"

"Y-yeah," She nodded.

"And use this instead." From a box on the dresser, Angelica grabbed a light blue wing hair clip, and gave it to Shenzi. Using her mirror for guidance once again, she clipped it in her dark hair where the extension was, reluctantly clipping her long bangs back. "Much better. Now for the last part of the makeover: Clothes and shoes." She zipped the bag open, and dumped some light colored clothes on the bed, along with a pair of shoes. "Now, put these on."

"Um, c-can you, uh...?" Shenzi gestured to her door.

"Alright, whatever." The blonde walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Frankie noticed this, and walked up to her.

"How's the makeover going?"

"After she's done changing, it'll be done."

"Already? Dang, that was quick."

"Well, your sister is a push-over; Doesn't stand up for herself." Frankie rolled her eyes, but stayed quiet. "Now, go wait downstairs with your parents; I want her debut to be spectacular." With that, the younger blonde walked downstairs. As soon as she was in the living room, the bedroom door opened. "O-kay!" Angelica smiled, "Now that's more like it!"

"You sure about this? There sure are a lot of colors," Shenzi remarked, "There's no black at all."

"That's the idea," Angelica retorted, "Now come on; Your family's waiting. You stay here until I give the signal." After Shenzi stopped at a certain stair, where she was out of her family's sight, Angelica walked in the living room. "Okay, feast your eyes on... my masterpiece!"

Assuming that was the signal, the former emo stumbily walked downstairs, feeling self-conscious. "Whoa!" Felicia exclaimed as she, Frankie, and Friar Tuck stood up in awe.

"Nice!" Frankie smiled.

Now, Shenzi was wearing a pastel candy coated corset top in blues and yellows, an ivory yellow petticoat skirt like the one she received on her 13th birthday, a color block v-neck cardigan in white and two shades of pink, the blue wing hair clip, white bow earrings, Nike stilettos in white, pastel blue, and pastel pink, and surprisingly, light pink eyeglasses with rhinestones on the top opposite corners. The most shocking part? Her full face was revealed!

"Shenzi, you look wonderful," Friar Tuck smiled at his youngest daughter.

"You guys sure about this?" She blushed timidly, "I feel like a daffodil."

"You look beautiful, sis," Frankie assured her, "Provided Goth is really for you, but so is light and girly. Chuckie will love it, I know it."

"Wait, Chuckie? You went through this for Chuckie?" Angelica's eyes widened in surprise, "Why?"

"Because... I have a big crush on him," Shenzi meekly admitted.

The older blonde looked shocked, like it was the weirdest thing ever, before she regained her composure. "Okay well, my work here is done."

"Th-thanks for helping me," The former emo stammered.

"You're welcome, Tuck. Hopefully Finster will like it. Later." And with that, she left with the bag in hand. "Oh! I almost forgot!" She came back in, "To really get this girly thing, you'll have to sleep in feminine pajamas tonight. Okay, later." She then left again.

"But I don't have..."

"Don't worry Shen," Frankie stood up, "You can borrow some of mine."

"Thanks sis."

"No prob."

That night, Frankie kept her promise. She lent Shenzi a white lace-trimmed, slightly cropped camisole, pink Hello Kitty furry pants, and white lace-trimmed ankle socks. Shenzi already had silver barbells to use. After brushing her teeth, she laid under her covers clad in her sister's feminine pjs. She hoped that Chuckie would like the new her; She let Angelica practically poke her eyes for him! If he didn't like her new style, she didn't know what she would do. Deciding to worry about it tomorrow, she took off her pink glasses, weirded out by her still-clear vision, before drifting off to sleep. Angelica said that she could sleep with her contacts in, which she was thankful for.

Earlier that day, as she and her family ate out for dinner, they ran into the Goof family. They were very shocked to see Shenzi's new look, especially Maxie and Matt, but she made them promise to not tell Chuckie; She wanted to surprise him, and they promised to keep it from him until then.


The next morning, she woke up to the clear vision that she still wasn't used to. After putting on her pink glasses, initially grabbing her black ones by mistake, she knocked on Frankie's door. "Frankie, you awake? I need to borrow some clothes for school."

The blonde opened the door. "Go ahead and pick whatever you want. Good thing we're the same size, huh?"

"Yep," Shenzi giggled, heading for her sister's closet. After a while of debating with some assistance, she picked out a white corset tunic dress with a blue and pink rose print, a pastel pink short-sleeved cropped cardigan, a light pink ice cream necklace, matching dangle earrings, a blue metallic bow hair clip to hold her long bangs back, and to Frankie's surprise, silver glittery kitten heels. "Thanks sis." She walked back in her own room, and changed before walking in the kitchen for breakfast with her sister.

"Well hey there, girly-girl," Felicia smiled at her youngest daughter.

"Hi Mom," Shenzi smiled timidly.

"Y'know, I'm really not used to seeing both of your eyes at once," Her mother remarked, "I'm glad I'm able to, though; You have beautiful eyes."

"Thanks," The black-haired girl blushed, "I'm not used to having this kind of vision. I'm used to it being half-in-half, you know?"

"I understand," Felicia nodded, as Shenzi finished her breakfast, "I bet those contacts feel weird, huh?"

"Yep," Shenzi nodded, "I have a strong urge to rub my eyes, but I'm trying not to. Well..." She grabbed her backpack, feeling thankful at still being able to use it, "We have to get to school."

"Have a good day."

"We will," Frankie nodded, heading out the door to the bus stop with her little, girly sister. "I've gotta say Shen, this girly look really compliments you. Don't get me wrong, Goth and emo will always best on you, but girly has to be in that category too."

"Th-thanks sis. I just hope Chuckie will like it too."

"I'm sure he will."

After around a minute, the bus came and the door was opened, granting them access. "Jumping jehosphat!" Lou exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Shenzi, "I'm not used to seeing so many colors on you, young lady. Where'd all that black go?"

She giggled and blushed timidly. "I decided to change my look."

"Well it really works for you."

"That's what I said," Frankie chimed in, "Come on sis." The two sat near the front; Frankie sat to Shenzi's right and hid her as much as she could with their backpacks. Thankfully, no one noticed; Chuckie seemed to be avoiding Shenzi, so it was easy to keep it from him. Students stared on as the two siblings walked along the halls to their lockers. "Boy, people sure are interested in your new look, Shen."

"I'll say," Shenzi smiled nervously, before she saw a certain someone by the water fountain. "Ooh, wait here." She walked up behind Chuckie, keeping her distance for comfort, and clasped her hands behind her back. "Hey, Chuckie."

The redhead turned around, but when he saw her, his eyes widened and he spit out a mouthful of water in shock, narrowly missing an oblivious bystander. "Sh-Shenzi! What happe-?! What did you do?"

"I got a makeover!" She smiled excitedly, "You like?"

"Well, y-yeah I do, but...I..." He sighed his shock away, "You were just fine the way you were, but... if you really want to do this, I'll support you."

"Thanks Chuck."

At lunch, the two best friends sat together again, along with their other friends. "Hey guys, Mom said that this weekend, there's going to be a heat wave, so she and Dad offered to take us to the beach!"

The group showed excitement at Kimi's news. "That's awesome!" Frankie smiled, "I'll ask our parents if Shenzi and I can come."

"Okay, you all ask your parents and then give me your answers," Kimi told them, "This is going to be epic!"

Shenzi turned to Angelica who, to everyone's surprise, was sitting next to her. "Can you help me pick out a swimsuit if Mom and Dad say yes?"

"Fine. I'll come to your house after school with my swimsuits, so you can pick one."

"Okay, thanks."

"Oh, that reminds me," Kimi spoke up again, "Shenzi, since when did you start dressing so... girly-like? Not that it's bad; Just um... why?"

"Since... yesterday," Shenzi shrugged, "I just wanted to change myself."

"Well, even though I believe you didn't need to change yourself, I'll support you."

"Thanks, Kimi. And we'll ask our parents about the beach."

"Awesome."

On the bus ride home, Shenzi carefully fiddled with her dress; This new style was going to take some getting used to. "This is going to be great!" Frankie exclaimed with ecstacy, "I hope Mom and Dad say yes; We haven't been to the beach in years!"

"I hope so too," The younger girl replied. "So Angelica's going to let you borrow one of her swimsuits if Mom and Dad agree to let us go?"

"Yep," She nodded.

At home, after homework was done, Angelica dumped what looked like hundreds of two piece swimsuits on Shenzi's bed from her pink duffle bag. "Okay, choose whichever you want." She then quickly grabbed two matching pieces. "Except this one; I'm wearing this one."

"O-okay," Shenzi shrugged, before she started browsing. Felicia and Friar Tuck agreed to let her and Frankie go to the beach with their friends, so long as they didn't get separated. "Hmm..."

"I haven't got all day, Tuck."

"I'm thinking."

"You need any help, sis?" Frankie peeked in.

"You can say that," She shrugged, "I can't decide which of Angelica's swimsuits to wear at the beach."

"Okay, let's see what we have here." Frankie walked up to the bed, and looked at the inventory. "Man, these look expensive; Good thing you guys are the same size." She took out a pink Betsey Johnson Layer Cake Pop Bandeau bikini top, and matching bottoms. "What about these?"

"Hmm..." Shenzi looked carefully at them, before making her decision. Yeah, I like that one." Angelica put the rest of the swimsuits back in her bag.

"Okay, I'll let you borrow some of my clothes." Frankie led her sister and Angelica into her room, and looked through her closet. "How about this..." She took out a pink and black plaid camisole, and laid it on her bed. "With... these?" From her dresser, she took out light denim, distressed, low riding shorts.

"That looks good," Shenzi smiled.

"And to hold your hair back..." Frankie grabbed a mini straw hat on a hair clip, "You can use this."

"Thanks." The former emo's smile grew as she took the clip in one hand.

"That? You're wearing that in public?" Angelica scoffed, before turning to Frankie, "Where'd you get that? The Halloween store?"

"It was actually from Party City, so in a way, it actually was," Frankie replied with crossed arms and a smirk.


Saturday came, and before long, it was time to head to the beach with the Finsters and the rest of their friends. Kira and Chaz had rented a Volkswagen bus to carry all of them at once. After brushing her teeth and changing into her selected beach clothes, Shenzi waited on the porch. In her ears were pink candy heart "Kiss Me" or "Hug Me" dangle earrings with separate gold frames, and her feet were on white flip-flops. After around a minute, Frankie came out ready to go. She was wearing a blue bow ruffle hem cropped camisole over her her swim top, black crochet shorts over her swim bottoms, blue Converse low-tops, black star earrings, a ponytail band with a small, white bow, and had white cherry sunglasses on her head. She carried her supplies in a Dylan's Candy Bar beach bag. Shenzi's bag was plain black. "Are you excited, sis?"

"Yep," Shenzi nodded, "I'm still not used to this many colors on me, though. Or having full vision, if you catch my drift."

"I understand. But I like seeing both sides of your face at once. You have very... unique eyes." Shenzi's face fell sadly. "But I mean unique in a good way," Frankie assured her.

"Thanks sis," The black-haired girl smiled timidly. Before long, a red and white Volkswagen bus drove up in front of the house. "There's our ride."

"Okay, we'll be at the beach if you need us! Bye!" Frankie yelled into the house before she and her sister walked up to the bus with their supplies. After being granted access by Chuckie and Kimi, Shenzi sat by the window in one of the seats to the right. Kimi was wearing a black and white mustache bikini with a white bandeau top that had black halter straps and black bottoms, plain black flip-flops, a black crochet cropped cover with halter straps, black ball stud earrings, a black mustache ear cuff on her right ear, a black mustache rope bracelet, a black mustache necklace, and black butterfly sunglasses on her head. Her hair was in two ponytails, and her hot pink and white striped beach bag was on her feet.

Chuckie was wearing green and yellow swim trunks, a turquoise t-shirt, and green flip-flops. Tommy wore blue two-toned swim trunks with blue sandals and a white t-shirt. Phil was in brown and yellow swim trunks with a green t-shirt and blue flip-flops. Bobby had black Batman swim trunks, a red athletic t-shirt with The Flash logo on the front, and brown and beige checkerboard Vans. Dil was in green swim trunks, a light green alien face t-shirt, and blue sandals. His signature Sherpa hat was on his head. Maxie and Matt were at circus camp for the weekend, so they couldn't come to the beach with them.

Lil was wearing a two piece bikini with high-waisted bottoms, sunset colors, and black palm trees, surprisingly a turquoise tricot skater dress, purple and black flip-flops, a lime green visor, and a yellow extension. Her pink drawstring beach bag was on her feet. Angelica was in a red zip-down dress, pineapple flip-flops, a pink visor, pink heart sunglasses, yellow sunglasses dangle earrings, and blue glitter eyeliner. Under her dress was the swimsuit she picked out: It was a bikini with a yellow flounce top that had turquoise racerback straps, with turquoise side-tie bottoms. Her bag was made of clear vinyl with pink flamingos all over. Roxy wore a light blue rhymer print bikini with side-tie bottoms and a triangle top, a white and blue Beauty and the Beast Tsum Tsums tank top, a blue, red, black, and green plaid beach skirt, navy and white TOMs, and a berry blue extension. Her turquoise beach bag, which had a gold pineapple on the front, was in her lap.

"You look great, Chuck," Shenzi smiled at Chuckie.

"Thanks Shen," He blushed timidly; It only deepened when she kissed his cheek.

"This is going to be so much fun," Her smile grew excitedly, "Thanks for inviting us, Kimi."

"No problem," Kimi smiled back, "We all should have a little fun in the sun, right? Although it's a bummer that Maxie and Matt couldn't come."

"Yea," Frankie shrugged from her aisle seat with the Zimmeruski twins, "But I bet they're having fun at the circus camp. I've always wanted to go." After a while of driving, the bus was parked in the parking lot, in front of the sand.

"We're here!" Kimi cheered as she jumped out on the concrete. "Huntington Beach! What should we do first?"

"I think we should use sunblock first, Kimi-chan," Kira smiled at her daughter. After everyone was blocked up, they started searching for a good area to set up their stuff. Chaz and Kira rented a canopy to shield them from the bright sun, and before long, everyone was in complete serenity. They all took off their shirts, which Chuckie shyly reluctant to do so, or dresses, and relaxed on their respective towels. Frankie kept hers on, however. Shenzi's had a black Ouija board design, Frankie's had a Super Mario design, Lil's was black with a white music note in the middle and piano keys on the vertical top and bottom, Kimi's being a simple light turquoise, Roxy's being blue and black tie-dye, and Angelica's being light turquoise with pink limes. The boys forgot to bring towels, so the girls and Chaz allowed them to use theirs.

"This is wonderful," Shenzi laid on Chuckie's shoulder after he sat next to her.

"Yep," He agreed, carefully leaning his head on hers.

"Y'know guys, we shouldn't just sit around all day," Lil stood up on her towel. "Why don't we play?"

"I'm up for that," Frankie took out a deflated beach ball that resembled a hamburger. "Anybody bring an air pump?"

"I did!" Chaz took out an air pump from his and Kira's beach bag, "Let me see your ball." Frankie gave it to him, and since he had trouble with it, Kira had the ball inflated in no time, along with Phil and Lil's purple and white beach ball.

They all played with the balls in turn in a game of volleyball. The first time, it was boys vs. girls, then teams were chosen randomly. Chuckie teamed up with Shenzi, Chaz, Phil, Roxy, Tommy, and a reluctant Angelica, while Kimi was with Kira, Lil, Bobby, Dil, and Frankie. They would laugh whenever the ball hit any of their heads. After a third game, they decided to use both balls for more of a challenge. At one point, Shenzi crashed into Tommy and landed face-down on top of him in the warm sand. After sheepishly apologizing, she stood up, helped him up, and they brushed off the sand, recovering from the awkward moment. After they were fine, the game continued. Chuckie was so distracted by Shenzi's new girly style, that he was hit by the balls more times than everyone else on his team, and on the other. He was never going to get used to it; Not after 3 years of seeing her as the Goth girl she was. No, is. Nonetheless, they had a blast.

After getting tired, they decided to go in the water; They splashed and safely dunked each other in the cold, salty water. Shenzi playfully tackled Chuckie to the ground when a big wave washed up, so they were both drenched in seconds. There was some silence between them as she hovered above him, before he tackled her back. Later on, Kira and the girls went shopping for souvenirs while Chaz and the boys built sand castles.

As Chuckie filled a castle-shaped bucket with sand, he thought of Shenzi; Why did she change her look all of a sudden? Did it have anything to do with him? Did she think he wasn't his type? That'd be impossible; She was exactly his type. She was beautiful, smart, sweet, mysterious at times, perky, funny, the list went on. Don't get him wrong, he thought the girly style complimented her, but her former Emo/Goth style was what made her who she was. She was the living embodiment of the saying "Don't judge a book by its cover." People would assume that she's tough and intimidating until they get to know her. She was and is the prettiest girl in their whole school, if not town. Why couldn't she see it like he did?

"Uh, Chuckie?" Phil's voice snapped him out of his thoughts, "I think it's time to lift the bucket now."

"O-okay." And he did just that.

After a while, the girls returned with bags of souvenirs in their hands. After stashing their purchases in their respective beach bags, they joined the boys in making sand structures. Shenzi sat next to Chuckie and helped him with his. But after too much time passed, it was time to gather up and head home. After cleaning up at the showers, packing their towels and buckets, and deflating the beach balls, they gathered back in the bus and headed back to Yucaipa in a long drive. On the way, the girls showed their purchases to the boys. When they were finally home, the kids sans Chuckie and Kimi were dropped off at their respective houses, where their parents were waiting for them, before Chaz and Kira went to return the bus to the rental area.

In the Zimmeruski household, Bobby laid awake in his bed, kept from sleep by his thoughts. What was wrong with him? Ever since the girls' choice dance two years ago, he was seeing Frankie in a different way. He kept fantasies involving a pink sparkly background, with her short blonde hair being blown back by an imaginary wind. At the beach, he had to refrain from staring at her. Why did he keep having these thoughts and urges? Did he like her? And if he did, did she like him? They had been friends for over a decade now, ever since she and her mother moved out of Paris with Shenzi and her father, when the two girls were toddlers. He eventually fell asleep, too deep in his thoughts to even realize it.


The next day, while they were eating out for dinner again, Shenzi and Frankie told their parents about their day at the beach. They would've done so the night before, but they were too tired, so they decided to wait. "We played volleyball with the ball I brought, and one that Phil and Lil brought as well," Frankie told them, "It was much more challenging with two balls, but it was so much fun!"

"You wouldn't believe how many times we crashed into each other," Shenzi laughed. Today, she was wearing a light orchid lace cap-sleeve top, a pastel yellow camisole under it, a lavender petticoat skirt, grey vintage short heels, white heart earrings with pink and blue flowers on them, and a pastel pink side headbow. "I wish you guys were there; You would've been covered in sand from rolling around laughing."

"I bet we would have been," Felicia giggled, "We're glad you girls had a good time with your friends."

"What else did you do?" Friar Tuck asked them.

After they told them everything else they did, they were dismayed at a certain someone coming. "Uh oh; Here comes big, sweaty trouble," Frankie sighed. A tough-looking boy, they didn't know his name, who was held back from high school due to bad grades. As Shenzi channeled her girly look, he constantly picked on her; When Frankie or any of their friends encouraged her to "rip his head off", she protested, wanting to stay as "soft, girly, and weak" as she could, no matter how much her friends insisted. He even called her a freak because of her two-colored eyes, but she stood her ground, and did nothing.

"Hey Shenzi, Frankie," He smiled "flirtatiously", coming up to them with his lackeys. "What're you thorny roses doing here?"

"We're having dinner with our parents," Shenzi crossed her arms, "Now get lost."

"Ooh, you get all these fries to yourselves?" He grabbed a thin cardboard container of french fries off their tray.

"Hey, those are ours!" Frankie glared, "Get your own!"

"Oh, my bad; Here." He dumped the fries down Shenzi's lace shirt and in her cami. "You can have them." The younger girl's eyes widened in anger.

"You gonna do something now?" Frankie whispered to her as the bully shared high-fives with his friends.

"I'll handle this." Friar Tuck stood on the floor. "Okay, look!" He snapped, not intimidated in the least, "I know this behavior comes from insecurities, but that doesn't mean you can...!" Suddenly, to the girls' horror, he was shoved to the ground! As he sat up on the floor, a bit out of breath, Felicia and Frankie checked on him as Shenzi watched in concern.

"Shenzi?" Frankie looked to her little sister.

"Y-yeah?" She meekly replied.

"Rip his head off!" The two blondes said simultaneously with confident smiles. With a slam to the table with her hands, she stood up as a wave of anger washed over her.

"Rip my head off? Ha! I'd like to see her try..." The bully was cut off by Shenzi's scream of blistering fury.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAH!" She tackled him effortlessly after jumping on the table, despite being around a third of his height, and had him on the ground in seconds as her family cheered for her. Little did she know, a certain someone entered the fast food joint with his family, and was shocked at who was fighting with the burliest boy in school. He tried to fight back, but the tiny girl overpowered him. "Is that all you got?!" Shenzi screamed angrily as she held his leg up almost too high, "Tap out! Tap out!" When he did just that, her family cheered as she stood on the floor, and shoved him to the nearest door. "Get out of here!" Panting from adrenaline, she turned to his now terrified friends. "O-U-U-U-U-UT!" She screamed to them, and they ran out of the building like their lives depended on it. She then went to her family, and hugged them all in turn, going to her father first. "You okay, Dad?"

"I'm alright, sweetheart," He assured her.

"You were so epic in there!" Frankie smiled widely with ecstacy, "I've never seen you fight like that! You're stronger than I thought!"

"She gets it from her mother," Friar Tuck playfully joked, making Shenzi giggle.

It was then when Felicia noticed the newcomer. "Shen?" She reluctantly pointed behind her youngest daughter.

Shenzi looked, and to her dismay, Chuckie was standing a ways in front of her, looking very shocked. Dread filled her up as she walked up to him. "H-hey Chuckie."

"Hi."

"Did you see what just...?"

"Most of it," He replied.

"Oh," She mumbled in disappointent, gazing at the floor.

"Shenzi?" She looked up at him. "You... you were awesome," He smiled.

"S-seriously?" A smile grew on her face in return.

"Oh yeah," He nodded.

It was then when she made her move. "Chuck, I uh, I want to ask you something. Something I should've asked you years ago."

"Yeah?"

"Um, d-do you want to uh, get a hamburger this Saturday?"

"You mean like... a date?"

"Yeah," She shrugged timidly.

"I'll go," Chuckie said, "If... you go back to the way you were before."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you stop dressing like a daffodil, and go back to dressing like a black rose," He replied with a metaphor, his hands now on her shoulders "I like you just how you are. In fact..." He cleared his throat, and brushed some hair from her blushing face. "When I see your face..." He started singing, making her smile grow back, "There's not a thing that I would change, 'cause you're amazing... just the way you are." He gently rubbed his nose on hers, making her reciprocate as her blush deepened.

"... Deal," She smiled widely with joy.

Her family smiled as they watched the sweet, romantic scene. For once, Friar Tuck didn't feel slight discomfort at romance directed towards his youngest daughter. Instead, he felt pure joy for her, just as his wife and oldest daughter always did.

Chuckie's eyebrows then furrowed in confusion. "Why are there fries in your shirt?"

She looked down, and remembered what that bully did. "Keith."

"Ah," He nodded, as she took them out.

"It's actually a pretty good place to keep french fries," She smirked.

He laughed as she ate them casually. "So, hamburger this Saturday at the mall?"

"It's a date."


"So everything I did for you was all for nothing?" Angelica said angrily after Shenzi came to her house and told her the truth.

"It wasn't all for nothing," Shenzi told her, "It helped me realize that I didn't need to change for Chuckie. He likes me for the way I am. In fact, I have a date with him this Saturday. So... after I change back into my regular clothes, I'll give yours back."

That night, after changing into her own pajamas, she did just that. After squeamishly taking out her contacts and stashing them in the case, which Angelica had her keep, she smiled at the blurry vision as she laid in her bed. It felt good to have the former back. But the best part of the day? She scored a date with Chuckie! A date! After 3 years! She fell asleep with a wide, joy-filled smile on her face.

The next morning, which was Saturday, she sat up, put on her black glasses, and covered her left eye. She sighed deeply with satisfaction; It was good to be back. When she walked downstairs still in her pjs, Felicia smiled upon seeing her. "There's my little Goth girl." Shenzi smiled and blushed timidly. "Does it feel good to be back to normal?"

"Uh huh," She nodded, "But what feels even better is knowing that I finally have a date with Chuckie after 3 years."

"No offense, but I'm surprised that it took you this long to realize you had a thing for him," Felicia remarked.

"None taken," Shenzi smiled, "I'm surprised too, honestly."

"Ah," Felicia nodded, "What time is your date at?"

"3 o'clock, at the Big Mall."

Before long, it was time to leave for her date. After hastily getting dressed, relishing her dark clothes, she entered the car in the passenger seat with Friar Tuck waiting for her. "There's my little Goth girl," He smiled upon seeing her.

She giggled and blushed timidly again. "That's what Mom said when I woke up this morning."

"Did she really?"

"Yep," She smiled. "It feels good being myself again. Light and feminine just isn't my thing."

"I agree," He nodded as he drove, "It looked good on you, but this dark style really is for you."

"Yea," She shrugged. Soon, they arrived and he parked in front of the entrance. "Thanks for driving me here."

"It's not a problem, sweetheart," He kissed her cheek over her long bangs. "You just have fun on your date."

"I will," She nodded, unbuckling herself and opening her door. After she jumped out and stood on the sidewalk, he drove away as she walked to the entrance, where Chuckie was waiting for her.

"There she is," He smiled upon seeing her. She was wearing a navy blue lace short-sleeved top, a black camisole under it, a dark purple petticoat skirt, black vintage short heels, purple heart earrings with green flowers on them, a green extension in her long bangs, and a black headbow. Basically it was her outfit from yesterday, but in different colors.

"Hi Chuckie," She smiled at him. After a few minutes, they were sitting at a small table for two, with their respective meals in front of them.

"I bet it feels good to be yourself again, huh?"

"Yep," She nodded, "Girly just isn't my style."

"Although it looked good on you, I agree," Chuckie smiled, "Dark and mysterious really is for you." She blushed when he leaned forward over the table, and kissed her forehead. "Like I said yesterday: You're amazing, just the way you are. But I gotta admit, that brawl between you and Keith was pretty epic."

"It felt epic," She giggled, "He shoved my father to the ground, and I just snapped."

"Good for you, defending your family," He smiled.

"Thanks Chuck." She ate one of the pickles from her hamburger, "Not gonna lie, it was one of the best times of my life."

The redhead chuckled. "I bet it was." He took a bite out of his burger. A couple minutes later, they were finished with their lunches. Since it was still pretty early, they decided to hang out together, just the two of them, while their meals digested. "Hey Shen?" She looked up at him. "Even though you're perfect the way you are, I did like being able to see both of your eyes at once. No matter what anyone tells you, you have beautiful eyes." He kissed her temple and rested his head on hers.

"Thanks Chuckie," She smiled timidly, "You do too." She kissed his cheek and laid on his shoulder, as he held her closer. Her left hand was on his chest.

He noticed that she hadn't moved for at least a few minutes; He looked down, and smiled when he realized that she had fallen asleep in his hold. He laid his cheek on her forehead, as he stroked her soft hair soothingly. He was in disbelief that he was finally on a date with the girl of his dreams. After 3 years in the friend zone! Then again, they would've been boyfriend and girlfriend by now if he had realized his feelings for her earlier. He wished he had; Then they would definitely be a couple by now.

After another few minutes passed, he reluctantly decided that it was time for their day to come to an end. He looked down at Shenzi, and gently shook her shoulder. "Shen?" With a little moan of fatigue, her eyes blinked open.

"Hmm? D-did I fall asleep?"

"Yeah," He nodded, "For a few minutes."

"Oh," She blushed timidly, "Sorry. You're just comfy."

"It's okay," He chuckled, "And um... thanks."

"No prob," She giggled, "What's up?"

"Well um... I think it's around time for us to head home."

"Aww," She pouted sadly, "I want this day to last forever."

"I do too," He brushed his fingers through her dark hair, "But I think our parents will be worried if we're out for too long. I'll call my dad and ask him to come get us." He took out his new cell phone and dialed his home number. As he talked to Chaz, Shenzi absentmindedly played with his shirt collar while laying on his shoulder again. After he hung up, he looked down at her. "He's on his way right now."

"Cool," She smiled up at him. "Chuckie, this was a very fun date. I really enjoyed it."

"I did too," His smile grew.

"Um, Chuckie I was wondering..." She played with his shirt collar timidly, "Do you want to um... have a picnic in the park when it's perfect outside sometime?"

"You want to go out with me again?"

"I do," She nodded.

Chuckie let a warm smile grow. "I'd love to." He cupped her cheek over her long bangs, and kissed her forehead. "Come on, let's wait for my dad outside." Hand-in-hand, they walked outside and sat on one of the benches by the entrance. As a nice, cool breeze blew on them, Shenzi laid on Chuckie's shoulder again, and he laid his head on hers gently, with one arm around her shoulders. When he stroked her hair, she almost fell asleep again. It was truly a perfect moment. After a couple minutes passed, a familiar car drove up. "There's Dad." The two walked up to the car, and sat in the back seats.

"So, how'd your date go?" Chaz asked them.

"It was perfect," Chuckie smiled.

"Yep," Shenzi agreed, "Just perfect."

High school was going to be great; She just knew it. But with Chuckie by her side, it wasn't going to be great. It was going to be wonderful.


Elsewhere, a large picture was hung up above a fireplace. It was of Shenzi, from the first day of school since the jobs for vice principal and gym coach were up for grabs. Her cardigan was fully open, so her flat belly was out for the world to see. "You're going to pay for costing me my job, Tuck," A male voice grumbled under his breath, "Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. But I'll get you."


(A/N: The End! The prologue to the sequel will be up soon! I hope you enjoyed this super-long chapter, and this whole story in general! You know the disclaimer. I can't believe it's already done. It seems like it was only yesterday, I was writing the prologue. O,O The first fight was inspired by the Ned's Declassified episode "Jealousy" while the part about Shenzi getting a makeover courtesy of Angelica was inspired by the iCarly episode "iMake Sam Girlier.")