(A/N: The first part of this chapter was inspired by Chapter 22 of OreosGoRawr's "ABeckCat: Alphabet Story." Enjoy!)

High School Daze

Ch. 2

After getting a drink from the water fountain, Chuckie looked behind his back when he heard Shenzi's voice, but what he saw made him spit the water out in shock.

He did hear her voice, but what he saw was not his best friend at all. There was a crowd of guys around her, but he managed to catch a glimpse. And judging by the black hair and pointy ears, it had to be her. He pushed through the crowd, and his jaw dropped upon seeing her. She wasn't dressed like herself; She was in black corset destructed low-riding shorts that couldn't be even 7 inches long, with zippers along the sides, a black halter camisole that read "You Are My Sun My Moon And All My Stars" in white letters with a sun, moon, and stars for emphasis, that stopped just below her belly button, black bow Mary Jane pumps that gave her at least 3 extra inches, hence why he spotted her so easily, and black flower pendant earrings. She had a white extension, along with others that were black and fading into ivory. He had to use his asthma inhaler from how incredibly hot she was.

"She-Shenzi?" He finally stammered.

"Hey there," She flashed a smile at him, with a sultry purr and a hand on her bare hip.

"Wha-wha?" He struggled to speak again; It had to be a nightmare. She was never this flirty, nor did she dress this flirty. What was up with her? Why would she... it came to him. She took that girl's words seriously, even though he told her not to. He wanted to cry; Why couldn't she see what he saw? Why was it that whenever she looked in the mirror, she didn't see herself as beautiful like how he saw her? He just didn't understand it. "Shenzi, wha-what did...?" The bell rang throughout the school, so he ran to the math classroom with Shenzi and the horde of boys following. Chuckie avoided her the rest of the day as much as he could, but since they had a lot of classes together, it was difficult.

At lunch, he sat at a table away from her. Although it wasn't hard to do so, since the table she was sitting at was full from smitten boys. "Since when is Shenzi this popular with the guys?" Kimi wondered aloud as she sat next to her brother.

"She's not," Chuckie replied with distress, "She sexified herself, because she thinks it's what I want in a girl."

"Sexified herself?" Kimi stood up, and her eyes widened upon seeing Shenzi's sultry look. "Ohh." She sat back down.

"Yep. What should I do for her?"

"I dunno," She shrugged regretfully, "Maybe just wait it out? She'll probably snap out of this phase, and revert back to the way she was before. At least Pangborn's not here to see her."

"Oh, that is true!" He nodded with his eyebrows up, "I can't imagine what he would do if he had seen her." He then decided to change the subject. "I'll try to wait. But if she's still... like this, then I'm talking some sense into her."

"Sounds like a plan."

At school the next day, Chuckie was on the lookout for his best friend. Eventually, he saw her sneaking out of the restroom, and he sighed when he saw her outfit: Black distressed shorts, a black studded belt with pink bows on it, a black halter cropped tank top with corset-like laces on the sides, this one stopping right above her belly button, a pink bralet under it, black heart chandelier dangle earrings, black skull high heel platform sandals, a plain pink extension in her bangs, and black fading into pink extensions in the rest of her hair. Without a word, he walked up to her, grabbed her hand, and dragged her back in the restroom, not caring that is was one for the girls. "Shenzi, you need to stop this."

"What do you mean?" She smiled sexily.

"You know very well what I mean!" He yelled in frustration, surprising her. He hated yelling at her like this, but if it was the only way to get some sense in her head, then so be it. "Shenzi, I told you to not let Brianna's words get to you! You didn't need to change, and you never did! You're the most beautiful girl I've ever had the pleasure to know! Why can't you see that?!" He sighed his anger and frustration away. "I just want Shenzi Tuck back. And I mean the Shenzi Tuck who dresses more cutely, not like this, who is shy but smart, and not a hooker. This is not you. It's not who I want for a girlfriend."

Her eyebrows were up in genuine surprise, and she stayed quiet for a second. "... G-girlfriend?" She stammered. She was slowly coming back, he knew it. "You want me to be your girlfriend?"

"Uh huh," He nodded, "But I want the real you, not... y'know, this."

She gazed down, and looked surprised at herself, as if she had no memory of what had happened. "I'll, I'll change real quick." She walked into a stall and closed the door.

After a few minutes of shuffling and zipping, she came out and Chuckie smiled upon seeing her outfit: Bright pink skinny jeans, an Akumu Ink shattered hearts v-neck t-shirt, and black sugar witch flats. Her earrings and extensions were the same, but they made no difference. "There she is." He walked up and kissed her cheek with his hands on her shoulders. "So much better."

"You really think so?" She blushed.

"100 percent positive," His smile grew. Just then, a certain feeling came to him; It was time. "Um, Sh-Shenzi? I want to uh, ask you something."

"Yes?"

"Um... wi-will you be my girlfriend?"

Her smile grew with joy. "Only if you'll be my boyfriend."

"I certainly will."

"Well then, it looks like you've got yourself a girlfriend, Finster," She giggled, before she kissed his cheek.

"A-awesome," He smiled timidly.

"Let's get to math, boyfriend," She held his hand, "Before we're deemed absent."

"Good idea, girlfriend." They headed for the classroom, both happier than they ever had been before. They were now an official couple. During their classes, they held hands and occasionally glanced at each other with loving grins. At lunch, they sat together once again, with all their friends. But the Goofs and Zimmeruskis had to sit at a different table, due to there being no room. "Hey guys? We um, have an announcement to make."

"Yeah?" Lil asked them as she and the others leaned towards them in anticipation.

They waited for dramatic purposes, before Shenzi told them their news. "We're now official."

"Yes!" Kimi cheered.

"Congratulations, you guys," Tommy smiled at them, staying calm.

"Yeah, congrats," Maxie chimed in from the other table.

"Thanks guys," Chuckie smiled shyly.

"You two are such a cute couple!" Lil gushed, "You have been ever since you reunited around 4 years ago. Maybe you were even when we all first met in Manhattan over a decade ago!"

"Oh, I dunno about that," Shenzi shrugged bashfully.

"I bet you were!" Kimi chimed in again, "Mom and Dad have pictures from the party we had while we were there. We should ask them to show us!"

Truthfully, Shenzi had thoughts that she and Chuckie looked "cute together" in their toddler years. She was just too shy to express them, although she was curious.

"Hey, Tuck." The group looked up and to her dismay, Brianna and her posse were standing at their table.

"Get outta here, Brianna," Kimi glared.

"Don't be rude," Brianna faked hurt feelings, "I'm just saying hello to Shenzi and her friend." Lil rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"Chuckie's not my friend," Shenzi crossed her arms and smiled with pride, "He's my boyfriend now." Chuckie let a proud smile grow, as he laid an arm on her shoulders. Brianna and her friends looked baffled and at a loss for words, before they walked away.

"You stumped her," Kimi smirked as Shenzi stifled giggles.

"Yep," She agreed, "Not gonna lie, it felt great."

"It should," Chuckie smiled down at her, "She deserved it." His new girlfriend laid on his shoulder as she slurped a noodle from her spaghetti. "Your pasta good, Shen?"

"Mm hmm," She nodded before swallowing, "Our new lunch lady here should work in a restaurant. Her meals are exquisite." She ate a mouthful of noodles and tomato sauce from her fork. "Um, y-you know Chuckie," She said after swallowing, "I'm thinking of applying for volunteer work at the Java Lava."

"Are you really?" Chuckie looked down at her again, "Well, it's a lot of fun. I bet Dad and Betty would love a little more help. I know Kimi and I would, right Kimi?"

"Yeah," She nodded, "I think it's a good idea."

"I'll ask Dad if there are any positions open after we're out of school for today," Chuckie offered.

"That'd be great; Thanks Chuck," She kissed his cheek, leaving a little lips-print mark made out of sauce.

"No problem," He smiled, wiping the sauce off his face as she giggled.

"One of us will ask Mom about it too," Lil chimed in, and Phil nodded in agreement.

"Thanks, guys."

After finishing his homework, Chuckie walked downstairs in the living room. "Um, Dad? Can I talk to you about something?"

"Sure, Chuckie; What is it?"

"Uh, well um, Shenzi was thinking of volunteering at the Java Lava, like me and Kimi are. Can she apply if her parents let her?"

"Sure she can," Chaz smiled, "That sounds great."

"Awesome," Chuckie smiled back, "I'll call her and tell her the good news." He whipped out his phone and dialed her number.

"You want to do volunteer work at the Java Lava?" Friar Tuck asked his youngest daughter.

"Uh huh," She nodded, "I thought it'd be fun. So, can I do it?"

"Hmm," He thought about it, before he made his decision, "Okay, you can."

"Yay!" She cheered, "Thanks, Dad! It'll be a blast!" She jumped a bit when her phone suddenly rang in her jeans pocket. "Scared me," She giggled, before taking it out and answering. "Hello? Hi, Chuckie!" She waited as he told her his good news. "Your dad said yes? That's awesome! My dad just said yes too!"

"Awesome," Chuckie smiled, "Dad wants to interview you tomorrow at 2."

"Tomorrow at 2? I'll be there."

"Cool; Talk to you later, girlfriend."

"You too, boyfriend." Their parents already knew that they were official, so they didn't show surprise at their terms of endearment to each other. They hung up, and Shenzi turned to Friar Tuck. "My interview will be tomorrow at 2, at the Java Lava."

"Alright."

On Saturday at a bit past 1 in the afternoon, Shenzi came out of her bedroom. "Is this outfit good for a job interview? Er, I mean, volunteer interview?" She was wearing a black short-sleeved button-up blouse with white-trimmed ruffles on the low cut v-neck, a white tank top under it for more coverage, black dress pants, black bow tie ballet flats, and onyx stud earrings. For once, her hair was plain.

"It looks good to me," Frankie shrugged.

"It looks great, Shen," Felicia assured her.

After a while, it was time to leave; Friar Tuck dropped her off at the Java Lava for her interview. She felt nervous as she walked in the cafe and up to the counter, where Chaz was waiting for her. "Hello Shenzi," He greeted her, "You're here early. Let's get started on the interview, shall we?"

After a certain amount of time passed, the interview was done. "Thanks, Mr. Finster. I mean um, Chaz. I'll tell my family," Shenzi tried to stay calm, as she walked back outside and into the car where her father was waiting for her.

(A/N: Sorry if this fic's having a bit of a shaky start. I have something big and suspenseful planned, but I don't want it to happen too soon. You know the disclaimer.)