Pocahontas walked up to her front door after another long day at work. She was so tired and glad to be home. She fumbled with her keys, then finally got the door unlocked and went inside.
"Hello?" She called out.
"In here," Kocoum responded from the living room.
Pocahontas walked into the living room and stopped in her tracks. Kocoum was sitting on the couch, talking to John Rolfe.
"What are you doing here?" Pocahontas asked Rolfe.
"You weren't answering my calls, so I figured I'd stop by."
"How did you know where I live?" Pocahontas asked, setting her purse down on the coffee table.
"You're not an easy person to track down, but I talked to a few people and eventually found someone who would tell me," Rolfe said.
"Who…?"
Kocoum stood up. "I did. I actually invited him over."
Pocahontas was still pretty confused, but was too tired to ask anymore questions. Kocoum started to leave the living room.
"I like him a lot better than that Smith guy," Kocoum whispered as he walked passed her.
Pocahontas narrowed her eyes at Kocoum, then turned back to Rolfe. He stood up and walked over to her.
"It's a really nice night; do you wanna go for a walk?" Rolfe asked.
"I'm pretty tired, John. But, uh, I guess we can just sit outside if you want," Pocahontas offered.
Pocahontas led Rolfe outside and they sat down on the porch swing.
"How have you been?" Rolfe asked.
"Good. Busy, but good."
Rolfe nodded. "I don't want to keep you, so I'll just get right to the point. I would really like to take you out on a date, Pocahontas."
Pocahontas ran a hand through her hair. "You seem like a really nice guy, but I'm just too busy right now."
"Well, you have to eat, don't you? Let me take you out to dinner, or lunch, or breakfast-whatever you have time for," Rolfe said.
"I can't. I'm trying to work things out with my ex, and dating someone else just wouldn't be right. I'm sorry," Pocahontas said.
"I understand." Rolfe stood up. "If things don't work, please keep me in mind."
Pocahontas nodded and watched him walk away. Rolfe got to his car, but then turned around and sprinted back over to Pocahontas.
"No," he said.
"No?"
"No. I can't just walk away. Give me a chance, Pocahontas. One chance; that's all I ask," Rolfe said. "If it doesn't work out, then I'll leave you alone."
"All right, John, one date." Pocahontas hadn't heard from John in over a month, so she didn't see the harm in going on one date with someone else.
XXX
Ariel was early for her English class and got there before Mrs. Radcliffe was even there. She sat down at her desk and pulled out her notebook. Snow White walked in shortly after her. Since the concert Snow White had gone from being really smug around Ariel, to ignoring her completely. So, Ariel was surprised when Snow White approached her desk. Snow White gave her a mischievous smile, then set an apple on her desk. Confused, Ariel looked at the apple, then at Snow White. Snow White winked at Ariel, then walked to the other side of the room and took her seat. Ariel stared at the apple for a minute, then got up and threw it away. Ariel was baffled by Snow White's bizarre behavior, but didn't spend too much time thinking about it.
When class ended, Ariel gathered up her stuff. As she went out into the hallway, she saw Snow White and Vanessa standing there, looking at her. Ariel lowered her head and kept moving. As she walked passed them, they started spitting on her. Ariel's eyes filled with tears. Why are they doing this to me? Ariel wondered.
"Hey! Knock it off!"
Ariel turned around to see Meg pushing passed Snow White and Vanessa. Vanessa laughed and spit on Meg.
"You're a bitch," Meg snapped at Vanessa.
"Yes, I am," Vanessa said. "But at least I haven't been socially outcasted because I drove my man into the arms of another girl. Or, rather, just inside another girl."
A look of anger and hatred crossed Meg's face, but she didn't do or say anything. Vanessa and Snow White turned and walked away. Meg came over to Ariel.
"Are you all right?" Meg asked her.
"I'm fine," Ariel said.
Ariel and Meg walked to their next classes together. Some of the other students stared at them as they walked by, and Ariel shifted her backpack nervously.
"When did Snow White start hanging out with Vanessa?" Ariel asked, not really sure if Meg would even know that.
Meg shrugged. "I don't know. Probably around the same time Gothel started hanging out with Hades."
The girls reached their classes. Ariel said good bye to Meg and went into her math class. She sank down into her desk, wishing she could just go home and never come back to Andalasia High School.
XXX
Aurora lowered herself onto her bed and Philip leaned her crutches against the wall. Aurora lied down and snuggled up with her pillow.
"Why didn't you want to go to rehearsal today?" Philip asked as he sat down next to her.
"Mrs. Rabbit said it's too close to opening night to make any changes in the script. She doesn't know how she's gonna make this work," Aurora said.
"Not even a minor one just to explain why Sandy has a sprained ankle?" Philip asked.
"I asked her if we could just write it in that Sandy got hurt during cheerleading practice, or something, and she said she'd look into it." Aurora propped herself up on her elbows. "Either way, I don't have a lot of confidence in my performance anymore."
"I know you're upset, Aurora," Philip said. "But, you're gonna do just fine. You have nothing to worry about."
"I've been practicing doing some of the choreography on my sprained ankle."
"Please tell me you're kidding."
Aurora shook her head. "No. My moves aren't great, but I think I can pull it off."
"Aurora, your ankle isn't going to heal if you keep putting weight on it," Philip told her.
"It's only for a few days," Aurora said.
Philip rested his hand on Aurora's leg. "Hon, listen to me. This is just a school play; it's not worth hurting yourself even more."
"I know; I've just wanted this role for so long."
"You still have the role; you just can't do any of the dancing. Besides, we both know you're gonna be in Grease on Broadway in the future. This is nothing to get worked up over," Philip said.
Aurora lied back down. "I can't help it."
Philip brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "Why don't you just relax and take a nap and I'll make us some dinner?"
Aurora nodded. Philip kissed her forehead and went downstairs. Aurora had no trouble falling asleep, but had nightmares about her ruining opening night.