"I can't believe Eric did that to you," Charlotte said as she pulled a top off the rack and held it in front of her to get Ariel's opinion. Ariel shook her head and Charlotte put the shirt back on the rack. "That seems kind of extreme."
Ariel sighed. "It worked, though. I faced my fear and got the solo."
"Well, yeah, but now you have to sing a solo in front of everyone."
Ariel nibbled on her lower lip. "I know. But, Eric thinks I really need this to get rid of my insecurities and boost my self-esteem."
"He's right, of course, but he could have gone about it differently," Charlotte said. She gave up on trying to find a new shirt and the girls walked out of the store.
"Yeah," Ariel agreed. "I wish he hadn't pushed me to do it before I was ready."
"Oh, please! You'll never feel like you're ready," Charlotte said. "I just meant he shouldn't have threatened to break up with you. Scaring you into facing your fear probably isn't the best approach." She thought for moment. "Although, I suppose that's the only way to get you to do something that's outside of your comfort zone. For a shy person, you're pretty stubborn."
As the girls walked through the mall they realized all the stores were closing up. Charlotte cursed under breath, obviously forgetting the mall closed early on Sundays. They headed outside and started walking across the parking lot to Charlotte's car.
"Charlotte!"
The girls turned around to find who called Charlotte. They spotted John Rolfe and Robert a row over walking towards them. Charlotte's face lit up when she saw her boyfriend.
"Johnny!" Charlotte cried as she jumped on him. She kissed the tip of his nose and he smiled at her.
"What are you two up to?" Rolfe asked as he set Charlotte down.
"Just hangin' out," Charlotte said. "What about you?"
"Robert and I are going to see The Cabin in the Woods," Rolfe replied.
"Wanna get together afterwards?" Charlotte asked.
"Sorry, babe; it's guys' night," Rolfe said. "But, I'm all yours after school tomorrow."
"All right, see ya tomorrow." Charlotte kissed Rolfe and watched him walk away.
"How are things going with you guys?" Ariel asked.
Charlotte sighed. "Great! He's so wonderful!"
Ariel was still apprehensive about Charlotte's relationship with Rolfe since they were moving so fast, but she didn't say anything to Charlotte. Ariel knew Charlotte wouldn't listen and would just get upset at her.
XXX
"Esmeralda?"
Esmeralda slowly opened her eyes and saw Phoebus standing over her. She smiled at him, then frowned in confusion. She had fallen asleep in Jasmine's bed, what was Phoebus doing there? Esmeralda tried to sit up, but Raja was laying on her hair and she couldn't move her head.
"Oh, good, you're awake," Phoebus said. "Jasmine needs us downstairs."
"What's going on?" Esmeralda asked as she reached up to move Raja.
"Not sure," Phoebus replied. "Jasmine invited me and Aladdin over and said she had a surprise for all of us."
Phoebus lied down next to Esmeralda. She rolled over and put her arm over him.
"I miss sleeping next to you," Esmeralda said.
"Do you want to stay the night at my house tonight?" Phoebus asked.
Esmeralda frowned. "I can't. My parents want to keep an eye on me, so I'm not allowed to sleepover at anyone's house."
"Are they still going to make you go to rehab this summer?"
"I guess. They gave me an ultimatum; they said either I'd have to go to rehab or quit the dance team," Esmeralda said.
"Or stop throwing up after you eat," Phoebus added.
"Easier said than done," Esmeralda muttered.
Phoebus stood up and looked down at Esmeralda. "You're gonna be fine, babe. You have a whole support team behind you who are here to help you. Now, let's go downstairs and find out what Jasmine's surprise is."
Esmeralda dragged herself out of bed and the two of them went downstairs, where Jasmine and Aladdin were waiting for them. Jasmine smiled at them as they sat down on the opposite side of the sectional sofa. Phoebus put his arm around Esmeralda and it was all she could do not to curl up in his lap and go back to sleep.
"All right, girl, spill," Esmeralda said to Jasmine.
Jasmine's smile got bigger and she held up an envelope. "My dad feels bad about what happened at lunch that day. So, to make up for it, he sent me four tickets to the premiere of his new movie. I want all of you to go with me!"
XXX
After watching the sunset together Sunday night, Pocahontas and John walked through the woods towards the willow tree. As they walked down the trail, Pocahontas saw a girl handing out flyers to everyone who passed her. As they got closer to her, Pocahontas recognized her as Crysta, the girl who had come into her work with the petition to save the woods.
"Hi, Crysta," Pocahontas said
"Hi," Crysta greeted as she handed each of them a flyer. "They're going to start cutting down these trees on Saturday. I'm trying to organize a protest with everyone from Camelot and Andalasia."
Pocahontas glanced down at the flyer. "We'll be there."
"Thank you. We need everyone we can get," Crysta said.
Pocahontas and John continued on to the willow tree and set up the blanket in their usual spot.
"Why did you tell her that we would be at the protest?" John asked.
"Because we will be," Pocahontas replied.
"Pocahontas, I can't go to this," John said. "We could get in a lot of trouble for protesting like this."
"But, we have to, John. They're going to destroy all of these trees," Pocahontas said. "Including this one."
"Babe, even if we did go, it wouldn't make a difference. They've already made up their minds and we can't stop them," John said.
"We still have to try," Pocahontas insisted. "If we get enough people to go, they'll have to listen to us."
"How do you suggest we do that?" John asked.
"Make an announcement about it at school tomorrow," Pocahontas said. "You're vice president; you're allowed to do that, aren't you?"
"I'd have to go through Philip and Principal Clayton first."
"Please, John?"
John looked around. "It would be a shame to lose this tree. I'll bring it up at the student council meeting tomorrow after school."
Pocahontas wrapped her arms around John. "Thank you!"