"We need to do something big for prom this year," Charlotte said as soon as the dance committee meeting started.
"I agree," Cinderella said. "For most of the juniors this is our first prom; it should be special."
Rapunzel nodded. "What did you have in mind?"
"We were hoping you would have an idea, Rapunzel," Wendy said. "The Sadie Hawkins Red and White Ball was a huge success."
Rapunzel blushed a little. "Well, I kind of have an idea."
"What is it?" Wendy asked excitedly.
"I was thinking it would be fun to have a masquerade ball," Rapunzel said. "And maybe we could decorate the ballroom at the hotel with Chinese-type lanterns. And at the end of night, everybody releases the lanterns into the sky and removes their masks."
Giselle sighed. "It's sounds magical."
"How wonderful!" Snow White said.
"I don't know," John said. "If everyone is wearing a mask, wouldn't it get confusing? How will we know who's who?"
"That's the point!" Rapunzel said, getting excited. "It'll be a night of mystery and magic."
"And romance!" Snow White added.
"What night do we have the ballroom reserved?" Cinderella asked.
Philip flipped through some of his papers. "Saturday, May 26th."
Wendy squealed. "That's only four and a half week from now."
"It's the last Saturday before school gets out," Philip said.
"Oh, Rapunzel, this is a great idea!" Charlotte exclaimed. "Everyone is going to love it!"
Rapunzel twirled her hair around her finger as she thought about some of the finer details of the planning. "We should emphasize that it is formal attire and not a costume ball."
Cinderella nodded as she jotted down some notes. Cinderella was the most organized person on the committee and even though Rapunzel was the head of the committee, Cinderella was the one who held it all together.
"I'll call around after school today for a place to get the lanterns," Cinderella said as she wrote a reminder on the back of her hand.
"I still don't like the idea," John muttered.
"John, you don't like the idea of prom period," Charlotte said, rolling her eyes. "I bet you don't have a romantic bone in your body. No wonder Pocahontas chose Rolfe over you."
John didn't say anything; he just glared at her, and then stormed out of the classroom. Rapunzel quickly got up and went after him. She found him sitting against the wall just outside the classroom. Rapunzel sat down next him and looked up at him.
"Don't listen to Charlotte," Rapunzel said. "You know she's just biased because she's dating Rolfe now."
John shook his head. "She's right, Rapunzel. I don't think I've ever really gone out of my way to do something romantic for Pocahontas."
"Prom is an important time for us girls," Rapunzel said. "We'll always remember the night and how we were asked. Asking Pocahontas to the prom is the perfect opportunity for you to do something that's over the top romantic."
"Will you help me?" John asked.
Rapunzel was momentarily taken aback; John rarely ever asked anyone for help. "Of course."
XXX
"All right, everyone, just one more thing before you go," Mrs. Rabbit said towards the end of choir that afternoon. "The solo for our final concert this year goes to..." She paused. "Ariel!"
Everyone applauded and Ariel blushed. She looked around as everyone near her congratulated her and her eyes fell on Snow White who was glaring at her. Ariel suddenly felt uncomfortable and dropped her eyes to the floor. When Mrs. Rabbit dismissed them, Ariel hurried out of the room and made her way to her locker. She quickly shoved her homework into her backpack and closed her locker. When she turned around, she was suddenly face to face with Snow White. Snow White smiled sweetly at her. It was the smile that everyone else thought was sincere, but it made Ariel uneasy.
"Hi, Snow White," Ariel said quietly.
Snow White didn't say anything; she just continued to smile at her. Ariel gave her a small, forced smile and tried walking away, but Snow White put her arm out, blocking her path.
"That solo is always mine," Snow White stated. "Why did you even audition?"
Ariel bit her lip. "I wanted the solo."
Snow White's smile faded. "Back out of the solo, Ariel. Or I promise I will make you regret it."
Ariel watched Snow White walk away and then she slumped back against her locker. Normally, Ariel wouldn't be afraid of Snow White, but she was friends with Vanessa now and Vanessa scared Ariel. Why did I let Eric push me into this? Ariel thought. This solo is causing more stress than it's worth.
Ariel pushed herself off the locker and started walking down the hallway. Her dad was waiting for her outside and she got into his car.
"How was school?" Triton asked as he pulled out of the parking lot.
"Fine."
XXX
That night Aurora and Philip went on a double date to the movies with Ariel and Eric. Of course, the boys had picked the movie and now, as the four of them walked out of the theater, the two of them were talking excitedly about it. Aurora and Ariel followed their boyfriends across the parking lot to their cars. Eric and Philip stood in front of Philip's car and continued their discussion of the movie. Aurora pulled herself onto the trunk of Philip's car and Ariel joined her.
"You've been awfully quiet tonight," Aurora said. "Well… quieter than usual."
"I'm just tired," Ariel said.
Aurora glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. She didn't know Ariel very well, but she could tell there was something bothering her.
"Look, Ariel, I know we're not best friends or anything, but if you ever want to talk, I'm here," Aurora said.
"Thanks." Ariel started to say something else, but then stopped.
"I know there's something on your mind," Aurora said carefully. "Is it Eric?"
"No!" Ariel said quickly. "Well, at least, it's not him directly."
"What happened?"
"Eric pushed me into auditioning for the solo in choir and I got it," Ariel said.
"That's great!"
Ariel shook her head. "Not really. I mean, Snow White always gets the solo and now she's upset with me. She told me if I don't back out she's going to make me regret it."
Aurora stifled a laugh. "What is Snow White going to do? Talking at you endlessly with that annoying voice until you give in?"
"Snow White probably won't do anything," Ariel said. "But, she's friends with Vanessa and I know Vanessa will do something. She lives for torturing people."
"So, let her," Aurora said.
"What?"
"Vanessa tortures people because she gets off on causing other people misery. If you act like it doesn't bother you, then it won't be fun for her," Aurora explained. "Plus, this is only high school. Who cares what anybody here thinks of you? Technically, we only have, like, ten months left of high school. Then we're never gonna see these people again. It's not the end of the world if you get humiliated in high school."
"But, I don't want to get bullied," Ariel said.
"Ariel, I'm sure Vanessa has better things to do than doing Snow White's bidding," Aurora said. "Besides, I heard Vanessa was only friends with Snow White because Gothel was no longer around. But, now Vanessa's hanging out with Meg again so maybe Vanessa and Snow White aren't even friends anymore."
"Maybe..." Ariel didn't sound convinced.
"Don't get yourself worked up over something that could be nothing," Aurora said. "In the end, no matter what they do to you, you're still going to have the solo and Snow White won't. Ultimately, you win either way."