Like usual, Aurora got a ride home from school with Phillip. She had meant what she told Belle the other day about needing some space from Phillip. But, she hadn't worked up the nerve to tell him, yet. Belle had given her the idea to suggest Phillip have a guys' night with Eric. Yesterday, after the party, Aurora brought up the idea to Phillip; but he told her he had already tried getting Eric to hang out, but Eric wasn't in the mood to do anything.

Aurora had noticed that.

Eric met up with them at Pleasure Island over the weekend, but he only stayed ten minutes, before going back home. And even though he had gone to the party yesterday, he stayed in the guest room the whole time, until he left. Aurora didn't know exactly how long that was, though, since no one actually saw him leave. He just snuck out of the house at some point.

Phillip reached over and took Aurora's hand. "Everything is all set for the lock-in."

The principals of both Andalasia High and Camelot High were on board with the idea of having a lock-in to bring the senior classes of both schools together. Phillip made the announcement to the school this morning. To Aurora's surprise, the announcement was met with excitement from most of the kids in her first period class.

"I'll be meeting with Proteus and Ramses a couple times a week from now until then to organize it," Phillip went on. "I'd really like it if you went with me and continued to help."

"Now that everyone is on board, shouldn't John step in and take over?"

"You're better at organizing events than he is. Plus, he's still against the idea and doesn't want to do it."

"All right," Aurora conceded. She really didn't want to be spending extra time with Phillip, but she didn't feel like she had much of a choice on this. Phillip needed someone from AHS to help him organize this and she didn't want to leave him high and dry.

"Awesome." Phillip gave her hand a squeeze. "Do you want to go to Mickey's Diner tonight for dinner? They're coming to fix the window on the sliding glass door tonight, so my kitchen is out of commission."

Aurora wrinkled her nose. Ariel worked as a waitress at Mickey's. At least, she did. Aurora had no idea if Ariel was still working after what happened; but, she was avoiding the diner so she wouldn't run into Ariel.

"Not tonight. I've got a lot of homework," Aurora replied.

"No problem." Phillip pulled into her driveway and put the car in park. "I'll see if I can get Eric to come out. He's gotta eat, right?"

"I doubt he'll go. Maybe just get a pizza and hang out at his house? That might make him more comfortable."

Phillip brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. "You're amazing, you know that?"

"What do you mean?"

"Eric told me you've been a really good friend to him. It means a lot to him- and to me."

"He's my friend. I'm just doing what any of his other friends would do."

Phillip suddenly looked really sad. "Actually, you and I are the only real friends he's got right now. Everyone else feels weird and uncomfortable around him, so they've been avoiding him."

Aurora's heart went out to him. "I had no idea."

"Between being there for my best friend and helping me with this lock-in, you've really been the best girlfriend ever."

XXX

When Jasmine's phone rang Tuesday night with an incoming video call from her dad, she was instantly filled with dread. She knew it was coming, of course. This ridiculous feud nonsense was all over the internet.

Jasmine put on a perky smile and answered the call. "Hi, daddy!" she greeted, cheerfully.

Her dad scowled at her. "Cut the crap, Jasmine. You know why I'm calling."

Jasmine dropped the smile. "I know."

"I really cannot be dealing with a scandal from you right now."

"I know. I'm sorry. But-"

"I'm cutting off your allowance for the time being."

"That's not fair!"

"I'm so disappointed in you, Jasmine. I expected you to behave better than this."

"This isn't even my fault," Jasmine protested. "Esmeralda and her friends crashed a private party. They caused damage to Phillip's house. And they posted his address online and invited strangers over to his house! I was just trying to stick up for my friend."

Her dad rubbed his forehead. "Yes, I'm aware of that part, as well. But, that's not an excuse to behave like that on camera. You have to make better decisions, Jasmine. Being out of the public eye is only good while you're in school. Once you graduate, you will always be watched and scrutinized. And everything you do reflects on me."

"I know that. But, I couldn't just do nothing while my friend did that to Phillip."

"I understand why you did what you did. And I'm not saying you shouldn't have. But, you could have gone about about it better. My decision stands. No allowance for the next couple of weeks. And if you get yourself caught up in another scandal, I will cut you off completely." He hung up.

Jasmine let out a frustrated groan and flopped down on her bed. She understood where her dad was coming from, but it was still so unfair.

And now Phoebus was avoiding her on top of it. He left the party right after the scene with Esmeralda and Holli. He didn't answer any of Jasmine's texts and avoided her at school all day. There was absolutely nothing going on between them and Jasmine in no way wanted there to be. And, as far as she knew, Phoebus was on the same page. So, she didn't understand why he was putting distance between them to appease Esmeralda. Especially after she broke up with him.

This whole thing was a mess.

Jasmine missed the old Esmeralda. She missed her best friend.