I do not own these characters. Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Hercules, and Tangled are all property of Disney. I write just for fun.
Club 23 - Chapter XXII - The Meeting...Again
"So Esmeralda…", says Naveen with that same smirk on his face
Phoebus initially looked at him with a blank stare, a blank stare that said, 'What do you mean by that'. He eventually snapped out of his stare and started to speak
"What about her?", he says pretending to be confused and knowing any clue about why he is bringing up her name
"Your speech…it was a work of art," Naveen says enthusiastically
Phoebus, surprisingly a bit flattered by his comment responds with, "Oh…um…thanks, I guess"
"What do you mean 'you guess?'" Naveen said a bit flabbergasted, "You know, I wish I could give a kind of speech like that"
Phoebus raised his eyebrow, confused, wondering what he meant by that because he never really knew Naveen, other than if he was chatting up Esmeralda, but other than that, never really knew the guy. He then speaks up
"Well, Naveen…you know that speech wasn't memorized"
Naveen, looking a bit shocked, says, "Wait…really?"
Phoebus, now a bit hesitant to speak, since that piece of information was a bit secret, speaks up and says, "Um…yeah, that was a total surprise to everyone, including myself, believe it or not"
"So, wait, nobody knew that you were going to that"
"Yep"
"Nobody, including that…what's the name of that loud one"
"Flynn", Phoebus said flatly
"Ahh yes, Flynn…he didn't know?"
"Yep, not a clue"
"Wow…master at keeping secrets, this guy," Naveen says while giving Phoebus a little push, and Phoebus slightly cringes at his statement
"Umm…guess", is all Phoebus can say
"So…how are two gonna match at the Formal"
"Wait…so, you not mad," Phoebus says ignoring Naveen's last question
"No…not really, Esmeralda's a good girl, consider yourself the lucky one for asking her out and her saying yes"
"Um…thank you?"
"No problem, see you around some time"
"Yeah…sure, see you around" After Phoebus said that, Naveen went on his way down the hallway, leaving Phoebus unsure if Naveen was jealous and angry or genuinely happy for him taking Esmeralda as his date to the Formal. He later meets with Quasimodo to talk about the exchange he just had
"So…how do you think he acted towards you?" Quasimodo asked his friend
"I don't know, I mean I felt that he was being nice, but at the same time I feel he was faking most of it", said Phoebus sounding unknowing of the conversation
"You think he's jealous of you taking out Esmeralda?"
"No, I don't think that at all"
"Well, what do you think?"
Phoebus takes a deep sigh, "I think he thinks that me and Esmeralda are going to take things slow and have an actual romantic relationship"
"Wait…really", Quasimodo says slightly confused, "Does he think that because…"
"We are really good best friends, and if we date and something bad happens, the entire group is going to be in jeopardy" Phoebus finished the sentence looking slightly stressed out
"I wasn't going to say that"
"But…you were thinking it"
"To an extent, yes" Phoebus had sat down on a nearby bench and Quasimodo joined him. Phoebus continues their conversation
"Hey…don't stress yourself out, man, I'm pretty sure that everything is going to be okay"
Phoebus smiled a little, "Thanks Quasi, I can always count on you"
"Any time"
"By the way" Phoebus starts to speak, "Weren't you like the only guy in our group to date her, for like a week?"
Quasi smiled slightly, "Firstly, it was before the whole group was formed, and secondly, it was two"
"It was two!", exclaimed Phoebus, sounding a bit shocked at this information
Quasimodo just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Don't believe all the rumors"
"Okay…cool, anyway, I'm going to chill on this bench for a while, care for more conversation"
"Can't", says Quasimodo, "I get back to class"
"Alright, go ahead and learn, there's still time before I'm late, and I'm using all this time just staying here"
"Cool, see ya"
"Yeah, you too" While Phoebus was there, sitting, he was pondering…thinking in fact about Esmeralda
"I wonder what she's doing?" Meanwhile, Esmeralda is in line to get to class and she walks ahead of the line to see Pocahontas and Megara, talk about what just happened with Phoebus
"Okay, first off…woah", said Pocahontas, "I was expecting some guy to ask you out"
"But we didn't expect one of our own to do it", said Megara essentially finishing Pocahontas's sentence
"How are you feeling?", Pocahontas picked up her end of the conversation
"Conflicted", was the only thing Esmeralda could say, and her girlfriends' faces slightly changed from happy to concerned
"Let me state the obvious…it's because he's our friend", said Megara
"Exactly, I don't know what I should do," Esmeralda says, pleading for her friends to help her
"Okay, let's start here", says Pocahontas, "Why did you say 'yes'?"
"Well, I said yes because he's my friend, and it wouldn't be weird because he's someone that I talk to almost every single day"
"But", says Megara
"But, he's my friend, and we talk every single day"
"Hmm, interesting…the reason why you want him as your date to the Spring formal is the same reason why you don't want him as your date" Megara continues
"Yep, and that's where I'm at"
Pocahontas does a little bit of thinking before coming up with her answer
"I think you, should give it a shot"
"Really?" Esmeralda sounds a bit surprised
"Yeah, really, I mean what's the worse that can happen"
"Everything falls flat and we don't talk to each other"
"Other than that?"
"Nothing else, really," says Esmeralda while Pocahontas puts her hand on her shoulder. Pocahontas then speaks to her
"Listen, Esme, this type of thing is nothing but risks, I mean look at Phoebus, he took a risk asking you out in the first place, he thought that his proposal was going to fall flat, but it didn't, so, in my opinion, I think you should take the risk of taking it slow with him and see how everything plays out"
"And if it doesn't work out, you could always fall back on Quasi", said Megara with both Esmeralda and Pocahontas turning around with their eyes wide open
"What…it's just a suggestion", continued Megara. Esmeralda and Pocahontas looked back at each other and Esmeralda said, "Thanks Poca, and thank you Meg as well"
"No problem" said Pocahontas
"Hey, psychiatric help five cents, the doctor is in", said Megara with Esmeralda laughing, understanding the reference. As they walked into the classroom, Pocahontas reflected on what she told Esmeralda, applying it to her own situation, she looked back at Megara and told her with a slight sigh,
"You know what…maybe I should give him a call"
After classes were over, Flynn had somehow managed to get some time in Tiana's office with Aladdin to discuss having their old band play at the Formal
"Hello Flynn and Aladdin, what seems to be of discussion," says Tiana
"Well, Ms. Tiana, Tiana, or whatever you wanted to be called", says Flynn rather politely
"Tiana's fine"
"Since me and Ali know that you are the student president of the Spring Formal committee, we would like to make a suggestion concerning live entertainment"
"I'm intrigued, go on," says Tiana, and Aladdin takes over
"We want our band, comprised of myself, Rider, Phoebus, Esmeralda, and Quasimodo, to perform at this year's Spring Formal
"Hmm, interesting" is what Tiana could only say
"Oooooh, a band", incomes Charlotte, "What type of instruments do y'all play"
"Well, I am on vocals, Flynn is guitar and vocals, so as Phoebus, Esmeralda is also on vocals, and Quasimodo is on drums and vocals"
"Ooh, a band that can all sing, sign me up for that!", says Charlotte in her normal enthusiastic self, "Tia, as assistant manager…"
"Assistant to the manager"
"I say yes! what about you"
Tiana looks back at the two boys and gives her decision
"I see what I can do"
"Yes", says Flynn as he hi-fives Aladdin, "Thank you so much Tiana, and soon-to-be assistant manager, Charlotte"
"No problem, and please don't give her any ideas," says Tiana
"Really the tone of how he said that gives me more ideas!", said Charlotte
"Anyway, I'm about to go and get something to eat, wanna join?", Tiana asks
"Gladly!", says Charlotte imminently. Meanwhile, Flynn is on his phone texting Phoebus, Quasimodo, and Esmeralda with the text saying
"My house. This. Weekend."
Sorry about this chapter being posted later than usual, had to do something today. Anyway, things are starting to get a little bit questionable between Esmeralda and Phoebus about their decisions respectfully. What's next between those two, and what's going to happen when Flynn tries to bring the band back together? The next chapter will be coming out the 9th or the 10th. If you like this chapter and the story overall, consider leaving a like and a review, it would be really appreciated. See y'all soon. :)
I do not own these characters. Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Hercules, and Tangled are all property of Disney. I write just for fun.