I do not own these characters. Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Tangled are all owned by Disney. I just write for fun.
Hangtown - Volume I
It's some random Monday morning in May, the forecast is supposed to be not too hot, but not too cold as well, just cool. Currently, it's about 6:58 am and in a few moments Phoebus is going to wake up from sleep and…
"Beep…beep…beep"
Sounded the alarm as he groaned and turned and turned in his bed as he said slumbrous
"Please alarm…just at least ten more minutes"
The alarm, of course, wouldn't give him the time of day. Defeated, Phoebus somehow gets the energy to get up and shut his alarm off. It's time to get the day started
"Welp, let's go ahead and have a good day…I hope. I start by stretching, so I feel loose and my body doesn't go crazy and cramp up on me. I then go to the restroom, piss in the toilet, wash my hands, dry my hands, wash my face, apply some face cream my mom got me. She states it will 'get rid of my wrinkles'. I'm pretty sure that she was joking since I am 18 and going on to college real soon"
He pauses, stares into the mirror, and reflects on the last thing he said about his final year of high school. There isn't that much time left in his high school career, considering he does graduate early next month. He tries to move on with his morning routine, but still has that thought just sticking in the back of his mind
"Jeez, that was really freaky and strange", he whispers to himself and keeps going with his routine
"Honey!", his mom shouts, kinda startling him, "I don't want you to forget to eat your breakfast, like the last few times because you woke up late!", she exclaimed
"Alright, Mom, coming down in a few seconds!", he exclaims right back and comes down the stairs not fast, but not really slow either, but pretty immediately. As he reaches the kitchen, he sees his mom and his dad and sees his plate: scrambled eggs with two waffles, three slices of bacon, and some orange juice
"Woah, looks like someone had a rough night, " said Phoebus's dad, who chuckled at his son's current state. He was still in his black sweatpants and Avengers t-shirt with his hair still uncombed
"Ha ha, very funny Dad", he said sarcastically.
"Aw c'mon Phoebus, I was kidding", said his dad, "but, seriously though son, how did you sleep last night", he asked in a serious tone
"Um, not too bad, but not good either, just alright"
"What's the alright part?"
"Just felt too hot in my room, even when I sleep on top of the covers"
"See, I told you we needed to get the air conditioning fixed in this house", said Phoebus's mom interjecting, sternly, "I don't want this house feeling like it's a damn sauna"
"Okay first off, language…secondly, I will get it taken care of, don't you worry"
"Well you better, you know around this time, It gets hot around this part of town"
Meanwhile, as their parents continued their little argument, Phoebus just sat at the kitchen table and started eating his breakfast. As he was eating, he looked outside his window and gazed and gazed at how picturesque his neighborhood can be sometimes. Like it was a backstage lot at some film studio in Hollywood. As he continues staring and staring he starts to hear a little voice in his head
"Phoebus," says the voice, he doesn't respond
"Phoebus", the voice says again, kinda hears something, but still no response
"Phoebus!", the voice exclaims, breaking Phoebus's concentration on the neighborhood and back into the kitchen noticing that the voice wasn't in his head but actually was his mother just trying to get his attention.
"My goodness, my son", says his mother
"Sorry Mom," he says a little embarrassed
"That's alright sweety", she says with a little chuckle, she glances a little bit out their window, "I understand it does like nice out there and it would be nicer if you were outside with your teeth brushed, hair combed, smelling nice with nice clothes, shoes, and your backpack heading to school," she said sounding a bit stern
"Alright, going to clean up now", he said as he rushed to get upstairs so he wouldn't be late for school. Still, downstairs, his parents have a little chat as they look at the stairs
"You know, he reminds me of you sometimes", said his mom
"Charming personality", he tried to sound slick
"Um, close…poor time management"
"Ooh, so close", he said, she laughed and kissed him on the cheek, and he gave one back
Meanwhile, back upstairs, Phoebus is continuing to get himself ready for school.
"Alright, where was I in this so-called morning routine, in my own opinion, I think everybody just does this normally when they wake up, nothing special with mine. Anyway, I feel like I'm just rambling, I brush my teeth and then go to my closet. The challenging part of the day is always this, what should I wear for today, and possibly never wear again, maybe. Sometimes I want to be flashy, other days I want to be casual, and sometimes both on occasion. I think today we are going to go with…casual. Just my black shoes, black pants, black jacket,...and white shirt. Basic, but it's fine."
Phoebus looks at himself in the mirror, but that's it, he just stares there looking at himself.
"Why do I do this? It feels like every single time I check my outfit for the day, I'm just staring at myself in the mirror. Is there something wrong with how I am dressed, I don't really know at this point, and it's too late right now to find out because I have to get going soon, but it feels like sometimes my reflection and I are just looking at each other. I wonder if we stay like this, like having a staring contest, who would win? $50 on my reflection, but the answer would have to wait because 7:30 and class begins at 8"
Phoebus walks downstairs, backpack in tow, and shakes hands with Dad, mom kisses his cheek and says goodbye
"Bye, son, have a good day", says his dad
"Have a good day sweety, text me, if you are doing something after school, and be safe" says his mom
"Thanks, and will do," Phoebus says as he walks out the door
He goes on his walk to school and thinks about what the day will bring him time
"Welp, here goes nothing, why am I saying that? I don't know, probably to venture out to some great unknown, but in actuality, it's the first period. But, sometimes, it kinda does feel like that, a great unknown, a mystery, an enigma, a secret, a…whatever, see rambling again."
Phoebus then looks around his surroundings like he did inside his house in the kitchen earlier this morning, but now has more of a view since he is immersed in this environment
"Hmm, I don't know what it is about this environment today, has it always been like this, and either A…I don't look outside too much, B…I don't go outside as much as I want to, or C…something else, probably a combination of the two. I mean the trees are full and luscious, and the flowers on the neighbors' lawns are bright and eye-catching. The houses around here look different too. Maybe it is me, I don't know. I should be paying more attention to what's in front of me now because here comes the school directly in my path of sight. My moment of bliss is going to be interrupted by work, work, and yes even more work."
Phoebus approaches the school doors and notices when he first walks in a poster for some upcoming school events…for the Seniors
"What the shit?", he said to himself a bit taken aback, "I didn't know that prom was that far away, then our grad night, and then in June our…graduation"
Phoebus returned to that stare again. Why was he thinking about graduation so much? He should be concerned about what he's going to be wearing at prom, potentially having a date there too, and having a good time at grad night. He's always been a stellar student, ranking in the top ten in his class, always having good grades, does well in sports…although he isn't doing them this year because he wanted to focus so much on his grades, something else was up, something unusual. His stare was broken by some boisterousness and overall loudness. Noticing they were coming from Flynn and Aladdin, two of his really good friends
"Sup y'all, it's ya boy Flynn"
"And ya boy Ali"
"And we are back at it again with another vlog coming to you live from Disney High"
"Yeah, and today…I don't know Flynn, what are we doing today"
"Um, I donna know…some random shit"
They both pause
"Yeah, dude some random shit", says Aladdin. They hear some slow clapping from the background and two turn around to see that it is Phoebus
"Well done gentlemen, another excellent and exquisite performance by Dumb and Dumber", he said trying to sound like some upper-class British person
"Ha ha, very funny Phoebs," Flynn says sarcastically
"You think it's real funny, but watchman, we are going to make it as big-time influencers," says Aladdin, "You know, getting brand deals and going the red carpet meeting A-List celebrities and shit" he continued a bit aggressively
"And then making an apology video for things you shouldn't have said and having your reputation be ruined forever, sounds nice" The two boys look at each other after Phoebus says that
"He's kinda got a point, you know", said Flynn
"Yeah, yeah, I guess you're right", said Aladdin, "We better be like Mr. Knowitall if this content thing doesn't work out"
Phoebus gives a little laugh after Aladdin says this. After all, he's been trying to look out for his friends since elementary school. Even though they are all the same age, Phoebus just seems like the mature one of the three, making sure they handle work first before they fool around. Which makes him the big brother in a way. Although annoyed at the title at first, it eventually kinda grew on him. Now with graduation on the cusp of happening, this sentiment is more important than ever.
"Look, all I'm trying to do is look out for my friends", said Phoebus putting his hand on Flynn's shoulder
"Speaking of looking out…", Aladdin makes a lovingly gaze at Jasmine, a girl that he's had quite a crush on for a while now
"Really, Ali, now", said Phoebus slightly annoyed
"What, it's not my fault that she looks this perfect every day I see her, bro"
"Well, why don't you say something", says Flynn
"Come on, do you really think a guy like me, who looks like this", pointing at his clothing that most people would consider cheap, "can go out with a girl, that looks like that" looking at her clothing that most people would consider expensive
"I mean, stranger things have happened, you'll never know…", says Phoebus blankly.
"Um, dude, you okay". Aladdin trying to make Phoebus snap back to reality, doesn't work. Second time, again no dice. Third time's a charm…
"Woah"
"Yeah, woah, are you okay bro?", asks Flynn
"Yeah, fine…I gotta get going, I'll catch you all later"
"Later", says both Flynn and Aladdin as Phoebus makes his way to the crowded hallway as the first period is about to begin. While walking someone makes an effort to get Phoebus's attention, it is none other than Quasimodo, another friend of Phoebus who was in the same first period as him
"Phew… there you are, I've been looking forever for you it seems like", said Quasimodo out of breath
"Quasi, relax my man, we still got time before the first period", said Phoebus trying to calm him down
"I know, but you know Mr. Frollo…"
"Yes, I know about Mr. Frollo, and I know about part one about that long-ass project he wants us to do", says Phoebus calming Quasimodo's uneasiness, "All in this folder right here, did you do your part?"
"Yeah, I did"
"Alright, good"
As they were getting close to the classroom, Phoebus had taken a glance at a girl, with long, beautiful, luscious, curly hair. Having minimal makeup on her face, wearing a blue skirt that stopped at her knees, a black shirt, and some comfortable shoes. During his glance, she looks up for a brief moment and notices him. It seems like time is moving at a regular time, but for them, it seemed like it stopped. They both gave each other a little acknowledgment before moving on with their day. Quasimodo notices this happening and decides to talk to him about it
"I don't get it, why don't you go talk to her, isn't there something there ?"
The reasoning is this: During elementary Phoebus had met Esmeralda and had instantly liked her. She too joined Flynn, Aladdin, and Phoebus in their friend group. During middle school, Quasimodo would join for protection from the other students who were bullying him. Esmeralda had also caught his eye and he and Phoebus for a while had a little rivalry because of this. They eventually settle their differences and are friends because of it. During the Summer of before senior year, Esmeralda was hanging out with Naveen, a very charming and charismatic guy, a lot and eventually started dating when the senior year began. Ever since then, Esmeralda has been distant, not too distant, but distant nonetheless with the friend group.
Phoebus responds to Quasimodo
"Quasi, look, she's fine, I'm fine, there's nothing there, I had feelings for her then, I don't have them now", he said kinda aggressive
"Alright man", Quasimodo says as he approaches the class for the first period. Phoebus looks defeated, not only because it's Mr. Frollo's class, but doesn't like the way he responds to his friend like that.
"What is going on with me, today?"
Yep, I'm back with another story for the summer, this was the first volume of my new story Hangtown. All I can hope for is that you all enjoy this. I am going to try to release these volumes at around 11-11:30 PST. I will give a list of time zones at the bottom so you all can see what time this story is going to out for you if you want to read. Anyway, on to this volume, and onto what's happening with Phoebus and what's with the blank expressions. More coming next week. If you all like this volume, give me some feedback by a review, private message, and/or a like for the story. Thanks for reading this story and I will see you all next week. Bye :)
Pacific: 11-11:30 am
Mountain: 12-12:30 am
Central: 1-1:30 am
Eastern: 2-2:30 am
I do not own these characters. Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Tangled are all owned by Disney. I just write for fun.