After school at the library…
It was Wednesday and Jamilah was in her usual seat sitting across from Shang as they discussed various topics, mostly about Jamilah found about Jay.
"Is there anything that you or your brothers found about Jay?" Shang asked as he leaned back in his chair.
Jamilah breathed and pursed her lips. "Yeah. Um, Aziz told Emir and me that he saw some scars on Jay's back on Monday."
Shang made a face. "Oooh, ouch. Sounds like they're old scars but visible."
Jamilah nodded. "Yeah. When Aziz told us about it, I couldn't help but imagine them. I could tell that Jay was physically abused by Jafar."
Shang hummed. "So, did Az ask Jay about how he got those scars?"
Jamilah shook her head quickly. "No. He didn't want to ask Jay too suddenly. He'd rather let Jay feel comfortable and get used to Aziz first. Though, that same night, Aziz told me something very strange…"
"What?"
"Ok, he said that when he saw those scars, at the time when Jay was being whipped, Aziz oddly felt those stings across his back," Jamilah explained as she made a face and bit her bottom lip. "It's like he's feeling the same pain that Jay was feeling."
Shang raised a brow at his friend. That was the strangest thing he had ever heard. But Shang thought it over, and he realized it didn't seem too strange.
"Huh," the older boy huffed. "That's odd. Aziz never told me about it, or anything for that matter but it sounds like what Az experiencing was pain empathy."
"Pain empathy?"
"Yes. It's when someone was feeling physical pain the other person was feeling."
"So it's like a weird sync?"
"Bingo."
Jamilah leaned back in her chair and blinked at her friend. She didn't know about this. However, she still couldn't wrap her head around the fact that her older brother was experiencing the same pain that Jay was feeling when he was on the Isle.
"Wow…just wow," Jamilah was stunned. "Though, I still don't get how Aziz could feel that and he barely knows Jay and Jay was on the Isle."
Shang shrugged. "Well, it's highly a possibility that Jay was Aziz's twin. Aren't Jahir and Aziz frat twins?"
Jamilah nodded. "Yeah, but…"
"Still unsure?" Shang guessed.
"Yeah, I don't wanna jump the gun yet and say that Jay is our brother until we have enough evidence and clues," Jamilah told Shang, sounding doubtful as she drummed her fingers softly on the mahogany table to ease the uneasiness she was having. "Right now, there's not much about Jay."
Shang placed his index finger and thumb on his chin, staring at the young princess, and hummed. "I mean if I'm being honest, I see you and Jay hang out a lot and the both of you kinda look alike."
Jamilah arched a brow, stunned. "How?"
Before answering, Shang leaned over, bracing himself on the edge of the table as he gently tugged his index finger under Jamilah's chin so she could look up and he could study her face.
As she felt Shang's finger under her chin, Jamilah flushed and gulped slightly. She could even feel her heart racing rapidly and her cheeks burning too. Plus, Jamilah had a weird tingling sensation bubbling inside her the moment she felt Shang's gentle touch.
'Ergh, Shang why are you doing this to me?!' Jamilah thought.
Well, that's Shang for you, he's Captain Oblivious.
The Agrabah princess could feel her friend's eyes scanning her face intently before he removed his finger from under her chin but not before he tapped her nose and leaned against his chair with his arms crossed, smirking slightly.
Jamilah stared at her friend, blinking twice, and then asked, "Well..?"
"You and Jay have similar almond-shaped eyes and light brown irises. Also, both of your noses look alike too."
Jamilah's mouth gaped. She didn't realize she and Jay looked a lot alike or that Shang was a good observer. Either way, she was stunned.
When he noticed that Jamilah wasn't speaking, Shang responded, "I'm not saying that you and Jay are in any way related, but I'm just pointing out the similarities here. You two have some features that I can safely say you kinda have a doppelgänger."
Jamilah nodded in understanding. "Ooh, I haven't noticed the similarities between Jay and me, and hang out with him quite a lot. Say, aren't you a bit jealous that Jay and I are getting closer recently, especially on Friday?" It was her turn to tease with a smirk crept up on her lips.
Shang shook his head. "Nein, you're a free girl, you're allowed to talk to any guy as you please. Besides, I have friends like Anxelin and company even though they're in a relationship."
"Nein?"
"It means 'No' in German."
"Oh Anyways, so you never heard about Jay messing with me on Friday after you went into your dorm?"
"Nein, I don't listen to other people's conversation as I'm not Lonnie, and two, I had on my earbuds."
"….oh." That's all Jamilah could say but soon after she smothered a chuckle at the fact that Lonnie loves to eavesdrop.
"Yeah.."
There was silence between the two for a moment before Shang spoke.
"But still, keep searching for your brother, also can you please do me a favor?"
Jamilah frowned. "What?"
"Please eat some food," Shang commanded. "Friday when we were at Bambi's, I was shocked that you ate half of your waffle cake. It's almost like you haven't eaten for days."
Jamilah flushed in embarrassment. "Well, yes. Mom's health was deteriorating and I was worried so I lost my appetite."
"I'm sorry to hear about that. Though, please eat something, I hate to see you like that and I'm sure Aunt Jasmine does too."
The princess gave her friend a reassuring smile. It was nice that Shang cared for her a lot and her well-being.
"Thanks, Shang. I will," she reached for Shang's large hand and placed her dainty hand on top of his.
Shang looked down and saw Jamilah's hand on top of his, and smiled at her.
Just then, Jamilah's phone went off in her pocket, causing Jamilah to frown. She wasn't expecting anyone to call or text her, especially when she was in the library. So she gently slipped her hand from on top of Shang's hand reached into her skirt pocket and produced her phone. She noticed her phone screen was lit up, signaling that she had received a message.
Concerned, Shang asked, "What was it?"
She hummed as she looked up from her phone to Shang. "It's a text from Audrey, saying that she has an emergency cheer meeting. So I and the rest of the cheerleaders must be at the field."
"Oh go then, you don't wanna be late for something important, do you?"
Jamilah quickly shook her head. "Oh no, I'm going there right now," she began to gather her things placed them in her bag, and got up from her chair.
"Quick question Jamie, are you finished with the book you bought from Bambi's?" Shang asked.
"Err, it's a short book so I'll read it by Friday and give it to you by then," Jamilah responded quickly as she turned to leave.
"Oh alright then, see you later."
"Later."
….
Jamilah quickly changed into her cheer uniform and ran onto the field where she saw the other cheerleaders gathered around the cheer captain Audrey.
The Agrabah princess breathed as she gently excused the other girls so that she could hear what the important message was about. Luckily for Jamilah, she was at the front sandwiched between Nina and Nizhoni, the daughter of Nakoma. Perfect.
Audrey was in the the center of the crowd with her hands behind her back as her indigo eyes scanned the crowd, checking to see if everyone was present, when she saw that everyone was there, she announced loud enough so every cheerleader could hear. "Good afternoon, everyone."
"Good afternoon, Captain Audrey," the cheerleaders chorused.
"I'm glad that all of you came as soon as post the message on the FairyApp group chat as I have an important announcement to make," Audrey said boldly. Although her usual commanding yet cheerful voice sounded more stern and somber as if she was reluctant to bring out the announcement.
There were hushed whispers among the cheerleaders as they were wondering what Audrey's announcement was going to be. However, some of them might have a hint.
Stacy, one of the cheerleaders shot her hand up in the air and asked, "Is this something to do with new routines and practices for the next Tourney match, Captain?"
Jamilah rolled her eyes at the blond. Stacy was the girl whom Jamilah caught making out with Chad, signaling that he was cheating on her. The funny thing was that Stacy dumped Chad immediately when she found that he was using her. Still, Jamilah wasn't fond of the blond cheerleader as she nothing but snobby.
Audrey gave a small smile at Stacy and shook her head. "Good question Stacy but no, there's no new routines at the moment as I…" Audrey took a deep breath and sighed. "As I'm retiring from cheerleading."
Some of the cheerleaders gasped in shock at Audrey's announcement while the others just stared at her as if they might have a clue why she was retiring.
When Audrey noticed the cheerleaders were gossiping about her retirement, she raised her hand, telling the girls to be quiet, and they did.
"I know, I know this may come as a shock to you all, but yes I'm retiring and I don't think I'm coming back, especially what happened weeks ago with the match between us and Sherwood Forest," Audrey said, her voice was soft and shaking like she wanted to sob but she remained composed.
The girls looked at Audrey with sadness in their eyes. Now they knew why she was retiring.
Lonnie saw Audrey's expression and lowered her eyes in guilt and bit her bottom lip. Sure, she and Audrey may not be too close, but she should have at least comforted her.
Nina stopped out from the crowd and asked, "Captain Audrey, like how you're retiring, which I understand where you're coming from, who's gonna be the new captain?"
"Excellent question, Nina, I already had one Captain in mind," Audrey replied, giving the dark-haired princess a weak smile. "Emilie, please come here."
All eyes were on Emilie, the daughter of Esmeralda and Phoebus as her emerald green widened. "Er…err, um me?" She stammered, placing her hand on her chest.
"Yes, you. Now get up here."
Emilie wasted no time as she went up beside Audrey, excited. Audrey then turned to her grinning.
"Emilie, you're the new Auradon Prep cheer captain," Audrey told her. "How do you feel about that?"
Emilie took a deep breath, beaming. "I'm just…speechless. Why did you choose me though? I'm curious."
"Because I see that you are a good dancer and a capable leader, not to mention that you're very very flexible."
"Well what can I say, my mom's Esmeralda after all," Emilie boasted with a laugh. "But thank you regardless."
"You're welcome, and I hope you treat my girls well."
"Hey, what about us?!" One of the male cheerleaders cried from the back.
Audrey chuckled. Of course, she couldn't forget about the guys. "And my boys too."
"I will do everything in my power to make this the best cheerleading team in Auradon," Emilie said with certainty and confidence. "I'll make sure of that and I won't let you down, Audrey."
"Thank you and I know you will do well," the brunette princess smiled warmly at Emilie as she patted her shoulder.
"So, what are you gonna do now, Audrey?" Jamilah asked.
"I'm taking a break," Audrey replied simply with a shrug. "I dunno how long the break would be but I need to unwind the stress I've been through and just heal. Y'know?"
"Yeah, I understand."
"Thank you. So um that's the announcement, guys and thank you for listening, and give a round of applause for your new captain!"
The cheerleaders clapped happily at their new cheer captain and Emilie couldn't help but bow slightly her best friend, Nizhoni ran up and enveloped her in a bear hug, to which Emilie laughed and returned the gesture.
Jamilah clapped for her new captain, smiling. She was glad that her friend was appointed captain of the cheerleading but she couldn't help but glance at the brunette princess who was standing there beside Emilie. Jamilah studied Audrey's features and she could tell that she was sad, not because she passed the mantle onto Emilie but because she was taking a break.
Jamilah pursed her lips. Poor Audrey. Jamilah hoped that Audrey could heal from the breakup between her and Ben like how she was healing from her breakup between her and Chad.