As the days went by, students at Auradon Prep were doing their best on their exams, especially the newcomers Mal, Evie and Carlos. If they were honest, this was their first time doing an actual test without cheating or skipping most of the questions.

While the exams were still going on for some students, Jay was alone, sitting on the bleachers at the Tourney field, looking into the distance as if he was lost in his own little world.

Like his friends, Jay reluctantly did his exams, as much as he didn't want to but he had to because he didn't want to disappoint Coach Jenkins like how he had disappointed him on Sunday.

Speaking of Coach Jenkins, while Jay sat there, he couldn't help but think about the short conversation he had with the Tourney Coach earlier, no matter how Jay wanted to forget.

Flashback

'Son, I was visibly disappointed in you for your behavior on the field on Sunday against Neverland,' Jenkins told Jay. He was calm yet upset. 'But I can't help but worry about your well-being. Could you tell me what happened?'

Jay sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. 'I just found out that I'm Aladdin's son.'

Jenkins blinked, slightly shocked at Jay's answer. 'Well, that's good news! I'm happy that Aladdin and Jasmine found their son.'

Hearing the Coach sounding cheerful made Jay turn his head to frown and narrow his eyes at Jenkins.

'What?'

Jay shook his head. 'It's just that I found it hard to believe. Like, if they're really my family, why didn't they save me from Jafar years ago?!'

Jenkins bit his lip. He could tell that Jay was hurt and angry about his real parents allegedly abandoning him and made Jafar raise him. But that's not the case.

'Look, I understand where you're coming from but, Aladdin and Jasmine did try their best to save you but there were no leads in finding you. Heck, they even thought you were dead! But they didn't give up on hope. That's where your siblings come in.'

After listening to Coach Jenkins's detailing of the situation of his parents trying to find him, Jay's face slightly softened. He didn't know that his parents were trying their best but at the same time, he was in denial.

And Coach Jenkins studied Jay's face with a hum.

'Jay,' Jenkins began, his voice soft. 'I get that you're in denial but you have to accept the fact that you're Aladdin's son.'

Jay shrugged as he looked out into the distance. 'I dunno to be honest. When I found out, I freaked out and lashed out on them before I left.'

'They must be in shock.'

'I guess so,' Jay sighed.

Seeing Jay in this state made Jenkins's heartbreak. He hated seeing his star player in a confused state.

So, Jenkins patted Jay's back in an attempt to calm him.

'I know this is a lot for you to take in, Son, but this will be soon over and you'll have to accept the fact that you're a prince. Also, I want you to apologize to your family.'

Jay looked up at the coach. He wanted to protest but it seemed as if words were failing to come out.

And Jenkins gave him an 'it's final' look.

'….'

"Jay!'

Jay snapped out from his thoughts as he lifted his head and looked up to see who was calling him.

Lonnie.

The long haired boy saw Lonnie and Lil Shang making their way towards him and he groaned. He wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. Jay had no interest in talking to the Li siblings or worse, his own siblings. The only reason Jenkins talked to Jay was because he made Auradon Prep lose the match and the older man was worried about him. Same with his friends.

With that said, Jay got up from the bleachers and walked towards the Li siblings with his hands in his sweater pockets. Lonnie and Shang were expecting Jay to stop so that they could try to reason with him, but Jay walked past them without muttering a word or even glancing at them, leaving Lonnie and Shang dumbstruck.

"….!"

…..

During lunch break….

Anxelin and Shang were sitting in their usual spots at the cafeteria while the rest of their friends were hanging out elsewhere as they were discussing the situation that took place in the Agrabah palace over the weekend.

"I'm guessing that Aziz and his siblings didn't take it well after Jay freaked out and say that the only way Aunt Jasmine was his mother was Jafar raped her before he was kicked off to the Isle?" Anxelin asked with her eyebrow raised as she popped a French fry into her mouth. "Am I correct?"

Shang nodded as he leaned back into his seat with his arms folded across his broad chest. "Yeah, the whole scene was a mess. But, Aunt Jasmine and Uncle Al tried their best to keep their composure."

Anxelin huffed and shook her head. "Can't blame 'em, though what Jay said to Aunt Jas despite being in shock was very and truly fu-fudged up. Can't say my favorite 'f' cuss word because I don't wanna get in trouble again for being a princess with a 'naughty mouth'." She made air quotes as she said 'naughty mouth' and rolled her hazel eyes.

Shang snickered as he shook his head in amusement. He as well as their friends knew that Anxelin loves to use expletives despite her status.

"Anyways," Anxelin began. "How did everyone react to the situation? Az only told me, Herk and Ty about Jay's outlandish comment towards Aunt Jas. It looks as if he didn't want get into anymore details."

Shang sighed softly as he took a deep breath. He couldn't blame his best friend for not telling the others about what happened over the weekend; he too was reeling from what happened.

"Well," Shang started. "When Aunt Jas and Uncle Al announced to Jay that he was their biological son, he didn't take it so well."

Anxelin nodded. "Uh huh."

"And he started going off about how they're lying to him and such and that's how he came up with that crazy conclusion that Jafar assaulted his mother before he was kicked off to the Isle," Shang explained. "When Jay said that, everyone, including me, was shocked. Anyways, Jay wanted to know how Uncle Aladdin and Aunt Jasmine knew that he was their son so they told him that they had a DNA test done, and Jay wondered how that was possible until he figured out that it was Jamie who had plucked a strand of his hair without noticing last week."

After Shang had filled the goth girl with the details of the drama that unfolded on Saturday, Anxelin tapped on her chin and huffed. "Hmph, wow, just wow."

"I know, it's crazy."

"And the aftermath?" Anxelin asked with her eyebrow raised as she ate another French fry. "What happened?"

Shang bit his bottom lip slightly before answering. "Jamie was calling out Jay so that he could hear their story but he already left. Knowing Jamie, she ran after Jay but it was too late, Jay was gone. I'm assuming that he used a limo to go home rather than a private plane. So, Jamilah got emotional and went to her room. Again, everyone was in a state of shock."

Anxelin stifled a hum as scratched her chin using her index finger and thumb. "Lemme guess, this affected Jamie the most?"

Shang nodded almost immediately. "Yeah. She was a shell of herself lately, and I'm worried about her," he sighed as he lowered his head and ran his hand through his extra soft hair which was done in a wolf cut style.

Anxelin gazed at her best friend intently and she could see the worry printed all over him once he mentioned Jamilah's mental being.

Anxelin huffed and pursed her lips in a firm line as she had an idea of how to get her best friend to stop worrying about his potential girlfriend.

"I know that you're worried and concerned about Jamie, Shang," Anxelin said and Shang lifted his head and looked up at her. "But I have a solution for you," she leaned back on her seat as she had a slightly mischievous smirk gracing her lips.

Shang gave Anxelin a look. "What?" He was unsure where the goth girl was going with this.

"Take her out on a date," Anxelin replied simply with a shrug.

When Shang heard Anxelin's answer, he gaped at her and she smirked.

"A-a date?" Shang stammered, blinking. He could have sworn that his heart skipped a beat.

"Yes, a date. Captain Obvious."

Shang shook his head slightly and tried to say something but failed. Sure, he was genuinely worried about Jamilah, but dating her was the last thing on his mind.

Since she noticed that Shang wasn't saying anything, Anxelin said, "I mean if I'm being brutally honest with you, Shang, you and Jamie act like a genuine boyfriend and girlfriend rather than close, platonic friends."

Shang was flabbergasted as his cheeks flushed. "I-I…all I ever did was to be there for her and support her whenever she needed it."

"Yeah, you overstepped that," Anxelin told him with her arms folded across her chest and giving Shang a knowing look. "You probably don't know it but it's annoyingly obvious that you and Jamilah are into each other. Hell, even Jordan talks about it on the school blog and almost everyone agrees with her."

Shang groaned as he brought his head back and dragged his face down.

Anxelin snickered.

"Argh, Jordan," Shang groaned again and sighed as he fixed his dark eyes on Anxelin's hazel ones.

"I mean, Jordan's right though," Anxelin shrugged. "It's becoming clear as day that you and Jamilah are into each other. And I think it's time for the two of you to get serious about your relationship."

Shang gasped softly and blinked, unsure of what to say.

"And you think I haven't been watching the two of you, huh?" Anxelin said as she leaned over and crossed her elbows on the table. "For the past several months, you've been tapping Jamie's nose, caressing her, and even the other day, I saw you kiss Jamie on her forehead in the library."

Shang's dark eyes widened, stunned. He had no idea that Anxelin was watching him and Jamilah at the library the other day and the last couple of months now.

After being stunned for a couple of moments, Shang shook his head as he thought of something to say before he spoke. "S-so have you been eavesdropping on us?"

"Yeah," Anxelin nodded. "And you act like a legit boyfriend towards her and it got me thinking if you're in love with her or something. Which, by the way, are you though? Are you in love with Jamilah? And don't tell me any lies either," it sounds as if the goth was threatening Shang. "Knowing you, you're a terrible liar."

As he heard this question from Anxelin, Shang was taken aback as he gulped and his heart skipped a beat again.

Seeing her friend silent made Anxelin mildly annoyed.

"Li Shang Jr? Please answer."

Shang flinched and sighed as he lowered his head slightly. "Yes, I am." He then looked up at her. "I love Jamilah. I loved her very much."

Anxelin leaned back in her seat with a smirk gracing her lips. "I could have figured. How long have you been in love with her?"

Shang breathed before answering. "Well, from that day when I took Jamie out to Bambi's. He even asked if we're a couple," he blushed when said that last sentence.

The goth princess shook her head and huffed.

"But," Shang spoke. "From then, I've tried my best to keep my feelings civil as I knew Jamilah was focused on looking for her brother. As time flies though, it seems as if that was shifted and I can't help it."

"Huh," Anxelin tapped her chin as she digested everything that Shang told her. "I mean, if I'm being honest, Jamilah needs you more than ever, especially in her state. And that's why I say take her out on a date."

"If I do that while still loving her, I dunno if Jamie would feel the same about me?" Shang was skeptical.

Anxelin flapped her hand. "Nonsense and Jamilah would be a dumbass if she never showed any feelings towards you. She's the one clinging onto you ever since she broke up with Chad."

Shang nodded in agreement with his close friend. "True." But if Shang was honest with himself, he doesn't mind Jamilah clinging onto him at all.

"And if Jamilah doesn't reciprocate her feelings," Anxelin held up her index finger. "I'm gonna slap her."

Shang was stunned by Anxelin's last sentence. She couldn't possibly mean or do that, right? He thought.

"Please say like," Shang said, still in disbelief that Anxelin would possibly slap Jamilah if she didn't love Shang back.

Anxelin gave Shang a stern look, telling him that she was serious and meant what she said.

And Shang sighed. Anxelin was serious about it.

There was a brief silence between the two before Anxelin spoke.

"With all of the seriousness aside, go get her, Shang. Jamilah needs you," Anxelin told him as she leaned over, stretched her hand across the table, and rested it on Shang's shoulder.

Shang gave the goth a small smile. "I will."

…

After school(school was dismissed early due to exams)….

Jamilah sighed softly as she placed her things in her locker before slamming it shut, resting her forehead on the locker, and taking a deep breath.

For the last couple of days now, Jamilah hadn't been herself after the debacle with Jay over the weekend. She had reserved herself and withdrawn from her peers and instead was drowning in her revisions and studies for her exams. Jamilah didn't notice it but her friends were worried about her mental state. Even her best friend, Nina, who was also her roommate was rightfully worried about her but Jamilah didn't talk to her friend about her issues.

Jamilah's main focus was to convince her older brother, Jay, so that he could hear their side of the story but it seems as if that wasn't working according to plan. For example, on Monday when Jamilah was trying to call Jay, he cursed at her and angrily told her to leave. If Jamilah was honest with herself, she was genuinely hurt by Jay's words but she wasn't giving up so easily.

But at this moment, Jamilah was having doubts and because of this, she was lost for a moment and got distracted during her Math exam. Thankfully, she was able to snap back to reality and managed to finish her exam.

While the young princess still had her head leaning against her locker and staring at the floor, she didn't notice that someone was standing behind her.

"Jamie?" A male voice called her name gently.

Jamilah's ears perked up on the voice as she slowly moved her head away from the locker and reluctantly turned around to see who was calling her.

Li'l Shang.

Jamilah saw Shang standing in front of her with his dark eyes filled with worry and concern.

Jamilah then blinked at him. "Oh, um hey Shang," she gingerly tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. Her voluminous hair was messy and slightly frizzled because she overslept because she was studying and revising most of the night, and that caused her to rush everything.

Shang saw this and bit his bottom lip, having an urge to hug and stroke her hair but he didn't want to jump into it and make things so sudden, so he stood his ground.

There was a moment of awkward silence between the two teens but that was quickly cut off by Shang.

"So…how are you feeling?" He asked, trying to sound casual as he used his right hand to scratch the back of his head while the other hand was gripping tightly on his bag strap over his shoulder.

Jamilah sighed as she ran her dainty hand through her hair. "Well, to be honest, I felt a mixture of defeat, drained and determined but mostly skeptical."

Shang hummed and nodded in understanding. These exams are tough but it's tougher when your long-lost brother walks out of his family again and leaves them in shambles.

"Well," Shang began. "Lonnie and I tried to talk to Jay earlier and…" he slightly shook his shoulders. "He just gave us the cold shoulder and left."

Jamilah's brown eyes widened at Shang's words. But was she surprised? No, Jay did this to her couple of days ago.

"Honestly, I'm not too surprised," Jamilah said. "But it's getting increasingly frustrating that I'm getting distracted in exams. I dunno how Aziz and Emir are so relatively calm in this situation," she then leaned against her locker, visibly upset as she pouted.

Shang just stared at her, worry plastered on his face. Shang honestly hated to see Jamilah in this state. If anything, Shang starts to think that Jamilah may have become Jay if she doesn't stop worrying.

So, Shang stepped closer towards the Agrabah princess and ever so gently cupped her cheek with his large and warm hand. If she was frank with herself, Jamilah could have sworn that she melted under Shang's touch.

Maybe this was what she needed.

"Jamilah," Shang called, causing the girl to look at him. "I 100% understand that you're worried and stressed about Jay, but to prolong it? That puts a strain on you like you are right now. Everyone's worried about you, especially me."

Jamilah's lips quivered. She wanted to protest, but she knew that's not going to work.

Shang continued. "I genuinely hate to see you like this, Jamie. What's happening to you now reminds me of when you were completely hurt and depressed after your breakup with Chad months ago."

When she heard this, Jamilah became tense. She didn't realize she was going back to her depressed state like she was several months ago.

"I…." Jamilah doesn't know what to say.

"It's okay, Jamie," Shang assured her, his voice soft. "And I have something that can cheer you up."

Hearing this, Jamilah raised a brow and frowned. "What?"

Shang took a deep breath as he removed his hand from Jamilah's face and took a step back and shoving his hands in his pants pockets. There was a small smile growing on Shang's face.

Jamilah saw this and she shook her head in confusion.

"Are you busy this Saturday?" Shang asked, sounding casual.

The long haired girl turned her head slightly. "Um no? Not too sure to be honest. Why are you asking?"

"Because I want to take you on a date," the older boy replied, looking a bit hopeful.

"Eh?" Jamilah's eyes widened in surprise as she was taken aback by Shang's answer.

Shang noticed and he bit his bottom lip, thinking if it was too sudden to ask Jamilah on a date.

However, after a couple of moments being in a state of surprise, Jamilah cleared her throat as she composed herself.

"A d-date?" Jamilah repeated, blinking. It's been a long while since someone asked her out on a date. The last time Jamilah went out on a date was last year when she was with Chad. She was not counting the time when Shang took her out to Bambi's. "Why?"

Shang slightly shrugged. "Well one, you're totally stressed out and two….I like you. A lot and more than a close friend." His dark brown eyes sparkled with affection like precious gems.

Well, Shang loves her but he doesn't want to frighten her. So, Shang decided to take things slowly.

Jamilah gasped softly and her heart skipped by a split second.

But then again if Jamilah remembered correctly, Shang kissed her forehead sometime ago in the library to comfort her. She thought from there, Shang was slowly falling for her but still, she was surprised.

"Shang, I…." Jamilah trailed off, trying to find words to say. "I dunno what to say but I-I like you too," she blushed.

Nina must be proud.

Upon hearing this, Shang grinned at her. "Thank you."

"So what time is the date?" Jamilah asked. Now that she fully processed and thought about it, a date doesn't sound like a bad idea.

"1:30 P.M.," Shang replied quickly. "And we'd have to leave by around 5 since supper starts at 6."

Jamilah nodded. She was not going to lie, she was kind of excited for the date as she needed to rejuvenate and release some stress.

"So where are we going on Saturday?" She questioned.

Shang smirked. "It's a secret but you'll love it. And oh, wear something nice."

Jamilah gave Shang a small smile. "Okay then, I'll see you on Saturday. It's the 16th, right?"

Shang nodded. "Yup."

After this, there was a moment of silence between the two teens as they were smiling at each other. But, that silence was short lived when Jamilah spoke up.

"Um, Shang?"

"Yeah?"

Jamilah bit her lip before she asked, "Could you…tap my nose? I'm still reeling from what had happened over the weekend while still excited for our very first date."

Shang smiled at her fondly as he didn't respond but rather took a step closer to the princess and gently tapped her nose, twice.

"Boop, boop," Shang said, smiling at Jamilah.

And Jamilah chuckled softly. Honestly, Jamilah was relieved that Shang yet again comforted her.

Little did Shang and Jamilah know that Anxelin, Tyrone, Herkie and Emilie were watching them from afar. The group had been watching the couple for a while.

Anxelin shook her head in amusement while having her hands planted on her hips. "He finally did it."

"It's about time to be honest," Tyrone joined in as he rolled his light brown eyes.

"Yeah, they've been like this for months!" Herkie piped up, his voice soft as he didn't want to make Shang and Jamilah hear them.

"Well, I'm glad," Emilie smiled. "Now Shang and Jamie can take their relationship to the next level. Agreed guys?"

"Agreed," Anxelin, Tyrone and Herkie chorused.

With that said, the group gave one last look at Shang and Jamilah before they quietly left to go and hang out outside.

AN: Anxelin is a good wingwoman to Shang lol!

please lemme know what you guys think in the reviews! :)