////~~~~\|

"Audrey?" you called, knocking on the door. "Audrey, could you open the door?" No answer.

"Alright then," you sighed, pulling out a clip and picking her dorm lock, pushing the door open and stepping in.

"I thought the door was locked," she sniffed, looking up from her pillow.

"It was, but given my friend tends to lock me out of his room from time to time, I've gotten pretty good at picking locks," you admitted with a shrug and a hint of pride, sitting beside her on the bed. "Is this about what Ben just said?"

Audrey responds with a said nod of her head. "I thought we were gonna be together forever, I know I'm not the best sometimes, but for him to just declare his love for some other girl, without even taking the time to break up with me like a normal person would, it just..." she trailed off, a fresh set of tears burning at her eyes.

"Iiiiii really, really, really wish I was built for these kind of talks, but I'm really not," you sighed. "Listen, I'm not too happy with him either, and I am so sorry for all the things that are gonna happen, but if it makes you feel any better, I still think you're a very tolerable individual, and from me that's saying a lot." You lightly nudge her side, causing her to giggle a small bit. "A friend even. You'll be alright, I'll make sure you are."

Audrey nodded, sitting up to pull you into a quick hug, one you returned just for her, patting her back comfortingly, looking to her as she nodded, letting you know she would be okay.

"On the bright side," you sang, reaching over to the nightstand to pick up two plates. "I brought our favorite snack~"

She takes it gratefully, and you decided to help her take her mind off things by sitting with and telling stories you both were particularly fond of, all up until it was time for lunch.

"Go ahead," Audrey tells you. "I think I'll stay in here for now." You nodded in understanding, grabbing the utensils and dishes before leaving her room with a quick salute.

~~~~~

When you walk into the cafeteria a while later, Mal immediately spots you, impatiently waving you over.

"Where were you?" she demands, brows furrowed. "You left me there to deal with Ben!"

"Big deal, I told you this was a stupid idea," you retort, scooping up some of the salad to add to your tray. "Evie was still there anyway."

"Well thanks to you not being there to get me out of this, I have to sit with Ben for lunch."

"I don't lie for other people," you deadpan, filling your tray with more food before walking away to sit at the table with the rest of the VKs.

"Someone's grouchy again," Jay comments as you plop down beside Evie on the table.

"Obviously. We stayed up till midnight baking a love cookie, and then I finished my homework."

"You actually did the homework?!"

"I was bored."

"Speaking of which, how's this new school for you guys?" Carlos asks. "We'll go around the table. Evie?"

"Well uh-" she starts, setting her fork down on the tray. "Chad Charming tried to get me suspended by stealing my magic mirror."

"What?!" All three of you screeched at the same time.

"It's okay though!" she quickly adds on, holding her hands up. "Since I sorta...cheated by using my mirror for the class, Doug helped me get a chance to take the exam. Without the mirror."

"As a side note though, when we get wand and take over the world, he is the first person on my list," you tell them, popping a piece of cucumber in your mouth.

"Alright, next." Carlos snaps his neck over to the son of Jafar. "Jay?"

"Like I said earlier, it's not so bad here," Jay admits with a shrug. "The environment and the people."

"And (y/n)?" You push your tray back a little, making room to lean forward, resting on your elbows.

"I think Jay's right. Here, there's no need to look over your shoulder or have to steal things unless it's for fun, and not to survive. The food here is actually something we can eat and not get a stomach virus from, guys, this is the place we've wanted to be in since we were little kids," you go on to explain yourself, taking in a deep breath. "It's just...when we go back, we'd be missing our opportunity. But I also want to go back because of the promises I've made to people. If it ever came down to that, I'd choose to let down Auradon rather then them."

"You don't have to worry," Carlos assures. "We got this."

"We got this," the rest of you repeat simultaneously.

~The End~