Serene's view

Hayder nudges Lucy aside so he can take my hand. He smiles lightly. "Thanks for saying yes, again. I'm glad you did." I feel a giddy smile creep up on me, but Jenna interrupts it.

Janessa elbows me from my other side, hissing in my ear. "You didn't tell me he was your date! Or that you had a date!"

I press my lips together shyly. "Maybe that was on purpose, so you wouldn't tell Mom or Dad."

"Oh, please. They know. I knew, and I told everyone." Eleanor says nonchalantly, waving her hand. Everyone laughs, and Brietta takes us to Tiana's Place, which has been sectioned off for the night to provide citizens a temporary sanctuary from the press. Citizens namely meaning me, Brietta, and Isla.

"And what'll y'all be having tonight?" Tiana asks, her dimples showing as she smiles at us all after we're seated. After we order, she disappears in the kitchen while Naveen entertains onstage with Louis.

"What to drink?" A sullen voice asks, and we look up to see Ned, Tiana and Naveen's son, standing in front of us with a sulking glare.

Janessa snickers. "Hi, Nedwin. Enjoying life?"

His glare deepens. It's no secret that his life stinks. This is the only place that'll offer him a job because of his horrid attitude toward customers, and even his wife can't stand to be around him. Luckily, he has no offspring, so there isn't a little demon spawn running around Auradon.

"I'll have a chocolate milk." Lucy says hopefully.

Ned rolls his eyes. "Seriously? What are you, five?"

"I want one too!" Finn says, then flushes. Lucy looks down quickly at the napkin in her lap, hiding her blushing cheeks and wide smile.

"Apple cider." Danielle says.

"Do you guys have green tea?" Evan asks politely.

"SO-DA-POP!" Isla and Janessa chant together.

Ned rolls his eyes so much I'm surprised they don't bug out. "What kind?"

"Do you have Coke?" He nods, and that's what Brietta, Max, Isla, and Janessa order. Hayder gets water, and I ask for something Tiana had me try a while ago---pear juice. It's delicious! Eleanor orders plain milk, and Ned scurries away as fast as he can.

"I don't understand why he can't get a job somewhere else." Eleanor whispers. "Just be polite. Sheesh! It's not that hard to be nice to people. Or if you must, just scream into your pillow violently at home and paste politeness in public."

"Or write scrambled things in a book." Isla nudges Max, wiggling her eyebrows.

"Hey, did you ever tell you parents?" I ask him.

"Yeah, you need to keep up your end of the deal." Janessa says seriously.

Max flashes a smile. "I did, actually."

"...and?" Brietta demands when he doesn't continue. "What did they say?"

"They were disappointed, of course. But then I told them about the spot I was offered at Notre Dame University's summer Musical Theater program."

"WHAT?!" Janessa and Isla shriek.

"When did that happen?" Eleanor asks.

"Two days ago. The program saw my audition from Atlantica, and reached out to me. That program is seriously good. At the end of the summer, everyone does this huge audition, and six kids are chosen to go to broadway auditions, so on and so forth."

"Wait a minute. Notre Dame?" Danielle asks. Max nods, and she bursts into laughter. "I'm doing that program, too!"

"Seriously? That's awesome! At least I'll know one person there." Max high-fives Danielle, while Evan laughs.

"You guys will have fun. She'll dance circles around you. But she can't act, sooo..."

Max's face reddens. "We have to dance?"

Danielle rolls her eyes. "Um, duh. It's to audition for broadway."

Brietta snorts. "Guess you'll have to get some lessons or something in before then, Max."

"Oh, shut up. I can dance!"

"Yeah, if the dance is 'act like an octopus until you die'." Isla says, just as Tiana and Ned come over with our drinks and food. They leave quickly (Isla pays for everything, which made Janessa accuse everyone else of being cheap) and we all dig in with gusto, because hey, Tiana's Place is the one restaurant where no one can fault you for calling Tiana back to buy a second round of food. Some people are just born to cook, I guess.

After we finish, it's time to head to Cotillion. Since the one with Isla's parents was a disaster or epic proportions, it had been moved to a vast courtyard in her castle. And because of the masks, there isn't really a red carpet this time. There will be a few photographers there to snap pictures, but no names. Before entering, our group makes sure everyone recognizes each other with the masks, then we start to head in.

Quickly, before we can say anything, Finn glances over at Lucy. "Do you want to walk with me?" He blurts suddenly.

Lucy blinks in surprise. "Um. What?"

Eleanor sighs dramatically, shoving Finn closer to Lucy. "He's asking you to be his date."

"Elea!" Finn complains, going red. I hadn't thought it was possible for Finn to be embarrassed about talking to a girl!

"What? You're being dumb!"

Lucy's face slowly lights up, a grin spreading wide. "You want to be... my date? Really?"

"About time." Isla mutters.

Finn doesn't say anything, just holds his arm out for Lucy. She takes it, glancing back at me once to scream silently. Then we sweep in pairs past the entryway. Hayder and I, Isla and Janessa, Finn and Lucy, Max and Brietta, Eleanor and Evan, with Danielle bringing up the rear by herself.

The venue is beautiful, with fairy lights strung everywhere, multicolored and floating in mid-air rather like the candles of Hogwarts. Spotlights shine on newcomers, and there is a long table on each side of the courtyard, with punch and small snacks. Most everyone is in the center, either dancing as a group, in pairs, or the occasional person by themselves. Some are along the sidelines, snacking and talking.

When we enter, I smile to myself when we barely get a second glance. Enchanted masks are amazing. Even with Isla's Queen's crown, and my white hair, and Brietta with her wand, nobody recognizes us. We gather on the dance floor and laugh with each other as Danielle tries to teach Max a few dance steps. She makes Brietta dance with him too, coaching both of them, but it's hopeless. Brietta's having too much fun trying to step on his toes and skipping away when he tries to retaliate.

Masks weren't mandatory, (A/N: TOTAL coincidental phrase, lol. I'm not even kidding I was just rereading this before posting and noticed that sentence. I'm dead) so I recognize a few people here and there, but nobody notices me. There aren't many chaperones, to my delight, other than Isla's parents, who show up about halfway through to officially present their daughter as Queen to her subjects. That didn't last long, as Isla barely made time to dash up, curtsy sloppily, and sprint back down into the crowd to keep do-si-do-ing with Janessa. That made everyone in the room laugh, and the party resumed. Even when people knew she was Isla, the masks kept them from realizing who we were. Hayder is dancing with me, Lucy is with Finn, Jenna and Isla are dancing with Eleanor, Max and Brietta are finally getting the hang of what Danielle taught them, and Evan is trying and failing to follow Danielle as she does some beautiful dance that I don't recognize around us all. I have no idea how she makes up things on the spot that look so good.

But something is missing.

I look around, and my eyebrows knit together as I contemplate what feels wrong. I don't feel in any danger, I don't feel any worry. I just feel like I'm forgetting to do something. But I'm sure I didn't. There aren't any articles of clothing missing, I have both shoes, mints as a habit, and we don't have villains running around anymore...

"Oh." I say aloud, realization striking me.

Not all of my friends are here. At least, I hope they aren't.

Hayder nudges my arm. "I'm only guessing, but... you're going to get him, aren't you?"

"How do you do that?" I ask, laughing.

He smiles. "I'm good at reading people. And as long as you promise you'll still dance with me later, I won't argue if you get him."

I smile despite myself. "I promise." Before I can stop myself, I quickly hug Hayder before stepping back and poofing away, reappearing on the Isle, in Pitch's hideout. Blake leaps to his feet, shouting in anger and going down into fight stance.

"WAIT! IT'S ME!" I shriek, reaching up to quickly take my mask off. A silver shield appears around me, but it isn't necessary. Blake stops himself just in time, looking at me in astonishment.

"Serene?" He asks, lowering his hands and relaxing. "You... What are you wearing? No, wait, that doesn't matter. What... what are you doing here?" He doesn't look angry like I thought he might. He looks... uncertain. Something I'm not sure I've ever seen on the lone-wolf son of the Boogeyman.

I straighten myself back up, waving my hands to dissolve my shield. "I'm here to take you to Cotillion."

The uncertainty is replaced by shock, then quickly washed away with a look I can't quite place. "Why?"

"Because the barrier is down for a reason." I say quietly. "And I'm sorry your father never saw that. I'm sorry you didn't either, and that I let myself be blind to it. We have a choice, Blake, and my choice is that I don't believe you're evil. I believe you were taught, like my father was, but I don't think you knew about their plan with me. I hope I'm right about that, because even though you helped..." I bite my lip. "I liked being your friend. I thought you made a good one."

His ashen skin turns the slightest shade of pink, and a wide grin spreads across his face. "You did?"

"Yes, I did."

"You shouldn't." He says, his grin fading. He turns away from me, crossing his arms over his trench coat.

"Why not? I know you were the one who set off the alarms. You probably sent the letter to my parents as well, didn't you?" I say mildly. He turns around in alarm, but I just smile. "I get it, Blake. You had something to prove, and---"

"It wasn't that." he interrupts. He looks down at the ground, almost angrily. "Yes, I did it for revenge and all that... but... I also did it because you were getting distant. I... didn't want to lose my only friend."

I consider this for a moment. Blake has always seemed emotionless, dark, and stone-like. But now... he's different. He's lost, and reminds me of how I was when I first accepted his offer.

And I know firsthand how easily you can go either way.

I don't have any doubt in my mind when I hold a hand out to him. "I'm willing to put everything behind me. Are you?"

He hesitates for only a moment, looking at his lonely living room before crossing the room, taking my hand, and pulling me into an awkward---but comforting---hug.

"Thank you." He finally says after pulling away. "I... I know I probably don't deserve a second chance. But thank you."

"You're welcome." I smile.

"By the way, I heard gossip... How're you handling the dark part of your powers being free?"

"It's... a process." I laugh, showing him my bracelet. "I've been using this a lot, but I'm learning to balance the two sides. Did... did you know I'd broken my dark side out, that day?"

"No." Blake responds, a shadow passing over his face. "My father told me you'd broken free of your shield. And I believed him. About all of it."

I beam and take his hand. "That just proves what I thought---you were better than you thought you were all along. And your dad probably knew it."

He smiles.

"You ready?" I say.

"What about your mask?" He asks, gesturing down to where I'm holding it.

I look down and laugh. "I forgot about it." Slipping it back on, I smile at him. "Do you want one?"

"Do you have an extra?"

"Nope. But I can make one." I twirl a finger in the air, and silver magic flows off of my hands, creating a simple but effective mask on Blake's face.

"Thanks." He says. "One thing, though... are your friends going to kill me?"

"Well... maybe a little bit." I tease. His eyes go wide, but by then we're already standing in the courtyard again, lights and yelling and people everywhere. Blake goes pale, and ducks down a bit, but I just keep his hand in mine and lead him toward my other friends. Hayder must've told my friends we were coming, because they don't look surprised. Hayder nods politely at him, while the rest of my friends send either quizzical or threatening looks but don't do anything.

Except Jenna.

She shoves her way over to him, grabs his shirt collar, and pulls his nose inches from hers. "You, sir, are on my list." She says in a growly voice. He looks at me, and I nod encouragingly.

"I'm assuming you're Janessa. Did you check it twice?" Blake fires back, grinning.

Jenna's eyes widen, and her jaw drops. "Did---did you just---did he just---" She stammers, letting go of him and stepping back.

"I see I've left you speechless." Blake says proudly, crossing his arms.

"No. Noooooooo." Jenna's hands run down the side of her face as her mouth hangs open. "NO!" Jenna shrieks. "Stop it! I'm not teasing, I'm threatening!"

"I dunno, Jenna, it sounded like teasing." I say, holding back giggles.

"Definitely did." Blake agrees.

"STOP IT!" Janessa shouts. "No! No! No! You were an as---"

"Jenna," I warn.

"---a jerk, you can't be funny!"

"So you think I'm funny!"

"You---ohhhh ho ho ho, okay, if that's how you want to play it, Mr. Handsome Hair." Jenna says. "I'm watching you, bucko. Watching. You." She uses two fingers between her eyes and his, then turns to me. "If he acts like a jerk, I'm killing him with or without your permission." Then she flounces away.

"Looking forward to it!" He hollers back, and she sends a very rude gesture his way without turning back around. "Was that good?"

"As good as it'll get." I say happily. "Did she call you 'Handsome hair'?"

"I thought I'd misheard. Apparently not." Blake says, grinning.

Hayder smiles. "Maybe she was flirting. You should go ask."

"What? No! I mean---what?" Blake says, looking confused.

"Code for: move it, I want to dance with my date." Hayder says, taking my hand.

Blake's alarmed look disappears, and he laughs. "Oh! Okay. I'll just, um..." He looks around, and makes eye contact with Eleanor. She tilts her head, kind of examining him, but then smiles brightly and gestures him over to her, Jenna, and Isla. Janessa looks a bit miffed that her cool entrance was ruined now, but neither she nor Isla protest when Blake goes over and starts talking to them.

"So he seems nice." Hayder says.

"Oh, shush."

He smiles lightly and doesn't continue. The kind of song that anyone, even those with two left feet could dance to plays, and everyone cheers.

I've felt my happiest when I'm with this group, but tonight I think is my favorite memory. If I lose contact with these people when I grow up, this is the one night I never want to forget. If I ever get married and have kids, these are the people I want to tell them about. Hayder takes my hand and spins me in a circle, both of us laughing at how we're acting. Blake is now dancing with Janessa, and she looks furious about something---but not the bad kind. The kind like friends have over an argument. Everyone is paired up, or trioed in some cases.

And I smile to myself, thankful for everything that happened. Because even if going through all that meant leading up to this... I'd do it again and again.

Because this isn't perfect. It doesn't have to be. This isn't a world where everything is tied up in a pretty little bow, and finished with a perfect happy ending. It's messy, and scary, and hard, but it's worth it. This experience has taught me that, along with a thousand other things I could never name but will always cherish. 

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GUYS THERE'S ONLY ONE CHAPTER LEFT AND THEN I'M DONE WITH AURADON!! *screams*

In other news, I got cast in a play at my school and YIKES I'm scared. There are only like eight characters in the play, soooo... gah. I'm not used to this. I've got more than 10 lines! I'M NOT USED TO THIS!!!!!!! I mean, don't get me wrong---I'm thrilled. BUT TERRIFIED!!!

Anyway hope everyone enjoyed this chapter!