Chapter 3

—

"Ben, would you stop fidgeting and hold still?"

Standing in one of the empty classrooms of Auradon Prep, Audrey gently tugged at the soon-to-be-Kings lapels. The boy was a complete wreck, composed to all but those who knew him well. Having grown up together (despite Symphony), Audrey could tell Ben was nervous, his body seemingly unable to keep still, and his jacket and tie painfully crooked.

"I can't help it, Auds. I'm so nervous."

"You'll be fine, stop worrying."

"But what if something goes wrong?" Pursing his lips, Audrey quickly slapped the back of Ben's hand as he went to ruffle his hair, "sorry. It's just, what if Symphony is right? What if they are up to no good?"

"Symphony is a narcissistic drama queen; don't listen to what she says. And I said I'd keep an eye on the newcomers; I'm not going to break that promise now." Audrey insisted sternly, fixing the boys tie expertly, "these kids may be a bit rough around the edges, but I'm sure they'll be more then happy to be here."

"How can you be so sure?" Ben mumbled, "everyone has been telling me this was a bad decision. Even you for a while."

"Oh tush, Benjamin." Audrey chided, flattening the small napkin folded in his front pocket, "I know these kinds of things, alright? I just have a good feeling about these kids. Just keep Sym from beheading someone and we'll be peachy."

"Yeah, that'll be easier said then done." Ben chuckled, going quiet as he glanced down at Audrey from above. "Are you ok? With all this I mean."

"I think so. There's a lot that could go wrong, and I wouldn't necessarily put my life in these kids hands." the Princess admitted honestly, smiling at the thought of Evie and her gentleness, "but there is good in them. And I think we should try and bring that out."

"You're right. You're definitely right." Ben agreed, sighing as he held out his arms, "what do you think, kingly enough?"

"Certainly. Just make sure your head doesn't get to large for your crown."

Laughing happily as she patted the taller boy's head, both teens leapt at the screech that was Symphony out in the hallway. "Yikes. Your uh, girlfriend, is looking for you."

"Right. Will you be greeting the VK's with us, Audrey?"

"I think it's better if I stay in here when they arrive. But don't worry, I won't leave you to this by yourself." Squeezing Ben's hands, Audrey tossed her head to the door, "now go. Your adoring public awaits."

Smiling, Ben nodded and confidently strode from the room as Audrey watched him go. She could only imagine how Symphony would drape herself over him, crying and whining about him leaving her side. Rolling her eyes at the thought, Audrey removed the compact mirror from inside her pocket. As usual, her makeup was done to perfection. But she could still feel the slight swell in her cheek from Symphony's cruel hand. And to think she had been acting similarly before meeting Evie.

Snapping the mirror shut frustratedly, Audrey pocketed it as horns blared from out in front of the school. Walking to the nearest window, the daughter of Aurora watched two black limousines pull up, both bearing the Auradonian crest. Observing from her place, she counted the heads which emerged. It began with a powerful looking trio, two boys and a girl, draped in leather, metal and beads. Though they had never met before, Audrey knew the girl with turquoise braids was a Daughter of Poseidon.

Demigods were funny like that; they could usually pick one another out of a crowd despite all being of different parents. Next came two younger girls, both of them clinging to one another as they stared up in wonder at the school. Audrey smiled at that, but was also nauseated at the thought that they had grown up in such terrible conditions. Neither of them were demigods, though the princess assumed Nyx had some hold when it came to the Facilier girl. Finally, in the front limo, the original four stumbled out.

Jay and Carlos tussled in the dirt, fighting over something they had taken. Mal had stepped out beside them, prodding the ball of boy with her boot. Then, the last one to appear, was Evie. She looked exactly the same as the last time Audrey had seen her. Blue hair tumbled across her shoulders in gentle ringlets, her dark eyes alright with the same childlike wonder she had shown on Olympus.

Only hearing muffled bits of Ben's welcome speech through the thick glass, Audrey didn't need to be there to know Symphony had just struck a chord with Mal. The way the dragon girls brows crinkled, and her frown deepened just so. Hopefully neither of them would go blabbing about their heritage for the whole school to know. As the group started to move back into the school, Audrey left the window to meet them in the foyer.

Fixing her hair and tidying her dress, she was standing by the staircase just as the group entered through the doors.

"...ah, and this is Audrey. She'll be your main point of contact while you're here at Auradon Prep."

Waving happily at Ben's introduction, Symphony's death glare was like a blade. Brushing a hand across her still slightly swollen cheek mindlessly, Audrey shook it off. She wasn't to be ruled by anyone — even if they did happen to be a minor goddess.

"Hi. Welcome to Auradon Prep. Like Ben said, I'll be the one to ask if you have any urgent questions."

"Audrey here did most of the planning for the Villain Integration Program," Ben boasted happily, either unaware or ignoring Symphony's unhappy huff at the praise, "without her, none of you would be here."

Before Audrey could get another word out, a bullet of brown hair and highlights had her in a death grip. Grunting in surprise, Dizzy Tremaine had hooked onto her, smiling from ear to ear.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I'm so excited to be here, and all my friends are here and I'm so, so, so happy!"

"Y-you're very welcome." Patting the girls head awkwardly, Audrey tried not to be stiff under the touch. Despite her change in tune about the VK's, she was still a bit of a stiff. Being suddenly bear hugged was a bit out of her comfort zone.

"Hey, Dizzy let her go before she faints."

Glancing up at the voice, it was Mal who spoke up. Feeling the pair of arms unlatch from around her waist, Audrey was once again able to catch a breath as the girl bounced back to stand with Ceila. "So, Audrey. Daughter of Sleeping Beauty? That's quite...ironic, isn't it?"

"Ah, second daughter actually. Much less important." Audrey answered Mal, playing the game of 'introduce yourself', despite already being well enough acquainted, "and maybe so, but all that is in happily ever after. I'm looking to build bridges, not walls." Shifting her sight slightly to the right, Audrey finally caught the gaze of the one person she'd been most excited to see. Evie was staring at her shoes, but met her eyes from under her bangs as she smiled, "anything you need, I'm here to help. Honest."

"Seems like a trap." Uma mumbled, causing Audrey to swivel on her, as well as her two pirates. They looked guarded, though the one with the hook was staring very hungrily at her.

"No trap. Just trying to get off on the right foot for once. I can be a nasty sometimes you know, and it's best not to make that first impression."

"Is there food here in Auradon, Miss Audrey?" This was Gil, son of Gaston who asked. Smiling at him, Audrey nodded.

"Yes of course. I'm sure all of you are tired from your trip. And please, just Audrey is fine."

"Indeed." Ben spoke up, waving to Doug who had appeared beside him, "Doug has all of your room assignments, and we can get you settled in, then fed."

"Wicked." Gil mumbled, the group moving forward to get folders from the Son of Dopey. Standing slightly to one side as she watched, Audrey jumped when Mal appeared beside her.

"What's your angle, Princess?" She mumbled curiously, "you hated the very idea of Isle Rats last time we spoke. And now here you are playing nice. What gives?"

"No angle, it's just like I said." Audrey answered, her gaze following Evie who made Doug's face go incredibly red, "I've finally taken a good look in a mirror, and decided some changes needed to be made. Promptly."

Eyeing Symphony with some disgust, Mal seemed to catch on as she grunted, folded her arms and nodded.

"I'd take a prissy pink princess over that harpy any day."

Chuckling slightly at the insult which Audrey herself had used on more then one occasion, the girls turned back to the main group.

"Alright, everyone has their assignments?" Ben called, clapping his hands as he did whenever he addressed a large group of people, "I'll take the boys to their side of the dormitory. Audrey, you can take the girls?"

"Of course." She answered, "ladies, it's just to the right of the main staircase. Follow me."

Walking a bit ahead of the group, Audrey glanced over her shoulder as Uma appeared by her side, seemingly irritated.

"Yo, Princess. Why am I sharing a room with someone else?"

"That's just how it works here, and we can't have boys and girls rooming together. No worries though, I think you'll like Lonnie. You have some very similar tastes in uh...steel."

Glancing at the cutlass still hanging at Uma's waist, the Daughter of Posideon mindlessly made a grab for it. "And, as I have you, please make sure you're uh, parentage, stays a secret hm?" Tipping her head, Uma made a face, before she blinked and nodded.

"Ah, so you and I are..."

"Demigods," Audrey whispered under her breath, "it doesn't take a magic spell to know who your father is."

"What about you then, Princess?"

"For another time, perhaps." Audrey insisted softly, turning around elegantly as they made it into the dorm hallway, "these are the girls dorms, there are common rooms on either end. Find your rooms and make yourself at home. Dinner is served at five."

Watching the group of girls scatter to find their dorms, Audrey discreetly caught Evie's wrist, standing beside her so she could finally speak to the blue haired goddess. "I'm glad you made it."

"I'm glad I'm here." Evie insisted softly, watching as Mal read all of the doors curiously, "it was your doing, wasn't it?"

"Perhaps. Auradon Prep has a wonderful rose garden; there's a particular bench I like to haunt when I'm not in class." Smiling, Audrey cautiously tucked a ringlet of hair behind her ear, "meet me there after dinner? I'd...well, I want to catch up, as it's been a bit?"

Before Evie could respond, Mal called her name from down the hall. Taking a rapid step back as to not be suspicious, Audrey awkwardly cleared her throat, "right, be sure to look into our extracurriculars. They are a required first year class."

"I...will," Evie spoke, the words having double meaning as she beamed at Audrey, "I'll definitely look into it."

"Wonderful. I'll let you all be on your way then. If you need anything, my room is at the end of the opposite hall."

Nodding towards the direction in question, Audrey ran a hand worriedly through her bangs. She could feel Mal staring into her shoulders as she turned on a heel to go and find Ben and Symphony.

"You don't think she's a bit to friendly?" Mal asked Evie when she thought Audrey was out of earshot.

"No." The girl responded easily, "It's Auradon. Everyone is supposed to be friendly here."