A Frozen Secret (Disney Descendants x OC)

Crystal

Thursday, August 19th, 3:15 p.m.

"You are terrible." Aki's slightly annoyed voice came through my phone, accompanied by the clicking of a keyboard, as I walked through the back halls of Auradon Prep. A laugh escaped my lips as I heard Aki grumble under his breath and furiously hit one of the keys.

"Come on, Aki," I said, pushing open the back door and stepping out onto the sunlight path behind the school. "The rest of us have to wear sunglasses to shield ourselves from the blinding obviousness of your crush. Even Stevie Wonder could see how much you like Jane."

"You. Are. Awful."

I chuckled at Aki's exasperated response. "Awful or brutally honest? Someone's gotta give you the reality check, buddy."

The clicking momentarily ceased, and Aki let out a defeated sigh. "I already got one. I talked to Mad yesterday. They said to take Jane out somewhere fancy but to do that I need to call my dad and ask him to send me some money. I am not doing that."

"Why not," I asked, dodging a pair of boys who came down the path from the opposite end. Their athletic gear told me exactly where they had come from.

I heard Aki let out a groan. "Because if I do that, I'll have to tell him it's for a girl, and I'll never hear the end."

I sighed - Aki always did this. Anytime his super-rich dad was involved in anything, he suddenly didn't want to do it anymore. It seemed like he couldn't fathom his dad wanting him to do anything he was passionate about.

My eyes caught the sight of the brilliant, shimmering white fountain standing proudly before me. The water bubbled, dribbling down the multiple levels, gleaming against the beautiful sunlight.

Knowing Aki needed some talking to, I dropped my bag on the ground and plopped down on the fountain's edge. "Aki, Aki, Aki. You've got to stop worrying about what your dad thinks. It's your life, your heart, and your happiness."

Aki's voice came through the phone, still carrying a trace of frustration. "It's not that simple, Crystal. You know how my dad is. He'll grill me with questions and probably give me 'the talk' about relationships. I can't deal with that."

I let out a sigh and turned away from my reflection. "So, essentially, you need a way to take Jane on a date without your dad knowing?"

"Exactly," Aki confirmed. I heard the groaning of someone getting up from a chair from his end and the soft sounds of footsteps.

"Aki, who are you talking to on the phone?" I asked him, listening as the footsteps halted. I could almost imagine him in that moment, long body leaning against the wall, eyes looking forlorn out a window. Anytime Jane was around, his dark eyes would go soft and mushy. It was gross.

Aki's confusion was palpable in his voice. "One of my best friends?"

"Right," I confirmed with a nod despite the fact he couldn't see it. "And lucky for you, this best friend is a princess."

"Crystal," Aki grumbled, "in English, please."

I laughed again and closed my eyes, allowing my other senses to take over. The sun tingled against my skin, filling me with a warmth that went right down to my toes. "The Northuldra Ball is in just a few days. Everyone dresses up, and there's expensive food, live music, and lots of dancing."

"I know, I've been there," Aki replied, his tone softening.

"Exactly," I said, opening my eyes. "So, here's my brilliant idea. Jane and her mother attend the ball every single year. So, why not ask Jane to go on your date? It's a super fancy event, and you've already been invited, anyway, so your dad won't know it's a date!"