Rivals (A Jelsa Story)

Chapter 5 - The Council Has Arrived

Jack's POV

Bunny, Tooth, Sandy, and I rode to Disney Prep with Mr. North, the faculty sponsor for the student council. Most of the other students were taking the charter buses, but we were going to be standing up on the podium so we had to get there early. Bunny was sitting in the passenger seat, and the rest of us were in the back with Sandy in the middle. I gazed out the window and bobbed my head along to the song playing on the radio.

"We're in Pixie Hollow now," Tooth said, pointing to the sign.

"Good, we should be there soon," North replied.

"How stuck-up do you think these Disney preps are gonna be?" I asked Bunny, leaning forward in my seat.

"Jack, stop." North shot me a warning glance before looking back at the road. "Those are just rumors. I'm sure they're no worse than the students at our school."

"I'm glad they're starting this up again," Tooth said. "I hope it goes well and they make it into a regular thing. I'm excited about meeting everyone."

Sandy nodded in agreement.

"Better watch Jack, then," Bunny joked. "It's attitudes like his that got it shut down in the first place."

"Exactly," North said. "Everyone has been putting a lot of work into this for a very long time. I expect all of you to be on your best behavior." I saw him glance at me in the rearview mirror as he said that.

So maybe I hadn't exactly been a star student for the past couple months. But it was kind of a joke, and anyway, this gave us a week break from school which was something I desperately wanted. I wasn't complaining.

We pulled into the front parking lot right after Mr. Moon. I watched him, Mr. Shrek, Hiccup, and Astrid all get out of the car.

"It's go time," Bunny said as we unbuckled our seatbelts and got out.

I saw three people standing right outside the doors closest to us, a man and two girls. The first thing I noticed about the girls was their hair - one had super super long blonde hair, and the other had long really curly red hair. I accidentally made eye contact with the blonde as I was looking over at her. Her eyes widened, and then she squealed and excitedly whispered something to the redhead, who looked at me and then smirked and whispered something back.

"What do you suppose that's all about?" Bunny asked me.

"Not sure I wanna know," I replied half-jokingly.

We followed North as we all walked over to them. "Welcome!" the man said. "I'm Michael Mouse, the deputy headmaster. Which one of you is Mr. Moon?"

"That would be me," Mr. Moon said, stepping forward. The two men shook hands. "And this is our vice principal Mr. Shrek and student council sponsor, Nicholas North."

"Very nice to meet you all," Mr. Mouse said. "Mr. Moon, the headmaster would like to see you right away. May I take you to him?"

"Lead the way," Mr. Moon said. He and Mr. Shrek followed Mr. Mouse into the building.

"Hi, I'm Rapunzel Gold," the blonde girl said. "And this is Merida DunBroch. We'll be taking you to where you're supposed to be for the ceremony. Our activities director Mr. Genie and guidance counselor Ms. Fairy will tell you what to do then."

"I'd like to fill up my water bottle first please," North said. "Is there a bottle filler around here?"

"There's one just down that hall by the water fountain," Merida said, pointing.

"I can go ahead and take Hiccup and Astrid if the student council wants to stay together," Rapunzel offered. "I think Mr. Genie is trying to get the kings and queens together as soon as possible."

"That works," Hic said. He and Astrid followed Rapunzel down the hall.

Once North came back, Merida led us the same way through a bunch of halls to a small set of double doors. We opened them and walked in.

"Ah, just in time!" Someone who I assumed was the activities director smiled at us from where he was standing in front of Hic, Astrid, and two other people who must have been the Disney king and queen. A few seconds later Rapunzel came in through a different door with three other people.

"Okay, is everyone here?" Mr. Genie took a quick head count. "Yes. Perfect. Alright. So I'm going to ask that you all leave your bags and other personal belongings in this room. I'll lock the doors so no one will be able to get in. Once we get up onto the platform, I'll show you where to stand. Does everyone understand?"

We nodded.

"Okay, one moment please." Mr. Genie turned away from us to talk to another faculty member, Ms. Fairy I guess.

I saw Merida and Rapunzel walk over and start talking to the Disney queen – Elsa, I think her name was. Rapunzel was looking at me and giggling, but Elsa was just rolling her eyes. Seriously, what was up with that?

"Alright everyone," Mr. Genie said. "We're ready to start. Please follow me."

We all formed into a single file line except for Hic and Ms. Fairy, who helped him operate the wheelchair lift up onto the platform so he wouldn't have to take the stairs with his prosthetic leg. I stood behind all the other student council members, between Sandy and North. We went through the door at the front of the room and out into the bright fluorescent lights. I waited a second for my eyes to readjust before walking up the staircase leading to the platform.

Mr. Genie was already there and told us where to stand as soon as we got up. The DreamWorks people were all on the left side and the Disney people were on the right. I stood in the back row of the student council formation with Bunny and North. Mr. Moon and Mr. Shrek were standing on my left, and Hic and Astrid were in front of us to my right. On the Disney side, Elsa and Hans were standing up at the podium with them, and the rest of the Disney kids were behind them. At the far right side was a man who must have been the headmaster, along with Mr. Mouse and Ms. Fairy.

While Mr. Genie fussed over where everyone was standing, I took a second to check out the Disney kids. Hans was messing with the cuff of his shirt and looking like he would rather be anywhere else. Elsa was facing away from me, but as I watched she turned her head to listen to something Astrid was saying and –

Oh, wow.

The pictures on those posters did not do her justice. Especially with that adorable self-conscious smile of hers.