A Frozen Secret (Disney Descendants x OC)

Carlos

Friday, August 20th, 3:10 p.m.

"Can you hand me that smaller screwdriver?" I gestured towards the tool, sitting beside a set of wires at the end of the table. "The optical drive screws are too small for the one I've been using."

Jay, slouched in the hard-plastic rolling green chair beside me, responded with a groan. He tore his attention away from his phone, which he had been on since class started, and looked up at me. "Can't you get it yourself?"

I sighed and sent a pointed glare at Jay. "Can't you be a better partner?"

Jay let out another groan. "Fine." He reluctantly set his phone aside and reached across the cluttered table to retrieve the screwdriver. Handing it over to me, he returned to his phone with a roll of his eyes.

"Texting Jordan?" I asked as I leaned my head into the open PC case before me on the table - Our robotics project. We were supposed to take the entire tower apart and put it back together. I was enjoying myself more than I wanted to admit. Carefully, I slotted the new screwdriver into the tiny black screws I was after and turned, but they refused to move.

"What's it to you?" Jay quipped, his attention fixed on the screen as he continued typing. "Besides, it's not like you haven't texted your weekend person today. You've got to get better at flirting with her, though."

I twisted the tool too aggressively, causing it to slip from the screw. My hand slammed into the metal bottom of the PC case, sending a dull throb through my wrist. A frustrated groan came out from between my clenched teeth. "I'm not flirting with her."

Jay raised an eyebrow at me. "Sure you aren't."

I took a deep breath, refusing to give Jay the satisfaction of a response. I repositioned the screwdriver, ensuring a firmer grip this time. I gave another tug at the stubborn things and finally pulled the screw from its tight position. The rest of the tiny black screws came out smoothly, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

I lifted out the drive and set it gently on the table with the rest of the computer components. The spread made an excited grin grow across my face. I never thought I would see the inside of a real computer, much less get to take those insides apart. It seemed much too valuable for that.

With the deconstruction complete, I began labeling each part, writing its name onto masking tape and sticking it onto the corresponding component. As the class ticked on steadily, Jay eventually abandoned his phone, turning to help me finish the project.

"Carlos, Jay," an older male voice called from across the room. I paused in the middle of the word I was writing and looked up, catching the gaze of Mr. Donovan - our teacher - from across the room just as he hung up the phone on his desk.

Mr. Donovan stood from his chair and stalked over to our table, hands behind his back. The muscles in my body tensed in anticipation as Mr. Donovan's blue eyes examined the neatly labeled computer components we - well, I - had laid out. I hoped Mr. Donovan approved of their work.

Mr. Donovan hummed, and his expression softened, a hint of admiration in his eyes. He looked at us, a genuine smile on his aged face. "I suppose I was wrong to underestimate the sons of villains. You boys have done a commendable job. This level of precision and dedication is what we strive for in this class."

Pride surged within me as Mr. Donovan praised our work. Jay's hand landed heavily on my back, a wolfish grin stretching across his face. "You've got to give all the credit to this guy. He's the tech nerd. Back on the Isle, he would make all kinds of devices out of old stuff."

Mr. Donovan's eyes turned to me with a curious expression. "Really? Well! You'll have to come to my office after school and tell me about these devices. I'm afraid it can't be today, though. Fairy Godmother just called. Her Highness Princess Crystal is waiting outside for you."