St. Mickey's School for Fairy Tale Children

-1-

Mulan's POV

Today was the big day. I walked into the castle-like building of St. Mickey's for the first time and pushed through the oak doors, feeling nervous but trying not to show it. I looked around the huge entrance hall, noticing how alone I was in the grand building.

The hall was painted a maroon colour, and all the furniture was upholstered with dark wood and red leather. I scanned the various empty chairs and tables, and sat down in a sofa to wait until I was checked in.

Couples and friends crowded the area, chatting and introducing themselves loudly. Some people lined up in front of the reception desk where they could be checked in, but it soon dwindled away. I stood up and ran forward.

"Name please," a haughty voice called from behind the imposing desk.

"Fa Mulan." I replied, standing opposite the desk.

I turned around, bored, to see a clique of laughing and talking people, led by a girl with long, glossy black hair and olive skin, a short turquoise top and floaty skirt, paired with big gold earrings and blue flats.

"Well, who's this then? And what is she wearing, a hand towel?" she spat, stalking over to me and looking me up and down, disgusted. People turned to stare, the girl's posse snickering. She smirked at me and laughed, clearly enjoying my embarrassment.

"Next," the voice grumbled from the desk, ignorant to the hurtful exchange going on. I grabbed a class schedule and a map and ran out of the entrance hall, my cheeks flushed scarlet in humiliation.

---

My dormitory was bright and airy, with light blue bedsheets and blue walls. A closet was in the corner, and a small bedside table stood next to my bed. I put my suitcases by the closet, and looked in the mirror at my pale green vest top, denim jeans and red Converse trainers in shame, thinking of the girl's comment about my clothes. I shook myself straight and reminded myself that I needed to be strong and confident for my first day at school.

"Woman up, Mulan," I muttered to myself.

I knew I would have to share a dorm, as there was another similar bed in the opposite side of the room. I hoped I wouldn't have to share a room with anyone too mean.

I began unpacking, throwing in all the belongings the shelves would hold. My outfits mainly consisted of jeans, a baggy jumper and trainers, but today, as it was my first day as a freshman, I had made an effort for once.

After I had finished unpacking clothes, there wasn't much left to do as I hadn't brought anything else. I had never really bothered with makeup or accessories unlike other girls, feeling that I would be better off without them.

All my life, my parents wanted me to get a boyfriend, do cheerleading, wear makeup and just be a normal, average, teenage girl. But from when I was little, I had always felt that girls were being treated differently to boys, and I wanted to change that. I wanted to show my parents that girls were equal to boys, and deserved to be treated the same way.

Eventually, after I was sure I had completely filled my closet, I decided to go back downstairs so I could locate the gym for future workouts.
I was an athletic girl, and one of the main reasons I had been excited about my first year at Disney High was because their sports facilities were excellent and they had many sports clubs.

Shang's POV

I arrived at At. Mickey's for the first time, my parents waving goodbye as they drove out of sight. I was soon checked in, and not knowing anyone, I decided to go to my dorm room alone, where I could get unpacked, then have lunch in the cafeteria and go to the Welcoming Assembly later in the afternoon.