Walt Disney College

Chapter 53

Staying with Sofia at Enchancia had been really different than what Isabel had expected. Not in a bad way, it's just that Isabel wasn't really prepared.

Hanging out with other people wasn't exactly Isabel's strong suit, and Alice, Eilonwy, and Taran were her only friends at the moment. Sofia's parents had agreed to let Isabel come to Enchancia with Sofia, because Elena had helped them before, and Elena didn't want her in Paris.

Which Isabel didn't know why anyway. It wasn't as if she would bother them, and they're not doing anything bad, so why did Elena leave her here?

She was friendly enough with Sofia, so it wasn't that awkward at breakfast. Sofia was nice, and made an effort to talk to her, Amber was rarely around, doing one thing or another, and James?

Prince James...

Isabel wasn't so sure about him. All she knew is that she wanted to be as far away from his as possible. But that was surprisingly hard for such a big castle.

"Your Majesties, lunch is ready!" Baileywick smiled at the royals and they took their seats.

"Thank you Baileywick," Queen Miranda politely smiled back, and sat next to King Roland.

Isabel was always so silent at lunch, when the King and Queen dined with them. She was a royal herself, yes, but Isabel didn't feel like it. Being stuck in a painting for forty years made her feel like she was some weak rag doll who had potential but all that was lost when she was thrown in the trash.

"Mom, Dad, Vivian is having a party tomorrow, it's kinda just a small thing. Can I go?" Sofia asked.

King Roland frowned just a little bit and glanced at Isabel.

"I can bring Isabel too, of course. Vivian wouldn't mind."

Isabel started making squawk like sounds while choking on her meatball.

"Are you okay?" James asked, and Isabel's face began to feel hot from embarrassment.

"She's getting a bit red...I know CPR! I can do it!" Amber squealed excitedly and got up from her chair.

"I'm fine, thank you. It was nothing," Isabel said quietly.

"Oh, okay then. Anyway, can we go?" Sofia put on her brightest smile.

"Sofia doesn't have to take me. I can entertain myself in the castle."

"No Isabel, you're our guest! And you deserve to have as much fun as your sister is probably having in Paris!" Sofia said.

Paris. Isabel almost forgot about that. Hearing the word made her mad at Elena again and she shoved the spaghetti down her throat.

James sent her another look of, "are you okay?" and Isabel wanted to hide her face in her hands.

She was almost starting to think she was allergic to James.

Whenever she went near him, or even saw him, her stomach would get queasy. She could never look him in the eye, or speak properly or clearly with him around. And whenever he looked concerned about her, her face would get unspeakably red, which had to mean she had an allergic reaction or something.

Isabel was certain of it, she was allergic to James.

But it must've not been deathly allergic, because sometimes she felt like she wanted to be around James, then other times she'd want to completely avoid him.

Maybe that was sign of a reaction.

"Okay, you two can go. But I assume Amber is going too, right?" King Roland looked at his other daughter.

"I was invited, yes. But I have plans on that day."

"Oh yes, your little spa set up thing," Mrianda laughed.

"Little? Oh no Mother it's going to be huge!"

◈▣◈

"I hope Isabel is doing okay." Elena sighed and stared out of the hotel window.

"Uh, you sound like you missed out on some of your grandmother's tamales. What's up?" Naomi asked.

"Paris...isn't as fun as I thought it would be."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, we'd have fun together, you, me, Mateo, and Gabe. And we'd also—"

"But, we have been hanging out together. Yesterday we visited The Louvre! And the day before that we went to Notre Dame! If you want we can see the Luxembourg Palace, or even Disneyland! And we do plan to go to the Eiffel Tower tomorrow," Naomi counted each one on her finger.

Elena rubbed her arm. "Okay, okay. You have a point. I just feel like something's missing."

Naomi smirked. "I have a feeling I know your feeling. Huh, Elena."

"Um." Elena shifted on her bed. "What do you mean, Naomi?"

"I don't know." But the smile Naomi had on her lips said otherwise. "Is there a special someone you were planning to spend time with, perhaps?"

Elena squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting the thought to enter her head.

"Fine! I thought I could have some alone time with someone else. I mean, we're in Paris, city of love, and well—not saying that I'm exactly sure that I love him but I still want to—"

"Hold up!" Naomi stuck her hand in Elena's face. "I thought we were talking about you and me having some best friend time! The only time you and I have gotten rid of the guys was when we went into that shoe store!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry Naomi forget—"

"Nope, I'm not forgetting. So who's this guy?"

Elena breathed a sigh of relief. "If you don't know I must not be that obvious."

"It's Gabe, isn't it?"

Elena gave an aggravated sigh and flopped onto the bed, mumbling a quiet, "yes."

Naomi thought to herself for a moment, then nodded.

"Okay, you did good choosing. You know what, as your amazing best friend, I'll help you."

Elena was already standing up for a hug. "You will? Thanks Naomi!"

Naomi laughed. "You don't even know the plan yet."

"I'm sure it'll be a good one."

"Well, it is. We'll all go to the Eiffel Tower, as planned. Then I'll convince Mateo to come with me to look at something of some sort. Then you whisk Gabe off to another side of the tower, and we 'accidentally' lose each other."

"Uh, okay? But what will that—"

Naomi pressed her finger against Elena's mouth. "You get alone time with him. My job is done. You handle the rest."

Butterflies flared up in Elena's stomach and she sat back down on her bed, staring at the ceiling.