Walt Disney College

Chapter 59

"You have a what!" Gogo yelled, though it wasn't intended.

"I kinda like him..."

"A boyfriend? Huh..." Gogo let it sink in. She was really moving on. "Wow. That's...that's good."

Honey smiled, glad that Gogo was taking the news well.

"Um, will you tell Hiro?" Gogo asked.

Honey stopped breathing for a short second, but regained her composure. "I, uh, maybe. Right now I just want Wasabi and Fred to be the other people to know."

Gogo raised a brow. "What about Andy?"

Honey tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well...he was Tadashi's best friend. I feel like he'll feel like I betrayed Tadashi."

"Do you feel that way?"

Honey swallowed hard. "...no."

Gogo brightened. "Then there should be no problem telling the whole group. It's okay Honey, this is good. Very good."

For some reason, Honey didn't feel the same way.

◈▣◈

Wendy walked through the doors of the school with two large suitcases and two medium bags at her side.

"Lily! How was Neverland?" Wendy asked when she saw Tiger Lily.

"Nice. A bit of a rocky start, Father was annoying. But it got better. Anyway, I don't have classes today, so I can unpack."

"I can help! I have no classes either." Wendy offered.

Lilo frowned. It was like they forgot she was there.

"What will I do?" she asked.

Tiger Lily grinned. "You can help too!"

That's the last thing Lilo would want to do right now. When Lilo checked, Wendy was supposed to arrive tomorrow, giving Tiger Lily and her more time together, but she guessed not.

"Actually, there's something I need to see someone about."

Tiger Lily and Wendy took the excuse, and Lilo walked away.

She walked down the halls, only to bump into Milo Thatch. Lilo knew him just a little. He worked volunteer hours at an animal center, and he was graduating. He had also been a huge help in the effects of their school play.

Overall, Milo seemed cool.

"Oh, hey Lilo. Sorry about that."

"No, I bumped into you. I wasn't really watching where I was going. Distracted, I guess." Lilo sighed.

"You look more upset than distracted if you ask me."

Lilo nodded. "I'm distracted because I'm upset. Some people have classes today and some people don't, Lily and I don't so I was thinking we could hang out. But—"

"Wendy came and Lily's with her instead?" Milo answered.

"...yes. Is it that obvious that I'm being ignored?"

"No, I'm just observant."

Lilo sniffed. She was losing her best friend to a random person she didn't even know! What happened to all the fun times Lilo and Tiger Lily had had?

"Listen Lilo. I have no classes today too. If you'd like, I can take you to the animal center."

Lilo's eyes shined. She loved animals. Especially dogs! She nodded eagerly.

"Thanks Milo! Whenever you're ready, just say the word!"

◈▣◈

Esmeralda strolled into the school's auditorium, and climbed up onto the stage instead of using the stairs. It was supposed to be empty at this time, she checked with Principal Mickey.

"Now, I dance!"

Dancing was how Esmeralda expressed herself. She let her hips and legs flow with the music and it just turned out right. Jane couldn't dance, and Esmeralda knew why. She was too focused on what steps to be doing, which way she should be moving, whereas if she relaxed, she'd know where to go.

Esmeralda heard footsteps, and ran to turn off the music before anyone could see what she was doing.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you," a husky voice spoke.

Esmeralda came out of the curtains and smoothed down her plain white shirt.

"You didn't scare me...just...startled, that's all."

Phoebus clapped, a smile on his handsome face.

"You're really good at dancing."

Esmeralda silently cursed. He'd seen her. Nobody was meant to see her. At least, not yet.

"Please...don't stop because of me."

Esmeralda plopped down on the stage. "Well, I kinda am... What I'm working on isn't really something I wanted the public eye to know."

Phoebus nodded respectfully. "I understand. But, I am just one person. I'd be happy to watch more."

Esmeralda scoffed. "If I let everybody who wanted to watch me dance in here, the entire auditorium would be full."

"Well then it's obvious that you're good, right?"

He really seemed like he wasn't going to leave, and Esmeralda wasn't about to dance in front of him.

She sighed. "I was just leaving anyway..."

Phoebus shook his head. "No you weren't. But if you really don't want me here that much, I'll leave."

Esmeralda smiled to herself as Phoebus left the room, but she felt a little bit bad. After all, she'd have to perform in front if an audience someday, it'd be good to start with one person. It's just that she'd rather have that person be Jane. But Jane was so busy these days that maybe she wouldn't even be available.

Esmeralda pushed the thoughts out of her head, and went back to dancing.

◈▣◈

"I'm confused. What are you so worried about? Everything seems normal to me," Clio said.

"But it's not! Hiro...he isn't talking to me." Penny sulked.

"Well right now we're supposed to be working on our projects, so it'd make sense if he's only talking to Tiger Lily."

"Then he's definitely avoiding me. I usually see him in between periods, but today I saw him once, and that was lunch. We all sat together, but it was the quietest lunch I'd eaten."

"Wow. I'm sorry Penny. What happened?" Clio asked.

"I think he's mad that I didn't tell him a secret. So I only have two options. Tell him the secret, or lie about the secret."

"What is the secret?"

"Oh. That I like him."

Clio grimaced. "You might want to lie then. Unless you really don't mind him knowing when there's obviously something going in there."

She jerked her head towards Tiger Lily and Hiro, Lily seemed comfortable and loose around him, since her leg was almost draped over his.

Penny turned away. "Yeah, you're right. Lying really is the way to go."