Rapunzel breathed in the crisp air. The morning was fresh and her nose was turning pink. She pulled her long braid over her should and smoothed her navy skirt. She smiled as pascal climbed out of her bag and up onto her shoulder. "we're finally here!" she smiles. "We've been waiting all summer and were finally here!"

She picks up the small chameleon and places him back into her bag, she didn't want anyone to see him. The chameleon, now upset at being inside the dark bag again curls up and settles down for the adventure. He knew this routine. Rapunzel was excited, unlike many girls her age would be, for the school year to have finally started. Spending the last two months home with her mother were not ideal. She remembers her last day of her sophomore year at W. Disney High School. She remembered crying because she knew that she would have no where to escape her nasty, self centered mother. She took a deep breath as she took her first step into the courtyard she knew so well. Between her and her friends, they had shared many memories in the courtyard.

Rapunzel was a junior at W. Disney High. She was an only child living with her cruel, over protective mother. For Rapunzel, school was an escape. When she wasn't spending time with her friends, she found comfort in the company of her chameleon, pascal, whom she had gotten as a child. Rapunzel was the creative type, and found her second escape in her art.

Now that she was back, she simply couldn't wait to see her friends. "and you'll be home promptly at three, do you understand?"

"yes Mathilda," a young girl sighed.

"Alice, remember, always-"

"-be polite, thank your teachers and greet them at the beginning of each class and bid them farewell at the end of each class, Mathilda, I know."

Rapunzel turned around and saw Alice Liddell, one of her best friends. "Alice!" she called.

Alice was a sophomore at W. Disney High. Her parents worked long hours, and she rarely got to see them, even on the weekends. Her elder sister, Mathilda, cared for her most of the time. Mathilda insisted that Alice be proper at all times and controlled her life. Mathilda believed that without doing so, Alice would turn wild. Alice doubted this would ever be the case, but without much choice, Alice complied.

The young girl spun around. "Rapunzel!" she answered, running toward her.

The two girls embraced each other, and at that moment they each knew that the other had dreadful stories from the summer break to tell the other. " how's your mother?" Alice asked.

"self-centered as always.." Rapunzel sighed, "how's your sister?"

"Bossy, as usual," Alice replied.

"You didn't meet any ruffians over the break did you?" Alice said staring at Rapunzel

Rapunzel started to laugh, "no."

They looked each other up and down, making sure every piece of their uniforms was in check. Rapunzel smoothed her blouse and looked at Alice who was pulling her socks up to her knees. They checked each others hair, Rapunzel pulled her braid over her shoulder once more, and alice retired the ribbon in her hair.

They walked into the entrance of the school. On a bench in the courtyard, they saw a fair, brunette girl sitting alone and reading. Her hazel eyes were fixed on the delecate pages of the book. They sat on the bench on either side of her, giggling. "good morning Belle!" the called.

Startled, the girl dropped her book. "guys I told you not to do that!" she said in a huff. Her book had fallen to the floor. Now disgruntled, she got up to pick it up, when her hand met another, larger and more muscular hand. She looked up. "lovely morning, isn't it Belle?"

"Gaston I told you to leave me alone!" she said through gritted teeth.

"Gaston? Moi? Leave you, the most beautiful girl in this school alone?" he replied.

"May I have my book please?" she said, becoming hot.

"what do we have here? Jack and the Beanstalk? How can you even read this book? It has no pictures!" He began examining the book, holding it upside down.

She snatched her book out of his hands, "well some people like to use their imagination! Gaston, there is no way you will ever get me to even think about you if you continue to act like that. Alice, Rapunzel, let's go, leave this baffoon alone."

"Belle it's about time you got your head out of those books, and paid attention to more important things, like me." Gaston said

Belle shook her head as they began to walk away.

They walked across the courtyard when the bell for class rang. Belle's face changed from anger to disappointment. "I'm sorry Gaston had to waste your time."

They bid their farewells and made promises to meet under their usual tree for lunch.

Rapunzel walked through the halls into her first period classroom, history with Dr. Doppler. She sat through roll, staring around the classroom. She was wishing to see her friends she had longed to see all summer. "Rapunzel?"

"here." she said in a monatonius voice. She pulled her heavy braid over her shoulder. And she pushed her bangs behind her ear.

Dr. Doppler excitedly passed out packets of information and walked around the classroom explaining rules of his classroom. Rapunzel could tell this man was passionate about history. He also kept referring to "his voyage" which she was unsure what to make of. She did notice he appeared to favor a kid named Jim Hawkins. She didnt know if that would become relevant. Already bored, she flipped through the pages of the packet. syllabus, materials list, teacher information, cover letter written by the doctor himself.

Suddenly a piece of paper landed on her desk. She unfolded it to read "look left". She looked to her left and saw Jane Porter, a girl she sat next to in her English class in the previous year. She smiled," it's good to see you again Jane!"

"you have no idea how pleased I am to see you, I didn't think I was going to know anyone in my class!"

Jane porter was also a junior. She often spent her summers traveling with her father to exotic destinations. She began telling Rapunzel about her most recent voyage to Africa. Only to she and Rapunzel's dismay, the summer was now only a memory. Jane showed Rapunzel the sketches of animals she saw there; knowing only Rapunzel would truly appreciate her artwork.

Rapunzel's eyes widened as she looked at Jane's delicate sketches. She had sketches of birds and monkeys that looked so real.

Rapunzel told her about her own exciting summer that she spent locked up with her mother. Jane looked at Rapunzel knowing that by "exciting" she meant dreadful.

The two sat content with each others company for the rest of the period

The bell rang once again and Rapunzel was headed across campus to math with Mr. Santorini. Math was Rapunzel's least favorite subject, as it seemed like a foreign language to her. She struggled through Algebra her freshman year, and was frightened of beginning Algebra II this year. She walked into the classroom and listened to the broken record routine of Mr. Santorini talking about class rules. As he spoke she looked around the classroom for anyone she may know, and cringed with despair, as she saw no one. Great, she was going to have to suffer this one alone.

Mr. Santorini asked everyone to take out paper and a pencil. He wrote several problems on the board and asked the students to solve them by the end of the period. Rapunzel looked at them and realized she had forgotten how to do them. At the end of the period he collected the papers and announced that they were placement test papers. Rapunzel knew this year was going to be a struggle.

When the bell for class rung she walked down the hallway, thinking about her "placement test" and suddenly ran into Cinderella, another one of her best friends.

Cinderella had been a good friend of Rapunzel's since they were in 5th grade. The two met when they were placed in the same class and understood each other and the struggle of overbearing and cruel family members. Cinderellas father had gotten remarried when she was 4 years old. Her father, a wealthy businessman, married a woman who had been through divorce herself. Along with his new wife came two step daughters, Anastasia and Drizella. Anastasia was now a sophomore and Drizella was now a senior. The two girls were Mrs. Tremaine's pride. She would do anything for her daughters. When Cinderella was 7, her father died, and only then did her stepmother's true personality show. While giving her daughter a life of luxury from previous wealth, and the wealth she inherited, Cinderella served as a housekeeper in her own home. Cinderella, like Rapunzel, found school to be an escape.

"how was your summer?" she asked.

"spent it with mother, as always," Rapunzel rolled her eyes.

"I know how you feel, I spent my summer down at Daisy's Diner busing tables, and cleaning up after my wicked step mother and Anastasia and Drizella. At lease working at Daisy's took some of my time away from being at home. "

"sounds fun." Rapunzel replied sarcastically, "what class are you headed to?"

"I have English with Mr. Thatch." she replied, "I hear he's really good."

Rapunzel looked down at her scheduale and let out a squeal of delight. "we have that class together!"

Cinderella smiled and they entered the classroom together. As soon as she enters the classroom her bag shuffles and Pascal pokes his head out. Cinderella smiles as she sees the chameleon. He quickly changes the caramel brown of Rapunzel's bag. Rapunzel pokes him back into her bag and sits in a desk next to Cinderella.

Mr. Thatch seems like a very shy and insecure man. He seems distracted when he speaks. He calls roll and reaches Cinderella. He stared at her and the crystal pendant on her neck given to her by her mother. Cinderella, now red, says "here" quietly.

"curious," he mutters.

Cinderella was blushing for the remainder of the period. She stared down at her notebook while the rest of the class chattered with excitement about their summer. Rapunzel knew there was no real need to further inquire about Cinderellas summer, she knew it was as dreadful, if not more, than her own.

When the bell rings, She waves goodbye to Cinderella as she walks to her science class. Rapunzel takes a deep breath as she opens the classroom door. She walks in to find a very tall and slender woman. She was wearing ungodly high heel boots that laced up her legs. Her over coat was a bold blue with gold buttons. She had fiery red hair that was pulled back. "Good morning class!" she said in a loud, firm voice, " you will call me professor Amelia. Welcome to level three sciences. I assume since you all are juniors you're mature enough to deal with what I will teach this year, anyone want a pass out now?"

Rapunzel was taken aback by how bold she was. She gazed around the class room to see if anyone had considered dropping the class and noticed a model ship on her desk. Rapunzel drew the conclusion she had either been to sea, or wished to. "now for roll, listen for your name. Aladdin?"

"Here!"

"Aurora?"

"Present, Professor Amelia."

Professor Amelia sighed and shook her head.

Rapunzel's heart sunk to learn of some of her classmates. Aladdin was constantly trying to pawn objects off people. He always offered to buy some of her golden locks, which she found a little disturbing, but she refused only because mother told her she was never allowed to cut her hair. Also in her clas she recognized Aurora, who seemed to be happily talking to Aladdin. She looked around to see if she recognized anyone else, which she didn't.

Finally the list came to her,"Rapunzel."

"Here." She replied monotonously like she had in her last three classes.

Professor Amelia asked them to take out their notebooks and write down her safety rules. Rapunzel listened attentively through the rest of the period, ready for lunch.

She walked out across the courtyard to lunch. Pascal crawled out of her bag onto her shoulder. "Pascal, this is going to be one interesting year." she said. Pascal looked at her, eyes wide.

"You've seen my teachers, my classmates, something about this year is just crazy."

Pascal understood her. She held him in her hand and smiled. She stroked his back and placed him back in her bag.

She saw Belle and Alice walking in the distance. She walked toward them and saw Cinderella walking in the distance. They walked together and sat under their usual tree. Rapunzel put Pascal down and helped Cinderella put her hair in a bun after Jasmine made fun of her in her fourth period.

Jasmine was one of the meanest girls in their year. She had recently started dating Aladdin, meaning no one could be mean to him without her hearing about it. She walked across the courtyard her tree trunk sized ponytail swinging behind her. She walked with her best friend Aurora. The two terrorized most of the girls in their year. They had a changing pack of girls who helped them. Recently they had picked up Cinderella's step sisters, Anastasia and Drizella. They walked across campus with their noses in the air. A slick smile spread across Jasmines face and she talked to Aurora. Her eyes darted in Cinderellas direction.

"has anyone seen Meg today?" Belle asked.

The three other girls shook their heads. Cinderella was watching her step sisters across the courtyard when she spotted Meg sitting under a tree with her boyfriend, Adonis. She was playfully trying to kiss him and he was smiling. "she and Adonis seem so happy together," Alice smiled.

The four girls looked over and saw Meg laughing as Adonis flexed his muscles. Adonis was on the school's football team. The girls loved Meg as a sister, even though she was from the year above them. They all remembered how ecstatic she was the day he asked her out. The two had become nearly inseparable since May when he asked her out.

Cinderella was intently watching her stepsisters as they talked with Aurora and Jasmine. "Those two suit them," she said sternly, "I can't believe they hadn't found each other earlier."

Alice began to giggle uncontrollably. Belle was sitting against the trunk of their tree reading. Rapunzel watched as Pascal climbed through their tree.

When the bell rang Rapunzel happily walked to class. She had Art next period with Ms. Merryweather. Art was Rapunzel's favorite class. She often felt like she could escape in her art. Something she was never free to do at home. She had covered the walls of her room at home with her paintings, but she never felt as free as she did at school.

Ms. Merryweather seemed like she would fit the bill as far as a good art teacher. Her entire classroom was blue. Rapunzel couldnt help but giggle at the way her new teacher loved blue. When she sat down in a desk she found herself sitting next to one of her friends, Esmerelda.

Esmerelda was a year above Rapunzel. She was raised in a gypsy family, and followed gypsy traditions. Rapunzel and her friends always worried about Esmerelda, as she was the type that would run away and never come back. Rapunzel let out a sigh of relief seeing that Esmerelda returned for her senior year. Esmerelda was a good friend of Meg's and had been introduced to Rapunzel through meg.

Esmerelda told Rapunzel of her trip to her homeland over the summer. Rapunzel explained she had spent the entire summer inside working for her mother. Esmerelda's brow furrowed with a look of pity. Today, Esmerelda seemed distracted. She began to lightly chat with her friend Quasimodo, or Quasi for short.

They spent the class period with a sketching activity, and Rapunzel sketched a sun as she waited for the bell to ring. She didn't know why, but she had always found the sun fascinating. She looked at Esmerelda's sketch, it was a sketch of a very large building, perhaps a cathedral. The edges were very rough, and it was no where near being complete. Esmerelda caught her staring, "I saw it over the summer on my trip." She smiled.

Rapunzel nodded. "It's really good."

"Thanks, it's really difficult to capture its true beauty, and all the sanctuary it's provided to my people," Esmerelda added.

When the bell ran Rapunzel was relieved to be going to her final class of the day, her choral period. The class was headed by Ms. Fauna. She looked around and saw Ariel. She smiled at her.

Ariel, also a junior, was extremely shy. Rapunzel was glad to see she had finally gotten the guts to join the choral class.

She came from a family of singers. Her eldest sister Aquata was legendary in the school for her beautiful solos that no other could match. Ariels second eldest sister, Arista, also had a very powerful voice butcould not match the power of her sister before her. Ariel's third oldest sister, Alana, was currently a senior. She was in the choir, but only as a background singer. She was often concerned with her looks, and was constantly sharing beauty tips and trends she found.

Sometimes Rapunzel would hear Ariel hum in some her classes in previous years, and could only imagine how beautiful her voice actually was. she was sure Ariel would get a solo at some point this year. Rapunzel however, sang only as a hobby.

It was only the first day, and Alana was already tormenting her younger sister. "Ariel you must stand up straight if you want the proper sound!" She was scolding her younger sister as she snapped her compact shut.

Ariel looked scared stiff, knowing the expectations she had to live up to. Rapunzel flashed her a reassuring smile.

They learned their warm up chords. They practiced together as Ms. Fauna sat at the piano. They ended their practice early and Rapunzel had a chance to talk to Ariel. "I'm so glad you decided to join this year!" Rapunzel said excitedly.
"Well, Aquata kind of talked me into it." Ariel blushed.

"You don't mind Alana being in here with you?"

"I can handle her," Ariel replied and then the final bell rang.

At the end of the day, Rapunzel met with Belle, Alice, and Cinderella in the courtyard. They discussed their classes and the people they found interesting. Rapunzel inquired as to if any of her friends found their teachers as odd as she did. They saw Meg kiss Adonis goodbye, and then she walked over to them. "What's rockin' my ladies?" she asked.

They all giggled and replied, "not much,"

"Hey that's fine. I had a pretty good first day back, got to meet some new people with Adonis. how about you girls?"

"It was fine," Cinderella replied.

The other girls nodded in agreement. Belle had a look of concern as her eyes darted around the courtyard as it emptied. Rapunzel could tell she was looking for Gaston. Pascal crawled out from her bag onto her shoulder.

"how do you all think this year is going to be?" Meg asked.

"interesting," Rapunzel replied, "very interesting."