Just Like a Fairy Tale

[Brianna Landers]

Bri rushed down the hall, books hugged tightly against her chest as she darted between students. Normally she'd be appalled to be running like this. But this was an urgent situation. She came to a halt in front of Kara's locker. Luckily the small redhead was just closing it, her arms loaded down with books on everything from physics to methods of cheerleading.

"Kara! Oh, thank God I caught you. Have seen the nominations for Homecoming Queen yet?"

[Kara]

"What? No, I have not, why?"

Kara was not sure how to break it to her friend that she did not really care about the Homecoming dance this year. She would cheer and she would clap, but her heart was not really in it this time.

[Brianna Landers]

Bri grinned widely. This was perfect. She was eager to let Kara in on her plan.

"Well, I was nominated. So were you." She leaned down next to her friend, lowering her voice. "So was Aura," she said, cheerfully.

[Mojo]

Mojo's greedy eyes light up as he overhears the happy chattering of the two girls below him as he brachiates along the pipes in the ceiling.

"Homecoming?" he whispers to himself. "Yay! More goodies!"

Dropping to the cold tile floor next to Bri's feet, Mojo waved excitedly and bounded off to look for the first campaigning give away.

[Kara]

"Oh. Well...um...I am really not that interested, this year. Is there-crud. Should I turn it down?"

The books were getting heavy; she threw some into her backpack and put the others on the floor between them while they talked.

[Brianna Landers]

"No! No, not at all." Bri could barely contain her excitement. Homecoming did not mean nearly as much her as it had last year, but this opportunity was too good to pass up.

"Don't drop out. I'm not. I don't want Aura to get nervous." She looked down the halls to make sure the white-haired girl was not going to hop out of the crowd. "We're going to see that she gets elected this year."

[Kara]

Kara thought about it. It neatly solved HER problem, and she would love to see Aura get elected Queen. The look on the girl's face would be worth the effort. "I am in. As in war, we need to level the playing field a bit. Or at least get rid of some of the other candidates. Murder is out. So, we need to talk some of the others out of running. Any ideas?"

[Brianna Landers]

Bri blinked at the girl for a moment. Some times Kara confounded her and some times she caught her completely off guard. This was one of those times.

"Huh? Oh, um, Del was nominated too, and she did say that she'd campaign for me. But I don't want people to start dropping out. The idea is to make sure Aura never knows what's going on and just use teh campaign machine I already have built up." Bri wrinkled her nose a little. "She'll need a new dress... I think we need a shopping trip too."

[Kara]

"I wish I could use my campaign machine, since it seemed to work pretty well last year. However, I have NO idea who campaigned for me or what they said. I suspect Nigel, with threats of violence, but I can prove nothing. Making sure Aura is oblivious might be hard."

She thought back over the last year.

"Well, it might be a little hard. But yay, shopping! When do we go?"

[Brianna Landers]

"No, really. We can make this work. Just... anyone who says you have their vote, tell them to vote for Aura." Bri grinned. "Use Nigel's tactic if you have to. I'll make some posters and... well I did cocoa last year. Maybe chocolates?" She tilted her head slightly, peering into the distance.

"Maybe. Regardless, we need a shopping trip either tomorrow or Thursday and a full day of beauty on Saturday before the dance. Think you can handle that? We'll turn Aura into Cinderella."

[Kara]

Kara made a mental note to rent the movie again. She remembered singing mice, but she suspected that Bri had other plans with that analogy.

"Okay, sounds good. Are t-shirts too much? Oh, frisbees!"

Kara started making notes.

[Kara]

Kara snapped her fingers. "I know! I could make cookies and pass them out in honor of the other candidates! Wait, no, poison is probably out too..."

[Sweet Magnolia]

'Del was hurrying down the hall when she caught sight of Kara and Brianna chatting excitedly. She had had NO idea she would be nominated for Homecoming Queen...she hadn't even gotten a permanent dorm assignment yet! While it was a thrilling honor even being considered, the increasing frequency of 'Del's recent blackouts made campaigning for the position a risky proposition. 'Del didn't want to be in the spotlight just yet. She would much rather have Brianna installed as Queen, or even Kara, if 'Del herself couldn't run. Not only would it secure her friendship with either girl, but it would enable her to practice her queenmaking skills in prep for her future as First Lady. Or something like that.

At least, that's what 'Del told herself. Besides, Croatoa was calling.

She put on her brightest smile, walked up to the two, and said, "Hey, y'all! Congrats on being nominated! Ah'm bowin' out for this year, but ah'd be SO psyched to help you out...though," she paused with a slight hesitancy, "Ah'd only be able to choose one of you...ah hope y'all will make it easy for me!"

[Brianna Landers]

Bri stopped mid-sentence as Del walked up. She always loved having her around. She just seemed to get Bri's way of life. And Bri always felt more relaxed with Del around. It was odd.

"Del! There you are. Congratulations on your own nomination. And yeah, we're going to make this the easiest on you." Bri checked again to make sure Aura was nowhere to be seen before continuing. "We're going to campaign for Aura. Shopping trip for a new dress tomorrow afternoon or Thursday and salon appointments galore before the dance. You in?"

[Kara]

"Yep! We are going to have fun...oh, wait! Should we campaign for a King, too?"