[color=lightgray][right][sub][color=fff79a][b]TIMESTAMP:[/b][/color] Early today, Lunch Period[/sub][/right]
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[img]https://i.imgur.com/YwGuwQc.png[/img]
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[sub][@Aces Away] [@Grimoire Gaming] [@LovelyComplex] [@Hey Im Jordan] [@smarty0114] [@Melissa] [/sub][/center]
[indent][indent]Holding her [url=https://i.imgur.com/v1i1Dpn.png]Minnie Mouse[/url] lunch box, her mother not liking her eating the cafeteria food, Philomena Ramsey’s soft eyes rested on the Candy table, seeing her friends talk and chatter. Cael caught her looking, widely smiled and waved at her to come hither. Without saying anything, the two best friends had a silent conversation through facial expressions (sassy brows, playful eyes, and smirks). The manic pixie dream boy raised an eyebrow when Minnie gestured to the area of attack. When he leaned in to whisper something into Ramón’s ear, Minnie used that moment to gather herself. She wasn’t going to overthink. If she did, she would mess this up completely and Minnie wasn’t going to royally fail at her dare. That was not how she and Cael did their dares! It was go all in or don’t even bother. 

[color=#676fa5][sub]“Oh shit, I totally forgot to tell you. I dared Minty to ask someone to the dance this morning. Look!”[/sub] [/color]Cael hissed a quick whisper into Mo’s ear. The temporarily red-headed pixie watched with rapt attention from the lunch table that sat both Candyland and a large part of the senior grade thespians.

[color=#bb3a50][sub]”You [i]what?”[/i][/sub][/color] The Candy King asked in amazement, just as quietly before his eyes too locked onto their friend. This was not something that he could miss even a moment of.

She had already freshened up in the bathroom, reapplying her lip gloss and misting her juicy and electric raspberry punch and coconut sugar perfume. This was her chance to ask someone on a date. The only scary thing about this was what if the person she asked refused her? She’d be the laughing stock of the school but that’s fine. This was to be expected. Who would want to date her, anyways? Minnie spent practically all morning social stalking multiple people before coming to her decision. After thorough research and perhaps watching a specific person in math class since she sat behind him, she decided who the perfect person to ask out was that she realized she was attracted to. She hadn’t realized her attraction until Cael forced her hand and she had to think who was a good match for her. 

Now it was time. 

Lunch was here and she knew exactly where to find him. Subtly, she breathed out into her hand to check her breath. It smelt minty fresh. This was good. First impressions would be in her favor and if things went how she imagined, he would know who she was. They both were popular but he was like, really popular in comparison to her. Still, she’d like to think they were sort of in the same orbit, maybe. Oh goodness! She was overthinking already. After shaking her head, getting all the doubt and negativity out, Minnie patted her cheeks with her free hand. Finally, she mustered the courage to saunter onward, passing many tables until getting to her destination. 

Cloud Olympia. 

Her target was sitting in between his sisters and when they all acknowledged her by a simple glance, she was too nervous to read into their faces, her surroundings blurred out, like black noise. This was nerve-wracking. Minnie bowed and anxiously whispered, [sub][color=#62d1ff]“Her-Hercules, would you like to…”[/color][/sub] 

[i][color=#ff0074]Seriously, Min? You can do better than that.[/color][/i]

Her sister’s voice appeared in her head when she needed encouragement the most. Minnie picked up her head, like the Brave Little Toaster that she was, and locked eyes with the boy. Shooting her shot, not even knowing how she felt about him, only knowing that she found him cute and she hoped he found her cute too, she shouted, [color=#62d1ff]“WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO TO THE DANCE WITH ME?!”[/color] Her loud, cheerleading voice resounded in the cafeteria. When her cheeks were kissed pink, Minnie lifted her lunch box up, covering her blushing face, completely and utterly embarrassed. She didn’t mean to yell that. Why was she so loud? [color=#62d1ff]“Hercules, I mean. Although you two are pretty too.”[/color] She clarified, her cute, little voice muffled against her lunch box.

Cael was midway to popping a grape in his mouth before Philomena enthusiastically declared her invitation for all of the cafe to hear. [color=#676fa5][sub]“Oh my god!”[/sub][/color] The pixie prince stifled the oncoming giggles of secondhand embarrassment into Ramón’s shoulder. The last thing he would want was for Minnie to see him laughing at her and get thrown off her game. [color=#676fa5][sub]“Oh my god, she did [i]not[/i].”[/sub][/color]

[color=#bb3a50][sub]"Oh, but she [i]did[/i],”[/sub][/color] Ramón replied, equal parts mortified and mystified by Minty’s actions. He’d dropped his frenchfry directly into his ketchup in shock when her voice had boomed across the cafeteria. With an aggrieved sigh, Mo patted his prince’s head before turning his attention back to Minnie, food entirely forgotten in favor of the scene.

There was something in the air that morning.

Hercules Helmsley had realized it when he opened his eyes for the first time, and the sun peeked [i]just [/i]right into his bedroom. There was something in the energy he felt even hours ago that told him something interesting was going to happen today. Something exciting! After leaving his tower bedroom that morning, Hercules had gone to find his mother to discuss the vibe of the day. That discussion ended quickly when Parker had insisted they continue the good energy of the day the only way she could think how: with chocolate chip pancakes shaped like Mickey Mouse.

A breakfast that filling had tided him over until lunchtime rolled around, but now Hercules Helmsley was in the process of shoveling the lunch he and his mother had put back together. A few leftover pancakes, some peanut butter, apple slices, and… a Capri Sun (Tropical Tide). It was hanging from his mouth by the straw as he slurped away at it and rapidly scribbled down notes in the digital notebook sitting before him. [i][color=#0074ff]Enemies-to-lovers is so cliché… you’re better than that, Herc![/color][/i] He slashed a line through one of the notes.

He hardly registered the girl at first, her voice was so quiet. When she screamed her question, he visibly jolted, and flicked his head upward — causing the Capri Sun to start sliding off of the straw he held between his teeth. He quickly snatched the pouch and caught it before it fell down and made a mess. As she spoke and complimented his sisters, he sucked at the juice.

Hercules thought about what she’d said for a few seconds. He knew she’d asked him to the dance, but that wasn’t what he was interested in. Something… [i]else[/i] was on his mind. There was something about the way she’d phrased the compliment to his fellow Olympians. He sat the Capri Sun down on the table and tilted his head as he looked up at the pretty girl who’d asked him out to the dance. Hercules held his hand up, pointing with a single finger toward his face. [color=#0074ff]“You think I’m pretty?”[/color] He asked, almost incredulously. He blushed. He looked away. He smiled. He looked back. He smiled wider.

[color=#0074ff]“Of course! I’ll go to the dance with you. Duh.”[/color]

Calliope Jane looked up from her phone, grinning. This was much more entertaining than her game of Subway Surfers. Her eyes danced between her brother and Minnie like she was watching a deeply riveting game of tennis, rather than two teenagers stumble into a date. [color=#cadaf7]“You should come get ready at our place. Mom will show you all of Herc’s baby pictures, and then you’ll know if you really wanna commit,” [/color]Calli said, leaning forward and resting her chin upon her closed fist. It was a shockingly genuine gesture, in a school full of falsehoods and cruel tricks. Truthfully, Calli just enjoyed an opportunity to embarrass her brother.

The third Helmsley triplet was also enjoying this spectacle, watching intently as the small girl that stood at the foot of their table fidgeted nervously, her question hanging in the open air. Athena took in her body language, trying to hide the smile that graced her lips as Minnie hid behind her lunchbox. The girl was shy, it was obvious, and it had taken a lot of gusto to approach her brother - as if using Minnie Mouse as a shield would help. She swatted Calli playfully, before piping up with a delicate laugh, [color=#82a6ed]“You can sit down if you want, we don’t bite.”[/color]

Everything was happening so quickly. From Hercules saying yes, more open than expected, to his sisters being inviting and friendly, Minnie found her head spinning. She never thought asking someone from the richest families at her school out would go this smooth. The Chairman, her grandpa, had told her many tales of what people do to stay in power. He said as long as there was a free flow of information, wealth could easily be challenged. Information is what undermines political legitimacy. Unfortunately, this fell on a simple mind because Minnie was not like her cousin, Reagan, who was built for business and likely would inherit everything one day. She wasn’t like her other cousin, Mei, who could use martial arts to get her point across. She wasn’t like her sister, who oddly enough shared the same name as Hercules’ sister, Calliope, who had so much grit and gumption to become a worldwide k-pop idol. She was just Minnie and she loved to dance. 

While Minnie was mostly Chinese, her mother did have Korean in her. It made sense why Callie chose the career that she did. Sometimes when she’s in the area, Minnie is offered opportunities to dance on stage with her, which is always a fun time because she could make art with her sissy. Her auntie and uncle, Reagan and Mei’s parents, chose more pragmatic pursuits. Auntie Shannon was a psychologist and uncle Will owned his own MMA gym. Her parents, on the other hand, chose to go down more unique paths. Art and culture was important to who they were as people and that’s why if you ever entered a wealthy Chinese home, you would find traditional Chinese art throughout it. That was a sign of prestige. Her late grandma, the Empress as her sister would call her, saw art as the highest human performance and her daddy took that personally. Unconventionally Samual Ramsey chose to start a funeral home business, taking pride in fixing and repairing the deceased, making them anew, as if they only went to sleep. Her mother nowadays focused on being an art dealer, but prior to that, she did work in conservation and handling at the local museum. Both her parents had meticulous eyes and firm hands, the main thing that separated them was her father was a man of humor, even if it leaned on the dark side, and her mother loved to apply pressure because all she wanted was to see her daughters succeed. Minnie had more family of course but her immediate side and Uncle Will’s family would be the ones that she was the closest with.

As you can see, her family was well off but they weren’t Green, Helmsley or Lyon well off. In the halls of Beverly Hills High, Minnie had always felt a little intimidated by these families. They were legacies and they were filthy rich. They could ruin her family if they really wanted to. Anxiously swallowing as she became the new pretty showcase for the privileged, Minnie brought her lunch box down and giggled out loud, letting her intrusive thoughts take over, [color=#62d1ff]“Oh that’s fine! I’m a biter.”[/color] 

Oh. My. God. 

Did she just say that outloud? Where was her best friend when she needed him?! 

[color=#62d1ff]“I mean, I don’t either!”[/color] Minnie tried to quickly fix her error by redirecting the conversation back to the dance. Sitting across from them, she playfully smiled like Wendy, John, and Michael did when they first got to Neverland and they were amazed at the fantasy that laid before them. With no hesitation anymore since the ice had been broken, she began, [color=#62d1ff] “If I’m going to get ready at your place, I’ll need your number so you can text me the address. I don’t have my license yet so I’ll have to ask daddy to take me.”[/color] Minnie explained, leaving her Disney lunch box on the table so she could pull out her phone from her jacket. Once the face recognition unlocked her phone, which was decorated with a [url=https://thecasebible.com/cdn/shop/files/MAIRE-BP.jpg?v=1683040220&width=540]Marie[/url] from the Aristocats case and a Disney [url=https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71+V-5rtdRL._AC_UL600_SR600,600_.jpg]donut charm[/url], she slid it across the table to Hercules so he could put his number in it. [color=#62d1ff]“Since this is super last minute, I’ll need to improvise but I was thinking we’d wear your favorite color? Do you have one?”[/color] Big doe eyes observed Hercules innocently. Minnie tried her best to stay as calm as possible to show him that she was confident, she was fun, and she was flirty. In normal cases, she wouldn’t be afraid to socialize. This wasn’t a normal case though. She was talking to GODS basically. 

As she patiently waited for his response, Minnie gasped at the sudden realization of forgetting her manners. Glancing at one sister to the other,  Minnie bursted out, [color=#62d1ff]“Oh!”[/color] Her expression animated in shock. Easing her face into a genuine, playful smile, she emphasized her gratitude with heartfelt words, [color=#62d1ff]“Thanks for letting me sit here, I didn’t mean to intrude. I just kind of… took a little gamble and hoped for the best. I never asked someone out before like this… but Hercules!”[/color] Her attention was that of a squirrel and back on the boy she found handsome. [color=#62d1ff]“I’ve seen you hanging around my friend, he makes clothes for you. And I couldn’t help but think you’re nice to look at and I’m going to be honest, if it wasn’t for my bestie daring me to find a date, I would’ve definitely gone dateless but now I’m not and here we are!”[/color]

Hercules liked this girl. She talked a lot, but that was okay because he liked her voice - maybe if she was further on the screechy side of things rather than the squishy side of things, he wouldn’t like it as much… but her voice was cute. Hercules didn’t say it, but he couldn’t help but think about how her voice was basically like an anime character’s. A Disney princess! It was sugary sweet, and it was [i]cute[/i]. 

Minnie talked fast, but she was nothing compared to their mother. Other people might have reacted more negatively to her energy, but BHHS’s demi-gods had been raised by a woman who never fully outgrew her manic pixie dream girl phase. The best way to have a conversation with someone who talked this fast was to just let them work it out. Eventually, the stream of thoughts would come to an end…

[color=#0074ff]“You can bite me if you want! Just not [i]too[/i] hard, okay? Blood scares me.”[/color] Hercules beamed across the way at the girl who had just made her way across the battlefield of the BHHS lunch room to ask him out on a date - anxiety damned. Was there a single other person in the school who was [i]this [/i]dedicated to the pursuit of love in their [i]entire[/i] school? No way! Hercules would know if there were. He picked up her phone, having been careful to make sure she knew she had his full attention while rambling. [color=#0074ff]“Thank you! You’re nice to look at too. No one’s ever called me pretty before.” [/color]It became apparent that Herc was going to be riding that high for a while yet.

[color=#0074ff]“You wouldn’t have gone dateless. You’re too cute, you’re like…”[/color] For a brief moment, Hercules considered saying ‘cuter than Hello Kitty,’ but he ultimately decided it was better to hide his power level for now. [color=#0074ff]“[i]...so[/i] cute.”[/color] He held up her phone in the sky and looked up at the front facing camera with a sly half-smile to snap a quick picture for his contact photo, before he continued to talk. [color=#0074ff]“You should sit on this side of the table. It looks like we’re the Godfather, and you’re here to ask us a favor. I already said yes, silly! You can sit next to me.”[/color] He gestured to his right, between himself and Athena.

[color=#0074ff]“Not on Calli’s side. Sometimes I shoulder surf her YouTube videos.”[/color]

As if on cue, Athena slid over, creating a space between her and her brother. She couldn’t help but grin at this wholesome interaction- well, if you could consider biting wholesome - it felt subtly reminiscent of her own parents’ dynamic. 

Was this love? Hopefully. Hercules was so single it was almost painful to watch. 

The blonde patted the open seat and motioned for Minnie to join, moving some things around on the table to make room for the girl’s lunchbox. She stacked her papers she had been reading and slipped them back into her backpack. [color=#82a6ed]“Minnie Mouse for Minnie, that’s cute.” [/color]She stated, minding her tone to ensure it came off as genuine. Oftentimes, she found herself mimicking Celeste unintentionally, as they spent way too much time together. [color=#82a6ed]“You know, Hercules is named after a Disney character. Not the Greek myth, like most people think.” [/color]She smirked, using this opportunity to embarrass her brother playfully. [color=#82a6ed]“Ask him what his middle name is.”  [/color]

[color=#cadaf7]“We’re [i]all [/i]named after Disney characters, his is just the only one with a movie,” [/color]Calli said, shrugging, and taking a bite from an apple she produced from a blue, canvas lunch box.. [color=#cadaf7]“It’s kind of our whole thing,” [/color]she said, through a mouthful of Granny Smith. [color=#cadaf7]“Well, that, and being super hot.” [/color]Calli had never had a problem hyping herself up. In fact, she probably did it a little too often.

[color=#0074ff]“[i]Super[/i] hot.”[/color]

There was a lot to process and Minnie was severely delayed in any reaction; from Hercules allowing her to bite him, softly, to him calling her cute, so cute, and the fact that he was looking at her when he said super hot. Minnie’s heart felt like it would beat right out of her chest. Even if she wanted to divert her gaze and focus on her lunch box, she couldn’t turn away from him. He was genuine, honest and… incredibly nice to look at. The pink on her cheeks suddenly reddened like a rose at full bloom. He wanted her to sit next to him too. He wanted her close. 

Speechless, Minnie found herself unable to respond right away. Hercules might not think she would have gone alone to homecoming but no one ever asked her out. The only experience she had was with her best friend and that was a mutual agreement with both parties. She didn’t know why she was never approached. Jade, Hana, and Amy all got approached. What made her different? Or maybe they were never approached, like her, because they were beautiful and sometimes it was hard to approach beauty? Maybe they did the approaching, just like she did? She shouldn’t assume, she knew better, but she couldn’t help but wonder. Why hadn’t anyone asked her out? Was it because she overwhelmed them with talk of her parents and the obstacles to come? Did she scare them by bringing up how serious of a lover she would be and if they dated it wouldn’t be a casual fuck buddy situationship? Was she actually intimidating? There were so many unanswered questions in her mind. She knew one thing for certain though and that was she was nothing like her sister. Minnie wanted to date for love, a romantic match, in hopes it would one day lead to a happy marriage. Minnie wanted romance. Minnie wanted love.

All of that didn’t matter right now. What mattered now was Hercules and his sisters seemed to like her, really like her. [color=#62d1ff]“Okey dokey… I’ll sit closer,” [/color]The bashful Candy whispered, getting up and grabbing her lunch box. If she wasn’t so nervous she’d skip to him but right now she was extremely self aware of their stares. They were watching her and she didn’t know what they were thinking. Finding her way to the other side of the table, standing between Athena and Hercules but having not sat down yet, Minnie announced, [color=#62d1ff]“Sitting now. Right there.”[/color] A cute, anxious giggle escaped her lips. [color=#62d1ff]“Here I goooooo.” [/color]

Joining the bench and nestling herself in the bench spot between them, Minnie placed her lunch box on the table, avoiding eye contact with the Olympians. [color=#62d1ff]“So… what’s your middle name, Herc?”[/color] She unzipped the Minnie box and licked her bottom lip, catching a whiff of Herc’s natural scent. [color=#62d1ff]“And I know the feeling. I wished my name came from Disney. Mine and my sister’s came from Greek roots. Still cool but Disney is cooler.”  [/color]When her lunch box was opened it revealed a Hello Kitty bento box. While bentos were traditionally Japanese, other eastern countries used them too. In Minnie’s case however, she and her sister learned how to make it look authentically Japanese like the anime they watched together. Focusing intensely on the object before her, so the wired butterflies that flew around in her tummy like they were at a rave could calm down, Minnie opened her [url=https://thesmartlocal.jp/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/japanese-bento-31.jpg][color=#1155cc]bento box[/color][/url] and swallowed intensely. 

Why couldn’t she turn to look at him? Sitting next to him only made things worse. Now she was even more distracted and whelmed. Feelings aside, Minnie knew not looking others in the eye was rude but she couldn’t help it. This boy made her feel things. She barely understood these things. But still! He made her feel things. Even just sitting next to him and touching him a little with her arm clouded her senses, where she was only thinking about one thing and that was him. She needed to act normal. Be normal. Live normal. The normalist Minnie there ever was. She could do that, right? 

[color=#62d1ff]“I…” [/color]she began. Her deep, brown eyes glinted with bravery and admiration. [color=#62d1ff]“like Disney, and cute things,” [/color]she continued, as if it weren’t already obvious by her items and how she carried herself (like a Disney princess). The risk of looking at him only meant she could see him clearly and he could see that she didn’t know how to act, especially not around him. Internally, she was being her own hype woman knowing these were seas she never set sail on. A situation she never experienced. Internally she believed she could handle this and not act like a fool for love. Internally she was doomed. Her eager eyes fixated on him and displayed her blossoming infatuation. What an intense feeling it was to realize love could be for you too. This was becoming less of a dare, and a random gamble, and more of a tangible possibility for her to hold and grasp. If she really wanted to, in this instant, she could reach for him and touch him. If she really wanted to, they could do what lovers do. If she really wanted to, she wouldn’t be frozen in place and nervous. Did this mean she didn’t want to or was there something more to what she was feeling? It wasn’t like they were boyfriend and girlfriend. It wasn’t like he liked her that much. It was too early for those kinds of feelings. Minnie knew better.

[color=#0074ff]“I like Disney and cute things too! John is my middle name. You know, like John Darling? From Peter Pan,”[/color] Hercules explained as he watched the girl. She was cute (possibly cuter than cute, but Hercules didn’t allow himself to throw words like ‘adorable’ in such a wanton way)... and she was almost ignoring him. Was he hard to look at? Maybe his expression was too harsh? Herc found himself briefly trying to soften his expression before deciding he probably looked like an idiot doing so. [color=#0074ff]“You’re pretty nervous, huh? Have you ever had a boyfriend before? That’s okay. I’m a good teacher, watch.”[/color] Hercules said, before flashing her a smile — only to follow it up with the briefest of apologetic looks at both of his sisters.

He just knew they were going to cringe.

[color=#0074ff]“Here, first you can do this.” [/color]He took one of her hands and guided it toward his knee, letting her palm rest there. [color=#0074ff]“Then I do this…”[/color] He reached out and took the chopsticks that rested on her, watching as she followed his hands with her eyes. [color=#0074ff]“Hey,”[/color] he tutted. [color=#0074ff]“Eyes on me.”[/color] Hercules said, taking his free hand to gently grab her chin and turn her eyes back where they belonged: on him.

The chopsticks moved down to the bento box, and Hercules carefully picked up one of the pieces of katsu as he commented. [color=#0074ff]“Is that Cinnamoroll made of rice? That’s adorable.”[/color] Cinnamoroll deserved adorable, he thought. He brought the food up to her lips, reuniting their gaze. [color=#0074ff]“Go like this. Ahhhhh,”[/color] Hercules felt like a dentist as he mimed opening his mouth, but once Minnie did it, Hercules fed her the bite of food he’d picked up.

[color=#0074ff]“There. Now the whole lunchroom knows.”[/color]

[color=#676fa5][sub]“Looklooklook![/sub] [/color]Cael chattered excitedly, his feet bouncing under the table, as if his Candy companion’s eyes weren’t equally as locked on the scene unfolding. [color=#676fa5][sub]“He just fed her oh my god that's so cuuute.”[/sub] [/color]He gushed.

[color=#bb3a50][sub]”Stix, [i]please[/i],”[/sub][/color] The smaller boy sighed, ever the wrangler of the pixies but never actually upset about it, dropping a hand to the other’s knee to still it when he saw it bouncing a mile a minute in his periphery. [color=#bb3a50][sub]”Observe but don’t draw attention, what if we break whatever spell has come over that table?”[/sub][/color]

[color=#676fa5][sub][sub]“Sorry!”[/sub][/sub][/color] Mo was right, Cael could absolutely not mess this up for them. He focused on stilling his body and instead snatched up a fork. Cael gripped the utensil until his knuckles turned white, eagerly anticipating what storybook romance trope would come next.

Hercules kept surprising her. She couldn’t even process his middle name because now she was chewing her katsu and gawking at him, stunlocked. If she were an anime girl, sadly she wasn’t, this would be one of those moments where she would yell in surprise. Shock. Pure embarrassment! Minnie however was left speechless, which was a feat in itself. First he sniped her when he asked if she ever had a boyfriend before. Was she that obvious?! Then he gently grabbed her hand and rested it on his thigh, giving her permission to breach his space. His initiative wasn’t something she expected. She was naturally an intimate person, especially with her friends, but to have a boy direct her and show her where his boundaries were without her having to ask was… different. It was nice to not get in trouble for hugging someone you weren’t supposed to. This wasn’t a friendship hug, though. This was THIGH touching. This is what lovers did! This led to naughty things! On top of that, the last thing that caused her to get lost in his tender eyes was the fact that he fed her with her chopsticks. He. Fed. Her. Like a princess! Not only was he good at using chopsticks but he was impossible to look away from. And he was a gentleman. A prince!

Keeping one hand on his leg, Minnie brought the other one over her mouth, to cover it as she chewed and spoke, trying to get out of this state of astonishment and function like a normal teenage girl,[color=#62d1ff] “The lunchroom knows what? That you’re a good teacher?” [/color]She wasn’t the best at context clues. Minnie was a pretty color in the crayon box but she definitely wasn’t the brightest color. She just saw him as a bold date and dance partner. Clearly, her thoughts were delayed on the obvious. She swallowed her food.[color=#62d1ff] “You’re okay with me touching you?”[/color] The hand on his leg fidgeted. Part of her wanted to pull back and the other part didn’t want to let go of him.[color=#62d1ff] “I’m sorry but I think I should save this stuff for m-my boyfriend. I don’t want to lead you on… and to answer your question, I never dated before. That doesn’t mean I’m inexperienced. That isn’t table talk though… I just think I should do this with someone I’m dating and right now I have no one.” [/color]Decidedly, she did end up pulling her hand back, clearly misunderstanding his motives completely. [color=#62d1ff]“Maybe if you teach me, someone will like me!”[/color]

Athena tried her best to control the bile that rose up in the back of her throat as she watched her brother make “moves” on Minnie. She didn’t want to watch this, she’d rather be anywhere else on the planet than be subjected to this torment. The blonde slowly leaned backwards, not making any sudden movements, and threw one of the blueberries that she had been eating at Calli’s face on the other end of the table. As soon as she had her attention,  the brains of the trio gave her a look that screamed discomfort. 

Calli cringed back at her sister, and mouthed a silent, [color=#cadaf7]“What the fuck?” [/color]She had grown accustomed to her brother’s quirks, but they would still never cease to amaze her. Now there was another version of him, with more boobs and possibly less awareness. Shaking her head, she popped back into her place as though she’d hadn’t moved a muscle, raising an eyebrow at Minnie. [color=#cadaf7]“Babes, I hate to be the first to break this to ya, but I think he likes you,” [/color]she said in her best stage whisper.

[color=#62d1ff]“Wait really?” [/color]Minnie muttered in disbelief. In her little mind, she had already created a narrative that the only person that would ever like her was her best friend. With how strict her mother could be and how aloof her father could be, she didn’t really consider her own love story. Certainly not before thirty. Her parents told her she couldn’t date until she got married. Maybe she took that too literally and needed to revisit that conversation. [color=#62d1ff]“Really funny, guys.” [/color]Minnie brought her attention back to her lunch and found herself losing her appetite real quick. Her nerves shifted to insecurity right before the triplet’s eyes. [color=#62d1ff]“You don’t have to pretend, I’m just happy I have a date for tomorrow.” [/color]She wondered if she was overstaying her welcome at the table. She didn’t want to burden them anymore than she already had. Part of her wanted to leave and go back to her Candy friends. The other part of her was lost and confused with all this information swirling around her head, unable to translate it. If this was a joke, she didn’t think it was funny. She closed her bento box, preparing to make her exit and run away from the situation. 

Cael noticed the exact moment that Philomena’s demeanor changed. One moment, she had her hand on Hercules’ thigh under the table and the next it looked like she was folding in on herself and ready to bolt. What Cael would give to be able to hear what was being said, but he couldn’t. All that he knew was that his friend could get hurt if he didn’t do something right this very moment. The Prince of Candyland dropped the fork he nearly mangled with his grip and pushed his chair back to make room to stand up to go be her knight in pastel armor.

[color=#bb3a50][sub]“[i]No,[/i]”[/sub][/color] the Candy King hissed quickly to his fellow pixie, hand dashing out to encircle his wrist while also hooking his foot behind Cael’s chair leg to pull the other back against the table. He’d been watching just as intently as Cael, but he was reading the three Helmsleys much more than he was reading their dear Minty. Keeping the other boy’s hand in his grip, he intertwined their fingers and patted the back of the pastel boy’s hand. He knew the boy could have a bruising grip when anxious, but it was the best way to keep him tied down at the moment.  [color=#bb3a50][sub]“No no. We are not doing that. You dared her, not your place to interfere [i]now[/i]. Watch.”[/sub][/color]

Mismatched eyes glared back at the Candy King. A wave of emotions crashed over Cael’s expression — shock, betrayal, anger. His brows stitched together as his whole body bristled against Mo’s commanding grip, despite the fluttering it stirred in his stomach. [color=#676fa5][sub]“If they hurt her, I’ll kill you for this.”[/sub] [/color]He didn’t mean it, of course, but it looked like he did in the moments just before his gaze flicked back to the table of Olympians.

Ramón, well used to the boy’s ever changing moods and impulses, simply maintained his hold on the other’s hand whispered back, [color=#bb3a50][sub]“If they hurt her, let [i]me[/i] kill [i]them[/i] before [i]you[/i] kill me,”[/sub][/color] just before Calli’s mouth started moving at the other table.

[color=#cadaf7]“Herc, please tell the cute girl that we’re not pretending.” [/color]Calli had a lot of things, but time or patience to watch these two baby deer beat around the bush was simply not it. They would thank her for it later.

[i][color=#0074ff]Yeah, that’s fair.[/color][/i] Hercules thought to himself as he stood up alongside Minnie and put his hand over hers as she closed her bento box. He took her dainty hand in his own and lifted it up to his lips, kissing the top of it as he looked at her with a slightly tilted head and a dashing smile. He was hopeful the act would stun lock Minnie long enough for Hercules to do what [i]really[/i] needed to be done.

He closed the distance between their faces rather quickly, and pushed their lips together in what he hoped was a romantic kiss. At least, as romantic as a kiss in front of the entire lunchroom of Beverly Hills High could be. Hercules held it long enough to dip Minnie back, and then he broke the kiss and looked down at her.

[color=#0074ff]“Will you be my girlfriend?”[/color] He smiled, adding. [color=#0074ff]“Please?”[/color]

Hercules Helmsley was going to be so, so, so bad for her. Shattering all the doubt she had with a single kiss that felt like she was Cinderella at the ball where she met her Prince for the first time, Minnie could only focus on one thing and that was him. She was lost but no longer confused. This felt like something she’d watch in the movies. His intention was laid bare for her and the tiny dancer found herself disoriented, yet intently captivated by the boy’s eyes. They were the softest of browns imbued with the most soothing of greens. They reminded her of gentle flowers within a steep forest. 

Once Upon a Dream… 

The kiss itself was shy, cautious and sweet like nectar. She could taste how nervous he was. A million thoughts condensed into one single grand gesture. She could only imagine the courage it took him to kiss her not only in front of his sisters but in front of the whole cafeteria. If she didn’t understand now, then she truly was an idiot. Her eyes watered, blurring her vision. To understand how she got here was pointless. Fate decided that her dare would lead to love. She was so happy. 

[color=#62d1ff]“Yes,” [/color]Minnie breathlessly answered. The dip shifted to her grabbing his face, as he still held her at an angle and her giving him a thousand excitable pecks all over his face, his lips and his neck. [color=#62d1ff]“Yes! I’ll be your girlfriend!” [/color]Her nerves quickly turned into energy and she jumped up, wrapping her legs around him like a koala as he held her close. The kiss that started it all wasn’t anything she felt before. There was electricity in his touch and she wanted more. Steeped in passion, heat on her cheeks, Minnie showcased to the world her pure and vulnerable self, this time giving him the kiss he deserved. A long one that lingered and allowed him to explore her lips. A kiss with a volume of feverish adoration, a fear of the unknown, and pure, unadulterated spirit. Minnie embraced Hercules and hoped in this moment, he wouldn’t regret this decision. 

Having spent the past few minutes with his jaw clenched tight in anxiety, Cael’s lips parted with a sigh at the sudden release of tension. Mo had been right to hold the pastel pixie back, not that Cael would ever give him the satisfaction of admitting it. He could not believe his eyes — his bestie in the whole state of California was lip locked with Hercules Helmsley while nearly a quarter of their school looked on. Cael didn’t even bother to hide his gawking.

The faculty and staff in the lunchroom were speechless. They were lucky the principal wasn’t here or they’d get in trouble for PDA. When they pulled away, Minnie giggled and beamed at Hercules, her boyfriend. It was then that she realized she not only did the dare but she outdid the dare! Turning her head, in search for her friend, she caught sight of the Candy table and yelled, [color=#62d1ff]“I HAVE A BOYFRIEND, CAEL!”[/color]

[color=#676fa5]“YASS, BABYGIRL! AND YOU’RE [i]WELCOME![/i]”[/color] Cael shouted back, matching her energy as they always had. As they always would. Despite the proud smile on his face, his gaze fell upon the empty seat beside him and lingered for a moment. At least… he hoped they always would. Minty had a handsome rich boyfriend now… something like that had never happened before. Would it change things? Would her chair remain empty? Cael did his best to shove the shameful, selfish distress deep into his core. He finally popped that grape into his mouth and instead focused on the burst of sugary sweetness now coating his tongue.

[color=#bb3a50][sub]“[i]Honestly[/i], Stix,”[/sub][/color] Mo whispered out of the corner of his mouth while giving Minnie an acknowledging wave and smile. He could see exactly what false fantasy had wormed its way into his head and it took everything in him not to roll his eyes. As if their little Minty would disappear on them any more than Cael himself would. He squeezed the other boy’s hand once more as the paler ate his grape, [color=#bb3a50][sub]”If anything, that poor fool is about to be stuck here with us.”[/sub][/color] Not that Mo actually thought it would be a punishment for the other, Candyland was just a scary place to be if you couldn’t handle the energy. Judging by his and Minnie’s interactions, though? Mo was interested to see Herc’s inevitable integration.

For most of his life, Hercules Helmsley had felt like he lived in some kind of novel. It was hard not to; he lived in a castle, his parents were practically King & Queen of the realm, and his siblings were treated like royalty even when they very specifically asked not to be. He [i]was[/i] a prince, and did — at times — feel like a demigod. In his eyes, his sisters were the same. Athena was barely seventeen years old, but it was easy to see she was in some kind of thriller story, detailing the backroom deals that most people didn’t even know happened. Calliope was in some kind of action-adventure novel, a tale about a girl who had to try everything before she found the one thing she [i]truly[/i] loved. Calli’s story, Hercules thought, had coming-of-age vibes.

But, he’d never really been sure what kind of story his own was. He had his own hopes and dreams, of course, but no one ever really knew until they knew. The very moment that Minnie leaped from the ground and up into his arms, Hercules could have sworn everything around them froze. Were there other people in the room? In the building? In the world? Hercules forgot about them all as he tasted Minnie and the taste of her bubblegum flavored lip gloss rushed over him as quickly as the realization that he was exactly what he wanted to be: the protagonist of his very own romance novel.

The kiss broke. She shouted at someone, but with her staying attached to him, Hercules didn’t even break from the spell she’d spun on him until Cael yelled at his friend. Snapping back to reality, Hercules carefully (and regretfully) put his girlfriend on the ground and asked a question.

[color=#0074ff]“Do you want to go see the inside of a janitor’s closet together?”[/color]

The janitor’s closet? What a strange place to take someone. Unless! Unless Hercules had something special to show her. Or something special waiting for them both. [color=#62d1ff]“Is there a little treat in the closet?” [/color]Minnie questioned, quickly grabbing her things and clingily holding onto his arm. [color=#62d1ff]“Even if there wasn’t a little treat for me, I’d still go.” [/color]She explained matter-of-factly before giving him a warning of how… high maintenance she could be. The prerequisites that one must have to date Philomena Ramsey. [color=#62d1ff]“I go where you go, that’s number one rule. Unless we have to go home or go to class, then I guess I don’t go where you go.” [/color]She pouted, realizing her special ed schedule would never collide with her scholarly new boyfriend. 

[color=#62d1ff]“But I expect all the texts!” [/color]Minnie pleaded with desperate need in her innocent gaze. [color=#62d1ff]“If you don’t text me within a minute I might cry. So please tell me when you’re busy. I want good mornings and good nights. And I love LOVE so never hold back when you want to give me kisses and hugs. I might have days when I get really sad and insecure but I hope that doesn’t mean you’d stop liking me. If I’m a lot, I’m sorry in advance.” [/color]Minnie was losing track of the little treat and now focused on how their relationship would pan out. She never thought she’d have a boyfriend. A hot one at that!

[i][color=#0074ff]Nice.[/color][/i] As Minnie was talking, Hercules felt the relieving realization that Minnie was going to match his freak right down to double and triple texting if there wasn’t a response in three minutes. He held her hand and led the most beautiful yapper he had ever seen out of the cafeteria and through the halls. As he walked, he spoke.

[color=#0074ff]“There is a little treat waiting for you, and that little treat is little ol’ me.”[/color]

Multiple times since the beginning of their interaction Hercules shot her in the heart with cupid’s arrows. Her eyes widened with her mouth agape. The heat rushed to her cheeks, neck and… elsewhere when she understood what he meant. He knew how to turn up the dial of her doki doki thermostat to the maximum because instead of replying right away she buried her face into his arm. 

The warm glow on her face was hard to hide, she was fair skin and vibrantly expressive. Nuzzling his arm, she muffled, anxious and embarrassed, [sub][color=#62d1ff]“I’m sure you’re yummy.”[/color] [/sub]

[color=#0074ff]“Something tells me I’m not as tasty as your lipgloss, so let’s hurry and find out.”[/color][/indent][/indent][/color]