Zora POV

I was in my room laying on my bed doing my homework. Every since I put an end to this love triangle I feel so much better. I began hanging out with Neil and his friends a lot more too. Don't get me wrong I love Will and Carlton but I also need friends outside of them and Neil became another best friend.

The door swung open. I looked up as I saw Neil laughing and he put a piece of paper on my lap

"I really need to start locking my door" I said as I sat up. Neil was jumping up and down with a huge smile

"I found it." Neil told me as I looked confused

"You found what?" I asked

"What I wanna do right now. What's really, really inside me. " he told me as I looked at the paper

"A Midsummer Night's Dream"? I read off the flyer

"This is it." He told me as I still looked lost. I don't know what he is talking about

"What is this?" I asked

"It's a play, dummy." He said rolling his eyes
"I know that dummy. What does it have to do with you?" I asked

"Right. They're putting it on at Henley Hall. Open tryouts. Open tryouts!" He yelled excitedly as he took my blanket off my bed and wore it like a cloak

"I'm gonna act. Yes, yes! I'm gonna be an actor! Ever since I can remember,I've wanted to try this. I even tried togo to summer stock auditions last year,  but, of course, my father wouldn't letme. For the first time in my whole life.I know what I wanna do." He said excitedly as he grabbed my homework and threw the papers everywhere

"You're cleaning that up" I told him looking at the papers

"and for the first time I'm gonna do it whether my father wants me to or not! Carpe diem! Join me as I jump for joy" he said as I began jumping up and down with him

"Thank you" he said hugging me as I looked confused

"For what" I asked

"If it wasn't for you. I wouldn't have the courage to do this" he told me as I smiled and hugged him again then we began jumping up and down again

I stopped jumping when I thought about his father and him being strict. His father doesn't know we're friends for obvious reasons

"Neil, Neil, hold on a minute. How are you gonna be in a play if your father won't let you?" I asked as he stopped jumping and we sat on my bed

"First I gotta get the part, then I canworry about that." He told me as I looked skeptical

"Yeah, but won't he kill you if he findsout you went to an audition and didn'teven tell him?" I asked

"No, no, no, no. As far as I'm concerned, he won't have to know about any of this." He told me

"Well, that's impossible." I told him. Bellaire is really small. People know People.

"Bullshit! Nothing's impossible." He told me as I sighed

"Well, why don't you just call him and ask him? And m-maybe he'll say yes." I suggested

"That's a laugh!" He said sarcastically as he took the blanket off and put it back on my bed

"I don't ask him, at least I won'tbe disobeying him." He told me

"Yeah, but if he said--" I was cut off by Neil yelling

"Jesus, Zora! Whose side are you on?" He yelled angrily

"I'm on your side but I don't want anything to happen to you. You know what happens when your father is angry" I told him.

"Zori, I love you and I love you're looking out for me but I'll be fine. Now let me enjoy this" he told me as I nodded

"Now let's celebrate" Neil said as I laughed as we began jumping up and down as my grandfather walked in and starting jumping with us

We both stopped and turned to him as he stopped as well

"What are you doing" I asked

"I just want to be apart of things" he said sadly putting his head down and walking away

"Oh and Mrs and Mr Banks called their having family meeting" my grandfather told me peeking his head in

"Did I miss something when was I integrated into that family" I asked

"Well as good as a time than ever. I have to rehearse" Neil told me as I nodded

"Bye PaPa" I said as I kissed his cheek

"Bye PaPa" Neil said kissing his cheek as my grandfather looked confused/shocked

We both looked at each other and laughed as we left out the room. I gave him a hug as we both parted ways as I walked into the Banks family kitchen and saw Hilary and her friends coming back from shopping.

I went into the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water as I sat on the stool when Will and Ty walked in

"Look, I'm telling you, man, it'll be cool." Ty said

"No one's going to believe you're a nuclear physicist." Will said as I looked confused. What goes on while I'm not around

"You have trouble working the pumps on your shoes." Ty told him

"Let me check in with my fan club." Will said as he walked walked up to me and wrapped his arm around me as I laughed

"So, I got a little question for you. Do you see me more as a Biblical scholar or a nuclear physicist?" Will asked

"I see you as...an extra from "Hook." I told him getting off the stool

"You better watch it before I make you walk the plank." He yelled after me as I walked into the living room

We were all sitting in the living room when Mr. and Mrs. Banks walked in

"Oh, great. You're all together." Mrs. Banks said as I raised my hand

"Yes sweetheart" Mr. Banks said as I put my hand down

"Why am I here" I asked

"Well your like our honorary kid" Mrs. Banks explained as Mr. Banks nodded

"Anymore questions" Mr. Banks asked as I shook my head as they continued

"Will, we've got something to say to you." Mrs. Banks said

"We just want to congratulate you for setting such a fine example for the other kids." Mr. Banks said as we all looked confused

"Is this some kind of sick joke?" Will asked standing up

"No, baby. Not at all. We are very proud of
the way you've managed to balance your schoolwork and your part-time job." Mrs. Banks explained to him

"Is this some kind of sick joke?" Carlton asked standing up as I rubbed his hand

"These bills are no joke. You kids could stand to learn a thing or two from Will." Mr. Banks said as I stood up

"Are we, like, in the Twilight Zone?" I asked confused

"When does everyone put on the pig masks?" Hilary asked as Carlton and I sat back down

"Carlton, $90 for a pair of socks? That's ridiculous." Mr. Banks said

"It certainly is!" Mrs. Banks agreed as she looked at the paper

"Um.. Oh, honey, that's $9.00." She said as Mr. Banks squinted his eyes

"Oh, okay. Ashley, how could you manage to charge $80 worth of trinkets on our account at the drugstore?" Mr. Banks asked

"Uh, that's 80 cents." Mrs. Banks corrected him as he walked up to me

"Zora 400 dollars on a book" he asked

"That says 40 dollars. Sweetie, don't you think you need to get your eyes checked?" Mrs. Banks suggested

"Don't be ridiculous, Vivian." He told her

"This has been going on for months. If you move the TV any closer to the bed I'll be sleeping with Jay Leno." She told him

"I can see just fine. They're just making the print smaller than they used to. Now, this looks like $300 for a pair of shoes. What does it say?" Mr. Banks said

"$300 for shoes." Mrs. Banks confirmed

"Point being?" Hilary asked

"Kids, we'd like to talk to Hilary alone." Mr. Banks said as we all stood up

"Go easy on her. You gotta admit her shoes are cute" I said

"I know right" Hilary agreed as we began talking about her shoes as they gave me a look

"Yes, sir! I think I'll slide out and simonize my halo." Will said as we all walked out

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The next day I walked into the Banks house as I saw Will checking himself out

"Yes, hi. I'm Dr. Smith. Sorry I'm late, I had to slide down to the nuclear facility and split an atom." Will said

"Do you wanna be alone or" I asked as he jumped when Hilary walked in

"I give up. I can't get a job. I can't even pound
the pavement right." Hilary said

"Guess your interview didn't go too good, huh?" I asked

"It's just not fair. I want my employer
to want me for me not for what I've accomplished. You know what I mean?" Hilary asked

"Yeah, Hil, I do, and it scares the hell out of me." Will said as we all sat down

"Tomorrow's just going to be more of the same. I'm interviewing at a catering company
but I'll never get the job. 'Cause it's a cold, cold world, Will, Zora and unfortunately, these people only want one thing." Hilary told us

"What, your body?" I asked

"No. My resume." She said

"Let me look at it." I said as I looked over the paper

"Alright, here we go. Well, first things first.
If you're gonna want people to take you seriously you're gonna have to stop
dotting your I's with these little hearts." I told her as she groaned

"And you're applying for a position at a catering company?" Will asked

"Yes, but I don't know anything about catering." She said

"Come on, girl, what are you, tripping?
How many catered affairs have you been to?" Will asked

"I don't know. Four, maybe 500." She said

"Okay, there we go six thousand hours of
catering experience." Will said writing it down

"Didn't you spend, like, three summers in Paris?" I asked as she scoffed

"Yes. I gained ten pounds eating croissants." She said

"Studied pastry-making with the French masters." Will said

"Oh that's good" I said

"But, Will, Zora, I am no good in the kitchen.
I mean, the last time I tried to make breakfast
I burned the entire stove to a crisp." Hilary said

"Expert in the art of flambe." i said as Will nodded and wrote it down

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The next day I was at the Banks house helping Ashley with her homework

"Hey-hey." Ty said walking in the kitchen

"Hi, Will." Mr. Banks said as Ty just stared at him

"Philip, you really should get your eyes
checked." Mrs. Banks said

"Oh. I'll make an appointment to see the eye doctor tomorrow." Mr. Banks said

"Uh, Tyriq, Will's upstairs. I'll go get him." Ashley told him

"Oh, no, that's okay, Ashley. I'll get him." Ty said as he walked to the living room

"Yo, Will, it's Ty!" He yelled then walked back into the same kitchen

"You sure he heard you?" Mr. Banks asked sarcastically

"Yo, that's a good point. You got a broom?
I mean, I could bang on the ceiling. Ha-ha!" Ty said as Will walked downstairs and they were wearing the same shirt

"It's a classic episode of who wore it better let's see how it plays out" I said grabbing a soup ladle and using it as a microphone making and using a sports commentators voice

"Why you got my shirt on, man?" Will said

"Hey, man. Wait, wait, wait. What you talking about your shirt, man? You said you weren't
going to buy it." Ty said

"I said I wouldn't if I were you. I got the shoulders for it." Will said

"Ooohh" I yelled childishly running around the kitchen then up to them

"That shirt looks good on anyone. All the guys in eighth grade have one." Ashley said then walked out the kitchen as I started laughing

"Game over" I said in a deep voice

"Um, I'mma take mine back, man." Will said

"Yeah, alright. Well, me, too, you know. I better return mine before my scent overpowers it." Ty said as he walked out the kitchen as Hilary looked at Ty and Will

"I think you guys are spending too much time together." Hilary told Will

"Hey, how did the interview go?" I asked her

"You are looking at the new catering director
for Delectable Eats. I am single-handedly overseeing a bar mitzvah for 200 people this Saturday." She said as we all cheered and hugged her

"I'm so happy for you!" Mrs. Banks said

"Congratulations, baby!" Mr. Banks told her

"Mom, dad...this time I think I've really found my niche and I owe it all to you." Hilary said

"Oh, this is so exciting! Why don't you
help me fix dinner?" Mrs. Banks asked as Hilary laughed

"Please. You can't afford me." She said as she walked away

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That weekend I was waiting on Neil we were going to hang out this weekend with Carlton. I wanted my best friends to get along. I was gonna invite Will but he has plans with Ty so we have something scheduled next weekend

"Mr. Neil Perry" Geoffrey said as he walked in with Neil. Neil handed him a bill

"Oh Mr. Perry I couldn't" Geoffrey said as he looked at it

"Oh look it's Ben" Geoffrey said as he left as I walked up to Neil and hugged him

"Neil this is Ashley and Carlton. Ashley Carlton this is Neil

"Nice to meet you" Ashley said shaking his hand

"How you doing" Carlton said as they shook hands as it was silent for a while

"Can't you just feel the love" I asked excitedly wrapping my arms around the two of them when Will walked in

"I need you guys help. Hilary needs more servers for her bar mitzvah" Will explained

"Forget it, Will. I'd rather share a seesaw
with Delta Burke." Carlton said

"Ashley?" Will asked asked

"You know how hard it is for me to say no.
No. Easier than I thought. Neat." Ashley said

"Zee??" Will asked

"I have plans" I told

"Random stranger I never met" Will asked Neil

"I don't know you people" Neil said

"I don't believe you people. Hilary is your sister and your best friend and nothing to him actually" Will told us

"Look, if it weren't for her, man, you'd.." Will said as he stopped to think

"Every time you've been in a jam, she.." Will started again but paused

"She's always the first one.." Will said then stopped

"Hilary's your sister and best friend" Will yelled at us

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave. First you lied on your dating application then you lied
on Hilary's resume. A lie always comes back
to haunt you." Carlton told him

"Sort of like that heat rash on your neck that you've been passing off in gym class as a hickey?" Will asked him

"Enough said." Carlton said

"Fine I'll come too. Sorry about our plans Neil" I apologized

"It's okay. I can come too. I like hanging out with you" Neil told me as I smiled as Carlton cleared his throat

"Uh, l-look, it won't be that bad, man. How hard can it be to serve a couple 13-year-old boys?" Will asked

"Thirteen-year-old boys? Count me in!" Ashley said excitedly as we all gave her a look

"After all, Hilary's my sister." She explained

"Alright, thanks. Um, now I just gotta try to get G and Mr. A to come. You know how tight G is with his days off." Will said as we walked into the kitchen and saw my grandfather and Geoffrey drinking scotch

"Hey, G! Mr. A! Big, big party, man! Plenty of honeys!" Will said

"No." My grandfather and Geoffrey said

"Well, G and Mr. A are probably right. How much fun could you have with chumpies named Di, Fergie, and Elizabeth, uh, you know?" Will said as we walked out the kitchen waiting for them to fall for the trap

We all drove to the venue and walked inside the hall

"Where's the princess?" Geoffrey asked us

"Here I am!" Hilary said as she walked up to us

"Geoffrey, you have saved my life, as usual.
Thank you so much for helping me on your day off. " Hilary said

Miss Hilary, it will be my pleasure to help you in your hour of need." Geoffrey said then turned to Will

"As for you...there is a special place for you in homeboy hell." Geoffrey said as we all put on aprons and began working

We were in the kitchen working on the trays and platters

"Well, Hil, looks like you're all set. Me and Ty are about to break out." Will said

"But I need you." Hilary told them

"No, okay? No, no, no, no, no. It's not going
to work this time. But you're the one who said I could do this job!" Hilary cried

"Hilary, listen. I told you all day we had to go,
alright? Look, just-just stop it now, okay? Stop it!" He yelled as Hilary began crying

"Ty, look, she-she really needs our help, man.
She's in a jam. Can we help her out?" Will said

"Alright, o-okay. But, you know, not for long. 'Cause this is my one chance to date a woman who doesn't wear all her gold in her mouth." Ty told him

"Just 20 minutes. We'll be out of here in 20 minutes." Will said as she smiled

"Great!" She said and gave them trays to carry

"Oh she's good" Neil whispered to me as I nodded

"Okay, servers, let's go out there and show those party-goers the best darn time they've ever had! Say it once, say it loud we've got Brie and we're proud!" Hilary said excitedly

"We've got Brie and we're proud." We all mumbled as Hilary opened the door as everyone walked out the door

After a while my grandfather, Geoffrey, and I walked into the kitchen to fill up our trays and Hilary was hiding in the closing

"Hey, look, she won't listen to me, man. I give up." Will said as my grandfather and Geoffrey knocked on the closet

"I think it's time you came out of the closet." They both said when a woman walked in

"Let me." She said as she knocked on the closet

"Sonny, what you do in the privacy of the bedroom is nobody's business but yours.
Just be true to yourself!" The woman said as I nodded

"Right on" I agreed

"He'll come around." The woman said as she left

"That's it. If you don't come out, I'm coming in!" My grandfather said twisting the knob as Hilary opened the door and pulled them both in as I put my ear on the door listening to their conversation

"Miss Hilary, will you please be sensible?" Geoffrey said

"My friends are out there, Geoffrey, Mr. Allen One of them is going to go to medical school.
The other one landed a job with IBM.
And if they see me out there serving
they're gonna think I'm a big fat zero." Hilary said

"What matters is what you think about yourself." Mr. Grandfather told her

"Maybe in Des Moines. This is L.A., okay?
Besides, I lied to get this job and now I can't do it. I quit." Hilary told the.

"Miss Hilary, remember when you were nine
you begged your parents to buy you a violin?
But five minutes into your first lesson, what did you do?" Geoffrey asked

"I quit. I had to. It irritated my chin." Hilary explained

"And what about ballet?" Geoffrey asked

"I quit. I had to. I was starting to get feet like Fred Flintstone." Hilary said

"And cheerleading?" Geoffrey asked her

"Okay, okay, I quit that, too. But they wanted me to go to away games on a bus!" Hilary told him

" Hilary, dear. I'm gonna tell you something I tell Zora. You can't go through life quitting everything. You never achieve anything
unless you stick with something." My grandfather told her as I smiled. He really does care about this family as much as I do and it's heart warming to know that

"And you should stick with this because you've done a truly remarkable job on this party.' I can't remember when I've seen you this happy." Geoffrey told her

"Yeah, but, Geoffrey, Mr. Allen what difference does it make? I mean, do you really see Cindy saying "Wow, you just gotta meet my friend Hilary Banks. She can sculpt cauliflower into
a bust of Barbara Streisand." Hilary told them

"There's nothing demeaning about serving others, young lady. I'm very good at my job
and in that I take great pride." Geoffrey told her

"I'm not as strong as you are, Geoffrey, Mr. Allen" Hilary said

Oh, no? Well, I had a hand in raising you, Miss Hilary and if I do say so myself Geoffrey don't raise no fools." Geoffrey told her

"Now, if you love this job as much as I think you do go out there, pick up a tray and enter that room as if you were the Queen of England." My grandfather told her

"Oh, but she's so dowdy. Can I be Princess Caroline instead?" Hilary asked

"Get busy, princess." My grandfather told her as Will and I walked into the closet

"That's it, Hilary! I am sick and tired
of your attitude. Okay? Now you get your spoiled butt up out this closet and you go out there and strut your puffs!" Will yelled as Hilary looked at my grandfather and Geoffrey as they nodded to her as she got up and walk out

"Well, I'm a bad boy, ain't I?" Will asked giving Geoffrey and my grandfather a high five as laughed and hugged my grandfather

A/N this Chapter doesn't have much to do with Zora because this was a Hilary centered episode but I do want to incorporate Neil more into the story so you can see him being Zora's best friend and also I wanted you guys to see James relationship with the other characters since he's usually left out of certain moments