38 | I WON'T SAY IT

ALADDIN and Jasmine's story was one for the books. The tale in which a poor street rat gets thrusts into the life as the Sultan of Agrabah all in a matter of three days. Amazing really, but so were all of the stories that went around Auradon.

Aladdin and Jasmine had four kids. Aziz was the firstborn by six-years to a triplet group made of two boys and one girl.

Aziz was alike to Aladdin in many different ways. He vastly resembled his father both in looks and personality. He was one of the more favored princes among the royals (way more than Chad) as he was handsome, selfless, heroic, kind, daring, and optimistic. He was the ideal prince that any girl would want, and many did want him.

Especially now as it was obvious that King Ben would never leave Mal, most girls' turned their attentions to Prince Aziz of Agrabah. The heir to the throne.

Obviously, because of Aladdin and Jasmine's affiliation with the Genie, it could be assumed that the Genie's daughter Jordan would be a big part of Aziz's life. And a big part she was, the two had been attached by the hip since they could remember.

They were practically brother and sister. In a lot of ways, Aziz and Jordan balanced each other out — or at least that is what Winter believed.

While Jordan was the reckless loud-mouther of the two, Aziz was the charming smooth-talker. They were truly a dynamic duo.

Even though Dynasty Academy and Auradon Prep split the group of fairytale children, with the royal meetings and other meetings on the side, it was impossible for them all not to all know each other.

Winter stood there with wide eyes as Jordan grinned while looking into the leather-wearing crowd sitting at the desks. She noticed the way this class was different from the usual classes, the girl quickly figuring that this was a VK class. The only VK Jordan had ever met was Mal, so witnessing a class full of VKs was quite amazing to the Genie-in-training.

She grinned brightly, tilting her head to the side causing her golden earrings and facial jewelry to clang. Jordan clapped her hands, jumping in the air excitedly.

"Wow, this is a class of VKs! Ha! You all are actual villain kids!" She laughed while everyone slowly fell out of their shock.

It was official, the VKs had now seen it all. How this short but sporadic pretty girl dressed in dangly jewelry and loose airy clothing appeared was beyond most of them.

Fairy Godmother's face was slowly morphing into a scowl, a look of despair written across her features.

"Oi!" Harry pointed to Jordan almost accusingly. "Who're ya?"

It seemed he asked the question that every VK in the class was wondering. The only good thing about this dramatic entrance that Winter could perceive was the fact that she was no longer the center of attention.

Jordan's attention briefly snapped to Harry Hook before she moved her gaze across the class. She feigned shock, placing a hand over her chest as though deeply offended.

Winter sighed, fully expecting these sorts of dramatics from Jordan. She was even more climactic and exuberant than her father, and that was saying something.

"Me?" Jordan guffawed. "Why how can you possibly not know who I am?"

Uma snorted, but her facial expression remaining dry. "It's not that difficult, hotshot,"

Harry along with the rest of the crew snickered at their captain's words.

Jordan ignored her sarcastic words, widely motioning to herself. "I come from a land, far away from here, where the caravan camels roam!" She exclaimed while Mal sat back in her chair raising a brow.

The purple-haired girl vaguely remembered Jordan giving a similar speech when she first met her and Aziz. Mal also remembered Aziz rolling his eyes while Jordan ranted dramatically and the Genie clapping along with her words.

"I COME from a place where the Arabian nights are hotter than hot!" Jordan practically yelled causing almost everyone in the class to jump at her loudness.

Fairy Godmother and Winter were the only ones who did not. While Fairy Godmother simply looked enraged (something that was rare from her: like seriously she was not even mad when Jane attempted to take the wand from her) and Winter was just shaking her head at Jordan.

It was Jay who finally got it, his father's stories of Agrabah never leaving his mind. Like all villain parents, Jafar was fond of reminiscing about his "glory days" to his son. Jay could not even count that times that Jafar rambled to him about how powerful of a sorcerer he once was.

Considering the facts, it would also stand to reason that Jay had the power of a sorcerer, but like many VKs, he had never attempted magic. Evie was the same way as the Evil Queen was technically a witch, but Evie had never found the want since she came to Auradon to perform any serious magic.

The furthest Evie had gone was simple beauty enchantments.

Jay nearly jumped from his seat in excitement, his eyes alight as he pointed to Jordan.

"You're Jordan, daughter of the Genie! Aziz told me about you! You are a genie!" Jay stated in awe, the boy had heard many things about Jordan from both Aziz when they were on the field together and Mal from when she visited Agrabah with Ben.

Jordan's eyes snapped to Jay immediately, the girl pursing her lips when she recognized the sight of the son of Jafar. She had never actually met Jay, but she held a slight grudge against him because of his father.

Then again, quite a few AKs held grudges against the children of their parents' villains. There were only a few AKs who did not have someone to really hold a grudge against as their parents' conflicts were not against a physical villain.

Winter was an example of this. Yes, there was Hans of the Southern Isles, but he was not that big of a villain. Her mother and aunt's conflict more resided with understanding Elsa's powers than anything. Of course, Hans had played a roll in Elsa and Anna's story, but he was nothing too major in the vastness of it all. Especially once the Enchanted Forest and Ahtohallan became involved.

However, Hans was such an irrelevant villain that as far as Winter was concerned, he had never even been taken to the Isle.

No, the real villain against her family was someone else. Someone who was never able to be caught and taken the Isle of the Lost. Unlike many, Jack and Elsa actually had another villain to fight against after the Isle of the Lost was created. It was a villain who came after Winter was born, a villain who came after Winterfell herself.

Wenlock, the warlock supreme was who Winter's grudge was against.

Moving back to Jordan; however, Jordan squared herself against the son of Jafar and forced a smile on her face. She may have not been too fond of the idea of being associated with the son of Jafar, but Aziz seemed rather fond of him and Jordan trusted his judgment, so she would at least try with this boy in front of her.

This boy, who despite being the son of her father's sworn enemy, was rather attractive with shimmering brown eyes that could hypnotize anyone. Hypnotize anyone just as his father did with Jasmine's father over twenty years ago.

"Bingo, sir!" Jordan pointed to Jay. "I'm certainly Jordan the Genie, and you most definitely have never had a friend like me!" She mockingly wiped her forehead. "I am also so glad that the seed of Jafar actually got some more brain cells than he ever had...!"

Jay nodded stupidly before he caught on to what the she-Genie said. Harry and Uma were snickering loudly along with the rest of the class. Even Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Winter had cracked a small smile.

Jay, on the other hand, scowled while crossing his arms, "Hey!"

Jordan quirked a brow as though asking what he was going to do about it before spinning around suddenly, her arms wide open while she gave a face-splitting grin to Winter. Winter's smile was wiped off her face immediately, the girl cringing when she was brought into a tight hug by the very magical girl.

She groaned at how tight the hug was, smelling the usual scent of smoke which Jordan nearly always smelled of.

"Oh, Frosty! How are you..." Winter was released as quick as she was hugged, the girl sighing at the stupid nickname. Harry was cackling causing Winter to glare, swearing that if he ever called her that she would actually throw a fit. "...good? Good." Jordan answered for Winter, not giving her a chance to answer before she was looking at the class with a certain excitement that nearly scared Winter.

"Wow," Jordan disappeared from her spot before reappearing just as quickly behind Gil.

Winter's eyebrows shot up when she noticed that Jordan's clothing had also changed when she teleported. Instead of the genie-clothing, she was now wearing casual shorts with a plain tank top. Her shoes were strappy sandals that wrapped all around her feet, the girl's brown hair still high in its ponytail.

Her jewelry was still in place as well, except now she also had many rings and bracelets as well as henna tattoos scouring the length of her arms.

Gil jumped, whipping around along with the rest of Uma's crew at Jordan's appearance.

"I actually thought Sonny was lying to us all when she said she was dating the youngest kid of Gaston! But you're real, like what?!" She exclaimed in complete shock.

It was true; Sonny had told many people at Dynasty Academy that she was no longer a single lady and that Gaston's kid had stolen her heart. Barely anyone believed her; all of them thinking that she simply pulled a fast one on them.

Well, Jordan now realized that Sonny was actually telling the truth.

Gil, being ever-the-friendly VK he is, grinned at the genie with gleaming eyes. "Yeah, I'm real—"

Jordan thrust her hand out and shook Gil's hand so fast he flinched, his eyes widening at how fast Jordan was shaking his head. She had a strong grip, especially considering Gil's size — she actually managed to cause his entire body to shake with it.

"Haha! Amazing! Spectacular! Splendid! I am Jordan, short for Jordan! And wow, VKs are really hot!"

Quite a few of the students in the class smirked at that comment, but Harry absolutely preened under the slight compliment. He thrived with getting his ego stroked, even more so than most guys. It was so bad that Harry could almost compete with Chad in that category.

But even Harry was not as much of a bone-headed douche as Chad Charming was.

"Oop, don't tell Aziz I said that," Jordan laughed to herself, releasing Gil's hand and yet the boy was still shaking even after being let go. "Anyway, what's the Isle like? Do you really eat trash there?" Almost all of the VKs scowled at the sound of a stupid rumor that had been floating around since they arrived.

Yes, the food at the Isle was mostly rotten and pretty gross, but that was Auradon's fault. All they ever got at the Isle was Auradon's leftovers. Despite this, they most definitely did not eat trash.

And yet no one was able to properly react to that as Jordan was already two questions ahead. "...Did you dad actually eat four dozen eggs every morning as a kid?" Jordan rose a brow that Gil smiled and nodded in confirmation. Gaston may have not been Gil's favorite person, but even he had to admit eating four dozen eggs every single day was impressive. "Are you as hairy as your dad?" Gil's brows furrowed at the weird question. "Why are you blond?"

Gil opened his mouth but truly did not know what to say. He didn't know why he was blond, he was born this way. What kind of question even was that?

Jordan who had already got bored teleported away from Gil and reappeared sitting cross-legged on Mal's desk. Mal jumped at the sudden close proximity, Jay staring at the genie with a certain gleam in his eye.

It was astonishing to the teen. After hearing so many stories of his father and Agrabah and the Genie, to actually see this very magical girl in front of him was like a dream come true.

"Hey, is Ben close by or—" Jordan was unable to finish her question to Mal for the Fairy Godmother had officially had enough.

The Fairy Godmother snapped into action, stomping her foot, her face turning cherry-red. How dare this insolent little girl...!

"Jordan!" Fairy Godmother shrieked in such a stern tone that it had everyone except Jordan and Winter reeling in surprise.

The Fairy Godmother never acted like that with anyone, even the VKs. They had never so much as heard the peaceful fairy raise her voice to anyone.

The only reason Winter and Jordan were not surprised was that the two knew about Fairy Godmother's disdain for Jordan and her father. There was rarely a time when a conversation between Fairy Godmother and the Genie or his daughter did not end up in a screaming match.

"How dare you use magic on this campus?! This is the absolute definition of unacceptable behavior, and popping up uninvited? Do you realize how rude that is, child? Magic is strictly prohibited here on campus and..."

Jordan rolled her eyes, pretending as though her eyes were getting heavier.

Winter shuffled awkwardly as she watched Jordan close her eyes and let out obnoxious snores. Snickers rang around the room as Jordan mocked being asleep, the Fairy Godmother stopping in her rant before her eyes flashed with utter fury.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Jordan yawned, acting as though she just woke up, "I fell asleep from how much I don't care," she carelessly swung her legs while sitting on Mal's desk.

"Why you—" Fairy Godmother was unable to speak because Jay cut her off.

"Can I please rub your lamp?" Jay said, his eyes twinkling with an odd adoration.

Nearly every head turned to look at him, many people giving him weird looks. Even Harry was throwing him a funny look, as though not believing what he just asked. Winter cringed, mentally shaking her head at how wrong that sounded.

Jordan crinkled her nose, looking down her nose at Jay.

"I am going to ignore how wrong that sounded..." she said before the Fairy Godmother was back in the conversation.

"Young man, stay out of this," Fairy Godmother scolded Jay before turning her seething attention back to Jordan, "and you get off that desk right now!"

Jordan rolled her eyes before teleporting off the desk and standing a few feet in front of Fairy Godmother. Winter continued to stand awkwardly to the side, her eyes flitting toward the exit wondering if she could take her leave.

Harry caught her eye, delivering a cheeky wink that Winter did not respond to, instead she focused back on the bickering fairy and genie.

"What even is this?" Fairy Godmother held open the empty golden envelope that was no longer shimmering with magic.

Jordan cracked a smile.

"Well, Dad needed to send a message concerning family day to you, and I needed practice on traveling long-distance via soul-postal," in other words, Jordan was working on a spell that — as soon as something was opened — would call her to the place where the magical object was. In this case, the letter happened to be bewitched so that as soon as it was open, it would alert Jordan and make her teleport to its location immediately.

She had been in the middle of a Magical History class when it called her, so she was not too disappointed. Though, thinking of Aziz's face (as he had been sitting next to her) when she disappeared made her want to laugh.

"...Also, Dad thought this would irritate you," she laughed at the end causing Fairy Godmother to breathe deeply.

Of all the preposterous things the Genie could have come up with, sending his daughter randomly during the middle of the school had to be one of the worst.

"Well, right he was," Fairy Godmother spoke through clenched teeth, still upset that the class which she was trying to teach to be good had to witness this prankster mess of disobedience. "What does your father want to tell me?"

"Dad said that he accepts King Ben's offer to have an Auradon Prep and Dynasty Academy conjoined family day this year. He says Dynasty will come here and spend the week," she explained as the Fairy Godmother sighed but nodded anyway.

Multiple whispers broke among the class, people staring wide-eyed at the information. Winter was shocked as well, never having imagined that Dynasty and Auradon would do anything together. The Genie and Fairy Godmother simply butted heads far too much.

It would no doubt be a chaos-filled week with the Genie trying to approve random feats of magic and the Fairy Godmother scolding it.

Winter was also pretty sure that family day was meant to take place sometime at the end of February or the beginning of March this year.

"Fantastic," Fairy Godmother sighed, but she sounded as though she was anything but happy.

"Now leave," she deadpanned, "you may not have class at this school, but you still have class nonetheless."

Jordan frowned, scoffing but whirling around and waving enthusiastically at Winter.

"Bye, Frosty! I'll see you on family day!" Winter hummed in reply, giving her an almost unsure wave back.

Jordan turned to the rest of the class, nodding at Mal. "See ya lates, Mal! Tell Benny-Boo I said hello!"

Mal looked disgusted at the nickname which caused Jordan to snicker before she waved to the rest of the class.

"Bye VKs!"

Multiple hollers of obnoxious goodbyes came from the class in response, Harry, in particular, yelling the loudest — snorting when Uma hit him upside the head.

"Goodbye, pretty Genie!" Jay winked causing Jordan to scoff in disgust.

"Goodbye, slightly improved Jafar," she scowled before disappearing in a cloud of purple and blue smoke.

Winter waved the magical smoke away, hesitantly smiling at the Fairy Godmother.

"Well," she awkwardly shuffled out of the room, "I will just be going now,"

"Goodbye, me ducklin!" She heard Harry yell as she practically sprinted out of the room.

God, what a day this has been.

———————

Winter jumped when she closed her locker only to come face-to-face with a grinning Harry. He was leaning against the rows of lockers next to her own, his locker being just down the hallway.

"Why are you just standing there?" Winter asked while placing a hand over her heart.

Harry smirked, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Someone mentioned the name Hinter to me earlier," Winter's cheeks turned red at the sound of her and Harry's ship name.

"Did they?" Winter replied almost wistfully.

Harry dug his hands deep in his pockets, his black-ringed eyes gleaming.

"Yeah," he licked his lips, "actually, I quite like it..."

"Shut up, Patchy the Pirate," Winter hit his chest in a lighthearted manner.

Harry's eyebrows shot up, his mind reeling at the nickname he was just called. Oh, absolutely not, that was even worse than Harold.

" 'Scuse meh?" Harry growled, trying to sound threatening, but he knew he would never be able to so much as raise a hand against Winter.

Harry really did not know why that was, but Winter and Uma were the only two who Harry could not purposely hurt physically. Even his own sisters he did not mind wrestling to the death, especially when it came to fighting over the last biscuit in the mornings.

"What did ya call me? Yeh snowman,"

Winter crinkled her nose at the name, but decided not to say anything about it and instead change the subject.

"What are you doing for your birthday, it's in a few days," Winter immediately questioned, her face frozen in an odd sort of focused expression.

She remembered her promise to herself, she was going to give Harry Hook one hell of a birthday. Normally, she would be starting her Christmas planning, especially as the students went home for Christmas break on the twentieth day of December.

Finals were a few days before that, Winter knew as she had it marked in bright red on her calendar.

Back on point though, Winter elected to wait on starting her intense Christmas planning until after Harry's birthday. His birthday was on the twelfth of November, after all, just over a week away.

Harry's scowl left his face, his eyebrows pinched together. He shrugged in response, not having a real answer. Harry truly did not know what he was going to do for his birthday, he did not have any plans of celebration.

He figured it would be like any other day with the exception of Gil and Uma wishing him a happy birthday, just like every other year. That and the fact that he would be legally able to drink by Auradon's standards, something he had been planning on taking full advantage of until he remembered there was a strict alcohol probation on campus.

"I dunno," Harry shrugged causing Winter to unconsciously smile. Perfect, he wouldn't suspect a thing. "Why?"

Winter smiled in response, "I was just wondering,"

"Aww," Harry playfully teased her, "ye 'membered me birthday, I's is honored..."

Winter shook her head at his words, blowing a stray piece of hair out of her face. Harry noticed when the stray piece floated back to its original spot on her head. In a spur of the moment decision, Harry reached forward and gently tucked the piece of hair behind her ear.

It caused them both to stop walking, Winter now facing Harry staring deep into his eyes. A warm feeling spouted in her chest at the unfamiliar almost soft look in Harry's eyes.

Nope, she was not falling in... the L-word.

"What do you want for your birthday?" Winter hurriedly asked making Harry narrow his eyes.

"Nothin', and I 'specially don't want ye spendin' ye money on me. Ya already bough' me a whole new wardrobe!" Harry exclaimed as Winter lit up.

"Do you want another new wardrobe?" She smiled causing Harry to shake his head and be slightly taken aback.

How is that what she got out of everything he just said?

"Wha'–no! I swear teh God, ye better not be spending yer money on—" but Harry could not even finish for Winter was already halfway down the hall.

"I'll see you later, Harold!" Winter called before disappearing around the corner.

Harry was left by himself, flabbergasted, "...Me," he finished his previous statement, still looking to where Winter bulleted away with wide eyes.

What in the bloody freakin' hell?

———————

It was later that night when Uma, Mal, and Winter were lounging in Mal's room. Evie was out on a date with Doug and the three girls had been sitting around talking about random things.

"Uma, what does Harry want for his birthday?" Winter asked lazily, playing with her fingers from where she sat on the couch.

Uma turned her head in her direction, quirking a brow with a smirk.

"He already told me earlier to tell you that he wants nothing," Winter scowled at Uma's answer, "...but, seeing as you do not appear to be lacking in the fund department — he's always wanted a motorcycle."

Mal scoffed, setting down her phone. "Uhm, didn't Harry like crash Jay's bike when he hijacked it on the Isle a few months ago?"

"Yeah, but that was only cause he hated Jay more than he wanted a motorcycle at the time," Uma waved it off.

"Ah," she nodded while Winter narrowed her eyes in thought.

A motorcycle? Okay, she could do that, but what kind of motorcycle?

Not to mention, Winter wondered what type of candy he liked. Actually, scratch that, Harry had some weird affinity for the chocolate Whatchamacallit candy bars. Winter would need to get him a small basket of the chocolate bars.

He also quite loved sushi now — something he had with Uma for the first time last week. Winter figured she could take him out for a sushi lunch and then perhaps a nice dinner at Routatouille's. Even if Harry had been involved in breaking through the window of that nice restaurant a few weeks ago, Winter would still take him.

She also vaguely remembered a promise of his to take her dining there during that hell of a time.

Winter knew that it was far fancier than Harry was probably used to, but the food was to die for and Harry more than deserved to be spoiled. Winter would be the one to spoil him rotten on his birthday, even if he hated it.

What else would Harry like? Perhaps a late-night walk around the Enchanted Forest, Winter could make him fly with her.

She smiled, mentally noting down all of these things.

Oh! He would also need a cake, how silly of her to forget. But what kind of cake?

"What kind of cake does he want?" Winter said as Uma furrowed her brows.

"If I had to guess a lemon sponge cake. He had a piece of one when he was really young back on the Isle, and it's been his favorite ever since. But he's never had it since for obvious reasons," Uma trailed off, wondering if Winter had taken her seriously about the motorcycle.

Of course. Winter would have a special lemon sponge cake made just for him. And a red velvet cake. And a Devil's food cake. And a Bundt cake. And an ice cream cake. Maybe she would even throw in a cheesecake.

"You know I was kidding about the motorcycle..." Uma questioned nervously glancing at Mal who shrugged, "...right?"

Harry would kill her if Uma was the reason Winter ended up buying him an entire vehicle. But there was no way Winter would actually do that... right?

Winter quirked a brow at Uma. "Uhm, no? Does he not really want a motorcycle?"

"No—I mean he does, but you can't possibly actually buy him a whole ass—" Uma's tone was one of disbelief, and she was cut off by Winter who finished her sentence with a grin.

"...Motorcycle! Of course, I am going to buy him one, along with a few other small things, obviously," Winter rolled her eyes, "but what kind of motorcycle does he want?"

Uma opened her mouth to argue, but Mal stopped her.

"Don't even bother, it's a royal thing. Trust me, Ben does it to me all the time. Royals like to spoil their significant other with anything and everything," Mal rolled her eyes. "Once any of them get on it, there's no stopping them."

Uma's mouth open and closed like a fish before she settled on her next words. "Damn, I have got to start dating a royal,"

"Yeah," Mal looked over her purple-painted nails, "it's pretty nice."

"You know what would really make Harry's birthday though?" Uma turned to Winter who eagerly awaited her answer, pausing in her thoughts of planning Harry's birthday.

"What?"

"You confessing your love to him,"

Mal burst out laughing at Uma's words, Winter's cheeks turning bright red while her eyes grew double the size.

"What do you mean, I am not in..." she struggled, "in... in love with him," she finally got it out.

"Girl," Uma deadpanned, "who do you think you're kidding? You are literally buying him a whole ass motorcycle for his birthday and no doubt more insane things with the look you have in your eye." Uma finished, nodding toward Mal who smirked.

"Yep, and I would know seeing as I feel the exact same way about Ben," Mal snickered as Winter shook her head in denial.

"Oh, no way. No chance am I saying that—" Winter scoffed, waving the two off.

"You swoon," Uma listed as Mal finished for her.

"You sigh when he's around," Mal stood, her and Uma now standing next to each other.

Winter was a few feet away from the two, her back to them as she continuously shook her head.

Nope. No way. Your heart is too cold for that — Winter was far too frozen to ever hope for something like love... romantically at least.

She was not sure exactly where or when the belief that she was frozen-hearted came into play, but it was there now and Winter firmly believed it. Harry deserved someone better than her, someone who could give him more than a cold touch.

But still, the thought of him with anyone else physically hurt her.

"Again, that is way too cliché! And ridiculous, a pirate and the Ice Princess?" Winter scoffed as Mal and Uma rolled their eyes.

"Give in already, girl," Uma crossed her arms.

"Yeah, check yourself, you're in love," Mal expressed.

"You guys are way off base, get off my case. I will not say it." Winter pointed to the two dramatically as they grinned.

"Say what?" They asked together with similar smiles.

"I will not say that I am in love with Harry Hook!"

And despite her words, that was when Winter knew.

Crap, she was in deep and way too far to try and back out now. Because the truth of the matter was that she was in love with Harry Hook.

Oh no.

She was in love! Winterfell Frost was in love with Harry Hook! How could she allow this to happen?

But still, she would stick to her word. She was not going to say it out loud, not to anyone. Not to Uma, not to Mal, not to Evie, and definitely not to Harry. She would not say she was in love... out loud at least.

And that brought a smile to her lips, her gaze turning dreamy. Uma and Mal saw this, both of them sharing looks.

It was only a matter of time now.