IT WAS OPENING NIGHT AND, JUDGING BY THE LARGE CROWD WAITING TO ENTER, IT WAS GOING TO BE FILLED. Nearly all the school had shown up, which was a surprise to everyone, really, since, typically, the school shows were rather uncared for, especially considering the academic leanings, even foregoing sports half the time. Of course, they were doing a Disney show, so people were inclined to come, and it had been broadcast on the school news every day for the past two months since strings were pulled to convince Betty Brant to do a coverage on rehearsals and the value of arts education, even at a science-leaning school. There was also talk of Johnny Storm coming to see the show, which was talk for everyone.

What also came as a surprise were the leading roles, played by a girl who often sat in the ensemble due to her tendency to fall asleep no stage, and a boy who was literally dragged into the limelight after comfortably living in the shadows with his sunglasses. Their number one fan was a boy who should have worked lighting but couldn't do to prior engagements, such as one Stark Internship, though he was happy to sit in during tech week to cheer, narrate, and wolf whistle when the leads stage kissed, much to the chagrin of the director.

But it was opening night and the air was abuzz with people talking about the students they knew in the show and what they hoped it would be and if it was even worth it to shell out eight dollars for a seat in the large amphitheater that was barely ever filled, even for assemblies.

"Their run through this morning was terrible," Peter gushed to his friends and acquaintances who were waiting to congratulate the actors before heading off to a late dinner, "It was really, really bad, and some people didn't show up, but Rory told me that was a good thing, so that's hope so."

"If you're so invested, why aren't you a part of it?" Harry Osborn asked, and the boy simply shrugged, shifting under his gaze as he ducked his head, flushing.

The group continued to chat, the teens in one group while their parents and guardians were in another, talking about anything and everything, eagerly waiting for the doors to open, planning on rushing to get the best seats. It was a very trying affair.

"Excuse me," a voice said, cutting through their conversation, the teens looking up in confusion.

A woman with dark hair and paper white skin looked down at them cautiously, her blood red lips carefully turned up in a strained, but trying smile, dark eyes flitting about nervously, as if she was looking for a chance to escape at any moment.

"Are you Peter Parker?" she asked softly, and Peter nodded, glancing over at the others in confusion.

"I am," he said, and he could hear the adults' conversation waver, a trio of gasps filling his ears, "Who're you?"

The woman smiled. "A friend of the lead. She told me to come sit with you."

"She did?" he asked, only to hear twin footsteps racing down the hall towards them, a chorus of 'excuse me's and 'get out of the way's filling his ears, "Rory? Lip?"

"Hi!" the two breathed, Phillip bent over his knees while Aurora leaned back, hands on her hips.

"She'll be sitting with you, okay?" she said, motioning towards the woman who looked on at her almost fondly, Aurora smiling back up at her, "Anyways, we have to go, doors open right now and we're not finished getting ready."

"And who's fault is that?" Phillip jibed as she grabbed his hand and dragged him away, shouting for people to move.

"Okay," Peter said, turning towards where the woman had been standing, only to find her entering the adult conversation, sharing light words with Aurora's godmothers who gave her small smiles. "Okay."

The doors opened and the teens all rushed to their seats, Peter taking dead center, the others filling in around him, nearly taking up the whole row with their numbers, everyone else filling it at a slower pace.

Backstage, the actors were trying to stay silent as they tried not to combust from the nerves, whispering their lines to each other in an attempt to keep their voices warm, going over choreography, and gossiping idly.

Aurora took a deep breath as she leaned against the wall, eyes screwed shut and Phillip looked up from where he was explaining bisexuality to one of his cast mates, cutting off the conversation to walk over to his girlfriend, sighing softly as he came to lean next to her.

"You okay?" he asked, and she shook her head, struggling to breathe.

"What if I fall asleep?" she asked, and he sighed, turning to he was leaned against the wall and facing her.

"Hey," he said, tapping her shoulder, "That's done with now. We've stayed up all night Skyping and watching old TV shows, and I fall asleep first, remember?"

"Yeah, but—" she tried, but he stopped her, shaking his head.

"I didn't get attacked by crows and push my way through a sea of briar thorns to have you still freak out about something that you nearly died to break. The curse is gone, Aurora, you'll be okay," he said, and she sighed, motioning for him to sit down.

Climbing into his lap, she tucked the top of her head under his chin, grabbing his hands and fiddling with them, running her hands over his scars. "I'm just scared. I know it's been a while, but I can be scared."

"'Course you can," he said, looking up when the lights dimmed and the conversation hushed, the show now beginning, "But remember what your dad said. There's nothing wrong with being scared, but you just gotta push through."

"Yeah," she whispered, listening as the narrators made their way on stage, "C'mon, we need to get up."

The two rose to their feet, moving to the wings, watching as the lights rose on the stage, illuminating the narrators on the elevated boxes who started the show, peering out into the audience where they could just see their friends and family, all of them wide eyed and excited as the narrators began.

"Once upon a time..."

— AURORA KAILI WILL RETURN —