In the present day, 17-year-old Enchanted Jones wakes up in the penthouse of Korey Fields. She notices that the place is covered in blood, which she calls “beet juice.” Korey is dead in his bed. Police knock on the door, and Enchanted urinates on herself.

Several months earlier, Enchanted warms up for swim practice and sings for her teammates, but she is reminded that no one shares her passion for music. Even being compared to Beyonce saddens her, because “that’s the only black singer [her classmates] know” (5). At the end of practice, Enchanted takes a moment to warm-up her voice and practice her audition song. Enchanted imagines herself as a mermaid, like Ariel from the Disney film The Little Mermaid, because she loves to swim, has a beautiful voice, and longs to be a part of a different world.

Enchanted’s mother, LaToya, picks her up from school, thinking she is taking Enchanted to a swim meet. When Enchanted admits that she actually wants to audition for a singing competition, her mother is hesitant, but agrees. Right before her audition, music superstar Korey Fields enters the auditorium, and Enchanted is certain she will “make a fool out of [herself]” (17).