Chapter Text
They were star crossed lovers, like Romeo and Juliet, different sides. Kisses in secret and stealing moments together when the pair could, then when they came face to face in battle, they would have to act like they didn’t know each other. Pretend that they didn’t know each other’s weakness, where they liked to be kissed, or as if they didn’t have dreams they shared.
Evie pulled my white leather-bound notebook out of hands. I looked up at her, raising my eyebrow. She towered over where I lay on my bed. Her bright blue hair over one shoulder and her eyes were like ones of a mother telling off their child. I felt the heat on my neck as the flames flickered through my hair.
“Have you been listening to a word I’ve said or were you just writing?” She asked crossing her arms over with my book in her hands.
“Sorry, E. I had a flow. I need to finish my novel one day.” I apologised. Evie passed me back my notebook. “What were you saying?”
“I was talking about Mal’s dress for cotillion and how you said you would help me?”
“Yeah, of course.” I smiled at her sitting up. I took the piece of ribbon off my wrist and tied back my icy blue hair. I put my notebook on my pillow alongside my pen and stood. “I’m all yours.”
“Perfect.” She leaned down and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Well Mal is late, I’m going to try and find her. Can you get everything out for me? I won’t be long?” When it came to fashion Evie was always on a mission, it was important than school most of the time.
I watched as Evie grabbed her purse and rushed out the room, light as feather on her heels. I began to set up in our bright dorm room, which was filled with more colour than Wonderland.
I grabbed the work in progress from the rack, laying it down on Evie’s bed and dug around the mess of a workstation for her measure tapes. When I had found the required equipment, I was tempted to carry on writing, but I knew if Evie caught me in daydream land again, she would lose it. I chuckled to myself. If he was here, he wouldn’t let anyone disturb my writing. He’d growl at anyone who tried to.
Ten minutes Evie had come back dragging a reluctant Mal behind her. The look behind her eyes was dull. She was tired and I was the only one who could see it or wanted to see it. Our bond like no other, we locked eyes and nodded at each other subtly, sending a message. Our close kept secret to our hearts tying us together.
Mal was poked and prodded by countless needles and wrapped in Evie’s tape measure. I helped, passing her what she needed and holding what needed to be in place. Evie tugged on the corset hard and Mal flinched.
“Okay, Evie I cannot breathe.” Mal complained, taking shallow breaths.
“So, you can breathe afterwards.”
“I seriously doubt that.” She mumbled brushing her white hair behind her ear. I reached out for her hand as Evie fluffed her skirt. “There will be at least twenty more events following it and I can’t even remember what a single one of them are.” While I tried to console Mal, Evie was off in her fashion world giving out a kiss of perfection to her creation.
“Impeccable.” Evie mumbled.
“All you need to do is remember one at time and right now, its cotillion first, so focus on that.” I told her. Mal stared off into a corner of our dorm room.
“Guys, do you ever think about what we would be doing if we were back on the isle?” Mal asked.
“You know I do.” I locked eyes with Mal. Mal gave me a small smile that was heavy with past guilt
The loud sound of our television brought the three of us out of conversation as it showed more clips of Mal accompanying King Ben. We helped Mal off the platform and she threw herself down onto Evie’s bed as the segment of the visit to Aladdin and Jasmine began. Mal disastrous moment of spilling curry down her Evie4Hearts original.
As the latest interview began Mal squealed and went digging through her things. I took this as my moment to pick up my notebook and sit back down on my bed ready to write again. I tucked a loose wavy behind my ear which had escaped and flickered through my previous pages. In the corner of my eye I saw my best friend flick through her spell book.
“Read it fast at lightning speed, remember everything I need.” With a flick of her finger on her diary she was speed reading the next three months.
“I know Mal’s secret to fitting in and Ben would wouldn’t like it one bit.” Evie spoke up. I put down my notebook, placing my hands either side of me.
“Haven’t you and Ben had enough secrets between you already?” I questioned. Mal looked between the two of use and knew we were right.
“You both remember what I was like before I started using my spell book. I mean I was a complete disaster.” I sighed.
“Personally, as your best friends we advise that spell book belongs in the museum with along with Evie’s mirror.” I told her. “Using spells isn’t always the way to fix things, Mal. I know you’re struggling but there has to be another way.” Mal’s face turned sour and pouty. She narrowed her eyes at us as Evie leaned over to take the book. “Don’t give us that face.”
“Put the pout away.” Evie ordered. “Mmhh, you know we are right.” For a second Mal looked away.
“You don’t ever miss running wild and breaking all the rules?” Mal looked between Evie and me.
“Stealing?” I asked.
“And lying?” Evie added.
“Yes!” Mal exclaimed. I stood up and leaned against the bedside table that Maleficent’s tank rested on.
“No.” We both said in unison.
“M, why would we?” Both me and Evie pulled her up. Mal was heavier with excessive amounts of fluffy tulle attached to her.
“Come on look at where we are! It’s Auradon. It’s a dream come true.”
“It’s the land of opportunity. We get to be whoever we want to be.”
“I mean come on, look at the shoes.” Evie held up Mal’s yellow and blue shoe high in the sky and the three of use laughed. However, Mal still didn’t look convinced.
“We have class in half hour, let’s get you out of the dress, and go meet the boys beforehand.”
Days were busy with just class never mind the pressure Mal felt while she was multitasking lady duties and being a student. After helping Evie get Mal out of the tight corset dress, I changed myself into a silver cropped leather jacket over a thin v cut blue sweater and white leather skinny pants. I took my hair down and let my icy blue hair go wild over one shoulder. To this day I couldn’t get over the vibrancy of the colours in Auradon. The softest of fabric against my skin.
The three of us met the boys on the quad and began the walk to class. When the five of us were together it was almost as if nothing had ever changed. While walking up the stairs one of the band member bumped into me, hard, Jay steadied me on my feet, and I whipped around. The student’s eyes were full of fear as my hair ignited. Jay put his arm around my shoulder, and I managed to snap myself out of it. I smiled at them and the student didn’t seem so afraid as they carried on with their day.
“You know between your fire hair and Mal’s eyes I’m surprised you too aren’t related.” Me, Evie and Mal gave an awkward laugh.
“Wouldn’t that be funny.” I joked. The subject changed as Carlos began to ask for girl advice from Jay.
“Jay if you were going to ask someone to Cotillion what’s the best way?” Carlos asked with nervous puppy eyes. Jay sincerely put his hand on Carlos’ shoulder.
“Listen all you got to do is look like me.”
“Oh ha, ha.” Carlos knocked his hand off while I rolled my eyes and laughed at Jay’s ego. The five of us were interrupted by the daughter of the fairy godmother, Jane, as soon as she came into Carlos’ eyesight it was obvious to as why he had been asking. My heart warming at the thought of my best friend being happy.
“Hi Jane” He popped out getting closer to her.
“Hey.” She gave a wide smile, like the Cheshire cat.
“I was wondering…” He stumbled on his words. “Uh, if you liked the carrot cake last night?” I looked at Jay alarmed.
“I had the pumpkin pie.” She answered, unaware of Carlos’ strange behaviour. I looked at Jay and the silence between us sent a message. I dived forward and hooked my arm with Carlos and Jay guided his shoulders as we tore him away from further embarrassment.
“Smooth.” Jay mumbled as we guided him down the next set of steps to the lunch field.
“Oh Carlos, you really have some work to do if you ever want a chance with Jane.” I told him. Carlos stuttered as he tried to hide it from us.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He brushed off and began to walk off by himself. Me and Jay watched him then glanced at each other with a shrug.
“If he says so.” I said. At least he had a chance with the person he wanted. Once again, my mind wandered back to the isle and the nights I would spend sitting on the deck of the Jolly Roger, eating bruised chips from Ursula’s chip shop, with him. We would stay up until the sun came up the next day. Before we Uma and Mal would come looking for us and be reminded of who and where we were.