Mal appeared beside them. “There you are!” she said. “I have been looking for you literally everywhere.” She slammed her hands down on the picnic table.
“What’s wrong?” asked Evie.
“Ben just asked me out on”—Mal huffed—“a date!”
Evie and Doug chuckled.
“We can handle this,” Evie told her with a devious smile. She looked at Doug. “Bye!” she told him. She stood up and turned to Mal. “You’re looking a little pale, but I can fix that with a lip gloss and some blush—”
“No, no, no…” said Mal as the girls headed back to their dorm.
Before Mal knew it, she was seated on her bed in the dorm room as Evie applied blush to her cheeks, making them rosy. She was dressed for her date in a terrific mix of punk and princess, with a scarf, dress, and leather jacket.
“Okay! Easy on the blush!” said Mal. “I don’t want to scare him away.” She looked thoughtful and smiled. “Not that I could,” she added.
“Please,” said Evie. “Mom taught me how to apply blush before I could talk.” She carefully finished applying the color. “Always use upward strokes.”
“My mom was never really big on makeup tips,” said Mal. “I never had a sister.”
“Well, now you do,” said Evie, dabbing red lipstick on Mal’s lips. “We’re gonna need all the family we can get if we don’t pull this off. My mother’s not a barrel of laughs when she doesn’t get her way.” Evie rolled her eyes. “Just ask Snow White.”
“Are you afraid of her?” asked Mal.
“Sometimes,” said Evie. “Are you afraid of your mom?”
“I just really want her to be proud of me,” said Mal. “She gets so angry with me when I disappoint her. And, yeah, she’s my mom, so I know she loves me…in her own way.”
Evie took her hand and smiled. “Moving on,” she said. “Come see.”
“Are we done?” asked Mal.
“Yeah,” said Evie as she led Mal to the mirror.
Mal looked at herself and laughed.
Evie hugged her. “I know,” said Evie.
“I look…” said Mal.
“Say it,” said Evie.
“Not hideous,” said Mal.
“Not even close,” said Evie, shaking her head and beaming.
Mal giggled and broke into a radiant smile.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
MY DATE WITH BEN IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.
IS IT WEIRD THAT I’M KIND OF EXTREMELY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT? SHHH!
When Mal opened the door, she looked into the face of Ben.
He wore his letter jacket and carried two helmets. “For the first time, I understand the difference between pretty and beautiful,” he said.
Mal’s face broke into a smile.
“I hope you like bikes,” he said to Mal, offering her a helmet. Mal took the helmet and shot Evie a look as she stepped out.
Evie grinned and closed the door.
Mal walked with Ben down the hall and outside the school, where Ben’s Vespa was waiting for them. She and Ben hopped onto it and sped off, cruising down a paved road. Mal, grinning ear to ear, held on to Ben’s chest as they rode through the beautiful countryside. Sunlight dappled ferns and trees, and birds chirped.
Before Mal knew it, they were slowing through a grove of tall trees. Ben parked the Vespa and kicked the stand down. He helped Mal off it and began leading her through the forest and onto a suspension bridge high above a rushing stream.
“Tell me something about yourself that you’ve never told anyone,” Ben said.
“Um…my middle name is…Bertha,” said Mal.
“Bertha?” Ben asked.
“Yeah,” said Mal.
“Bertha,” said Ben.
“Just my mom doing what she does best,” said Mal. “Being really, really evil.”
Ben laughed.
“Mal Bertha,” said Mal.
“Mine’s Florian,” said Ben.
“Florian? How princely,” said Mal. “Oh, that’s almost worse.” She laughed.
“I mean, you know, it’s better than Bertha, but it’s still not good,” said Ben.
They finished crossing the bridge.
Ben grinned at her. “Close your eyes,” he said.
Mal closed her eyes and allowed Ben to guide her down a forest path. He took her hands and pulled her gently this way and that, over logs and across puddles.
Finally, he stopped. “You ready?” he asked her.
Mal nodded.
“Open,” he said.
Mal opened her eyes.
Ben had brought her to the Enchanted Lake. It was all that and more: Mal looked upon a magical lake that was the color of jade. Into the lake jutted a stone platform with a few ancient pillars wrapped in ivy with purple flowers. Mal gasped at the beauty of it. Ben smiled at her, and she smiled back.
They walked onto the platform, where a blue picnic blanket and a lavish array of food had been laid out for them, and they sat down.
Mal took a jelly doughnut and scarfed it down. She got powdered sugar on her face as she finished it.
“Is this your first time?” asked Ben.
“Mmm…We don’t really…date much on the island. It’s more like…gang activity,” said Mal. She licked the sugar off her fingers.
Ben laughed. “I meant is this your first time eating a jelly doughnut,” said Ben with a smile.
“Is it bad?” she asked.
“You’ve got a…” He leaned forward to brush the sugar from her lips.
“Gone?” Mal licked her lips. “Can’t take me anywhere, I guess,” she said.
Ben chuckled. “You know, I’ve done all the talking,” he said. “Your turn. I really don’t know that much about you.” He leaned close to her. “Tell me something.”
“Well…” Mal let out a sigh. “I’m sixteen. I’m an only child. And I’ve only ever lived in one place.”
“Me too! We have so much in common already!” Ben said.
“No,” said Mal. She laughed. “Trust me. We do not.” Her smile faded. “And now you’re going to be king.”
Ben looked down.
“What?” asked Mal.
“A crown doesn’t make you a king,” said Ben.
Mal squinted. “Well, it kind of does.” She laughed.
Ben smiled. “Your mother is Mistress of Evil. I’ve got the poster parents for goodness,” said Ben. “But we’re not automatically like them. We get to choose who we’re going to be. And right now, I can look into your eyes and I can tell you’re not evil. I can see.” He stared intently into Mal’s eyes. His gaze seemed to bore into her soul.
Mal was afraid of what he might see in her eyes.
Ben looked at the lake. “Let’s go for a swim!” he said.
“What? Right now?” asked Mal.
Ben stood and held out his hand. “Come on. Yeah, right now.”
Mal glanced at the water. “I think I’m just gonna stay here,” she said.
“No, no, no, no. Come on,” said Ben. His hand reached for Mal.
“I think I’m gonna stay behind and try a strawberry.” Mal grabbed one from a bowl. “I’ve literally never tried a strawberry before.” She took a big bite. “Mmmmm.”
Ben chuckled. “Don’t eat all of them,” he said.
“Okay,” said Mal, grabbing two more.
Ben walked away. Mal continued to chow down.
When Mal looked over her shoulder, she saw he’d climbed one of the large rocks surrounding the lake and perched near its top. He looked cute, even though his swim trunks had crowns on them.
He waved at her.
Mal stood. “Are those little crowns on your shorts?” she called.
He looked down at his swim trunks. “Maybe,” he said, smiling. Then, with a beastly roar, Ben cannonballed off the rock and made a gigantic splash in the lake.
Mal’s face glowed. She had a million thoughts in her head; she couldn’t decide what was right and what was wrong
anymore. She was having second thoughts about carrying through with her mother’s plan…and she hated to admit it, but she had actually started to like Ben, and not just for pretend.…She found herself wondering if Ben would still be in love with her once the magic ran out. If only she knew what her heart was telling her, she could find the way to who she was meant to be. Right then, she wasn’t sure anymore. Was she truly destined for evil?
When Ben had looked into her eyes, had he really seen goodness?
Did she have a choice?
Mal realized Ben had not emerged from the lake. “Ben?” she said, scanning the surface. The water was smooth, with no trace of him. “Ben? Ben?” She jumped into the lake and began walking into deeper water, looking for him. But the lake suddenly became too deep, and she thrashed around in a panic.
Ben appeared at her side and carried her back to their picnic area.
Mal sputtered and coughed. “You scared me!” she said, smacking his arm.
“You can’t swim?” Ben asked her.
“No!” said Mal.
“You live on an island!” he said.
“Yeah! With a barrier around it, remember?” she said. “Ugh!”
Ben looked at Mal intently. “And you still tried to save me.”
She scoffed. “Yeah. And do you thank me? No! All I get is soaking wet!” she said.
“And, uh, this fancy rock,” said Ben. He offered her a crystal he’d brought up from the bottom of the lake. “It’s yours. Make a wish and throw it back in the lake.”
Mal chucked it into the lake, growling, then stood and walked over to sit on the picnic blanket. Ben followed her. He threw his letter jacket over her shoulders and sat next to her.
He touched her wet hair and held her gaze seriously.
“Uh, Mal,” he said, “when I told you that I loved you…What about you? Do you love me?”
Mal stared long and hard at him, then looked away.
“I don’t know what love feels like.” Mal sighed.
Ben gently turned her head so she faced him. “Maybe I can teach you,” he said.
Mal’s heart melted a little. Maybe he can, she thought.
I’M RETHINKING THIS WHOLE STEALING-THE-WAND THING.
DOES BEN ACTUALLY LOVE ME? LIKE, FOR REAL? GAH!
In a classroom, Fairy Godmother strolled up to Mal and her three friends.
“Children,” she said, “excuse me, um, as you know, this Sunday is Family Day here at Auradon Prep. And because your parents can’t come, due to…uh…distance…we’ve arranged for a special treat.” She walked over to a TV monitor on a cart and clicked a keyboard. A grotesque shot of Maleficent filled the entire screen.
“I don’t see anything,” said Maleficent, backing up to reveal Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella gathered around her. “Nor do I hear…” she said.
Fairy Godmother beckoned Mal and her friends to the TV.
They obeyed reluctantly, with Carlos carrying Dude, who was dressed in a jacket.
“Is this thing on?” asked Maleficent. “It’s broken!” She clicked away at a remote and threw it down. “I hate electronics.”
“Evie!” shouted Evil Queen, watching as an image appeared on their dinky laptop. “It’s Mommy!”
Evie waved at the TV monitor.
“Look how beautiful,” said Evil Queen. “You know what they say: the poison apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Cruella cackled.
“Don’t you mean the weeds?” said Maleficent.
“Oh! Who’s the old bat?” asked Cruella, pointing.
“That’s Fairy Godmother,” said Mal with a smile.
“Still doing tricks with eggplants?” said Maleficent.
“I turned a pumpkin into a beautiful carriage!” said Fairy Godmother.
“You really couldn’t give Cinderella till one a.m.?” said Maleficent. “I mean, really. What, the little hamsters had to be back on their little wheels?”
Maleficent, Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella laughed.
“They were mice!” said Fairy Godmother. “They were mice.”
“Hi, Mom!” said Mal.
“Mal!” Maleficent shouted.
Evil Queen tapped Maleficent’s horns, as a reminder to calm down and be discreet.
“M—miss you,” said Maleficent.
Jafar said, “You children are never far from our thoughts.”
“I got it,” Maleficent told Jafar coldly. She turned and spoke to Mal. “How long must Mommy wait to see you? You know Mommy’s not good at waiting.”
“There’s a big coronation coming up,” said Mal. “I think probably sometime after that.”
Evil Queen’s face lit up. “When?” she asked.
“I said I got this!” Maleficent told her. She spoke to Mal. “When?”
“Is there an echo in here?” said Evil Queen.
“Friday! Ten a.m.,” said Mal.
“You sure I can’t see you before that?” said Maleficent sweetly. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t get my hands on that magic wa—”
Evil Queen tapped Maleficent’s horns again.
“You! You little nugget that I love so much!” Maleficent said with a smile.
Jafar, Cruella, and Evil Queen made kissy faces.
“Yes, I completely understand, Mother,” said Mal.
Cruella leaned over Maleficent and spoke into the monitor. “Carlos! Is that a dog?” She consulted the bejeweled stuffed-animal dog head on her vest. “Yes, yes, Baby, I do understand. It would make the perfect size for earmuffs.” She cackled.
“He’s the perfect size for a pet,” said Carlos fiercely, hugging Dude close. “This dog loves me and I love him! And FYI, your dog is stuffed, so give it a rest!”
Cruella stroked Baby. Her lip trembled.
Jafar laughed. “Oh! Burn!” he said.
“Oh, why don’t you go sell a toaster, you two-bit salesman?” Cruella told him.
“People who talk to stuffed animals shouldn’t throw stones!” said Jafar.
“Oh, well, people who sell toasters shouldn’t use mixed metaphors!” said Cruella.
“Enough!” said Evil Queen.
Mal and her friends stood in front of the monitor, shifting their weight and looking at each other, embarrassed. Jay hit the keyboard. The monitor went black.
“I’m so sorry,” said Fairy Godmother.
Jay turned to Fairy Godmother. “Thanks for the special treat.” He, Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Dude headed out of the classroom, leaving Fairy Godmother behind.
“M,” said Evie, “what do you think our parents are going to do to us if we don’t pull this off?”
Mal paused. “I think they will be quietly disappointed in us but ultimately proud of us for doing our best,” she said with a smile.
“Really?” said Carlos with hope in his voice.
“No, I think we are definitely goners,” said Mal, her smile sliding away.
They stomped back to Jay and Carlos’s dorm room and began plotting. The group gathered around a table and examined Mal’s sketches and a drawn diagram of the cathedral where the coronation would be taking place. Mal had drawn Xs and arrows all over it: a detailed plan of the wand snatch. At the center of the map, Mal had drawn a picture of her hand reaching for the wand that Fairy Godmother held.
“I will be in the very front,” said Mal. “You all will be up in the balcony. Carlos?”
“Okay, so I’ll find our limo so we can break the barrier and get back on the island with the wand,” said Carlos.
Jay looked at him thoughtfully.
“Perfect,” said Mal. She lifted a small atomizer, which looked like a pale blue bottle of perfume, and offered it to Evie. “Evie, you will use this to take the driver out,” said Mal. She handed the atomizer to Evie. “Two sprays and he will be out like a light.”
Mal looked at Carlos, who looked at Jay, who looked at Evie, who looked at Mal. Mal sighed, sat down at the table, and turned to a page in the spell book that read HOW TO BREAK A L
OVE SPELL.
Evie peeked at what Mal was reading. “M, you want to break Ben’s love spell?” she asked.
“Yeah! You know, for after…” said Mal.
Carlos sat on his bed with Dude.
Jay sat on his bed with his tourney stick.
Evie sat down next to Mal.
“I’ve just been thinking, you know, when the villains finally do invade Auradon and begin to loot and kick everyone out of their castles…” said Mal.
Jay spun his tourney stick.
“…and imprison their leaders…” continued Mal.
Carlos absently stroked Dude.
“…and destroy all that is good and beautiful…” Mal said.
Evie took a deep breath and stared off.
“…Ben still being in love with me just seems a little extra…cruel,” Mal said.
Evie looked long and hard at her friend.
Mal closed her spell book and headed back to their dorm room.
Evie followed shortly after.
Jay flicked off all the lights and climbed into bed. Then he got up and walked over to his tourney trophy.
Carlos patted Dude.
In the girls’ dorm room, Evie lay in bed awake. She pulled the chemistry test out from under her pillow and reveled in the B+ again. The other bed was empty.
Mal was in the kitchen stirring a potion. The spell book was open. Alone and lonely, Mal finally allowed herself to feel…and her heart was breaking. She knew it wasn’t right for Ben to be under her love spell. She felt guilty and horrible about it.
Enchanting him was a rotten thing to do—one she couldn’t bear any longer. Ben was good and kind and deserved to be spell-free—even if it meant he no longer loved her. A tear rolled down her face and dropped into the chocolate batter. Next to the bowl was a beautiful little blue box. She’d break the love spell right before the coronation. As for stealing the wand, she wasn’t so sure she’d be able to walk away from that one.
FAMILY DAY.
OH, JOY.
The next morning, the sun shone over the rose garden on a breezy Family Day.
On the green lawn, Ben led a choir of students in singing “Be Our Guest” as a way to kick off the event. A student banner read FAMILY DAY! GOODNESS DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER. Some students and their families danced, while others enjoyed plates of every type of delicious food imaginable from various tables and tents.
Descendants Junior Novel Page 6
