"I just hope no one thinks we're dating once you guys say something." said Carlos.
Jay smirked.
"We both know I'm not your type." Carlos blushed and looked at his shoes.
Evie raised an eyebrow.
"Carlos? Who is he?" Mal smirked.
"Carlos has a crush? Why were we not informed?" Evie shrugged.
"We were a little...busy." Mal rolled her eyes.
"That's one word for it." Carlos glared at Jay.
"I told you all this in confidence!" Jay smirked.
"Well they told us about them so it's only fair that we tell them about him."
Carlos sighed. "I like Doug." he mumbled. Evie giggled.
"I knew it!" Mal looked at her.
"You know something…" Evie grinned wickedly.
"Well Doug and I have a lot in common...We're smart, we like science, and we're both bisexual." Carlos looked at her wide-eyed.
"What?!" Evie practically cackled.
"He doesn't have a date to the dance either Carlos…"
Jay nudged the shorter boy. "Go get em tiger." Carlos glared at him.
"Maybe I will!"Mal smiled.
"You better!" Evie looked at the alarm clock and her eyes widened.
"We're gonna be late!" Mal put her arm around Evie's waist and they all walked to the horse drawn carriage that was waiting for them. "I'm so sorry we're late sir!" The coachmen rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath.
"Of course they gave us the grumpy one. Perhaps he's Doug's uncle." whispered Mal into Evie's ear as Jay opened the door.
"Ladies first." Mal smirked.
"Couldn't agree more. Evie allow me to assist you." Mal took her girlfriend's hand and helped her up the steps of the carriage. Evie smirked.
"I thought I was with Mal, not Elana." Mal blushed.
"I...I was just...um…" Evie put a finger on Mal's lips.
"I was teasing M. I love when you're trying to be a gentlemen. It's very...sweet." Mal flushed darker.
"It is?" Evie nodded. Mal smiled.
"Guys...Save the cheese for when we eat." Carlos was smirking.
"Too late Carlos...They're in a whole new world of gross." Jay winked at Mal. Mal shoved him playfully. "Whoa little dragon wait till the door's closed so I don't land on the curb!" said Jay. Mal chuckled.
"You're no fun…"
The four friends arrived at the palace on time. Mal got out first, assisted Evie and Jay and Carlos followed them out onto the steps of the palace. Mal's heart was pounding in her ears but she felt Evie's arm around her waist. "M we can do this." Evie's brown eyes were soft as she spoke. "You don't need to be afraid. I'm here. Stay close to me." Mal smirked.
"No problem there." she whispered as they walked into the ballroom.
Mal saw Elana first. She was easy to find. Mal had never seen Elana look so...alive.
The young woman was dressed in a stylish black suit with red accents. The blonde woman that Mal remembered from Elana's...photos was beside her. The blonde looked really lovely in a red dress with her golden hair in an elegant bun. Mal silently thought of her as Summers since that's what her name was in Elana's contact list.
Elana was laughing at something "Summers" had said. Mal smiled and nudged Evie. "Look." Evie smiled as well.
"I've never seen Elana look so happy. And her girlfriend is gorgeous. Do you want to go say hi?" Mal shook her head.
"Nah...I think Elana probably misses her so we should give them space." Evie smirked.
"Mal..." Mal cocked her head.
"What?" Evie chuckled.
"That was the nicest thing I've ever heard you say about Elana." Mal rolled her eyes.
"Don't tell her about it then. I can't have her knowing I like her." Evie laughed.
"Your secret is safe with me M."
The music had started. Ben was the first on the dancefloor. He looked annoyingly handsome in suit of blue and gold. Audrey was in his arms looking smug in a matching blue dress with gold shoes. Mal felt a slight stab of betrayal. She didn't love Ben. But he had been very kind and she thought he was better than Audrey. That he was better than most people from Auradon. But it had all been a sham. She had just been a political charity case. Mal let go of Evie and ran outside. Evie followed her as quickly as she could in her black heels.
"Mal?" Evie found her girlfriend sitting on a stone bench, crying.
"What?" Mal's voice was cold.
Evie sat next to her and pushed Mal's hair out of her face.
"Mal talk to me. You tensed up as soon as you saw Ben. What's going on?" Mal felt a whole rush of fresh tears.
"E..He...He used me. It was all for show. We're just a political statement. I-I didn't like him...Well not like I like you but...He...He...God I'm so weak. My mom would kill me for breaking down like this." Mal hid her face in her hair again. She felt sick.
"You're not weak baby...You never have been. Ben is weak. He doesn't deserve you. And it's okay to break down. It's healthy. It's never good to keep things bottled up." Evie was stroking Mal's hair and gazing into her green eyes. Mal blushed.
"Baby? Where the hell did that come from?" Evie laughed.
"Do you like it?" Mal looked at her shoes.
"When it's just us...yeah." She mumbled. Evie smirked.
"Noted. Now I do believe you owe me a dance…or several. We wouldn't want Elana's lessons to go to waste because Ben is a sellout, right?" Mal smiled back.
"You're amazing." Evie chuckled.
"I try." Mal kissed her cheek.
"Liar…" Evie winked.
They walked back in to see Carlos and Doug kissing behind a pillar. "Wow Carlos...You work fast…" said Mal with a smirk. Carlos pulled away from Doug, both of them were bright red. Doug was wearing a tuxedo with a purple jacket and bowtie.
"I was just...We were just…" Carlos trailed off and then looked at the floor. Mal chuckled.
"Don't mind us. We were just passing through." Carlos glared at her. Doug was grinning sheepishly at Evie who smiled back at him warmly.
"Tell me everything later Doug. Mal and I have a date with the dancefloor." Evie dragged Mal away from Carlos by the hand.
"We will have time to tease and interrogate later." Mal smiled.
"I didn't realize tonight meant so much to you." Evie pulled her close.
"Tonight all of Auradon will know how lucky I am." Evie spoke in a whisper but her smile was burning as bright as the lights above them. Mal's heart melted.
"Evie...I-" Mal's sentence was cut off with a kiss.