Everyone to some degree was excited about the new fashion program. Some were only excited to potentially catch glimpses of another celebrity and others were overjoyed at the prospect of learning fashion design. No one was as excited as Carlos and Evie. It was seemingly the only thing the two wanted to talk about. Of course, Carlos would have been more thrilled about a dance program, but a fashion program suited him just as nicely. He was excited to actually work on his own concepts and designs for once, usually, since Evie was the more competent of the two with a sewing machine, she tended to take creative control. It was never intentional, but it certainly was there.
On the first day of the program, Carlos and Evie couldn't sit still. Their bodies like live wires sparking with nothing but raw energy as they sat through their required classes for the day. The program was an extra class after the main classes. The two could barely contain themselves all day, doodling concepts in the margins of their school work rather than paying attention. Finally, their classes were done and over. Carlos locked arms with Evie and the two skipped down the hallway casually toward the designated room for the Fashion program. Carlos grabbed the door and opened it for Evie to go in first. She curtsied at him and he bowed at her in an exchange of "m'lady" and "m'lord" making the two giggle before entering the classroom.
Standing at the head of the class Cruella stood in a chic red asymmetrical dress with a black and white fur shawl She had matching red couture pumps on and was waiting expectantly for the students to arrive. Her face was one of well-kept beauty that only sharpened and became intimidating with age. She was beautiful and yet terrifying all the same. Her body was supermodel thin and lacked any real definition beyond the natural curves of her bone structure, giving her an almost gothic hourglass figure in it's dark glamour. Darkly glamorous would be the perfect words to describe the rage-fueled woman at the desk in front of the many sewing stations that served as desks for the incoming students.
Carlos, wearing the exact same color scheme, stopped dead in his tracks with Evie the moment he saw his mother in the room. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was kicking himself for not realizing that the teacher could have been his mother. The main thought in his mind was a cold and shrill terror. His mother's forced smile grew into a genuine one, one that instilled a natural fear into Carlos. She knew he was terrified, and he knew she knew. It was painfully obvious in the way she seemed to bore holes into his head with her fierce stare. Carlos was pulled by Evie over to one of the work stations and the two sat down next to one another in the middle of the room, far enough away from Cruella yet not far enough. The room filled with other teens and once the seats were full the door was closed by Cruella as if trapping them like prey. Her little lambs to the slaughter, with Carlos being the black sheep, the on she desired most to watch suffer.
Cruella went to the board and wrote her name in a very elegant signature before turning back to the class.
"Hello, my new students. My name is Cruella De Vil. Yes that Cruella De Vil, I have no doubt you have heard of me." She amused over the whispers and stares Carlos got from some of the students from recognition. "In this class, you will learn real fashion and the true essence of what it means to be a designer like moi. There will be no kid gloves when handling this class, should you not be up to the task, then you may leave. Today we will be going over all the basics. If you do not know how to use a sewing machine listen closely because I do NOT like to repeat myself and you shouldn't like to see me once I'm annoyed." The thinly veiled threat made Carlos sweat, he knew far too well how she was when annoyed. He pitied whatever poor soul managed to grind even slightly at Cruella's nerves.
Cruella launched into the technical of running a sewing machine. She went over the importance of properly threading the bobbin as well as the foot pedal. She instructed over demonstrations of basic hand stitching before going over all the programmed stitches on the sewing machines as well as what exactly they are used for. By the end of the first course, Carlos had almost forgotten that it was his mother, Cruella teaching the class. She was actually somewhat calm and professional. It took him a while to realize that she was only being so calm and collected because she couldn't just be a monster in front of the entire classroom of students. Whatever Cruella was planning, and Carlos was certain that his mother had ulterior motives for wanting to teach this class, she couldn't risk blowing it so early.
"Alright students. That's enough for today. I hope you took notes as we will not be reviewing this again, we go straight into patterns, seam allowance, and concept designing tomorrow." She dismissed the class. As everyone got up to leave Cruella cleared her throat and everyone paused. "Mr. De Vil. Would you mind staying for a moment?" The rest of the students filed out. Evie leaned over to Carlos.
"I'll be right outside the door. If you need me, scream. I promise I won't let her hurt you." She kissed his cheek before heading out the door as she said she would. Carlos reluctantly walked up to the front of the classroom.
"Mother…" He said coldly looking at the woman now glaring at him. She smiled wickedly and caressed his cheek before snatching his jaw in her hand, ruby clawed nails digging painfully into his face a little bit.
"Never call me that. The moment you left my house you are no longer my son. Not that I wanted you to begin with." Cruella growled. She softened in a way that made Carlos feel sick. "It's good to see you doing so well… It would be a shame if something horrible happened to you… or your prince… or that lovely blue-haired girl." Her threat was once again veiled with a sound of sincerity that Carlos could see right through. She let go of Carlos' face and smiled from ear to ear. "See you tomorrow… Carlos." She gleamed with vicious intent as he scrambled to leave the room. Evie was waiting just as she promised. Carlos looked absolutely terrified.
"Carlos… what happened?" Evie put her hand out to cup his face in a concerned motherly way. Carlos flinched away and was visibly shaking.
"Ben… I need Ben." Carlos' voice broke and Evie nodded. They checked their dorm but he wasn't there. They remembered that Ben had Tourney practice and went out to the field. As soon as they got there Ben, Audrey, and Jay took notice. The team took a break and so did the cheerleaders. Carlos was getting weaker by the second. Evie ended up catching Carlos who fainted. While she would call it dramatic, it was no surprise. The things his mother did to him made her just as terrified. She couldn't imagine how he felt. The moment Carlos dropped the three came running.
"CARLOS?!" Ben scooped Carlos up and took him to the bleachers to lay him on the bench, head on Ben's thigh. Ben looked to Evie for an answer. She couldn't help but feel shaky all the sudden too, Audrey took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"We just got back from the fashion program. The teacher was Cruella De Vil." Evie said sitting down to compose herself, clinging to Audrey's hand. Ben looked wide-eyed at her in disbelief and Jay looked dark with contained rage.
"Did she…" Ben started but Evie shook her head. Ben let out a relieved sigh and pulled Carlos close, holding him comfortingly. Carlos started to come to and wrapped his arms around Ben tightly squeezing him. Everyone just exchanged a concerned glance as the black- and white-haired teen began to sob into Ben's shoulder.