Author's Note: Thank you all for the continued comments and support for this story. Next update on Sunday. Have a great week!
The next day was much the same, with Melody muddling through her classes and Jane giving her the support she needed to face the day.
When the time finally came to head into the oceanography classroom, her heart pounded almost painfully in her chest as she crossed the threshold. She'd tried to put on some makeup to mask her undead-caliber dark circles, but there was no hiding the tightness in her smile as she faked a happy greeting for her Aunt Attina. She really hoped it wasn't too obvious, because the last thing Melody needed was for her aunt to tell her mom that she was acting strangely.
Unfortunately, skipping lecture had not been an option either, if she wanted to keep up her grades. Whatever happened, Melody knew she had to get an 'A' in this class. Anything less and her mother would absolutely know something was going on.
Students continued filing in as Melody stared at Harry's empty seat. When the clock on the wall struck the hour and Harry still wasn't there, her muscles finally relaxed.
Where was he? Was he avoiding her to give her space?
It was probably for the best since she still couldn't even think about him without bursting into tears.
The rest of the day was spent in much the same way as yesterday. With lots of time spent staring at her masquerade dress, running her fingers over the dagger, and re-reading text message strings from Harry. She skipped R.O.A.R. practice and dinner in the cafeteria, choosing instead to huddle in bed eating a granola bar, as she tried to focus on the oceanography project.
Finally, after the sun had set, new thoughts began to wiggle their way into her mind. Feelings she'd tried very hard to keep buried were now beginning to surface. She leaned back against her pillows and stared at the ceiling, finally deciding to just let the thoughts come.
She missed him.
She missed his laugh. She missed that wide smile and the way he rolled his 'r's. His piercing eyes and his infectious joy. His nickname for her. She hadn't heard anyone call her 'lass' for days and it felt… wrong.
Seas. She missed Harry so much, the ache of it began to war against the hurt in her chest.
By the time Jane returned from dinner, all Melody had managed toward their coral reef project was a few doodles of the Jolly Roger.
Jane came to sit by Melody on her bed, taking her notebook out of her hands and looking at the blank page and the few pictures in the margins.
"How are you doing, Mel?"
And something about her friend's genuine concern, the sincerity in her eyes, the way she'd cared for her over the last two days had her finally ready to talk.
Melody's hands were trembling as she pulled out the black box from Diablo's she'd tucked under her pillow. She closed her eyes, focusing all of her energy on keeping her voice steady. "I was going to give this to him tomorrow."
Jane took the box as though it was a newborn baby, cradling it in her arms gently, and cracked open the lid.
"Wow, Mel," she said, running her index finger over the hooked blade. "He's going to love it."
But Melody shook her head. "I can't give it to him, now."
"Why not?"
"I just-" She brushed at the hair that had fallen into her face in irritation. "I can't."
And there was that heat behind her eyes again, the vise around her throat, the trembling tension in her hands fisted at her sides. There was no way to explain with words what she was feeling. She'd tried for days and always came up empty.
But when Jane slanted her head and waited with a hopeful softness in her eyes, Melody figured she could try. "The gift, the dress and the masquerade… it all feels poisoned now. Like I've been living in a lie since I met Harry Hook."
The frown Jane wore seemed too heavy for her delicate features. "Oh Mel, I'm so sorry."
Jane put an arm around her and Melody found the words were flowing now. "Uma says Harry's song could not have affected me for more than a few minutes. She seems to think Harry 'softened me up' that night after I punched him, but that everything after that was real."
Melody paused to catch her breath.
"But I don't know what to think," she continued. "How can I even trust what I think at all if he used magic to get me to like him in the first place?"
Jane closed the dagger's box with the faintest curve of a smile turning her lip. "You know what?" she asked, that fairy sparkle alight in her eyes. "There's another couple I know very well, whose relationship started in almost exactly the same way."
Melody balked at that, shaking her head adamantly. "No way. No relationship that lasts could start with a lie."
"It's true," Jane said. "King Ben and Queen Mal started out that way."
Melody frowned, still not seeing what Jane was getting at.
"Mal made a love potion and baked it into cookies for Ben, to make him fall in love with her. That love potion was the whole reason they went on their first date. Mal wanted him to fall in love with her so he'd invite her to the coronation, so she could steal my mother's magic wand."
Melody's eyes went wide. "What did Ben do when he found out?"
"I guess the spell washed off in the Enchanted Lake and he found out pretty quick what Mal had done. But even after Ben realized Mal had spelled him, he didn't tell her he knew. After a while, Mal realized she had fallen for Ben. And it turned out, Ben felt the same way about her, love potion or not."
Melody pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to digest this new information. How had it been so easy for Ben to forgive Mal for doing something like that to him? They were still together, years later. Didn't he think about it? Didn't he resent being manipulated?
"I didn't tell you this because I think you should just get over it. I know I'd be furious if I were you. But I just want you to know that there could still be a happily ever after for you. You could forgive him." Jane paused, darting her eyes across her expression. "If you wanted to."
Melody swallowed hard, picking at her fingernails trying not to let the pain of all of this overwhelm her again. She couldn't do what Ben had done. She couldn't forgive Harry. Forgiving him would mean opening herself up again, risking more pain, more chances to be hurt.
This was why she never used to talk to people in the first place. Why she'd kept herself locked up tight. This was the whole reason she had so many fish friends and so few human friends back home.
She couldn't take the disappointment people brought with them. There was only so many times she could stand having her heart trampled.
Then why couldn't she stop thinking about him? Why was she doodling pictures of ships for seas sake?
And as she thought more and more about her emotional tug-of-war today, she opened up to Jane about the new feelings that had slowly begun to creep past her defenses.
"I miss him," she admitted.
Jane listened intently with a hand around her shoulder.
"I feel out of breath, panicked to think of opening myself up to him again. I think of how stupid I'd been, how gullible," she said. "But then, it hurts to imagine not being around him. Missing out on the little sounds he makes when he's excited, the way he looks at everything like it's an adventure."
When the words stopped flowing, Jane wrapped her in a tight hug and Melody rested her head on her friend's shoulder. It was like basking in the sun on a summer day and some of that warmth seemed to transfer into her cold, empty chest.
This was better than fairy magic. This was friendship.
"I think you should go to the masquerade anyway," Jane said, still holding her tight.
Melody pulled away, shaking her head vigorously. "No. No way."
"Not with Harry, I mean, just to hang out with us," Jane said, smiling. "Besides, I heard there were a bunch of people going without dates. Wesley and two of his friends were talking after class and they're all going. Tarah is flying solo, too."
She wasn't quite ready to commit to this idea yet, but a tiny glimmer of something had begun to bloom in that empty hole in her chest. Maybe she could just go with her friends. Maybe she didn't have to spend Friday night miserable and alone.
"I guess I do have this dress. It would be a shame not to wear it at least once."
"That's the stubborn Melody I know," Jane said with a wink.
And Melody didn't cry herself to sleep that night, which felt like the biggest victory she'd had in days.
Friday evening came fast. Faster than she was ready for. But Jane kept Melody blissfully distracted as they helped each other get dressed and did each other's hair and make-up.
Jane was stunning in a blue strapless dress with an empire waistline that accentuated her curves. Melody added soft curls to Jane's hair and layered it in places with rhinestone hairpins.
Then it was Jane's turn to work on her. And an hour later, when she'd finished and Melody looked at herself in the mirror, she had to admit that even she felt beautiful tonight. The gown was made for her shape, giving her lift in just the right places, flattering her waist and hips. And she could imagine spinning and twirling, letting the lower half of her dress flare as she danced with her friends.
Jane had pulled some of Melody's dark hair into a braided crown around her head, pinning it in place and letting the rest fall in waves over her shoulders. Jane convinced her to let her line Melody's eyes darker than she usually would herself, telling her it would make her blue eyes really stand out from behind her masquerade mask. She liked the effect, feeling much more confident as she looked back at her reflection.
The two girls strapped their masks on over their eyes and smiled at each other. Melody's was made from the same material as her dress and she liked the air of mystery it gave her, not to mention the immediate comfort of being able to hide her expression. No one would see her dark circles tonight.
She was going to go out and have fun. She could dance with her friends. This would be the last time she saw some of them before they headed off tomorrow to face Zach Sparrow and she was going to make the most of it.
A few minutes later, Carlos arrived to pick them up in a classy white tuxedo with a red tie and handkerchief in his breast pocket. With his hair freshly combed and his shoes even shined, he could pass for a real gentleman.
His mouth fell wide open when he saw Jane and he immediately ran to her, placing two hands on her hips and kissing her like he hadn't seen her in weeks, instead of the hours it had been.
"You'll ruin my lipstick," Jane complained half-heartedly, cheeks rosy from more than her freshly applied blush.
Carlos slid an arm around her and turned to Melody. "Wow Mel, you look fantastic."
Dude settled himself at Melody's feet, his wagging tail thumping the floor. Even he was freshly groomed, complete with a red bow-tie attached to his collar. "Woof," he said, with as much flirtatious emphasis as the canine could muster.
She shook her head and laughed, maybe her first real laugh in days. "Thanks guys."
Melody followed Jane from the room, notably lighter on her feet.
"Wait a second," Melody said, "I almost forgot, my mom asked for a picture."
She grabbed her phone and handed it to Carlos. Then she hooked an arm around Jane to pose and Carlos snapped the shot. Melody typed out a quick text to her mom to go with the picture.
Hey Mom. Hey Dad. Headed to the ball to meet some friends.
She'd never gathered the courage to tell her parents about Harry. And now, she was glad she hadn't. Because trying to explain all of this to them would have made the whole thing even more difficult than it already was.
Carlos offered both girls an arm and led them down the hall and out onto the lighted path toward the North Tower Main Hall where the ball would take place. The fall sharpness in the air was unmistakable tonight and the crescent-moon hung behind a thin layer of mist as they walked beneath it.
Music from the ball drifted towards them, swelling louder, rumbling like a low thunder as they approached. The bass vibrated the ground beneath her feet, tickling her toes, as they crossed through the entry doors. This was nothing like the balls she was used to back home. Those were frumpy and genteel, flooded with centuries old classical tunes and surrounded by stuffy décor and even stuffier ball-goers.
This masquerade actually looked…fun.
They were stopped at the door by a petite, middle-aged brunette with a stack of numbered index cards and a box of safety pins. Each ball attendee was given a number which was pinned to the back of their suit or gown.
"We'll explain the rules later," the door attendant said. "It's to identify you when we vote for the winners of the ballroom dance contest."
Melody entered, arm still hooked around Carlos' as they crossed into the dimly lit hall. It was huge, just one large, circular space lined with glass doors that looked out over the ocean on one side. Past those doors was a wrap-around balcony complete with outdoor heaters and little stands of refreshments.
Inside the ballroom, a DJ pumped modern music through the speakers for a dance floor already filled with undulating, over-dressed bodies. Several glittering chandeliers hung overhead, their light refracting, sending tiny rainbows skittering across the heads of the students clustered around every inch of the space.
The smells of a dozen savory dishes mingled, drifting toward them from a row of buffet tables along the windowless side of the Hall.
"Hey guys!" Jay was waving from across the room on the balcony side.
He looked fantastic in an all-black, classic cut tuxedo and his hair pulled back into a slick bun. His arm hung comfortably around Lonnie who'd chosen a yellow gown with a flowing, layered skirt.
Both of their eyes widened as they saw Melody approach. "Melody! You look amazing, so glad you came!" Lonnie said.
Jay was already wagging a miniature appetizer with a toothpick through it in her direction. "You've got to try these tiny hot dog things."
She took it with a grin and popped it into her mouth. It had a crisp outside and a savory, rich inner meat that was pretty much to die for. "Oh wow, you're going to need to show me where you got those."
"Lets do it," he said.
Jay glanced at Lonnie, who smiled, before offering Melody his arm and leading her to the appetizer stand in question. They had both begun their synchronized sausage piling when a warm hand found her shoulder.
"Hope you guys aren't hoarding all the tiny hot dogs. These things are insanely addictive."
She looked up from her plate to find Wesley Darling grinning brightly down at her from behind his mask, cheeks stuffed with food. There were enough freckles peeking out that she would still recognize him anywhere. He wore an old fashioned, long tailored coat in hunter green with a thick silken tie underneath. The cut accentuated his broad shoulders and the color made his eyes as bright as emeralds.
"No promises on the sausage hoarding," she said. "They are amazing."
He scanned the room then and she went back to piling a variety of appetizers on every inch of her plate. When it was nearly overflowing, Wesley's eyes settled back on hers.
"You came with Carlos and Jane?" he asked, his voice a little softer than it had been.
"Yeah," she said. "Flying solo tonight."
She didn't miss the little quirk of his lip. "Me too." He swallowed. "Would you save a dance for me?"
Melody was not prepared for this conversation or for a dance with him, or with anyone for that matter. But she didn't want to hurt his feelings, and maybe it would be nice to dance at least once.
"Sure. Maybe after I finish eating."
"Sounds good," he said, turning his own attention back to the snacks.
She crossed the hall to stand and talk with her friends. Jane snuck a few samples from her plate as they people-watched and swayed a little to the floor-rumbling music booming through the speakers.
Uma and Gil were the next to join the dance, with all eyes stuck in the Captain's gravity as she crossed the space. She wore a sheer flowing gown of deep ocean blue with glinting silvery accents embedded in the material. Her long braids were twisted in a gorgeous up-do that reminded Melody of an extravagant conch shell. A true goddess of the sea, she was absolutely stunning.
Poor Gil was a little overshadowed walking in her wake, but he had cleaned up nicely too. His blonde hair was loose, the first time she'd ever seen it that way and it complimented the masculine lines of his face. His brown suit with brass buttons was perfectly tailored to show off his brawn, even underneath all of the fabric.
Melody tried to stop her mind from wandering to Harry, tried to stop the thoughts that had begun to play on a loop, asking over and over. Where was he?
Uma waved as she made her way over, grabbing for Melody's hands and spreading them out to check out her entire gown.
"Mel, you are a vision," she said.
"I should say the same about you," Melody said. "I think every person in the room just snapped their necks trying to get a look at you."
Uma tipped her head back and laughed. "That happens wherever I go, but not for the reason you're thinking. Most of them are just praying I won't feed them to the sharks or something." She glanced at the half-eaten plate of food in Melody's hand. "Speaking of feeding the sharks, I'm starving. Be right back."
Uma and Gil made their way toward the wall of food and soon, the DJ made an announcement over the loudspeakers.
"Ladies and gentlemen. In order to make this a true ball and adhere to Auradon University's grand tradition of ballroom dance, we are switching gears a bit. We will be alternating between your modern music requests and classic waltzes throughout the evening. This will give you princes and princesses a chance to show us your best ballroom waltzes. Feel free to vote for your favorite couple using the numbers on their backs. The winners will be awarded the ceremonial golden colombina masks."
The waltz began and she saw Lonnie dragging Jay out onto the dance floor. He led her in a respectable, albeit conservative, box step around the dance floor. Her dress flashed white underneath when he spun her, adding extra glitz to their steps and it didn't take long for the two to find their rhythm. Other dancers slowly joined in, with Jane and Carlos following soon after. They weren't the most practiced dancers on the floor, but the way their bodies unconsciously moved as one, made them Melody's favorite to watch.
She stood near Tarah watching the waltz, sipping a sparkling fruit drink with a cute little umbrella in it. There were now so many bodies in the room, she was having a hard time keeping track of her friends on the dance floor.
"Hey." Wesley's familiar voice was in her ear and she turned to find him standing very close, probably to be heard over the constant roar of voices and music. "You feel like dancing?"
And Melody looked at all of the smiling faces twirling and stepping in time and even though this was not at all a part of the plan, she found herself nodding. She could definitely use the distraction. So she set down her drink and slipped her hand into Wesley's soft grasp, letting herself be led onto the dance floor.
He offered a courtly bow as was customary to begin the dance. "Princess." He nodded, grabbed for her hand, and pulled her into a very practiced waltz.
It took her a moment to get used to the way his body performed the steps. He was light on his feet and surprisingly graceful, and after a minute or two, she fell into tempo with him. And to her very great surprise, she realized she had actually begun to enjoy herself.
"Is that a hint of a smile I see?" he asked, leaning into her to be heard.
She smiled a little wider in response.
"I'm so glad you came," Wesley said. "It seemed like you could use a smile."
She drew back to study him then. "Was it that obvious?"
"You've looked sad these last few days. Like you've lost all of your happy thoughts."
And just like that, the son of Wendy Darling had proven he was, in fact, very perceptive and had cut to the core of her feelings.
"Yeah, Harry and I – " she began, not knowing how to describe what had happened.
When she didn't continue, he tried to help. "Did you break up?"
"I don't know what happened, Wesley." They swayed back and forth, in that 'step forward step together' pattern a few more times until she was finally ready to admit out loud what she couldn't before. "I still care about him."
"That's hard," he said, "but it definitely explains why you both looked like zombies over the past few days."
He'd seen Harry, then. Not surprising considering most of her friends had which meant he was definitely avoiding her. And Melody wasn't sure whether to be thankful or upset about that fact.
She followed Wesley's lead, circling and rocking to the tempo of the dance. And she wasn't sure why she did it, but there was something about Wesley that made him so easy to talk to, and she found herself sharing more about that night at Skull Rock. "We flew to Neverland and I almost got stranded there when I ran out of happy thoughts."
"Hmmm," he said, pausing their conversation long enough to whisk her around a few times, leading her in a wide arc and she smiled at that feeling, the twisting and turning and the way her dress flared.
He pulled her back in for more box steps and she continued the conversation. "Not that it matters now that I'm out of pixie dust, but I guess all the happy thoughts I had were lies."
He frowned at that. "A happy thought can't be a lie," he said, pushing her back into a variation of their previous step, forcing her to focus for a minute on what they were doing. "A happy thought can only be the truth of what brings you joy at that moment. The feeling must be pure or the pixie dust won't work."
She thought on that as they continued dancing slow circles around the floor. Uma had said a siren's song only lasted a few minutes and now Wesley was saying her happy thoughts about Harry had been pure. And even after several days without seeing him, and realizing those feelings for him hadn't faded, she couldn't blame it all on the song of a siren. Maybe there was something real there after all.
But the lump was back in her throat again.
No. He'd lied. He'd knowingly manipulated her.
She scooted closer to Wesley, trying to focus on the feeling of his swaying steps, losing herself in the music.
"What were you using pixie dust for?" he asked, his curiosity probably finally getting the best of him.
"I got myself into some trouble with another group of pirates. We needed it as a quick escape."
"Did it work, did you take care of the problem?"
She sighed, feeling her shoulders droop. "Not yet."
"And you're out of pixie dust?" he asked.
"Yep, out of dust and out of ideas, too. Just hoping for a miracle at this point."
"That's why you've seemed so preoccupied in class lately, too."
She nodded. "Yeah. Thanks for all the help with homework by the way. You've been a lifesaver."
"It's been a pleasure, my lady," he said, before spinning her again in a wide, showy loop. "It's always nice to find a friend here. And I'm sure when you're feeling more yourself, we'd make a good study team."
A few ball-goers had now stepped back to watch, as Wesley Darling let loose with every dramatic flourish he could muster, twirling her, leading her in intricate patterns on the floor.
Someone was in this competition to win, it seemed.
"Hey, we might actually have a chance at this little contest," he said, his smile a flash of white under the dim ballroom lights.
"It's all you," she said. "I'm just along for the ride."
They danced another few songs, their conversation moving on to his high school friends, his family, classes, lots of nice normal topics as they quickly became used to each other as dance partners.
He had just gone for another spin, changing the angle of her view, when suddenly, all of the air was sucked out of the ballroom. Her chest was tight as she tried to pull in a gasp, something, anything to fill her lungs.
And she blinked at the doorway in shocked silence.
"Harry just arrived, didn't he?" Wesley said slanting his head, analyzing her expression.
She choked out half a response. "How could you – "
"You stopped breathing."