The night of a thousand Mals
"...Okay, well I'll be home in about five minutes...bye Ben" Evie hung up the phone as she walked towards the car.
Throwing her bag in the passenger seat, Evie chuckled to herself, Ben was an absolute angel but also completely inept at thinking of a present for Mal's birthday next week. So far he had called her fifteen times, each call being more frantic than the last.
Evie rolled her eyes as Mal's name flashed up on her dashboard for a call
"I'm not home yet" she answered
"I know that" Mal replied "I was wondering how long you were going to be?" the tone of her voice made Evie frown
"About five minutes...you okay?" she asked
"Okay, see you shortly" the line went silent before hanging up
Evie raised an eyebrow at the fae's behaviour and turned her attention to the road in front of her.
Evie walked up the driveway and fished her keys from her bag. Mal opened the door as she was about to put her keys in the lock
"hey" Evie said
"We need to talk" Mal turned from the door and headed into the lounge.
Now very concerned by her friends behaviour, Evie followed her
"What's going on? Have you and Ben had another fight?" she asked
"No"
"Then what.." Evie began to ask. She dropped her bag to the floor.
Sitting in her favourite chair, wearing exactly the same outfit as the Mal who had opened the door was another Mal.
"I woke up with a cold. Every time I sneeze...that happens" Mal pointed to the doppelganger, who waved with a smile.
Evie felt someone behind her, she jumped as another Mal walked past
"hi" the girl waved
"so there's three of you?" Evie asked in confusion
"More like seven" Mal told her, pointing to the other Mal's sitting around the room
"how do I know you're the real Mal?"
"you don't" said the Mal in the chair "we're all the real Mal"
"no I mean...the original.." she began
One of the Mal's closest to Evie suddenly sneezed. A ripple of magic filled the room...
"bless you" five voices replied
"what are we going to do about this?" Mal blew her nose and looked at Evie "I'm supposed to be meeting Ben for a meal tonight with his parents"
"Obviously you can't go" Evie pointed out "what if you duplicate in the restaurant?"
"its Belles birthday! I can't not go" Mal told her "I already couldn't make it to the annual spa thing the other week. Ben says his mom thinks I don't like her as it is"
"and what would you say to them if you did go?" Evie asked "we don't need eight Mal's running around Auradon!"
"...make that nine" said a voice from the kitchen.
Evie smoothed out the dress in front of the mirror
"you owe me bigtime" she folded her arms
"I know, and I'll make it up to you" Mal smiled "I promise" she wrinkled her nose and held her breath
"seriously you shouldn't be going!" Evie chided "you're sick!" she grabbed the makeup from the table and began to work her magic.
Mal pulled a face once she was done
"its her birthday E, I have to go!" she said "Bens going to be here in ten minutes!"
The doorbell rang
"I'll get it!" Mal's voice rang out from the floor below
"Ben can't see me! I mean the other me's!" Mal r said in horror
She took the stairs a few at a time and shut the lounge door in the face of the nearest Mal.
She yanked the front door open and saw Ben standing on the porch
"hey...you look gorgeous" he commented
"Thanks...Wait for me in the car?" she kissed his cheek "just got to get my shoes"
"sure" Ben agreed "see you in a minute" he walked off back to the car.
Evie appeared behind her from the stairs, holding a pair of heels to match the dress
"Here they are" she handed them to her
"thanks E" Mal hugged her "see you later?"
"you better" Evie passed her a purse "ill just spend my evening babysitting 8 duplicates of you...what could possibly go wrong...?"