Hiya Descendants!

Happy New Year!

2021!

Everyone's excited yeah?

Let's just jump into some Evie and Doug talk, we hope you enjoy the first chapter of the year :)

Lots of love!

-Dark-

The last couple of days had her head spinning.

So much had happened to them in such a short amount of time.

She still didn't know what to do with half of it.

She had no idea who would go through so much effort to frame them. She knew they were the children of villains but- Cruel much?

It hurt to think about how many people didn't like them here in paradise just because of their parents.

It was very underwhelming, and not what she had expected at all from royalty on the other side of the barrier.

She sighs as she pulls her books to her closer, ignoring the suspicious looks as she continues down the hall.

She'd been parting crowds for years, but it had never felt like this before.

Never had she felt this judged.

At least not in this manner.

She plasters a pretty smile on her lips and bats her eyelashes at anyone who musters up the courage to make eye contact.

She refused to show weakness to these people.

Refused to lower her head in shame.

But-

It was just horrible not being the popular one.

She was so used to people eating out of the palm of her hand.

She bites the inside of her cheek.

She had much more important things to think about than her standing with these people. She could worry about her image once she finished their outfits for Ben's ceremony.

These people didn't matter right now, their opinions didn't matter.

Her pack's opinions did.

Ben's opinion did.

Lonnie and Roy's opinions did.

Her cheeks flush-

Doug's opinions mattered.

This morning had been- unexpected to say the least.

Would she have made the same call if she'd had to choose between popularity and her friends?

She hoped she would but what would moth-

She blinks as hot tears of shame well up in her eyes.

Mother.

She had no power over her anymore. No rights. No anything. She could finally be her own person.

And she wanted to be her own person.

It was something she was working so hard on.

For her pack.

For Deez.

For herself.

She blinks back the tears, refusing to ruin her makeup.

She had been so relieved, so happy, ecstatic even to see Harry and T on that screen.

To hear about the isle. To know Dizzy was okay. That Deez was with her family.

But…

The truths she'd learned about T still had her head reeling. Her chest tightening and her heart aching.

She'd always known there was something different about T- Who on the Isle didn't? It just hurt to know how much had been hidden from her and Carlos.

She knew she was being a hypocrite. It wasn't like she hadn't kept her own secrets. She just thought it would be different once everything had been put out in the open. That there would be no more lies.

She runs a hand through her hair.

How wrong she'd been.

And what hurt her the most was the fact even Doug had known. She wasn't sure how or why but- He'd known.

He had to.

He had been so awkward- and not his adorable awkward- when she'd asked questions about mental health day.

Sure he'd answered them, but they'd all been so vague and he'd been ridiculously uncomfortable.

It stung.

She liked Doug, appreciated him.

Adored him even, much to her own surprise.

It made it even more painful.

This morning she'd been so happy with him. Had forgotten about his transgressions against her.

However, with every shadow she'd passed, with every glare thrown her way; with the discomfort that settled over her chest every time she thought about the fact some people out there were so against them that they'd brought guns-

Guns! A chill runs down her spine.

She missed him.

Her?

It was still so confusing.

It didn't stop her from missing him.

T. The isle's silent guardian.

Her dark knight.

She knew Jay would do everything in his power to keep them protected.

Knew it in her bones.

But T?

T would be out there right now. Out there hunting down the people that were hunting them, regardless of the consequences.

Like he always had. She knew that as well as she knew how to apply blush.

She knew the King had added extra security but- Who was to say they didn't feel the same way about them as those trying to-

She swallows, her mouth suddenly dry.

Hurt them.

Here. In the Utopia Auradon claimed itself to be.

Deez would be so disappointed.

Dizzy would be so scared.

At least they knew what they were up against on the isle.

Here though? Here they could barely protect themselves without facing mass scrutiny.

T though? T wouldn't give a fuck.

Even to his own detriment.

She bites her cheek again. Did that have something to do with his dual-

"Hey Evie, you ready to study for-"

Doug's voice pulls her from her thoughts as she looks up.

"Oh, are you okay?" Doug's brow furrows as his eyes widen behind his glasses.

Her eyes narrow. Was it that obvious? She used to be able to hide her distress as well if not better than Mal.

Was she really that far off her game?

"Of course," She smiles as she blinks up at him innocently.

Doug frowns, "You don't seem okay, and ya know, it's okay to not be okay. There's a lot of crap happening right now." His arm lifts, but he quickly drops it back to his side.

She lifts a perfectly manicured eyebrow, "Worry and stress lead to wrinkles." Her eyes narrow.

"Really?" Doug pats at his face with both hands, "I mean if that's the case I'm in trouble, but even stressed out you always look beautiful."

"I know," She states confidently. If nothing else that was always a constant. "You wouldn't be so stressed if you were honest more often." She sniffs indignantly as she keeps walking.

"Honest more often?" Doug quickly falls into step beside her, "What does that mean?"

She glances around the empty corridor before she turns on her heels, "Yes, honest." She shifts to hold her books in one hand before she pokes an immaculately manicured finger into his chest. "You've been lying to me since the mental health fair, maybe even before that, and I don't appreciate it."

"Lying to you?" Doug's eyes widen as they drop to her finger and then back to her face, but to his credit, he doesn't even flinch, "What made you think I was lying to you?"

Her brow knits in confusion for the briefest of moments before she relaxes her features. "How else did you know about T?"

"Know what about T?"

"Whatever's going on with him." She huffs as she drops her hand and places it on her jutted hip.

"Oh." Doug's lips curl into a small frown as he sighs, "That's who they were worried about."

"So they did talk to you." She tries to ignore the pang in her chest, but her vision starts to blur.

"Well, no. I just saw them struggling on the computer in the library, so I helped them get around the content blocker." He bites his lip, "Honestly Evie, they never said anything to me, I just, I know how worried you were when they didn't take to the phone like you and Carlos did, so, I mean-" He rubs his jaw with one hand, "I just wanted to help." he finishes with a frown.

She steps back at the sincerity in his tone as her eyes sweep over him, feeling genuinely confused.

He sounded so genuine but- He was hiding something. He was too nervous. Too shady. Just like he'd been when she'd asked questions about the health fair. "So, you just helped? They didn't talk to you?" She asks skeptically.

"They seemed annoyed I was there at first, but I just, ya know, made it so they could actually look up what they were looking for and left them to it." His brow furrows as he steps closer to her, again lifting one arm before he slowly lowers it again, "I think they thanked me, does that count as talking to me?" He tilts his head to the side, "Do you not want me talking to them?"

She blinks, "No, of course I want you to talk to them, I just- You're hiding something. You knew something. And I'm done with the lying. So, just-" She hates herself when she feels her lower lip tremble.

It was one thing when she was acting a part. Another completely to be this close to crying out of frustration and hurt.

Mal would be so disappointed.

"I'm sorry!" This time he doesn't hesitate, he simply wraps his arms tenderly around her, "I uh, you're right. I'm hiding something-"

She hides her head in the crook of her arm as she leans into him, seeking comfort despite him being the cause of the sob choking her.

She knew it. She could sniff out a lie since she could hold a hairbrush.

She takes a deep breath when he releases her from the hug, her chest restricting as he takes a step back.

Stung. It actually stung. He'd lied to her. She should be the one hurting him, not the other way around.

"Come with me? Please?" He asks as he takes her by the hand, looking around the hallways as if the walls had suddenly sprouted ears, "I'll tell you everything, I promise. Just," He grimaces, "not here?"

She looks away as she blinks away her tears before she turns back to him, "Promise?" She asks, hating how utterly vulnerable she sounded. "Cause I've had it up to my eye shadow with these lies."

"I'm so sorry Evie, I didn't mean- Of course I promise. I'll explain myself. You deserve that." He sighs as he gently caresses her cheek with a thumb, "Well, you deserve that and so much more, but this I can do right now."

She sniffs as she takes in a shaky breath, hating the way she leaned into his touch.

The way it made her heart skip.

The way she trusted him.

She stares up into his green eyes as she gives the slightest nod, hating the plea in her "please?"

It wasn't long before she found herself standing in his room.

"Sorry." Doug blushes as he frantically cleans a chair off for her, "Roy can be a handful sometimes, and hates cleaning up after himself. After a while I just kind of started ignoring it."

Her lips twitch into the smallest smile, "Jay's the same way, C just can't ignore it." She sighs before she places down her belongings. She sits in the chair before she bites her lip and looks up to him expectantly. "Truth now, please?" She asks softly as her eyes drop to her folded hands.

Doug nods as he shoves a pile out of the chair beside her as slips into it, "I um-" He closes his eyes as he takes a deep breath, "I kind of wanted to help more after I left them in the library. They'd been so hard to talk to, to make friends with, so I thought that if I found a way to help them with whatever it was they were looking up, maybe they'd, give me a chance?" He gives her an awkward grin.

Her lips twitch into another ghost of a smile.

That she believed hands down.

As mad as she was with the two of them- She couldn't deny how protective they've always been of her.

Her, and Carlos, and Deez. It even extended to Dizzy.

"But I had no idea they were looking up-" he sighs again, "well, I hacked into the computer they were on and checked the search log before erasing the history. And I saw they were looking up split personalities and the trauma it could come from. I was worried that they were worried about you or Carlos. Every time I saw them in the library together they were, well, together. Without you and Carlos. And I knew you had been worried about them leaving you alone. And once I saw what they were looking up." He shakes his head, "I didn't know what to do, or how to help really, but um, well I know you guys don't like talking about the Isle either, or yourselves all that much." He rubs his jaw again.

She furrows her brow, confused as to why her heart was suddenly racing and pounding against her chest.

Her eyes narrow as she chews her lip.

Trauma. Apparently, they'd all suffered plenty of that at home according to David and Nani, however, none of them had developed-

She'd have to speak to Nani about it. Or roogle it herself later.

Her eyes sweep over Doug. He was nervous all over again. Looking away. Shifting in discomfort. But she was sure he was telling her the truth- He just seemed to be omitting. She clasps her hands tighter. Whatever they had been looking up- Whatever trauma that had caused T-

No. She frowns. Not T. Faustina.

The name was still foreign to her. She'd never heard another like it. So feminine.

So- just not T.

But the trauma he was speaking about could be anything.

Every time they mentioned something about the Isle, he looked, along with the rest of their new friends, horrified.

She swallows before she takes a deep breath. "You know, he never even mentioned her. Not once."

"Her?" Doug frowns as he looks up, "Who never mentioned her?"

"T. He never spoke about her. I'd never even heard her name. And trust me, I knew everyone's name. Their status. Their strengths. Whether they were worth or not worth my time."

Doug frowns as he watches her, "I um, I'm afraid I don't understand. T never talked about who?"

She blinks, "His other personality." Did he really not know then? He seemed more lost than she was

"So, T- They were worried about T-" He blinks, "Who has a her for another personality?"

She shifts.

Damn it. Now she was oversharing.

She bites her lip as she swallows a groan, well she wasn't about to start lying to him. Not when she had demanded the truth from him not ten minutes ago.

"No, Well I mean yes they were worried about T, but, no I-" She hadn't even come to terms with this yet, she plucks at her skirt. "No, I believe she has a him. I'm still a little confused about it myself. I would have put my makeup collection on him being a boy but…" She sighs as she looks away with a blush.

"Oh-" Doug smiles, "T's a-" he blinks, "T's a girl."

"Apparently," She sucks on her lip, "Which is just-" She shakes her head. She wasn't sure how she felt about it.

She turns back to him with a shaky smile as her eyes sweep over him.

Oh lipstick. That would just be her damn luck...

"You're not hiding boobs under there are you?"

"I think you would have noticed if I had-" Doug coughs, "Um, yeah, with how hard you were clinging to me at the Enchanted Lake I think you would have noticed." He chuckles, "But no, for the sake of this shock, I'm not."

Her cheeks catch on fire as she lets out a sigh of relief. "Sorry, it's just- He, I'm not- And he isn't, and mother help me- I-" She shakes her head, she'd never had a problem with lesbians or any sexual preferences but she was so just not- "Thank god."

"It sounds confusing Evie. I'm sure it doesn't happen often, but, neither does split personalities apparently." Doug reaches across the distance between them to take her hands in his, "It's okay to be confused. Maybe even overwhelmed? And I'm sorry I added to that. I swear that was not my intention."

She grips his hands and squeezes, "Thank you." She breathes out. "So much, I can tell you aren't comfortable. I just- Thank you. For being honest. It really means a lot to me right now. And for, understanding. And-" She chuckles as her cheeks once again flair with heat, "For not being a girl. Cause I really don't think I could handle having- Not noticing twice."

"Feeling pretty glad to not be a girl too." Doug grins, "And, I'm not really uncomfortable," He twitches his lips to the side as he narrows his eyes thoughtfully, "More, I guess I was afraid you would not appreciate the ways I tried to help. Or maybe would think I was a creep."

She can't help her chuckle, "Oh Hunny, I'm from the isle. Help is-was rare there, but always secretly appreciated. Doing it underhanded? Pretty clever for an HK." She winks. "And no not a creep at all."

"Really?" He grins as he sits up taller.

Before she realizes what she's doing her lips are already pressed to Doug's.

Just as quickly she finds herself sitting back in her seat, "Really."

Doug touches the tips of his fingers to his lips, "Hi-ho…" His voice trails off as he stares at her with a dopey grin.

She blinks. Had she really just kissed him?

Like their first kiss?

He was so utterly- She never would've guessed.

He wasn't even a prince.

But, Hades, if she didn't love the way he made her feel.

The way he treated her like a real princess.

The way he tripped over himself because of her.

He was just so, smart.

She never would've guessed her charms could ensnare someone like him.

Never would've guessed she'd want to.

But now that she had?

She looks away.

It made her chest burn with warmth and bats flutter in her stomach.

She couldn't imagine feeling this way about Chad. Or any of the other princes she'd encountered.

Sure, Ben was smart. Clever. Witty. But…

He just wasn't what she was interested in.

Not that she was complaining. It had been clear as Deez's glass from the get-go that he'd only had eyes for her best friend.

"Thank you, again." She squeezes his hand. "For showing me another part of yourself. For helping. For your honesty, and most importantly for-" Goodness help her, she wasn't sure she'd ever blushed so much, "Stalking me."

Doug slowly nods, "For you, anytime."

She giggles.

She knew she could kiss a boy stupid.

But, never had she ever been so pleased with herself for managing to do so.

Hey guys, me again.

Anytime Twisted and I get a spare moment lately we've been committing to writing, so I think we've been forgetting to update our chapters before posting day.

So, you guys get me this week.

What did you think of Evie confronting Doug?

What did you think of the way Doug handled it?

Did you laugh at Evie's sudden fear? At her questioning if Doug was actually a girl? She really wouldn't have been able to handle it if she ended up having a crush on two girls pretending to be boys.

I think it's safe to say everyone still has a ways to go before they can come to terms with what they can and can't do, and what is going on with T. And the Isle.

But let us know what you thought of the chapter. Did you enjoy the confrontation? Getting to see more Devie?

Remember to leave us a comment or review to let us know you were here.

Your support and words mean so much to us.

Every.

Single.

Time.

It always lifts our spirits and helps us smile even when we feel like the whole world is out to keep up from writing.

A huge thank you, readers. Your time means so much to us.

Lots of love!

-Dark-