"Sorry I'm back so late Evie," Mal called out, shutting the door to their dorm room. She didn't get any response but realised that their bathroom door was shut. She slipped out of her clothes and pulled on an oversized hoodie. Mal then got into bed and felt her entire body practically melt into the soft mattress. Even after all these months in Auradon, it was something that Mal looked forward to every single day. She slid under the blankets and turned to face the bathroom door, waiting for Evie to exit. She had almost fallen completely asleep when the door to the bathroom finally opened. Mal drowsily opened her eyes and watched as the light went out in the bathroom.
"Hi E," Mal murmured. Evie didn't answer but Mal felt the mattress dip and then Evie was curled into her side. Mal didn't move as Evie got herself comfortable, her head buried into the side of Mal's neck. Once she was settled, Mal noticed that she was sniffling and that her face seemed wet.
"Eves, are you crying?" She asked concernedly. Evie let out a tiny whimper and then Mal felt her neck become wetter. Mal tried to sit up but Evie wrapped her arm around Mal's waist and refused to let her move.
"Tell me what happened," Mal murmured.
"Today was a bad day," Evie whispered.
"Why?" Mal asked gently.
"I don't want to talk about it," Evie said.
"Eves… did someone hurt you?" Mal said after a few moments.
"No, I'm just struggling today," Evie whispered. Mal heard her breath catch and she knew that she wasn't going to get Evie to talk about it, as much as she wanted to know what happened.
"What can I do to help you E?" Mal asked.
"Can you just… play with my hair?" Evie asked timidly. Mal's hand immediately went to Evie's hair and she started playing with the strands as gently as she could.
"Did you know that I find you incredibly beautiful?" Mal said softly.
"You're just saying that because I'm upset," Evie said.
"No, I'm just saying it because I mean it," Mal replied. Evie sniffled again but kissed Mal's neck.
"Thanks," She murmured.
"Get some sleep E," Mal said, continuing to run her hand through Evie's hair.
"Please stay with me," Evie whispered.
"I'm not going anywhere Evie, this is my bed… and I wouldn't leave you anyway" Mal said.
The next morning, Mal woke before Evie and continued to play with her hair quietly, not wanting to move until she was ready to wake up on her own. It only took a few minutes before she was slowly stirring and Mal felt Evie's arm squeeze her tightly.
"Good morning beautiful," Mal whispered.
"Good morning," Evie mumbled, burying her face once more into Mal's neck.
"You wanna tell me why I had to see your beautiful face crying last night?" Mal asked.
"Not really," Evie said.
"Well, that was posed as a question but it wasn't really a question," Mal said.
"I… I had a nightmare about Mommy the night before last," Evie whimpered.
Mal immediately understood.
"Hey, hey look at me," Mal said, gently lifting her face up and noticing that her eyes were puffy, tears threatening to fall from them.
"Are you safe here?" Mal asked, making Evie nod her head.
"Do you trust me?" Mal said, getting another small nod from Evie.
"Would I lie to you?" Mal asked, causing Evie to shake her head. Mal smiled and used her hand to cup Evie's cheek.
"You are the most beautiful person I have ever laid my eyes on," Mal said. Evie's eyes closed and a single tear escaped her eye.
"Nothing that your mother has ever said to you or continues to say to you in your nightmares is true. You are amazing, you are beautiful, and I am going to tell you that every single day just as a reminder that you mean everything to me," Mal said. Evie's eyes opened and she leant down to kiss Mal's lips.
"You're my everything," Mal mumbled against Evie's lips. Evie reburied her face into Mal's neck and Mal resumed playing with her hair.
They were okay here.
They were safe.
And Mal would make sure that Evie knew how loved she was every single day. She deserved it more than all of them, all of the torture that she was put through was nothing compared to Mal, Jay and Carlos combined.
Mal was going to make sure more than anything that Evie was happy here.