Sunday was a bit of a long day. Things were quiet between Mal and Evie and their mothers. No one wanted to relive it or talk about it, so Monday came next. Mal decided to open up one of the cupboards, taking out a box of Froot Loops and poured herself a bowl with some milk before sitting down and eating it up. She found herself swallowing very hard and feeling funny, almost queasy, in her tummy. Mal remembered what had happened on Sunday and her going to the mansion while Regina and Graham were out, though the same thing seemed to happen every time.
Mal knocked on the door with a small, hopeful smile and Evie soon came to the door to see who was there. "I thought maybe you'd like to do each other's nails, Evie?" she then said, taking out a couple of her favorite bottles of nail polish: lime green and passionate violet.
Evie just frowned, looking terribly hurt before shaking her head, and shutting the door in Mal's face. Mal winced... The door didn't even hit her or touch her face and yet it stung worse than any other pain she could had endured if it had.
Later on, Evie was soon walking over to The Braeburn Diner with Henry, holding his hand as they walked together.
"Hi, guys." Mal smiled as she soon ran into them into town.
Evie gasped before she took Henry's hand and ran with him, heading right into the diner. Henry glanced back at Mal before he and his sister were both suddenly in the diner. Mal frowned as that hurt even worse than the door slamming. She felt sick to her stomach, but also pained down there somehow. What was this feeling that she was feeling?
Even more later, Evie was staring into the lake and skipping some stones in it as she sat on the bank all alone and by herself. Eventually, someone was swimming in the water and that someone was Mal who soon came out, spitting out some water like a fountain and giggled as she wore the lilypad like a hat.
"Evie, you're fashionable, would you say that green is my color in this case?" Mal giggled, smiling hopefully.
Evie glared at the sight of Mal and soon stood up as she looked ready to leave the new girl yet again.
"Evie, wait, please," Mal said as she soon grabbed Evie's arm as she came out of the water before getting the girl to stop as she wrung the water out of her hair and removed the lilypad. "Why don't we get some ice cream and talk this over or something?"
"No, thank you." Evie huffed as she went to storm off again.
"I didn't mean to get you in trouble, but I just wanted people around here to like me since I'm new in town," Mal frowned as Evie stopped to listen, though the nicer, more sweet girl was still a bit unhappy with her supposed new best friend. "I didn't want people to think I was a loser or something and Uma thought it would be good for you too."
"So I'm supposed to take the blame?" Evie retorted, sounding very firm and like she could cry as she was really hurt on the inside. "Is that why you pretended to like me?"
"How can you say that?" Mal frowned. "I gave you my bracelet! Don't you think that meant something?"
"You're right... It did," Evie replied as she stopped and soon took off the bracelet and forced Mal to take it back. "It meant we were friends."
"But we are friends." Mal frowned.
"We were friends," Evie emphasized. "Past tense. Stop living in the past or you'll never see your future."
"...Stop living in the past or you'll never see your future?" Mal blinked as that sounded a bit odd for Evie of all people to say.
"I got it in a fortune cookie once," Evie sighed and shook her head. "I'm sorry, Mal, but this friendship is over. I should've known this would happen... No one ever wants to really be my friend anyway."
"Evie..." Mal frowned.
"No one ever wants to be friends with the mayor's kid..." Evie huffed as she stormed off. "Some people just care all about looks or popularity like Chad or Audrey. Some people just care about everybody being afraid of them like Uma, Gil, and Harry. Some people pretend to be my friend when they can take advantage of my kindness to get away with having wild parties or having an excuse to trash my place. I'm going back to Mom and you don't even know what it's like with her," she then added with a sharp glare as she looked back at Mal. "Mine and Henry's lives suck!"
"Oh, you wanna know what sucking is?" Mal retorted firmly as she narrowed her emerald eyes. "Being left with your mother who treats you as invisible unless you're in trouble and always compares you to your supposed perfect sister, then your dad abandons you and was never really there for you and you have to make it on your own without him, and come from a town where no one really even cared about you and just asked about your sister all the time."
"Well, even though I'm the older sister, I would've loved to have an older sister to help me make it through town!" Evie glared. "I thought I had a sister in you when we became friends, but I guess I was wrong!" she then broke down with tears in her eyes. "I was wrong... Just like I was about everything."
Mal glared back until she felt that she couldn't stay mad at Evie and felt her heart sinking in her chest.
"Now if you'll excuse me," Evie continued before sniffling and pouting as tears formed in her dark brown eyes. "I have to head back home and get started on dinner... And at least you had your dad is still alive! ...Goodbye, Mal." she then added before going off, though she broke down crying on the way.
"...What is this gross feeling I'm feeling in my stomach?" Mal complained to herself. "I don't need Evie... Do I...?"
It was a very stressful and painful weekend for both girls. Mal knew she had to do something to make things up to Evie, but she couldn't figure out what it was.
"Mrs. Mills won't be coming by to take you to school today, so I might have to do." Ciara told Mal as she came to see her daughter.
"Okay, Mom," Mal said softly. "I'll meet you in the car."
Ciara nodded and soon walked off suddenly. "Remember to wow them in your new school, dear~" she then said with a grin. "Your sister Lily always had an award-winning smile."
"Phew... Ain't that a kick to the teeth?" Mal grumbled. "I thought I had gained a new sister... But I just ended up losing both of them."
Indeed, Mal was having a lot of trouble. Apparently gifts and invitations weren't going to be the way to own up to Evie. She wasn't sure what she could say or do though to make Evie talk to her again. To make matters worse, it was a bit of a dark and gray day for school today as Mal sighed, staring out her window before doing a little bit of a double-take as she looked over to the graveyard as they passed by it. She could had sworn that she saw Jay at the graveyard, leaving a flower before sighing to himself as he shook his head at one grave before walking off with his head kept low as he put his hands in the pockets of his blazer while leaving the graveyard. Mal rubbed her eyes curiously before shrugging as she wondered about that, but decided not to make too much of a big deal over it. Right now, she knew that she had to patch things up with Evie someway and somehow.
In Mrs. Belfrey's classroom, the students inside talked amongst themselves while they had the chance before the woman would come inside the room. Mal was placing a dark blue balloon with a red heart inside of it with the letter E in it with some Apollo and Wonka bars on the girl's desk before she went to go and sit where her desk was, hoping Evie would see it and then find a way to forgive her for what had happened this weekend.
"Um, hey, guys," Mal said as she came to see Carlos and Jay. "So, that Isaac Heller is quite the author, huh?"
"Uh... Yeah... I guess..." Carlos shrugged. "I think my mom dated him once actually."
"...Fascinating." Mal replied.
It was then suddenly quiet between the three of them as Jay didn't seem as down in the dumps as he was when Mal caught a glimpse of him at the cemetery earlier.
"...So, Jay, why were you at the cemetary earlier?" Mal then asked, deciding to fill the air a bit.
"...I wasn't at the cemetary today." Jay said as his eyes seemed to dart back and forth.
"Yeah, you were," Mal nodded. "I saw you there when my mom drove me to school today."
"Must've been someone else." Jay shrugged.
Mal glanced at him strangely before sighing and shaking her head. "Never mind..." she then said lowly.
POP! The three soon looked forward as Tilly snorted and suddenly woke up, her eyes darting around as she had fallen asleep. As usual. Evie firmly pouted as she had popped the balloon with a bobby pin and soon sat down, shoving down the candy bears off of her desk into the trashcan and soon looked forward with her arms folded. Mal sighed as that hurt her yet again and this was just making her feel worse and worse about what had happened between the two of had gone from very close friends with a sister-like bond into not talking to each other with a very strained and distant relationship with each other.
Mal began to feel more and more sick to her stomach as the day carried out and had a hard time focusing in her classes today. She was currently visiting the school nurse who was taking her temperature and everything else that needed to be done.
"So, you feel a little nauseous, but you haven't thrown up... Your heart is racing... You're sweating a little bit..." The nurse said. "You don't have a temperature, cough, or anything though that says any sickness. Are you sure you're sick, Miss Ignus?"
"I just feel sick whenever I'm around my friend Evie," Mal replied with a small shrug. "I just feel like my stomach is fighting me for some reason and I feel worse when I try to talk to her and she just ignores me."
"Hmm... I see..." The nurse then said with a nod. "Have you done something wrong?"
Mal's eyes widened before her voice grew shallow and soft suddenly. "W-Wrong? W-Whatya mean?" she then asked, slightly trembling.
"Well, I'm just saying, maybe you feel guilty about something," The nurse said. "What happened?"
"...I can't talk about it." Mal sighed and pouted.
"Well, it sounds like this is something you girls need to work out together," The nurse suggested. "I won't ask you what you did, but you know what you did and Miss Mills does too, yes?" she then prompted.
"...Yeah, I guess she does," Mal nodded. "Sorta... Not fully everything though... No."
"Well, I highly suggest that you and Miss Mills talk things out together," The nurse advised. "Because once you get out what needs to be let out, you two can talk and make amends and you'll feel so much better."
"You really think so?" Mal asked.
"I was a teenager once too," The nurse reminded with a small giggle. "It becomes easier the second time around if you're lucky like me. Now, you better run off to class and don't come in here unless you caught the chicken pox or something."
"Yes, ma'am..." Mal sighed as she hopped off of the bench and went to walk herself down to class as she hugged her stomach, it felt at least five pounds heavier as the guilt was consuming her as she thought more about what the nurse said.
The biggest problem was probably trying to get Evie to sit down and listen to her.
Evie wasn't feeling that much good herself, though probably not as bad as Mal was currently feeling. "I just wish you could be here to help make things easier for me..." she said with a deep sigh as she had her locker door open and was looking into it. "You have no idea how hard it is to be a teenager today... Yes, I know... Talk to Mom about teenage girl problems, but... It can be hard sometimes, especially nowadays with my hope and trust suddenly dashed after one evening... I just wish it could be like the old days... We'd ride together on our horses... You'd get me ice cream. You'd make me smile and laugh and I'd hug you..."
Eventually, there was a photograph of a dark-haired man who was smiling and winning a blue ribbon with Evie herself at a much, much younger age.
"I miss you so much, Daddy, it hurts," Evie closed her eyes as a tear slipped down her left cheek, sniffling a bit. "I hate to cry in school, but I just wish you could be here so you could hug me and tell me everything's going to be okay... Mom was a lot happier when you were around too... Before Henry was born and brought home from the hospital. It's just so rough right now, especially since neither Henry or I have any real friends anymore."
Mal felt struck as she overheard Evie and frowned as she deeply sighed, feeling more and more defeated. This was a really tough week of school and it was only Monday. She then walked away from the hallway as Evie took out the picture of Daniel from her locker and kissed its cheek, pretending that she was still with her late father because she really needed some parental comfort and she doubted her mother would give it to her after the disastrous weekend.
After a long and uncomfortable lunch of the girls not speaking to each other, Mal wandered the hallways, wondering what to do. She deeply sighed as she walked off, tuning out people like Uma and Audrey as best as she could. Their taunting felt and hurt worse than it usually did, but she decided to try to not let it ruin her life.
"Miss Ignus? Hello..." A voice called.
Mal looked up and over to see that it was the school "crazy doctor". "Oh... You're that school psychologist?" she then said. "Uh... Dr. Hipster? I think..."
"Dr. Hopper," Archie corrected with a chuckle. "I'm afraid I'm not cool enough to be a hipster that you young people talk about."
"Right... Dr. Hopper..." Mal nodded then. "Like that bad guy from that one Muppets movie."
"If you say so," Archie remarked. "You seem to be a little unfocused lately. Is something on your mind?"
"Huh? Whatya mean?" Mal asked.
"Oh, it's nothing personal or dangerous, Miss Ignus, but your teachers just have been noticing you unable to focus on your work or pay much attention and seem focused on other things," Archie replied. "I just thought maybe we could talk about what's maybe eating you."
"Just so you know, Doc, I'm not crazy." Mal replied coolly.
"Of course you're not," Archie nodded. "I just thought maybe we could talk about you for a little while. I promise not to keep you too long. How about you step into my office for a minute or so?"
"...Well, I guess I have something on my mind," Mal said. "...But what about class? I don't wanna get another detention after what happened between me and Audrey the other week."
"I understand completely, so I'll write you a note so you don't get in trouble for missing too much of class," Archie explained. "I promise, you can tell me anything on your mind and I won't tell anybody what's going on."
"Hm... Well, that does sound interesting..." Mal shrugged. "When do we start?"
"What would you say to right now?" Archie suggested.
"Okay..." Mal said with a shrug again before she followed him to go into his office.
Eventually, Mal was sitting in a comfortable chair across from Archie as she looked at him. "So, what do I talk about?" she then asked.
"Whatever you would like," Archie replied as he held a pen close with a clipboard sitting in his lap. "You may call me 'Dr. Hopper' or 'Archie', whichever makes you feel comfortable. Now, tell me, whatever you wanna let out, just say. We can talk about the weather, we can talk about sports, or your classmates, we can talk about your journey into Auradon Heights as a new student... Whatever you want."
"Well... I guess I'm thinking about Evie..." Mal said with a shrug.
"Evie, huh?" Archie replied. "...Forgive me for asking, Miss Ignus-"
"Please, call me Mal." Mal interrupted.
"Very well, Mal, that's a nice name," Archie nodded before he continued asking what he was going to ask her. "Mal... You don't feel any romantic feelings towards Evie, do you?"
Mal's eyes widened before she wrinkled her nose sickly.
"I mean, it's alright if you do," Archie quickly reassured. "I won't judge you, I promise. I just thought maybe you were going out with Ben French nowadays."
"Ugh! I am," Mal groaned slightly. "No, I'm not gay for Evie!"
"Alright, my apologies," Archie then said. "I just thought I would ask. So, what's going on between you and Evie?"
Mal heaved a sharp sigh as she knew that this wasn't going to be easy, but she soon let it all out. She mentioned the party, what happened with Uma, the result of the party, and how Evie was pretty much being shut out of her life right now. Archie nodded as he listened and took note of what Mal was saying. Mal felt only slightly better about pouring her feelings out like that, but not completely, unfortunately.
"So... I'm pretty sure Mayor Mills isn't going to let me have anything to do with Evie and Henry for a long, long time," Mal soon concluded with a sigh. "And it's bad enough back home with my mom who only really pays attention to me unless I'm in trouble. So... What should I do?"
"Well, Mal, that seems to be really hard, especially for a girl your age to go through and I understand that," Archie started to say. "But I think that you should apologize."
"Apologize?" Mal asked.
"Yes," Archie nodded. "Not just to Evie, but maybe Mayor Mills too. Sometimes the biggest and most painful wounds can be healed by a simple apology. I know that sounds cheesy, but I nearly lost a very old and dear friend of mine forever before we made up and I said sorry..." he then added as he glanced to his picture with his dear friend, Marco Gepetto, before sighing sharply. "Now if only someone else will apologize to him too and maybe they'll live happily ever after together." he then said softly to himself.
"Saying sorry..." Mal groaned a bit.
"Believe me, Mal, if you do that, you'll probably start to feel better," Archie reassured. "I always say that you should let your conscience be your guide."
"Conscience?" Mal snorted and shook her head. "Never had one... Never."
"C'mon, Mal, everybody has a conscience," Archie insisted. "You know... That little voice inside your head that tells you right from wrong? You never know, but I really think it'll help you and Evie."
"Hmph..." Mal shrugged and crossed her arms. "I dunno about that."
"Well, I do," Archie insisted. "I was young once too, you know. My parents weren't very good or helpful people either believe it or not. I felt lost without friends there to help me or back me up whenever I needed it. It's not too late for you to lose one of the greatest friends you could ever have or know."
Mal glanced at him a bit.
"Well, that's about all the time we have right now," Archie soon said. "Would you like to finish your session or do you need to stay a bit longer?"
"Well... I don't wanna go to my next class, but I guess I could go," Mal shrugged as she stood up. "It was an okay talk though."
"Yes, it certainly was," Archie nodded before he stood up next to her before writing her a note, giving it to her to take to class with her. "Hopefully we can have another one sometime very soon."
"Thanks, Doc." Mal replied, accepting the note, sliding it into her pocket and she soon suddenly left his office door.
"Take very good care, Mal." Archie smiled as he sat in his office, waving at her as she left.
Mal waved back to him before sighing as she continued to go off. She then walked down the left corridor right as Evie appeared up the right corridor and knocked on Archie's door to talk to him and she was soon invited to come inside as she also had a lot on her mind about the weekend's hectic events. Mal didn't feel too much better as she thought about what Archie said to her and her heart pounded, almost as if the guilty emotions she felt deep within her heart and soul were punishing her until she owned up to what went wrong during the weekend.
Mal was soon defeated and felt like she just got the crap beaten out of her. Part of her felt like she deserved this and should just forget about having a friend like Evie, but another part of her really wanted to make things right and be friends with the girl again since she was the best friend she had ever had and vice versa. She just felt like she got punched and kicked in the stomach and face while thrown across the room. She heaved a sharp sigh as she stared at the ground while sitting on the front steps of the school, waiting for her mother to come pick her up after what felt like the worst day of her life. "I guess Evie doesn't wanna be my friend anymore... I've just got to face facts..." she then sulked with a firm pout on her face. "I guess I'm just used to being a disappointment to people. I knew that I should had never listened to Uma in the first place."
"So you did talk to Uma..." A familiar and much younger voice said.
"Huh?" Mal blinked before looking up and over. "Henry?"
"You should really know better than to trust someone like Uma," Henry said to the dark-haired girl as he grabbed his backpack straps. "You know, Mal, Evie really trusted you and didn't wanna be mad at you forever, she felt like she really found a best friend in you and I haven't seen her that happy in a very long time back whenever you'd come to do your homework or have dinner with us. Not to mention your first sleepover and that trip to the Mall the next day."
"Don't you think I know that, Henry?" Mal sharply sighed in agony. "I didn't mean to get Evie in trouble with that wild teen party. I told her that. She just won't listen."
"...Did you say sorry?" Henry soon prompted which brought back memories to earlier this afternoon from what Mal had to hear from old Dr. Hopper.
"Well... Sort of..." Mal shrugged as she looked him in the eyes. "She should know that I feel bad about what happened and how much it got your mom really mad at both of us, but especially Evie when she didn't do anything wrong."
"But did you say sorry?" Henry then asked, emphasizing a bit, and sounding very mature for his age like that was what Mal needed to do right now and quick.
Mal sharply sighed. "I guess I should've done that first... Even Archie suggested that," she then said to the younger boy as she stood up and wrapped her arm around him. "I was her best friend. She trusted me to not get her into trouble, especially with your mom, and I didn't... I really am sorry."
"I know you're sorry, Mal, but you have to tell Evie that." Henry reminded.
"But how will I get her to stay and listen to me?" Mal frowned.
"We'll have to think of something, Mal," Henry said. "And especially explain what happened to Mom, even if she doesn't want you around us anymore."
"I hope so, Henry," Mal frowned softly. "...Would it be too much trouble if I could hug you?" she then asked.
"I suppose not." Henry shrugged with a small smile as he held out his tiny arms to her.
Mal smiled back softly and soon hugged Henry right back. They both then flinched as they heard the doors opening and jumped back before walking off from each other as Evie came through the door and took Henry's hand and walked down the steps with him to take him back home, not even noticing or acknowledging Mal's existence and treating her like she was invisible. Mal sighed as that hurt pretty bad, but she decided that she deserved that and decided to try to make things right again, the more proper way.
Mal waited about three days before she would see The Mills Mansion again. It was hard, especially glancing at Henry and Evie in the hallways and going home alone in her bedroom which felt like a cold, dark dungeon without their company. Sure, she could talk to Jay and Carlos in homeroom and in other classes, but it didn't feel the same without Evie. Evie felt like her sister and best friend combined into one package, especially with the secrets they shared together: Mal's deceased sister and Evie's disappeared father. She wanted to say sorry and get it over with sooner, but at the same time, she wanted to allow the family enough time to cool off. The evening Mal decided to come by was a quiet dinner at the Mills house and Graham was there too.
"Lovely steak, Regina." Graham said after there was bitter silence filling the air with the only sounds being silverware hitting the plate and biting into the food provided for all of them.
"Why, thank you, Graham," Regina replied before looking at her children. "And how is it for you two?"
"...Fine." Evie and Henry replied softly and quietly.
"Just fine?" Regina asked softly from their responses.
"Yeah." Evie and Henry nodded as they ate their food, but were mostly quiet.
Regina sighed as she had a feeling why they were acting like they were. "...You miss your friend, don't you?" she then asked.
"...Well, I think Henry misses Mal." Evie said softly as she sat up a little bit.
"I do," Henry admitted softly. "...I think you do too, E."
Regina sighed a bit sharper. "Well... I do have to admit," she then said. "You two seemed a lot livelier whenever she was around. She might had been rough around the edges, plus it was nice to talk to her and bond with her like she was another daughter to me and I haven't seen you two that happy in such a long-" she then stopped herself, shaking her head. "She was trouble! She was bad! She was callous! She was a parent's worst nightmare!" she then blurted out to get out of her system as she felt she couldn't trust Mal again, but deep down, she deeply missed Mal too. "We have to stop talking about her like she was some life-changer and a miracle worker for this family."
"Maybe we should change the subject," Graham suggested before clearing his throat. "Ahem... Regina, there was something I wanted to ask you."
"Oh, Graham? Really?" Regina asked, sitting up a little as she faced him. "What is it?"
"Well, I was just wondering... We've known each other for a long time..." Graham smiled hopefully as he soon got out of his chair and got down on one knee. "I've helped father your children for quite some time... I was just wondering if you, Regina Lana Mills, would do me the honor of accepting-"
But then suddenly, there was the sound of the doorbell.
"I don't recall us expecting any company." Regina remarked as she got up to go and answer the door.
"You have got to be kidding me." Graham complained.
Evie hid a small smirk, looking almost glad that Graham had been interrupted like that. Something about Graham never quite sit right with her, even if he promised her and Henry that he loved their mother very much and would never hurt her.
Regina soon opened the door and it was revealed to have been Mal. "...Malissa, what are you doing here?" she then asked, referring to Mal by her given name to show that she was very serious and firm, especially about what happened this weekend.
"I thought I'd come by for a minute." Mal replied softly.
"Do you honestly believe I'd allow you into my house, for dinner, after all the trouble you caused for my family?" Regina replied sharply.
"I didn't come for dinner." Mal countered.
"Then what did you come for?" Regina then demanded.
"You and Evie," Mal stated. "I wanted to-"
"No." Regina flatly declined, about to close the door on Mal's face.
Mal then stuck her foot out to prevent the door from closing on her face. "Ms. Mills, please," she then begged. "At least let me say something to Evie."
"What makes you think that Evie wants to talk to you?" Regina crossed her arms sharply.
"I deserve that, I admit that," Mal sighed as she looked Regina in the eyes as best as she could. "I took her trust, love, and friendship and ripped it out and my own heart is probably plagued because I'm a bad girl. Very bad... Rotten to the core even."
Regina raised an eyebrow as she kept her arms folded.
"Please... Just five minutes at least..." Mal begged. "If it goes horribly, then I'll never step foot in this house ever again for as long as I live in Auradon Heights. I promise."
"...Very well, Miss Ignus," Regina replied firmly. "I'll let Evie decide what happens afterwards... Evie!" She then called out to her daughter. "You've got company."
"Coming, Mom!" Evie's voice called out from the other room.
Eventually, Regina came back to sit down and eat dinner with her family again. Evie soon came to the door with a hopeful smile before she firmly pouted and narrowed her eyes at the sight of Mal. Mal had to admit that seeing Evie look unhappy was a bit scary and underwhelming to look at.
"Hi, Evie." Mal greeted softly.
"...Hi." Evie replied, crossing her arms as her tone was anything but sweet and friendly like it usually was.
"I wanna tell you something-" Mal began weakly.
"I wanna go." Evie glared, about to walk right away from Mal.
"Evie, wait," Mal frowned as she prevented her friend from leaving. "Why don't you listen to what I have to say?"
"Because!" Evie replied firmly.
"Because why?" Henry soon asked as he poked his head in the room.
"Because she got me in big trouble with Mom with that stupid party." Evie stated sharply, almost rivaling their mother in her icy tone of voice.
"I know and that party is all my fault," Mal defended as Regina stepped into the room briefly before stepping back and listening in a little bit. "It's all my fault for talking to Uma and for keeping this a secret from you. I never should've listened to her, especially since I had detention with her and she's the toughest and most brutal girl in school. I was the one who came up with the stupid party idea and letting Uma come along too with her friends and nearly everybody from school and she even locked your little brother and Doug's cousin in the basement. I'm really, really, really sorry Evie," she then continued. "I just wanna be friends again, but if you don't, I understand, and I'll even understand if your mother files a restraining order against me. I just really miss hanging out with you and even Henry."
"Oh... Mal..." Evie frowned with tears in her eyes. "We missed you too!"
Henry soon stepped over and hugged Mal and Evie in the middle of them. Mal sniffled as she cried a little in the hug.
"Mal, it's been rough without you," Evie frowned softly as she took the other girl by her hands. "I just wish there was a way to convince Mom into forgiving you too. I talked with Dr. Hopper at school the other day and he said I should hear you out whenever I was ready and learn how to forgive and forget."
"I saw Dr. Hopper too," Mal nodded. "He and Henry suggested that I say sorry and I should've done that at the start, especially to your mom. If I could turn back time and we could make last weekend never happen, I could, but sadly, I can't. I better get going now before your mom kicks me out."
"Only if it's for those and sleepovers with just Evie, I don't know about having more than one friend over for a while though," Regina replied. "Is that fair, girls?"
Mal and Evie looked at each other before nodding. "Yes, ma'am." they then agreed to her.
"Good girls," Regina smiled and nodded. "Mal, have you eaten dinner yet?"
"No, I haven't actually," Mal replied. "Would it be too much trouble if I had dinner with you and your family?"
"All right," Regina smiled. "I'll set another plate at the table. I just hope you don't mind Graham's company."
Mal stuck her tongue out with an eye roll when Regina wasn't looking, making Evie giggle a bit, then Regina went to the kitchen to fix up another plate for dinner. Evie smiled as she led Mal back over to the sink to wash up for dinner and soon went to sit down with Henry until Mal was done washing up for dinner. Graham appeared to be missing from the dinner table.
"No, Anna, I don't think I can make it this weekend," Graham said as he was on his phone just as Mal found him in the hallway. "I still haven't been able to ask the question, plus Henry and Evie are still in school for a while. How about next weekend? All right... Talk to you later. Bye." he then added before hanging up and turning around, flinching slightly at the sight of Mal.
"Hello, Graham." Mal greeted the bearded man.
"Oh... Hello there, Mal," Graham replied. "I was just talking to a dear friend from Hyperion City."
"A dear friend, huh?" Mal asked, almost suspiciously.
"Well, it's actually kind of a surprise," Graham replied. "I don't want Regina, Evie, and Henry to know about it."
"Mm-hmm..." Mal nodded. "So who is this Anna person anyway?"
"She's... She's a new partner of mine in Hyperion City," Graham explained. "I was hoping to ask Regina a very important and special question and I'm going to move the family down there maybe before Christmas."
"Moving...?" Mal frowned.
"Yes," Graham nodded. "I think it would be very good for them. Evie and Henry have been in Auradon for their whole lives and Regina could use a new change of pace, especially being mayor of a town like this. You understand, right?"
"You... You can't take them away from me like that!" Mal cried out.
"Take them away from you? I'm sorry, Mal, but you're not apart of this family," Graham said to the girl. "You can't tell me what I can and cannot do. I'm scheduled to be stationed down there and I need to get there before January and I'm going to go. It's not like Regina is going to say no to my proposal, so you might as well make some new friends."
"You don't have to be nasty about it." Mal firmly pouted, not liking Graham's tone at all.
"I'm sorry, dear, but you have to learn that in the real world, not everybody gets a happy ending," Graham told her. "Besides, you can always make new friends."
"The Mills are more than just friends to me," Mal defended. "They feel like a real family to me. More than my mom, especially since we grew more and more detached from each other ever since my father left and my sister died. Surely you can understand that."
"Yes, I'm sure your life story is sad, but sometimes business comes first," Graham replied. "I never had much of a family myself before either."
"You don't feel bad for me, why should I feel bad for you?" Mal huffed at that flimsy excuse.
"Look, I'm trying to be nice, but you're making this rather difficult," Graham told her. "Why don't we go back to dinner, huh?"
"...Very well." Mal replied firmly.
Graham nodded and soon walked on ahead. Mal sighed and soon went to join him at the table with the Mills family. The dinner was very delicious and perfect, but Mal still had an aching feeling about what Graham was saying, but she was glad that she made amends with the Mills family before things would get uglier than they already were, such as the move.
After dinner, Evie soon began to walk Mal back home. "So before the last school day before the semester ends, there's that banquet dinner I told you about," she then said. "It'll be one big final game against the Sherwood kids."
"Are they common rivals?" Mal asked. "Everyone talks about them like they're some kind of big deal."
"They're pretty huge, yeah, probably not as much as The Pirates or The Fighting Monkeys, but pretty big," Evie nodded. "I heard that their sports coach can beat Ms. Merida in archery and that's not very easy to do."
"Oh, I believe it," Mal chuckled. "That lady's pretty brave and scary sometimes."
"So, if you want, you can come with us," Evie then said. "I really think you should come. Almost everyone from school will be there."
"Sure, I'll come, but only with you guys," Mal smiled. "I don't know if my mother would find it very interesting though."
"Your mother is an interesting case," Evie remarked. "No offense of course."
"Oh, totally none taken..." Mal reassured. "I wonder about her myself sometimes."
"Don't tell my mom this, but I hope she never marries Graham," Evie pouted. "I don't know why, but I don't like him."
"...Because he's not your dad." Mal guessed.
"...Yeah, I suppose that's true," Evie said softly. "I really miss my dad."
"I know how you feel... I miss my dad a lot right now... My sister too," Mal said as she wrapped her arm around Evie to hug her. "But I have another one right here which is one of the few things that I like about Auradon."
"Oh, Mal..." Evie smiled, sounding touched and comforted by that sentiment.
The two girls smiled warmly at each other. They soon split up for the time being and even though Mal had to come back home, she held her head up high and tried to keep positive.
Sometime soon passed and it was the morning of the big night against Sherwood. Everybody was getting ready in their own special way.
"Big night tonight, son?" Adam smiled at Ben warmly.
"You know it, Dad," Ben smiled back. "I'm glad you and Mom are gonna come see it. It's like an early Christmas present."
"As long as there's Christmas, family and friendship are the greatest gifts you and your sister will receive." Belle smiled at Ben before she hugged him tightly, planting a few kisses on his cheek.
"Heh... Thanks, Mom," Ben blushed. "I can't wait until you meet Mal too."
"Ah, yes, your girlfriend," Adam nodded. "It's going to be a great night for everybody."
"That won't be necessary, Mal," Regina's voice soon said as the three kids looked up and over to see the woman coming inside, wiping one of her eyes. "I'm sorry I lost my temper, but... There was quite a rager, as you young people say, going on here and that was mostly what I was mad about."
"Heh... Yeah... I couldn't blame ya, Ms. Mills," Mal nodded in understanding. "I'd probably be pissed too if my kid had something like that going on in MY house."
"Mal, don't say 'pissed'," Regina scolded briefly before smiling a bit. "And I forgive you too."
"So... Uh... Am I still allowed to come over and hang out then?" Mal asked.
"I'm so excited!" Ben beamed as he wore his best suit.
"Oh, Ben, you look so handsome and mature," Belle smiled warmly. "Like a very young king."
"Thanks, Mom." Ben smiled back a bit bashfully.
Clarice soon came downstairs, running across the floor, then hugged her older brother's legs.
"Ah... Hello there, Lady Clarice," Ben greeted as he knelt down to his little sister's height after she let go of him, pretending to tip his hat to her. "Would you care to escort me to school for a wonderful family dinner and meeting with the children of Sherwood?"
"Yes, sir, King Benny," Clarice beamed before she curtsied as Belle and Adam looked endeared and touched by their children's behavior towards each other. "Provided that King Daddy drives us over and I get to have ice cream tonight~"
"You may, but just one bowl full," Belle smiled down at her daughter. "I don't want you to get an ice cream headache."
"Yes, Mama~" Clarice then smiled back and nodded.
"Good girl~" Belle beamed. "Now, let's get ready to go and meet everybody down at the school."
"I'd love nothing better than that offer, my dear," Adam smiled as he offered her his arm before she linked her arm into his and Ben took Clarice's hand. "We're all in our Sunday best and we should head on down and get ready for Christmas tomorrow."
"Yay! Christmas!" Clarice cheered.
The family chuckled as they soon left in Adam's car and they soon drove down to the school together.
At the Ignus house, Mal wore what she wore for her and Ben's picnic date, including the black jacket with golden bracelets and black boots. She was sitting in the living room, waiting for her ride to come and get her.
"Have fun with your friends, dear." Ciara told her daughter as she left.
"Thanks, Mom, I'll see you later." Mal sighed as some things didn't change, but at least she was friends with Evie and her family again.
Ciara gave Mal some money and soon walked off back inside as the horn honked outside. Mal put a polite smile on for her mother before going to meet the Mills family in the car. Evie wore a dark blue dress with a golden starred necklace and a rather large and fluffy skirt and she had on a red apple/heart shaped necklace and golden shoes and had on a sparkling and glittering tiara. Henry smiled at both as he sat in the middle, wearing a black suit with a red tie.
"You all look so darling," Regina smiled as she looked in the backseat with Graham sitting across from her in the front passenger seat. "Let's all have a fun time."
Mal, Evie, and Henry smiled back, though Mal's smile faded as she noticed Graham, but she didn't say anything. This was going to be an interesting evening for sure.