The Price of Love

Age 10

(Inspired by the request of boniiitasse)

The vender didn't even try to chase me, he was used to having his wares stolen. What did he expect on the Isle of the Lost, a place where no one paid for anything if they could avoid it? Even without the pursuit running away was half the fun. It wasn't even that big of a score. Just enough to be entertaining. I looked over by shoulder as I ran, just to be sure.

I hit someone. Then I hit the ground.

"Retched child."

I knew those words. I knew that voice.

Mother.

I looked up. She hadn't changed in five years, her glare still sent chills down my spine.

I expected her to grab me by the collar and drag me back to her castle.

Only she didn't.

"Scram." That was all she said.

I moved and she kept walking.

I shouldn't've cared. I hadn't seen in her in five years, she hadn't come looking for me.

I shouldn't've cared.

Only I did.

She was my mother and part of me still wanted her to love me, to want me, to be proud of me.

With her words she had shattered that last shred of hope that had existed for five years and finally it died.

With it part of me was gone.

I missed that shred of innocence more than I had ever missed her.

But I had dad, he welcomed me home with a smile and a laugh at the can of beans I had stolen.

I couldn't tell him. I wouldn't. He loved my innocence and prided himself on protecting it for as long as possible.

I couldn't tell him that that was day it finally died.

Present

I flicked through my collection of papers.

I wasn't really looking at any of my mother's spells and potions but we were meant to planning our wand heist and had to play my part, or at least look like I was.

Carlos was lying on Evie's bed, stroking a dog named Dude. It was kind of nice; Cruella had drilled a hatred and fear of dogs into her son's brain for years. In fact, she'd made him afraid of everything, even his own shadow. I'd never seen Carlos so happy and content.

"Yo-ho-ho!" Jay burst into the room.

Dud got spooked and jumped off Carlos. "Hey!"

"What are you wearing?" Of course, Evie was the first to notice Jay's new clothes.

"You like?" He did a turn. "Made the tourney team."

"Team?" I couldn't help but laugh. "You on a team? Never thought I'd see the day."

"I'm the fist."

"What…?" There was a knock on the door. "Hold that thought."

Ben.

Ben was at my door. "Hi."

"Hey, Mal. I didn't see you guys this afternoon. I just wanted to check that you were okay, after… after what happened with Audrey?"

"You mean when she accused me of blowing up her locker?"

Carlos sat up. "You did what?"

"Way to go, Mal."

I glared at Jay. "I didn't do anything." Lying to my friends made me feel terriable, minions could be lied to easily. Friends, not so much. I turned back to Ben. "We're fine, thanks."

Ben put his hand on the door to stop me from closing the door on him. "I was also wondering if you had any questions or anything… That…you need."

"Not that I know of and if we did, we'd do as your girlfriend suggested and ask Doug."

"She's not my girlfriend."

I stopped myself from pushing the door into his face. "What?"

"Audrey and I broke up. She was paranoid and clingy and…and…"

"And what Bennyboo?"

He smiled. "Exactly."

Oh, that smile. "Well, if you want to talk don't come to me." I had an idea. "Wait, is it, um, true that we all get to go to your coronation?"

"Yeah, the whole school goes."

Evie squealed. "And I have nothing to wear, of course, I'll have to start sewing now if I want to get it done on time. I'll make something for you too, Mal. Oh, this is so exciting."

I let her ramble, focusing on Ben instead. "That is so exciting. Do you think it's possible for the four of us stand in the front row, next to Fairy Godmother, just we can soak up all the goodness?" Augh. I hated myself. I hated this act; it reminded my way too much of Audrey.

The prince's smile fell. "I wish you could. Up front it's just me, mum, dad and my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?"

"Well, if I had one."

Was that an offer? Was he flirting? With me?

I did not do flirting. The only kiss I'd ever had was from Jimmy Le Fou playing spin the broken bottle at the Gaston twin's thirteenth birthday party.

"Okay. Thanks, bye."

I shut the door in Ben's face.

I. Did. Not. Do. Flirting.

Evie looked up from her fabric swatches. "You know what you need to do, right?"

Unfortunately, I did. I lent back against the door. "It's time that Bennyboo got himself a new girlfriend."

Evie's hand shot up. "I volunteer."

"I don't." Jay threw himself on Evie's bed, forcing Carlos into the air before slamming back down again.

"I don't think you're his type."

Jay brushed a hand through his long dark hair. "I'm everybody's' type."

"That leaves you and me, Mal."

"You can have him."

"Actually…"

"What?"

"I think you should have him."

"What?! I don't do boyfriends. Even ones under a love spell." I sat back down on my bed.

Evie frowned. "Why a love spell?"

"Why else would a prince, soon to be king, go out with me. You," I smiled at my friend. "You could have any guy in the world. But me…"

"Mal, don't you see," she came over and took my hand, "he's half in love with you already."

"What?"

"Haven't you seen the way he looks at you? He dumped his girlfriend, who he's apparently been with since they were kids, on the very day she loses it at you."

"We've known each other less than a week."

"Read the history books, Mal." Evie's grin spread wider than I'd ever seen it. "True love comes with a single glance, a single word, even a single thought."

"This is not true love and we don't get the happily ever after."

"What if we did? What if that's why we were brought to Auradon, because we finally get to have our happy ending."

I pulled my hand away. "Ben is not my happy ending." My happy ending was dad and I traveling the world, and the underworld, together.

"I won't take him. It's up to you."

I crossed my arms. "Fine, but we're doing the love spell."

Just to be sure.

A/N: Due to some family issues I'm not going to be posting as much, I do have a couple of chapters in reserve and am hoping to be able to post every three or four days but no guarantees. I wouldn't mind some more flashback suggestions though, they distract me from my problems for a bit.