Within twenty minutes, Ben's . . . confession was told to a trusted few, who couldn't believe what they heard.

"Ben really said that?" Evie wondered incredulously, her voice just barely a whisper as she spoke to Mal by their lockers.

"That's what Coach Gaston told my father," Mal insisted as she cautiously spied on the teenager and friends from afar. "Gil managed to get pictures of the scars without Ben knowing. I couldn't look, but Dad said it was gruesome. He said the scars was worse than . . ."

"Yours?" Evie speculated softly. "I wouldn't doubt it. He is from the Isle of the Lost. Must be how he noticed your scars yesterday."

"I had no idea we had so much in common." Mal shook her head in dismay. "I really hope Ben will let us . . . will let me help him."

"It's going to take time for him to open up to anyone," Evie insisted before a light, teasing smile graced her lips. "Just like it will take time for a relationship to start between you and him. Just by the look on your face and gleam in your eye, I can tell the information hurt you emotionally. Is that because . . . you're in love with Ben?"

Mal didn't give an answer. However, a pink blush took over her cheeks as she tried her hardest to keep the straight look on her face. Before she could be called out for her reaction, Mal noticed timid Jane walking past them with Dude in her frail arms. "I'm going to talk to Jane," she mumbled almost incoherently as she shut her locker. "I'll see what I can do to get her out of her shell."

Evie snickered almost childishly as she watched her friend walk off to avoid her teasing.

Then she noticed a certain student watching her. Smiling kindly, Evie waved politely at him in return. The boy saw the gestured, but he didn't care. He completely ignored her as he walked into the school.

Hmmm. . .

It's going to take Evie a little bit of effort to get him out his shell too.

And maybe it will be worth it.

In the ladies' restroom, Jane was alone as she scrutinized her short, strait bob in the mirror. Her only companion was Dude, who sat on the sink counter, watching her with little interest. In the midst of her moping, she noticed she wasn't anymore.

Eyes growing wide, Jane spun around to face—

"Hi!" Mal greeted with a soft, welcoming smile. "You're Jane, right? That's such a pretty name."

"I guess . . ." Jane commented timidly. Out of pure reflex, she laid a hand on Dude's head, absentmindedly stroking his fur to keep herself calm.

Mal noticed. An idea formed in her mind; a way to connect with the younger teenager.

"You have a cute dog," Mal complimented in a soft tone to keep the dog from becoming vicious. "Cerberus is three times the size of him. He stands to my waist."

Jane's eyes widened even more. "The famous three-headed dog?" She clarified in surprise. "I thought he was as big as a castle!"

"He is, but he can change sizes," Mal revealed. "When he's finished guarding the Underworld, he returns to the castle as a size of a normal dog with only one head." The princess tilted her head curiously. "Does Dude have any hidden magical talents?"

"He . . . keeps me calm, and makes me feel better about myself," Jane admittedly timidly. "I . . . don't think well of myself. But you are so pretty! And you have such pretty hair!"

Mal raised a hand to her hair, stroking a lock of her 'abnormal' purple hair in thought. "You know," she began as an idea came to mind. "I could do something about your hair, if would like."

"Really?" Jane questioned as she started getting excited. "Could you really? That would be wonderful!"

"Then let me try." Clearing her throat, Mal raised her hand, chanting, "Beware, forswear, replace the old with brand-new hair."

With a few simple waves of the princess's finger, Jane's short brown bob suddenly transformed into long, luscious, wavy locks that trailed to the middle of her back. Jane gasped in delight as gazed at her new look in the mirror. It was exactly what she wanted!

Dude barked his approval. His wagging tail made the girls believe he was happy that his 'master' was happy with her new look.

"Wow!" Mal exclaimed in mock surprise. "You look even more beautiful than you already are."

Turing to the fairy princess with an eager smile on her face, Jane requested energetically, "Do my nose now!"

"Sorry, I really can't," Mal denied with a light frown on her flawless face. "I haven't really practiced with my magic. I'm surprised I did so well with your hair."

Although she was disappointed with that idea, an idea came to mind. Now that she had some new-found courage with her hair, maybe . . .

"What about my mother's wand?" Jane questioned with feign innocence. "I mean, one swoosh from that, and I can have any kind of features I want. After all, the wand is my birth-right."

Mal raised a curious eyebrow at such a bold request. "It may be your birth-right, but it is still a villain's weapon," she reminded cautiously. "A powerful weapon that is weaker to only my father's ember. I can ask my parents if they will allow you to have the wand. Right now, I am almost certain the answer will be 'no'. I will tell you after school what they say, ok?"

"Ok . . ." Jane reluctantly agreed as she gathered her belongings before taking Dude in her arms. "I'll see you later then."

Mal waved good-bye to the girl, watching as she walked out of the restroom with more confidence than before. Once Jane was out of sight, Mal's smile turned into a worried frown. Her 'danger radar' was going off like crazy.

Why did Jane ask about her mother's wand . . . like she has talked about it before?

Meanwhile in Chemistry class, the seats next to Chad Charming were filled with pretty girls that wanted his attention. All Chad wanted was to copy the answers they had for their assignment so he wouldn't have to do much work.

Across the table, Doug was slouched in his chair with not a care in the world. His assignment sheet was completely blank, as he wasn't motivated to do the work. He just didn't see the point of doing it.

At first, everyone avoided Doug like he was part of the plague. Even Mother Gothel, the teacher of the class, wouldn't look at him, but she was writing chemical equations on the board. As the number of entering students trickled down to almost nothing, Doug sincerely believed no one would be by him.

Until the most beautiful girl with gorgeous blue hair sat next to him.

Doug was so distracted by the princess's beauty that he only barely managed to hear her ask, "So everyone is gravitating toward him because he's supposedly a prince on the Isle?"

Doug sighed in slight aggravation. "He's Prince Charming's son," he reminded. "Although he was under a love spell, Prince Charming still had a child with Cinderella. That spoiled son is Chad Charming. He acts all high and mighty because he has a title of a prince, but it doesn't mean anything. Ben has more power and influence than him. Like Princess Mal had said, he doesn't have a royal status in Auradon like Ben does, but he still acts all high and mighty."

"You really don't care for him," Evie deduced with a tilt of her head. "Why?"

"He's arrogant," Doug determined. "He doesn't care about anyone, but himself. He uses all the girls he talks too. He constantly tries to make advances on Audrey when she has denied them every single time. When Chad's advances become aggressive, Ben magically swoops in to save Audrey. They fight, and Ben wins in less than five seconds. Chad doesn't know how to learn his lesson."

"I noticed Ben and Audrey sticking together the past couple classes," Evie inferred as she vaguely recalled seeing them in the hallway during the previous passing period. "What's their history?"

"Audrey keeps Ben calm whenever he's angry," Doug with a simple answer. "That's why I'm usually around Ben too. He has a way of losing his temper quickly. I have such a not caring attitude that I can't make him lose his temper."

"What happens if Ben loses his temper?" Evie wondered curiously. "Is it something bad?"

"The first and only time he lost his temper, he—"

"Doug," Mother Gothel called out, grabbing the attention of him and the princess. "If you were paying attention, answer this question for me: what is the average atomic weight of silver?"

Doug stared at the teacher blankly, unconsciously tapping a finger on the table. Evie, believing the teenager was stuck, began, "It's—"

"Princess Evie, I know you know the answer," Mother Gothel interrupted with a light scowl on her features. "You have the best grade in my class, but I need to see if he's—"

"107.9 u."

Mother Gothel blinked in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"The atomic weight for silver is 107.9 unified atomic mass units," Doug clarified slowly.

"And how did you get that answer?" Mother Gothel interrogated.

"Multiply 106.905 by .5200 and add 108.905 multiplied by .4800," Doug once again explained with an eyeroll. "I did the math in my head."

"Well, in order to receive full credit in the class, you have to show your work," Mother Gothel informed with a stern glare. "Keep that in mind these next couple weeks. There is a test the day after the Tourney championship game. If you don't show your work, or put in any effort, you'll fail the test and you'll fail this class. Do you understand me?"

With another annoyed eyeroll, Doug reluctantly nodded. As Mother Gothel turned her back toward the students to write on the board, a piece of paper slipped in front of him. Snarling his nose in confusion, Doug opened the note, which read: MEET ME UNDER THE BLEACHERS AT 3.

"We need to talk later," Evie whispered to him softly. "There will be a major reward if you do."

Doug considered it. After all . . .

How could he say 'no' to someone as beautiful as her?

Doug was not the only one having an eventful class period at that time.

In the amphitheater, Lonnie was dressed in her floral sweats as she fought her hardest against Jay to win a spot on the ROAR team. Uma, the current captain, stood on the sidelines as she observed the sparing match.

She had to admit: Lonnie was putting up a good fight against Jay—

Until Jay easily stole Lonnie's sword.

With a second sword in his possession, Jay used it to make weak swings toward Lonnie. Lonnie easily dodged every single attempt. When she was tired of dodging the attacks, Lonnie simply kicked the butt of the sword. The sword flew out of Jay's hand with Lonnie easily catching it, getting in a stance to fight again.

"That's enough," Uma called out from the sideline. "I've seen everything I need."

"Well?" Lonnie interrogated as she tried to hide her panting. "Did I make the team?"

Instead of answering her, Uma turned her attention to Jay. "Do you think you can find time to work with her?" Uma requested. "She's going to need to learn the rules and the correct way to spare before Coach Gaston will allow her to participate in a ROAR match."

"It won't be every day, but I can find a few minutes every couple days or so," Jay promised. "If we're done here, I really need to go. I had to change my plans last minute for this and I need to make it up to her."

"Go," Uma instructed as she gestured to the door. "I'll find you later so we can make a schedule."

Turning her head to the Isle girl, Uma smiled. "Congratulations. You made the team, but you still have a long ways to improve before ROAR season starts."

Just a few minutes before three, Evie stood by herself under the bleachers by the Tourney field. She thought she would arrive early just in case Doug arrived before her. After a minute, someone else joined her.

"Hello there," Chad greeted with a player smile. "Are all the princesses in Auradon as pretty as you?"

Evie rolled her eyes at such a lame attempt on flirting with her. "Do you need something?"

"A date with you," Chad 'boldly' announced as his smile grew. "In case you forgot, I am a prince—"

"On the Isle of the Lost," Evie corrected matter-of-factly. "You have no royal status in Auradon, so you are not a prince. You may have used that line on other girls here, but it won't work on me. I'll ask again, do you need something from me? And before you ask, I'm not doing your homework for you, so find someone else dumb enough to fall for your tricks."

Clenching his jaw and narrowing his eyes at her, Chad muttered something about Evie being a 'stubborn bitch' before he walked off to find someone else to do his work for him.

"I told you he was arrogant," chided a voice from above her.

Jerking her head upward, Evie jumped in surprise when she finally noticed Doug's face between the seats of the bleachers. "Do you always sneak up on people?" she wondered teasingly. "Or am I just one of the lucky ones?"

Rolling his eyes, Doug climbed down from the bleachers to stand in front of smiling princess. "So? What did you want to talk about?"

"I have a proposition for you," Evie informed as her amused smile turned just a little shy. "If you try your hardest on the Chemistry test, put in a lot of effort like doing your homework correctly and studying, you will be my date to the coronation."

Doug raised an eyebrow to show how impressed he was. "That's some motivation," he complimented, trying to sound as sarcastic as possible. "What happens if I receive an 'A'?"

"If you receive the best and highest score possible . . ."

Evie trailed off for a moment as her smile grew just a little bit. Before Doug could question her, Evie placed the lightest kiss on his cheek. Doug froze, unable to process what just happened to him.

"The reward will be better than that kiss on your cheek," Evie finished with a flirty smile. "I suggest not waiting until the last minute to become serious, or else you will never get your reward."

Without another word, Evie turned her back toward him to head to the school—

Leaving behind a stunned Doug, who 'suddenly' has the urge to study.