Chapter Four - Confessions of a Teenage Villain

"Stop lying! Tell me who you really are."

Before we get onto that little detail let's start by saying that Theodore had no intentions of ever letting his little secret come out. It was by a twist of dumb luck that he found himself in this current situation, standing across from one of his friends. Though Theodore was honestly shocked it was her that caught him first.

-

The museum itself was pretty huge. The Corridors were long and winding and there were many sets of stairs leading to different exhibits. It might have even looked cool during the day but at night the place was like something out of a horror novel. Theodore half expected something to jump out and eat their faces.

He would prefer death by faulty zipper thank you.

But despite the lingering shadows and haunting echoes, Theo could actually imagine himself visiting the joint. Despite it being a museum this place was actually pretty cool. It was free too. Which was good since Theo didn't bring any cash. Actually, now that we are on the subject, Theo didn't bring anything! Just the clothes on his back and his award winning personality. That saying, Theo was pretty much screwed.

Sighing at his mistake, Theo mentally reminded himself to look for some sort of lost and found bin when they did get back to the school. Walking around in soiled clothing was no fun. Until then, he'd just have to ask one of the other kids to wash his clothes for him. Evie may even be able to make him some stuff to wear if he asked nicely enough.

"Guy's," Theo quietly called the group as they all looked over the realistic statues of their parents.

"Creepy, I know," Carlos said, guessing what the other teen was going to say.

"No, not that. But now that I think about it, why are these so realistic? Did the artist have them pose or...?"

"Theo," Mal sighed effectively cutting him off before he began to babble.

"Oh, sorry. As I was saying, I didn't exactly pack for this whole trip. So if anyone is willing to lend me their toothbrush or a few undies, that would be much appreciated."

"Gross, dude," Carlos laughed as he punched the other teen on the shoulder.

"I would but I don't wear underwear," Jay said.

"Boys," the purple haired girl said curling her lip in disgust. "If we get that wand tonight, you won't have to worry about something like clothes."

"So your'e saying that once we take over the world clothing will be optional? I hate to break it to you Mal, but there are some people in this world I would rather not see go all natural." Theo commented shivering at the idea.

"She meant we could use the wand to make you clothes, stupid." Evie cried shoving the orange haired teen.

"Oh I always dreamed of being like Cinderella since I was a little girl!" Theodore cried in glee. He began to bounce in excitement around the group and twirled once before looking at Mal curiously. "Out of curiosity, would my Bipity-Bopity clothes disappear at the stroke of midnight because if so, I would like to say-"

"Theo."

"Yeah?"

"Shut up," Jay said rolling his eyes. "You are making me regret bringing you here." Theodore froze after hearing that. He stared at the taller teen for a moment, eyes heartbroken.

"You don't really mean that, right buddy? Pal?"

"Does it look like I'm kidding," the son of Jafar said.

"You know I could never take you seriously! For real man, you need a haircut."

"I agree," Evie piped up. "Your hair is just a mess of spilt ends!"

"Yeah? Well you need a shower!" Jay shot back at the shorter teen.

"I showered this morning!"

"Well you reek of desperation!"

"Oh burn!" Carlos laughed.

"Guys."

"You would know! Desperation is your natural scent!" Theo shot back.

"Guys!" Mal shouted gaining everyones attention, though she did try to hide an amused smirk. "As much as I do love a good roast session, now is not the time. We have to find the wand, remember?"

The group nodded solemnly and began to search the different rooms. Theo took this moment as a chance to look for the Underland section of the building and thankfully managed to find it after a bit of searching. The room must have been decorated to correspond with the Underland theme because the room itself was seriously confusing. Chairs, tables, clocks, toys, and even some cards where hanging on the ceiling; as though they were floating. A huge circular skylight was at the very center, no doubt representing the rabbit hole Alice originally fell in through. There was no set color scheme. The walls looked like a rainbow came in and threw up on them. The walls were decorated in a mixture of swirls, stripes, stars and hearts. There were a few portraits of various people, animals and even plants hung up on the walls. Theo couldn't help but stare at the portrait of the red queen. Her big head almost seemed like it were to pop out of the frame!

Theo turned away from the painting with a shudder, it was a very unflattering picture indeed. The teen walked around the room slowly, taking in his lands history. He read the brief summaries of a few Underlandians including Chessur, Thackery Earwicket, Absolem, and Nivens McTwisp. Theodore smiled at the odd names listed on the gold plaques. He had never heard these names before but he actually found himself liking how they sounded. There were many more portraits in the gallery beside those listed but Theo found himself drawn to the second largest frame right beside Mirana of Marmoreal, the White Queen.

It was a painting of his parents. Alice in a beautiful blue and white gown, her golden blonde hair was down, the ends curling inward. Her smile was what really took his breath away. she looked so happy, so serene. Beside her with an arm wrapped lovingly around her waist stood a man. Tarrant, his father, with a grin just as happy, if not happier, than the woman standing beside him. Unlike his mother who stood there with grace and elegance, his father looked like... well the best way to describe it was organized chaos. His orange hair seemed untamable and his clothes clashed horribly. But besides their polar differences, they looked completely at bliss.

"Theo?" A voice called from the entrance of the gallery. The boy spun around and looked sheepishly at the blue haired girl as she walked towards him.

"Hello, Evie," he greeted with a laugh. "I didn't hear you come in." Theo wanted to kick himself as he heard his voice shake.

"Are you ok?" Evie asked, her eyes shining with concern.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You're crying." Theo had not noticed it until she pointed it out. She was right. Tears had began to flow freely at some point as he saw his parents for the first time. He knew he was supposed to hate them but foe some reason he just couldn't bring himself to it. His chest just felt so heavy as he gazed at their smiling faces. It actually psychically hurt looking at them.

"oh," Theo said wiping his face with the sleeves of his coat. "I didn't even notice," he tried to laugh off. Evie looked at the boy in front of her and sighed. she quietly took his hands away from his face and slowly brought them down to his sides. She then took out a tissue from her bag and wiped away the tears herself. Once done, she gave him a reassuring smile and turned to the picture he was looking at previously.

"Alice and the Hatter?"

"Yeah. Mom hates them and nearly everyone one else in here," Theo laughed. Evie didn't say anything but looked down at the plaque closely.

"I didn't know they had a baby."

"What?"

"Look," Evie said as she pointed at the small bundle between the couple. Theodore didn't notice it at first but it turns out that the couple weren't looking at each other adoringly but at the child they held in between them. "T-theodore Hightopp. It says here he went missing shortly after this picture was made."

"Missing?"

"Theo," Evie said, eyes wide as she looked at the boy standing before her and the picture above them. "What's going on?"

"Evie, please-"

"Is that baby you? Are those your parents?"

"Evie!" Theo cried, tears falling from his face. "Ah dunnae kinn!"

"I think you do," she said, her own eyes watering at the implication.

"Stop lying! Tell me who you really are!"

"Ok!" The boy shouted back, his voice quivering. "That's me. those ur mah parents an' th' red queen isnae mah mom."

"How?" Evie said shaking her head and taking a half step back. "How and why were you on the island?"

"They didne want me. they gae me up," Theo said with a bitter laugh. "Aam nae sure hoo Ah got oan th' islain but Ah lived wi' th' red queen ever since."

"I-"

"i jist wanted tae fin' it wa, Evie. wa they woods lae me. they look sae happy haur," he said pointing at the picture. "Was Ah nae guid enaw? did Ah dae somethin'?"

"Oh, Theo," Evie said covering her mouth with her hand.

"Th' red queen aye tauld me that- 'at th' reason they gae me up was coz they coods ne'er loove me. 'at they woods raither hae me raised by their enemy than sit een oan me."

"Theo that's not true," Evie sobbed.

"How do 'ye know!" He yelled.

"Just look at the picture, Theo," Evie said, they were both crying openly now. "No one looks at someone that way if they didn't love them. I could tell from just their smiles, Theo, that they loved you so very much."

"A lot coods change, Evie.," the boy whispered.

"It says here that this was painted shortly after you went missing. It could mean that someone took you and that your mom and dad didn't give you up." Theo stared down at the plaque for a long, considering moment before shaking his head and looking at the teary eyed girl.

"E'en if ye waur reit, Ah doobt they woods loove me noo. Ah was raised by a villain. their villain nae less. hoo coods a hero ever loove someain loch me?" The teens looked at each other for a while before Theodore took a shuddering breath. He then began to wipe away all traces of his tears and motioned for Evie to do the same.

"Theo-"

"Let's go, Evie." Theo said walking away from the picture. "We hae a wain tae fin'."

-

Luckily, or lucky for Theodore at least, their chances at getting the wand tonight was a failure. The security system around the wand was tight and Jay caused the alarm to blare, forcing the teens to run back to the school before they got caught. Theo tried to act as though his discoveries never happened. He caught Evie looking at him from time to time but she didn't mention it in front of the group. Theo was extremely grateful for that. Her actions even gave Theo hope that there was still a chance for his friends to be good. She comforted him when any other villain would have told him off or hurt him in some way. She reassured him and let him take out his frustrations in front of her with no complaint or interruption.

Evie was good. They all were. They just needed a push to show them that it was ok.

Theodore stared up at the ceiling of the bathroom. Like promised, he got to sleep in the bathtub. It actually was very comfortable inside. He used a few towels as a pillow and his coat as a blanket. Carlos had offered him a real pillow before they went to bed but Theo didn't risk it. In case someone came into there room and saw a makeshift bed in the tub, how were the boys going to explain that?

He didn't need a pillow. This was actually one of the most comfortable places he's ever slept in anyways. Though he knew he wouldn't get much sleep. Thoughts of his parents littered his mind. Theo felt incredibly stupid for believing the Red Queen all these years. He should have known better. But now it was too late.

As good as he thought he was, there was no way his parents would want him now.