Forgiveness

[Mal and Evie's dorm room. 3:30 am.]

Evie's POV

I woke up with a strong urge to use the bathroom. Afterwards, I felt very hungry. I walked over to a cabinet and got a bag of trail mix from it. Not exactly a filling meal, but it was something. I put a t-shirt on and sat on my bed as I ate. After several minutes of eating, I heard a groaning noise. I looked over at Mal's bed and saw her moving. She was waking up. I stayed still and quiet, while watching Mal. Mal slowly sat up and rubbed her forehead.

"Oh, my head." she groaned.

She layed back down and continued to groan. I slowly got off my bed and walked over to her and stood in front of her. Mal sat up again and saw me.

"Evie?" she said.

"Hi, Mal" I said.

"Hi." Mal said.

I softly smiled as I was relieved to see Mal was back to herself again.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Got a splitting headache." Mal replied.

"Oh, hold on." I said.

I walked to the bathroom and grabbed a washcloth. I soaked it with cold water and wrigned it out. I then went back to Mal and laid it on her forehead.

"There you go, Mal."

"Thanks, Evie."

"You're welcome."

I sat at the edge of the bed. And kind of spaced out, when suddenly, Mal jumped and startled me.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"How did I get here? What are you doing helping me? And why am I laying in my bed? What is going on?" Mal asked.

"Mal, it's okay, calm down." I said.

"Yeah, but-"

"Mal! Shh! Calm down. Breathe, girl. Breathe."

Mal started to calm down and after she did, I sat next to her.

"I know you're full of questions right now. The last thing you remember is the argument we had. I'll explain everything to you when your headache is gone."

"Okay." Mal said.

I let Mal be so she can focus on getting better. About forty five minutes later, Mal was much better and I decided it was time for me to tell her what has happened.

"First off, I want to say I'm really, really sorry for the things I've said and done. I'm sorry I didn't believe you, and I'm sorry for yelling at you and saying those awful things to you. And I'm really sorry I broke your heart. You didn't deserve that. Not any of that. I shouldn't have overreacted and should've just listened to you instead. You don't have to forgive me. I just want you to know I'm sorry."

Mal sat back up and looked at me.

"I don't know what happened with me. I should've paid more attention to you. The signs that something was wrong was right in front of me. And I ignored them. I should've listen to you. And believed you." I said.

"Well, that video of me helping those kids didn't help me at all. With that, there was no way to convince you otherwise." Mal said.

"Yes, but-"

"Evie, forget it. It's fine." Mal said.

"No. It's not. It's not fine. You were spelled."

"I was?"

"Yes. Lonnie was right. You were under a spell. That's why you did the things you did. And why you couldn't remember them."

"What did I do?" Mal asked.

I sighed. I really didn't want to tell her, but she needs to know. I held her hands and looked at her. I told her what I knew about her leaving the dorm after the argument to disappearing for a whole day before I found her in the gardens not being herself. Then I told her about her wanting to destroy and rule Auradon. I told her about her mind being set to the time when she hated me back on the Isle. After that, I discussed about her almost making me fall of the bridge leading to the lake, to discovering that the rock was created by her mother, to our battle. Mal didn't say anything for she was totally speechless.

"I...I can't believe that all happened." she finally said.

"I wish it didn't. I wish it was just a bad dream, but it wasn't. It really did happen." I said.

"How was I spelled though?" Mal asked.

I got up and grabbed the rock from my desk. It was now an ordinary rock. The dark magic inside was gone forever. It was still purple, just empty inside.

"Remember this?" I asked as I showed it to Mal.

Mal looked surprised as she set eyes on it.

"That? From the mountain?" she asked.

"Yes. It was created by your mother. I think you were meant to find this rock." I said.

"What? No. No way. You gotta be lying, Evie."

"I wish I was. Or really I wish it wasn't the truth, but it is. The rock gave me a vision to the past and I saw how the spell was created. Your mother wanted you to be just like her, except you were trying to be worse than her." I said.

"Yes, you told me that part already. But so if I was under a spell, how did I get freed from it?" Mal asked.

"By me." I replied.

"You?"

"I went to great lengths to save you. I basically put my life on the line. I could've been killed by you. But I didn't care. I loved you very much. And my love for you is what kept me going and it is what freed you." I said.

"How?"

"A kiss."

"A kiss?"

"True love's kiss works every time. However, at the time on the Isle neither your mom or you believed in that, so therefore, she thought that would be the perfect cure. She thought she figured you would never have a true love, so the spell really didn't have a cure. That was so until you and I started dating."

I looked at Mal's eyes and saw tears in them.

"I don't deserve you, Evie. You're too good for me. Audrey's right. There is probably someone out there who can be a whole lot better to you. I'm nothing." she said.

"Don't say that, Mal. Maybe there is, but I don't want someone better. I still want you. You're perfect for me. And you know I'm perfect for you. We're meant for each other. You know that." I said.

"But, Evie. What kind of girlfriend have I been to you? Everything I've done to hurt you. I almost killed you, many times. I'm surprised you don't hate me. Or have the desire to break up with me. You should because I'm nothing." Mal said.

"But you were not you. That's why. All that you did in the last few days were not you. And stop saying that you're nothing! If you were nothing, I would have never agreed to date you in the beginning!" I said.

My voiced raised on those last two sentences. I got up from the edge of the bed and got in the bed and sat in front of Mal, trying to calm myself.

"Mal Bertha. You're the one whom I'm committed to. I have no complaints about you whatsoever. I love you very much. As I kept saying. And I meant all of it. Have I ever shown the sighs otherwise? Have I?" I asked.

Mal nodded 'no'.

"Exactly. You're my true love. Now and forever."

I grabbed Mal's hands and held them.

"Mal, all that you've done in the last few days isn't your fault. I don't want you to blame yourself. Everyone is okay. Including me. So there is no need to worry. I know what I've told you and what others may tell you is probably going to leave a psychological scar on you. But I'm here for you. I always will be. We have a wonderful future ahead of us. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Don't you?"

More tears were seen in Mal's eyes.

"I…"

It was hard for her to talk. What I have said has reached her heart.

"I also…"

I smiled and nodded as I knew what she was trying to say. I moved closer to her and held her in my arms as she started to cry. I smiled to myself as I knew her and I are okay now. After Mal calmed down, I turned off the lights and had her lay right next to me and covered us with her blanket. After we were covered up, I held her close to me with my arms around her as her arms were around me.

"I forgive you, Evie." Mal said, unexpectedly to me.

"Y-you do?" I asked.

"Yes. I love you, sweetness."

My eyes widened to that new nickname. But I smiled as I liked it.

"I love you too, baby." I said.

I looked at Mal's green eyes as Mal looked at my brown eyes. We then leaned close to each other and our lips touched. Our first kiss together in days. I was so happy to have my girl back. As I'm sure Mal is happy to have me back. We're back together again. That night I made a promise to myself. Always listen to Mal and never ignore the signs of trouble. Because this time, I'll make sure nothing comes between us ever again.