Evie walks to the library, her intended words for Ben playing in her head over and over. When she reaches the library's golden door, she pulls the jeweled handle open and walks inside the room that holds thousands of stories. If Evie was a story, what type would she be? She wonders this as she walks past the bookshelves and gaudy displays of cardboard cutouts of book-loving royals. Since becoming a student at Auradon prep, Evie didn't spend a lot of time in the library, preferring to study in her dorm as she listened to Mal hum, the latest trending tune on royal media. Usually, whenever Evie did read a book from the school library, she borrowed it from an app on her Auradon prep provided tablet and read under the willow tree as Mal sketched the passing students in her sketchbook.
Most of the time when Evie trekked to the library it was to fetch Mal away from an intense study session so they could get fro-yo as a treat. This time, Evie is more observant of her surroundings and almost feels like she's discovering the library all over again. The Auradon Prep's official colors are splattered everywhere, and the carpet that covered the library was still a lapis lazuli blue color with golden trims on the edge. And, of course, there's still a plaque at the entrance that says it was donated with the utmost care by Queen Belle. There are key differences from what Evie remembered last and the setting before her. For one, she spots Chad Charming in the library with a stressed-out look on his face as he appears surrounded by books. A sight that causes Evie to lift up her hand and cover her face. There are new posters on the wall, including one of Chad's mom, Ella, telling students how she reads books for dress inspiration. With how Chad acts, Evie always forgets that his mom is one of the top sought out premium gown designers in the U.S.A.
Evie on instinct finds herself moving towards the fashion section of the library to spark inspiration for the gown she's working on but stops herself. Her main priority was finding Ben and there was plenty of time to look at fashion books later. Finally, she sets eyes on the sign that says non-fiction and enters the aisle. There's a handful of people there and she almost walks past Ben but she recognizes his blue jacket, a signature 4hearts design. His face appears fused to the book he's reading which Evie sees is an autobiography of King Arthur titled: A Tale Of A King Meant For A Sword. Evie goes up to him, tapping his shoulder in case the others nearby start a scene at the very mention of his name. After all, Ben was King of Auradon. Ben lowers the book from his face, turning and his eyes widen when they meet Evie's.
Evie raises her hand with a warm smile on her face.
"Hi," She says, her voice quiet. "I really need to talk to you."
Even with how quiet Evie's voice is, she still hears the sound of someone shushing her nearby.
Ben closes the book in his hands with a concerned look aimed at Evie.
"Is everything okay?" Ben asks in a quiet voice that also earns him a shush.
Ben looks around and then motions for Evie to follow him. She does and they find a nearby empty table for them to sit at.
"What's wrong, is it Mal?" Ben asks in a low voice as he sits across from Evie with his closed book still in his hands.
Evie's shoulders slump and she replies back in a hushed tone."Yes, uh, Mal's using magic again. I caught her using it along with Ginny Gothel."
"B—But she gave up her mother's spellbook?" Ben says, his voice breaking as a look of disappointment settles on his face.
"I know. I don't understand why she's doing this," Evie admits with a heavy sigh.
"This is not a good time for this…" Ben mumbles. "I have to talk to her."
He stands from his seat but Evie places a hand on his wrist.
"Wait, Ben, there's something else I need to talk to you about."
"Later, it's urgent I speak to Mal," Ben moves his arm away from Evie's grasp. "We're already on the cusp of a royal scandal and…"
He lets out a heavy breath, the stress of being king written on his face like words on a royal decree.
"It's the protests, right," Evie assumes, thinking about what Audrey told her earlier.
"Has word about them reached Auradon Prep?"
His tone is nervous and he runs shaky fingers through his hair.
"I don't know. Audrey was the one who told me about it earlier."
"Audrey? Oh…" he looks away, a sprinkle of guilt on his face.
"She's looking for Mal too," Evie informs.
"I see…"
"I'm sure, she'll find her."
"I should be the one who finds Mal first," he says, taking a step forward. "We can talk tomorrow morning, okay?"
"Alright…" Evie says with a nod.
Ben walks off and Evie hears someone recognize Ben, saying his name then others follow. Soon the complaints, compliments, and questions from the students became all one could hear in the library. It earns a firm hush from a nearby librarian who probably glares them into silence because it descends upon the room almost in an instant. Evie could hear the sound of them dispersing and she assumes Ben is able to make his getaway. Evie walks over to the fashion section of the library and takes out a stack of books then comes back to the table she sat at earlier with Ben. She loses count of time as she reads and admires the outfits in the books but soon the school librarian is combing through the library and telling Evie it'll close in fifteen minutes.
Evie took photos of the outfits that inspired her the most with her phone then put the books back where they belonged. Once finished, she heads to the entrance of the library where one of the librarians wore a stern look with tired eyes. She walks through the opened doors and then heads back to her dorm. Evie expected to see Mal, drawing in her sketchbook, humming a song, and wearing the purple dragon pajamas Evie made for her but when she walks into the room there's no one inside.
Evie trudges over to her bed and then falls across it, facing the direction where Mal's bed stood. She lets out a heavy breath as she stares.
"She'll come back," Evie reasons, knowing Mal wouldn't miss curfew.
Evie gets up from her bed, gets herself ready for a night of beauty sleep, and tucks herself in. Yes, Mal would never miss curfew, Evie thinks just before she drifts off to sleep.
During the night, Evie has a nightmare but not one set on the Isle but here at Auradon Prep. In the dream, she was in the courtyard, helping Jane set up for the school's family day and just as she was placing a flower on a table covered in a pastel blue cloth she heard a shrill voice say her name. The voice is recognized in an instant and her body freezes. It gets more demanding and as usual, Evie obeys.
"Mom?" Evie said with confusion as she stared at her "What's going on? Why are you here?"
"You need to come home! Quick, grab your things, we're leaving." Her mom approached her in a flash, tugging both of her arms and pulling her along as if she were a doll rather than a daughter.
"No!" Evie shouted, trying to pull her arms back to herself but her mother's grasp was firm and inescapable. "I don't want to go back with you! No!"
Her mother didn't listen. She pulled and pulled, dragging Evie along. As this was happening, Evie looked around spotting her friends at Auradon Prep. They didn't help her, instead, they all just waved, saying their goodbyes.
"Bye, Evie, have fun being trapped on the Isle forever with your mom! I'm sure she loves you very much," Lonnie said with a scary-looking smile. "After all, even villains love their kids, right?"
"Who's Evie?" Jay asked Chad while stuffing his face with snacks from the snack table.
"Who knows but look at her, isn't it great that she's going back where she belongs," Chad replied.
Evie wanted to protest Chad's reply but no words came out of her.
"Goodbye, Evie, I'll try to remember you but it'll be hard because you're so forgettable," Mal said to her as she passed her by.
Evie shook her head, tears streaming down her face. Jay, Lonnie, and Mal were her friends! Mal is her best friend. How could any of them ever forget her? How could any of them let her go back into her mother's clutches?!
"Oh, Edie, you're leaving…wait!" Evie heard the voice of Audrey say.
Evie's mother stopped and Audrey approached them both. Audrey placed a hand on Evie's cheek and then her other hand on the other side of Evie's face. She moved Evie's head, tilting it to the side.
"This mirror's broken, I can't even see my reflection!"
Evie's mother let out a wicked laugh, turning Evie's head so it was facing her. On Evie's mother's face is a sinister grin which makes Evie shiver in fear.
"That's because this mirror is mine! Mine!" Her mother's sinister grin gets wider and soon Evie's face mirrors the expression until both faces break apart.
Evie wakes up, screaming, heart beating heavy against her chest and her hands are touching her face to make sure that it's still intact. She expects Mal to walk over to her with a concerned look in her eyes and the situation with Ginny would be a forgotten dream but as she looks around the room Evie finds herself alone. Heavy breaths become short breaths that feel like no breaths at all. There is no air. There is no comfort. Only the pain bestowed upon her with every cruel shard of criticism her mom cut into her skin. Evie sobs. Her body is shaking. Her breaths are lost like a boy in Neverland. There is no energy in her body as her brain is clouded with torturous memories.
When Evie finally settles herself, her alarm clock blares throughout the room. It was time to get ready for school but all she wanted to do was lie in bed like a princess cursed to a century of sleep. She wipes at her eyes, drowsy and sore from crying. Evie was never late to class and hasn't missed a day at Auradon Prep but the energy in her is so depleted that she wonders if she'll be able to ever move. From her nightstand, her phone rings, a ringtone that she and Mal had picked out together after Mal remarked that it was so Evie.
Mal…Evie thinks, wondering if the caller might be her friend and without a thought picks up the call. She greets the caller with a croaky voice that she tries to clear out after.
"Good morning, oh no, did I call too early?" Evie hears the familiar voice of Queen Ariel say. "I'm sorry if I woke you up."
Evie bolts up, concerned. "No, I…I was already up."
"Oh, that's a relief, I'm calling to check up on the dress."
"The dress," Evie repeats, her voice rising in pitch and she looks over at the mannequin that has a fiasco of fabric pinned all over it.
Evie's vision of the dress wasn't even close to concise yet.
"Yes, the dress I commissioned you to make. How's it going? Can I see a preview?"
Evie looks away from the mannequin and her eyes linger on her sketchbook which sits on her drafting table."I prefer to show the finished product."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just so excited! I love the dress you made for my niece Arabella."
"Thank you. I'm so honored you requested me to do this and I can't wait to show you the finished product."
"I can't wait either," Queen Ariel gushes. "You will still send it priority royal express mail so I can get it before family day, right?"
Evie holds her phone tighter. How could she forget?! The dress was commissioned for family day which was just around the corner…
"Of course," Evie says in a tense tone. "I'll definitely be finished by then."
Evie eyes her sketchbook with wariness.
"Fantastic! I'll keep in touch then," Queen Ariel says and the phone call clicks to an end.
Evie puts her phone back on her nightstand and falls back down onto her pillow. Her mind dwells on her nightmare and the stress of not even having a finished draft of Queen Ariel's dress in her sketchbook. She puts her hands on her face as if she could shield herself from her own internal shame. When Evie finally looks at her alarm clock, she withers even more as she sees a half hour has passed. Bad thoughts have a tendency to come with a great weight that leaves one paralyzed. It makes one forget all the worth they have and all the joy their presence brings.
Evie forces herself out of bed, hoping she can still make her first class. She trudges over to the bathroom and looks into the mirror to yet again find a blur. Touching her face, Evie thinks about how she forgot to put on her usual face mask last night. All of her nightly creams lay untouched on her nightstand. Did she even do her skincare routine at all this past week? Evie takes a step back from the mirror, imagining it shattering just at the sight of her.
No. She was beautiful! Her smile wouldn't cause wrinkles and if it did then so what! It was better to participate in life and live a life full of joy than to force oneself to become a doll. Evie moves her arms, no one is tugging them in a tight grip. She lifts the corners of her mouth into a smile. A smile which if one gazed upon they'd be compelled to match. For a second as she stared into the mirror, Evie swore she could see her reflection. And it was beautiful.