"So for Mal I'm thinking of going with a more royal purple," Evie said, pulling out her design sketchbook.
Immediately, Jay and Carlos moved their lunches before she could push them off the table out of her way. Flynn barely managed to catch his. Mal's was already safely out of the way. Which meant that she knew this would happen. When Evie wasn't looking, Jay flipped Mal off. She just smirked.
"Oooo. Those look amazing!" Rapunzel smiled. The princess leaned across the table, Pascal jumping from her shoulder to Flynn's before he could fall off. "What color are you thinking for this part?"
Tuning the girls out, catching only bits and pieces, Jay groaned. "Of course there's a fucking ball."
"Oh no," Carlos deadpanned. "Not a ball."
"Why the hell do you want to go?"
Carlos shrugged. "There are worse things. And Evie's excited. It could be fun."
Curious, Jay glanced at Flynn. "Have you been to one?"
The older man paused for a moment, head tilting. "As a guest? Once. I infiltrated maybe four before that," he continued, counting on his fingers. "Perfect place to pick up a few pretty trinkets."
That caught Carlos's attention and Jay could already see him calculating how much they'd be able to get away with before people noticed. If Evie knew what he was thinking, she'd interfere. Jay knew better than to actively encourage it. But he wasn't going to stop their pup either.
"Eugene! Look at these!" Rapunzel said. Eyes bright, she grabbed Flynn's arm. And Flynn's expression immediately softened as he turned to look at Evie's sketchbook.
As they got sucked into Evie's madness of fabrics and designs, Jay turned his attention to the rest of the cafeteria. Ever since Mal knocked several assholes over, people had been avoiding them more. There hadn't been too many rumors. At least not that he heard and Evie hadn't said anything.
Speaking of rumors. He glanced over to where the bitch in pink sat with her gang of prissy princesses and stupid princes, including Chad.
Who was walking over. With a few other dumbasses.
"Enjoying your last meal before going back to the Isle?" Chad laughed as he and his group reached the table.
What?
"The fuck are you talking about?" Mal snapped. His thoughts exactly.
"You started a fight and lost," the prince said. "And now you're going back to where filth like you belong. On an Isle where no one cares you exist."
Under the table, Jay clenched his fist. Beside him, Carlos's fingers twitched towards his knife. Evie straightened. And Mal lifted her chin, jaw tight. "Fuck off, Chad," Jay warned. This prince he could beat. This time he could defend his pack.
This time he could prove why no one should mess with him or his pack.
"Or what?" the asshole challenged. "You can't do anything. You know, I almost wish I could go to the Isle just to see your parents' reactions. The kids of the worst villains in history got their asses beat? They'll be so disappointed to find out their kids are so pathetic."
The blood drained from Carlos's and Evie's faces. Mal's eyes turned green.
And something wet and pink smacked Chad in the eye.
Chad screamed. Hand over his eye, he staggered back like Evie threw acid in his face.
"Your aim is scary, frog."
Turning, Jay watched Flynn put Pascal on Rapunzel's shoulder, the blonde princess glaring at Chad, her hand curled around her lunch tray like she was ready to swing it.
Flynn's smile was charming and sharp as a dagger as he stood up and stepped between Chad and the table. "Prince Chadwick, right? Of Iterian? Walk away."
"Who do you think you are?" Chad sneered.
"Euguene Fitzherbert. Future king of Corona. I wish I could say it's a pleasure."
Chad's smirk faltered. "You wouldn't do anything."
"Maybe. Maybe not," Flynn shrugged. "But maybe you wouldn't know if I did."
Something told Jay that Flynn could very easily get away with whatever he wanted. Something also told him that Flynn probably wouldn't do anything unless pushed too far. Chad's expression didn't share that opinion.
Before anyone could say anything, Ben walked over, frowning. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," Mal said. "Chad was just leaving."
Ben's frown deepened as he turned to Chad. "Chad?"
The other prince ignored him. Instead he shoved past Ben and walked away, his gang following along. Once they're gone, Ben turned back to the rest of them. "What was that about?"
"He thought we were going back home," Mal replied, smile showing a few too many teeth.
"Back hom-To the Isle?"
Mirror in hand, touching up her lipstick, Evie nodded. "We had to let him know he was misinformed." Her gaze flicked to Ben and Jay suppressed a smirk. The prince looked like a bug pinned to the table.
When Ben glanced at Rapunzel and Flynn, the princess smiled. "Eugene helped explain things. Chad was confused."
"Rrrriiight," Ben said, eyeing all of them. Shaking his head, he ran a hand through his hair. "Okay then. Well. I don't know where he heard that, but you aren't being sent back to the Isle."
Mal waved a hand. "We know."
They didn't. And Ben wasn't the king. If Beast decided to send them away, he wouldn't wait.
For a moment, Ben watched them. Then he nodded. "Okay. I have to get to class. But I promise you aren't being sent back."
Right. As if a promise meant anything.