Mal's day melded into a never-ending roller coaster, yet it was only the passing hour before third period.
After a restless night, her morning became happier when she received a picture of her little girl from her best friend. Seeing her baby girl made her lack of sleep unnoticeable to herself and everyone else. The morning slowly traveled downhill during 'Remedial Goodness', where the headmistress spoke to the Core Four like misbehaving toddlers.
The first hour class picked up momentum only when Fairy Godmother's daughter, Jane, came in sign something for Prince Ben's coronation. Gears whirled about using the shy, timid girl to steal the wand. However . . . the fairy thought that would be the obvious choice, but wouldn't rule it out just yet.
The incline leveled out before Mal's next class period. A royal messenger from the Auradon barges found Mal and delivered a, who happened to be her father. The morning went downhill again when Mal read her father's update, since it was causing her to miss Mallory even more.
The roller coaster slammed into an obstacle when she changed for gym. The time, Mal waited for the girls to leave so they wouldn't notice a 'little' detail about her body. Changing back into normal clothing at the end of the hour, the fairy forgot about her 'detail' because of her sleep deprivation. One of classmates noticed, so Mal quickly fibbed about her 'illness', which the girls easily believed—
Though the lie broke Mal's heart worse than her father's letter.
Evie noticed the fairy's odd behavior and suspected something was wrong, but her friend wouldn't budge.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Evie questioned quietly while standing next to Mal at their lockers. "I can get Jay if you need him. He could help you more than I can."
"It's okay, E," Mal reassured terribly, her breathing sounded like she was about to break down. "I just miss my dad. I'll be fine once I get some fresh air."
Although not convinced, Evie headed to her Chemistry class in hopes of finding a prince. Meanwhile, Mal pilfered through her locker to distract herself, but overheard loud, obnoxious laughter. Mal peered around her locker, seeing Audrey and Chad walk around the corner with Ben following behind them, like he wanted nothing to do with them.
Their laughter died off when they caught a glimpse of Mal. Chad erratically tapped Ben's arm. "Those kids are trouble," Chad accused as he rudely pointed at Mal, referring to her friends in general. "They are just like that tapette!"
"Watch how you speak of Aziz," Ben warned with an underlying growl. "He is my best friend. You need to show him and the Isle children some respect."
"Ugh!" Audrey snarled her nose in disgust, taking Ben's hands in hers. "No offense, Benny-boo, but you're too trusting!"
Ben glanced between the princess and the prince. "No kidding," he mumbled, but neither one seemed to hear him.
"I know your mom fell in love with a big nasty beast who turned out to be a prince," Audrey continued selfishly. "But with my mom, the evil fairy was just the evil fairy. That girl's mother."
"You're wrong about Mal," Ben argued, turning to glare at Chad. "And you are wrong about her friends and Aziz. If I hear you disrespect any of them, I will make you regret it."
Ben brushed past the duo to approach the 'sickly' fairy. Audrey sighed, twirling on her heals toward the direction she just came from. Clearly dumbstruck, Chad trailed after the princess, hoping she would want to 'relieve' some of her stress again.
As Mal shut her locker, she faced Ben, who maintained a respectful distance. "Hey," he greeted with a modest smile. "How's your first day?"
"Super," she answered sarcastically, unable to hide her quivering voice.
Ben raised a concerned brow. "Are you alright?" he wondered. "You sound . . . broken. Do you need my help? I can get anything you need."
"Umm . . ." Mal trailed off, contemplating on getting assistance for her dilemma. She stuttered, "I-I'd feel better if I spoke with Jay. Do you know where he is?"
"He is going over the Tourney rulebook with Aziz," Ben answered, leaning against the locker wall. "I can text Aziz if you'd like; have him tell Jay you need him."
"If you don't mind," Mal requested as she became momentarily distracted by frightful Jane, who avoided eye-contact with the fairy. "I-I'm going to talk with Jane. Can you have him meet me at the gardens out front?"
"I'll cover for you with your class," Ben promised with a small, reassuring smile. "If you need anything else—anything at all—let me know."
"Thank you."
The fairy spun around with her spell book under her arm and followed Jane into the restroom. The sooner Mal stole the magic wand, the sooner she could be reunited with her baby girl.
Mal somehow kept her emotions under control while talking to Jane. She spelled the young girl's hair to make it long and luscious. In return, Jane would try to get her mother to use the wand in from of Mal, if Jane could convince her mother.
After the bathroom exchange, Mal headed for the gardens where they took the tour the day before. The fairy didn't worry about anyone eavesdropping since everyone would be in class.
Or, at least, they should have been.
Once Mal arrived, Jay was already waiting expectantly. "What happened?" the thief interrogated. "Someone get too close?"
Mal shook her head in denial, exposing all her emotions. "I got a letter from Dad," she revealed, her shoulders slumping. "When Mallory woke from her nap, she searched for me and called out for me when she couldn't find me."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "That can't be the only thing making you frazzled," he insisted. "What happened in gym?"
"How did you—?"
"Ben thought that's what made you upset," Jay quickly explained. "Do you want to tell me, or do you need space?"
Once again, Mal shook her head stubbornly. "When I was changing, someone noticed my stretchmarks," she sniffled. "I lied before they could make any exceptions. I told them the marks were created when I lost weight from being sick. I felt so sick lying when it was really from my baby girl. I miss my baby!"
"Hey, hey, hey." Jay gently grabbed Mal's face so she would look at him. "I miss her too, and we will see her soon. Once we take the wand—"
"If we get the wand," Mal retorted glumly.
"When we get the wand," Jay corrected stubbornly, "we will give it to your mother so she can bring down the barrier. You and Mallory will be together again and live a life without worry. I promise."
Overwhelmed with emotions, Mal laid her forehead on his shoulder as she sobbed to rid her pain.
Not knowing a prince heard the entire thing.