Two Roses

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕰𝖑𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓

Blakely brushed out her hair the next morning, pulling it into a high ponytail the same style all the girls on the cheer team had it. She sighed making her way out of her dorm and to her locker with Raine on her heels. Theo met them halfway there, books already in hand.

Audrey was complaining about Mal to Ben doing anything she could to not think about Blakely meeting up with Evie after the tourney game. "Do you think they actually paid for those?" she whined about her changing people's hair. Jay was hanging over the railing talking to some girls though he didn't find them as enjoyable to talk to as Ethan. "She did it to Jane's hair, too, and Fairy Godmother's not happy about it."

"What's the harm?" Ben asked.

"It's gateway magic! Sure, it starts with the hair. Next thing you know it's the lips and the legs and the clothes and then everybody looks good and then... where will I be?" Audrey whined.

Ben knew she wasn't like this especially with Blakely. Something happened and he wanted to help, but today was not the day. "Listen, Audrey..." Ben tried.

Audrey cut him off. "I will see you at the game, after my dress-fitting for the coronation, okay?" she asked.

"Okay," he sighed.

"Bye, Bennyboo," she kissed his cheek and turned to leave only to slam right into an ill rested, ill-tempered Blake.

The princess growled, "watch it." Not even looking up as she held her head.

"I see she's already taking effect on you," Audrey snarked. Blakey looked up quickly, already seeing the other princess walk away.

At first Blakely was hurt Audrey knew she was irritable when she was tired but chose to blame it on Evie. That hurt quickly faded to anger, her self-destructive behavior was all Audrey's fault. If she wouldn't have pushed her away, if she would have just talked to her and told her why she though leaning on Evie was a bad idea, if she would have just been a normal best friend like she was supposed to be, maybe Blakely would have listened. Audrey knew she basically affection starved but made no move to tell her that Evie's affection wasn't good instead she shut her away. "Is it wrong to rip off the head of a rose?"

Raine winced and Ben's eyes widened, but Theo didn't realize she was talking about Audrey, they were a little late to this whole thing. "Morticia Addams does it and she's amazing-" they were cut off by Raine placing a hand over their mouth.

"Hey Bennyboo," Mal said, appearing out of nowhere. Blakely jumped and growled much like a beast and turned to her locker. She hated that stupid name.

"Hey," Ben smiled.

Mal was slightly put off by Blakely's growl but didn't back down. "We just made a batch of cookies. Double chocolate chip, do you guys want one?"

"Oh, I, uh, I've got a big game. We don't eat before a big game." It was clear that the 'we' in that was not just Ben, but Blakely. She was his big sister, and he learned all his habits from her. "But thank you so, so much. Thank you. Next time. Next time," Ben said.

Mal nodded pretending to be hurt, "No, yeah. I completely understand. 'Be careful of treats offered by kids of villains.'"

Ben tried to correct her, "No, no, no."

Mal added "No, I'm sure every kid in Auradon knows that," Theo narrowed their eyes this was an odd interaction.

"No, that's not it. No, no, no, I... I really do..."

She shook her head, "No, I get it. You're cautious. That's smart. Oh, well, more for us, I guess."

The fairy took out a cookie ready to bite it, "no, no. Hey..." Ben grabbed the cookie out of Mal's hand "see that? Totally trust you. Totally."