(2) The Space Between (Evie/ (Fem) You)

-Chapter 4: The Isle-

I run back to our dorm, pushing my legs as much as I can.

I'm still here....I'm here, and I can NOT let Evie see my note.

I check the time...almost noon. Evie will be back very soon. I rush into the building, up the stairs and slam the door open. I grab the crown and note and stuff it in my pocket as I hear someone at the door. I spin around, seeing the blue haired princess. "Hi!" I say, a little too excitedly. She looks at me, confused. "Hi...?" She says. "Why are you so...excited?"

"I...Uh...I haven't seen anyone all day. Just happy to finally see someone....and even more that it's you." I say, smirking as I walk to her, shutting the door and planting a kiss on her lips. Evie raises an eyebrow. "Ooookay....that was a lie." She says. Damn, she knows me too well.

"Okay, fine. I went out for a snack. Fruit cup?" I ask, wiggling the cup I had earlier that I didn't open. Evie shakes her head, chuckling, walking to her sewing machine. "I'm alright. Kind of full, I had lunch before I came ba..." She trails when she notices Mal's note. "What's this?" She asks. I shrug, pretending. "I saw it when I came back. Was going to look at it before you barged in." I say, walking to her. She opens it, reading the contents. Beside it, is the ring Ben had given Mal back at his coronation. The ring that symbolises his love for her.

I don't know exactly what it says, but I knew enough. "We have to find Ben." Evie says, eyes wide as she grabs my arm and drags me out.

We walk to Ben's office, arriving at the door. Evie knocks lightly, poking her head in. "Ben?" She asks. The boy looks up, spotting us and standing. "Evie! Y/N! Come on in." He says. We walk in, closing the door. Evie clears her throat, not sure how to start. "Ben...Mal's gone back." I say, sadly. Ben looks at me, confused and concerned. "What?" He asks. "Mal's gone back to the Isle." Evie says. Ben looks at her, shocked as she hands him the note. "Ben..." She mutters as he takes it. The King's eyes scans the paper as he mumbles to himself. I hold up his ring and he takes it, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"This is my fault. This is my fault. I-I blew it!" He says, holding his head. "She'd been under so much pressure lately, and instead of being understanding, I just went all Beast on her!" He says, leaning on the table. I gingerly take Evie's hand, out of Ben's view as he growls at himself. We exchange glances, unsure of what to do before Ben snaps his head up. "I have to go there and apologize." He says. Okay, that's unexpected. "I have to go there and...and beg her to come back." He adds.

Evie looks at me, fear and worry radiating off her eyes. "Ben, you'll never find her. I...You need to know the Isle and how it works and..." She trails, gazing at me with sad eyes before looking at Ben. "You have to take me with you." She says. "What? No!" I say as Ben says "Yes!" He looks at me, awkwardly. "I mean, are you sure?" He asks. "Yeah..." The princess says, looking at me. "She's my best friend." She says. I nod, taking a deep breath. "I'll go too. She's my sister."

"And we'll bring the boys too, because there's safety in numbers and none of us are really too popular over there right now." She says, glancing at me quickly, knowing I'm probably the most hated. "Thank you..." Ben says. I stop him, hand on his chest as he goes to hug us. "But let's get two things straight..." Evie says from behind me. "You have to promise us that we won't get stuck there again...." She starts. Ben nods. "I promise."

"...and there's no way you're going looking like that..."

We go back to our dorm as Evie pulls out an old leather jacket. It was blue as well. "Leftover fabric I had before. I was curious as to what you'd look like in leather. As was Mal. So I made this and we planned to gift it to you." She says, showing the Beast symbol on the jacket.

Ben changes and Evie hands him a beanie once he is done. "Let's go."

We grab the boys, explaining as we go. "Jay, Keys. Remote." Ben says, tossing said items at the boy. The thief catches it, rushing to the limo we are set to drive when Evie stops us. "Wait! There's something wrong." She says, making us all freeze in place before leaning forward and fixing Ben's beanie, pulling it over his forehead. "There." She says, smiling.

Suddenly, a loud, unfamiliar voice is heard. "SHOTGUN!" It shouts, making us all turn and look in that direction...only to see Dude. "No, Dude. Stay. The Isle is way too dangerous." Carlos says to the dog. "Awwww." Dude says.....wait, what?

"Did he just..." Jay starts as Carlos nods. "Talk? Yeah. I know. Tell you later." Carlos says before running to the limo. "Let's go." He says as we all follow...not after glancing at the talking dog once more. "Once we cross the bridge, park under the pier in the old garage. Got it?" Evie says to the boys who's driving as we close the doors. "Got it." Jay says.

I sit beside Evie in the back of the car as Carlos sits on the side seats. Ben and Jay are at the front. "I can't believe Mal would just...up and leave." The boy says, huffing a breath as he leans back. I nod, looking down to avoid eye contact, wishing to not show my guilt. As Carlos looks out the window, I feel for Evie's hand, lacing our fingers together and looking her in the eye. "We get her, and get out. Don't worry." I tell her, knowing she fears the Isle so much.

Before she joined our gang, her mother used her beauty against her by getting guys to go for her without her permission, and letting them. They would grope her, speak to her in threatening or seductive ways. All that just so that the Evil Queen could get a good deal or whatever. After she joined our gang, I would step in whenever it happened, vowing not to leave her side. Once the queen joined with my mom, she stopped because the fear the gang of old villains held was more powerful than seduction and blank promises.

"I hate that place." Evie whispers, fear lacing her voice. I kiss her forehead, nodding. "I know. But I promise I won't let anything happen to you. There is nothing....NOTHING, that your mother can do to you now." I say. Evie nods, smiling as we look out the window as we arrive. By the time the Limo stops, Evie is back to being confident and determined... as we all are. Determined to get the purple haired princess back safe. "Ben, help me with the tarp" One of them says as I gaze down the large tunnel that I knew lead to Uma's pirate's area.

God, Uma. My ex-girlfriend. We were young, thought the thrill of creating fear together was the feeling of being destined to be together. I was with her, trying to ignore the butterflies I felt when I saw a blue haired girl in my class.. We had a pretty good relationship. We stole together, created graffiti together, but also had those soft moments that you wouldn't expect. Sure, love was frowned upon in the Isle, so many people, Aka my mother, thought it was a power move to date her. But alone, in one of our rooms, we were us. She was a lot nicer and passionate about her future then. Telling me how she dreamed of a world where us VKs were free to do as we pleased, getting opportunities we deserved. I told her about how I dreamed to be free to feel how I feel, think how I wanna think.

That is, until I created the gang. I started recruiting people, with evil and terror being the only thing I allowed in my mind. Mother always told me that deals and relationships only go so far and that once I had to grow my power, I had to drop them. I knew how Uma truly felt. And though that isn't the main reason I didn't let her join the gang, it was a factor. The main factor was that she stood up against the bullying my gang did back then. Therefore, I deemed her not bad enough to join. Since then, she has hated me. Her and her own gang, Harry and Gil. We both changed because she began doing the things she tried to stop back then. When we left for Auradon, she was big and bad enough, but we had created too many bitter memories to go back to how we used to feel, or act to each other, or even be civil at that point. We broke up when I created the gang, and it was the talk of the town.

"Y/N?" I hear my girlfriend's voice float into my ear as I snap back into reality. I don't like her like that anymore, but it was nice to know someone cared so much for the people of the Isle. Or use to. But after we broke up, she was so goddamn nasty. It was like looking at a mirror image of who I used to be. I turn to my girlfriend and smile. "You okay?" She asks. I nod, taking her hand. "Fine." I say.

"It's really weird being back here." She says, letting her gaze flit around the area. I nod, squeezing her hand "We get in and get out." I say. Ben walks over to us just as Evie lets go of my hand. "Hey, what's in here?" He asks, going to the tunnel. I take his hand, pulling him back as he looks at me. "You do not wanna know." I say. "Hey, guys. Keep it chill, alright? The last thing we need is our parents figuring out we're here." Carlos says. We nod, taking deep breaths before walking back into the familiar, dangerous place we used to call home.

It didn't feel the same. It was cold, dark and has a looming feeling attached to the place. Most people here probably hate us for staying in Auradon....and I can't blame them. But for the gang's safety and my own, I keep myself on high alert. Word gets around the Isle fast, so I wouldn't be surprised if the new Isle top dogs, Uma's gang, know we're here. Damn it, Mal. Why didn't you wait for me? And most of all...how're we gonna leave safely?

World Count: 1854