Roses and Hooks /// Harry Hook

Chapter 6: Talking Dogs

A few days go by, and the stress of court is running Mal into the ground. Apparently, Ben had only told her that if she needed anything, to talk to him. He totally disappeared after that, going back to his king duties, so Mal didn't even bother. My birthday is in six days, and I can't wait to see what everyone has come up with. Ben always plans my birthday for me every year, so I never know what it looks like until the day of.

I'm helping Mal make a truth gummy for Carlos, who wants to use it to tell Jane how he feels. Mal thinks he's crazy for wanting to eat one, and I wish he would find the courage to tell Jane himself. Carlos is a sweet, funny, amazing guy. Jane is shy, timid, and loves to laugh. They're perfect for each other, but they're too scared to admit it to each other. I've tried to talk to them and get them to admit it, but they won't do it. The nerves get to be too much for them.

After the gummy is ready, we go to bring it to him. Somehow, the media has managed to make it pass the guards and FG, and they're in the building. The minute they see Mal and I, they come running at us like a pack of starving thirst deprived wolves, and we're a buffet. We take off running down the hall, the media chases us shouting out questions at Mal.

We slam ourselves through the door to the boy's dorm room, slamming it in the reporters faces. Carlos jumps, sitting up quick to look at us as I lock the door. We can't even walk through the school without them descending down on us. What happened to the thing called privacy?

"Mal must be counting the days down until the Royal Cotillion," the TV reporter says, and I turn around to look for the TV remote. I'm either going to turn the TV off or smash it with the damn thing. Mal paces back and forth, breathing hard as she pulls at her hair. "She will officially become Lady of the Court." I grab the remote and go to throw it at the TV, but Mal rips it from my hand and turns the TV off. Her whole-body shakes as her eyes glow bright green.

"Whoa. Okay, easy Mal. Calm down." Carlos says to Mal, holding his hands out at her. Dude lays on the bed next to him watching her go back and forth. Mal spins around and looks at him, panicking.

"What?! You think this is easy?!" She shouts at him. He shrinks back a little as she storms up to him. "You don't have people hunting you down to take pictures of you every time you open your mouth to scream boo!" She snaps, and I sit next to him watching her rant. "I mean, it's not that I can even say boo, but you know what I mean."

"I'm sorry. Clearly, you're in a lot of stress. Anything I can do to help?" Carlos looks at Mal concerned. Mal sighs and shakes her head.

"I just...Carlos, do you ever miss screaming at people? Making them run away in fear? Doing whatever you want?" Mal asks him, desperately. All she wants is for one of her friends to understand where she's coming from. I look out the window at the Isle and dream about being there, letting go of all the expectations.

"You're thinking of my mother, and I was usually on the other end of her warpath. So, no. Not really. Plus, Rose here does enough of that to Auradon that it feels kind of like the Isle." Carlos says, giving me a pointed look. I grin at him proudly and shrug my shoulders.

"I love being a walking menace to society." I say with pride. Carlos looks back at Mal as she shakes her head and sighs. Then he notices the small red box that we put the gummy in resting in her hand.

"Hey, did you bring it?" Mal nods her head and opens the box. The door clicks open, and we all whip to it. I swear to God, if the reporters...Chad, nose bruised, is sneaking across the room, oblivious to us all being here and seeing him. He slowly makes his way up to the 3D printer, and I stand up crossing my arms over my chest. The movement catches his eye.

"Oh. Hi." Chad says to us and then keeps going as if him being here is normal. Carlos stands up and looks at him annoyed. I take it this isn't the first time Chad has done this. I think this guy is more of a menace than I am, and that's saying a lot. "I just came to use your 3D printer again. I'll be gone in a minute."