Go the Distance

04

During Remedial Goodness 101, the VKs were half-paying attention and half doing their own thing. Fairy Godmother was at the board with a pointer stick. "If someone hands you a crying baby, do you, A, curse it? B, lock it in a tower? C, give it a bottle? Or D, carve out its heart? Evie."

Evie frowned. "What was the second one?"

"Oh, okay. Anyone else? Mal?

"C, give it a bottle," Mal answered, glancing up.

"Correct. Again."

Carlos grinned. "You are on fire, girl!"

Mal shrugged. "Just pick the one that doesn't sound like any fun."

"Oh."

Evie's eyes widened. "That makes so much sense."

"Oh..." Mal began.

Mal was interrupted by Fairy Godmother. "Oh. Hello, dear ones."

"You need to sign off on early dismissal for the coronation," the girl said quickly.

Fairy Godmother smiled. "Everyone here remembers my daughter Jane? And her friend Maia?"

They saw a small girl with a brunette bob. Maia caught Mal's eye and her eyes narrowed.

"Mom, no!" Jane exclaimed as her eyes widened.

Fairy Godmother smiled. "It's okay. Jane, this is everyone."

Jane gave the VKs a nervous smile. "Hi. That's okay, don't mind me. As you were."

Maia whispered to Jane, "They won't hurt you. Don't worry. They mess with you, they mess with me and Elias. I won't hesitate to kick their little Isle butts."

"Ahem," Fairy Godmother called, drawing attention to the VKs. "Let's continue. You find a vial of poison. Do you, A, put it in the king's wine? B, paint it on an apple? Or C, turn it over to the proper authorities?"

The boys started fighting to say the answer. "Oh!" Carlos grunted. "Ooh... get off."

"Jay." Fairy Godmother called.

"C. You turn it over to the proper authorities."

Carlos frowned. "I was gonna say that."

Jay smirked. "But I said it first. Come here!"

"Ow!" Carlos cried as Jay rubbed his fist against Carlos' head and pinned him to the table.

"Come on, who said it first? Who said it first?"

"Ow!" Carlos cried again. "Stop! Ah!"

Fairy Godmother frowned. "Boys. Boys! I am gonna encourage you to use that energy on the tourney field."

Carlos shook his head repeatedly. "Oh, no. That's okay. Whatever that it, we'll... we'll pass."

After class, the VKs head to our lockers. Evie waved goodbye. "Bye, Mal."

Mal glanced at her. "Bye."

Mal grabbed her books and stopped by the bathroom. She was joined moments later by Jane and Maia.

Mal smiled at the brunette girl. "Hi! It's Jane, right? Ah, always loved that name. Jane."

"That's cool," Jane answered, making her way to the door.

Maia followed, eyeing Mal suspiciously.

"Don't go! I guess I was just kind of hoping to make a friend. I mean, another friend besides Maia and maybe her brother. You probably have all the friends you need though."

"Hardly," Jane admitted.

"Really? I mean, with your mom being Fairy Godmother and headmistress? I mean, not to mention your own, um... personality."

Jane shrugged. "Not really. I'd rather be pretty."

"You are beautiful, Jane," Maia reassured.

Mal smirked. "You know what? I have just the thing for that. It's right..." She flipped through her spell book. "Ah, here. 'Beware, forswear, replace the old with brand new hair.'"

"Oh, ah, ah!" Jane cried, looking at her now long curly hair.

"Wow! You almost don't notice your... other features anymore."

Maia glared at Mal as Jane's eyes widened. "Do my nose!"

Mal shook her head. "Oh, I can't. I've been practicing, but you know, I can't do really big magic. Not like your mom with her wand. I mean, one swoosh from that thing and you could probably have whatever feature you wanted."

Jane sighed. "She doesn't use the wand anymore. She believes the real magic is in the books. And not the spell books, regular books with history and stuff. Maia, could you use the book?"

Maia frowned. "Even if I could, I wouldn't use it to help you."

Mal scoffed at Jane's words. "What a rip." She turned to Maia. "You're not touching my book."

"Like I'd want to."

"Yeah," Jane agreed sadly.

Mal frowned. "You know, she used magic on Cinderella, who wasn't even her real daughter. Doesn't she love you?"

Jane furrowed her brow. "Well, of course she does. It's... It's just, you know, tough love. "Work on the inside, not the outside." You know, that sort of thing."

Mal pointed at Jane. "That's the face! Yeah, and then just look as if your... your heart is about to break. "Oh, mother, I just don't understand why you can't make me beautiful, too.""

"Think it would work?"

"Yeah. I mean, that's what old Cindy did, right? And your mother Bibbidi-bobbidi-booed the living daylights out of her. And hey, if your mom does decide to, you know, break out the old wand, invite me."

Jane nodded. "If I can convince mom, you are so there."

"Yay," Mal cheered falsely.

"Bye."

"Bye."

Jane left the bathroom and Maia glared at Mal. "If you hurt Jane, I hurt you."

"You're fiercely loyal and protective. That could be useful."

"What is your goal here?"

Mal smirked and walked away.

Maia let out a scoff and followed.