Go the Distance

10

The next day, everyone gathered outside in the courtyard for a spring luncheon. Ben called everyone's attention. "Ma cherie Mademoiselle, It is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight. And now, we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair as the dining room proudly presents -- your dinner!"

[Be Our Guest]

Maia saw Carlos and Jay drinking from the chocolate fountain, and her lip curled in disgust. Elias chuckled as he watched their behavior.

Mal returned after talking to Ben's parents to get her friends.. "Come on, Dude," Carlos said.

Carlos suddenly cried out, "Hey, get them! Hey, get them!"

"Nice!" Jay exclaimed.

An older woman in pink walked up to Mal. "Hello there."

Mal smiled. "Hi."

"Now, have we met?"

Mal shook her head. "No, I don't think so. We're new. We're sort of like a... transfer student."

She nodded. "Oh, yes."

Audrey walked up. "Grammy."

The woman smiled. "Oh, Audrey! Give Grammy a kiss, dear."

""Grammy"?" Mal repeated.

Audrey shot her a sarcastic smile. "Sleeping Beauty's mother. Grammy, I don't think you want to be talking to this girl. Unless you feel like taking another hundred-year nap."

The queen's eyes widened. "What? You! And you! How are you here? And how have you stayed so young?"

Ben intervened at the perfect moment, joined by Maia and Elias. "Queen Leah, it's okay. Maleficent is still on the island. This is her daughter, Mal. Don't you remember my proclamation to give the new generation a chance?"

Queen Leah narrowed her eyes. "A chance to what, Ben? Destroy us? Come on. You remember, don't you? The poison apples. And the spells. Spells. My daughter... was raised by fairies because of your mother's curse. So her first words, her first steps, I missed it all! You mustn't trust her."

Mal's eyes widened slightly. "I'm so, so..."

"Go away!" Chad yelled. "Stay away from her!"

Ben shook his head. "Don't do this, Chad."

Chad frowned. "What? They were raised by their parents, Ben. What do you think villains teach their kids? Huh? Kindness? Fair play? No way, okay? Uh-uh. You stole another girl's boyfriend."

"Hey, hey!"

"Oh. You enjoy hurting people," Chad said before turning to Evie. "And you, you're nothing but a gold digger and a cheater."

Evie glared at him. "Mirror, mirror, in my hand, who's the biggest jerk in the land?"

Chad scoffed, seeing himself in the mirror. "What? Come on!"

"Back off, Chad," Jay ordered. "All right? Back off!"

Evie sprayed him with the bottle of perfume Mal had given her.

"Chad!" Audrey cried, seeing him fall to the ground. "Chad? Chad! Evie did something to Chad!"

Lonnie walked over. "Wake up. Check if he's okay."

Megara walked up behind me with a frown. "Audrey, they're just children. For all you know, they're not like their parents. From what Maia and Elias tell me-"

Audrey glared at Megara. "Says the woman that sold her soul to Hades and then met Hercules and eventually married him."

Maia frowned at Audrey. "You're just a selfish, spoiled princess. Grow up and let things be." She stalked away.

Elias frowned as he watched, then followed his sister.

Mal was pulled away by Evie.

"Come on, Mal," Evie said softly.

They walked off and Ben called after them. "Guys!"

Jay punched someone and Mal cried, "Jay!"

Maia joined them and Mal glanced at her. "That took some guts, telling Audrey what you felt."

"Yeah, well, somebody had to," Maia muttered.

They made their way to the picnic area and sat at a table together. Ben walked up to them and smiled. "Hey, guys. How is everyone? Yeah? Hey, listen. Forget about it. All right? It was nothing. Forget about it. Let it go. Tomorrow, after the coronation, I promise everything will be okay. I have to go. I'll see you guys later."

Doug appeared. "Listen, Evie, I wanna talk about earlier today. I just..."

"Doug!" Chad called.

Evie let out a sigh. "It's my fault, Doug. I'm so sorry."

Doug shook his head. "No, it's mine."

"Doug!" Chad called again.

"What?"

"Doug..." Evie said softly.

Doug avoided her eyes. "Sorry, I can't."

"Okay."

Audrey glared and said loud enough for us to hear, "How long does she think that's gonna last? Mal is just the bad girl infatuation. Maia and maybe Elias have been corrupted by them."

Jane nodded. "Yeah. I mean, he's never gonna make a villain a queen."

Mal flipped through her spellbook and lifted a finger. "Beware, forswear, undo Jane's hair."

Jane's hair returned to the short bob and Chad grimaced. "Ew!"

Mal glared at them. "There's a lot more where that came from."

Audrey narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me, who do you think you are?"

Mal's glare deepened as she looked at her book. "Do I look like I'm kidding? I'm really looking forward to tomorrow." They walked away, followed by Maia and Elias, the former of whom was still glaring at Audrey. "Let's grab that wand and blow this popsicle stand."