Timeless Legacy

date

Evie was carefully applying blush to Mal's cheeks in their dorm room, her movements precise and practiced. "Okay, easy on the blush," Mal said, gently pushing Evie's hand away. "I don't want to scare him away. Not that I could."

Evie grinned and continued her work. "Please. My mom taught me how to apply blush before I could talk. Always use upward strokes." She added the finishing touches, looking at Mal with satisfaction.

Mal sighed, thinking back. "My mom was never really big on makeup tips. I never had a sister." She smiled, her thoughts drifting to her friends. "Well, at least I had Elina and Harry."

Evie paused, her tone softening. "Well, now you do. We're going to need all the family we can get if we don't pull this off. My mother's not a barrel of laughs when she doesn't get her way. Just ask Snow White."

Mal looked thoughtful. "Are you afraid of her?"

"Sometimes," Evie admitted, setting down the makeup. "Are you afraid of your mom?"

Mal took a deep breath, her expression serious. "I just really want her to be proud of me. After everything that happened, I'm the only one she has left. Well, and Blanc. I know she loves me... in her own way."

Evie nodded, understanding the weight of Mal's words. "Moving on. Come see." She stood up, pulling Mal over to the mirror.

"Are we done?" Mal asked, laughing as she looked at her reflection. Evie placed her hands on Mal's shoulders from behind, her eyes sparkling with pride.

"I know," Evie said with a satisfied smile.

"I look..." Mal began slowly, examining her reflection.

"Say it," Evie urged her.

"Way too good for a date with someone I don't even like," Mal finished, laughing.

Evie nodded, her smile softening. "Well, at your next date with someone you like, you're going to look even more amazing."

Mal turned to her, gratitude in her eyes. Before she could say more, there was a knock on the door. Mal walked over to open it, revealing Ben standing there, looking at her with awe.

"For the first time, I understand the difference between pretty and beautiful," Ben said, clearly mesmerized.

Mal laughed, trying to ease the tension. "I hope you like bikes," Ben said, holding up two helmets.

Mal forced a smile, then turned back to Evie, mouthing 'help me.' Evie just waved, grinning, clearly enjoying Mal's predicament. With a resigned sigh, Mal grabbed her helmet and left with Ben.

Elina made her way to Maddox's secret spot, a place he had shown her before, where the world seemed to stand still. As she climbed to the top, she had to pause to catch her breath, her heart pounding not just from the effort but from the anticipation of seeing him. When she finally looked up, there he was, sitting quietly and gazing at the sky.

She approached him slowly, her steps light on the grass, and sat down next to him. "Did you hide from me?" she asked in a whisper, her voice carrying a mix of hurt and confusion.

Maddox sighed, keeping his gaze fixed on the horizon. For a moment, the only sound between them was the rustling of leaves. "Yeah..." he finally admitted, his voice low. "But not for the reasons you probably think."

Elina looked down at her hands in her lap, her fingers nervously twisting together. "Then why?" she whispered, her voice breaking with the weight of her emotions.

"I'm not dumb, Elina," he said, his tone steady but laced with an undercurrent of sadness. "I know you can't fall in love in minutes. Something must have been wrong with those cookies for Ben and you to act like this..."