One Kiss: A Descendants AU Tale

12. Love Aint It (3/3)

Evie's dark eyes scanned the large expanse of castle grounds around Auradon Prep from the top of the steps. Last year, she stood here with the only three friends she had in the world. They hadn't talked about it, but they were all having doubts about fulfilling their parents' wishes at the time... doubts that were wiped away after being treated so horribly on that day.

You stole another girl's boyfriend.

And you, you're nothing but a gold digger and a cheater.

Chad's words came back to her... words that hurt her so much that she retaliated by knocking him out with her magic perfume. Since then, a whole year had passed and she has managed to prove every single accusation true in one way or another, even the ones not pointed at her. Taking a deep breath, she repeated her pseudo-spell and began descending the steps to join the throngs of royals and nobles.

She spotted Carlos in a small group of pointy eared individuals, among them was Fairy Godmother and Jane who hung on to his arm, her face so animated and happy to introduce him as her boyfriend. Cruella's son was Evie's first friend and so deserved to be welcomed by Auradon's fancy folk. Dude was cradled in his other arm, receiving pets and treats. When he kept his mouth shut, he was a cute mutt.

She didn't see Jay, but assumed he was oogling over Mulan or Shang, or maybe even Prince Phillip. Good chance he was also recruited in the pick up Tourney game.

Finally she found the one she was looking for. Doug was sipping on his punch when he saw her. As he waved her over, a boy next to him elbowed him in the ribs, and looked her up and down provocatively. Doug's father's head only came up to his son's chest, and his mother stood a head taller than Doug. They both gave Evie welcoming smiles that she returned.

The other three dwarfs in their company did not smile. One kept his eyes on the ground, his rouge cheeks forever stained from unending bashfulness. The second one leaned in and whispered to his wife and children and with a dip of his head, signaled his intent to leave. And the third... he stared at Evie with nostrils flaring, his features seeming to melt into this deep grimace with such ease. Ben was wrong, there was someone else who wouldn't hide his disgust, the Dwarf named for his demeanor, Grumpy.

She was almost there, ready to hash it out with her boyfriend's less-than-friendly family, when she was pulled to a stop by an arm covered in flamingo pink spangles.

"Evie! My mom is here! She is at the front gate and there is no one to welcome her," Rose cried, pulling the other girl away from her destination.

"Your mom? The Queen of Hearts! Oh! Okay! Right, she is a foreign ruling queen. She should definitely be greeted."

"And she does not like to be kept waiting. You'll greet her, won't you?"

She pulled back against Rose. "I can't. I think I should get Ben and his parents."

"Baskets! You get Ben and I'll stall my mom. Maddie, do you have the cake?"

Maddox, seemingly out of nowhere, bowed and removed his hat. On top of his head sat a crooked three-tier cake that defied physics, littered with way too many lit candles. Icing on the bottom layer clumsily spelled out "Welcome to Auradon, MOTHER!" and in microscopic lettering like some sneaky disclosure, it added "I missed you, Love, Rose".

Rose took the platter and raced off to present her gift to her mother. Evie weaved her way back to a confused Doug, there she took his hand and tossed an apologetic smile at his family. Truth be told, she was happy to have an excuse to delay that confrontation.

"Where are we going? My family has been waiting for you," Doug said as she led him away.

Yeah, with the eagerness of a public hanging.