Charming || Descendants

TWO-THREE

Cleo and Mal rushed into Carlos' room, breathless and pursued by a throng of reporters.

"Mal must be counting the days until the Royal Cotillion," the TV droned on as Cleo quickly locked the door. She turned to find Mal pacing furiously. "When she will officially become a Lady of the Court."

Mal abruptly turned off the TV, her hands trembling as her eyes flashed green with agitation.

"Whoa. Easy, girl," Carlos said from where he and Dude were lounging on his bed.

"What? You think this is so easy?!" Mal snapped, marching over to Carlos. "You don't have people snapping photos of you every single time you open your mouth to say 'boo!' I mean, it's not like I'd even get a chance to say 'boo,' but you know what I mean..."

"I'm sorry," Carlos said, sighing as Cleo rubbed Mal's shoulder comfortingly.

"Carlos, don't you ever miss just screaming at people and making them run away from you?" Mal asked, causing Cleo to look at her in shock.

"What color heels should I get?" Cleo asked out of the blue, raising an eyebrow.

Mal rolled her eyes in response.

"Ah, you're thinking of my mother. I was usually on the other end of that, so not really, no," Carlos answered before noticing a red box in Cleo's hand. "Oh, hey! Did you bring it?"

Mal moved to open the box, but before she could, the door creaked open and Chad began to sneak in.

"Hi," Chad greeted, spotting them with a casual wave. "Just came to use your 3D printer. Won't be a sec."

"How'd you get a key to my room?" Carlos asked, frowning at Chad.

"Oh, I printed it off last time I was in here," Chad explained, eyeing the key in surprise. "Uh, you guys were sleeping. Look, your printer's so much better than mine. You've installed these hacks and everything runs so much smoother..."

Cleo, with her usual seductive smirk, leaned against the doorframe and quipped, "It's not every day someone breaks into a room and uses the 3D printer. But if you ever need tips on how to handle nosy neighbors, I'm your girl."

Cleo rolled her eyes at her brother's excuses. "Out!"

"Fine, fine," Chad muttered, turning to leave.

"Chad!" Carlos called after him.

"What? Hmm?" Chad asked, turning back.

"Leave the key," Carlos demanded. Chad dropped the key on the table and exited, slamming the door behind him.

"Mal?" Carlos said, turning to her with concern.

"Hmmm?" Mal replied, snapping out of a daze. Carlos and Cleo exchanged worried glances.

"My potion?" Carlos prompted, glancing at her with unease.

"Hmm. Yeah, um..." Mal said, opening the box and pulling out a gummy. "Here it is."

"So, this will make me say what I really feel to Jane?" Carlos asked, eyeing the gummy with a mix of hope and apprehension.

"Yeah, it's a truth gummy. Take it or leave it," Mal explained.

"Perfect," Carlos said with a satisfied smile. He took the gummy, ready to face whatever truth it might reveal.

"Hold on, though. Are you sure that you want to be taking this?" Cleo asks him causing Carlos and Mal to look at her shocked. "Because this is gonna make you say the truth all the time, no matter what, and the only reason that I'm asking is because I know that if I took this right now, I would get myself sent to the Isle. Which, it's not that that sounds super unappealing, but, you know..."