𝓦𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝓘𝙩 𝓑𝙪𝙧𝙣, 𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗜𝗖

𝓒𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝓣𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮-𝓣𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚

A/N: This is the first couple-centered chapter, and it's the most disgusting and crappy piece of writing I've ever done. I did not give Ali and Daphne the justice they deserve, I'm sorry that I'm a non-romantic writer 😭 I PROMISE THESE CHAPTERS WILL IMPROVE, SWEARSIES.

Daphne Tremaine's POV

Don't slouch, shoulders straight, and tilt your chin, Lady Tremaine's voice entered Daphne's voice as she put on her earrings. Lucifer hissed, sitting on Ana's vacant bed. "Oh hush," she said, rolling her eyes. "You tried to swallow my silver ones, these earrings will have to do." She needed everything to go perfectly for her grandmother.

Decent-looking dress? Check.

Non-frizzy curls? Check.

Practiced smile? Check.

Rich boyfriend? Semi-check (she'd work on that).

Lady Tremaine certainly raised some rather... deceiving grandchildren. I learn from the best, Daphne thought. There was suddenly a ring at her dorm's door. The hell? This better not make her late. She opened the door, finding a little package at the doorstep.

"I swear to Grimm, if this is another glitter bomb prank from Frederick..." She tore open the package, her eyes widening. They were shoes. Not the shitty, cheap high heels that Daphne would fish out of thrift stores, but the real ones. Luxury ones, even. Daphne fished out a tiny note, squinting at it.

Even the Wicked Stepsister deserves a pair of nice shoes :)

"For God's sake."

︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶

"What the hell?" Daphne said straight to Ali's face once she found him in the Charmitorium for Family Night. She punched him in the shoulder, not lightly either. "Why did you give me these?" She gestured to the heels that she finally did wear. Hey, Daphne might not want Ali's "filthy money," but she isn't dumb enough to not accept free luxury gifts.

"What do you mean? I didn't send anything. Nice shoes by the way," he said, shrugging. He didn't wear the sunglasses tonight since Daphne insisted he eased off the alcohol or risk being called a sleazy acholic by her grandmother. When his eyes weren't bloodshot from hangovers, they were a sober, crystal-clear hazel colour.

"Who writes a smiley face lopsided on a note?" Daphne asked.

"Plenty of people, I'm sure."

"You're being a dick right now for not admitting you're a nice guy." She didn't bother wasting her breath with Ali, she wasn't in the mood tonight. She crossed her arms and surveyed the crowd among her. "If you fuck this up tonight in front of my family, I will fuck up that face of yours."

He cocked his head to the side, smiling lazily. "I'd love that."

"That was supposed to sound threatening, not flirty!"

"Well, that's not exactly my fault—oh, shit..." Ali shielded his face, grabbing Daphne by the arm and walking to the corner of the room. Confused, Daphne looked over her shoulder and spotted a trio of adults entering the Charmitorium. All three of them were brown-skinned, dressed in lavish robes, and those sober hazel eyes.

"Is that your family?" Daphne asked as Ali started to pace around, practically spiralling.

"God, I thought they would come later so I'd have time to prepare. But now? " Ali fumbled through the pockets of his suit's jacket, bringing out a silver flask. Before he could chug it, Daphne slapped his hand. "What the hex!"

"Put that away," she hissed, "you can't always drink your way out of trouble, Nimer."

Ali let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. For once, he let the mask slip and whispered quietly, "You don't get it, my dad and I have a really complicated relationship. The last time we met, I told him that I never wanted to be like him. That was a year ago, we haven't talked since."