Strange|Carlos De Vil

chapter 14| elastic heart

Alex turned back to Carlos, her Cheshire-cat smirk softening into something warm and real. The music echoed through the grand hall as Auradon celebrated its new king—and the new choices the villain kids had made.

Carlos spun her gently, laughing as her shorter dance-version dress twirled like blue and silver smoke. "You're beautiful," he whispered, like he still couldn't believe she was real.

Alex giggled, brushing a strand of red-tinted blonde hair behind her ear. "You said that last night."

"And I'll say it tomorrow," he promised.

It was strange—after everything they had survived today, the fight with Maleficent, the nearly catastrophic coronation, all the fear—they were here. Dancing. Laughing. Happy.

For once, happiness didn't feel dangerous.

Alex leaned her head against his chest. "You know... I didn't think I'd ever have this."

Carlos held her closer. "A dance?"

"A life that's mine," she whispered.

His heart clenched; he kissed the top of her head. "You have me. You have all of us."

She smiled, feeling warm enough to make Wonderland jealous.

~The Morning After~

Alex woke up slowly, sunlight peeking through her curtains and the sound of students already gossiping in the courtyard below. She stretched, wincing at the soreness in her feet.

Her coronation dress draped over her vanity chair like a fallen star.

Just as she pulled her hair into a ponytail, someone knocked lightly.

She opened the door to find Carlos holding two muffins and a cup of cocoa—her favorite.

"Breakfast delivery," he said proudly.

She laughed. "You're spoiling me."

"Good," he said, stepping inside. "You deserve spoiling."

They sat on the edge of her bed as she ate, and Carlos filled her in on post-coronation events.

"Ben wants to gather everyone today," he explained. "Some big school announcement."

Alex raised a brow. "He's not proposing to Mal in front of the entire courtyard, right? Evie would faint."

Carlos snorted. "No, no. I think it's something about all of us continuing here. Maybe even... more kids coming from the Isle."

Alex froze mid-bite. "Really? More VKs?"

"That's what Jay says." Carlos shrugged. "Ben thinks we're proof the Isle shouldn't stay closed forever."

Alex's heart fluttered. "Maybe things really are changing."

And yet... a tiny prickle of unease crawled down her spine. Something she couldn't explain. A whisper of Wonderland's madness tugs at the edge of her thoughts.

She shook it off.

Today was supposed to be peaceful.

~Courtyard Announcement ~

The group gathered in the courtyard—Mal, Jay, Evie, Carlos, and Alex standing close together. Students milled around in excited clusters, though Alex still felt stray stares prick her back.

Ben stepped up onto the platform, glowing with that dorkily earnest charm Alex secretly adored.

"As Auradon's king," he began, "I want our kingdom to be a place of second chances."