Evil Hearts - A Listen To Your Heart Book

Battles

"I can't find it!" Mal screamed bursting into her room.

"Find what?" Vega asked, halfway through braiding Sasha's hair.

"Move! Move! Move!" Mal yelled, pushing Vega off the chair. She dug through the cushions, to no avail. She plopped on her bed and stared at the ceiling.

"Ok," Sasha spoke, getting up from the floor. "What the heck was that about?!"

"My life is over!" Mal sighed dramatically.

"What were your looking for? Maybe we can help." Vega said, trying to be helpful.

"My sketchbook," Mal said.

"Really!" Sasha said. "That has all your ideas and stuff, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," Mal sighed. "And my rough draft for judging tomorrow."

"That sucks!" Vega said.

"Where did you last remember having it?" Sasha asked.

"Just class and here," Mal said, running her hands through her hair. "Wait! I was in the mixed media room working on some sketches. I must've left it there!"

"Well you have 10 minutes," Sasha said, checking her phone. "Curfew is at nine."

Mal ran out of the room and ran as fast as she could to the mixed media room. She burst into the room to see Tessa and her friend Talyn.

"What the heck!" Tessa said, clutching her chest. "Next time run in louder, why don't you?"

Mal rolled her eyes. "Sorry but I'm looking for something."

"Your sketchbook?"

Mal looked up at a smirking Tessa. She narrowed her eyes. "How did you know?"

"I didn't take it, if that's what you're thinking," Tessa said. She grabbed the book off a neighboring desk and handed it to Mal. "You're the only person here with a purple sketchbook that says 'long live evil' on it."

"Oh," Mal said, taking the book. "Thank you."

"I hope you don't mind, but I did look through it," Tessa admitted. "You're pretty amateur, but you're not completely awful. You have potential."

Mal frowned. "Thanks, I think."

"Well we should get going, wouldn't want to stay up too late," Tessa said. "Tomorrow's a very important day."

She walked out with Talyn. Mal clutched her sketchbook to her chest and went back to her room to rest for the upcoming day.
**************

The room was silent. Mal tapped her pen on her desk. Today was the day that their rough drafts were going to be judged and be chosen for the showcase. If your idea was picked, you had one week to finish your final draft to be submitted. Mal has never been this nervous in her life.

A panel of three teachers: Mr Ellis, a sculptor, Madame Dubois, a photographer, and the know all Mrs Wellington were judging. They were finally approaching Mal's table. She could feel her stomach flutter.

She opened her sketchbook but her draft wasn't there. She leafed through her entire book but it was gone. Upon closer inspection she saw that it was torn out of her book, meaning...

"This is a... unique concept, Tessa," Mrs Wellington said. "This is so unlike you. I'm very impressed."

Mal looked up and saw that it was her draft! But what could she do? If she spoke up they may not believe her. But now she didn't have anything to present.

"Miss Green. What do you have to show us?" Mrs Wellington asked.

Mal knew it was a long shot, but she pulled out one of her old works. She did it shortly after coming to Auradon. Hopefully it was good enough to impress the judges.

"I know it's not much but -

"It's adequate," Mrs Wellington cut her off. "It needs some work but interesting concept. I expect your final draft to be equally as interesting."

She moved on to the next student, leaving a dumbfounded Mal. Mal looked at a smirking Tessa and glared. This meant war.

******************
The morning had been extremely awkward. Everyone had ate in silence. And could sense the tension between Audrey and Jay. Jay was completely ignoring Audrey.

Everyone finished eating and the girls headed upstairs to finish packing. Chad and Carlos began washing the dishes while Jay began packing.

Ben followed Jay into the moving room. "Hey are you ok?"

"Shouldn't you be packing?" Jay said, not looking up.

"I packed last night," Ben said smugly.

Jay scoffed. "Of course you did."

"Jay, I think we need to talk," Ben said.

"About ?"

"About what happened between you and Audrey."

Jay rolled his eyes. "Yeah because you're the leading expert on relationships."

Ben sighed. "Ok. I get it. I made a mistake. But I'm not going to let you make the same mistake."

Jay scoffed. "Um , sure. Because I totally cheated on my girlfriend."

Ben winced. "Not that. Mal wasn't mad because I kissed Evie. Well she was. But she was more mad because I wasn't honest with her."

"News flash, Benny boy. I was honest."

"Maybe. But you also lost your temper. I think you should talk with Audrey again. And talk honestly about whatever is going on with you." Ben got up and went upstairs to get his stuff.

Jay sighed. He really didn't want to admit it, but he knew Ben had a point. He would talk to Audrey, eventually.
************

Jane was going mad with the attention her mother was giving her. Her mother had always been a tad too overprotective, but after Jane was sick, her mother had officially lost it. Currently she was chatting away at the breakfast table.

"Oh and that reminds me! We must go horseback riding." Fairy Godmother managed to say between bites of food. She was just excited about her baby girl feeling better.

Jane could only pick at her food. "That would be nice," she smiled out of politeness.

"Jane are you alright?" Her mother asked, concerned. "I thought you were doing better at the clinic."

Jane gave a weak smile. "I was. I mean I am. It's just I'm not used to Auradon food. I'm gotten used to porridge. But don't mind me, I'll adjust quickly."

Fairy Godmother smiled. "That's good news. Speaking of good news, your friends shall be arriving tonight from the lake house."

Jane smiled. She had missed her friends immensely. "That's fantastic. Maybe we can spend the remainder of the summer together."

"Well I'm sure they'll be happy to see you too." Fairy Godmothers phone buzzed. She picked it up and her smile was replaced by a serious expression.

"Is something wrong?" Jane asked, worried.

"I'm afraid so," Fairy Godmother said. "It's the doctor informing me of Cruella's condition. Apparently in her weakened state she's developed pneumonia. They're monitoring her carefully, but it's looking pretty bad."

"Oh no. Poor Carlos."

"Yes. It's hard. But sweetie, I think it's best we don't tell Carlos the state of his mother as to not worry him."

"You want me to lie?" Jane asked. "Carlos is my friend. I can't lie to him."

"Not necessarily. It's more like just not telling him."

"So lying by omission?"

"Technically yes."

"And what do I say if he asks about his mother?"

"Try to change the subject."

"I can't tell him anything?"

"Jane, sweetheart, I don't want to worry him in case his mother recuperates. So you're going to have to keep this a a secret."

Jane sighed. "Ok." She got up suddenly from the table. "I'm not so hungry anymore."

She walked out from the dining room, leaving her mother speechless.