So Many Ways to be Wicked

Chapter 10

Mal had just gotten out of having a lengthy conversation with Fairy Godmother about manners when Ben jumped her.

"Mal! Hey, Mal!" He called as he saw her fast walking towards the courtyard. She would have slowed down but, frankly, she didn't want to. Ben caught up to her easily, despite her intention on avoiding him to go straight to Evie. He stood in front of her, blocking her view of the doors and effectively stopping her in her tracks.

"Mal, I don't know if you heard me calling you?" Ben asked, tilting his head like a confused puppy. Before she could say something rude like yes, I heard you, I just don't want anything to do with you, Ben continued on. "I was wondering if you'd like to go on a date with me tonight? I can pick you up from your room at five for a picnic at my favourite spot?" Mal wanted to deny him, but she knew her plans rode on her being his date to the coronation which meant actually being nice to the lovesick boy.

"Sure, I'll be waiting!" She said with fake enthusiasm. Ben didn't seem to catch on to her bad acting and beamed at her before skipping off to do whatever Princes do. Mal suppressed an eye roll and sighed before making her way out the double doors and towards the Tourney field where she spotted Evie wrapped in Carlos' arms. Mal would've been jealous if she didn't know Carlos was unequivocally, irrevocably in love with Jay. Mal quickened her steps, not wanting to look eager to onlookers but worried about Evie. She didn't see the Chad guy around which was lucky for him. She may have cursed him for even looking at Evie the wrong way. As she approached, Evie noticed her and flung herself into Mal's arms.

"I'm fine," Evie said, "but boys suck."

"That's an understatement," Mal said, trailing her hand up and down Evie's back as the boys covered the act of affection using their bodies. "Tell me what he did and I'll curse him for you."

"You can't do that, Mal," Evie sighed. "Everyone would know and you'd be sent back to the Isle. Our plan is lying on your shoulders. You have to play Ben's perfect little princess, okay? For me? For everyone stuck on that Isle that doesn't deserve to be there?" Mal furrowed her eyebrows and nodded quickly. She couldn't let her temper get in the way of this plan. The kids on the Isle all needed them. Uma could only protect them for so long before another kid goes missing and shows up dead in an alleyway, or raped and thrown onto the sidewalk in nothing but their underwear. It wasn't fair what was happening on the Isle and Mal couldn't let her protective feelings towards any of the VKs hinder that.

"You're right, E, as always," Mal grumbled. "It doesn't make me want to curse him any less, though."

"I know Mal, I know." Evie pulled away and smiled blindingly at Mal. "I appreciate the gesture, though." Mal returned the smile with a small one of her own. One of the boys cleared his throat.

"We should go back inside, people are beginning to stare," Jay advised. The girls nodded and they all took off into the building, Evie chattering about what Chad had done and what she had been thinking the entire time. Mal snorted at the thought that Evie would be so easily manipulated into doing something as trivial as homework. Evie didn't get manipulated, she was the manipulator. The boys piled into the girl's dorm, heading off onto their claimed bed and huddling together, talking about nothing in particular. I give it one more week, if that much, before they get together, Mal thought to herself, smirking. Now, confessing to Evie was another problem altogether. No time like the present, right? Mal glanced at the clock and cursed. She still had to get ready for her date with Ben and it was nearing the time he intended to pick her up.

"E, would you do me a huge favour?" Mal asked.

"Of course Mal, what is it?" Evie asked, looking concerned.

"Make me look like I care that I'm going out with Ben? He asked me ona date, of all things," Mal scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"That's what couples do, Mal. It's not unheard of." Evie smiled slightly.

"But I don't want to go on a date with him," Mal pleaded, reluctant. Evie took her hand and led her to her sewing machine.

"Sit still while I do your makeup then I'll whip up an outfit. How long do I have?" Evie asked.

"Uh, about an hour and a half? Why couldn't we use something from my normal wardrobe?" Mal asked, genuinely confused. Her leather was perfectly fine, thank you very much!

"Oh sweetie, we're making you a dress!" Evie exclaimed, looking so excited that it melted Mal's heart a little bit.

"Okay, okay, fine. Let's get this done."

"Wow," Mal whispered as she stared at herself in the mirror. "I look...not disgusting."

"You never looked disgusting Mal, not to me. You look beautiful," Evie said from over Mal's shoulder.

"I can't believe you sewed an entire dress in an hour and a half," Jay commented from the bed he was lounging on.

"To be honest, it was already half finished. It was one of the rejects for her coronation dress," Evie confessed, blushing slightly. "I've made the boy's outfits easily enough but mine and Mal's are giving me a bit of trouble. Coronation is coming up! It's right around the corner and I need to get the dresses done."

"Don't stress, Evie. We know you can do it and I'll help you design and sew," Carlos proclaimed, jumping up from the bed and striding over to Evie's side. A knock at the door came.

"Meanwhile, Mal, your Prince Charming awaits," Jay smirked. Mal snarled at him, not liking the mention of any Charming at the moment. Mal went and opened the door. There stood Ben, a helmet under his arm. He looked her up and down and Mal felt her skin crawl slightly. She knew he was too chivalrous to ever hurt her, but the gaze was reminiscent of those on the Isle, raking up and down children's forms. Snapping out of her thoughts, she looked up at Ben, plastering on a small smile.

"Ready to go?" She asked.

"Yeah--just--wow, you look wow," Ben stuttered. Mal smirked, glancing over her shoulder to look at Evie.

"I know," she said simply. "Now let's go, Beast Boy. You promised me a date." She left the room, Ben following her like a lost puppy. Evie went to shut the door, her smile slowly turning to a frown as she watched Mal disappear around the corner.