[✔︎] 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒 ✫ POST-DESCENDANTS TWO ⁶

✘ THIRTY THREE: Off the Isle ✘

Heather watched as fireworks went off in the distance as Auradon rang in the new year. They partied and celebrated something that wasn't really acknowledged here. But she thought the fireworks were pretty and she came to watch them every year. She loved how the colors changed so rapidly, how it changed in midair. Helia had once explained how they did it but Heather hadn't listened. She wanted to enjoy the innocence of it. She didn't want to ruin it with one of Helia's stories.

The boards creaked and groaned but they still held up. On an unlucky day you would fall straight through, into the chilling waters. It was refreshing but Heather didn't enjoy being soaking wet. She heard footsteps approach her but she didn't bother to look. She already knew who it was.

"I may not see you." Heather said. "But I know you're there Chelsea."

"I'm not Chelsea." Chelsea said in a high pitched voice. "I'm someone else."

"Who are you then?" Heather asked. "I'm talking to air you're making me look crazy Chels."

"We're all crazy." Chelsea said. "You just have to embrace it Heath."

"I'm not embracing it." Heather said as Chelsea appeared next to her, sitting down.

"Fun." Chelsea said as it delved into silence each mesmerized by the fireworks.

Heather thought of what had happened all these days. She was glad that everything had gotten fixed. She was glad that everything was back to normal. She was glad that she had gotten her priorities straight. She was glad that everything was alright now. She liked the sense of calm she could now feel. She didn't know how long it was last though.

"Heath!" Helia called as she stormed down the dock, a familiar boy behind her. "How dare you get into trouble on the days I was working. Helios told me everything." Helia crushed Heather in a hug. "Don't do that ever again. You worried me. But you're alright now."

"I won't." Heather promised. "But uh could you um please let go. I can't really breathe."

Helia released her and placed her hands on her shoulders, silently asking if she had as okay. Heather nodded and helia let go.

"How come I don't get a hug?" Chelsea asked. "I was abducted too. It was so very traumatic, too many witches. Too much asking to be a pet. I'm not anyone's pet. I'm not anyone's pet. I'm not anyone's pet."

"You're Quinn's pet." Helia said as Chelsea growled at her. "You can't deny."

"Am not." Chelsea huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. Her ears peaked on her head as Helia shrugged.

"I'll believe it when I see it." Helia said. "Until then, I'll believe you're still attached to her. You don't have to say a word."

"I didn't want your hug anyway." Chelsea said, jutting her chin out. "Why is he here?"

It was then Heather realized that the three of them weren't alone. That there was in fact someone else there who very much wanted to be acknowledged.

"Hi Jackson." Heather said. "What's up?"

"Can I talk to you?" Jackson asked. "Alone."

Heather agreed following after him down the dock, away from her friends.

"I just wanted to say sorry." Jackson said. "For everything."

"I'm over that." Heather said. "Whatever it is."

"I know that you like me." Jackson said as Heather scoffed.

"Like you?" Heather asked. "Why would I like you."

"And I wanted to tell you that I liked you too." Jackson said. "If you're willing to admit you like me."

"Who told you?" Heather asked.

"A little birdie." Jackson replied. "And uh I heard your conversation with Helia when you saw me with Chelsea. Now that I think about it I'm sure she did that on purpose."

"Chelsea likes playing Cupid." Heather said. "Her relationship failed but she got it."

"You mean her and Quinn right?" Jackson said. "That's all she ever really talked about. I had to listen to that for three months."

"I can't imagine doing that." Heather said. "And just thinking about it you know? They're both my friends so it's kind of awkward."

"Yeah." Jackson said. "But Heahter You never said it."

"Said what?" Heather asked coyly. "I'm kidding. I like you too. But we're doing this slowly. I'm not rushing into anything."

"So you'll be my girlfriend?" Jackson asked.

"I'll be your girlfriend." Heather clarified.

They stared at each other for a moment, before Heather reaches to hold his gloved hands in her own.

"I'm your girlfriend." Heather said in shock.

"I'm your boyfriend." Jackson said with just as much surprise.

"Wow." Heather said. "That's crazy."

"Yo Heath!" Helia said. "We got somewhere to go. Or somewhere to take you. It's a surprise."

Helia walked over to them and blindfolded Heather. The trio led Heather to where they were going to take her. Heather didn't feel comfortable walking without knowing where she was going.

She liked surprises but she didn't know what this was. Her birthday was in April and she knew there was no holiday today not that any day was considered special.

They came to a stop after a few steps as they heard a revving of an engine, and something coming to a stop.

"Here." A familiar voice said as the blindfold was taken off. Heather looked at the scroll in her hands. An invitation to Auradon Prep. Then she looked at who had given it to her and she gasped.

"HJ?" Heather asked in disbelief.

"The one and only." HJ said, motioning to the letter. "Ahem. I have this thing they want me to say to you so let's see if I remember it. You are cordially invited for an academic year at Auradon Prep. Would you accept this request?"

"You came all this way to give this to me?" Heather asked tearfully. "That's too much Hecky."

"So." HJ said. "Do you accept?"

"I do." Heather said with a smile, as an invitation was handed to Jackson.

"This wasn't talked about for the surprise." Helia said. "But that's cool. You go Heather do t worry about Chelsea, Helios and me. We'll see you again soon because I know you're going to say something about not going without us and I won't have it."

"Okay." Heather said. "I guess I'm going to Auradon Prep. The invitations a little late though."

Her friends laughed, sitting on the docks, watching the car peel away.