Call Me A Freak

Spells

Jane stopped by our room that day after classes. I was laid out across my bed, sketching, and Evie was sewing at the table.

"Mom said, 'If a boy can't see the beauty within then he's not worth it,'" Jane explained. "Can you believe it? What world is she living in?"

"Auradon?" I grumbled, not looking up from my work. Jane was kind of useless to me if she couldn't get the wand.

"Mal," Evie interrupted. "Do you like?"

I glanced up at the item she had been sewing. It was a dark blue and black dress.

"Yeah," I responded, not much conviction in my voice. "It's cute. Brings out your eyes."

"I know," she said, sweetly.

I bit down on my cheek. It was something I often did when I was trying to hold myself back or stop myself from saying something.

I felt bad that my uninterested replies were enough for Evie. I wish that she would demand more from the people she called friends. She deserved it... but I couldn't show her any more affection than I already did.

I couldn't get close to her...

"I'll never get a boyfriend!" Jane's ramblings brought me back from my thoughts.

"Boyfriends are overrated."

"And how would you know, Mal? You've never had one," Evie teased.

"It's 'cause I don't need one, E," I shot back. "They're a waste of time."

Evie gasped, suddenly. "I forgot to do Chad's homework!"

She jumped up, abandoning her work to scurry over to Chad's backpack. I watched her go, incredulously.

"You're doing Chad's homework?" I scoffed. "That is exactly what I mean."

There was a loud knocking from our wide open door, and in walked a tall girl, clad in a pink blouse and blue miniskirt.

"Hey guys!" She announced. "I'm Lonnie."

We all just sort of stared at her, waiting for her to get to the point.

"My mom's Mulan?" she tried again.

Evie turned away to work on her second round of homework for the night. Jane and I just continued to stare, unimpressed.

"No? Anyways, I love what you've done with Jane's hair. And I know you hate us, and well... you're evil..." I smiled at the comment, which seemed to unsettle her. "But do you think you could do mine?"

"Why would I do that for you?" I sneered.

"I'll pay you fifty dollars," she offered.

"Good answer," Evie said, taking the money before I could argue. "I need to buy more material."

She stood up, looking Lonnie up and down.

"Let's see, I'm thinking we lose the bangs. Maybe some layers and some highlights," she analysed.

"No, no," Lonnie insisted. "I want it cool. Like Mal's."

I looked up from my artwork once more.

"Really?" Evie questioned. "The split ends, too?"

I glared up at Evie. Not so much for the comment, but because I knew she was going to insist I do this all so that she could buy some more fabric

She shook the bag, a smile on her face.

I groaned, rolling off the bed to grab my spellbook. "Okay."

I opened it back up to find the spell I had used for Jane.