Descendants [H.S. & C.S.]

Chapter 13

In chemistry, Calum and his classmates were taking a tough multipage test.

Niall tried to cheat off another student, who blocked his view. Calum frowned at a hard problem. He gave up and reached for the mirror in his purse.

But it wasn't there.

"Looking for something?" asked Mr. Delay, holding up his mirror.

Calum gasped, speechless.

"Thank you, Niall," said Mr. Delay, resting a hand on his shoulder. "It's gratifying to see someone still respects the honor code."

Niall looked at him smugly.

Calum glared at him.

Mr. Delay rounded on Calum. "It will be my recommendation that you are expelled," he said.

Liam stood beside him in protest. "That isn't fair!" he said. "Obviously he wasn't cheating, since he didn't have that . . . whatever it is."

"It's called a magic mirror—" said Calum.

"Not helping," Liam whispered to him.

"Okay, sorry," said Calum, bowing his head.

"Maybe he needed another pencil," he told the teacher.

"Actually,  I was—" Calum started.

"Really," Liam told Calum. "Don't help." He turned to the teacher. "Please."

"Please," said Calum, looking up at Mr. Delay.

"Well if you can pass this test, I'll rescue your property and let the matter drop," said Mr. Delay.

Calum smiled and Liam sighed.

Niall smiled meanly at him.

He smiled right back at him.

A little while later, Calum ran up to Liam, who was at a picnic table outside doing his homework and eating lunch. He placed his blue Auradon Prep examination booklet in front of him. There was a red "B+" at the top of the booklet.

"For the first time, it's like I'm more than just a pretty face," Calum said.

Liam laughed. "Shocker, huh?" he said with a warm smile.

Calum took a seat beside him. "You were pretty great in there," he said.

Liam grinned deeply. "So were you."

Calum beamed. "I bet I can get an A on the next test without the mirror," he said.

"Maybe we can get together and hang out," said Liam.

"Yeah," said Calum, blushing. "Let's get together!"

Harry appeared beside them. "There you are!" he said. "I have been looking for you literally everywhere." He slammed his hands down on the picnic table.

"What's wrong?" asked Calum.

"Cole just asked me out on"—Harry huffed. "a date!"

Calum and Liam chuckled.

"We can handle this," Calum told him with a devious smile. He looked at Liam. "Bye!" he told him. He stood up and turned to Harry. "You're looking a little pale, but I can fix that with a lip gloss and some blush—"

"No, no, no . . ." said Harry as the boys headed back to their dorm.

Before Harry knew it, he was seated on his bed in the dorm room as Calum applied blush to his cheeks, making them rosy. He was dressed for his date in a terrific mix of punk and prince, with a scarf, shirt and leather jacket.

"Okay! Easy on the blush!" said Harry. "I don't want to scare him away." He looked thoughtful and smiled. "Not that I could." he added.

"Please," said Calum. "Dad taught me how to apply blush before I could talk." He carefully finished applying the color. "Always use upward strokes."

"My mum was never really big on makeup tips," said Harry. "I have had a brother."

"Well, now you do," said Calum, dabbing red lipstick on Harry's lips. "We're gonna need all the family we can get if we don't pull this off. My father's not a barrel of laughs when he doesn't get his way." Calum rolled his eyes. "Just ask Snow White."

"Are you afraid of him?" asked Harry.

"Sometimes," said Calum. "Are you afraid of your mum?"

"I just really want her to be proud of me," said Harry. "She gets so angry with me when I disappoint her. And, yeah, she's my mum, so I know she loves me. . . in her own way."

Calum took his hand and smiled. "Moving on," he said. "Come on."

"Are we done?" asked Harry.

"Yeah," said Calum as he led Harry to the mirror.

Harry looked at himself and laughed.

Calum hugged him. "I know." said Calum.

"I look . . ." said Harry.

"Say it," said Calum.

"Not hideous," said Harry.

"Not even close," said Calum, shaking his head.

Harry giggled and broke into a radiant smile.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.