pecan pie [descendants]

step seven

Evie looked panicked. "Maybe we should have the driver pull up around back and bring Jo in that way."

"Why, so she doesn't hurl in front of the king?" Amaris giggled.

"Shut up, fleabag," Imogen shot back. She looked at Mal. "She's having a panic attack. I can calm her down, but it's going to take a minute. You should go out and stall."

"Jo is my friend too," Mal argued. "I've helped her with panic attacks before-"

"Except this time, you're the one causing it," Imogen interjected with a cruel smirk.

Carlos shook his head. "Neither of you are helping! Evie, Mal, go outside and stall. And take Amaris and Scarlet with you. We can make it look like planned introductions. Jay, Imogen, and I will stay here with Jo." Evie and Mal nodded and stepped out of the car. As soon as the door opened, Jo's ears were flooded with the screams of reporters and townspeople, the clicks of cameras going off, a band playing -- it was too much. She pressed her hands over her ears and bent down to shove her head in between her legs.

Imogen took to rubbing her back. "It's okay. It's going to be okay." Jo was crying now. Her muffled sobs filled the cab of the car. They could just barely hear King Ben introducing Amaris and Scarlet to the people of Auradon.

"I'm sorry, about what I said," Jay said, moving to sit on Jo's other side. "I didn't mean to put so much pressure on you. I just meant that you're the best person on the Isle, Jo. Everyone loves you. Just be yourself and everything will work out fine."

"Yeah, or bribe them with your famous chocolate chip pancakes," Carlos suggested jokingly. He had taken the seat on the floor by Jo's feet. He rubbed her knee in an attempt to calm her down.

Jo took a deep breath, forced the vomit down, and asked, "But what if I'm not good enough?"

Imogen scoffed. "If Jolie Beaumont isn't good enough for Auradon, then no one is. You have to give yourself credit, Jojo. You're amazing." She grabbed Jo by the shoulders and roughly maneuvered her so they were face-to-face. "Hey. Look at me. You, Jolie Beaumont, are amazing. Say it back to me."

"I, Jolie Beaumont, am amazing," Jo mumbled.

Carlos shook her knee playfully, a smile curling his lips. "Louder, and with more conviction."

"I, Jolie Beaumont, am amazing," Jo repeated, but this time, her voice didn't break. Another deep breath and another, "I, Jolie Beaumont, am amazing."

(Amazing at lying. If she could fool the people of the Isle, she could definitely fool the people of Auradon. She was going to be fine. No one would ever see the bitterness behind her sweet facade.)

"One more time," Jay commanded, throwing his arm around her shoulders.

She couldn't help but grin. "I, Jolie Beaumont, am amazing. And my friends are even more so." She pulled Jay and Carlos into a clumsy hug. "I missed you guys so much."

"We missed you too," Carlos replied. Jay planted a brotherly kiss on the top of her head and reached for the door handle with a, "You ready?"

Jo turned to Imogen. "How do I look?"

"Beautiful, as always," Imogen said immediately. She tucked a lock of Jo's hair behind her ear. "Let's do this. Together." She linked her arm with Jo's.

"Together," Jo agreed. Jay opened the door and slipped out to help Jo and Imogen out of the car. Carlos was a step behind them. Instantly, Jo was overwhelmed. There were so many people, all looking at her, analyzing her. There were men with cameras and people with microphones stretching their arms out to catch her words. And there were so many colors. Holy shit. Everything in Auradon was so bright and vibrant. And the air. God, the air was so sweet, so fresh. The sky was perfectly clear. It was gorgeous and it also kind of hurt her eyes. She tried to take it all in as she hung on tight to Imogen.

Then Mal's hand was on her shoulder and she was guiding them (because Imogen and Jo moved as a unit now) towards a boy their age. Jo recognized him instantaneously. She'd seen his faces on posters, on TV. She was standing in front of King Ben of Auradon. She was standing in front of Mal's boyfriend.

She glanced at Imogen, who didn't look very impressed with the boy king. He extended a hand towards them. "It's so nice to finally meet you too. I've heard so much about you." Imogen discreetly rolled her eyes. The pain in Jo's chest grew stronger.

She swallowed her pride and reached out and shook his hand. She hadn't expected him to be so informal. She smiled softly. "The pleasure is all ours, your Highness. Thank you so much for letting us come to Auradon."

"Oh please, call me Ben. I'm glad you could come on such short notice," he said, still shaking Jo's hand. "We would've sent a letter first but as soon as we got the approval to bring four more VKs over, Mal wanted to go back for you."

Mal wanted to go back for you.

Jo forced a chuckle. "Well, there wasn't much to leave behind, so it was easy to just get our things and go. Imogen and I have been dreaming about this since we were kids."

Speaking of Imogen, she leaned in and whispered in Jo's ear, "You can stop shaking his hand now." Jo's eyes widened. She turned bright pink and she dropped Ben's hand as if it had burned her. He looked slightly concerned, but Mal put a hand on his arm and the worry melted away into contentment.

He raised the microphone in his hands to his lips and announced to his kingdom, "Introducing Misses Jolie Beaumont and Imogen Gothel! We look forward to seeing what each of you brings to Auradon. Now, just a quick tour, and then we'll let you get settled into your dorms."

Jo quirked her head. There was something about Ben that intrigued her. Maybe it was because he was Mal's boyfriend, or maybe it was something else. Either way, she shook it off and followed the others inside the castle.

*

double update!!!!! also first ben and jo interaction!!!!! also more gay shit!!!!!