Open Door, Open Book (Evie x OC)

Chapter 9: The Dance and a Party Crasher

The next day, which was Cotillion Day, Lucas got ready and was about to head out when he heard Evie was back. Almost as soon as he heard, he rushed out and headed to her room. As soon as he entered, he saw Evie appear from behind a rack of dresses.

"Evie, I-I was wondering if we could talk." He says.

"Sure," Evie replies, "what's up?"

"Well, you see, the other day I wanted to see if you maybe wanted to hang out or something, but I couldn't find you, and Jay and Carlos said you went camping, which seemed a little odd to me. Anyway, I just wanted to know-"

Evie cut him off with a quick kiss. "Lucas, Ben was captured on the Isle. We rescued Ben and saved Auradon."

"Oh." Lucas replies, "So you weren't avoiding me for doing something I wasn't aware of?"

"No." Evie replies, "But you are kinda cute when you worry. Besides, we have dresses to deliver. It is Cotillion Day after all. And you know what, I was lucky enough to have been given a chance, and now I need to give someone else a chance, too."

"I think that would be great." Lucas says.

The two then went to bring the dresses to the girls, as well as Chad's cape. Once that was done, the two went back to their rooms to get ready. Lucas got dressed in a dark gray suit with a pink shirt before fixing his bright red hair. Once he was ready, he went to get Evie. She wore a sapphire blue dress with a single shoulder and beautiful design, red shoes and gloves, and many red and gold accessories. Most of her hair was pulled into an elegant bun with a small section falling in front.

"Wow. Evie, you look.... Wow." Lucas awkwardly says.

"You also look good yourself." Evie responds. "You ready?"

"Yeah." Lucas replies, and the two head out.

They made their way to the carriage that drove them to the large boat where the dance was being held. When they got out, they stopped for a few pictures before going to join the others. After dancing for a bit, the music stopped, and Mal's arrival was announced. Evie excitedly held Lucas's hand as Carlos, Jane, Lonnie, and Jay joined the group to see Mal. She wore a blue and yellow dress with her purple hair in a braid over her right shoulder. Evie then went to retrieve her friend and bring her over with the group.

Ben arrived shortly after, and everyone bowed for him. He then approached Mal, who did the same.

"Mal, I wish I had time to explain." Ben says as another girl appeared at the top of the steps. She had dark skin and wore a light aqua dress, with her hair of a similar color in a bun. Ben went to lead her down the steps before kissing her hand as Lucas, Evie, and the others exchanged looks. "Sorry, it all happened so fast." Ben then explains, "Something happened to me when I was on the Isle with Uma. A connection."

"What are you saying?" Mal asked.

"I'm saying-" Ben starts, but is cut off by the other girl, Uma.

"It was love." She says. "It was. I just... I realized how alike Ben and I are, you know?"

"Ben." Mal says, but he doesn't answer. "Ben. Did you go back for her?"

"He didn't have to." Uma replied, "I dove through the barrier before it closed and I'm an excellent swimmer, so... listen, Mal, I just really want to thank you. I do. For everything." She then hugged Mal, who didn't return it.

"Don't you see, Mal?" Ben adds, "You were right. You knew that we weren't meant to be together. That's why you never told me that you loved me."

Ben and Uma started to dance together while everyone else watched, unsure of how to react.

"Come on, Mal." Evie says, pulling her friend back to the group.

"Not too thrilled I risked my life for him." Carlos adds.

"We're with you, Mal." Lonnie adds.

"Let's get out of here." Jay says, and the group starts to leave.

Before they could, the music stopped and a stained glass design of Ben and Mal was revealed.

"Ben did that?" Mal asked.

"Yeah, he did." Evie replied.

"Evie, Ben's known who I was all along."

"He loves the real you, Mal."

"A true love."

"Yeah."

"Told you." Carlos adds, causing Mal to laugh a bit.

Uma, however, was not too thrilled by it, and demanded that it be hidden. When that didn't work, she turned to Ben. "Why don't you tell everyone the present you have for me, Ben?"

Ben then announced that Uma would join the Court and that the barrier on the Isle would be taken down. When he told Fairy Godmother to do so, she refused. That's when Mal and the others realized what was going on.

"Ben's been spelled." Mal says.

"Uma found your spell book." Evie adds.

Mal then approached Ben and was able to break Uma's spell after she kissed him. This angered Uma, who tried to take Fairy Godmother's wand and was stopped by Evie and the others. Uma then jumped off the edge of the boat and surfaced as a giant octopus from the waist down. She flicked her tentacles at the crowd, and soon a purple smoke swirled around Mal as she transformed into a dragon.

The two began to fight until Ben dove into the water and told them they needed to stop. To everyone's surprise, they did, and Uma swam away while Mal returned to normal, but her dress had changed to a purple one.