Love that changes hearts (Carlos and mal love story)

chapter 2

It had been two weeks since they arrived.

Jane FéeMarraine didn't mind 7th and would even say Honors Auradon Lit was her favorite class. Not that she was all that fond of the required reading or had a love of books in general, nor was the professor particularly high in her esteem.

The reason why it was her favorite class sat a couple rows in front of her and to the right, the perfect spot to admire him without being obvious. For the first couple of days, she along with the rest of the class had all but stared at him and Evie, wondering if they would pull out weapons or wield evil spells. The stories they had all heard growing up, painting them all as these malicious villains who couldn't help but cause death and destruction.

After several days when the Isle teens literally did nothing but pay attention in class, most had stopped looking and focused on the lessons as well.

Jane never stopped looking at him. It seemed everyday she found something new to admire about him. He was one of the few who bravely raised his hand when he had an opinion or knew the answer to a question. The teacher at first wasn't sure what to make of him, figuring an Isle child wouldn't be able to keep up with the curriculum much less be in an honors class. He and Evie mostly kept to themselves, even with group discussions they were usually left to only work with each other.

He never seemed to let the stares or whispers get to him, he always seemed to have a ready smile on his face as if to prove them all wrong; trying to rise above and show he was as good as the rest of them, despite his villain blood.

Jane wish she were brave enough to approach them and offer her help or addition, but every time she even thought of trying she would squeak in fear and it wasn't just because they were children of villains.

That admiration turned to something different when one day the sunlight caught him at a different angle or something the half star fae couldn't define and she was left breathless with just how gorgeous he was. She noticed his thick eyelashes and deep brown eyes; she started to notice his strong jaw line and wide kind smile. A sweet ache would emerge in her chest whenever she saw him, and a fluttering in her stomach and racing pulse would accompany her whenever he would even look towards her.

She couldn't believe she had a crush on the son of Cruella de Vil.

Being on the cheer team, and yes she considered being the mascot as part of the team, meant that she had access to all the latest gossip. She had heard all about how Mal was the leader of the organized crime syndicate on the Isle and that Jay was her second in command. The massive Isle boy being the muscle to drag the bodies to the dump site after Mal had killed their enemies.

The Moor fae supposedly had intricate scarification tattoos that designated how many people she had murdered, that tidbit had come straight from a seamstress who worked with the Isle girls' uniforms. The fact that Mal was allowed to wear longer sleeves for their fall uniform, gave credence to the rumor. As to date, no one had been able to catch sight of Mal's shoulders or arms above her elbows. The longer she remained covered, the more certain others became of the truth of the tale.

Evie was supposedly this seductive siren who lured men to her trap and she killed with poison; her mother reborn with cobalt hair.

Jay was rumored to have been Mal's second in command. The muscle behind the throne that carried out her dirty deeds that she didn't want on her hands.

Carlos was allegedly their go-to torturer, learning cruelty from his mother and killed with joy. When everyone saw the scars he had on his leg, rumors of Mal punishing him for some failure or slight had come to light.

But Jane couldn't believe someone with Carlos' smile that lit up a room, would hurt anybody.

Mal, on the other hand, she wasn't sure about. The girl had a perpetual scowl and walked down the halls with the confidence of someone who knew they were the most frightful and powerful thing present only could. Jane had seen her stare down full grown adults and wasn't the one to back down. Jane's mother had complained that some of the teachers were being ridiculous by "fearing such a small, harmless girl" but she didn't blame them. Mal's intense jade eyes could probably burn holes through adamantium.

Evie and Jay could have also gone either way.

She didn't know if Mal could be as sadistic to give Carlos the scars (her supposed friend), but she couldn't believe he would be friends with someone who had done half the things Moor fae was rumored to have done.

Anyone with such kind eyes that pierced through souls couldn't associate with anyone so vindictive and evil.

From what she could see, they were all close friends. So that had to mean if Carlos was their friend, then the others couldn't be so bad. Perhaps Mal was modest, there wasn't anything that said she couldn't be, that was the reason those longer sleeve options existed in the first place.

She had hesitated to even talk to him after her realized attraction because she thought her mother would never approve of him being her friend, much less a potential boyfriend. But then over the weeks her mother had dropped hints that she need not be afraid and that the Isle kids needed to be given a chance and expand their circle of friends.

So all she had to do was overcome her shyness and say at least a few words to him instead of squeaking. Her involuntary yelping was one of her more embarrassing features, along with her hair and nose. Features it seemed every other girl in Auradon had in perfect condition or proportions.

Then seeing how stunning Evie and Mal were, even with the latter's unfriendly demeanor, and with their super cool fae hair, Jane felt even more inadequate than usual.

If he was just friends with such beautiful girls, she had no idea what it would take to be his girlfriend. It also didn't help when he joined the tourney team a few days ago. She was happy she'd get to see him more often, but if he was as good during real matches as he was in practice then Jane was certain everyone would start to see what she had seen weeks ago. Once all the other girls realized how great he was, she wouldn't stand a chance.

As days went on, she figured she would just get used to being an admirer from afar. It wouldn't be the first time. She expected Abigail Darling, a junior cheerleader, would make her move once Carlos' popularity grew; Jane had heard the cheerleader comment on his freckles several times.

I loved his freckles way before she did.

She thought, slightly bitter she'd never get a chance.

After one practice, however, she heard several cheerleaders insist they saw Mal do magic; they were utmost certain the fae knew magic and was using it to convince Ben into these "meetings" about how to better service the children still left on the Isle.

Audrey was certainly enraged and talked about it ad nauseum; although she was all sweet smiles and "let me know if you need any help" when he was around. There were also a few cheerleaders and tourney players no long allowed to hang with them. Jane wasn't sure what happened but she suspected Audrey sniffed out those reporting to Ben and exiled them from her social circle.

Jane didn't think Mal was bespelling their Crown Prince, her mother would have noticed and put a stop to it right away. But she had noticed that every time someone had been rude to her, they had met an accident.

The first several times, she could brush off as a coincidence. Chad Charming and his fall at the Cultural Museum being the first instance she witnessed. But each and every one occurance? And rudeness to the four happened often. The others may not be able to recognize the hand gestures as one of magic, but she was half fae even though most forgot because she didn't look it. While Nadine FéeMarraine refused to teach her magic, and her mother didn't use it other than during special royal functions, Jane had seen and knew magic gestures from research she had done when she was younger and curious. She wasn't an expert and probably couldn't name the exact spell, but it was enough to make her suspicious.

If Mal could do magic, then that gave Jane an idea.

Jane didn't have any classes with Mal, but the school was small enough that she at least saw her in passing and knew her general routine. She caught the Isle teen in the bathroom before senior lunch. Most girls immediately vacated the bathroom as soon as they saw Mal was also there.