De Fragee Prutia

t h r e e

 "Are we sure we can we really do this? To Nami?" Carlos asked.

They were in the dorms' basement kitchen that was available for late night snacks. Mal had found a recipe for love potion cookies.

"No, we are not but do we have a choice?"

"We need a tear. A real, sad one."

"Let's just get Nami down here and tell her what's about to happen."

"CARLOS! We have no choice! Can you think of another way to get the wand that wouldn't hurt her because I'd love to hear it!"

Carlos fell silent because he knew he had nothing. This was the only way.

"Okay, so let's chop up an onion and get you a tear."

"We need a tear of human sadness. This potion's the best reviewed. We're following it exactly."

"A tear's a tear." Jay chimed in.

"Actually, no." Evie handed Mal the bag of flour. "They both have antibodies and enzymes but an emotional tear has more protein-based hormones than a reflex."

"Well, look at you."

Evie smiled proud of herself. Just then, Lonnie strolled in looking for a late night snack. The kids scrambled to hide Mal's spell book under the egg carton.

"Oh hey guys. Mal, all the girls want you to do their hair! Midnight snack, too?" Lonnie looked at the bowl of cookie dough. She stuck a finger in to grab a bite before the VKs could stop her. Jay took this as his opportunity to try and flirt with her.

"Hey, there."

"Umm, hi?"

"Do you think it's missing something?" Mal asked Lonnie.

"Could use some chips?"

"Chips?"

"Chips. Like chocolate chips. Like your mothers would make when you were feeling down about the world?" Lonnie couldn't help but shed a tear as she realized they didn't have it easy on the Isle. Mal quickly wiped her tear and plopped it in the batter.

"We'll be fine Lonnie, thanks for stopping by. Don't forget your snack! Evil Dreams."

"Oop, almost forgot. Thanks. See you guys tomorrow. Don't stay up too late." And with that Lonnie left the four to finish making the love potion cookies.

"Hey guys!" Nami ran up to everyone crowded around Mal's locker and by virtue her locker that was right next to Mal's.

"Look, Mal made these." Ben said holding up a cookie and taking a bite.

Nami snatched the cookie out of Ben's hand. She was about to take a bite when the VKs stopped her. "Do these have walnuts?"

"Yes!" Mal rushed out, "I mean, Ben told me about your allergy but I completely forgot when making them."

"Oh well, maybe next time."

"Haha, yeah, maybe. That's too bad. I'll take that back now."

Mal practically ripped the cookie from the princess' hand. Nami marveled at that girl's reflexes. Beside Nami, Ben started coughing.

"Faldi Faldonza! Ben are you alright?"

Jay came up behind him, "How you feeling, bro?"

Ben stopped coughing and looked around at everyone before settling on Mal and the cookies. "Mal, have you always had those gold flecks in your eyes?"