Chapter Text
Evie groans as Mal scribbles away in her notebook. “Mal, you know this is only an assignment, right? We’re not really taking over the island. You’re NOT going to be Queen of the Isle.”
But Mal’s eyes never leave her page. She’s writing furiously, tongue poking out between her lips as she focuses on her task.
“We’re BOTH going to be queen, Evie! Don’t forget that,” she adds, still writing. “Don’t worry, we can’t give all these details in the project, I wouldn’t want anyone busting us before we can even put it in action. But I don’t want to waste this time either! Between the two of us, we definitely have the brains to pull this off.”
Evie scoffs and rolls her eyes. If Mal could spend all their time together scheming and plotting, she probably would. Sometimes she wonders how they had time to become best friends in between her plans for world domination.
“Hey!” Evie screeches when a ball of paper suddenly hits her head, knocking her out of her thoughts. She glares at Mal, who’s still balling up papers and chuckling quietly.
“If you’re just going to roll your eyes and not help, maybe I’ll just make you my court Jester instead. How do you feel about wearing a neon jumpsuit and hat with bells?” She snarks, as she continues to hurl papers at her friend.
Evie giggles, grabbing at the balls and whipping them back at Mal. “Just try it, if you DARE, and see what happens!”
The room fills with laughter as the paper balls fly back and forth, their homework momentarily forgotten. It’s not long before a stomping echoes up the stairs. Both girls pause as the bedroom door when it swings open. Mal’s older brother stands in the doorway, smirking down at the girls stretched out on the floor.
“Doesn’t sound like much homework is getting done up here, does that mean it’s time to take Evie home?” He sneers, picking up a ball of paper and rolling it through his fingers, before flipping it over his shoulder into the trash can.
“Come on, Jay! We’re just taking a little break, ok? Can you, just, go back to your hole and leave us alone?” Mal huffs, trying to wave her brother out of her room.
Jay just shakes his head. “No way, mom says I have to go with you when you take Evie home. She doesn’t trust either of you not to get into trouble.” He smiles at Evie, who blushes at the eye contact, turning her head away from the older boy.
Mal keeps a steely glare on Jay, arms crossed angrily. But Jay remains unaffected by his sister’s attitude, staring back with a hint of a smile on his lips.
“You’ve got five minutes. Gather your stuff and be ready to go when I get back.”
With that Jay is gone, and Mal continues to grumble and mutter under her breath as she and Evie pick up, Evie shoving her books back into her backpack as she watches the door where Jay was standing.
“Your brother is so handsome,” she sighs. “How is it that he doesn’t have a girlfriend?”
“You mean, why isn’t getting his rocks off instead of bugging his little sister and her friends?” She groans, chucking the paper balls into the garbage. “Who even knows. I wish he had someplace to go so he wasn’t here annoying us. Making you go home. Evil master plans take time.”
“Do I hear you planning again, sis?” Jay quips, popping back into the room. “At this rate, you’re going to have thought wrinkles across your forehead before you’re even thirteen.” He saunters over and palms her forehead, making her screech as she shoves him off.
Evie gasps at his words. “Don’t you even think that, Jay! Queens can’t have wrinkles.” She points an accusing finger as he laughs, backing away from Mal as he smoothes down his shirt.
Mal looks him over, suddenly noticing his made up appearance. “Dude, did you change? You look…cleaner.”
Jay snorts, ushering the girls out the door. “It’s hot outside, ok? My clothes were sweaty.” He slams the door behind them as they make their way down the street.
But Mal doesn’t let up. “But we’re walking Evie to her house, weirdo! It would’ve made more sense to change after that, don’t you think?”
Jay ignores her, keeping a protective hand behind the girls as they walk. He’s right, the day is hot and humid, and a blast of musty warm air whisps a few strands of the boy’s long hair across Mal’s face, obscuring her vision.
“You brushed your hair, too!” She notes, swatting the unusually silky pieces out of her eyes. “Who in the hell are you trying to impress? You better not be trying to hit on my friends!”
Evie giggles lightly at Mal’s words, glancing at Jay out of the corner of her eye. He catches the look and winks, causing Evie to turn away quickly, a tiny smile on her face.
“As pretty as Evie is, I’m more than a little too old for her, don’t you think?” He sighs, shaking his head at Mal. They’re approaching the front entrance of Evie’s castle, and Jay steps ahead of them quickly as they push through the rusty, squeaking gates.
When he reaches the door he bangs on it firmly, looking behind as the girls catch up to him. Before Jay can say another word to them, the door swings open, and Jay is face to face with another teen boy, slighter and leaner than him, with a freckled face and a head of curly white tendrils.
“Carlos.”
Jay’s voice is barely above a whisper as he gapes in front of him.
Carlos pauses in surprise, clearly not expecting the other teen. “H-hey, Jay.”
Evie and Mal share a look, brows perked at the awkard silence and eye contact. Evie takes a slow step in front of Jay, ending the moment as Carlos breaks away from Jay’s gaze to look at her, visibly relaxing with a smile when their eyes meet.
“Evie, you’re back! Mom was about to call you to come home.” Carlos reaches for her arm, pulling her inside.
“Bye Mal! I’ll call you later,” Evie tells her with a wave. “And thanks for walking me home Jay!”
Jay quirks a half smile as Carlos closes the door behind them. Standing there for another moment, he feels eyes boring into his back. He winces when he turns to face Mal, seeing her already obnoxious smirk.
“Well, well, I think now I know the reason for your little…mid-afternoon glow up,” she chuckles. Jay snorts, giving her back a shove to move her along.
“Ok, ok! Chill Romeo. I’m just making an observation. Tip for next time though, talking will get you a lot farther than just gawking at him,” Mal quips, unable to hold back her snickering.
“Oh ha ha,” Jay teases, bumping her shoulder. “Do you think I’m about to take dating advice from a 12-year-old? I’m sure you’ve been on SO many dates.”
“I don’t need dating experience to know that was an awkward disaster,” she jokes, waving back at Evie’s doorway. “When were you going to tell me you were hot for my best friend’s brother?”
A frustrated groan escapes Jay’s lips as he trudges along next to her. “Will you just get off my back? I never said I had the hots for Carlos! I was just…I didn’t expect to see him. I was surprised. A little. Ok?”
Mal perks an eyebrow, eyeing him quizzically.
“So, I’m supposed to believe you were surprised to see Carlos at his house, that he lives at with Evie because he’s her family, when you’re taking Evie home to her family?” She can’t stop the almost maniacal look on her face as she watches her brother squirm under her inquiry, a scowl curling on his lips.
“Ok, ok, you’ve made your point! Can you just let up for a minute? I can handle my own shit. I don’t need you on my case.” Jay starts walking at a hurried pace as they approach their home, fast enough to startle Mal and get her to break out into a run when he flies by her. But before she can make it to the door it’s already being slammed in her face, a triumphant Jay howling on the other side.
“Too slow, short stuff!” He shouts in a muffled tone through the door. “Next time maybe you’ll learn to mind your own business!”
Mal grunts her dissatisfaction, but relents even before she reaches for the door handle, instead choosing to walk alongside the house and whip out her phone.
As she starts to dial, thoughts about her best friend creep into her mind, the clever bluenette with a sharp brain and an even sharper mouth to match. A few things about today had made her feel…off. An uneasy feeling has settled into her gut, and she doesn’t like it at all.
Fortunately, she has a plan to fix things.
“Evie!” She almost shouts when the girl finally answers. Mal collects herself, dropping her voice lower in case anyone can hear. “Yes, I got home fine…no, nothing’s wrong…I just…listen! I just wanted to ask if your brother’s single.”
Evie confirms what Mal is hoping for, and a calculated grin spreads across face.
“Perfect. I have an idea, and I need your help.”