Chapter Text
Audrey sat on her dorm bed harder than she ever would in public and pouted as she tried to fix her skirt. It was several years out of fashion by now but she’d kept it out of nostalgia, though it was somewhat soured by the memories at the same time. She smoothed the pastel fabric in her hands and tried to pretend she wasn’t playing dress up for no reason. She had never before spent a summer so alone. She imagined that one of her friends would call her up at once and invite her out. Audrey pressed her hands into the comforter and scooted backward to lean against the headboard. She half smiled and tipped her head as if replying, “Oh of course I can come, can you imagine me spending my weekends without any plans?” She could of course, as this was the fourth such weekend of her previously packed summers. She’d spent every Sunday morning playing croquet with her grandmother while she told her all the ways she had failed as an heir. About how ashamed she was of her for letting Ben get away, for needing summer school, for coloring her hair like one of those wretched VKs.
All her friends had evaporated at some point. She felt neglected, had no one missed her while she was gone? Did they think summer school was too taxing for her to see anyone? Did no one at all like her anymore? She felt a building pressure behind her eyes and worked in a flurry to fix her hair or her sweater to distract herself.
Everyone was traveling. Everyone had plans. A couple of girls had told her that they didn’t like how she talked about Mal. Mal! Honestly, like that was an excuse. She bounced up from the bed and half twirled to settle the skirt she’d put on knowing no one would see her in it. She couldn’t believe that any friend would choose the daughter of Maleficent over her, even if she was a Lady of the Court now.
Like either of them had changed, ugh. She’d always been good. Mal couldn’t even pretend, she had announced to the world she was “good” now and had told them immediately that she’d spelled Ben to like her. She had spent barely six months being good, and even then she was using magic, before she dropped the ruse to go back to the Isle. She even said so herself that she belonged there. Audrey still didn’t understand why everyone was in such a hurry to forgive her. It even put her Benny-Boo in danger. He should just come to his senses. She hadn’t ever done something to hurt him. She had never used magic, or threatened a kingdom. She didn’t cheat to be perfect.
She stifled her anger and sat at her vanity, her spine perfectly straight and her legs crossed at the ankles. She looked in the mirror and raked her hair back and forth over her shoulders. She decided it looked better forward. Here she was, pretty as a picture, and Ben was going to marry Mal.
Audrey felt suddenly very ill, and the sorrow she had been ignoring spilled out over her cheeks. No other part of her face moved. She’d long trained herself out of looking upset in public. At this point it was almost more embarrassing to be upset in private. She kept looking in the mirror, watched outside herself as tears rolled down expressionless cheeks. There was a pain in her chest and stomach that was harder to ignore than how wet her face was. Her heart was breaking, maybe. She’d been so sure that Ben loved her. She’d tried so hard to be perfect for him. She’d made sure to have the right everything, friends, looks, hobbies. She’d studied law and history and learned court etiquette. She never would have spat food into her napkin on television. Her life with Ben had been right in front of her, like a path, shining and bright. Mal had ruined it all, took the bright path to her future, and didn’t even want it. She was left behind in the darkness.
Audrey broke eye contact with the mirror and sharply inhaled. She blinked rapidly and looked at the ceiling. She grabbed a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. She tried not to disturb the makeup she’d painstakingly put on along with the skirt and top and matching sweater as she wiped the tears from her face. Her breath came out shaky and uneven. She dropped her handkerchief and stood up again. Her skirt swung out to hit the leg of the table as she turned away from her vanity.
It had to be a trick or a spell, she was sure. Mal would do it, she already had even. She was her Mother’s daughter after all. Who would want a Villain on the throne? She’d tricked everyone else into believing she meant it when she said she wanted what was best for Auradon, like
she
would know. Mal was going to ruin Auradon and no one wanted to stop her. She’d take down the barrier and let all the villains out. She’d stolen Ben, Audrey’s friends, and her future. If she could just make them see, understand what Mal was, surely everything would go back to normal. She could still see that shining path, waiting for her. If only she took it.