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“Exactly. Once they hear more about how you, Jay, Carlos, and Mal have grown at Auradon Prep, they’ll be inspired to join you guys. Maybe it won’t be so scary if they know they’ll be welcome here.”
“You’re right,” said Evie, clapping her hands. “So let’s show them! I’ve got to find Carlos, Jay, and Mal!”
Evie ran from the room, excited to get started. She was halfway down the hall when she realized she’d forgotten something.
Just as quickly, she ran back into her room and kissed Doug on the forehead. “You’re a prince. Thank you!”
“Just a dwarf, really, but I’ll take it,” he said, hugging her back.
he last bell of the day had finally rung, and the weekend beckoned. Carlos packed up his books and followed the crowd out of the classroom. There was a lively chatter in the air as people made plans to meet up at Camelot Grill for dinner and darts games or to hang by the Enchanted Lake. He craned his neck and spotted Jane, who had her Advanced Wish-Fulfillment class right next door to his History of Heroism seminar. Carlos was still getting used to the idea that she liked-him liked him. He had been so nervous to ask her to Cotillion, she hadn’t even understood what he was asking her until it was almost too late. But now, when she saw him, it was like everyone and everything else melted away.
“Hey!” she said, her bright eyes shining. Her dark hair was pulled away from her face with a light-blue headband, and she was wearing a matching ruffled dress. With him in his black jacket, white button-down shirt, and black-and-white pants, they made a handsome pair, if he did say so himself.
They smiled shyly at each other. “Happy Friday!” he said, because seeing her always made him happy.
“Happy Friday to you,” she said. They reached for each other’s hands at the same time, causing Jane to giggle. “So, is everything set for you-know-what next week?” she asked, lowering her voice in case one of the seniors could overhear them.
“I’ve got the list, and I’ve alerted the proper authorities,” said Carlos. “Everything should be ready.”
“Amazing,” said Jane. “It’s going to be such a fun night!”
“The best!” he enthused. They had really pulled it together. It had been a little difficult getting all the parents to agree to their plans—Rapunzel, for one, didn’t want to let down her hair too much—but in the end they’d all agreed to help. Carlos was no longer the scared little boy who’d arrived at Auradon Prep, shaking at the sight of a puppy. He had grown taller, leaner, and much more confident in the time he’d spent away from the Isle of the Lost. Without his mother’s haranguing and constant criticism, he had truly come into his own—especially since he no longer had to fluff her wigs and take care of her furs.
Everything was going happily-ever-after—he was doing well in his classes, he had a very cute girlfriend, and next year, once Jay and Ben had graduated, he was going to be the BMOC: Big Man of the Castle. Maybe he could even run for Class King! He ruffled his crop of black-and-white hair, thinking about how everything would truly be perfect. Except for just one thing—
he would miss his friends.
The others would be going their own ways after graduation—that was for sure. Jay was going to be some big R.O.A.R. star, Evie would probably expand her fashion business, and Mal had her duties to Auradon—after all, she was the future Lady Mal now. Carlos felt a tad nostalgic for how it used to be, when the four of them were just a bunch of Isle of the Lost misfits, stumbling and scheming their way through Auradon.
Which was why he was doubly glad he and Jane had coordinated this very special supersecret project next weekend that was part of the traditional graduation activities at Auradon Prep.
“See you tomorrow?” she asked.
“At the Auradon City Mall,” he replied with a grin. “Seven o’clock.”
“They just installed new dancing fountains—trained by the Sorcerer’s Apprentice!” she said. “It’ll be so cool!”
“Can’t wait.”
He walked her back to her dorm, where she gave him a quick kiss good-bye. “Tomorrow,” she promised.
“Tomorrow,” he echoed with a smile, still feeling the sweetness of her kiss against his cheek.
As Carlos walked back to the boys’ dorm, he texted the group chat nicknamed “VKs”:
C-DOG: Hey! It’s Friday! Let’s hang! Want to grab eats at Charming’s Chili?
MALEVOLENT: Sounds SO FUN, but Ben and I have a dinner with Aziz and his new princess tonight. So sorry!!!
IT’SJAY: Rain check? Kinda sore from practice, spending night in.
PRINCESSEVIE:…
Carlos was waiting for Evie’s reply when she ran right into him, still typing a response on her phone.
“Carlos!” she said joyfully.
He broke into a smile; Evie was always so cheerful. She was like a big sister to him. “Evie! What’s up? Want to go to Charming’s Chili?” he asked.
