✨OPEN COMMISSION✨ Semi Realistic Artist 🪼

Chapter six; Dreadful roommate!

A week passed since Red’s arrival at Auradon prep and Red was…enjoying herself, she really was. The freedom she had was a breath of fresh air, and yeah, she couldn’t steal or do whatever she liked like on the isle, but the rules in Auradon made sense. Nothing changed, there was nothing to brace for and nothing to anticipate.

It was nice, and Red enjoyed messing with her roommate as well; she was fun. Chloe had a stick up her butt, that was for sure; Red thought. She was uptight and a priss, constantly following rules and a strict routine of her own making, and if anything, anything, messed that routine up, Chloe was not happy.

But it was funny, so Red messed with her side of the room. Constantly. Shifting little things here and there, just to get started—it was still too early to do any drastic pranks.

She’d save those for later.

But while Red did enjoy infuriating Chloe, Red was also being infuriated by her uptight roommate. Usually in the early mornings, when Chloe did her morning routine, she turned on all her lights and disrupted Red’s precious sleep. Red didn’t know if Chloe did it on purpose—but man did it make Red mad.

Like right now, Chloe was sitting at her vanity, putting makeup on with her vanity lights on—while it was still dark outside, the light shining onto Red’s face. She groaned and rolled over, putting a pillow over her head. Chloe huffed, getting up, turning off her vanity light, and walking into the bathroom—closing the door a little too hard.

Red shoved the pillow down, glaring up at her ceiling. “♪What is this feeling. So sudden and new?”

Chloe pulled her hair into a cute style, two puffy buns up top while the rest hung naturally down, with some strands framing her face. She puffed her cheeks, glaring back towards the door. “♪I felt the moment, I laid eyes on you.”

Red cupped her neck, gritting her teeth. “♪My pulse is rushing.”

Chloe pressed her palms to her temples, groaning. “♪My head is reeling.”

Red pressed her hands to her face, covering her eyes. “♪My face is flushing.”

Chloe put down her hair styling gel, turning towards the door—pulling it open. At the same time—Red sat up in bed, yanking off her sheets. “♪What is this feeling? Fervid as a flame, does it have a name? Yes.” Both girls stormed towards each other—glaring, it had been boiling since the moment they met and through the whole week.

“♪Loathing. Unadulterated loathing.” What a relief to admit it! “♪For your face.” Chloe seethed, making a gesture at Red’s face, and she shoved Chloe’s hand away. “♪Your voice,” Red spat back. “♪Your clothing!” Chloe snapped, grabbing Red’s sleep shirt between two fingers and releasing it—Red glaring at her. “♪Let’s just say,” Chloe turned—ready to walk off, but Red moved forward—knocking everything on Chloe’s vanity over—much to Chloe’s shock and horror. “♪I loathe it all!”

Chloe begins to chase after Red as Red tears through Chloe’s half of the room—knocking things over and shoving things out of place, leaning down—unplugging the vanity mirror lights—tossing the cord to the ground. “♪Every little trait, however small—makes my very flesh begin to crawl!” Red stormed back to her side of the room—aiming to sleep for a little bit longer as Chloe glared, stomping her foot—quickly reorganizing her room, and she looked over at Red, seeing her asleep and glaring—an idea in mind.

“♪With simple utter loathing,” Red woke up an hour later—sitting up to find her side of room…Chloe-ifed, everything perfectly straight and way too perfect—just how Red hated it. “♪There's a strange exhilaration, in such total detestation.” Red flung her bed covers off, glaring at Chloe, who smiled back and shut her vanity light off—skipping out of the room. “♪It's so pure and so strong!”

Chloe entered their room a few hours later—just after morning classes, eyes widening as she took in the horror of the bedroom. All her things were wrong, her bed at an angle instead of right up against the wall and made upside-down, her trophies all misaligned, her shoe rack mis-matched, her makeup disorganized, her pillows all over the floor! “♪Though I do admit it came on fast—still I do believe that it can last!” Chloe rushed forward—pushing open the balcony doors of the room—glaring at Red, who was placing a large vase of red roses on the balcony. She grinned at Chloe—walking past her with a flip of her hair—smacking Chloe in the face.

“♪And I will be loathing, loathing you my whole life. Long!”

The other students witnessed Chloe and Red’s rivalry, even teachers—for some, it reminded them of princess Audrey and Queen Mal from years ago, though their rivalry was a little…quieter.

“♪Dear Chloe, you are just too good!” Chloe had nearly the whole school backing her up against Red, who had seen her mess with the school’s top student. From simple teasing to bumping her out of seats—they rallied behind her. “♪How can you stand it? I don’t think I could!”

Meanwhile, Red was also backed up by the other VKS of the school; children of sidekicks and some major villains, all understanding Red’s rivalry with Chloe, the goody two-shoes, Ms. Rule follower, captain of every club in school. “♪She’s a terror, she’s a tartar; we don’t mean to show a bias—” Back to Chloe, who strutted towards the cafeteria doors. “But, Chloe, you’re a martyr!”

Chloe gave a perfect prim smile to her supporters, none of them friends, but all friendly faces. “♪Well, these things are sent to try us~”

She turned, entering the cafeteria—her supporters just behind her, she spotted Red instantly, Red grabbing a soda from the lunch line—everyone else in the room glancing between the two girls. Chloe huffed, twisting away to head to the other lunch line, Red heading towards a table full of VKs.

“♪Poor Chloe forced to reside, with someone so disgustikified!” Red sat at the table with the other isle kids, all sympathetic to her plight of being roomed with such a goody-goody.

“♪We just want to tell you, we’re all on your side!”  Red looked up, smirking as she locked eyes with Chloe—who was on the opposite side of the cafeteria, glaring back at Red. “♪We share your loathing!”

“♪What is this feeling, so sudden and new?(unadulterated loathing!)”  The girls were certainly at odds with each other, with no end in sight to their, quite petty, rivalry. But it was great fun for Red, and infuriating for Chloe.

“♪I felt the moment, I laid eyes on you!(for her face, her voice, her clothing!)” Red rolled her shoulders as Chloe pressed her fingers to her temples, closing her eyes as she grit her teeth. “♪My pulse is rushing, my head is reeling!(we loathe it all!)” The girls glared again at each other, Red smirking all the while. “♪Oh, what is this feeling?!”

It was…sort’ve entertaining to see the two girls at odds, from trying to steal the best seat in chemistry class from each other(Red really only doing so for the love of the game while Chloe actually wanted that seat), to Red ‘defacing’ the inside of Chloe’s locker with stickers that made no sense.

“♪(every little trait no matter small)does it have a name?(makes my very flesh begin to crawl!) yes, ah!”

It was full—on war between Chloe and Red. Red would toss a paper ball at Chloe, Chloe would replace all of Red’s squiggly fun pencils with her blue straight ones. Red would put vinegar in Chloe’s morning coffee, and Chloe would draw on Red’s face in the middle of the night.

“♪Loathing!(loathing!) Theres a strange exhilaration!(loathing!) in such total detestation!(loathing!) it’s so pure and so strong!(so strong!)”

Chloe glared from over her booklet in the library, while Red spun her pen between her fingers, glancing over her shoulder to smirk back at Chloe.

“♪Though I do admit it came on fast, still I do believe that it can last!”

Chloe and Red walked towards each other from opposite ends of the corridors, Vks behind Red, with Chloe’s supporters behind her, both storming towards each other. “♪And I will be loathing, for forever, loathing, truly deeply, loathing you!” The girls met up in the middle, circling each other, getting in the others face. “♪My whole life long!”

Red gave a sharp grin to Chloe—the two girls shoving past each other. “♪(loathing! Unadulterated loathing!)”

Chloe slammed her locker door shut—squeaking as Red appeared out of nowhere and scared her. “Boo!” Red cackled as Chloe jumped and slammed her shoulder against the lockers, Red opening her locker, which was right beside Chloe’s. “Don’t you have anything better to do?” Chloe huffed, opening her locker again, grabbing her books. “Like, anything else other than being around me?”

“Nah, you’re too fun to mess with, princess,” Red cooed, closing her locker, leaving another random sticker on Chloe’s locker—making her huff and tear it off her once pristine locker door.

Chloe glares at Red as she smirks. “You’re a princess too you know, Red.” She huffs, turning and whipping red in the face with her hair. Red sputters, knocking into the lockers. Chloe hides a smirk and walks away as Red laughs. Oh, messing with Chloe was just too much fun! Red thought as she pushed off the lockers, heading to her next class, Remedial goodness.

Chapter Seven; New vks around the block

Red slumped into remedial goodness class—which was scattered with fellow isle kids, including Marceline and Enzo Teach, both looking bored as usual during this particular class.

Red got into her usual seat—hiking her boots up and taking out her nail file to shape her nails—she’d just gotten a set and needed to round out the tips. “Boots off my tables please, Red,” Headmistress Jane said with a cheery tone, walking up to the front of class and writing on the chalk board as Red huffed, lifting her feet—only to drop them onto the empty chair beside her. Jane didn’t make further comments, so Red continued to work on her nails.

Red feels eyes on her and glances to the side, furrowing her brows as she sees Marceline staring at her with a strange look, a smirk mixed with a devious gleam in her eyes.

Red didn’t like that look—she huffed and turned back to her nails as Jane began the day's lesson.

Now, Jane did not teach the vks of her goodness class like kindergarteners, like her mother had for the original four vks, instead treating them as they were; teenagers who needed guidance. Even so, she drew a pyramid on her chalkboard, describing the strong foundation of goodness.

Red glanced back at Marceline and Enzo while Jane spoke. Marceline mocked Jane silently while Enzo snickered—his head on the desk, staring at Marceline.

They were like a bad copycat of Uma and Harry.

All they needed was a third overly happy dog—like person, and they’d be like the sea three that once ruled the isle together.

Anyway, Red thought—staring at the chalk board, boredly, again. Her attention drifted as the lesson went on, twirling her pen between her fingers as she found herself looking out the nearest window. Everything was normal, butterflies, humming birds, the usual things to be outside during a day like this.

Red’s pen flung to the floor as she spotted something not normal, and it wasn’t Auradon weird—like magic or faires or whatever, it was…wonderland weird.

And wonderland weird didn’t belong in Auradon—not since wonderland magic was barriered off at the rabbit holes to keep Auradon’s magic in balance.

But here Red sat, staring out the window at the butterfly, like buttered bread wings and everything, that was fluttering outside above some flowers—which she swore—were talking to each other?

She looked around—did anyone else see that?! But everyone was either staring at Jane or staring off into space.

She had to go confirm what she saw.

---

As soon as class was over—Red scrambled for her things and raced outside, the butterfly was gone, but Red ducked next to the flowers, listening closely. They were talking! Gossiping actually, the roses chattering away with the daisies. Red sat back on her heels, breathless.

This…couldn’t have been good, at all.

Wonderland magic shouldn’t be in Auradon, all wonderland magic was neutralized as soon as it came in contact with the overworld. Red covered her mouth—palm pressed against her teeth—staring at the wonderland magic—infected flowers, glancing up—there was the butterfly, bread wings and all, she looked again.

It was everywhere, subtle, if anyone else walked through here—they’d probably only notice the butterfly and walk past everything else, colored smoke from the tall grass, likely from a caterpillar—and up above in the shadows of the trees! A Cheshire grin.

“Cheshire!” Red said in a hushed whisper, her teeth clenched as she stood and walked towards the terrible cat, his grin barely visible in the leaves. “What in the seven daises is happening?! You’re not even supposed to be here! Auradon doesn’t—“

“Allow Wonderland magic—“ The cat giggled, his grin spinning—and slowly his stripes and body appeared with him. “That it doesn’t, little Red bird,” Red huffed as Cheshire slipped away—leaving his stripes behind before they slowly followed.

“Then why—“ Red began but Cheshire interrupted her again.

“Why? Why not?” Cheshire giggled, his head floating away to bounce between his back paws. “Why does a cat pitter—patter and a dog flitter—flatter?” Red groaned, shaking her head.

“Cheshire—“ Red began again but the infuriating cat interrupted her again.

“Yeees?” He sang, bouncing his head back onto his shoulders, giving her that grin of his.

“Why is wonderland magic here?” Red asked, gesturing around them. Cheshire only hummed.

“Here? Here where?” The cat asked, and Red stamped her foot.

“Auradon! Why is Wonderland magic in Auradon!?” Red nearly yelled, fists on her hips as she puffed her cheeks in frustration.

“What magic?” The cheshire asked, and Red groaned—she for sure wasn’t getting a straight answer out of this cat, not when she was falling so easily for his tricks.

“Whatever! Go home!” Red groaned, turning—ready to storm away.

“If I, were you, I’d look into the rabbit holes, flowers say the barriers weakened,” Cheshire said, and a Red turned to once more ask what that meant—he was gone. Red let out a long, drawn-out sigh.

Wonderland. She swore she was the only sane one from there. And she wasn’t even from there!

Red huffed and straightened out her jacket and smoothed down her hair—turning again, pausing. Oh—there was Chloe, that wasn’t unusual.

What was unusual, were the three following her; Marceline, Enzo, and the green fairy kid—Peyton? And they didn’t look like they wanted to invite her to an unbirthday tea party. Red narrowed her eyes. Oooh no, Chloe was hers to mess with.

---

Chloe was heading from History of woodsmen and pirates to the dorm castle, it was her free period now, looking down at her phone when she bumped into a solid body and stumbled back. “Sorry,” Chloe said automatically—looking up to apologize properly. “I wasn’t…looking,” her voice went quiet.

It wasn’t just anybody she bumped into, it was Marceline, Chloe’s worst bully she’d ever encountered. The sea witch had hated her the moment they met, something about Chloe’s cushy life that set her off each time they crossed paths.

Even now, three years into high school, Marceline still hated her. “Watch where you’re going, princess.” Marceline sneered, curling her lip in distaste at Chloe as Chloe huffed, leaning back as Marceline flinched at her.

“Sorry,” Chloe grumbled, hoping to avoid a confrontation. She was already on edge with Red getting on her nerves; she did not need Marceline and her doofus boys today.

However, she was never that lucky.

She felt someone bump into her back and she stumbled forward, turning to narrow her eyes at Enzo Teach, Marceline’s pet punk pirate with a strong mean streak. It was unfortunate that his personality didn’t match his face. “Woaaah Ms. Charming, where do you think you’re going? I didn’t hear an apology for lady Marcy?” Enzo cooed, grinning sharply at Chloe as she stepped away from Enzo while he advanced towards her.

“I did say sorry, you ninca—hey!” Chloe yelped, feeling her school bag get yanked away from her from above. She looked up—glaring. “Give me back my bag Peyton!”’ Peyton Pan, son of Peter Pan, hovered above her, giggling like it was all a game as he flung out her papers and books; flying just out of her reach as she jumped up to try and catch their ankle.

“Ugh, far too much junk in here, Princess Charming. Here! Let us help you organize!” Peyton cackled, throwing Chloe’s daily planner at Marceline, Chloe racing after it to try and catch it. Marceline caught it with a tentacle, bringing the planner up behind her out of reach, grinning sharply at Chloe as she glared at the sea witch.

“Oooh poor pwincess,” Marceline mocked, pouting at Chloe. “Feeling scatterbrained?” She threw the planner at Enzo—who jumped up to catch it and nearly tumbled back but managed to keep his balance, spinning around to avoid Chloe, who’d chased after her planner, cackling all the while.

“Give it back! I need that!” Chloe nearly screamed. She jumped again as Enzo threw it to Peyton, who swooped down and snatched it midair—before throwing it to the fountain.

“No!” Chloe yelped, knowing she couldn’t make that in time. But someone else was, the planner was caught mere feet away from the fountain. Chloe nearly sobbed with relief—and when she saw who had saved her planner, she nearly seethed again. Red.

“Now that ain't nice, picking on a princess. I thought sea witches had better things to do than petty bullying?” Red cooed, waving the planner around. Marceline curled her lip at Red.

“Quinn.” Marceline practically snarled, tentacles flaring behind her.

{Insert background song; Trouble by PINK}

“Marcy,” Red quipped back with a too-sweet grin. Marceline whipped a tentacle at Red, and she rolled under it, grinning. “Too slow!” Marceline let out an enraged huff through her teeth, whirling around as Enzo jumped towards Red. Red side—stepped, and Enzo went right into Marceline—the two tumbling into the fountain with a splash.

“You idiot!” Marceline screeched as Red snickered and twisted around, dodging Peyton, who grunted in frustration as Red ducked under their arms as he tried to swipe at her.

“Hi, I don’t think we’ve met before, you are?” Red asked sweetly, that false princess sweetness to get someone’s guard down. Peyton gave a mock bow with their head, waving their arms out to their sides.

“Peyton Pan, don’t worry—we’ll be well acquainted soon enough!” Peyton flew himself forward at Red recklessly, and Red just ducks—Peyton slams right into Enzo, who’d been attempting to sneak up on Red.

“Oh, I’m sure,” Red drawls with a smirk, looking over her shoulder at the two boys sprawled on the ground. “As well acquainted as you and the floor are.” Red snickered as the two just groaned, and she turned, ducking under a sudden tentacle swipe, and then front flipping over the next.

“Where’s your manners Marcy? That’s not fair play!” Red taunted with a grin at Marceline, who glared at her with frustration that bordered on rage. She swiped at Red again, who jumped over the swipe like it was just a jump rope.

“Oh, shut up!” Marceline snarled, yelping as her tentacle whipped all the way around and swung back at her—making her topple over. Red snickered, bouncing over to Chloe, who stood in shock; papers and books gathered messily in her arms.

“We’d love to stay and play, but we’re late for a very important date! Ta-ta!” Red cheered, grabbing Chloe’s hand, scooping up her bag, and darting off with Chloe, who stumbled before finding her balance and running with Red.

Marceline let out a sound of barely contained rage, a toss between a squeal and a scream through her teeth. She got to her feet—flinging her hands free of dripping fountain water, storming over to Peyton and Enzo, who were still sprawled on the ground. “Up! Get up!” She snarled, kicking Enzo’s boot with hers.

Peyton and Enzo winced as they untangled themselves from each other—looking up at Marceline pitifully. “Sorry Marcy,” they both said meekly as she glared down at them, planting her fists on her hips.

“Sorry doesn’t cut it! You just let princess crazy humiliate us! Me!”  Marceline screamed at the two boys, who winced and wilted under her gaze.

“But—no one else saw-“ Peyton tried to say but Marceline snapped her teeth at them.

“I don’t care! If no one else saw! It’s still humiliating! Now go after them! And find me whatever dirt you can get on Quinn—I won’t let her get away with this.” Marceline hissed, pointing towards where Red and Chloe had run off too—Peyton and Enzo scrambled to their feet—rushing off to do as Marceline asked; knowing it wouldn’t do much good to try and do otherwise.

Marceline seethed—storming towards the dorm building to change.

---

Red and Chloe caught their breath in the back gardens of the dorm castle, Chloe clutching her books to her chest. “Did you see her face?” Red cackled, leaning over her knees, giggling to herself. “Oh, that was priceless!” Red looked at Chloe, who was quickly organizing and putting her things back in her bag; her brows tightly pinched together.

Red groaned a little. “Oh, come on Princess, lighten up—“ Chloe glared at her and Red went quiet, lifting her hands in surrender. “Hey, what’s with the look? i helped—“

“And I didn’t need it. Just—leave me alone Red.” Chloe snapped, slipping the last loose paper into her binder before swinging her bag over her shoulder, slipping into the dorm castle and towards their shared room.

Red stood alone, blinking, before huffing, crossing her arms, and glaring at nothing. “I was just trying to help.” She muttered, her expression tightening for a moment before twisting around, heading back towards the school.

Enzo popped up from behind a bush and Peyton floated down from a tree, the two glancing at each other with a devious smirk before they both took off into the dorm castle to report to Marceline.

Enzo raced down the castle hallways—Peyton flying just ahead of him before they both slid to a stop in front of Marceline's room. Enzo barely knocked before entering.

“What did you find?” Marcelien demanded, eyes wide with excitement for the knowledge to humiliate her rivals. She was looking into her vanity mirror—her room the epitome of a sea witch. Peyton and Enzo grinned.

“Little Miss Hearts wants to impress Princess Charming,” Enzo said with a snicker, sitting on a chair and sliding over to Marceline's side as Peyton floated above her.

“She looked sooo disappointed when Chloe told her to bug off, and that—she didn’t need Red’s help.” Peyton said and Marceline grinned maniacally, cooing to her two henchmen, squeezing their cheeks.

“Peeerfect work you two, I know just what to do to get those two all riled up, and if we’re lucky? An expulsion or two,” Marceline said with a giggle that turned into a cackle, Enzo and Peyton cackling with her.

Chapter Eight; Trouble comes in threes.

Red was terribly aware that Marceline and her two goons were watching her, what sort’ve vk would she be if she didn’t notice three people constantly looking at her, trying to discover how she ticked?

It was annoying, Red hated being watched like this, it felt like her mother’s stare; scrutinizing and cruel, just waiting for her to slip up, to reveal a weakness.

Red sighed, her pen tapping against the desktop harshly as it bounced between her thumb and palm, staring ahead at the board.

Whatever, she had bigger things to worry about, like the strange increase of wonderland magic in Auradon.

She was noticing it more and more over the last few weeks, like a smoking caterpillar and strange birds, like a pencil bird and a ‘grandma’ bird. Red was worried, why was wonderland magic invading Auradon? The rabbit holes cut it off for a reason, to keep the overworld as stable as possible, and who knows what would happen if her mother ever came to Auradon for whatever reason?

If her mother had access to wonderland magic while in Auradon, Red knew it only spelled disaster. Thankfully, as far as she knew, there was nothing happening in Auradon to give her mother a reason to come to Auradon—and Red planned to keep under the radar just enough to not cause a parent—teacher conference.

Well…she hoped, nothing would happen to give her mother reason to leave wonderland.

---

Marceline should’ve known Red would be hard to crack, she was a vk after all, the daughter of one of the cruelest and maddest queens in history, but whenever Red was around Chloe? That’s when Red put all her cards down.

Keeping a close eye on the girls, and using Peyton and Enzo to rile them up, Marceline noticed how Red would get riled up for Chloe; and while the princess would brush off the teasing, Red would get in between Chloe and either Enzo or Peyton and start a scene to get them off Chloe’s back.

Each time, Chloe would tell Red she could handle herself, that she didn’t need Red’s help, and storm off. Leaving Red frustrated, and—as Marceline noted—a little sad.

Marceline giggled to herself as Enzo and Peyton met back up with her and told her of their findings while messing with Chloe.

“Oh, I know exactly how to take them down, or at the very least, get that mad princess expelled,” Marceline cackled, snapping her makeup compact closed, grinning at Peyton and Enzo, who grinned sharply back.

Marceline stood, her skirt flaring. “Enzo; start escalating, target Charming, Red can’t help but defend her and Chloe hates that.” Marceline’s grin grew, eyes glinting with wickedness. “Peyton,” the fae child sat up, floating above their stool seat at attention. “Study Red’s behavior around Chloe, Red likes to mess with her too, make her teasing worse,” Peyton nodded and stiffly saluted, grinning as Marceline ruffled their hair.

“Yes. Ma’am.” Peyton said, Enzo snickered, sitting beside Marceline’s vanity, grinning up at Marceline and Peyton.

“So, make Chloe blow up at Red and cause a fight? Sounds fun,” Enzo grinned, taking Peyton's arm as it was offered, hauling himself up.

“And maybe break a heart,” Marceline cooed, tossing an arm over each boy's shoulder, bringing them close. Peyton let out a laugh, grinning unnaturally wide.

“Ooohohoh this is going to be so much fun.” Peyton snickered, rubbing his hands together as Enzo barked out a laugh.

Let the games begin.

---

The trio began their plans of sabotage slow and easy. Peyton—with swift hands and even swifter disappearances—took Chloe’s daily planner, using stolen stickers from Red and redecorating the planner before slipping it back into Chloe’s bag less than a minute later; as Chloe used the planner almost obsessively.

The way Chloe seethed, and the way Red denied it, was all too satisfying, making Peyton chuckle from the ceiling rafters, hiding in the shadows with a grin as he watched the girls argue before Chloe stormed off, leaving Red confused and frustrated.

Enzo targeted Chloe with slowly escalating teasing that turned to outright bullying, always doing it when Red could possibly stumble upon it and come to the already frustrated Chloe’s defense. Enzo would slink off, grinning as Chloe blew up on Red once more, once more declaring she didn’t need Red’s help.

Marceline was the one to deal the final blow, approaching Chloe after chemistry class, rolling her shoulders as a large coil of her purple/white hair slipped behind her back. She stepped up quickly and slammed her shoulder into Chloe’s, cooing with fake regret as Chloe dropped her bag, and her books and papers went flying.

“Oooh I’m sorry, Pwincess, did I make a mess?” Marceline cooed, pouting her bottom lip at Chloe, who rolled her jaw—glaring back. “Here—let me help you clean it up~!” Chloe yelped as Marceline kicked her ankle, making her lose her balance and hit the ground on her hands and knees. Chloe glares up at Marceline as she laughs, Enzo pulls open a janitor's closet, and grabs a broom.

“Here, princess! Clean the floor while you’re at it!” Enzo sneers with a grin, tossing the broom at Chloe—she caught it, but it smacked against her nose hard, the taste of iron blooming on her tongue as warmth dripped from her nose.

Her face burned, glaring at the two of them, she was about to swing the broom at their legs—pausing as food crumbled down from the air.

Chloe glares upward, seeing Peyton, eating something that crumbled with every bite, grinning down at her. “Floor looked too clean, thought I’d give you something to clean up, princess,” Peyton said meanly—and then they yelped as a red and black backpack smacked them in the face—taking them out of the air.

Chloe blinked, what?

“Hey!” Enzo snarled, only to make a cut—off noise as a gloved fist met his face, toppling him to the floor as a blur of red and black came leaping into the fray—twisting around, and Marceline toppled as a red boot kicked out her legs from beneath her.

“Hey—hey!” Chloe said sharply, standing—shaking the food out of her hair and off her shirt—watching wide eyed as Red began to brawl with Marceline and Enzo. “Hey—hey hey!” Chloe yelped, grabbing the lapel of Red’s leather cropped jacket and yanking her back. “Stop! Red stop!”

Red let out a harsh breath, stumbling back, glaring down at Enzo as he nursed a nearly broken nose.

“QUINN OF HEARTS, CHLOE CHARMING!” Both girls jolted, turning as a teacher stormed towards them. “Report to the headmistress’ office right now!” Chloe cupped her hands over her mouth—eyes wide with terror.

“The—the headmistress’ office? But—but I’ve never!—” Chloe began to plead, but the teacher pointed harshly down the corridor as Red righted her jacket, rolling her jaw as she nursed her nose, storming down the corridor as Chloe followed behind.

Marceline grinned behind her hand. Enzo groaned on the floor.

Chapter Nine; In trouble? Me?!

Chloe sat stiffly in the chair, back straight and hands buried between her knees to stop herself from picking at her thumb, which was already raw. She sniffled, tasting the blood from her nose on her lips. She spared a glance at Red, who sat slumped on the chair beside her, nearly off the chair even.

She didn’t even look…bothered. Why was she so—Unbothered by all of this?! They’d just been sent to the headmistresses office—Chloe had never been here before, not in trouble at least!

Chloe’s knee began to bounce. What was taking so long? She thought, glancing at the empty desk in front of them. Where was aunt—Headmistress, Jane? Was this a torture method? Waiting them out until they were ready to confess?

Tears built in her eyes, her mind spiraling even though she tried to divert it. Chloe closed her eyes, counting backwards in her head even though her nail picked at her thumb and her knee continued to bounce.

Stop it stop it stop it stop it stop it stopitstopitstopitstopitstopit!

Movement beside her snapped her out of it, and her gaze snapped to Red beside her, who had shifted to sit up; still looking unbothered, bored.

“Why?” Chloe asked, staring straight ahead again, clenching her fingers together.

Red raised her pierced brow, glancing over at Chloe. “Why what?” she mumbled, jolting a little as Chloe spoke, louder—sharper.

“Why aren’t you bothered? We got sent to the headmistresses’ office! We’re in trouble!” Chloe asked sharply, and Red lifted her hands in a calming gesture.

“Okay—princess,” Red began, eyes widening when Chloe interrupted her.

“Don’t call me princess, Red! Why’d you even intervene? I can handle myself.” Chloe asked, teeth clenched.

Red furrowed her brows, a little confused. Wasn’t it the right thing to do to stop bullying? “They were hurting you,” Red said—almost blankly with confusion.

“I didn’t need your help, Red.” Chloe spat, her stress getting the best of her. “I can take care of myself.” Her nails dug into her palms, teeth aching from the tightness of her jaw.

“I just—wanted to help,” Red said, quieter, almost unsure of her words now, her brows furrowing tighter together as Chloe glared at her.

“And I don’t need your help, Red. You had no right anyway, you’re just as bad as them.”

Red snapped her mouth shut as Chloe said those final words, and turned away, glaring at the headmistress’s desk as Red sank in her seat again, her lips pressed together as her chest and stomach churned.

Was….was she really that bad?

Headmistress Jane and vice—headmistress Uma entered the office just then, both pausing as they felt the thick tension between the two girls. They shared a glance, but before either of them could say anything—Red grabbed her bag from the floor beside her chair and rushed out of the office.

Uma called after her, but Red ran anyway. Uma and Jane shared another look, then looked at Chloe—who was clearly upset and so was Red. “I’ll go talk to Red, you,” Uma made a gesture at Chloe to Jane and took off after Red while Jane closed the office door and took a seat where Red had been sitting.

Chloe pursed her lips, avoiding eye—contact with Jane, who she’d known her whole life. Jane gave a small smile, and they began to talk.

---

Red ran.

And ran and ran, until she couldn’t anymore. She took a choking, wavering, breath and collapsed against one of the dorm room castle outer walls, curling in on herself as her bag dropped to the gravel beside her. She sobbed into her knees.

Was she really that bad? Did Chloe really mean all that?

Scoff.

Of course, Chloe meant it, that girl never lied, and emotions always made someone blurt out their thoughts—Red knew that, shed been on the brunt of her mother’s volatile emotions many many times.

But…Red didn’t want to be bad, she didn’t want to be like her mother, or that stupid trio that harassed Chloe. They were bullies, Red wasn’t a bully. She wasn’t…wasn’t she?

Wasn’t she?

She dug her palms into her eyes, clenching her jaw tightly. She was, wasn’t she? She frustrated Chloe every day without a second thought about it, she messed with her things, made her angry, bothered her every morning, made Chloe’s dorm life a living hell.

Maybe she was bad, maybe Chloe was right, and Red had no business trying to help Chloe when she was one of the people hurting Chloe.

She curled in tighter on herself.

Did she even belong here?

“Red?” Uma’s voice was to her right, warm and comforting, but not too soft. Uma knew vks didn’t respond well to soft. They didn’t grow up with it, and didn’t know how to handle it. “Are you good?”

Red shook her head, face buried in her palms, tears slipping down her hands and messing up her makeup. “Hey,” Uma murmured, sliding down the wall to sit beside Red. “You can talk about it, it’s okay, you won't get hurt for talking about how you feel.”

Red sniffled into her palms. She didn’t even know what to say, or how to say how she felt right now. She just felt…sad, and angry, and frustrated, and scared.

What if she was turning into her mother?

What if someone else realized what Chloe had, and she got expelled and sent back to Wonderland?

What if—

“Hey, hey—stop spiraling Red,” Uma said, taking Red’s hand from her face to hold it. “It’s okay, take deep breaths, deep breaths, like this,” Uma made a show of taking deep, slow breaths, and Red eventually followed, though she hiccupped a little and shuddered through it. “That’s it, now, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t deserve to be here,” Red sobbed, lifting her head, revealing her flushed and makeup-smeared face. “Chloe’s right, I’m just as bad as Enzo, as my mother,” Uma scooted closer, wrapping an arm around Red’s shoulder, bringing her in for a half hug.

“You are not your mother, nor are you Enzo.” Uma said sternly, shaking Red’s shoulder gently. “Enzo’s a bully who only cares about what Marceline thinks, He bullies because it makes him feel better about himself. And your mother…is a whole ‘nother conversation I’m not qualified to talk about,” Uma muttered a bit, sighing. “But, the important thing is, you aren’t them. You aren’t a bad person Red, the fact that you’re sitting here—upset at the very thought, tells me you aren’t.”

Red sniffled, her lip wobbling as she looked up at Uma. “Really?”

“Really,” Uma said with a warm grin, squeezing Red’s shoulder. “You’re not the first to have this dilemma. Every single vk that has come to Auradon has felt what you feel right now, worrying that we’re failing, that we’re just as bad as our parents, that we didn’t deserve any of this,” Uma gestures to Auradon prep and its surroundings. “because of how we grew up, and who we were raised by, but you know what?”

“What?” Red murmured, wiping her nose with her glove.

 “We do deserve to live better, to become better than our parents, to be our own persons,” Uma said softly, taking a handkerchief from her pocket, wiping Red’s face. “If Mal, the worst of the worst, can do it, so can you. Don’t let Chloe or anyone else get to you,” Uma gave Red a smile, and Red returned it weakly, sniffling and taking Uma’s hand as she stood and offered it.

“And you aren’t in trouble for punching Marceline and Enzo, by the way, they deserved it. You did the right thing, even if Chloe isn’t happy about it,” Uma said, fixing Red’s braid across her shoulder, and Red huffed, furrowing her brows.

“Really, I’m…not in trouble? What was that whole office call for then?” Red asked, wiping her face again.

“Well, you still did get into a fight, it was just going to be general procedure stuff, you weren’t in trouble, but we were going to make a proper report of it.” Uma sighed, glancing back towards the school building. “Jane's still probably talking to Chloe…you can go back to your dorm, get some rest,” Uma said, squeezing Red’s shoulder with a smile, Red returned it weakly.

Red returned to her shared dorm room with Chloe, pushing open the door, and standing in the doorway for a few long moments, looking at their dorm room, the two sides of the room split in half. One side, Reds; messy and chaotic to a point of madness, Chloe’s; perfect, everything in its place. She swallowed hard, tears brimming in her eyes again.

“♪I dreamed of calling Auradon home,” She began weakly, walking into the room, dropping her bag onto her side of the room. “♪Now everything just seems a mess, surrounded, but so alone. Expected to be this huge success.” Red recalled her mother’s threat to behave, to lay low. She didn’t even have a single friend in all the time she’s been here, yeah—there were a few vks she was acquainted with but…none she could call a friend.

If anything, she’d made an enemy.

“♪It’s best to just forget it all, a fantasy and nothing more. Just paper dreams built to fall. Hang it all up and, close the door.” She ran her fingers over the papers on her vanity, one being an essay for Remedial goodness; she’d gotten a high grade and praise on it, headmistress Jane’s writing in sparkly blue ink.

‘Amazing work, Red! A+ :D’

She set the paper down, swallowing harshly, stepping away from her vanity, turning to look into Chloe’s tall mirror, staring at herself with sad eyes. “♪Reaching out, to find the person I can be. Is it enough to just be me? I feel like setting myself free.” She looked down at her hands, clenching them, turning and going to the balcony, leaning on the stone railing.

“♪I’ve got dreams to see me through, but will they just remain inside? I want to see the world brand new. Why do I always, run and hide?” She looked out at Auradon prep’s gardens, the blue sky, the bright sun, the pearlescent clouds; all so different than what she grew up with. She had none of this on the isle, and Wonderland was changing too often to feel safe.

She looked down, a fountain below her, her reflection staring back. “♪Reaching out, to find the person I can be? Is it enough to just be me? I feel like setting myself free!”

Chloe entered the room, a lump in her throat. Jane had given her a thorough talking to, and now she just felt like the worst. She looked up, seeing Red on their balcony. “♪I need this now, to say the things I want to say. There’s got to be a better way. I want to leave, I need to stay!”

Red’s voice grew quieter, clenching her fists as she dropped her head between her shoulders. “♪Is it enough to just be me?” It went quiet, a strange tension settling.

Chloe stared, feeling even worse now, her perception of Red changing in that instant. She’d never even given Red a chance, only assuming Red was doing everything out of malice, but what if…what if the way Red acted towards her, was all Red knew?

Chloe swallowed, stepping forward and speaking up. “Red?” Red turned, wiping away her tears quickly.

“Chloe,” Red murmured, crossing her arms, avoiding eye—contact. The girls were silent for a moment, tension growing even tighter between them.

Chloe took a breath, just rip the band-aid off. Red ended up speaking first.

“I’m sorry,” Red said quietly, staring down at her boots. Chloe blinked, bringing her hands to her chest. “About…everything, messing with you, your stuff, I just—“ Red swallowed, cutting herself off. “I thought it was fun for you too.”

Chloe sighed, clenching her hands at her chest before letting them fall. “it wasn’t,” Chloe said softly. “but I didn’t know you didn’t…know I didn’t like it,” Chloe said awkwardly, unsure of how else to word it. “but I realize, of course why you were acting like that, you’re an isle kid, and then got dragged off with your mother right after that, you’ve…you’ve probably never had a proper friend, right?” she looked up at Red, who met her gaze and slowly nodded.

“You didn’t know how to be one,” Chloe said as Red muttered—at the same time; “I don’t know how to be a friend.”

Their eyes met again, and they gave each other an awkward smile.

“Well…we’re stuck with each other, in this dorm, and…it seems we’ve come to an impasse,” Chloe said, and Red had to hold back a snort at her fancy words. Still such a princess. “So…why don’t we start over, properly?”

Chloe stepped forward, holding out her hand, giving Red a smile, softer, still a little strained. “I’m Chloe Charming, I’m 16, I have OCD, and I hate it when people compare me to my brother Chad.”

Red blinked, wait—wait, wait, wait!

“You have OCD?!” Red practically gasped, Chloe blinked, drawing her hand back.

“Uhm, yes. yes, I do,” Chloe said, confused, and Red groaned, running her hand through her hair, closing her eyes. Oh, she was so stupid! And blind! And mean!

“Jabberwocky,” Red huffed, biting her inner lip before looking back up at Chloe. “I swear, I didn’t know; i—all this—“ Red gestures at her very messy side of the room and then at herself and Chloe, meaning all the general frustrations she’d been causing Chloe. “wasn’t to make fun of that, I just…I don’t know, I have no excuse, but, I’m sorry. Again. For being so…upsetting.” Red said, letting out a long sigh.

Chloe smiled a little, the weight in her chest lifting a little.

“Well…thank you for apologizing, twice, and…it does make me feel better, knowing you weren’t trying to upset my OCD on purpose, so… really— let's start over. I think we really got off on the wrong foot.” Chloe said softly, and Red nodded. They really had.

Chloe held out her hand again, and Red stared at it for only a moment, before taking Chloe’s hand, reintroducing herself as Chloe had. “I’m Red, I’m 16 too, my real name's Quinn, but I don’t like being called that. I grew up in chaos and don’t know how to function outside of it, and I really like graffiti art.”

Chloe smiled, Red smiled back.

“Nice to meet you, Red.” Chloe said, and Red gave a little shy grin. “Nice to meet you too, Chloe,”

They dropped each other’s hands, quiet for a moment before Chloe spoke again. “So…friends?” Chloe offered, and Red started in surprise before grinning, soft and a little watery.

“Yeah, friends,” Red said softly, her voice cracking just a little. Her first real friend, and maybe this time—she’d get it right.

Chapter 10; Starting over

First things first, Red and Chloe decided to clean up Red’s side of the room, at Red’s offer. “I just have trouble cleaning up and then—staying—clean, you know? I mean, I’ve always lived in,” —She gestured at her side of the room. Pure chaos of clothes, makeup, and decoration; her quilt was lop—sided, and halfway on the floor. Shoes bunched up under the bedframe, and her closet was half—empty, everything sitting outside of it in random piles—“this.”

Chloe hummed, tapping her chin in thought. “Maybe we don’t have to make it perfectly organized like my side,” Chloe said, pointing behind her at her perfectly clean and organized side of the room, there wasn’t even a dust speck out of place. “But something more…in tune, with how you go about your daily life.”

Red nodded, Chloe rolled up her sleeves and took off her heeled boots, setting them in her shoe rack before turning back to Red’s chaos. “Okay, let’s start easy, clothes.” Red nodded, taking off her jacket and tossing it onto her bedpost. “As I said, let's start with clothes.” Chloe drawled, picking up Red’s jacket and stepping over a pile of shirts to grab a hanger from Red’s closet to hang up her jacket on one of the outside knobs—as Red would be wearing the jacket again later.

Red let out a small wincing chuckle. “Right yeah, put things where they should go, don’t just toss them wherever,” She mumbled, crouching down and grabbing a pile of clothes from the floor, tossing it onto her bed to go through everything and start folding.

However, she was awful at folding. “have you never put away laundry before?” Chloe asked, raising her brow. People called her spoiled, but she’d been raised to be self-sufficient by her mom; she had servants at home but her mom had wanted her to be able to take care of herself.

“i—well-“ Red stuttered, looking down at a graphic Tee she was holding. “Not really? On the isle, I didn’t have many clothes, never really had to put them away either because I was always wearing one of the two outfits I had while the other got washed.”

Chloe listened intently, she’d known the isle was bad, but hearing it first hand from an isle kid made her heart hurt.

“And when I got to wonderland” —Red continued, trying to fold her t-shirt, but it was messy and looked bad—“I had so many more clothes; but my mother always had the servants do everything, from washing to putting my stuff away. So…no.” Red finished quietly, looking a little ashamed, but Chloe only smiled.

“This all makes much more sense then!” Chloe said, understanding Red a little more now, and why her room was always so chaotic. “I’ll teach you, it’s not hard at all.” Chloe grabbed a shirt and folded it into a perfect rectangle, and Red attempted to copy what she did; it was a little messy, but she’d folded her shirt properly!

Chloe smiled, and they settled into a rhythm, and soon Red’s shirt drawer was full and organized, shirts Red didn’t wear much at the bottom/back, and ones she wore the most at the top/front. “Great! See, already much better.” Chloe grinned, the floor clean of shirt piles. Red smiled, feeling satisfaction bloom in her chest.

This felt good. Getting along with Chloe, and cleaning her room with a goal in mind.

“Pants next?” Red asked, and Chloe nodded, Red grabbed one of the piles, folding her pants as Chloe then showed her, as Chloe picked up Red’s many boots and sneakers, setting them onto the shoe rack. It was quiet as they cleaned, soon all clothes piles were picked up, folded, and put away. Shoes in the rack, bed made, and then onto the makeup chaos on Red’s vanity.

“So,” Red began slowly, putting her bottle makeup items into her makeup bag after cleaning them off with a Clorox wipe from Chloe’s cleaning supply stash. “What's OCD like, for you?”

Chloe hummed, organizing Red’s brushes in an extra makeup brush holder she’d had but never used because it ended up not fitting her style. “it’s not as…intrusive as it can be for others, I consider myself lucky most of the time really.” Chloe sighed, tilting her head to the side as she thought about her OCD and how it impacted her daily life. “it mostly comes in when things are out of my control, so I keep as much control as I can over my life to help with it.”

“That’s why me being your roomie stressed you out, me just being here took away control,” Red said, and Chloe nodded, exactly that.

“I mean, neither of us had control over that, but I keep control in my life in other ways, like my hair—“ Chloe gestured to her hair, Red had never pointed it out but Chloe’s hair was ever-changing; she swore she saw Chloe go in a room with one style and come out with another.

Must’ve been fairy godmother magic, with Chloe’s hair texture and all; it would be impossible to change styles that quickly otherwise. “—and my clothes and classes as well.” Chloe went on. “My room, my schedule, what I eat, how I eat—“

Red interrupted her. “That still sounds pretty… intrusive to your life. I mean,” Red rubbed the back of her neck, tapping her eye-shadow pallet on her vanity desk. “everything you do is to prevent your OCD from spiraling, but you still do everything in line with it, and if you do anything different, out of your control, it just goes haywire, right?” She looked up at Chloe, who pursed her lips and nodded a little. “Do you…do anything, to…force yourself to be okay with sudden change?” Chloe sighed, shaking her head.

“No, not really, well; I mean, I have to deal with you, that’s my exposure,” Chloe said, joking a little, and Red snorted.

“Yeah, cuz jumping into the deep end is the best way to deal with OCD,” Red chuckled, and Chloe laughed a little in turn, shrugging. Red hummed, tilting her head, and then a light bulb went off in her head. “How about this, you help me keep my side of the room clean, and I help you with your OCD,” Red offered and Chloe chewed on her inner lip.

“Well,” Chloe murmured, picking at her thumb, which was still raw from earlier picking. “It…would be nice, to be able to do things spontaneously and not stress out over it,” Chloe murmured, remembering her way of dealing with the stress that came after sudden changes out of her control; her compulsions to do something to regain that control, and giving into that compulsions. None of them were dangerous, but it took time out of her day, and got annoying.

Like after Red moved in, she always checked her makeup and the lock on the dorm room door multiple times to make sure Red hadn’t moved anything or forgotten to lock the door, even if Red had already left the room. Her compulsions in classes had suffered too, with her rewriting test answers multiple times until they were ‘just right’ in her handwriting.

“Yeah, deal. You help me, I help you.” Chloe said, and Red held out her hand for a deal, grinning. Chloe smiled back, taking Red’s hand and shaking it once.

“Let’s get started then!” Red cheered, getting up from her vanity, grabbing her jacket from the closet door, slipping it on. Chloe blinked, still organizing Red’s jewelry box.

“But—we’re not done?” Chloe said, her voice a little high-pitched from distress; they weren’t done, they had to finish cleaning!

Red gave Chloe a grin, opening the door and swinging it back and forth. Chloe blinked again. Right. That was the point. “We can come back to it, it’s not going anywhere,” Red said, her voice a little teasing. She leaned back, grabbing Chloe’s boots from her shoe rack, holding them towards her with an encouraging grin. “C’mon, princess, let’s have some fun, my way.”

Chloe looked down at the earrings she was holding, before setting them down in Red’s jewelry box and grabbing her boots from Red, slipping them on and following Red out of their dorm room, locking the door behind them.

Spontaneous. She could do this. She could let someone else take the lead, she could be out of control. She could do this.

—

She was actually doing this.

Chloe and Red walked side by side through the Auradon City mall, which actually wasn’t too far from the school. They were laughing, bags in hand as they’d gone window shopping.

“What do you mean you’ve never had a slushie?!” Chloe gasped, almost offended for Red. They’d passed by a frozen yogurt stand and got on the topic of their favorite flavors, Chloe had mentioned blue raspberry slushies, and Red had no clue what a slushie was.

“Sorry?” Red laughed, scrunching her nose as Chloe shook her head in fake disappointment. “they didn’t exist on the isle, and definitely don’t exist in wonderland, as far as I know, it’s more—tarts and Gelato down there, old fashioned desserts, my mom’s preference.” Red said with a snort and Chloe shook her head.

“We rectify that now. C’mon, there’s a market nearby, it has the best shops there, including a candy story with slushies, the best kind ever. You wont regret it.” Chloe said with a grin, grabbing Red’s hand, Red laughing as Chloe yanked her out of the mall and down a few blocks to a nearby sweets shop called ‘Fauna’s fairy fair treats’; the store filled with every kinda candy and sweet you can think of, from ‘pixie dust’ to ice cream.

“woah,” Red murmured, eyes wide with almost childish wonder as she took in the store, designed to be a calming and faun—like interior, much like the good fairy who owned it.

“I know right?” Chloe giggled, dragging Red in and pulling her to the slushie machine in the back that sat by the soda fountain, which was a vintage soda fountain that was manned by the shop workers.

Chloe and Red grabbed a large plastic cup each, and Chloe popped the lid on her before dispensing the blue colored slushie into her cup, Red followed her lead, dispensing the red colored slushie mix into her cup. “Woah,” Red murmured, it was cold, and smelled good; like cherry, her favorite.

“Cheers~” Chloe grinned, tapping her cup with Red’s and putting a straw inside, taking a sip. Red blinked, before grinning and grabbing a straw.

“Don’t we have to pay for these before drinking?” Red teased, accusing Chloe of breaking a rule. Chloe shook her head, laughing a little and waving the worry away.

“Naaah, it’s universal for slushies to be drinked right away, as long as it’s paid for, it’s fine,” Chloe said, and Red nodded, taking a sip—her eyes going wide. Chloe laughed at her face, her straw between her teeth as Red looked as if she had met the gods of Olympus then and there.

“On the Cheshire’s stripy paws—this is the best thing I’ve ever had in my life,” Red gasped, her cheeks flushed as she took several more hearty sips of the cheery—flavored slushie. She paused as the roof of her mouth and some of her brain began to ache.

“Oh, ow—brain freeze!” Red groaned as Chloe laughed at her even more, filling the store with the noise as Red set her slushie down and held her temples, groaning and laughing at the same time. “You jabberwocky, you set me up!” Red accused, entirely joking.

Chloe only kept laughing, going red in the face and squealing as Red shoved at her, grabbing her slushie and running to the checkout counter to pay and run as Red chased after her. Fauna chuckled at them, the fairy charming the receipt to float after the girls as they ran out of the store and down the market street.

-

They stayed out for hours, even as the sun set and the clock ticked by, they, for the first time in a long time, were having fun with each other. Chloe took red to the paint shop and Red bought some new spray-paint cans and found an empty wall to throw up some art, Chloe sat against the opposite wall and watched as she drank some soda and ate a burger from the burger place they’d stopped at.

“You’re actually really good,” Chloe said, mouth full of fries as Red carefully blocked out the rose she was going to paint. Red grinned, face hidden beneath the spray paint mask she’d bought, just a temp one—as she hadn’t brought her actual one with her, that was still in their dorm.

“Where’d you learn to do this? I assume not wonderland,” Chloe asked, and Red shrugged. She’d be right. Red stepped back, lowering her mask.

“Yeah, my mom hates graffiti art. But I learned on the isle, it’s way more common over there. Mal was a big inspiration for me, she threw up her mom’s tags all over the place, long live evil n’ all that, but she was really good, even nabbed one of her cans when I was younger, a pink one.” Red said, shaking a can and stepping to the right to do a quick doodle of her mom’s symbol, a layered heart with a pointed crown atop it. “I kept doing It in wonderland though, something to keep my independence; I was defacing my mom’s stupid propaganda art almost every night.”

Chloe hummed, watching Red do her work, the girl in her element. “Bit of a rebel then?” Chloe said, teasing, because yeah, duh. Red laughed.

“Yeah, bit of a rebel, my mom hated it, never found out it was me though.” Red grinned, stepping back to the rose she was painting, and Chloe watched as it came to life. A white rose with red paint dripping from it. “Painting the roses red,” Chloe said, and Red nodded, capping her paint can and stepping back.

“I like it,” Chloe said, admiring the full art Red had thrown up and Red gave a bashful grin.

“Thanks,” she said, that wasn’t something she heard very often about her graffiti art. Then she heard Chloe gasp and turned, watching as Chloe abruptly stood, staring at her phone. “What?”

“It’s almost midnight—curfew!” Chloe nearly squealed, and Red let out a low whistle, man they’d been out here a long while then. “C’mon! We gotta get back to the dorm castle!” Red scooped up her new spray-paint cans, her shopping bags, and her bag of food, the two racing through the market streets towards Auradon prep; just barely making it into their dorm as the clock ticked to midnight.

“Phew, just in time,” Red laughed, as Chloe breathed hard and slid to the ground, before laughing a little, Red smirking down at her. “What? Never got that close to curfew before, Princess? You really are a goody-two-shoes,” Red teased, and Chloe rolled her eyes, smacking Red’s leg.

“Oh, shut up, I have a routine and stick to it, but this was…fun, thank you, Red.” Chloe said, grinning up at Red, who grinned back, helping Chloe up. They started to unpack their shopping spree bags; Red putting things away where they belonged right away instead of just making a new pile on her ottoman.

“I don’t wanna go to bed yet,” Red said, flopping backwards onto her bed, staring at her curtain canopy. Chloe hummed. She felt the same way; then she perked up. She had an idea, a fun one, a spontaneous one.

“What if we stay up a little?” Chloe offered, grinning a bit; it seemed Red was already rubbing off on her, in a good way. Red sat up, raising her brow with a smirk. “We could watch a movie, I have a bit of a candy stash, and popcorn?”

Red’s smirk grew into a grin. “That sounds very fun, Princess. like a sleepover! I’ve never had a sleepover before,” Red said, grabbing her pajama’s to change into, and Chloe clapped, putting away her folded shopping bags into an underbed storage box, grabbing her PJs as well.

“Me neither! This’ll be so much fun!” Chloe squealed, and Red laughed, getting changed as Chloe dipped into the bathroom to do the same.

Soon, a TV was propped up on Chloe’s bed ottoman, the lights off and popcorn popped; the two new friends huddled up together on Chloe’s bed, giggling away quietly as the movie played.

“I’m glad we’re friends now, this is way better than messing up your makeup to get you mad,” Red whispered mid-way through the movie. Chloe smiled, her chin nudging Red’s shoulder.

“Me too, it’s way better than getting irritated at every little thing you do,” Chloe teased, and Red laughed quietly, sinking back against Chloe’s pillows as the movie went on, the popcorn bowl set between them.

A good start to a good friendship, something they’d both needed.