Into the Depths

Chapter 6

"Well I already had your measurements and the fabric so all I needed to do was just make the thing," Evie said. "Sure that part was time extensive but it's also the fun part. I get to go into my own world and just tune everything else out."

Mal nodded. She could understand that. It was why she loved sketching so much. You didn't have to focus on anything but the picture in front of you, making it the level of perfect you wanted it to be.

"How did Ben like his painting?" Evie asked after a few minutes of the girls sitting in silence.

"He loved it," Mal said with a small smile at the memory of Ben's reaction upon seeing it. "He said he wanted to get it framed and hang it in his office."

Evie couldn't help but smile at that. "I told you he'd love it."

"You know no one likes a know it all," Mal teased her friend as the limo stopped at the docks. Mal took a steady breath before getting out of the limo. No one but Jay knew this but she had a teensy, tiny, almost minuscule fear of water.

...okay so it was larger than that. It wasn't debilitating or anything but you'd be afraid of water too if you almost drowned at the age of nine.

The only other times she'd been in water, she'd been too focused on saving Ben and making sure Dizzy was alright to realize what she'd been doing. Of course both those times had again resulted in her almost drowning.

I've really got to contact Ariel for that swimming lesson, don't I? Mal thought. After all, that's a weakness that Uma knows about. If she ever escaped from the Isle...

Mal shook her head softly as she and Evie boarded the yacht and started making their way along the blue carpet. She didn't think Uma would ever actually take advantage of Mal not being able to swim but then again, Mal hadn't thought Uma would just stand there and laugh as she drowned either. The press began milling around Evie and Mal like moths to a flame, the blue haired girl soaking in the attention like she'd been born talking to reporters.

Then again, Evil Queen did raise Evie to be a princess. Chances are she would have gone over dealing with the press, Mal thought as she made her way down the rope line.

"Mal!" A familiar voice called out and Mal couldn't help but smile at seeing Snow White approach her.

"Hello Snow," Mal said though she didn't know if she should give Snow a curtsey or not as the princess was clearly working.

"You look stunning," Snow said, holding out the microphone and unknowingly answering Mal's internal question. "We all know the answer of course but do you mind telling the folks at home who you're wearing?"

Mal chuckled and nodded. "Of course. This dress was designed and created by my best friend, Evie of the Isle."

"I have to say, Evie outdoes herself every time," Snow said as her cameraman panned up and down Mal's dress as if to give the viewers a complete view.

"She really does," Mal agreed.

"I'll let you get going Mal," Snow said, giving the younger girl a kind smile. "It's almost time for the big event."

Mal shook her head and made her way through the rope line and to the back room where she would be waiting until she was called. Of course, there was one thing wrong with that—it was dangerous to be alone with one's thoughts.

Especially when the last time she had been in this room, Ben was off being spelled by Uma.

That wasn't you, Mal thought as she popped her wrist out of nerves. That was the viewing's version of you and since Uma's trapped on the Isle, it's not going to happen.