The school day was finally over! Erin felt pretty tired, and she was sure the new students were just as tired, maybe more so. Being in a new school, in a new environment, with all new people- it was draining stuff. Erin felt more tired just thinking about it.
She was more than ready to go back to her room and unwind a little before starting her homework. After stopping at her locker to grab all her books, Erin headed to her dorm.
The walk wasn't that long. And Erin passed the time by singing to herself. She didn't even finish the second song before arriving at her door. On her way, she passed Mal and Evie's room and noticed the door was open, but she didn't want to intrude. Standing in front of her closed door, Erin struggled to get the key out of her purse.
"Come on," she groaned. With a little more effort, she finally freed her key from the dark depths of her bag. "Ah-ha! Got it!"
Now, came another challenge- unlocking the door. Erin fumbled to put the key in the lock, and her hair was being less than cooperative, getting in her eyes and blinding her. She had to blow her bangs out of her face quite a few times. "Stupid hair," she whined. Her hair was in her eyes again and she groaned, flipping it out of her face. In the process, she dropped the key, and it somehow managed to slide under the door, locking Erin out of her room.
"What?! Really?! How does that happen?!"
"Erin?" Evie asked, popping her head out of her room, and making Erin jump in fright.
"Oh, Evie, you scared me," Erin stated, trying to slow her pounding heart. "What's up?"
Evie came out of her room and approached Erin slowly. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, yeah. I dropped my key and it went under the door somehow," Erin replied, gesturing to her door. "Only me."
"Do you wanna come into our room and hang out until Taylor gets back?"
A grateful smile adorned Erin's face and she was about to accept, but Taylor opened their door from inside, and said, "I heard my name."
Erin jumped for the second time in less than five minutes. "Tay!"
"Sorry," Taylor giggled. "Here's your key."
Taking her key, Erin asked, "You were in the room the entire time, and you didn't hear me struggling?"
"Nope," Taylor replied, popping the 'p'.
"But, you heard Evie say your name?"
Taylor shrugged innocently and informed, "I had just taken my headphones off when she said it. Then, I saw your key on the floor."
"Fine, you're forgiven," Erin said playfully, making Taylor stick her tongue out at her friend.
Erin scrunched up her nose and returned the gesture, which made Evie giggle. "You guys are adorable."
"Thanks," Taylor replied.
"Yeah, and thanks for offering to let me hang out with you."
"The offer still stands. Both of you, come on," Evie stated, motioning for Erin and Taylor to follow her. "Jane is in there too!"
"Sweet!" Taylor exclaimed as she fluttered past Evie into the open room. Erin shook her head and closed her door before walking with Evie into the girls' room.
Upon seeing Mal laying on her bed, Erin waved and greeted, "Hey, Mal."
"Hey, Red," Mal returned after looking up from her sketch, and she didn't waste any time getting back to it.
Taylor sat with Evie at the sewing desk while Erin sat by Evie's pillows. Jane was hanging on the poster at the foot of Evie's bed, and a disappointed scowl decorated her bright features. "What's wrong, Jane?" Taylor asked.
"Nice hair, by the way," Erin added. Jane's hair was no longer styled like a bob. It was longer and curled very nicely, and finished with her signature bow. Erin assumed it was extensions and the work of a curling iron. But her hair definitely wasn't like that this morning. Maybe she had a hair appointment, Erin thought.
"Thanks," Jane replied, but the disappointment was evident in her tone. "It's my mom. She doesn't understand me. She said, 'If a boy can't see the beauty within, then he's not worth it.' Can you believe it? What world does she live in?"
"Auradon," Mal deadpanned. Erin couldn't help but agree. 'Beauty within' was kind of the unspoken mantra around here. Jane groaned and collapsed dramatically on Evie's bed next to Erin. The redhead brushed some hair out of Jane's face before rubbing her arm comfortingly.
Evie, who had been sewing, held up her newest creation proudly for everyone to see. "Mal, do you like?"
Mal glanced up. "Yeah. It's cute. It brings out your eyes," she replied while still focusing on her sketch.
"I know," Evie stated proudly. "But there's something wrong with this machine. It keeps making a weird clicking noise."
Taylor perked up. "Oh, I can fix that!" She exclaimed, pulling a bobby pin from her golden blonde hair. "You'd be amazed by how much a little bobby pin could accomplish," Taylor stated happily after seeing the weird looks everyone was giving her.
As Taylor got to work on the sewing machine, Erin stated, "Taylor can fix and build anything. One time, our fan broke, the rutter kept falling down into the cage. Taylor fixed it like that." Erin snapped her fingers as she finished, emphasizing her point.
"Again, bobby pin. And some string," Taylor added. "I'm almost done. And.... There! You're all set, Evie."
The bluette squealed and clapped, thanking Taylor profusely. "That clicking noise shouldn't be a problem anymore. But if it starts up again, let me know and I'll take a closer look."
"How would you do that?" Evie asked curiously.
"By shrinking down to my fairy size."
Mal's head perked up. "You can do that?"
"Yup. All it takes is a little faith, trust, and..."
"Pixie dust," everyone finished together before breaking out into giggles, or in Mal's case a small chuckle.
After the giggles ceased, an easy silence filled the room. But it was quickly broken when Jane brought the conversation back to her, whining, "I'll never get a boyfriend."
"Boyfriends are overrated," Mal interjected as she continued to draw.
"And how would you know, Mal? You've never had one," Evie retorted.
"'Cause I don't need one, E," Mal fired back. "They're a waste of time," she said to the group.
Evie suddenly gasped. "I forgot to do Chad's homework! Oh, no!" She exclaimed while running to presumably Chad's bag before carrying it back to her desk. "Oh, no, no, no."
"And that is exactly what I mean," Mal added, using Evie to prove her point. Evie sent Mal a small glare but started Chad's homework anyway. Taylor and Erin shared a look, knowing Chad was only using the poor girl. But they also knew that Evie had to figure that out for herself.
"Speaking of boyfriends," Taylor started, perking up tremendously, "Erin, how was your date?"
Erin's brows furrowed. "Date? What date?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. Don't play dumb," Taylor replied, pointing a stern finger in Erin's direction.
The redhead held her hands up in surrender. "I'm not playing dumb."
"Who's the lucky guy?" Evie asked, already taking a break from Chad's homework.
Before Erin could say anything, Taylor said, "Jay."
"Jay?" Mal asked, looking up from her drawing to Erin. "Our Jay?"
Realizing what Taylor was talking about, Erin stated, "Oh, no. It wasn't a date. We were just hanging out."
"Liar! He invited you to watch his Tourney practice and then you guys had lunch together, I saw," Taylor stated.
"Yeah, that happened. But it wasn't a date. It was just two friends, getting to know each other," Erin defended.
"You're blushing," Jane stated.
Erin scoffed and stared at Jane with wide eyes- busted. "I-I am not... blushing. It's hot in here."
"Rin, you've never been a good liar," Taylor interjected. "You've already admitted to me that you think he's cute."
"Tay!"
The fairy held her hands up in mock surrender. "It's the truth."
Mal and Evie shared a look, not knowing what to make of this. Mal motioned for Evie to get more information by subtly jutting her head in Erin's direction. Evie nodded and let a small smirk decorate her face.
"Is the mermaid falling for the thief?" Evie asked teasingly, trying to gauge where Erin really stood in her feelings for Jay. It could also help her and Mal find out where Jay stood.
Taylor spoke before Erin could even open her mouth. "Oh, she definitely is. And I think it's mutual."
"What makes you say that?" Mal asked.
"He let her have half of his fries, it's a classic sign," Taylor replied. Erin's expression morphed into one of confusion, unable to see the connection. It was just food.
But Mal and Evie shared another look, knowing it was not just food- not to Jay. He never shared his meals because he knew that if he did that back home, he wouldn't eat. Jay was lucky if his father didn't steal food off his plate on any given night. And now, Jay was giving food away. Which meant only one thing: Jay was falling for Erin- hard.
"Hey, guys!" Lonnie greeted while walking into the room, cutting off the previous conversation much to Erin's relief. "I'm Lonnie."
Erin, Jane, and Taylor didn't say anything, already knowing who she was while Mal and Evie couldn't have cared less. "My mom's Mulan?" Lonnie tried again for a reaction.
Silence. "No?"
Lonnie shrugged. "Anyways, I love what you've done with Jane's hair. And I know you hate us, and, well, you're evil. But do you think you can do mine?" She asked, holding the ends of her short bob.
"I guess that solves one mystery," Erin said to no one in particular.
Mal ignored her, looking up at Lonnie intensely. "Why would I do that for you?"
"I'll pay you 50 dollars," Lonnie reasoned before holding out her change purse.
Evie shot out of her chair and took the bag as she stated, "Good answer. I need to buy more material. Let's see, I'm thinking, we lose the bangs, maybe some layers and some highlights."
"Yeah, yeah. I want it cool," Lonnie interjected. Then she gestured to the sorceress-in-training and added, "Like Mal's."
"Really? The split ends too?" Evie jabbed.
Mal gave her a death glare, but Evie paid it no mind as she jingled the money, causing Mal to groan and practically throw her pencil down. She begrudgingly got out of bed, picking up her spellbook on the way, and stood in front of Lonnie with one arm wrapped around the poster at the foot of her bed.
"Okay..." she started, looking for the spell she used on Jane. Once she found it, she reiterated, "Beware, forswear, replace the old with cool hair."
After she read the spell, Mal wicked her finger side to side through the air before going down then back up again while Lonnie's head followed. When Lonnie stood straight again, everyone could see green sparkles dancing around Lonnie's hair as it was transformed into long, curled tendrils.
Lonnie touched her new hair and went over to the mirror. A surprised but happy look lit up her face as she became awestruck with her new look. Evie joined her in the mirror, and after failing to read Lonnie's thrilled face, she said, "I know. I know. It looks like a mop on your head. You know what? Let's cut it off, layer it-"
"No, no, no, no, no, no!" Lonnie exclaimed quickly. "I love it."
"You do?"
"It's just..." Lonnie started before ripping a slit into her skirt, causing Erin and Taylor to shoot out of their seats and gasp. "Now, I'm cool."
Mal was hanging off the poster with a smirk and added, "Like ice."
Erin and Taylor shared a look, impressed that Lonnie had the guts. But nothing shocked them more than Jane walking up to the mirror and copying Lonnie's actions. It shocked Jane even more so as her hands flew up to her mouth.
"What did I just do? Mom's gonna kill me!" She exclaimed with wide eyes. Lonnie laid a comforting hand on Jane's shoulder. But she was too enamored with her new edgy look to go beyond that.
Evie turned to the only two other girls in the room with her hands resting proudly on her hips. "Would you ladies like a turn?"
"Oh, no, but thanks. I'm very happy with my red hair. And I don't think I need a wardrobe change," Erin replied kindly before turning to Taylor. "Tay?"
The fairy giggled. "No, thanks. Blonde suits me. But your magic is really cool, Mal."
"I agree," Erin interjected. "Just be careful. Fairy Godmother hates when her students use magic for everyday tasks, like hair."
"I've noticed," Mal said in an indifferent tone.
Erin nodded and looked around awkwardly. Lonnie and Jane were still staring at themselves in the mirror, and Evie had returned to Chad's homework while Mal laid back down on her bed, resuming her sketching. "Well, I have homework to do," Erin stated, "I'll see you all later. Thanks for inviting us, Evie."
Evie smiled at the girls and replied, "Anytime. See you. And thanks again, Tay."
"You're welcome. Bye," Taylor said with a wave.
"Lonnie, Jane, you coming?" Erin asked.
They acted as if they didn't hear her. Taylor huffed and grabbed both their arms, dragging them out easily despite her smaller stature. "You guys have mirrors in your own rooms. Let Mal and Evie have time to themselves," the fairy reprimanded. Lonnie and Jane nodded and giggled the entire way to their dorms about their new hair and how everyone would love it.
Erin and Taylor rolled their eyes as they closed Mal and Evie's door before going to their own. "Homework time," Erin said as she closed the door behind her.
"Naptime," Taylor said before flopping on her bed, falling asleep in an instant. Erin giggled at her friend's antics before sitting at her desk and getting to work.