Chapter 35
"Drac!"
"Drac!"
"Drac!"
"Drac!"
"Drac!"
Shouts of his name rang in his ears and for a moment he felt like he was back in Auradon surrounded by paparazzi. VK's lined the street, circling him like a herd. Excited faces and smiles were everywhere he looked as he shuffled through papers. On his left Freddie was showing some kids who had questions how to fill out their application while on his right Diego was helping collect the finished forms. At their feet were boxes stuffed with returned papers. They'd all been empty that morning, snatched up by eager VK's.
It had only been a handful of weeks ago that he had ridden around the Isle on his bike tossing newspapers on every porch. The headline "Next Five To Arrive!" was not only catchy but spread like wildfire.
"What number shipment is this going to be now?" Diego asked as he taped shut a full box and lifted it onto the stack behind them.
"I think fifteen." Drac told him as he took another application. He found the line where the VK had written their name and pulled out another piece of paper – a certificate – he filled in the name on the line on the top, signed the bottom with his signature and pinned a ribbon with the seal of Auradon to the bottom right corner. He passed the certification back to the VK as he took the application. "Make sure to have that with you on VK Day."
The girl in rags nodded as she gripped the paper tightly in her hands like it was her lifeline. When she stepped back three more VK's took her place. Drac was certain that Auradon had not been expecting such a massively positive response to the idea Ben, Evie and Drac had crafted in the months after Cotillion. There had been so much preparation to get this idea off the ground. Even living on the Isle Drac had been a huge part of setting up the whole affair. It had been his idea to begin the process over the summer break. That way everyone's schedules would be less crammed and there would be time to help the VK's adjust to life in Auradon before throwing them into classes. Classes that they likely wouldn't pay attention to at first much like how the five of them had.
But phase one, the applications, was already a massive success – a busy and stressful success, but still a success. Last Drac heard from Evie she was thrilled and Ben was even happier. His dream was being realized and so many kids were going to get happy endings.
A sharp whistle cut through the excited voices. "QUIET!" Freddie screeched as she stood on the table. Immediately the VK's all settled down to listen. She pointed behind her to above the door of Bargain Castle where a new clock now rested. "Lunch break."
Many of the kids let out disappointed groans, but Drac knew one thing: never get in the way of Freddie and her food. And honestly, without her, Drac wasn't sure he'd be able to calm the crowd long enough to ever get a break.
"Thanks Freddie." He sighed as he plopped down on a half broken chair behind him and caught his breath. He looked up at Bargain Castle looming behind him. It looked so different then when he had been growing up. Its exterior was no longer disheveled, all the stones had been pushed back into place, fresh mortar had been applied, and any wood had been given a fresh coat of lime green paint. The broken roof had been replaced with purple tiles that looked like dragon scales and the black doors had been fixed since the place had been looted after Drac had his meltdown inside. The interior had been cleaned out too. Drac had a working fridge and radio – luxuries on the Isle. There was a television of course, that played Auradon's latest news. The furniture was all new, the shiny polished wood and dark green upholstery was the most comfortable thing that had ever been in his home. He had couches and chairs to house the whole Anti-heroes club, and often he did. It didn't even smell like rotten food or mold anymore, but had a crisp clean smell thanks to some candles Evie had sent him that smelled like apples.
Speaking of Evie brought Dizzy to mind and Drac realized how long it had been since he'd checked in on the young girl.
"I'm going to take my lunch to go." He said standing up, "I'll see you guys in an hour."
"See ya Drac." Diego said before turning to Freddie with a smirk.
As Drac walked past the Slop Shop he saw it was busier then ever, most of the kids Freddie had just shooed away ended up there, eating stale bread puddings while they waited to jump back in line to submit what would hopefully be their ticket to Auradon. Though it was less crowded in the outer alleys of the Isle Drac still got called and waved at with smiles as he walked.
When he made it to the Curl Up and Dye Dizzy was already inside with a rag wiping off the broken mirrors as best she could without getting cut.
"Hey Diz." He smiled as he walked in and she turned and screamed happily. Immediately there was a banging from the floor above them which made Dizzy quiet down, but she looked no less excited to see him as she rushed over and hugged him.
"Drac! Have you heard from Evie? How's Mal? Did they get my application? I still have the certificate you gave me! How much longer until VK Day? I'm so excited I can't –"
"Dizzy, Dizzy, calm down." He chuckled as she hopped in place. "We're still collecting applications but I told you, you're a shoe in. Like Cinderella and her slipper."
Dizzy's eyes lit up as they crinkled in the outer corners from her smile. "Really?"
He chuckled again and took a seat in one of her chairs, "Dizzy, you're like the little sister Evie never had. She's already pulling for you to go to Auradon. Plus, King Ben already sent you that invitation to join in the next academic year at Auradon Prep. Yes, you're a shoe in." he looked around, "Just don't tell anyone I told you that."
Dizzy brought her fingers to her lips, made a zipping gesture, then threw the imaginary key over her shoulder. He smiled. "So how have you been?"
She rolled her eyes, "Granny keeps complaining, asking why I would ever want to go to Auradon when I have all I need right here. Cousin Anthony keeps spilling things behind her back that she makes me clean up." Dizzy shrugged, "It doesn't really bother me. Not when I'm counting down the days to VK Day!" she squealed again.
Drac smiled, though it was half hearted. He hated hearing stories like this, and on the Isle there were plenty of them. He ran a hand through his hair. Then he got an idea.
"Hey Dizzy." He began, "I've been thinking about getting a haircut. Think you can hook me up?"
She grinned ear to ear. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, I mean you made Mal look pretty wicked. Just. . . no hedge clippers."
She sighed but then perked up, "Okay." She put her fingers together like she was looking at him through a frame. "I have the perfect idea!"
- - LONG LIVE EVIL - -
Roughly thirty minutes later Drac was leaving the Curl Up and Dye, Dizzy had cut his hair shorter on the sides and just trimmed the top before she styled it. With the new cut the top looked a bit spikier now, a bit messier, but all in all he was digging it.
Finding the nearest fire escape, he climbed it all the way to the top, then leapt and vaulted his way over the rooftops until he came to his and CJ's special spot. The pirate was already there, with lunch, petting Diaval as she fed him some pieces of bread from her pudding.
"You know." He began, getting her attention, "I have fresher food from Auradon down at Bargain."
CJ looked him up and down and Drac couldn't help but self-consciously run a hand through his hair. She stood up and Diaval hopped over and started helping himself to the rest of her pudding. She ran a hand along his head, her fingers brushing his now shorter hair before she played with the longer strands on top. Try as she might she wasn't going to succeed in taming them, Drac couldn't help but wonder if he'd gotten that trait from his father too.
But CJ's close proximity turned the air intimate, it was a nice intimate, warm, cozy. But of course his mind had to start overthinking things and ruin it. He was bombarded with all the reasons why he shouldn't let her continue, why he shouldn't lean in and kiss her again. Why he shouldn't find out if it tasted as sweet as it did last time when their blood was pumping with post-battle adrenaline. It would be leading her on, a voice in his conscience whispered. If you have feelings for Aziz kissing CJ now would be wrong. And Drac knew he had feelings for Aziz. But he had feelings for CJ too, and he had no idea which he wanted to pursue. And he was afraid the choice would ultimately make him lose at least one of them.
He cleared his throat breaking the moment before it could fully set in and take hold. CJ pulled back slightly as Drac asked. "I, um, noticed you didn't apply to the VK Day program."
She chuckled and stepped back, she spun once and faced him, "I don't think Auradon could handle all this." She said smugly.
He chuckled. "I think you'd like it there."
She shook her head and collected her things as the two of them made their way leisurely across the roofs to his gang's old hideout. Since CJ had thrown that smoke bomb and saved their skins he didn't feel bad about giving her access to the place. She was practically one of them now. Though she would never outwardly admit she was in Mal's crew. CJ preferred being her own person, making her own allies and not following a leader.
"Lonnie had to leave. She got recruited for the professional R.O.A.R. league. So. . . Jay's going to be looking for a new team captain. I know he'd love to pick another girl."
"For diversity or to rub it in Chad Charming's face some more?" she asked.
"Is there anything wrong with it being both?"
She laughed, "Hey I'm all for rubbing it in that guy's face. Villain remember?"
He shook his head as they made it to the hideout. He pulled open the hatch in the roof and CJ jumped inside. Drac followed, leaving the hatch propped open for when Diaval caught up to them.
"Seriously CJ. You'd like it there, I know you would." He kept trying to persuade her. Auradon was great but it would be better with his best friend there. And he wanted CJ to get a chance to have the best life possible. Did he think she'd like school? No. But afterward she could get herself a real ship and crew and sail the world. "You'd ace history of Woodsman and Pirates class. You'd take our R.O.A.R. team to the championship. And after school you'd have the entire world to explore."
She smiled at him as she hung her red coat up on the coat hanger. "Even Neverland?"
"Even Neverland. I'm sure Peter would love to hear about all the times you've gone toe to toe with Harry – and won. And let's face it, if Harry hates you hanging around me how mad would he be about you becoming friends with the Lost Boys?"
She laughed and sat herself on a barstool in the makeshift kitchen. It was actually just the corner of the room where Jay had kept a bunch of broken stuff his dad couldn't sell but Carlos used to work on to see if he could get any of it running again. The paint splattered countertop had broken toasters, a cracked blender, chipped coffee mugs, and an air fryer that Evie had swiped the basket from to store her nail polish. Drac went to the fridge where a bunch of magnets spelt out 'down with bolt boy' – which told Drac his dad had stopped by while he was out.
He opened the door and felt inside, it was barely cold, without electricity the only thing he could do to keep food from spoiling was throw in a chunk of ice he'd stolen from Jadis. He pulled out a bottle of fresh juice Mal had sent from Auradon with the last shipment of fresh off the printer applications. He grabbed a clean glass for CJ and a reasonably undamaged mug for himself.
"Why are you so pro-Auradon all of a sudden?" she asked accepting the drink, "I mean, you don't even live there."
He sighed, "I just don't want to see you trapped here for the rest of your life. I know your dream is to sail the world."
She glanced at the ceiling and drank silently. Drac threw his back in one shot before clanking the mug back on the counter.
"Right here, right now, I put the offer out. I don't wanna chase you down, I know you see it." She turned from him so he moved to the other side of the island to look at her, "You run with me, and I can cut you free out of the drudgery and walls you keep in." he snapped twice and by magic the jug slid down the tabletop to him as he refilled his mug, "So trade that typical for something colorful. And if it's crazy, live a little crazy. You can play it sensible, a queen of conventional. Or you can risk it all and see. . ."
He leapt onto the counter without using his hands. "Don't, you, wanna get away, from the same, old, part you gotta play?" he lowered himself to one knee and held out his hand. "'Cause I got what you need, so come with me and take the ride. It'll take you to the other side." She turned again so he leapt off the table, flipping in the air and landing in front of her. "'Cause you can do like you do. Or you can do like me. Stay in the cage, or you'll finally take the key. Oh, damn, suddenly you're free to fly. It'll take you to the other side!"
"Okay, my friend, you want to cut me in. Well, I hate to tell you, but it just won't happen." She got up from the barstool, passed right by him and headed for the coatrack. "So thanks, but no. I think I'm good to go. 'Cause I quite enjoy the life you say I'm trapped in. Now I admire you, and that whole show you do. You're onto something, really it's something." She threw her red coat on. "But I live among the swells, and we don't live like Beast and Belle. I'll have to leave that up to you. . ."
"Don't you know that I'm okay." She rested one foot on the bar of the stool and the other foot on the seat of it. "With this rundown part I get to play? 'Cause I got what I need and I don't want to take the ride." She angled the stool so it rotated in a circle before all of it's legs touched the ground sturdily again. "I don't need to see the other side." She stepped up onto the counter and continued. "So go and do like you do." She pointed to him. "I'm good to do like me. Ain't in a cage, so I don't need to take the key." She spread her arms wide. "Oh, damn, can't you see I'm doing fine. I don't need to see the other side." She leapt down.
Drac moved to the organ that was pressed against the wall and started to play as she reached the door. "Now is this really how you like to spend your days? Looting and misery, and pirates and plays?"
"If I were mixed up with you, I'd be the talk of dad's crew. Disgraced and disowned, I'd become a taboo." She kept walking for the stairs.
"But you would finally live a little, finally laugh a little. Just let me give you the freedom to dream. And it'll wake you up and cure your aching. Take your walls and start 'em breaking. Now that's a deal that seems worth taking. . ." he stood from the instrument. "But I guess I'll leave that up to you."
She paused for a beat before she turned on her heel and faced him with a smirk. "Well, it's intriguing, but to go would cost me greatly. So what percentage of your loot would I be taking?"
"Well, fair enough, you'd want a piece of all the action. I'll do your homework the first week, we could shake and make it happen."
She laughed but stepped closer, "I wasn't born this morning, two months would be just fine."
"Why not just go ahead and ask for all my time?"
"Seven weeks."
"I'd do two."
"Five."
"Maybe three."
"Four."
They were only an inch apart now.
He sighed, "Fine. Four."
She smirked, "You, have got yourself a new applicant."
"What I have." He rolled his eyes with a smile. "Is an overcompensated best friend."
She laughed. Then they both headed for the door.
"Don't you wanna get away, to a whole new part you're gonna play?"
"'Cause I got what you need, so come with me and take the ride. To the other side." He opened the door for her.
"So if you do like I do."
"So if you do like me."
"Forget the cage, 'cause we know how to make the key." They sang together as they parkoured down the metal steps and wire fencing. "Oh, damn, suddenly we're free to fly. We're going to the other side!"
"So if you do like I do."
"To the other side."
"So if you do like me."
"Going to the other side."
"'Cause if we do we're going to the other side. We're going to the other side!"
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Drac's new haircut⬇️