3rd person pov

The rhythmic beats of "Ways to Be Wicked" echoed in Mal's mind as she stepped out of the shadows and into the glaring light of the cameras. The song played in her head like a taunt, reminding her of the life she once led, a life where she didn’t have to pretend to be someone she wasn’t. Where wickedness was celebrated, not hidden under layers of glittering gowns and perfect smiles. She felt the weight of it all pressing down on her, more so today than any other day.

Auradon Prep was a swirl of activity, with reporters and cameras stationed outside the grand entrance, all vying for a glimpse of the soon-to-be Lady of the Court. But for Mal, this was suffocating. The expectation, the eyes watching her every move, analyzing her every gesture—it was all too much.

"Mal, please, over here! Mal!" The first reporter called out as she approached.

"Only three days to the Royal Cotillion. Ever think a girl like you would be Lady of the Court?" another voice chimed in.

Mal forced a smile, though it felt more like a grimace. A girl like her? What did that even mean? A villain kid, raised in the darkness of the Isle, suddenly thrust into the spotlight of royalty. No, she never thought she’d be Lady of the Court. She never even wanted to be.

"How does it feel to be the most envied girl in Auradon?" another reporter asked, pushing forward.

The most envied girl in Auradon? Mal bit back a laugh. She felt anything but enviable. The blonde hair, the perfect smile—it wasn’t her. It was the image Sabrina, and everyone else, expected her to maintain. But the truth? She was barely holding it together.

"Well, do you like being blonde?" A question snapped her out of her thoughts.

Before she could respond, another voice cut through the cacophony. "Is your mother still a lizard?"

Sabrina stepped forward, her presence instantly calming Mal’s frayed nerves. "Okay. All right. Excuse me. Uh, we will let you know if and when that particular situation changes," Sabrina said, her voice firm and authoritative.

Mal felt a pang of guilt. Sabrina was always the one to step in, to handle the press, to manage everything that came with being the Queen of Auradon. And now, with their relationship public, Sabrina was carrying Mal's burdens as well. Mal knew she should be grateful, but instead, she felt the pressure mounting.

"Did you ever think you'd be with a Villain Kid?" another reporter pushed, their tone more invasive than curious.

"We're done here," Sabrina declared, her voice leaving no room for argument.

"Okay. Shush, shush. Shoosh, shoosh. Shoosh, shoosh. This is still a school, so if you're here, you're either skipping or trespassing," Fairy Godmother added, stepping in to shoo the reporters away.

Mal sighed in relief as the reporters reluctantly began to disperse, but her tension remained. Fairy Godmother turned to her and Sabrina. "Mal. Sabrina."

"Fairy Godmother," they replied in unison, their voices tinged with the exhaustion of the day.

"Thank you, guys," Mal said to the reporters as they left, though her gratitude was more out of habit than sincerity. She didn’t owe them anything, but she was expected to be polite, to be gracious, to be everything she wasn’t.

"Don't pay any attention to them," Sabrina said, turning to Mal with a reassuring smile.

Mal wanted to believe her, but it was hard. "Well, that's a lot easier said than done, right?"

"I know. I know," Sabrina replied, her eyes filled with understanding. "You know, maybe we should do something. We should go somewhere. Get away."

Mal’s heart lifted at the idea, the thought of escaping, if only for a little while. "Yeah," she agreed, already picturing the freedom they could find away from the prying eyes.

"You know, what do-- I have a council meeting. I'm so late!" Sabrina exclaimed, suddenly remembering her responsibilities.

"That's okay," Mal said, trying to hide her disappointment.

"We'll-- We'll do it sometime. Uh…" Sabrina trailed off, already distracted by her duties.

Evie appeared, her presence as always bringing a sense of normalcy. "If we don't do a fitting for your gown right this minute, you'll be dancing in your bathrobe, okay? Hi. Let's go. Let's go."

Mal smiled weakly at her best friend. "Bye, Sabrina."

"Bye," Sabrina replied, her attention already elsewhere.

As the reporters called out to Sabrina, vying for her attention, Mal watched her girlfriend walk away, feeling more alone than ever. The pressure of being Sabrina’s girlfriend, of fitting into this perfect world, was suffocating. It was a constant struggle between who she was and who she was expected to be.

But in that moment, as she walked away with Evie, Mal realized something—no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t keep pretending. The wickedness in her heart, the girl she used to be, wasn’t gone. She was just hidden, waiting for the right moment to break free.

And with the Royal Cotillion just days away, Mal wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep it all together.

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