CHAPTER 20

(Jay POV)

After fighting with Val, I had returned to my room before flopping down face first on my bed. I didn't even notice if Carlos was there or not. How could I have been so stupid? Why didn't I just tell her that I felt the same? Now she's probably never going to talk to me again. I need to figure out how to fix this because I can't take not talking to her. I roll over on my back before I feel something land on the bed. I look over to see Dude. Dude drops a note and the bracelet that I had given Val when we first got here.

I open the note and read, "I'm so sorry but I couldn't stay here being someone I'm not. I also couldn't take knowing that you don't like me the same way. I know this is selfish but it's what I have to do. I'm going to be me. Please, don't come and find me. Love, Val."

It broke my heart knowing that is the way she felt. I have to let Ben know, so he will let me go to the Isle to get her.

(3rd Person POV)

Evie found Mal's note and Ben's ring. She quickly went to go tell Ben. She knocks on his door as she opens it.

"Ben?" Evie says as she pokes her head in.

"Evie! Come on in," Ben says as he stands up from his desk.

"Mal's gone back to the Isle and I can't find Val," Evie explains as she walks over to him. Evie then hands him the note. "Ben..." Evie holds out his ring which he takes before opening the note and reading it.

"This is my fault. This is my fault. I... I blew it. She'd been under so much pressure lately, and instead of being understanding, I just went all Beast on her. I have to go there and apologize. I have to go there and.... and beg her to come back," Ben says urgently.

"Ben, you'll never find her. You need to know the Isle and how it works and..." Evie says but is interrupted by a knock on the door. Jay then enters the room.

"Sorry to interrupt but Val's gone back to the Isle," Jay says as he sees a worried Evie and a stressed Ben.

"You have to take me with you," Evie tells Ben.

"Me too," Jay says.

"Yes! Uh, are... are you both sure?" Ben asks.

"Yeah," Evie answers while Jay nods. "They're my best friends."

"I'd do anything for Val," Jay adds.

"And we'll bring the Carlos, too, because there's safety in numbers, and none of us are really too popular over there right now," Evie explains.

"Thank you," Ben tells them.

"But let's get two things straight. You have to promise me that I won't get stuck there again," Evie says.

"All of us," Jay adds.

"I promise," Ben agrees.

"And there's no way you're going looking like that," Evie states. Evie takes Ben to find him an outfit while Jay goes to get Carlos.

(Val POV)

Mal and I reach the hangout and look around. Nothing had changed since we left.

"First things first, I'm going to get my hair done. Care to join me Mal?" I say and Mal nods her head. We go to Lady Tremaine's Curl Up & Dye shop. When we reach the front door we see a sign that says closed until midnight. Mal and I sneak in anyways. Once inside we find Dizzy, daughter of Drizella, sweeping the floors. Mal and I stand in the doorway and wait for her to notice us.

"Mal! Val!" Dizzy says as she notices us and takes her headphones off. "Is Evie back, too?"

"As if," Mal answers and Dizzy's face drops.

"I, um, forgot that you guys don't open till midnight. Place looks good," I explain as I look around.

"So what is your deal? Has your grandmother given you any customers yet?" Mal asks as she walks around.

"Ah, just a witch here and there. Mostly, it's a lot of scrubbing and scouring and sweeping. Lots and lots of sweeping," Dizzy answers.

"Sounds like the old Cinderella treatment, eh?" I ask her.

"Yeah, she's gone from Wicked Stepmother to Wicked Grandmother," Dizzy answers.

"That's not really much of a switch," Mal states.

"Hey, Dizzy, you used to do Evie, right?" I ask her.

"Yeah. I thought of the little braids," Dizzy says happily.

"You have any ideas for us?" Mal asks.

"Mm," Dizzy says as she looks us over. Dizzy then walks over to use and grabs some of our hair in each hand. "The washed-out blonde with purple tips or green tips? The best of no worlds. You can't see where your face ends and your hair begins!" Mal and I laugh before Dizzy grabs our hands and guides us over to some chairs. Mal and I sit down. "Oh, what is this, 'Bored to Death Pink'?" Dizzy looks at Mal's nails and I laugh. I don't ever paint my nails because it always ends up chipping. "Hmm. How far can I go?"

"The works?" Mal answers.

"I mean, whatever makes me feel like me, but, you know... way worse," I answer and Mal nods.

"Yay!" Dizzy cheers before going and grabbing some scissors. Dizzy works on Mal first. Dizzy dyes Mal's hair back purple before cutting it. She then rolls it up in some cans before putting the hair dryer over it. She sits down and paints Mal's nails black. Dizzy then comes to me. She dyes my hair back green before cutting it. She also rolls it in the cans before putting a hair dryer over it. She goes back over to Mal and takes the hair dryer off. She then takes the cans out before making sure that it is straight. Dizzy then once again comes back over to me and takes the hair dryer off. She takes the cans out, leaving the curls. Mal and I both then get up and look in the broken mirror.

"Heyyy, there we are," Mal says. Mal's hair is now purple with bangs. My hair is now back green with it parted on the side and curled.

"Voila!" Dizzy says.

"Voila," I agree as Mal pulls some money out. I walk over to my bag and grab a piece of gum before popping it into my mouth. I also grab some more money to give to Dizzy.

"For me?" Dizzy asks.

"Yeah. You earned it," Mal answers. Dizzy squeals before heading to put the money up.

"Fork it over, you runt," A voice I never thought I would hear again says. Dizzy gives him the money. Harry Hook the bangs on the little desk they had with the register on it. "Now the rest of it." Dizzy gives him the coin that was in the register. "Hmm. Thank you." Harry then turns to leave.

"Still running errands for Uma, or do you actually get to keep what you steal?" Mal asks him, which makes him stop and turn around.

"Well, well, well. What a nice surprise," Harry says still not noticing me.

"Hi, Harry," Mal says as he walks over to her.

"Just wait until Uma hears you're back. She's never gonna give you back your old territory," Harry explains.

"Oh, well, that's okay. Because we will be taking it," Mal says.

"I could hurt you," Harry says as he runs his hook along her neck grabbing her hair. I then grab Harry's arm, with the hand that holds the hook, jerking it away from Mal.

"Not without her permission, I bet," I state as I grab my gum from my mouth and put it on the end of his hook. He looks surprised, to say the least. Harry then takes his arm back before putting the gum in his mouth. He then walks towards the door but swipes the stuff off of the desk.

"Nice to have you back, Val," Harry says as he turns back to us and bows. He then leaves.

"Great. More sweeping," Dizzy says.

"Here," I say as I hand the money I had got out to her. "Like Mal said, you deserve it." Dizzy smiles and squeals before wrapping me in a hug. Mal and I then leave back to the hangout.