CHAPTER 22

(Jay POV)

We walk to the old hangout place. I pick up a rock and throw it at the Warning Flying Rocks sign which causes the door to open. Evie and I then walk Ben over to the stairs.

"Wish me luck," Ben says.

"All the way up. Send Val down if you see her," I tell Ben before he starts heading up the stairs.

"Good luck," Evie calls after him. We all sit and wait.

(Val POV)

I was getting bored just sitting and watching Mal paint. I got up and went towards the stairs. When I reached the stairs I was totally surprised to see Ben coming up them.

"Val, Ja.." Ben begins but I cut him off knowing that the others would be here with him.

"She's in the back," I tell him before I walk down the stairs. I stop at the balcony before the last set of stairs and see Evie, Jay, and Carlos waiting. I climb down the side using the chain length fence instead of the stairs. "Well, if it isn't the rest of the VK's." I land on the barrel Carlos was sitting in front of, scaring him. Jay quickly stands up and walks over. All of their faces are shocked.

"We need to talk," Jay says and I nod my head. We walk a little ways away from the group.

"What is it, Jay?" I ask him.

"Val, I'm so sorry about our fight. It was all my fault. It... Please come home," Jay says as he holds the bracelet out.

"Jay, I am home," I state.

"I drove the limo. It's a sweet ride," Jay says.

"I don't fit in, Jay. I really gave it my best shot. I like you so much it hurts. And if you think that I can change or stop liking you, I think you're wrong," I explain. "Besides I'm not going to leave Mal behind, she's my sister."

"Mal's a big girl she can make her own decisions. This about you being happy," Jay says. "And besides I really like you too. In the same way. I couldn't stand not being able to see you or talk to you." I look at Jay shocked. Jay goes to put the bracelet back on my wrist. "Say something." We hear Ben coming down the stairs and I take my arm away.

"You should go," I say before I walk over to the others. Jay not far behind.

"So? Where's Mal?" Evie asks. Ben leaves the stairs and I start up them. The door closes before Jay can follow.

"She's not coming back," Ben answers.

"What? I'll talk to her," Evie says before walking over to the phone deal. I'm on the balcony watching them. "M? Mal, its Evie. Let me just talk to you for a second. Mal, come on."

"Go away!" Mal's voice can be heard. I notice that Ben had disappeared and start climbing down the chain length fence.

"Let's give her a couple of hours to cool off," Evie says.

"Guys! Where's Ben?" Carlos asks. I jump down on the barrel before landing on the ground.

"He went that way," I say as they look at me confused, probably wondering what I was doing. I knew it was dangerous for Ben to be on the Isle so I was helping.

"Ben? Ben!" Evie calls. Jay comes to stand behind me while Evie stands between him and Carlos. We see a figure that is walking towards us and they assume that it is Ben. "Ben, don't scare us like that."

"Don't scare you?" Harry asks as he reveals himself. "But that's my specialty." He sends me a wink and I feel Jay stiffen behind me. Maybe he wasn't lying about liking me.

"Harry," I state.

"What did you do with Ben?" Jay asks rudely.

"Oh, uh, we nicked him. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And if you want to see him again, have Mal come to the Chip Shoppe tonight. With Val only. Uma wants a little visit," Harry says as he moves some hair away from my face and I see Jay send him a glare from the corner of my eye. "Aw, Jay. Seems like you've lost your touch and never got your chance."

"Hey!" Jay says as he goes to get Harry.

"Jay!" I say as I turn and put my hand on his shoulder making him stop. Harry then barks at Carlos before leaving. "Come on." I start climbing the chain length fence while the others climb up the side of the stairs. We find Mal and explain what happened.

"If you guys never would have brought him here, this never would have happened. What were you thinking?!" Mal says.

"He was gonna come with or without us. We just wanted to protect him," Evie answers.

"Yeah, and we completely blew it, guys," Carlos states.

"Okay! Okay. So, what are we gonna do?" Jay asks.

"'We' are not doing anything. This is between Uma, Mal and me," I answer as I stand beside Mal.

"And she's a punk. And guess what? Now we have to go get him," Mal says.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Mal. Val. You're still gonna have to go through Harry Hook and his wharf rats," Carlos says.

"Yeah, you're gonna need us," Jay says as he looks at me.

"Uma said for Mal and I come alone," I say.

"Mal, Val, come on," Evie tries.

"She said to come alone. I know one thing. I'm not going anywhere," Carlos says as he sits down on the couch.

"We'll be here when you get back," Jay says as Mal walks to the stairs and I head to grab my bag. Jay follows me. "Please, be careful." Tired of fighting him a stand on my tip-toes and give him a kiss on the cheek before giving him a small smile and leaving. Mal and I bust into Chip Shoppe to find Uma waiting tables.

"We're back," I call out as we smirk.

"Losers, party of two. Right this way, please," Uma says as she kicks a chair towards Mal. Mal catches it and sits down. I sit beside her.

"Place still stinks," Mal states as Mal and I scrunch up our noses.

"Oh, I'm sorry. We're down a butler today... Princess," Uma says.

"Where is he?" Mal asks. Uma takes off her apron and drops it.

"You know, I've dreamed of this. You both wanting something from me, and me watching you both squirm like a worm on a hook," Uma explains.

"I'm so flattered that you dream of us," I state.

"I haven't given you a thought since I left," Mal adds to the sting.

"Obviously," Uma says as she slams her fist down on the table. "You both have your perfect, little lives, don't you?" Uma turns to everyone else. "Don't they have the perfect, little life? And we're 20 years into a garbage strike."

"Listen, if you have some kind of score to settle with us, game on," I tell her.

"I see no need to bring Ben into this," Mal adds.

"It may be a little unnecessary, but, oh, it is so much fun. Here's the deal," Uma says.

"Just like your mother always a catch," Mal says.

"If you win..." Uma says as she sits down in front of Mal and raises her arm to arm wrestle. "Ben is free to go." Mal raises her arm as well. "Hmm? Don't you want to know what I get if I win?"

"Still dreaming," Mal answers.

"Mm. Last time I checked, your mother thought she had things all sewn up, too, huh? How'd that work out for her again?" Uma questions us as she grasps Mal's hand.

"On three," Mal says and I cover both of their hands with mine.

"One. Two. Three," I say as I let go of their hands for them to start.

"You know, that whole princess act? Ugh. Never bought it for a second. You can stick a tiara on a villain, but you're still a villain," Uma says and Mal doesn't falter.

"And you can slap a pirate hat on, but you're still Shrimpy," Mal says and Uma falters. Mal starts using her green eyes and almost has Uma's arm down.

"If I win you both bring me the wand," Uma says which makes Mal falter, losing her green eyes and Uma wins. "Now... if you want beasty boy back, bring me Fairy Godmother's magic wand to my ship tomorrow at 12:00 noon sharp. Oh, and if either of you blabs, you can kiss your baby goodbye." Uma blows us a kiss before walking away. Mal and I go back to the hangout and explain to them what happened.

"There's no way we're gonna give Uma the wand. We can't just let her destroy Auradon," Evie says as Mal and I pace around.

"Uma doesn't get the wand, then Ben is toast, guys," Carlos states.

"Right, so, we're gonna give Uma, of all people, the wand," Evie says.

"Do we have another choice?" Jay asks.

"Wait! You guys!" I say as I stop pacing. "Your 3D printer."

"A phony wand?" Carlos asks.

"Yes!" I say.

"I can do that in my sleep," Carlos says.

"And the second Uma tests it, she'll know it's fake," Evie says.

"Well, okay, so then we just get Ben out really fast," Mal says. "We need some kind of diversion."

"Smoke bombs!" Jay and I say at the same time. We share a smirk.

"That's perfect. I'll get the chemicals I need from Lady Tremaine's place. That could work," Evie says as she walks over to Mal and me. "Oh, and sick hair, by the way." Evie touches our hair. "Evil Stepmom seriously stepped up her game."

"Okay, do you want to know something?" I ask her and she nods. "Dizzy did this."

"Little Dizzy? Shut up!" Evie says and Mal nods.

"I know. I'm, like, loving it. It's, like, a lot lighter," Mal says.

"Really proud of her," Evie says.

"Hello?" Carlos says as Jay clears his throat.

"Right," Evie says.

"Carlos, Jay, you guys meet us at Pirates Bay no later than noon," Mal orders.

"I'm going with them," I say and Mal nods.

"And, you guys, losing...not an option," Mal says.

"'Cause we're rotten..." I start.

"To the core," We all finish.

"Let's do this," I say as Carlos and Jay grab their jackets.