CHAPTER 18

Zoe and Mal rush into Carlos' room as they are chased by reporters.

"Zoe must be counting the days until the Royal Cotillion," The tv plays as Zoe locks the door before she starts pacing. "when she will officially become a Lady of the Court." Zoe turns the tv off before she starts shaking and her eyes flash purple.

"Whoa. Easy, girl," Carlos says from where he and Dude are on his bed.

"What? You think this is so easy?!" Zoe asks him as she walks over to him. "You don't have people taking a photo of you every single time you open your mouth to say boo! I mean, it's not that I could even say, "Boo," but, you know what I..."

"I'm sorry," Carlos says as Zoe lets out a sigh as Mal rubs her shoulder in comfort.

"Carlos, don't you ever miss screaming at people and just making them run away from you?" Mal asks as Zoe tries to calm down.

"You're thinking of my mother, and I was usually on the other end of that. So, not really. No," Carlos answers Mal before noticing a red box in Zoe's hand. "Oh, hey! Did you bring it?" Zoe goes to open the box but the door is unlocked before Chad starts sneaking in.

"Hi," Chad says after he notices them. "Just came to use your 3D printer. Won't be a sec."

"How'd you get a key to my room?" Carlos asks him.

"Oh, I printed it off last time I was in here," Chad says as he looks at the key in shock. "Uh... you guys were sleeping. Look, I just... Your printer's so much better than mine, and you install these hacks and everything runs so much smoother than mine and..." Zoe and Mal share a smile.

"Out! Now," Carlos orders him.

"Fine. Fine," Chad says before starting to walk away.

"Chad!" Carlos says.

"What? Hmm?" Chad asks as he turns back around.

"Leave the key," Carlos yells him. Chad puts the key on the table before leaving while slamming the door. "Zoe?"

"Hmm?" Zoe asks as she comes out of spaced out daze. Mal and Carlos share a worried look.

"My potion?" Carlos asks her.

"Hmm. Yeah. Um..." Zoe says as she opens the box and pulls out a gummy.

"So, this thing will make me say what I really feel to Jane?" Carlos asks her.

"Yeah. I mean, this is a truth gummie, so take it or leave it," Zoe explains to him.

"Perfect," Carlos says with a smile.

"Hold on, though. Are you sure that you want to be taking this?" Zoe asks him. "Because this is gonna make you say the truth all the time, no matter what, and the only reason that I'm asking is because I know that if I took this right now, I would get myself sent back to the Isle. Which, it's not that that sounds super unappealing, but, you know..."

"Yeah. I'll take my chances, I guess," Carlos says before Zoe drops her hand that has the gummy in it.

"Okay," Zoe says before Dude eats the gummy out of her hand. "Ohh! Bad dog!"

"Man, that thing was nasty!" Dude says causing Zoe, Mal, and Carlos to look at each other in shock. "And you... you just got to man up. And while you're at it, scratch my butt."

"You heard him. Scratch his butt," Zoe says before she and Mal head for the door.

"Zoe. Mal. You're just gonna leave me with him?" Carlos asks before they close the door.