In Mal and Evie's dorm room, Jane and Mal conversed while Evie focused on her sewing machine. Erendil hadn't shown his face to Evie since the previous day, which was causing both Evie and Mal to grow increasingly worried. Mal, however, seemed to handle her concerns better than her blue-haired friend.

"Mom said, 'If a boy can't see the beauty within, then he's not worth it,'" Jane mimicked in a singsong voice. "Can you believe it? What world does she live in?" She stomped angrily across the room.

Mal snickered. "Auradon?" she muttered under her breath.

Evie held up the dress she had been working on. "Mal? Do you like it?"

Mal looked up and nodded. "Yeah. It's cute. It really brings out your eyes," she said approvingly.

"I know," Evie responded with a smile. She resumed her sewing, but her smile quickly faded. "Um, Jane, sorry to interrupt, but have you seen Erendil around campus? I can't seem to find him," she said, her voice tinged with concern.

Jane's expression shifted from annoyance to worry. "I haven't, actually," she replied, her concern mirroring Evie's.

Evie let go of the sewing machine and sighed, turning to Mal and Jane, who were both staring at her. "I...I think that Erendil was angry at me. I kind of flirted with...um, Chad," she confessed, her voice wavering slightly.

Jane's jaw fell open. "Chad? Are you out of your mind?" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief. Evie winced, and Mal sent Jane a warning glance before standing up from her bed, snapping her drawing book closed.

"Evie has been looking for a prince forever. Cut her some slack," Mal said with a sly grin, defending her friend's actions.

Jane shook her head vehemently. "No, no, you don't understand. Chad will just play with your feelings, Evie, I swear," she warned, genuine concern lacing her tone.

The room fell silent as the three friends exchanged loaded glances, the weight of Evie's confession hanging heavily in the air. Jane's brow furrowed with worry, while Mal's expression remained carefully neutral, leaving Evie to mull over their contrasting reactions.

With a deep breath, Evie clasped her hands together, her gaze flickering between her two best friends. "I know Chad has a reputation," she began slowly, "but there's something about him that just...draws me in. I can't explain it, but I feel like he's different with me."

Mal arched an eyebrow skeptically, but Jane beat her to the punch. "Evie, please, you're smarter than this. Don't let yourself get caught up in some fairytale fantasy. Chad is a player, and he'll only end up breaking your heart," she pleaded, her eyes shining with genuine concern for her friend's well-being.

"Yeah," Jane nodded vigorously, "And Erendil is so much better; I mean, he's a true gentleman. He-" She smiled, her voice trailing off as she imagined the elven prince's noble qualities. "He would really love you, Evie. Truly and deeply."

Jane's eyes shone with sincerity as she sang Erendil's praises. In her mind, the elven warrior embodied all the virtues a good partner should possess - honor, courage, compassion. Qualities that seemed to be sorely lacking in the roguish Chad.

"Just think about it," Jane continued, her tone softening. "Erendil has proven himself time and again. He risked his life to save you from the Dark Sorcerer's clutches. Could you really expect that kind of devotion and selflessness from Chad?"

She let the question hang in the air, knowing Evie's romantic heart would be swayed by tales of heroism and sacrifice. Jane smiled gently, hoping her friend would see the error of her dalliance with the untrustworthy Chad.

After all, Jane desperately wanted Evie to find the epic love story she had always dreamed of. And in her mind, Erendil was the shining knight to Chad's immature foolishness. All she could do was advocate for the path she believed would lead to Evie's happiness and wish her friend chose wisely.

Evie giggled slyly. "You like him too," she said, though her brown eyes flashed a bit, and so did Mal's. Both of them had grown rather fond of the dragon prince, really, and thought he was Ben's best friend. Still, he was definitely something that could work.

Mal shared a knowing look with Evie, and she dropped her gaze. Jane blushed furiously. "I...I don't know, really. I kind of just always admired him," she admitted, her cheeks flushing an even deeper shade of crimson.

An awkward silence settled over the trio as they each wrestled with their own romantic entanglements. Evie's interest in the roguish Chad was ill-advised, but her friends understood the allure of pursuing a rebellious love interest. Mal, ever the protector, felt torn between supporting Evie's choices and shielding her from potential heartbreak.

And poor Jane found herself unexpectedly flustered by the acknowledgment of her long-harbored crush on the chivalrous Erendil. Though she advocated for his virtues, the idea of actually pursuing the elven warrior made her heart flutter with equal parts excitement and trepidation.

Eventually, it was Mal who broke the tension with a light chuckle. "Well, well, it seems we've all got a bad case of love sickness," she teased, her emerald eyes sparkling with mirth. "Why don't we make a pact - to be honest with each other, and to have each other's backs no matter what romantic madness ensues?"

Evie and Jane exchanged a glance, their uncertainties reflected in each other's eyes, before nodding slowly in agreement. Whatever highs and heartbreaks awaited them, they would face it all together as best friends. United in their love, laughter, and maybe even a little chaos.

A knock sounded, and all three girls looked startled, turning toward the door.

"Uhh, we're not taking any visitors," Evie called out, her brow furrowing slightly.

Jane shook her head. "Neither am I." She strode over to the door and opened it, revealing Lonnie, daughter of Mulan, standing there. Lonnie smiled warmly at them.

"Ah, hey girls," she said, before turning her gaze to Mal and giving her a friendly smile. "So, Mal, I really liked the hair you've done on Jane, and I was wondering if you'd do mine too?"

There was a pause as the three friends exchanged glances, their previous conversation about romantic entanglements temporarily forgotten. Mal's eyes lit up at the prospect of working her artistic magic once again.

"Sure thing, Lonnie," she replied with a grin, already envisioning the vibrant colors and intricate braids she could weave into Lonnie's sleek, dark locks.

Evie and Jane made room, gesturing for Lonnie to enter. As the daughter of a legendary warrior, Lonnie carried herself with a quiet confidence and poise that demanded respect.

"Come on in," Evie said, shooting Mal an appreciative look. "We could all use a bit of pampering after that...intense discussion."

Jane nodded emphatically, grateful for the distraction Lonnie's arrival provided. Sometimes pampering your tresses was just the reprieve needed to clear your head before diving back into the complicated depths of affairs of the heart.

As Lonnie settled onto a plush ottoman, the four friends fell into an easy camaraderie, the stresses of young love momentarily forgotten amidst laughter, beauty tips, and the sacred bonding ritual of hair styling. In that moment, they were simply teenage girls reveling in each other's company, their futures shimmering with infinite possibility.