▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀 𝐖𝐎𝐊𝐄 𝐔𝐏 with a long sigh leaving her lips. She really did not want to attend classes today if she was being honest, in fact she was really close to not going, but when she looked at her phone and saw a text from Ben saying he needed her to show up to be a "good influence", Ilaria begrudgingly got out of bed and got ready for the day. Her wavy hair rolled down her shoulders, a silver heart necklace around her neck, along with a red T-shirt and jeans paired with her infamous leather jacket.

She looked at herself in the mirror before putting earrings in, red heart earrings with small golden crowns at the top. When she was okay with how she looked, she grabbed her bag and walked out of her room. She made her way down the hall, watching with pure amusement as people scurried out of her way. She came to a stop in front of her Remedial Goodness class, blowing out a breath before pushing the door open.

The four VK's were already in the classroom, Evie and Mal sitting on one side with Carlos and Jay on the other side. They all turned to look at her and Fairy Godmother interrupted what she was saying to look at Ilaria.

"You're late again." Fairy Godmother commented. "Just one day, I want you to show up to class on time."

Ilaria placed her bag down on the ground before sitting in the desk at the back of the class. She propped her feet up on the desk, a sarcastic smile pulling on her lips. "You should be glad I showed up at all."

Fairy Godmother pressed her lips into a thin line before forcing a smile, knowing she really couldn't argue with that. When Ilaria knew she'd won, she looked away in satisfaction. Her eyes met Evie's in an instant. For a moment they stared at each other and suddenly Ilaria got a weird feeling in her stomach. Forcing herself to push it away, she sent Evie a quick wink. Evie's eyes widened, a blush forming on her face as she quickly turned to face the front. Ilaria smirked in amusement before pulling out her phone and scrolling on it.

Fairy Godmother went back to her lesson. Her pointer stick was in her hand as she pointed at every word as she said them. "If someone hands you a crying baby, do you, A, curse it? B, lock it in a tower? C, give it a bottle? Or D, carve out its heart?" Evie let out a gasp, raising her hand. Fairy Godmother smiled, pointing at her. "Evie."

Evie lowered her hand, a small smile on her face. "What was the second one?" Ilaria snorted in amusement, glancing at the board that had everything written down on it.

"Oh, okay. Anyone else?" No one raised their hands. "Mal?" Fairy Godmother asked.

Mal, who was twirling a strand of hair with one hand and drawing with the other looked up. "C, give it a bottle."

Fairy Godmother smiled. "Correct. Again."

Carlos turned his head, looking at the purple haired girl impressed. "You're on fire, girl!"

"Just pick the one that doesn't sound like any fun."

All of them let out collective "oh's" and Ilaria shook her head, an amused smile playing on her lips. She glanced up from her phone, watching as Jane entered the room. Fairy Godmother's daughter had short cropped dark brown hair with a light blue bow in her hair along with a light blue dress. As she passed by the villains, she let out a small squeak of fear. Fairy Godmother smiled at her daughter. "Hello, dear one."

"Hi," Jane nervously answered. "You need to sign off on early dismissal for coronation." She glanced back at the villains, fear covering every inch of her face.

Fairy Godmother took the paper and began signing it. "Everyone here remembers my daughter, Jane?"

"Mom, no!" Jane whispered with horror.

"It's okay." Fairy Godmother smiled, handing the paper back to her daughter. She placed her hands on Jane's shoulders, forcing her to turn and face the room. "Jane, this is everyone." She gently pushed her forwards.

"Hi," Jane breathed. They all just stared at her. Jane swallowed. "That's okay, don't mind me, as you were." When she walked past them, once again another squeal of fear left her lips. Ilaria silently chuckled.

Fairy Godmother cleared her throat. "Let's continue." She walked back over to the board and stated loudly, "You find a vial of poison! Do you, A, put it in the king's wine? B, paint it on an apple? Or C, turn it over to the proper authorities?"

Instantly, Evie, Carlos, and Jay's hands all shot up. Jay grabbed Carlos's hand, pulling it down and smiling while Carlos tried to free himself from Jay's grip. Fairy Godmother pointed at him. Jay lowered his hand before answering, "C, you turn it over to the proper authorities."

Carlos smacked his arm. "I was gonna say that."

Jay instantly turned to him. "But I said it first! Come here!" He grabbed Carlos, climbing onto the desk and putting the boy in a headlock as he ruffled his hair. "Come on, who said it first? Who said it first?"

"Stop!" Carlos yelled but Jay kept doing it.

Fairy Godmother tapped her pointer against the podium in attempt to grab their attention. "Boys." They didn't stop. "Boys!" They both paused, looking at her. "I am going to encourage you to use that energy on the tourney field."

Jay furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as Carlos said, "Oh no, that's okay." Jay sat up and Carlos shoved him. "Whatever that is, we'll pass."

Fairy Godmother smiled. "Oh, I insist. You're dismissed."

Ilaria stood, grabbing her bag without a word and walking out. Instantly, she went in search of Ben. If you asked Ilaria, she would tell you she thought it was dumb that she was required to take Remedial Goodness 101. Unlike the villain kids, for most of her life she's lived around people with good influence. The worst thing she's ever done is a few pranks, defy authority, and almost cause several fights. She's never tried to poison or kill anyone, therefore she didn't think it was necessary to take a class that was clearly for people who had tried to do such things. A huff fell from her lips before she spotted Ben in the distance, instantly making her way over to him.

Ben, who was standing at his locker, looked up and smiled when he spotted her. "Hey, how'd class go?"

Ilaria sighed, leaning against the lockers beside of his and rolled her eyes. "It was boring. I still don't understand why they force me to take that class. I'm not an evil person. My mother is, but I'm not."

"I know." Ben nodded, placing his bag in his locker before closing it. "All you have to do is pass it and be on your best behavior, and hopefully they won't make you take it next year."

Ilaria scoffed. "These people act like I'm some hellion." They began walking. "They don't like me because I'm not afraid to say something to them or show attitude back when they give it to me first."

"It's who you are, Ria. And if people don't like you for you, then they aren't worth it anyways." Ben turned to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "You are my best friend and I love you for who you are and I never want you to change who you are because people think so differently of you. You're unique, and funny, and sarcastic, and there are some people here who simply can't handle that."

Ilaria smiled. "You always know how to boost my ego, Benny."

Ben chuckled. "You know me, always your number one supporter."

"As I am yours." Ilaria said, nudging him.

"Speaking of, are you going to watch practice?"

Ilaria grimaced. "I don't know. I'd rather not have to deal with Audrey. Who knows, maybe I'll show up, maybe I won't. In the meantime. . . I think I'm going to go find Evie."

Ben's eyebrows raised. "You're pursuing that?"

Ilaria walked backwards away from him. She gave him a false confused look. "Pursuing what? I'm just having fun, Benny boy."

Ben shook his head and let out a small laugh. "Right. Of course. I'll see you later."

Ilaria gave him a small two fingered salute. "Later indeed." And then she turned around and continued forwards.

She walked around the campus for a few moments before spotting Evie and luckily she was by herself. Ilaria made her way over to the blue haired, a small smirk on her face. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the pretty blue haired girl. Evie, isn't it?"

Evie quickly turned to face her, her eyes narrowed slightly. "You know that's my name."

Ilaria chuckled. "I know. I see you're by yourself. Usually you're following Mal around like a lost puppy."

Instantly, Evie grew annoyed. Evie, although she had the same tendencies as the other three villain kids, was for the most part a pretty nice person. While she knew there were going to be people here that didn't like her, that didn't stop her from smiling in awe at everything. And then came Ilaria, someone who was quick to get on her nerves. Despite the compliments always given by Ilaria, and pushing aside the feeling she'd get in both her chest and stomach every time Ilaria even looked in her direction, Evie was starting to grow a distaste for the Queen of Hearts daughter.

     "Is there something you need?" Evie was quick to ask. Despite Ilaria's almost hurtful words, Evie knew they were true. Evie did follow Mal around like a lost puppy. But it had always been that way on the Isle. Mal was the leader of their group and Evie wouldn't stray too far from her side, she simply couldn't. She was Mal's right hand and she took pride in it.

     Ilaria cocked her head slightly to the side. "Am I not allowed to simply talk to you? Have I made such an impression on you that you wish to turn me away as everyone else has?"

     Evie swallowed, instantly she felt bad. "I didn't say that." She glanced around as Mal's words echoed in her head. She was supposed to befriend Ilaria. Mal believed she would be willing to help with their plans, and since Ilaria had some kind of interest in Evie, Mal wanted to use that as an advantage. A sigh left her lips. "You haven't exactly made yourself. . . likable."

     Ilaria straightened her shoulders. The smirk that usually decorated her lips slowly began to die. "I guess that's fair." She began messing with her hands. "I'm not really good at first impressions." She furrowed her brows. "I'm not very good at making friends either." She let out a dry chuckle. "I'm not much good at anything really."

     Evie frowned. "I'm sure you're perfectly fine at all of those things."

     Ilaria forced a smile and shook her head. "I hate to disappoint, but you are not the only ones people don't think belong here. You'd think they'd finally accept me after almost nine years, but I've been treated like a villain since I've lived here."

Evie's frown deepened, and suddenly she felt bad for Ilaria. On the Isle, they could act like villains and be who they were because no once cared, but here at Auradon it seemed everyone cared. And if you were even slightly different, people didn't accept you. Evie couldn't even begin to imagine not being able to be yourself, to be put behind this mask, this cage, for as long as Ilaria has.

     "I'm sorry you've had to deal with that," Evie softly said.

     When Ilaria heard what she deemed as pity in Evie's voice, she instantly felt her walls snap back up. She gave a careless shrug, that small smirk crawling back onto her lips. "Doesn't matter. If they want to make me their villain, then they are more than welcome to. Maybe enough people will complain and I'll finally get to go back home."

     This instantly grabbed Evie's attention. She was confused and bewildered, wondering how anyone would ever want to leave this wonderful place for the horrible Isle of the Lost. "You want to go back?" Evie shook her head, unable to come up with a viable conclusion. "Why?"

     Ilaria furrowed her brows. "If you had been taken from your home as a kid, where your family and friends were left behind, wouldn't you want to go back?" Evie didn't answer. "Despite being a resident in Auradon for nine years, the Isle is still my home. Besides, I have a few questions that need to be answered."

Ilaria cleared her throat, taking a step back from Evie. Evie frowned at the movement. "I'm sure you have better things to do, like head to your next class. So, I will leave you be." Ilaria began to turn and walk away.

"Ilaria!" Evie called. Ilaria turned to look at her. "Would you like to sit with me at lunch?"

"I don't think your friends―︎"

"I don't care." Evie interrupted her. She allowed a small smile to pull on her lips. "You're my friend. I want you to sit with me. If the others don't like it, they can leave."

Ilaria felt her heartbeat quicken and she almost cursed herself for it. "Alright. I'll see you at lunch then." A small smile pulled on her lips and when Evie gave her a small wave, Ilaria turned and began to walk away. She had to admit, that went a lot better than she had expected.