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it's now between some classes, and Valia, Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos are strolling outside the school. Mal wore a frilly pale green dress, with her hair in long blond tendrils, and she clutched a textbook from Fairies 101. valia a simple blue one (pic on top). she noticed Mal's head hung low when she with diwth Item. It worried the white-haired one greatly. But she knew better than asking if it fared well with her best friend now when the others surrounded them. If she could, she would ask later. the group passed a few girls who swooned at Jay as he acknowledged them. "Why do you torture them?" Carlos asked. "Just pick someone to take to Cotillion already." 

Jay shook his head, not looking at his best friend, "I'm going solo. That way, I can dance with all of them." Jay squeezedCarlos's shoulder and grinned, waggling his eyebrows. Carlos smiled and nodded. "Ah, you're the expert," he said. He glanced behind at Valia, who was walking still beside Mal, her eyes on other things but still, it was particular awareness in the girl's posture that told everyone she was there and she knew what was going around her. Carlos took a breath and stopped Jay. "Let's say that you were going to ask someone...What's the best way to go?" he asked. "Listen." Jay rested his hand on Carlos's shoulder. "All you got to do...is look like me." Jay howled with laughter."Oh, ha-ha." Carlos rolled his eyes. Valia, who had heard this, chuckled and patted Jay's shoulder. "Good one, Anguis," she said. 

She had been calling Jay Anguis for a few days as it meant "excellent strength." it fitted him. 

Soon Jane came up to the five smiling at Mal. "Mal!" she called. this got the purple-haired to snap to attention. Soon Lonnie, daughter of Mulan, stood by her side, looking as chipper as ever. Lonnie's long black hair stood out against her bright pink dress. But Mal was in no mood to answer more Cotillion questions from Jane, who was helping plan the event. Valia saw this and took Jane aside "bub, you look beautiful today," she said, and Jane  smiled uncertainly. "oh uh, thanks... is there anything you want to do for the cotillion?" Valia chuckled and leaned down to whisper in the girl's ear, "no, but please take it easy on Mal. she is stressed lately. I don't want her to faint" valia lifted her head again, and Jane nodded. "sure I won't ask her so much but now, is that a good time you think?" she said. Valia looked t mal, who had gone back to her thoughts. "no, leave it for now. Show Ben." jane nodded and scurried off. 

Valia watched her sighing. 

✩

"I have an opening for a fitting at three! Who wants it?" Evie asked thegirls. "Me!" Lonnie leaped in front of Jane, then winced. "Sorry," she added.

"Okay, so I'll see you later," Evie told Jane as she pulled Lonnie to the

side to chat. Valia chuckled, patting Mal's arm as Jane appeared after being away for a few minutes. but of course, before talking to Mal, she looked for approval from Valia, who nodded. "I'll be here, don't worry," valia whispered in Mal's ear as she stepped aside, letting Jane talk to Mal. "Mal! I hate to keep bugging you, butthe Cotillion decorating committee needs more answers. So as much as Ihate to...uh...to...uh—""Bug me," said Mal. "Right." Jane nodded. "Yeah. Uh, no. Totally. I—I have to get to class." Mal jerked herthumb. "You know what? Just nod if you like it." Jane held up her tablet. "Okay," said Mal. 

Jane used her stylus to sweep through an array of photos on the screen,one after another in a dizzying flurry. "Chair swags. Entry banner. Twinklelights. Uh, let's see. Napkin design. Table bunting..." Jane scrolled througheven more photos- Mal bobbed her head at each image. "And you still haven't picked the party favors yet," Jane added. "Jane, whatever you want to go with, I trust you—""I mean, we could do chains, key charms, pen toppers," interruptedJane, continuing to tap through images. "I kind of love the pen toppers," sheblurted out. 

Jane nodded but continued anyway, "I mean, we could do all three if you want to..." continued Jane. "You know—" Mal's eyes suddenly flashed bright green. Then she tooka breath, and her eyes returned to their standard shade of green. She smiledand rested a hand gently on Jane's arm. "Pen toppers," she said. "Uh-huh?" asked Jane. "Yeah," said Mal. "Yeah.""Okay! You won't regret it!" Jane beamed. Valia stepped up again to Mal taking her hand on her best friend's arm, the latter at once calming down. 

suddenly Lonnie and Evie came up to the 3. "I can hardly wait to see what your wedding will look like!" Lonnieexclaimed, "Oh yeah, me too," said Mal with a vacant smile. She froze then,realizing what Lonnie had said. "Wait, what?" "Yeah!" said Jane. "The Royal Cotillion is like getting engaged to beengaged to be engaged!" Valia and Mal changed glances, and the purple-haired one silently asked if V knew this. the princess shook her head. "I knew it!" Evie clapped her hands together, delighted. "Everyone knows it," said Lonnie. Mal's eyes bugged out. "I didn't know it!" she said "me neither," Valia chimed up. 

Mal's stress bubbled up, and she started to rant, "How come nobodytold me that? Is my entire life just planned out in front of me, and no onewas—"Ben appeared at Mal's side in his royal-blue suit. "Hi, Mal!""Hiiii, Ben," Evie, Jane, and Lonnie said in singsong unison. Valia nodded, only making the young boy do the same. 

Mal glared at them. The whole engagement conversation had put her inan even worse mood. Ben smiled, then moved to kiss Mal hello. Jane grabbed him. "Oh, a quick moment!" She pulled Ben to the side. Mal watched from a distance, then inched away toward Valia, who gave her calm energy through touch. "All right, the surprise is almost finished for Mal's big night," Jane toldhim once they were out of earshot. She held her tablet in front of him andshowed him images of a stained glass window with a young couple onit. "Make sure her eyes are green," Ben told Jane. Behind Jane, Mal caught Ben's attention and nodded sideways as if tosay, Are you coming with me?

Valia was also asked, but she shook her head. "I'm sorry, my anon, but you must do this alone. You have Ben. Don't worry, I will be close by" Mal nodded, and Valia slipped off to find Evie. 

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