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Chapter Text

Day One

Evie Grimhilde had always been good at getting what she wanted. After all, she was the daughter of the Evil Queen. Manipulating situations, creating opportunities, and flashing her dazzling smile had always worked wonders for her, even before she arrived in Auradon. But this? This was different. She had spent the first few weeks at Auradon Prep carefully orchestrating her interactions with Prince Ben, but nothing seemed to stick. Her infatuation with him had driven her to lengths she'd never thought she'd go—like pretending to need help with her already-perfect homework from Audrey, Ben's former girlfriend.

When she arrived at Audrey's dorm that afternoon, however, things didn't go as planned.

The door was slightly ajar, and Evie could hear faint music playing inside. She knocked lightly, expecting Audrey's curt voice to call her in. Instead, there was no response, so she peeked in. What she saw made her freeze in her tracks.

Sprawled lazily across a plush couch, a girl who was decidedly not Audrey was flipping through a glossy magazine. Her dark auburn hair cascaded over the armrest like a waterfall, and her perfectly arched brows furrowed in concentration as she read. She didn't seem to notice Evie standing there, stunned.

"Uh...hi," Evie finally managed, stepping inside.

The girl looked up, her green eyes sparkling with a mix of curiosity and mischief. "Oh, hey! You must be Evie, right? Audrey mentioned you might stop by." She sat up and tossed the magazine aside, giving Evie her full attention. "I'm Arabella. Arabella Tulip."

"Arabella Tulip?" Evie repeated, trying to process why her heart was suddenly racing. She didn't recognize this girl, but something about her was magnetic. "Audrey's...?"

"Her twin sister," Arabella supplied, her lips curving into a smile that could rival the sun. "I'm sure she doesn't talk about me much. I keep a low profile."

Evie raised an eyebrow. Low profile? This girl was radiant. Every movement, every glance, seemed to exude a charm that was impossible to ignore. It felt like the air in the room had shifted, and for the first time since coming to Auradon, Evie forgot about Ben entirely.

"You, uh...you live here too?" Evie asked, mentally kicking herself for how awkward she sounded.

Arabella laughed, a soft, melodic sound. "Yeah, but don't worry, I won't get in your way. Audrey told me you were coming for homework help. She's in class right now, but you can wait if you want."

Evie didn't even hear the last part. All she could focus on was the way Arabella's eyes seemed to pull her in, like she was the only person in the world. It was almost unnerving, but in the most intoxicating way.

"Are you okay?" Arabella asked, tilting her head. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I—yeah, I'm fine," Evie stammered, shaking her head. "Just...you're not what I expected."

"Let me guess," Arabella said, her smile turning wry. "Audrey's usual spiel about how I'm 'weird' and 'too much'?"

"No, not at all," Evie said quickly, her cheeks flushing. "It's just...you're...wow."

Arabella raised an eyebrow, amused. "Wow?"

Evie opened her mouth to explain, but nothing coherent came out. Her usual charm had completely deserted her. Who was this girl, and why did she suddenly feel like her entire world had shifted on its axis?

***

Later that night, Evie couldn't stop thinking about Arabella. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw those emerald-green eyes staring back at her, filled with warmth and mischief. It didn't make any sense. Just a day ago, she'd been plotting her next "coincidental" run-in with Ben. Now, the thought of him barely registered.

She spent the next few days finding excuses to visit Audrey's dorm, but it was never Audrey she was hoping to see. Arabella was almost always there, lounging on the couch or humming along to some song as she painted her nails. Every time Evie saw her, she felt the same rush of emotions—intense, overwhelming, and completely out of control.

What Evie didn't know was that Arabella wasn't surprised by her sudden infatuation. In fact, she had been expecting it.

***

Arabella Tulip's life was complicated, to say the least. Born with a love spell that made anyone who saw her fall for her instantly, she had spent most of her life avoiding people—especially boys, who tended to be the most aggressive in their affections. The spell had been placed on her as a baby by a bitter fairy, and it would only break once she married her true love. Until then, Arabella was cursed to be the object of everyone's adoration.

She had learned to manage it over the years. Girls were easier to deal with—they usually just ended up crushing on her for a week or two before moving on. Boys, on the other hand, were a nightmare. That's why she preferred to stay under the radar. But Evie...Evie was different.

Arabella had noticed the change in Evie's demeanor the moment they met. The shy stammering, the lingering glances, the way she kept finding excuses to visit. It was textbook behavior, and yet Arabella found herself drawn to Evie in a way she hadn't felt before. Maybe it was the way Evie's laugh lit up the room, or the way she seemed genuinely interested in getting to know Arabella beyond the spell's effects.

***

"You know this won't last, right?" Arabella said the next afternoon as they sat together in the dorm.

"What won't last?" Evie asked, looking up from the sketchbook she had brought to work on.

"This," Arabella said, gesturing between them. "The way you feel about me. It's the spell. In a week or so, it'll fade, and you'll move on."

Evie frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Arabella sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I have a love spell on me, Evie. Everyone who meets me falls for me. It's not real."

"That's ridiculous," Evie said, shaking her head. "What I feel for you isn't some...some spell. It's real."

Arabella's heart ached at the sincerity in Evie's voice, but she knew better than to get her hopes up. She had been through this too many times before.

"Just promise me one thing," Arabella said softly. "When the spell wears off, don't feel bad about it. It's not your fault."

Evie reached out and took Arabella's hand, her blue eyes fierce. "What if it doesn't wear off? What if this is different?"

Arabella wanted to believe her, but she couldn't risk getting hurt again. For now, she would cherish the time they had together, even if it was fleeting. Because for the first time in her life, she wished the spell wasn't there—she wished Evie's feelings were real.

Chapter Text

Day Two

Evie couldn't stop staring. Arabella Tulip—the girl who had completely flipped her world upside down—was currently lounging on Audrey's dorm room couch, scrolling through her phone like she didn't have a care in the world. She had a half-empty smoothie cup on the table beside her and her legs stretched out like she owned the place. Evie didn't know what it was about her that made her so captivating, but every word, every smile, every casual flick of her hair sent Evie's pulse racing.

And Arabella? Arabella noticed.

She always noticed.

"So..." Arabella said, finally looking up with those sharp green eyes. "Are you just gonna keep staring at me, or do you actually need help with that math homework you definitely don't need help with?"

Evie's face flushed, but she recovered quickly, tilting her head and flashing the confident smile she usually wielded like a weapon. "Maybe I just like the view," she quipped, dropping onto the couch beside her and making herself comfortable.

Arabella smirked. She loved this part—the part where her latest admirer tried to impress her. It wasn't Evie's fault, of course. Arabella had learned a long time ago that the spell didn't leave anyone much of a choice. It was a curse, really. But over time, she'd decided that if she was stuck with it, she might as well enjoy the attention while it lasted.

And with Evie? Arabella was definitely planning to enjoy this week.

"You know," Arabella said, leaning closer, "I think you're my favorite so far."

Evie blinked, caught off guard. "Favorite?"

Arabella grinned, propping her chin in her hand as she studied Evie's flustered expression. "Mhm. It's always the girls who fall for me hardest."

Evie opened her mouth to protest, but Arabella cut her off.

"Don't worry—I like it. It's cute."

Evie's cheeks burned hotter. "I'm not—I mean, I'm not like the others," she said quickly, her voice sharper than she intended. "This isn't just some...passing thing."

Arabella leaned back, her smirk softening into something almost sympathetic. "Oh, sweet girl. That's what they all say."

But Evie wasn't listening. She wasn't thinking about spells or curses or any of the warnings Arabella had tried to give her. All she knew was that she'd never felt this way about anyone before—not Ben, not anyone. And she wasn't about to let Arabella brush her off like she didn't mean anything.

"I'm serious," Evie said, leaning in closer. "You can't tell me you don't feel this too."

Arabella's smile faltered for just a second, but then she shrugged, effortlessly slipping back into her usual flirty demeanor. "Maybe I do," she said, her voice lilting in that way that made Evie's heart skip. "But let's not overthink it, okay? You've got seven days to be completely obsessed with me, and I plan to enjoy every single second of it."

Evie's stomach twisted. Seven days. That's all Arabella thought this was—just another fleeting crush that would disappear as quickly as it had come.

But Evie wasn't giving up that easily.

***

Arabella spent the rest of the afternoon testing Evie, pushing boundaries and watching how far she'd go. Would she blush if Arabella complimented her eyes? (Yes.) Would she get flustered if Arabella brushed their knees together? (Definitely.) Would she completely melt if Arabella casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear? (Absolutely.)

It was fun—almost too easy, really. Arabella had played this game before, but Evie was different. She wasn't shy about how much she wanted Arabella, and that made it all the more thrilling.

But as the hours ticked by, Arabella started to feel something unexpected—something that made her stomach flutter in a way it hadn't in years.

She liked Evie.

Not just in the spell-induced way that everyone liked her, but in the real way. The dangerous way.

And that was a problem.

Because Arabella didn't do "real." She didn't do attachments or relationships or anything that could make the inevitable end of the spell hurt more than it already did.

So when Evie brushed her hand against Arabella's and looked at her like she was the only person in the world, Arabella did what she always did. She leaned in, smiled, and said, "You're going to make this week so much fun."

Evie smiled back, but Arabella could see the determination in her eyes—the kind that scared her just a little.

***

Day Three

By the third day, Evie had completely thrown Arabella off her game.

She wasn't just following Arabella around like most people did. She was asking questions, trying to learn everything she could about Arabella's life, her past, her dreams—things no one had ever cared about before. And worse? Arabella was answering.

She told Evie about growing up under the spell, about how exhausting it was to constantly be surrounded by people who didn't really see her, and about the girls who'd promised they'd never stop loving her, only to vanish when the spell wore off.

Evie listened to every word like it was the most important thing in the world. And when Arabella finished, she said something no one else ever had.

"I see you," Evie said softly, taking Arabella's hand. "Not the spell. You."

Arabella didn't know how to respond. No one had ever said that to her before. And for the first time in a long time, she felt afraid—afraid that Evie might actually mean it.

But the clock was ticking, and Arabella knew how this story always ended.

She had four more days to bask in Evie's adoration, and she wasn't going to waste a single second. Because once the week was over, Evie would forget.

And Arabella?

Arabella would be left with nothing but the memory of what it felt like to be loved—if only for a little while.

Chapter Text

Day Four

Arabella wasn't sure what was worse—the fact that she was starting to enjoy this too much, or the fact that Evie still hadn't wavered.

Most people started to crack by Day Four. They'd get confused, maybe even a little embarrassed by how quickly they'd fallen for her. They'd start pulling away, trying to make sense of feelings that weren't real. Arabella was used to it by now—the shift, the distance, the inevitable cooling down.

But Evie?

Evie was different.

She wasn't pulling away. She wasn't questioning herself or the spell. If anything, she was leaning in harder—showing up at Arabella's dorm first thing in the morning, texting her between classes, and hanging on every word Arabella said like it was the most interesting thing she'd ever heard.

And Arabella—who had spent years perfecting the art of emotional detachment—was starting to panic.

She knew this was the part where she should pull back, but she couldn't seem to stop herself from smiling when Evie called her "princess" with that flirty grin. She couldn't stop the warmth that spread through her chest when Evie slipped her hand into Arabella's like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Worst of all? She didn't want to stop.

***

"You're staring again," Arabella teased as she flipped through a magazine on her bed.

"I can't help it," Evie shot back without hesitation, sprawled out on the floor with her sketchbook. "You're ridiculously pretty. It's honestly kind of rude."

Arabella laughed, but there was a nervous edge to it. She'd heard lines like that before, but somehow it felt different coming from Evie—less like flattery and more like a confession.

"You're obsessed with me," Arabella teased, trying to keep things light.

"Duh." Evie didn't even look up from her sketchbook. "And you love it."

Arabella froze, her breath catching. She knew it was just another playful comment, but something about the way Evie said it—calm and sure and just a little too true—made her heart lurch.

"Arabella?"

She blinked and realized Evie was watching her now, her expression soft but serious.

"You okay?"

Arabella swallowed hard, forcing herself to smile. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

Evie set her sketchbook aside and crawled up onto the bed, sitting cross-legged beside her. "Because you do this thing where you deflect whenever someone gets too close."

Arabella rolled her eyes. "You've known me for four days, Evie."

"And that's long enough to notice."

Arabella opened her mouth to argue, but Evie didn't give her the chance.

"Why do you keep pushing me away?"

"I'm not pushing you away."

"Yes, you are," Evie said, her voice quiet but firm. "And I don't get it. You like me. I know you do."

Arabella's heart pounded. "It's not that simple."

"Why not?"

"Because it's not real!" Arabella snapped, louder than she intended.

Evie flinched, but she didn't back down. "What's not real?"

"This!" Arabella gestured between them, her voice cracking. "You think you're in love with me, Evie, but you're not. It's the spell. It's always the spell. And in three days, you're going to wake up and realize you don't actually care about me at all!"

The words hung in the air, sharp and heavy, and for the first time, Arabella saw doubt flicker in Evie's eyes.

Good, she thought bitterly. Maybe this was what she needed—a dose of reality to snap her out of it before things got worse.

But then Evie's jaw tightened, and the fire came back.

"Don't do that," she said, her voice steady.

Arabella blinked. "What?"

"Don't tell me how I feel." Evie's eyes burned with frustration. "You don't get to decide what's real for me. You don't get to push me away just because you're scared."

Arabella opened her mouth to argue, but Evie wasn't finished.

"I don't care about the spell," she said. "I don't care if it's supposed to wear off. I'm still here. And you can keep trying to convince yourself that none of this is real, but you feel it too—I know you do."

Arabella's breath caught. She wanted to fight, to push Evie away before it hurt any more than it already did. But when she looked at Evie—saw the fierce determination in her eyes, the way she refused to let Arabella shut her out—something inside her cracked.

For the first time, Arabella let herself wonder—what if Evie was right? What if this wasn't just the spell?

But that was dangerous thinking. It didn't matter how much she wanted it to be true. At the end of the week, Evie would wake up and realize she'd been wrong, just like everyone else.

And Arabella would be left alone.

So instead of answering, Arabella leaned in and kissed her.

It was reckless and impulsive and completely unfair, but she couldn't help herself. She just wanted to feel it—really feel it—before it all disappeared.

Evie froze for half a second, and then she kissed her back, her hands tangling in Arabella's hair and pulling her closer like she never wanted to let go.

And for a moment—just a moment—Arabella let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, this time would be different.

But deep down, she knew better.

Because it was only Day Four.

And Day Seven was coming fast.

Chapter Text

Day Five

Arabella woke up that morning with Evie's arm draped around her waist.

She didn't panic.

Not at first.

In fact, for one blissful, hazy moment, she let herself sink into the warmth of it—the steady rise and fall of Evie's breath, the softness of her hair spilling across the pillow, the way her hand rested so casually against Arabella's hip, like it belonged there.

But then reality crept in, sharp and unwelcome, and Arabella's chest tightened.

It was already Day Five.

They were running out of time.

***

Arabella carefully slipped out of Evie's grasp and climbed out of bed, ignoring the ache in her chest as Evie stirred and murmured something incoherent before settling back into the pillows. She looked peaceful—content—and Arabella hated herself for loving the sight of it so much.

She padded across the room and shut herself in the bathroom, leaning against the sink as she stared at her reflection.

"Get it together," she muttered under her breath.

This was exactly what she'd promised herself wouldn't happen. She wasn't supposed to care. She wasn't supposed to let herself hope.

Because hope was dangerous.

Hope led to heartbreak.

And Arabella knew better than anyone how quickly hearts could break.

She splashed cold water on her face, hoping it would clear her head, but when she closed her eyes, all she could see was Evie—Evie laughing, Evie blushing, Evie looking at her like she was the only girl in the world.

It wasn't real.

It couldn't be.

So why did it feel like it was?

A soft knock on the door pulled her out of her spiral.

"Arabella?" Evie's voice was muffled through the wood. "Are you okay?"

Arabella hesitated. She could say she wasn't feeling well. She could ask Evie to give her some space. She could start pushing her away now, before it was too late.

But then Evie knocked again, gentler this time.

"Baby Girl?"

And just like that, Arabella was undone.

***

"I think you're overthinking this," Evie said later that afternoon as they lounged on the grass outside Auradon Prep, soaking up the sun.

Arabella raised an eyebrow, chewing on a piece of licorice Evie had stolen from the cafeteria. "Overthinking what exactly?"

"This whole spell thing." Evie turned onto her side, propping herself up on one elbow. "You act like it's some giant curse that ruins everything, but maybe it's not as bad as you think."

Arabella let out a sharp laugh. "Says the girl who's currently under it."

Evie didn't even flinch. "Exactly. I am under it. And guess what? I'm still here."

"Yeah, because you don't have a choice."

Evie sat up, her expression softening. "What if I do?"

Arabella froze.

"Look, I get it," Evie said. "You've been through this before. People fall for you, they act like you're their whole world, and then the spell wears off and they leave."

Arabella swallowed hard, looking away.

"But I'm not them," Evie said, scooting closer. "And maybe I'm wrong—maybe this is the spell, and maybe I'll wake up in a couple of days and feel completely different."

Arabella flinched, but Evie reached out and took her hand before she could pull away.

"But what if I don't?"

Arabella's heart pounded.

"Evie—"

"No, listen." Evie's voice was gentle but firm. "You keep acting like this is doomed from the start, but what if it's not? What if what I feel for you is real? What if the spell just..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "What if it just helped me see what was already there?"

Arabella shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. "You can't know that."

"Maybe not." Evie squeezed her hand. "But I know how I feel right now. And I don't care if it's the spell or not—I'm not going anywhere."

Arabella wanted to believe her.

God, she wanted to.

But believing Evie meant risking everything.

So instead of answering, Arabella leaned in and kissed her—because kissing was easier than words, and because when Evie kissed her back, Arabella could almost forget that it wouldn't last.

***

That night, they ended up back in Arabella's dorm, curled up together on her bed like they had the night before.

Evie traced patterns on Arabella's arm as they talked—soft, lazy touches that made Arabella's breath hitch even as she tried to keep the conversation light.

"So, what happens after this?" Evie asked eventually.

Arabella tensed. "After what?"

"After this week. After the spell wears off."

Arabella swallowed hard, but Evie didn't stop.

"Because I'm not going anywhere," she said softly. "And I need you to believe that."

Arabella wanted to. She really wanted to. But the fear was louder than the hope.

"Let's just...not think about it yet," she said finally, brushing a strand of hair out of Evie's face.

Evie didn't look happy about the answer, but she let it go.

For now.

Arabella could feel the tension lingering in the air even as they settled back into a comfortable quiet. Evie was trying to be patient—Arabella could tell—but there was a flicker of something else behind her eyes. Determination.

Arabella hated it.

Because determination meant Evie wasn't giving up.

And Evie not giving up meant Arabella was running out of excuses.

"Hey," Evie said softly, breaking the silence. She sat up a little, resting her chin on Arabella's shoulder. "Can I ask you something?"

Arabella kept her gaze fixed on the ceiling. "You just did."

Evie nudged her with her elbow. "I'm serious."

"That's what worries me."

Evie didn't laugh. Instead, she reached out and laced their fingers together, grounding Arabella in a way that felt equal parts comforting and terrifying.

"If the spell wasn't a thing," Evie started, "if it never existed—would you want this? Us?"

Arabella froze.

"Evie—"

"No." Evie shook her head, cutting her off before she could dodge the question. "Be honest with me. No spell. No time limit. Just...me and you."

Arabella wanted to lie.

She wanted to say that this—whatever this was—didn't mean anything, that she didn't feel anything real, that it was all just a side effect of the magic and nothing more.

But she couldn't.

Not when Evie was looking at her like that—so open and raw and hopeful.

Arabella squeezed her eyes shut, taking a shaky breath.

"Yes," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I would."

Evie's breath hitched, and Arabella felt her shift closer, her fingers tightening around Arabella's.

"Then let me prove it," Evie said softly.

Arabella's eyes snapped open. "Evie—"

"Just listen." Evie sat up fully now, leaning over Arabella as if she could physically keep her from running away. "You keep acting like this is already over, like we don't stand a chance, but we do. You said it yourself—if the spell wasn't there, this would still be real. So let me prove it."

"How?" Arabella demanded, hating the way her voice wavered. "How are you supposed to prove something like that?"

Evie didn't hesitate.

"Stay with me."

Arabella blinked. "What?"

"After this week—after the spell wears off—stay with me. Don't push me away. Don't run."

Arabella opened her mouth to argue, but Evie pressed a finger to her lips.

"I mean it," Evie said. "Give me a chance. If the spell's gone and you don't feel the same way, then fine—I'll back off. But if you do still feel something..." She trailed off, searching Arabella's eyes. "Then let's see where this goes."

Arabella stared at her, her heart pounding so loud she was sure Evie could hear it.

This was insane.

Evie was insane.

But the worst part?

All Arabella wanted to do is say yes.

Because if there was even the slightest chance that this could be real—that Evie meant what she was saying—then wasn't it worth the risk?

But the fear was still there, clawing at the edges of her thoughts, reminding her of how this always ended.

And yet...

Arabella looked at Evie—the girl who had walked into her life and refused to leave, who saw past the spell and the walls and everything Arabella tried to hide—and suddenly, the fear didn't seem quite as loud.

"Okay," Arabella said quietly, the word slipping out before she could stop it. "I'll stay."

Evie's face lit up with the kind of smile that made Arabella's chest ache, and before she could second-guess herself, Evie leaned in and kissed her—slow and soft and full of promises Arabella was almost too scared to believe.

Almost.

***

They didn't leave Arabella's dorm for the rest of the night.

Evie insisted on helping Arabella reorganize her closet, which mostly involved Evie holding up dresses and making dramatic commentary while Arabella laughed until her sides hurt.

***

Later, they curled up on the bed again, sharing a bag of popcorn and arguing about the best Disney princess—Evie claimed it was Belle because of her love for books, while Arabella argued it was Jasmine because she had a tiger.

Eventually, they ran out of things to debate and just lay there in the dark, whispering about everything and nothing until Evie's voice grew soft and sleepy.

Arabella stayed awake long after Evie drifted off, her heart still racing from everything that had happened.

She wanted to believe this would last.

She wanted to believe Evie would still feel the same when the spell was gone.

But as she brushed a strand of hair out of Evie's face and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, Arabella decided it didn't matter.

For now—for tonight—Evie was here.

And Arabella wasn't ready to let her go.

Day Seven was approaching fast.

And Arabella wasn't sure she could stay.