Page 298 of Naughty Nelle

Armando blushes. “Dahling, let’s not go there.”

He continues. At Faraway, he took a class that changed his life—Flossie’s sewing workshop. He discovered he enjoyed making clothes more than buying them. When he was sent back to Lalaland, he apprenticed as a tailor and worked his way up to being every princess’s favorite designer. The former shopaholic is now a workaholic.

“Remember, dahlings,” he concludes, “clothes don’t make the person; it’s the person that makes the clothes.”

A vision of myself in Armando’s magnificent black gown, floating in Gallant’s arms, fills my head as the room echoes with more cheers and claps. The Huntsman takes the podium again. He casts his eyes in my direction, bringing my fantasy to an abrupt end. I look away.

“I’d like to welcome two new Faraway graduates, Rumpelstiltskin and…

Here it comes. He’s going to say it. The Evil Queen.

“Jane.” I take a deep breath. My real name.

“Who would like to go first?” asks The Huntsman, still staring at me.

I don’t think I can do this. To my relief, Rump stands up and teeter-totters to the podium.

“Rumpelstiltskin is my n-name,” he stutters. And I-I’m addicted to evil.” The stuttering stops. “I threatened to take away a queen’s firstborn child.”

My heart jumps with shock as the group gasps. Rump used an innocent baby as a means of extortion? What dark demons inside him would drive him to do such a terrible thing? Pity, not anger, fills me. My poor little man! How much pain and guilt he’s had to endure!

Red in the face, he limps off the stage.

Silence. Until Hook gives him an ear-piercing whistle.

“Way to go, matey!” He leaps to his feet and mimics an applause with his good hand and hook. I follow him, clapping my hands zealously. One by one, the others join in.

Rump, overwhelmed, breaks into a toothy grin. Lifting his stumpy arms above his head, he does a happy little jig.

“Isn’t he adorable?” Elz whispers in my ear. Her face flushes. She’s clearly got a crush on him.

My throat tightens. It’s my turn to talk. Winnie gives my hand a gentle squeeze as I rise. The walk up to the podium feels like an eternity.

Facing my Faraway friends, I’m helplessly, hopelessly sad. Memories of Gallant dance in my head. I still don’t know if I can go through with this. Battling tears, please no more tears, I begin.

“My name is Jane, and I’m addicted to evil.”

And then the words ebb and flow out of my mouth. I talk about my love-hate affair with my mirror and how it drove me to evil. How it made me hate Snow White and want to destroy her. I also share what I learned about friendship at Faraway and how another beautiful little girl named Calla changed my life. But I deliberately stay away from talking about Gallant. I’m not ready to go there.

The group is mesmerized by my story. Throughout, The Huntsman’s eyes stay glued on me.

“What did you learn from the little girl?” asks Urma.

There’s one answer. One word. “Love.”

The true meaning of beauty. I step down from the podium, feeling strangely exhilarated.

Everyone cheers. Elz and Winnie jump to their feet. The others follow.

“Way to go, babe!” whistles Hook. Gothel elbows him. We could become fast friends.

“Time’s almost up for today’s meeting,” announces The Huntsman, returning to the podium.

I guess the others will tell their stories in the weeks to come. The Huntsman remains at the podium. His eyes, still locked on me, grow misty.

“My name is Beau, and I’m addicted to evil. Many years ago, I fell prey to a beautiful, bewitching woman. I conceived a child with her—a beautiful daughter. I made a terrible mistake and was forced to abandon this little girl. I know this caused her great suffering. But she’s always been there in my heart. I’m sorry for what I did and pray she can forgive me.”

His words move me like a tremor in the earth. Our eyes connect. His, green and wide-set like mine. Oh my God! Can it be? In a heartbeat, he vanishes.

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