Escape from the Isle of the Lost (Descendants 4)

“To your future!” said Carlos, nudging Jay while he took a big sip from his glass.

“My future indeed!” said Jay. “I’m going to check out Sherwood Forest University this weekend for visiting day.”

“You’ve decided?” asked Lonnie.

“Not yet. I want to check it out, but I’m excited to see what it’s all about.”

“Take care,” said Ben. “They get pretty merry over there. But I’m sure you can handle it.”

• • •

Over dessert, Evie told them her good news. “So, you know how I’ve been making caps and gowns for everyone? I earned enough money to buy a place of my own. A home in Auradon,” she said.

“Oh, Evie!” said Mal, reaching across the table to give her friend a hug. “That’s amazing!”

“Wow, your own pad, huh? Sweet,” said Jay, looking a bit jealous.

“It’s perfect! We found this tiny little adorable cottage in the woods,” said Evie.

“We?” said Mal with a raised eyebrow. She elbowed Ben, who covered a smile with his goblet.

“Doug helped me find it! His uncle was the listing agent,” said Evie quickly. “Who knew Doc wasn’t a doctor? He’s in real estate.”

“Is he, now?” asked Jay, who raised his glass in Doug’s direction while Doug blushed and coughed.

“What?” Evie asked with wide eyes.

“Mmm-hmm,” said Mal with a smirk.

Evie ignored her friends’ teasing, and Doug tried to look somewhere else, even as his ears turned crimson.

“Evie, ignore them,” said Carlos, reaching to hold Jane’s hand.

Evie nodded. She was all business. “Anyway, as I was saying, this solves our problem! The four new villain kids can stay with me over the summer. There’s a ton of space.”

Carlos stole a bite of Jane’s cake. Then he turned to Ben. “Hey, I just realized—Jane and I will still be here at school next year. So we can mentor the new villain kids!”

“Can we?” said Jane.

“It’ll be like having a bunch of little brothers and sisters!” said Carlos.

“Okay.” Jane laughed. “Whatever you want.”

“It’s all settled, then,” said Mal. “They’ll stay with Evie this summer, and Jane and Carlos will help them out.”

“Perfect,” said Evie, looking very pleased.

“Now we just need four kids to apply,” Jay reminded them.

Ben pushed his slice of cake over to Carlos so he would stop eating Jane’s. “Don’t worry, they will.”

hen Jay arrived at Sherwood Forest University, he was greeted by a friendly student dressed in the green livery of the school. “Hey, man, I’m Bobby Hood,” he said. “Welcome to Sherwood.”

“Your dad is a legend,” said Jay, bumping his fist. “You’re a student here?”

“My first year,” said Bobby with a grin. “Come on, let me show you around.”

Bobby gave Jay the campus tour—taking him to the archery fields, the student center, and the academic buildings. “And here’s the R.O.A.R. gym,” he said. “It’s where you’ll be playing.”