Hey guys, this story is something that I have been sitting on for a few months - since January if not longer (I can't really remember TBH). The reason why this hasn't been posted before now is that I couldn't settle on this plot it didn't feel right and I didn't want to start it if I didn't feel completely confident that I could make it a story that we all could enjoy. So in May I sat down and I looked over this plot and I can now say that I am happy with it - it is a little bit different to what I initially planned. After this I was hit with a lot of things to do - within connection to stories on this page and in life. Then I hit the stumbling block of the fact that I couldn't get this chapter started; the writers out there will empathise when I say some times you need to wait on chapters and they eventually find their way to you. Sorry for the waffle but I thought I better explain myself. So without further ado - here is 'Learning to Love' I hope you enjoy it. Much love RSD xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo.
*Mal's POV*
As me and Evie entered Happily Ever After the loud music hit me and I suddenly started to feel the vibe; I quickly glanced around the room and I noticed that the room was packed. I turned to look at Evie and she started to wave her arms in the air slightly as she started to bob to the beat for the loud and very fast music. I started to walk towards the bar and I heard someone scream and when I turned around I noticed a very excited looking Jane running towards me.
"MAL!" she screamed and she pulled me into a tight hug.
"JANE!" I called over her shoulder. Me and Jane then awkwardly started to rock side to side slightly for a few seconds and we continued to hug. The rest of our group had been out drinking a little bit longer than me and Evie and I could tell that Jane was already between tipsy and drunk.
"What took you both so long?" I heard Jane attempt to shout over the loud music as she pulled away.
"Many clothes changes!" I called back into her right ear. I threw Evie a look and I watched as she stuck her tongue out at me so she must have known that I was commenting on the many clothes changes that she made both me and her go through. I don't know why but I didn't expect anything different really; since we came to Auradon Evie wouldn't leave or let me leave our college dorm unless we looked Evie approved. Sometimes it was a good thing; but when you wanted to go out it could get a little bit annoying but Evie was my sister and I knew that she was doing it in my best interests.
"We just need to get drinks!" I shouted.
"Ok!" Jane replied as she wrapped her left arm around my shoulders.
"We are sat over there!" she shouted and she pointed to a table not very far away from us and I looked over and saw Lonnie, Jordan and Freddie all talking amongst themselves.
"Ok!" I called back.
"We will be over in a moment!" I advised.
"Ok!" Jane nodded at me and I watched as Jane quickly pulled Evie into a hug before she turned and started running towards the others - leaving me and Evie to go and get our drinks to get our night out started.
Three hours had passed and a lot of drinks flowed and to say I was tipsy was an understatement. We were all dancing on the dancefloor and I quickly told Evie that I was going to go to the toilet; as we were not too far away from the toilets I didn't think that it was too much of a problem to go alone. I started to stumble my way towards the female toilets but I stopped when I heard a very familiar voice.
"Mal!" the voice said. I turned around and my eyes widened in shock. What was he doing here? I hadn't seen him for a least a year! I don't know how I feel about this.
"Ben!" I called and I took a step closer to him so I could hear him speak.
"What are you doing here?" I asked confused; as far as I was aware the King of Auradon didn't come to places like this.
"I'm out with friends!" he called into my right ear so I could hear him over the music.
"Ok!" I replied.
"Who you out with?" I wondered.
"Chad and Az!" he advised.
"I see!" I noted over the loud music.
"Are you having a good night?" I asked after a few seconds of us looking at each other. I couldn't get over how awkward things were between me and Ben; I always thought that we could be friends. But I never sensed that we would be like this; you could actually cut the tension with a knife.
"Yeah" he nodded as he moved closer so we wouldn't need to shout as much at each other.
"Are you?" he asked as he fidgeted nervously with the rings on his left hand.
"Yeah" I slurred.
"So how have you been?" he asked into my ear and I bit down on my bottom lip. I valued the fact that he was making time to talk to me; but the awkwardness was now unsettling me. I know that I hurt Ben breaking up with him two years ago and to be honest I knew that we would drift apart. Yes I always felt something for Ben but after dating him for six months I didn't know whether I could be the girl that he needed. At the time I remember doubting myself a lot and even though Ben wanted to talk more about it and fight for us I couldn't bring myself to let him. Ben deserved a whole lot more - especially someone who knew how to love him back and was more perfect that I could ever be for him.
"Fine, very busy with work and college" I explained.
"Oh" Ben said and I watched as his eyes widened.
"So where do you work?" he enquired.
"In an art gallery" I advised as I stumbled slightly.
"I see" Ben noted as he nodded.
"Do you enjoy it?" he asked nervously.
"Yeah" I answered. I just wanted the ground to swallow me up and take me now - could this be any more awkward?
"I don't need to ask how work is for you-" I started.
"I already know" I added as I pursed my lips together. Of course I knew how Ben's work was; he was always busy. When we were together we struggled at times to find time for each other - which I think was another reason for our breakup.
"Yeah; very busy" he advised. My mind then started to spitefully remind me that a year after our break up he had started dating Rapunzel's daughter for a short while; yes this hurt me but I knew that I needed to move on. Yes it didn't look like it had worked out as they only had a few dates together but this just proved that I wasn't right for Ben; he needed a princess not a girl from the Isle.
"Well it's been nice speaking to you" I advised after we had been staring at each other for a few seconds again.
"Yeah" he replied.
"Maybe we could catch up some time?" he suggested hopefully.
"Yeah" I answered.
"Maybe" I added as I nodded.
"Well you still have my number" he advised happily. He seemed very happy at the fact that I might text him; maybe I should make a point of doing this - just maybe.
"Yeah, I'll text you" I confirmed.
"I'll look forward to it" he replied before he quickly turned and walked away from me. I stared after him for a few seconds before I was brought back to Auradon by Evie quickly hugging me.
"What was all that about?" She shouted into my ear.
"He just wanted to say hello I guess!" I called back.
"Did he say anything else?" she asked. Evie knew the full situation between me and Ben; in fact she knew a lot more than anyone else - so she would know that speaking to Ben would affect me in some way.
"That maybe we should catch up some time" I confessed.
"Oooooh" she said before she giggled.
"E!" I snapped.
"Stop it!" I warned her as we both walked into the female toilets together - thankfully they were empty.
"Me and Ben have already proved that we should only be friends-" I started to explain.
"I don't think we could ever be more than that; I'm an Isle girl. He needs a princess" I finished as I looked back at her.
"Well you know my thoughts on that" Evie said and I watched as she started to check her make up in the mirror.
"Yeah" I replied as I walked into one of the toilet cubicles. As I sat down on to the toilet my mind started to replay my conversation with Ben; I still felt unsettled about it but surely texting him wasn't going to be that much of a problem - should it?
*Ben's POV*
I can't believe that I have seen Mal after all these years; she looked even more beautiful if that was even possible. I wished things could have worked with me and her; in all honesty I will always have feelings for Mal. I always did from the moment that I met her; but after dating for six months Mal told me that she didn't think that she was right for me and she broke up with me. I tried to talk to her about this but I never really got an explanation of how she was really feeling; and as time went on we drifted apart. Maybe seeing Mal tonight could be a good omen - should I really act upon on this? Even if I got to build a better friendship with Mal - that was a good thing right?
"Dude!" Chad said as he playfully shoved my right shoulder.
"Sorry what?" I asked as I stopped staring into space and I looked at Chad and Az.
"What has got into you?" Az slurred as he wrapped his left arm around my shoulders. I chuckled; I didn't do this very often but I knew that I didn't want to be drunk. I knew that I was tipsy but I wanted to have a clear enough head for tomorrow. Now I had seen Mal I was going to want to think about whether I could establish anything with her - I had missed spending time with her. I just hoped that I wasn't over stepping the mark!
"He's just seen Mal" Chad sang as he shoved me again.
"Stop it Chad" I warned him.
"Well I'm not lying, I saw you with her" he said and he put both of his hands out in front of him to defend himself.
"Yes well-" I started but stopped when I noticed that Mal and Evie had left the woman's toilets and they started to make their way back to Jane, Lonnie, Jordan and Freddie.
"Chad you know what happened between me and Mal last time" I stated bluntly as I tore my eyes away from Mal and looked at Chad.
"I think she only wants to be friends" I said sadly as I pursed my lips together. Yes this might be a reality but I could always hope - but saying that I hadn't spoken to Mal in ages. For all I knew she could be very involved with someone. This thought killed me but I had to prepare myself for this reality.
"Well you never know" Az said as he slapped the top of my right arm before he pulled his arm back.
"Go and get her?" Chad suggested with a smug grin.
"Chad just leave it will you!" I warned him again as I looked over to Mal and I noticed that she was now on the dancefloor dancing with Lonnie. I pursed my lips together as my mind started to spitefully start to wonder what could have been between me and Mal.
