The next morning found the friends going in to their classes with a smile, Monday was the day that they share more classes. Zhou said goodbye to the rest and went on his way, he was the only senior of the group. Doug, Carlos and Azis went to their first period together the three of them enjoy spending time together talking about video games and inventing stuff so when they found out that they share math together they usually spend the entire class not doing math well Doug a little less than the other two. Jay, Ryder, Lonnie and Mal share their first classes together, literature, they love the way the teacher talk about famous author and even throw some songwriters to explain the different ways people can relate to a story. Evie and Cora had physics together, those two were going to join forces one day and rule the world in a nice way, they were really smart and now everybody knew that.
By lunch time Mal was dreading going to the cafeteria she was sure Ben would be there with his girlfriend, Alexandra, yes she knew her name. Last night after Evie fell asleep she google Ben and found out about the new girl in his life. Princess Alexandra from Russia was the perfect fit for King Ben of Auradon or so all the articles she read say, some even went to compare the three known relationships Ben had and of course she was the one with the worst comments; had anyone really get to know Audrey because come on , no way Mal was the worst. "A cookie for your thoughts" Ryder's voice came from behind her as he appear with a tray full of food while lightly pushing her into the direction of an empty table in the cafeteria. She didn't know what to tell him but he put the cookie in her mouth preventing her for saying anything. "Never mind is not like I'm clueless" This is the one thing Mal didn't like about having friends, is like she became an open book when she love being a mystery.
"So I was thinking, what would you say if I invite you to a secret rehearsal tonight. Only some lucky chosen ones have ever being let into this rehearsal is more exclusive than any ball or dumb things kings do." Mal raise and eyebrow looking at Ryder like he was crazy. "I would say let me smell that bottle of "water" because I think you are drunk". He laugh out loud and Mal found herself joining him, they had become very close lately since he hang out more with Jay. Carlos had recently starting to date Jane and Azis was constantly going on dates with all the girls that cross his path. He usually say that he was looking for the one, only for Ryder to laugh in his face. So the three of them and sometimes Lonnie, who Ryder and Mal suspect was feeling something for Jay, would go out to explore the woods they once found themselves in the enchanted lake and spend an afternoon there where Mal try and failing not to cry. Mal didn't say anything later when they left about why that was a bad place for her but they have never gone back there after that.
"Hello Mal" Ben voice broke the moment and Mal found herself struggling to say hi or even raise her eyes to see his. "Hello there King Ben of Auradon, I'm Ryder the son of Queen Rapunzel and King Eugene" Ryder surprise Ben by standing up and shaking his hand for almost a minute while at the same time making him take a few steps back, he then turned to Alexandra. "Hello Princess Alexandra, is a pleasure to see you again" he did a exaggerate bow and Mal fought the laugh that came to her mouth, she saw Ryder wink from the corner of his eye and felt better. Mal decided to took strength of her friends obvious over the top manners and stand up to curtsy in front of the princess. "Princess Alexandra is an honor to meet you. I'm Mal" the smile she send her though was sincere, Mal wasn't going to be rude to her, for what she heard she was truly a great princess. She then turned to Ben and curtsy too "King Ben I'm glad to see you have arrived well from you trip" she avoid his eyes completely focusing on his nose, there was no way she was going to make it if she saw his eyes. Both the King and the princess seemed out of words with the way they were receive but Alexandra kept it together and greet both of them properly. Ben was going to say something when suddenly he found himself surrounded by Cora, Lonnie and some other students that Mal usually hang out with, all of them greeting him the same way Ryder and Mal did. Each of them took a turned to bow or curtsy to Alexandra and the boys shook Ben's hand for the longest time giving Ryder and Mal the perfect space to get out of there, just for Ryder to go back in for the food, he was not going to starve for this.
"What a bunch of well manner people we are" he said while chewing on a cookie, Mal wrinkle her nose at the sight of parts of the cookie flying out of his mouth but at the same time laugh when he try to eat the entire cookie in one bite. "Thank you for what you did there. I didn't know what to say" Ryder, who at this point had manage to swallow the entire cookie just shrug. "We all have exes Mal, is though at first but then things get better." Mal nodded, sure it wasn't a weird situation but for her it was really strange just to think that she had care for someone as much as she care for Ben. "So are you coming to the super secret extra special rehearsal or what?" Mal took a cookie from Ryders hand and nod "Sure, but if you try to blindfold me I'll kick your.." Ryder push the cookie in into Mal's mouth. "Yeah yeah no need to finish that sentence"
Every Monday Mal last class was art, she remember how Ben told her that maybe she would like to join it when he saw the graffiti on her locker. She did enjoy the class she loved to draw and paint, she even venture into doing some sculpting but she didn't enjoy it as much as drawing. Usually after class ended she would stay there a couple of extra hours just doodling, her first drawing were mostly of Ben those she quickly hide from everyone. Now she was dedicating herself to draw a picture of all her friends together to think that now she had to see how would they fit all in the blank space. She was so focus in her drawing that she didn't feel Ben approaching her until he touch her shoulder making her jump and ruining Cora's face.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you." Mal huff angry to see her hard work destroy "Well then maybe don't go sneaking around people Ben" The second the words left her mouth she was shock she expected Ben to say something awful back but she just heard him chuckle which only confuse her. "You are right Mal I should have made some noise, but you were really focus on your drawing and after the first time I said your name and you didn't answer I just wanted to see what were you drawing" . Now that her anger was passing she started to be nervous about him being so near her, she needed him to move "So what are you doing here?" She wanted to ask about Alexandra but she wasn't sure how was he going to take it.
" I was just passing by and …that's a lie" He moved to stand in front of her just behind her drawing making it impossible for Mal not to focus on him. "I wanted to see you. I know that when I left it must have felt like I wasn't being truthful about being your friend but you have to understand that it was a difficult time for me too. I really do want to be your friend Mal I like having you in my life. And today when you curtsy, I mean… really you never curtsy specially if it's me. I didn't know what to think, are you mad at me?" Mal chew the inside of her lip for keeping it from trembling, she wasn't mad not anymore but how can she tell him what she was really feeling seeing him with Alexandra after the last time they saw each other she was the one holding his hand.
She shook her head unable to say anything. Ben must have read something in her eyes because he started to look away from her like when a kid has done something bad and his parents confront them. "Mal, about Alexandra" Both of them look up at the same time and their eyes connected, for a second there they both felt a spark but Ben look down quickly. "She and I, we ….she is my girlfriend. I hope that doesn't stop you from accepting my friendship but I'll understand if you decided not to." That wounded Mal, he was making it perfectly clear that Alexandra was staying and either Mal could join in or be out. He was a very loyal boyfriend she knew that from experience which make him a very lovable guy.
Ryder and Azis appear at the door at that moment looking for Mal, they were laughing but the second they step into the room and saw the scene both of them practically run towards Mal standing one at each side of her. "Hi Ben, how are you?" Azis shook Ben's hand and look at Ryder signaling to do the same. Reluctantly Ryder shook Ben hand again making him take a few steps back and blocking his view of Mal, he started asking him about his trip and things like that obviously trying to distract him from Mal. Azis took this little opportunity to ask Mal as soft as possible if she was ok. "I need to get out of here" he nod and put and arm around her shoulders guiding her around Ryder who kept shaking Ben's hand and was asking him now about the millage on his car.
"Hold on for a few more seconds Mal" he clean the few tears that scape her eyes while using himself to block her from Ben's view in case Ryder's body wasn't enough. Mal took a deep breath and nod Azis move to put a hand on Ryder's shoulder "Dude leave the King alone the poor guy needs to rest" Ryder took the hint and release Ben's hand "Sorry I get overexcited sometimes". Ben nodded his eyes instantly try to find Mal who was now looking at the floor and had Azis arm around her shoulder. "Well Ben we are getting out of here, we have to meet the others and is late. See you at practice" Azis said while tugging Mal to the door and whispering something in her ear. "Bye Ben" Mal manage to say and she was practically outside the room with Ryder walking behind her as if shielding her from Ben's view. "Bye Mal" it came almost as a whisper from Bens mouth.
Ben wasn't dumb he knew things were going to be awkward at first. The main reason for the long tour he took as a new King was because he didn't know how to act around her without being open with his own feelings. For months he just wanted to go back and tell Mal to forget the break up and ask her to be his girlfriend but the doubts would appear then and he would stop himself. It wouldn't be right to ask her to rekindle their relationship if he still had this doubts in his mind, yeah it was only his mind because his heart was shouting for him to go back to Mal. After a while he just focus on being a King and then he went to Russia and Alexandra was there for him, she was beautiful, fun, honest, kind, it felt like being in the presence of young queen Belle. They spend so much time together and he started to stop thinking about Mal all the time so after a couple of weeks he decided to go for it and ask Anastasia to be his girlfriend and she seemed happy to agree. She kiss him, that was a nice change for him, with Mal he had being rejected more times that he care to remember.
Everything was find, he was moving on until he walk into the cafeteria and heard her laugh. He was drawn to her, he even forgot that he was talking to Alexandra about his day, Mal seemed happy and that make him happy if only he was the one sitting next to her but he made that choice for both of them. Later Alexandra was call for an audience with his mother so he found himself with time to kill and as usual his first thought went to Mal. Without stopping to think he went to the art room to see her. One of the privilege of the throne was information, he could have any type of information of the students on Auradon Prep so without even thinking he had copy Mal's schedule when he arrived on Saturday at the castle it was like second nature to him to want to know more about her.
He stood outside the door looking at her and how she seemed to be incredible focus on her drawing, a little hope grew in his heart wondering if maybe she was drawing him like she used too. Slowly he walked behind her happy to notice that he was still able to sneak up to her but when he saw the drawing of the different people he felt a pang of pain in his heart. He put a hand on her shoulder trying to be a apart of her thoughts again and of course he had frighten her, she jumped and he re-lived so many times when he used to do this just for fun to her. When she went on to tell him off he was beside himself this was the Mal he remembered but he couldn't just tell her what he used to, that he enjoy sneaking up to her so she would jump into his arms, so he made a lame excuse about trying to get her attention before.
Ben decided to let everything in the open about wanting her in his life in the four days that he had being back it was clear for him that he needed to be able to talk to her. So he went on with his speech but then he remember that he had a girlfriend and the look that Mal and he share went straight to his heart so once again his mind did the talking and he told her that he would understand if she didn't want to be his friend. He knew Mal and he saw how upset his comment had made her, he was going to try to fix it but Azis and Ryder intervine and stop him, maybe it was for the best because he didn't know what he would have said. It was nice to see how Mal now had more people that care for her but part of him really missed being her one true protector.