Chapter 3. Shining stars

POV Mal

The castle was too noisy today. What is happening here? And where is Ben? Do we have some kind of party here? No, it can't be: the royal cotillion was not so long ago… that's strange… Maybe someone has arrived? Of course! Dizzy and some kids from the Isle are coming today. That's why it's so noisy here. And also we need to go on a lesson now... but I don't really want to.

Suddenly someone knocked at the door. I open my eyes for a few seconds, but I felt myself too lazy to stand up. I was tired because yesterday Ben and I were talking all night long. I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the noise, but the person who was standing outside of the room was very insistent.

- Oh, Ben! Why are you standing here? Come on in. – Heard I Evie's voice. – We're always glad to see you.

He laughed. Evie and Ben walked into the room. Suddenly I thought that from now on Ben is not just my love. We are engaged now… and I like it.

- Mal, I know that you are awake. – Evie sat down behind my back.

- No, I'm not. – Murmured I. – Leave me alone.

- Oh, God! Mal, we need to go on a lesson!

- I don't want to. I'm still sleeping! – For a few seconds I heard nothing but silence. I was almost ready to go back to sleep, but Evie stood up. Quietly clicked the door. I opened my eyes to see what's happening there, when suddenly someone kissed me. Few seconds later Ben pulled himself away and smiled.

- Evie was right: you're pretty easy to draw out. – Laughed Ben. – Why don't you want to stand up?

- I just want to sleep. – Murmured I and hugged Ben.

- Why am I thinking that it's not the reason? I already told you that I want you to tell me everything that bothers you. Are you afraid of something?

- No… It's not like that… Everything is much more difficult.

- How much more? Is it because of that today kids from the Isle coming to the Auradon? - I was nervous. Is it so easy to understand me? – So, I'm right?

- Yeah. – I confessed. – After the story with Uma and her crew I still feel myself uncertainly. What if… what if something bad will happen again?

- So that's what your worried about it? I already told you that everything is gonna be alright. This time I will be much more useful and will save you if something bad will happen.

I laughed and hugged him. So he is also worried about it. It's great that we feel the same! Now I feel much more better.

- Thanks. – Smiled I. – And now get out: I need change my clothes. I can't go out to meet the guests in my pajamas.

I remember how we arrived here in a limousine. This time kids from the Isle arrived in a bus, 'cause there was too much of them: almost everyone wanted to come here. It was too much noise here. Kids who arrived were different ages – you could see here teens and the little ones. They seemed to be in admiration and I completely understand them: this place is full of magic.

But now I was really nervous 'cause I saw a lot of familiar faces. Only the fact that Ben was hugging me could help me to keep breathing and to feel myself more confident… a little bit more confident. Yeah, my last visit to the Isle and what happened after that upset me. But right now standing near Ben made me feel almost comfortable.

- Welcome. – Smiled Ben. And his smile was so sweet that I even relaxed a little bit. – My name is Benjamin. I think, you already know Mal. Today we will show you the school. We don't have much time for this but if you have some questions you can ask us.

- And how old are you? – Asked someone in the crowd.

- Nineteen. – Ben looked embarrassed. – Is it so important?

- Of course! Because you're so sweet that we want to eat you. – New girls started to laugh.

- I'm sorry, - I was really angry, - but looking at other people's boyfriends is not really good. And before you'll say that you're so evil that the word "good" isn't for you, you should understand that now you are in Auradon and should obey our rules.

Everyone seemed shocked or even scared and I understood that my eyes are glowing with green. Ben laughed and hugged me. Almost immediately I calmed. Are you sure he's not some kind of wizard? Everything that he does calms me and give me strength. He is the best person that I've ever met.

- So let's start our excursion. – Smiled Ben. – Come with me.

In the evening we were sitting on the castle's roof and looked at the night sky fool of stars. Everyone were settled and had already gone to dinner. Some of them were eating something and some of them were already sleeping. I didn't care about any of this. The view of the starry sky was fascinating.

- Were you jealous? – Smiled Ben.

- Wouldn't you be jealous if you were me?

- No. I believe you. You would never lie to me.

I sighed. The stars were shining bright. And because of this light I felt myself home…