Life without Mal

Mal had been at AA for two weeks now. There was only four weeks left of the school year. Mal was fitting in where she was without an issue. But for her friends at AP, it was a different story.

Evie was missing her roommate. She wanted, and needed Mal's advice when it came to Doug. To calm her down when she was having a wardrobe issue. Yes, she could call her, and yes Mal popped over when she could. And there was Magic class. But well it wasn't the same. To Evie, not seeing Mal everyday was almost like being on the Isle again. Back to before they were a family.

The boys missed Mal, but they didn't let it show. Well Jay and Carlos. Ben walked around campus in a daze. He attended classes, and left campus to take care of his duties as King. Sometimes he would come back to campus to stay in his room, but mostly he stayed at home. It was easier to call Mal from home than at school. It was easier for her to pop over to the castle to see him than campus. But still, he wanted to see her in person every day. And every day was not always an option. He had meetings that ran late into the night, she had music class and magic class, not that he knew about music class. He was just told different things, such as she had a lecture to attend, or there was a committee meeting for this or that committee. She wasn't on any committees but told him that it was part of her poly sci class to sit in and listen to these meetings.

This week was going to be tough. It was time for the spring fling dance. People all around were asking their dates to the dance. Jay asked Lonnie, Carlos asked Jane, and Doug asked Evie to the dance. A dance Ben had no choice but attend alone, if he wanted to go, which he didn't want to. But he had to find a good reason to get out of it, otherwise it would look bad. And it was only Monday. Mal wasn't allowed to attend campus activities, therefore she couldn't go with Ben.

Ben was sitting at a picnic table watching his fellow AP students walk around asking each other out to the dance. Talking about the dance. Girls talking about their dresses. Boys talking about what they think their dates will be wearing. Ben, wishing he would be able to see Mal in her next purple or green Evie original. He wanted to see her NOW. He pulled out his phone and pulled up her schedule, then checking his watch, both were free. Ok. He dialed her number.

"Hi Benny Bear." He could hear the pleasure in her voice, she was just as happy to hear his voice as he was to hear hers.

"I needed to hear your voice. Its spring fling time." He sighed.
"I…Evie told me. I wish I could be there Ben. You know I would go with you if I could. This really stinks."
"Yeah." He said noticing Audrey was coming his way. "And the cause of this mess is heading my way." He turned his attention to Audrey. "Audrey." His voice full of distain.

"Ben, I was hoping you'd be willing to go to the spring fling with me. I happen to know you are free that night." She practically taunted.

"I actually am busy that night Audrey. I am going to Agrabah Academy to see Mal." He didn't care if Mal was free or not that night, he just didn't want to be on campus during the dance.

"Now Ben, that's three hours away, why bother. Just stay here and have fun."
"Audrey, I will not have fun until Mal is back where she belongs at Auradon Prep." He walked away before he said something he'd regret. When he was far enough away he went back to the phone. "You still there?"
"Yes, but Ben…I am not free Friday night, I have to attend some stupid lecture for my history class."
"I just said it for Audrey. I just don't want to be here that night. And I sure as heck don't want to go with her." They both laughed.
"Oh. I am sorry Ben. The lecture ends at 8. I can pop over to the palace after that. I…can stay the weekend?" She said hopefully.

"Please. I really need to spend some time with you." It would be the first weekend she had been back and that made him feel better.
"I will pack a bag before the lecture. I should be back in my room around 8:15, and then to see you, your office at the castle."
"That will make a horrible night perfect, thank you. I…have to go to class. I love you."
"I miss you, and love you too." They ended the call.

A few hours later after class, Ben had an idea. He found Doug and the other two boys. And had them come quickly over to his room. Once in his room, he closed the door. "Ok, since Mal can't come to spring fling on campus, I want to have my own spring fling after party at the palace. She can be at the palace by 8:15. Dance ends what time?"
"10:00." Jay said looking at his tickets, he had just picked them up. "That means we can all be at the palace by 10:30."
"That will give Mal time to get dressed." Ben quickly called Evie. "Evie, I need a huge favor. I need an Evie original for Mal, for Friday. I know I know. Just try. Doug will explain later. OK, I'll get you whatever you need. Fabric. Anything. Yes. I'll take care of it, trust me you'll love the idea. Yes. Ok thanks. And when Doug tells you…TELL NO ONE. I don't want Audrey finding out until it's over. Thanks Evie. No, this is a surprise for Mal. Thank you." He turned back to the kids. "Ok, so you heard me, I will make sure a text goes out to the right people, inviting them to the palace. It will be invite only so do not delete the text. I will make sure that goes into it. I have a person at the palace that can pull off décor and food. Hang on." He took out his phone and called his mother. "Mom. I need a huge favor. I want to throw a huge after party for the spring fling. That way Mal can go. Yes, but it can't start till 10:30. Awesome idea. Ok I will make sure they know. You are the best mom, thanks Love you." He turned back to his friends. "Ok so like the coronation ball, we will have an overnighter. So make sure your dates pack a bag. Texts will go out two hours before the dance."

"Dude, that's perfect! Great idea. Can't leave Mal out of this if it's at the palace!" Carlos was glad he could see Mal.
"That's the idea." Ben said.

"I want to see Audrey's face when she isn't included." Doug added.

"Me too." Carlos said pulling up his phone. "I want to capture it for all time."

"Well for now we need to keep it under wraps until the text goes out. And in the mean time I have to get my mother to take Evie out for fabric for a dress for Mal." He laughed.

The next day, Belle took Evie out for the fabric, they settled on a lovely teal green. She was so thrilled about the idea, that a new dress was produced in less than 48 hours. Ben picked it up and snuck it out to Mal's room at the palace on Thursday night.

Friday at 4:00 two hours before the dance, the following text went out.

Hello if you have this on your phone you are invited to King Ben's After the fling, dance. DO NOT DELETE THIS TEXT. It's your way into the party. DO NOT FORWARD IT. The butler has a list of names. Stay in your party dress, we will continue at the palace. Since Mal can't come to the fling, we will bring the fling to Mal. And since it's not starting until 10:30, prepare to spend the night. Fairy Godmother has the list of names as well. See you later tonight. A bus for the palace will leave the front driveway at 10:15. Remember pack an overnight bag, OH AND MUMMS THE WORD.

King Ben

Sophomores and their guests were reading it, across the campus. And they all came to the same conclusion…don't tell Audrey. So after packing their bags,the kids went to the dance, no one speaking of the other dance. Ben decided to skip the dance, since he told Audrey he would be at AA. He stayed at the palace helping his mother get ready.

Mal popped into Ben's office at 8:15. She had her overnight bag. Ben grabbed her and held her tight. It had 10 days since they had seen each other face to face. After a long hug and an even longer kiss Mal moved back. "I missed you." They both said at the same time.

"I have a surprise for you. Take your bag up to your room." Not sure what he was up too, Mal headed up to her room. He followed. When she opened the door, she found the dress, she turned to face him "Ben?"
"They are coming here after the dance. We are continuing the dance here at 10:30. So we can have our spring fling." Mal was stunned.

"Ben?" She looked back at the dress.
"Evie. She and mom went shopping Tuesday. This is a private party, invite only. So no Audrey. And from what Jay texted earlier, the dance is rather boring. They can't wait to get here. He said they are all ducking out early to make sure to get on the bus by 10:15."
"You did this for me?" Mal was almost in tears. "You didn't have too. I was perfectly fine with just time with you….well than to see the gang later tomorrow."
"Well everyone will be here at 10:30. Come on, you hungry? Mrs. P made dinner."
"Famished. The food is ok at AA, but I miss Mrs. P's food." Mal said snapping out of it.

They ate a quick meal, then went up to get dressed. Mal had a hard time getting her hair just right, but a quick spell fixed that. She came out of her room to find Belle there. She had a lapel flower for her to give Ben. Ben met her at the bottom of the stairs. He had a wrist corsage for her. They exchanged flowers as Belle took pictures. The clock struck 10:30 as the bus full of students arrived. Ben and Mal were waiting in the ballroom as their friends arrived. Hugs were spread around.

Evie came over to Mal and pulled her aside. "Oh Mal, you should have seen the look on Audrey's face as they entire sophomore class piled into the bus. Even Chad. Ask Carlos I think he took a few pictures. All but Audrey. She had no idea. And neither did the rest of the school. The entire ride up the mood lightened immensely while the dance was ok, it missed two things you and Ben."
"Thanks E. And this dress…" She hugged her best friend. "I can't believe Ben did all this."
"It's going to be epic!"
And the party went on for hours. As kids started to get tired, they changed into their pj's. There were dozens of blow up mattresses lining the floor of the smaller ball room. By 3 am, everyone was asleep. Mal and Ben snuggled onto a large mattress, Jay and Lonnie, Carlos and Jane and Doug and Evie. Belle and Mrs. P were sitting on a couch waiting until everyone fell asleep. Belle quickly snapped a few pictures of the sleeping couples and realized it was safe to go to bed.

Around 4 Mal woke up to find Ben looking at her. "Why are you up Ben?"
"Just taking in all this." He said looking not at the party of the school year he had pulled off in under 5 days, but Mal herself.

"Ben?"
"How do you know I love you?"

"That's easy. It's in that giggle that escapes your lips without your realizing it." He lightly tapped her lips with his finger. "It is in the sparkle in your eyes, and it's in how you treat me. Like an equal, not a king or a prize you get to flaunt." Mal smiled and kissed him deeply. "How about you?"
"Its in your smile. No matter how dark my mood, it always makes me feel better. It's in your eyes, when you look at me I always see trust in them. And it's in your faith in me." He kissed her deeply. Pulled her close and they fell back asleep. Both reassured they were where they should be and they would get through this.

The gang woke up at 8:00 the next morning to a huge breakfast buffet. had tons of food. They had just finished the last of the food when the bus arrived. Everyone climbed on, aside from Jay, Carlos, and Evie. Good byes were said, and they drove off chatting. The last five were glad to play catch up. But first they had to get dressed.

Evie grabbed her clothes and joined Mal in her room. "I miss this, sorry, I just had too." Evie said, Mal smiled. "I was hoping you would. Not having a roommate as AA, I know what you mean."
"Ok, so how's your concert thing going?"
"Great. So I am in all the numbers except Aziz's solo."
"Wow. So I was kind of pumping Lonnie for information. Audrey won the solo again. Melody and Lonnie are with her in the trio. Audrey isn't doing the duet. I guess she refused because it's a freshman that is singing the male side and she refused. Lonnie took it."
"OH, rotten apples, I didn't want to take anyone else down."
"It's not your fault. She usually takes it. But from what Lonnie said, the teacher likes to stick to the classics, nothing new or fun. Well she thinks that might also have to do with Queen Leah. Funny thing is I was talking to Melody, she is in my design class, she said Queen Leah doesn't attend the concert when they are at AA."
"Oh, that is good to know. Have you been having trouble keeping the secret?" Mal asked knowing Evie was horrible at secret keeping.

"A little, but so far so good. I just talk it up with Lonnie cause I see her after she has the class, in my biology class. She is usually so flustered because of Audrey, I can get information without her even realizing I am getting it. She just needs to vent."
"So whats with her and Jay, are they dating? I mean they were pretty cozy last night?"
"Neither will admit it, but they hang out all the time."
"Good. And Carlos, has fairy Godmother said they could officially date yet?"
"Not exactly, no. But she's better I think now that Jane is controlling her magic better."
"She is getting better isn't she. I think she just needs to relax."
"Yeah." While talking both girls fell into their old routine getting dressed, doing their faces, Evie doing Mal's hair than her own.

"So what's going on at AA?"
"They have some huge pep rally thing this week. We have to sing there, it's our test. But I am excused, Maestro doesn't want it getting out that I am singing. He feels like Queen Leah has spies trying to find out songs and so on. He really wants to win."
"Why this is only Audrey's what third concert?"
"Yes. There are single trophies for each category. One for the school and one for the singers. But there is a big trophy that goes back and forth between schools for the school who wins the most categories. It's been at Auradon Prep for the last 15 years. He wants that trophy."
"I can understand that." Evie giggled. The boys knocked on the door.

"You decent yet?" Jay yelled through the door. Evie used a quick spell to unlock and open the door.

"Nice one E."
"Working on it. Hi guys."

"We have company." Carlos said, holding out his phone so Mal could see Audrey's face as the bus drove off, she laughed out loud.

"No seriously she and the Queen B are down stairs." Jay said.

"Oh, OH. Is Ben in trouble?"
"Nope. But he and Belle are getting an ear full."
"Let's go."
Downstairs they four VK's stood outside Bens office listening to Queen Leah chastise Ben and Belle. "I cannot believe how juvenile you have become thanks to these little villians. Belle, this goes way beyond decorum. The entire sophomore class was invite except Audrey. I find that unbelieveable. Think of what it did to Audrey's reputation? Think of how she will be treated on campus Monday."

"Her reputation is of her own making, with your help. Think of what you both have done to Mal. And does this sound familiar? Think of how Maleficent felt all those years ago?" Ben had, had enough, he lost it. "Mal did nothing to you or Audrey. I never loved Audrey and she never loved me. I know what real love feels like thanks to Mal. Audrey was using me to get to be Queen. And honestly, maybe she would be a better person if you had let Aurora raise her instead of getting to have everything your way. Now I have heard enough insults about my girlfriend and our friends, please leave. Lumiere, show them out." Ben didn't even allow Leah to speak, he walked out of the office, a very proud Belle in tow. He walked into the front hall, and could see the four friends beaming in the family sitting room, he crossed the front hall, walked into the sitting room and closed the door. Once it was closed, he collapsed into the closest chair. When they heard the front door bang shut, they exploded into applauses.

"I figured you heard. That was so wrong, but felt so right." Mal pulled him up and into her arms.

"I am so proud of you Benjamin Florian." She kissed him. "I don't want to see the fallout from this though."
"Oh there won't be any." Belle said, "She knows Ben was right. He may have gone about it the wrong way, but she knows he spoke the truth. And Ben?"
"Yes, Mom?"
"I have never been prouder of you that I was right then." She hugged her son, and Mal. They ended up making a huge group hug.