*Mal's POV*


The journey to North Riding was a long one; but this wasn't due to the distance travelled. It was due to the fact that as soon as I sat in my couch seat I put my iPhone earphones in and stared out the windows and began to think about being on a break. I hated how this made me feel; and I started to think about whether I could be the girl that needs to be by Ben's side. I felt strong enough to be able to do this and I thought I had been; but what was shocking me is that I wasn't coping as well as I thought. I just hoped that as this week went on I was able to see a way to be able to get through this so I can be the best I can be for Ben.


"Here we are" Mrs Paul said as we all walked into the large wooden cabin that had been booked for our large group of art students.

"It's beautiful" I said as I looked around the large communal living area. At the end of the room there was the large communal kitchen and in the middle of the room there was a large oak staircase that lead to the next floor of bathrooms. On our right there was a long corridor which was littered with doors which I knew were bedrooms and at the end of that long corridor was one of our communal bathrooms.

"Right let's assign rooms" Mrs Paul declared. "I will be in this one with Mrs Roche" she advised as she nodded to the room closest to us. "Also Mr Farrow and Mr Palmer will be upstairs with the boys" she stated.

"Ok" we all chorused.

"Lady Mal you are in this room with Emma" she directed as she pointed to the next bedroom.

"Ok" me and Emma nodded as we both walked up to our bedroom door and opened it. Our room was very spacious with two queen sized beds in it; there was a chest of drawers at the foot of both of our beds and on the wooden walls adjacent to our beds there was a large plasma TV mounted to the wall. Next to the bed furthest away from us there was a large window which had dark brown curtains. On the wall next to the door there were two large oak wardrobes and there was a dark brown lamp shade hanging from the ceiling.

"Which bed would you like?" Emma asked after I closed the door behind us both.

"I'm not bothered" I shrugged.

"Ok" she replied. "I'll have this one" she advised as she pushed her suitcase to the furthest bed away.

"Ok" I smiled meekly as I put my back pack on the other bed.

"Are you excited?" she asked happily.

"Yeah" I muttered.

"Tell your face that" she teased.

"Sorry" I muttered as I pursed my lips together. "I just have a lot on my mind that's all" I advised.

"Oh" she muttered. "Is something wrong?" she questioned slowly. "Everyone could see there was something wrong with you and his Majesty" she noted.

"No; when I left everything was fine" I dismissed. Emma was friendly enough; and we had been friends in our art class since I had arrived in Auradon. However I knew if I told her anything she would go around telling everyone; and this was something that I felt like I could deal with. I needed to use this time to figure things out; not deal with people spreading mine and Ben's problems. "Just some personal matters that's all" I advised.

"I see" she noted. "Well you know where I am" she pressed.

"Yeah I do" I smiled warmly.

"I'm just going to see the others" she advised.

"Ok" I nodded and I knew for a fine fact that she was probably going to tell the others about my dismissive behaviour - but I was passed caring at this point. "I'm just going to unpack" I said as I nodded down at my bags.

"Ok" she said and she quickly left the room - leaving me with my thoughts on how I can try and cope with Ben's lifestyle so I could stand proudly by his side.