A/N - Hey guys! Welcome back! I hope you enjoy this new chapter, and I would like to say a huge thank you to the person responsible for the idea for this chapter, "Blood Faerie .xx" , I really appreciate your help!

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Chapter 14

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Mal grabbed Harry and Gil and raced down the stairs, taking them two or three at a time. The three of them stopped outside the front gate, huffing and puffing, trying to get their breath back. Mal straightened up, and walked over to where Evie, Jay and Carlos were standing, watching on in amusement,

Mal walked past them, opening one of the doors of the limo. "Don't even ask," she muttered to them, climbing in and sitting at the far window.

"Wasn't gonna," Jay chuckled, turning round to greet Harry and Gil.

Evie smiled at them, walking forward to give them both a quick hug. "What have you done to annoy her already?" She asked, grinning at them. Gil took her to one side, walking slightly away from the group.

"She's nervous because Ben will be there, and so will Harry," he explained. "I'm presuming you know about this whole situation?"

Evie stared at him. "She told you that?"

"Yeah. Why?"

Evie grabbed Gil's arm. "Gil, she didn't even tell us until two weeks ago! How did you get her to tell you?!"

"I asked her," he answered, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Evie gawked at him. "But- but- how?!" She sputtered.

They heard a shout. It was Jay. "Come on you two, we're going to be late!"

Evie continued staring at Gil like he had three heads. As they moved toward the limo, she lowered her voice, as they were within hearing range from the rest of them.

"Does Harry know?" She asked him, a serious look on her face.

"No. But I think he knows that whatever they had on the Isle definitely isn't over. He doesn't know she still loves him, though."

"She told you that too?!"

Gil laughed, and followed her into the limo.

The seven of them sat in relative quiet for the most of the journey, the only conversation when Gil would ask what something was, and Evie would tell him.

They arrived at the castle quickly enough, and each of them climbed out of the limo. They made their way up to the front door of the castle.

"Woah," Harry muttered under his breath. Gil heard him, and threw an arm around his shoulders. Harry shrugged him off and glared at him.

"Just tryin' to help," Gil said, sighing, walking off to catch up with Carlos and Jay.

"You've gotta be nicer to him," a voice said, coming up behind him.

"He'll be fine," he answered, turning to look at Mal.

"But is that enough?" she questioned, smiling at him.

He made a face at her. She laughed, and stuck her tongue out at him.

"Mal," Evie called. "You should go in first," she said to her, gesturing to the door.

"Yep," Mal answered, walking to the front of the group.

Before she had even raised her hand to knock on the door, it swung open, revealing the majesty of the indoors.

"Lady Mal," Cogsworth greeted her, from behind the door.

"Cogsworth," she replied, smiling at him.

"And friends," he greeted the rest of them, as they walked in. "Ah. You must be our new guests," he said, as Harry and Gil walked in.

"Aye," Harry muttered, barely acknowledging him.

"Hello!" Gil greeted.

"Harry!" Evie scolded.

"What?"

"Be polite. He's just trying to be nice."

"Sorry, MUM," he snarked at her.

"What's stuck up your ass?" She asked him, smirking.

He glared at her.

"Hmm, let me think," she continued. "Could it be something to be with our sassy dragon friend over there?"

"Shut up."

Evie laughed. "Calm down, pirate. I'm only teasing. But, really though, it is because of her, right?"

Harry looked at her. "I ain't sayin' a word, princess."

"Ha! I knew it!"

"I didn't even say anything!"

"Didn't have to!" Evie answered, going over to whisper in Gil's ear.

Mal led the group to the main dining area, and stood just before the ornate door.

"Please behave, Harry," she said, without even turning around. "This is important." With that, she pushed open the door, and walked forward, stopping and scowling, barely two feet into the room.

Ben stood up from the table to greet her, and the rest of them.

"Mal, I-"

He was interrupted as she grabbed him by his suit and pulled him aside.

"What is Audrey doing here!?" She demanded, glaring at him.

"Mal, let me-"

"No! Why is she here, Ben?"

"My father wanted her here."

"Ugh!" Mal muttered, running her hands through her hair. "You know how I feel about her, Ben."

"I know, and I tried but-"

"You know what, i don't care," she said, glancing over to the table, where everyone else was sitting. There was a space left for her, next to Ben, at the head of the table, but it was directly across from Audrey. There was also a place next to Harry.

"Uh- Audrey laid out the table settings. I asked her to leave one next to me, for you," he said, trying to make things better.

"Uh-huh, and she also put herself next to you."

"Well, it's only right, she's a princess, Mal."

"So's Evie," Mal responded, looking pointedly at him. "Or does that not count because she's from the Isle?"

"No, of course it does, I just-"

"Save it."

She paused for a moment, contemplating what she could do. She could take her proper place, next to Ben, or, she could sit next to Harry, and completely ignore Ben and Audrey.

"Yep," she thought to herself. "Screw it."

She strutted over to the table and sat down next to Harry, leaning back in her chair.

Harry and Jay grinned at her, while Evie and Carlos gave her small, disapproving smiles. Gil just laughed.

"Uh, Mal?" They heard Audrey's high-pitched, annoying voice call. "You're supposed to be up here. Not next to him."

"Awk shut up!" Harry called up to her.

"Excuse me! I am a princess! How dare you talk to me like that!"

Ben walked past the table, giving Mal a small, sad smile. "Enough, Audrey," he rebuked her quietly.

"But he-"

"And rightly so. Mal can sit wherever she likes. We can't tell her what to do."

"But it's not right!"

"Audrey!" Ben spoke sharply this time. "Enough. Now," he said, addressing the table. "Dinner?"

"Yes!" Jay laughed, trying to ease the tension. "I'm starving!"

Ben clapped his hands, and dishes upon dishes of delicious food flew into the room,spreading themselves out across the huge table.

Once they were settled, Gil nearly leapt for the several that were placed in front of him. Audrey glared down the table at him, disapprovingly. Evie giggled, and placed a restraining hand on his chest. "One minute," she whispered to him, and turne to face Ben.

"Be my guest," Ben said, extending his hands over the table of food. They all began eatin, Gil letting out audible moans of delight at all of the food he had crammed into his mouth.

Harry turned to Mal, as everyone began to talk amongst themselves. "Well done, love," he murmured to her. "And what was that about ME behaving, hmm?"

Mal glanced to the top of the table, and found Ben's eyes watching her closely. She smiled at Harry. "Shut up, pirate," she said, poking him, "You're much better company, anyway," she smirked.

Ben caught her eye a few times over the rest of the evening. "I'm sorry," she mouthed up at him, nodding to Audrey.

"It's okay," he mouthed back, smiling at her.

Mal's insides turned. "I'm going to the bathroom," she said, and stood up from the table.

"I'll go with you," Evie said, standing up as well.

"How rude!" Audrey exclaimed loudly.

"Audrey!" Ben reprimanded. "They're fine."

"I never understood why girls do that," Jay muttered to Harry, Gil and Carlos. "It's like they think they think that there's monsters down the toilets or something, and they need backup!"

"Na," Harry said, after they had finished laughing. "It's definitely so they can go talk about us men."

They all bust out laughing again.

Evie followed Mal out of the dining room, and down the corridor to the toilets.

"So, what's up?" She said, turning to Mal, after closing the door tightly behind them.

"I have to break up with Ben," she announced. "Soon."

"Oh?" Evie said, watching her friend closely.

"He still thinks I love him, and I don't! It's not fair to him."

"So…" Evie started.

"What?" Mal asked.

"Does this mean we still love Harry?" Evie said, smiling.

Mal blushed, and stuck her head down, looking at the floor very intensely. "No."

"Ha! I knew it!"

"Don't you dare tell him!" Mal threatened.

"Nope. That's up to youuu!" Evie said in a sing-song voice.

"Shut up," Mal said, smiling.

"Harry and Mal, sitting in a tree, K I S S-"

"Shut up!" Mal cried, laughing. Suddenly, her face dropped.

"What?" Evie asked.

"I can't break up with Ben. That will literally start a war."

Evie stayed quiet, knowing she wasn't wrong.

"Gil wants me to pull a Louisa on Ben."

"WHAT?!"

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A/N - Hope you enjoyed! If you did, leave a review and let me know! I love to know what you guys are thinking, and once again, a big thanks to "Blood Faerie .xx", for helping me with the idea! Thanks for reading! :)