A/N: The long awaited date is here! This was a fun chapter to write. This whole chapter is from Ben's POV for a change. Happy reading!
Ben's POV
I hadn't heard from Mal all morning. I was going a bit crazy with nothing to do. I just really wanted to spend time with her and figured she must be planning something since she told me not to plan anything myself. I thought that maybe she was spending the morning with Evie because she was going to be leaving tonight.
I knew I was moping, but today was the first day I had had off in so long and I just wanted to spend it with her. This was wasted time I thought.
"Chin up son. Mal will be over tomorrow to spend Christmas with us" my dad said, catching on to my mood as we were finishing our lunch. I just sighed.
"Speaking of Mal" my mom said. "She told me to give this to you" she said handing me a purple envelope.
"Mal was here today?" I asked her. If Mal was here why didn't she come find me. All I had done all day was watch TV and play video games and try not to think about the fact that I could be with her right now.
"Not today" my mom said with a giggle, but didn't elaborate. I hurriedly opened the envelope. There was a folded note and a card. The note said 'read me first' on it so I unfolded it and began to read.
Ben,
I know these last few months have been tough, so I wanted to give you an early Christmas present. Follow the clues and they will lead you to your gift. Have fun and I will see you soon. I love you!
Yours,
Mal
A smile spread across my face. I couldn't believe she would do something like this for me. I felt excitement build up in my chest as I looked at the card. This must be the first clue.
...
This is the spot where it all began. I knew things were different when you shook my hand.
...
"I gotta go" I said to my parents as I stood and rushed from the room. I quickly put on my snow gear and left the castle. I wasn't sure if I should drive or not. I didn't know how many clues there would be or where they would be. I thought about taking my scooter but then thought what if it was a big gift and I couldn't carry it on the scooter. I decided to drive the Range Rover instead. Maybe Mal and I can go out later and it would be better to have the car for that.
I made my way over to the school and parked. I rushed to the front of the school and saw a purple envelope sitting on top of one of the snow covered bushes that lined the front drive. I quickly opened it.
...
I offered you a cookie as part of my evil dealings, a cookie you ate just to spare my feelings.
...
My locker. I was at my locker when she offered me the cookie that wound up being a love potion. I ran to the locker that use to be mine and sure enough taped to the front of it was a purple envelope. I opened the third envelope and read the card inside.
...
You told me you loved me I knew it couldn't be true. You sang me a song that was ridiculously you.
...
I laughed at how cute this all was. I walked out to the tourney field and looked around. I checked the bleachers first but found nothing, so I stood and scanned the field. A speck of purple caught my eye and I made my way down to the Dragon Cannon. I wondered if she stuck it to the Dragon Cannon on purpose, but then thought this was Mal I was thinking of. She probably didn't even know it was called the Dragon Cannon. I pulled the next card out and read it.
...
You called my name, it was practically a shout. This is the place you first asked me out.
...
I smiled. I loved how all the clues rhymed. Mal must have put a lot of work into this. I read the clue one more time. I was pretty sure we were leaving Magical History class when I asked her out on a date for the first time. I headed in the school and towards the classroom. The clues weren't really giving away what the gift could be, but this was fun none the less.
Taped to the door of the Magical History classroom was another purple envelope. This had to have been what Mal has been doing all morning instead of hanging out with Evie, unless Evie has been helping her place all these clues. I grabbed the clue off the door and opened it.
...
This place is so special. I fell for you there. It was here that I learned you really do care.
...
I read the clue through twice. Mal said she fell in love with me on our first date, so she must be talking about the Enchanted Lake. Well I was glad I decided to drive I thought.
This one was harder to get to, but I knew a short cut and was able to get to the stone platform by the lake in record time considering all the snow. I was happy to see the purple envelope sitting on one of the white wrought iron benches.
...
The spell had been broken, you gave me your ring, I decided to be good and you became king.
...
The cathedral! I made it back to my car and drove to the cathedral. I knew it was closed so I wondered where she would have left the clue. I pulled up out front and saw it hanging on the door. I was glad the clues were easy to find. I ran up the steps and pulled the card from the door. I read the card quickly.
...
This is where we shared our first kiss. I never knew that love could feel like this.
...
Our first kiss was probably one of my favorite memories. She dodged kissing me quite a few times. Not that she didn't want to kiss me, she just wasn't comfortable doing it in front of other people. Things are so much different now. She doesn't care who sees us kiss now, though I don't think she would be ok with making out in front of people. I let the memory of our first kiss run through my mind.
I was walking Mal back to her dorm after my coronation party. We were just walking quietly holding hands. I was wondering why Mal wouldn't kiss me. Does she not want to kiss me? Did she not really want to be with me?
"So Your Majesty, did you have a good evening?" she asked interrupting my thoughts. I looked at her smiling at me and the urge to kiss her returned.
"I did" I said giving her a small smile as we walked to the front of the school.
"What's wrong?" she asked as we stopped in front of my dad's statue.
"Mal, do you really want to be with me?" I asked her bluntly still holding her hand.
"Yes" she said now looking worried. "Why would you think I don't?" she asked.
"It's just that every time I try to kiss you, you turn away" I said. I watched her give a small shy smile as she took a deep breath.
"Ben, It's not that I don't want to, it's just that I don't want to have our first kiss in front of everyone" she said. I smiled. That was better than what I was thinking. So she's not big on PDA, that's no big deal I thought. I tugged her a little closer to me.
"Well we are alone now" I said.
"So we are" she said, sounding a little nervous. I reached my right hand up to cup the side of her face gently. I slowly lowered my lips to hers letting my eyes close. She didn't turn her head away this time. Her full lips were soft and warm. It felt like her lips fit perfectly to mine. I didn't want to scare her away so I didn't deepen the kiss. I pulled back slightly and looked at her. Her eyes were still closed and I heard her sigh at the loss of contact. I softly pecked her lips once more before I pulled away fully. I watched as her eyes opened and she looked at me. I smiled at her.
I would never forget the way she looked after our first kiss. I didn't know at the time that it was her first kiss ever, not counting practicing with Evie. I headed back to the school. I was confused because the first clue I found was in the same area that this one should be. I hadn't see another clue when I found that one though. I parked again and walked back out to the front of the school. We shared our first kiss in front of my dad's statue, when I was walking her back to her dorm after the coronation party. I walked up to the statue and sure enough, on the base of the statue by the feet, was another envelope.
...
You told me you loved me, you wanted me back. If you head toward the Isle you're on the right track.
...
I knit my brow in confusion. Mal wouldn't hide a clue on the Isle would she? There is no way. I read the clue again. 'If you head toward the Isle you're on the right track'. I figured I would just do what it said, so I climbed in my car and drove to where the magical bridge to the Isle began. I got out of the car and walked toward the bridge and there next to the giant concrete arch was the next clue. I sighed in relief that she hadn't done anything drastic.
...
You were spelled yet again and my heart broke in two, until I told you how I felt and shared a magical kiss with you.
...
This happened on the boat at cotillion, but I knew the boat wasn't there anymore. Maybe she just put the next clue on the dock. I headed to the dock that was next to the school. I walked along the wooden pier and found the clue on a post at the end. I read the card, hoping I would find her or the gift soon. Preferably her.
...
A couple of firsts have happened in this spot. It's here where things began to get hot.
...
This one was tougher. I thought about it for a minute. I was pretty sure when she said hot she wasn't referring to the actual temperature. I thought about the times when things have really heated up between us. We made out for the first time in her dorm. Maybe that was it. Then I thought about the first time we actually touched each other intimately. That also happened in her dorm. Well if either of those things were what she was referring to, then I guess the next clue would be in her dorm.
I headed back up the dock. I wondered if this was the last clue. Would Mal be in her dorm waiting for me? I was now getting excited, hoping I was going to get to see her soon. I rushed back to the school. As I walked into the dorms I saw Carlos heading out.
"Hey Ben. Are you hanging out with Mal today?" he asked me.
"Not yet, but she has me on a scavenger hunt for an early Christmas present. You haven't seen her have you?" I asked him.
"Not today" he said. "Well I'm on my way to see Jane. Have fun with your hunt or whatever it is" he said giving me a wave and heading out of the dorm building.
I just shook my head. I quickly made my way up to Mal's dorm. Someone had to be here or I wouldn't be able to get the next clue. Either that or she left the door unlocked. I decided it would be best to knock first. I knocked and it only took a moment before Evie opened the door.
"I've been expecting you" she said with a smug grin. She must know all about this. She held the door open, inviting me in.
"Is Mal here?" I asked looking around but not seeing her anywhere.
"Nope, but since you are here you will see her soon" she said still smiling. I smiled back and looked around for the next clue. I found it sitting in the middle of Mal's bed. I sat down and opened it, reading the next clue.
...
We swam and we played, you got your first view, it was the first time my mouth worked magic on you.
...
I instantly began thinking about that day and our date. Mal was very bold that day I thought. I chuckled to myself.
"What?" Evie asked me.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about the day she is referring to in this clue" I said. "You haven't read these have you?" I asked feeling embarrassed at the possibility that she had.
"Nope. Mal said they were personal. I was only tasked with placing the clue by the statue out front after you got the clue off the bush" she said.
"They are personal" I said. "Well a few of the first clues were innocent enough." I said with. "They aren't really giving me any clues as to what my present is though." Evie laughed.
"They are but you probably won't realize it until she gives it to you. Well maybe just before she gives it to you. I'm sure she will explain if you don't figure it out on your own" she said with a smile.
"So you know what my gift is?" I asked her.
"I do. All I will say is I'm pretty sure you will like it" she said and I knew I wouldn't be able to get any more information out of her.
"Well if I have this clue right, I need to head back to the castle" I said. I looked over at Evie and saw her smirking. "Is she there?" I asked
"My lips are sealed" she said. I shook my head at her, smiling.
"Thank's Evie" I said as I stood to make my way back home.
As I was driving to the castle I thought about the clues. They all had to do with our relationship and they were in chronological order so far. I still couldn't figure out what they had to do with a gift.
My mom said that Mal hadn't been to the castle today, so Mal must have given mom the clue before she left. If so I wondered if she also left the other clue before she left. One way to find out I thought.
When I got back to the castle, instead of heading down to the pool, I went to my office. I sat down turning on my computer. I clicked on the security files, selecting the files for the indoor pool and gym. I pulled up the footage from yesterday. It didn't take long to see Mal walking in and heading for the gym changing room door. I smiled at my sneaky girlfriend on the screen. I could see her smirking as she walked back out of the changing room. I did a quick fast forward through the footage up until now just to make sure no one had gone in there and found the clue. No on had even been down there since Mal left.
I quickly shut my computer down and made my way out of my office and down the stairs toward the pool and gym. I knew right where to look now. I stepped into the changing room but didn't see anything. We really didn't go to far into the room, so I wouldn't think she would leave it anywhere where I couldn't see it. I turned to look at the shelf the towels were on, remembering that she grabbed a towel for me. I saw it then, taped to the back of the door.
...
This is a place where you rest your head, but it's been a long time since you've used this bed.
...
I had to read this clue a couple of times. All the other clues had to do with something significant in our relationship but this one didn't seem to fit. The only beds Mal and I had ever really been together on were hers and my bed here. I just got a clue from her bed and I don't think she would have Evie place another clue there. I guess I could check my bed here. I headed up stairs to my room. I don't know how she could have left a clue there. I had been here all morning, plus I slept in my bed last night so she couldn't have left it yesterday. I figured she could have had my mom place it on my bed after I left.
I walked into my room but didn't see any clues. My bed was made but there wasn't an envelope on it. I pulled out the clue and read it again. Where would I sleep but haven't slept there in a long time? She really had me stumped on this one. I left my room and nearly ran into my mom on the stairs.
"Hey" she said.
"Hey. Sorry I wasn't paying attention to where I was going" I said to her.
"I didn't expect you to be back so soon. Did you find your present?" she asked. So she knew about this too.
"Not yet and all the clues she has left haven't even given me a clue to what it is. You don't happen to know what it is do you?" I asked, getting impatient.
"No. Mal said it was a surprise. Why are you back here?" she asked me.
"Mal left another clue here. She has had me all over the place, back and forth" I said with a laugh. "I have been spot on with every clue so far but this one is stumping me. All of the clues take me to a place that is significant to our relationship, whether it's where we had a date or our fist kiss, but this one doesn't make sense to me."
"Can I see? Maybe I can help" she said. The clue was innocent enough so I handed her the card. "Oh that one is easy! I kinda helped her because she said she wanted to put a clue there" mom said to me. I looked at her still clueless. "Just think about it. The clue is straight forward. Where do you have a bed but you don't sleep there?" she asked. The only place I had another bed besides here was in my dorm. That's it I thought.
"My dorm, but Mal and I have never spent time there" I said confused as to why she would leave a clue there. My mom just shrugged her shoulders.
"You will have to go find the clue to find out" she said. I nodded and she began to move past me up the stairs and I started to make my way down again.
"Oh and Ben" my mom called.
"Yeah?" I said as I stopped and turned back to look up at her.
"I will understand if you don't make it back home tonight" she said giving me a knowing look with a slight smirk. I didn't know what she was talking about.
"Um...ok?" I said, a little confused as to why she thought I wouldn't come home. She headed upstairs and I shook my head and made my way out of the castle and back to the school once again.
I headed back to the dorm building. I was glad I drove again because I would need my keys and my dorm key was on my key ring. I wondered how Mal would have gotten into my dorm. I had the key in my hand. Then I remembered that my mom said she helped her with this clue. She must have given Mal the spare key.
I checked the door and found it was locked so I used my key to unlock it. I opened the door and saw Mal sitting in the middle of my bed. I smiled at her and she smiled back.
"Finally" she said as I walked in.
I will have the next chapter up soon I promise.
Reviews are love!