It was way back before the school year started, the morning after the party, that Chip had witnessed it. Driving the royals to an important meeting he was parked across the street from a café just a couple blocks from the hotel the VKs were staying. He was sitting in his limo waiting for the royals meeting to be over when he spotted Mal joining Audrey at the café across the way. Chip wasn't nosey but he definitely was aware of how strange this was. As far as he knew this was the VK's first time in Auradon City. How did these two know each other? Their meeting was brief and seemed as if they didn't want anyone to see them together.
Then again when Chip was driving them back to Isle City, Mal seemed to keep staring daggers into the prince. She seemed to look at him as if he had wronged her in some way, yet the group was acting as if nothing had happened. It was strange to him. After Carlos and Ben's run-in with Audrey and their upset argument about how she treated Carlos, Chip wasn't too happy. He and Carlos had become somewhat friends despite his place as a chauffeur. The night of the party it was Chip who consoled Carlos in the limo knowing Ben would never cheat. He had seen Ben raised most of his life, it wasn't the type of man the Ben was and Chip knew it. So he opened the door for Ben when he came to explain. Sure enough, Chip had been right, it was all a misunderstanding and Chip knew then that Audrey couldn't be trusted.
Now sitting in the limo with the prince taking him to a council meeting, Chip couldn't help but notice how broken up Ben looked, how broken down and weary he was.
"Sir, Can I ask you what is bothering you?" Chip asked lowering the divider completely as he drove. Ben shifted a bit and took a shaky breath.
"Carlos and I broke up. Someone at the school spread a bunch of rumors about us and eventually convinced Chad to spread a photo that makes it look like I was cheating on Carlos with Audrey. I didn't do it chip but the picture is so clear and the only one who believes me is Evie but we can't figure out who spread the rumors or who gave Chad the photographs to spread." IT all came tumbling out of Ben's mouth in a ramble of heartbreak. Chip frowned deeply and paused contemplating whether he should say anything.
"I don't want to start anything or add to your frustration sir but there was something I witnessed that you should know about." Chip said before explaining the events he had witnessed and the things he had also noticed about Mal.
Meanwhile, Evie sat on her bed looking over the photograph for the thousandth time. Her eyes were strained but she knew there was something wrong with this image, but she couldn't put her finger on what it is. Mal was in the shower but her phone began vibrating. Evie ignored it and returned to staring at the photograph. That is when she saw it. It should have been clear as day, but now it was beyond obvious. How had she looked at this damned photo and not noticed it sooner? She stood up quickly when Mal's phone went off again. Evie paused and looked at the phone for a second before picking it up and unlocking it. Sure enough, Evie was still he lock combination. She couldn't help but roll her eyes a bit at that before checking the text message notifications. They were from, Audrey? She didn't even know Mal and Audrey knew each other enough to have one another's phone number let alone be texting. Evie scrolled up and read through some of her text messages before her blood went hot with anger. It was Mal, it had been fucking Mal the whole time.
Evie practically shook with anger, she sat on the edge of the bed taking screenshots of the messages and sending them to her own phone before putting Mal's phone back and waiting for her to get out of the shower. Evie was pacing the length of the bed, hands tightened into fists when Mal got out of the bathroom. Mal gave her a look and smirked.
"What twisted your knickers sister." Mal snickered a bit at her own comment and went to grab her phone. Evie stepped in front of her and stopped her.
"IT was you and Audrey." Her voice like liquid ice spilling out and splashing Mal in the face. Mal scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"Audrey and I what?" Mal deflected crossing her arms and acting smug. They had been careful, there was no way Evie knew. Evie reared her fist back and punched Mal right in the face, hard enough to send her reeling onto the floor. Evie stepped on her chest knocking the wind out of her. Evie flashed her phone, showing the screenshotted text messages. Mal's eyes went wide and she looked up at her former girlfriend in surprise and horror. Shit was all Mal could think before Evie knelt down and knocked her out.
Meanwhile, Carlos was sitting contently next to Samuel working on their homework together. The two didn't talk much, Carlos was still hurting from to loss of a Ben, but he was still determined to make the most of this educational opportunity. Graduating from Auradon Prep opens nearly every door one could want to pursue a future in and he wasn't going to let Ben ruin that for him. Samuel pulled Carlos close, hugging him sensing his thoughts.
"It's okay to be upset about it Carlos." Samuel clearly caring for Carlos as he petted his head. Carlos could feel the heat rise up in his cheeks looking directly into Samuel's eyes. The two were really close on this bed, so close he could almost feel Samuel's breathing. Carlos paused and the two seemed to notice at the same time. They started to lean in reflexively when they were surprised by a knock at the door.
"Carlos. Open up, It's important." Evie's voice called. The door had been locked to avoid Ben coming to interrupt their studying. Another knock came to the door as Carlos got up to unlock the door.
"Carlos it is really important" Ben's voice called this time. Samuel stood up behind Carlos and comforted him with a hand on his shoulder. He opened the door and Ben and Evie started rambling at the same time. Both trying to explain something about Mal or something. Samuel let out a sharp whistle silencing the two.
"One at a time, no one can understand either of you." Samuel sighed heavily. Evie and Ben shared a look before Evie spoke up. She showed Carlos the picture making his heartache.
"Carlos, I know what this looks like but for a second ignore how it makes you feel and really look at it. Does anything seem off about this photograph?" Evie asks making Carlos groan. He looked at the photo closer than before, he didn't see any- wait… Did that Calendar on the wall say February? Ben and Audrey didn't break up until April. Also, looking closer now, Ben's hair doesn't have a curl to it. He looked over at Samuel whose hair had a slight wave to it that matched the image. That's when Carlos looked at Ben and Evie confused.
"It isn't you." Carlos couldn't deny the rush of relief he felt in that moment. They all looked at Samuel in unison and he sighed a bit.
"Guess you figured it out… I didn't have any hand in this before you all accuse me of anything… but when I saw that everyone thought it was Ben, I figured it would be a chance to be with Carlos." Samuel shrugs and Carlos shakes his head looking mortified at what he had almost done. Ben pulled Carlos close and Evie sighs.
"The real ones behind all this are Mal and Audrey, they planned it from the start," Evie said showing Carlos the screenshots as Samuel left the room, clearly not welcome anymore. Carlos felt sick and pissed off, he knew Mal had something against Ben but he never imagined that she would stoop so low. Ben held Carlos protectively before leaning down and capturing his lips in a kiss. The two taking the moment to savor this feeling again, within that second it was as if nothing had happened between them. Evie could only smile and let them enjoy the moment.