A/N: Okay, so I decided to make this a series for when I'm not working on Adventures or anything else. This'll be the first and later on, I'll make a sequel if you guys are up for that. So let me know what you think of that if I should or if I'm just wasting my time. I hope you're liking the crossover so far, I'm pretty excited about this myself. Remember to Read & Review! ...Ya know, as long as you aren't being a dick about it.
"It's time to wake up, Ben." Belle's voice rang like a morning songbird as it was Monday yet again.
"Okay, Mom, I'm getting up," Ben smiled after he yawned a bit in his bed, sitting up. "Another day, another not dollar because I don't have a job like Dad."
"Come now, going to school is a job." Belle smiled back.
"If it's a job, then how come I don't get paid?" Ben retorted playfully as he rolled out of bed to get ready for the day.
"You get paid in education," Belle replied as she then went to wake Clarice up for school next. "Just try to have a good day today."
"Yeah, I'd love to," Ben nodded as he made his bed after he got out of it. "Especially if I could have Clarice's class with Ms. Blanchard."
Belle giggled warmly as she went into her younger daughter's bedroom. Ben then made his bed as he yawned and soon shut his bedroom door so that he could get dressed and out of his much more comfortable pajamas to be replaced by his not as comfortable school uniform. After Ben left his bedroom, he walked by his parents' room and heard snoring and gently cracked the door open to see that his father was home, but was still asleep. He must've worked himself too hard. It just made Ben wonder how he was going to be a functional and suitable adult in the future like his parents? They made it look so easy while he and Clarice were just spoonfed priveledges and good times all around, unlike most other kids who barely had a chance at a good life due to their upbringing.
"We best not disturb your father this morning, Benny," Belle whispered as she shut the door and had her teenage son step out of the way. "He's worked very hard and will work even harder after this week."
"Oh... Okay, Mom," Ben nodded. "So... Does that mean he's going out of town this week?"
"Yes," Belle replied. "Your father and I will probably be gone before you and your sister get out of school today."
"Okay, Mom..." Ben said, sounding softer than he did when he first answered her. "We'll be good for Aunt Lacey and cousin Gideon."
"And your uncle." Belle added as a sharp reminder.
"And... Uncle... Right..." Ben nodded. When he was a lot younger and more around Clarice's age, he had a deep fear and dreadful feeling around his uncle. He was very strict and cold in contrast to his fun-loving and cool aunt who usually let the kids do whatever they wanted as long as it was legal. He was always told "Your uncle's not so bad once you get to know him better" which was pretty much a code for "You'll get used to him being a sore ass". He wasn't as afraid of his uncle as he was now a teenager, but he still felt chills and felt terrified of being alone in a room with him without his aunt or cousin there to control his temper. He just had to wonder what Aunt Lacey ever saw in him.
Eventually, Ben helped Clarice to some breakfast, giving them both bowls of cereal as Belle had to go right back upstairs. The two talked about their own school days, though Ben let Clarice do most of the talking, even if her stories seemed to go on for a while. He never truly minded though and plus, Clarice was the little princess of the house and was Ben's whole world ever since she was born. After eating breakfast, it was time to brush their teeth so that any food they ate wouldn't stick and be a bit of a social deformity in their respective classes.
"I hate brushing my teeth." Clarice pouted.
"I know, Clarice, but it's very good for you," Ben insisted. "Besides, if you lose a tooth, the Tooth Fairy will give you $5 for it."
"What does she do with the teeth?" Clarice asked.
"Here we go..." Ben smirked to himself as the first out of a million questions that Clarice would ask about life.
"Is her castle made out of teeth? How does she know when a kid loses a tooth? Where does she get the money? Does she have a magic wand? Is she also the dentist?"
Ben chuckled as he tried to answer as many questions as he could without blowing a fuse as they both brushed their teeth and continued to get ready for school. Some time had passed and it was soon time to get going.
"Mom! We're going to school!" Ben called out upstairs, hoping that he didn't wake up his father.
"All right!" Belle called back and soon came to go downstairs to help them get to school. "Careful, Ben. You almost woke up your father."
"Sorry, Mom, but I didn't wanna leave without saying anything." Ben said bashfully.
"I understand," Belle smiled as she came over to take the two over to the car. "Now Clarice, I want you to be very good for your Aunt Lacey tonight."
"When are you and Daddy coming back home?" Clarice pouted. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, dear, but don't worry," Belle coaxed. "Daddy and I won't be gone forever. I promise~"
Clarice soon hugged her mother right away. "I hate it when you and Daddy go away." she then said with a firm pout.
"Clarice, we don't hate." Ben warned his younger sister, remembering being told that when he was around her age.
"That's right," Belle nodded. "Hate is a very strong word."
"Sorry, Mama~" Clarice said softly then.
"It's okay, dear," Belle said with a small smile. "Just remember to listen to everything your Aunt Lacey says and if you do play with cousin Gideon, be kind and gentle around him. He's still very sensitive for his age. No practicing with him for your football game, Benny." she then added to her teenage son.
"Yeah, Mom, I know," Ben chuckled bashfully. "You have a great trip with Dad."
"Oh... Come here~" Belle cooed as she hugged them before they got into the car and she went to drive them to school.
Ben helped make sure that Clarice was comfortable and secure, smiling warmly at her. Clarice smiled back, kissing his cheek in thanks. Ben chuckled as he took in the kiss and soon went to sit in the front seat with his mother. Belle smiled warmly at her kids and soon strapped herself in as she went to ride off to the school as it would be a good time to go now rather than go later and risk having them being late to class.
"Can you bring us back something from your trip?" Clarice asked her mother.
"Hmm... I'll think about it~" Belle smiled warmly.
"Aww..." Clarice pouted as she took that as meaning "It's never going to happen" since that's almost always what grown-ups meant whenever they said that.
"You'll be surprised," Belle reassured. "Maybe that'll make you worry less about us, huh?"
"Okay, Mama~" Clarice said with a small nod.
"That's a good girl." Belle smiled warmly.
Ben smiled back as that worked out very nicely as they rode off to school for the day.
Everyone else was heading off to school in their own way. Mal soon came down and got herself a piece of toast for breakfast and was about to go out the door until she ran into her mother.
"Oh, Mal," Ciara smiled. "Good morning."
"...Hey, Mom," Mal greeted indifferently. "Can you make this quick? I gotta go to school."
"I know, dear, I know," Ciara nodded. "I just thought maybe you'd like for me to take you to school today."
"Oh, yeah?" Mal scoffed. "Why were you so busy last time that you couldn't even bother driving me to school or calling me?"
"...I'll tell you about that later," Ciara said softly. "Let's just get in the car."
"Why can't we talk about it now?" Mal narrowed her eyes.
"Mal, please, not now," Ciara sighed as she held her head. "Mommy has a headache."
Mal just rolled her eyes as she shrugged in defeat. "Whatever," she then grumbled out. "Let's just get this over with."
"Tone and language, young lady," Ciara sighed sharply, but she then nodded and went to lead Mal out the door and over to the car. Once they were both inside, she put her key in the ignition and fastened her seatbelt as Mal did the same and they rode off together. "I'm trying to do some special work while I'm here."
"What kind of special work?" Mal asked. "Are you a stripper at that seedy place called The Rabbit Hole or something?"
"Malissa Bertha!" Ciara gasped at that rather appalling question.
"Sorry, Mom, but what do I know?" Mal shrugged with a cocky smirk. "After all, I'm just a little girl in a new place and a new school~"
"You are a high school sophomore," Ciara rolled her eyes a bit. "But no, that's not my new job."
"Did you even find a job around here?" Mal asked. "I think you just moved here to avoid hatred from everyone in town for having Dad walk out on us and Lily's funeral."
"Mal..." Ciara sighed sharply.
"Fine. Fine," Mal shrugged. "What is it then?"
"Well... I'm trying to see if I can track down your father," Ciara replied. "It's just very complicated to explain, but I'm just trying to work something out. I know what happened with your father and sister was hard, but it's going to get better soon. I'm looking for a good lawyer and when I find your father, we'll talk about what happened before we moved away."
"You just want a good lawyer to make yourself look good so that you can mooch off of Dad's riches and you can be rich and then there'll be no room for me and you can kick me out and get together with your new lawyer." Mal rolled her eyes.
"Mal, please..." Ciara sighed and shook her head. "You just don't understand. You gotta stop acting like some kid and learn to grow up."
"I've heard that one before," Mal snorted. "Well... Good luck with that, Mom. I hope your lawyer is smart, but not too smart where he realizes how shallow and empty you are as a mother and as a human being."
Ciara narrowed her eyes, trying not to have a breakdown. She missed the old days when Mal was younger and more vulnerable. So much easier to control and keep under said control... Until Lily decided to go through a rebellious phase while working herself sick as a student to please their parents. Mal then wanted a taste of that power and had been closer to Lily ever since until her unfortunate and grave demise. Ciara hoped that Lily's death would be a lesson and example for Mal to go by given the circumstances, though Mal was just sour and pouty all the time because of it and still attempted to follow in Lily's edgy footsteps.
"You better watch yourself, Malissa..." Ciara warned, nearly hissing like a venomous snake.
"Yeah, right," Mal rolled her eyes. "As if my life could possibly get any worse than it is right now."
Eventually, the car ride came to a stop and Mal came out of the car as other students roamed about: the teenagers talking with each other while the younger kids played on the playground until the first bell would ring.
"By the way, if you don't think your life can get any worse, just remember this," Ciara smirked as she caught Mal before she could get too far away. "I can give you the worst punishment, a lot worse than being grounded or sent to military school."
"...You wouldn't dare." Mal narrowed her eyes darkly.
"Oh?" Ciara smirked before she honked the horn loudly on purpose to make the other students look over before she called out in a high-pitched voice, attempting to sound obnoxious, shrill, and annoying. "HAVE A GREAT DAY, SWEETIE! MOMMY LOVES YOU SOOOO MUCH!~ KISSES!" she then blew loud and sloppy kisses in Mal's direction.
"MOM!" Mal gasped as her face turned bright red from the painful humiliation.
Ciara grinned before she soon drove off. Mal soon slowly turned around to the students who were closer to her age who stared at her before bursting out into ruckus laughter while pointing at her and mocking her by blowing their own kisses and calling her names such as "Mama's Girl" or "Mama's Little Baby".
"Great..." Mal grumbled.
"Ouch... That's gotta hurt..." Audrey winced with a smirk as she stood with Coraline and Ivy.
"Someone better get some aloe vera because the new girl just got scorched~" Ivy smirked.
"She'll probably have to move away again, if she can ever grow out of diapers or Mommy holding her hand~" Coraline added.
Mal just groaned and rolled her eyes, trying to ignore them as she walked past them.
"Hey, Mal... That looked rough..." Evie commented as she stood by.
"Huh? Oh... Hi, Evie..." Mal said, a bit sourly as she came to her only friend in school so far. "Yeah... Your mom ever embarrass you like that?"
"Not really," Evie shrugged with a small smile as she took Mal over to the playground to ignore the other teenagers. "Mom was always a bit cold and distant... For a long time anyway. She seemed to open up a bit more and so did I after Henry came into our lives."
"Man, I wish I had a baby brother now," Mal smirked. "Maybe he can help distract my mom and make her leave me alone for a while."
"I'm not sure if it works for every mother," Evie replied as she took Mal's hands. "I did want to talk to you though."
"Oh?" Mal asked as she blinked from the hand touching as Evie brought her over to the swingset since it wasn't occupied yet.
"Yes," Evie nodded as they sat down in the swings together. "I'm sorry I kinda got mad at you for the Mall thing and what I said. About you being used to being a disappointment to your mother."
"Yeah... That kinda hurt, but I got over it," Mal shrugged. "No big deal."
"I'm just really sorry," Evie said softly. "I didn't mean that the way it came out."
"Hey, it's okay," Mal reassured. "I've heard a lot worse back home. We lived in a bad part of town, so everybody made fun of each other and we couldn't do much. I even got pickpocketed by a bunch of Kindergartners once."
"Whoa..." Evie whispered. "Seems to be a wonder that you survived through that and could afford to live in Auradon Heights."
"Heh... Yeah..." Mal smiled softly. "Are you okay though? Did you get in trouble with your mom for about what happened?"
"I have to do some extra chores around the house and keep an extra eye on Henry," Evie explained. "Mom said this morning that I'd be good to go by Friday if I keep my nose clean."
"...I hear that term a lot, what does it mean?" Mal soon asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Keeping your nose clean? That just means to stay out of trouble," Evie explained. "I don't understand it either. Luckily Henry's not a brat or a pain in the butt to be around with."
"You'll be done by the end of this week, eh?" Mal replied thoughtfully as the gears in her head started turning as she remembered what she and Uma talked about. "Interesting~"
"...What makes you say that?" Evie asked. "Are you thinking about something?"
"...Maybe?" Mal grinned bashfully. "It's kind of a surprise."
"...If you tell me, I'll still act surprised?" Evie suggested with a small smirk. "C'mon, Mal. Tell me and then I'll see if it's okay with Mom first."
"Sorry, Evie, but I can't break my promise." Mal said softly.
"Promise to who?" Evie asked.
Mal was about to say Uma's name, but luckily caught herself so that she wouldn't spoil the surprise. "Well... Let's just say a special friend is looking out for ya," she then covered up. "And if you want, Henry can be apart of it too. If it's all right with him."
"...Well, I suppose he could, but if not, he can go to the animal shelter with Mr. Nolan," Evie replied. "Mr. Nolan's a good family friend of ours like Ms. Blanchard. I hear that those two are dating though~" she then smirked eagerly from the juicy gossip.
"Ooh~" Mal giggled a bit. "All right... Just talk with your mom if this week goes all right."
"Okay, Mal, keep your secrets," Evie nodded as she heaved a sharp sigh. "This just better be worth it."
"Oh, I believe that it will be." Mal reassured.
Eventually, the morning bell in the school rang and that meant it was time to head inside.
"Time for school," Evie said as she soon got up off of the swing and came over to her younger brother as he read his most favorite book in the world. "Henry, it's time to go inside."
"Okay, Evie," Henry nodded. "Did you and Mal make up?"
"Yes, we did," Evie smiled. "I think we're going to be best friends forever."
"Great!" Henry smiled back. "I had a great feeling about you two."
"Aww... You're so sweet~" Evie cooed as she hugged him, kissing his cheek a little.
Henry blushed a little from the kiss as Evie went to take him over to Ms. Blanchard's classroom. Mal soon got up off of the swing and walked off to join the other students inside the school before grunting as she ran into someone who made them both knock down.
"Ugh..." The other student groaned.
"Watch where you're going!" Mal complained until she gasped, seeing who it was.
"Heh... Sorry about that," Ben chuckled sheepishly as he sat on the ground and rubbed his head a bit. "I better save that for the football field, huh?"
"Uh... Yeah... Oh... It's you again..." Mal replied sheepishly as she noticed him, blushing. "...Robby, right?"
"Ben," Ben corrected with a small smirk. "No harm done though. You're new to this school, so you don't know me like everyone else around here."
"Yeah... Ben... That's a much better name," Mal nodded. "It's a name for a rat."
"...Excuse me?" Ben flinched, raising an eyebrow suddenly, slightly offended, but tried to not show it.
"You never heard of Ben?" Mal replied. "It's a horror film about a young boy and his pet rat, Ben from the 1970's. You think you were named after it?"
"Heh... I hope not," Ben chuckled bashfully, finding her sense of humor very interesting. "You're a very unique girl, aren't you?"
"I try anyway," Mal shrugged. "So, what brings you on the playground? Are you that nostalgic for, uh, swingsets?"
"Just picking up my little sister and bringing her to class," Ben said as he pointed Clarice out who waved at him, waiting for him to take her into school. "It's kind of a big sibling duty around this school."
"Hm... I see..." Mal nodded. "I guess I wouldn't know."
"Yeah... It looks tough being an only child." Ben commented since he didn't know about Mal's situation.
Mal had to admit that that stung. Yes, he didn't know, but it kind of hurt that he didn't know about Lily and what had happened. "Y-Yeah... Only child..." she then nodded. "Well, I guess I'll let you take care of your sister."
"...Well, do you wanna come with me?" Ben offered and invited. "I'm sure Clarice wouldn't mind the company."
"Uh... Okay, sure," Mal shrugged before smirking. "As long as The Old Belfrey Bat doesn't write me up for being late to homeroom."
"Well, we'll try to make sure that doesn't happen," Ben smirked back. "Come on then."
Mal nodded as she began to follow him. She then yelped as an apple suddenly fell from a tree and hit her on her head. She then looked around before shrugging as she saw the shiny red apple and decided to take it with her. She heard that teachers liked apples and just thought she would do it for Ms. Blanchard for the heck of it. Ben smiled as he took Clarice's hand and went to walk with her.
"Who's that?" Clarice asked as she noticed Mal.
"Clarice, this is Mal," Ben introduced. "She's a new girl in my grade. Mal, this is my little princess of a little sister, Clarice."
"Um... Hey, there." Mal smiled bashfully, trying to be polite and sociable.
"How come you have purple hair?" Clarice then asked, tilting her head.
"It looks cool..." Mal shrugged in defense.
"Heh... Sorry about that," Ben chuckled. "Clarice, you can't just ask someone that."
"Oh... Sorry..." Clarice said softly.
"No, no, it's okay, really," Mal reassured. "I just like the color purple. It suits me."
"Yeah, more than blue," Ben nodded as he had to agree. "Or yellow for that matter."
"Eugh," Mal wrinkled her nose. "I just hate the color yellow."
"Mama says we aren't allowed to hate." Clarice pouted.
"Oh... Okay then..." Mal shrugged, not really sure how to react to that.
Ben did his best to be patient with Mal as brought Clarice over to her class. Mal took a deep breath as they were on their way into the younger level hallway for the little students just below the older students who were teenagers. She expected there to be a lot of screaming, paint-splattered everywhere, whining and crying brats, and just chaos all around. However, it seemed to be a lot like the bigger level of school, just slightly smaller in frame which made her feel like a giant. Ms. Blanchard smiled warmly as she stood beside her door and waved over at the two teenagers.
"Hey, Ms. Blanchard, I've got one of your favorite students here ready to learn." Ben announced proudly.
"That's odd, Henry's been in class ever since Evie dropped him off a few minutes ago." Ms. Blanchard smiled playfully.
'Ugh... Teacher humor...' Mal thought to herself as she rolled her eyes as Ben chuckled to humor the schoolteacher.
"You're silly sometimes, Ms. Blanchard." Clarice giggled to her teacher.
"Sometimes, yes," Ms. Blanchard smiled warmly. "Go on inside, dear. Class will be starting very soon."
"Bye, Benny~" Clarice cooed as she hugged her big brother's legs.
"All right, Clarice," Ben smiled as he knelt down to hug her back. "I gotta go learn stuff with the other big kids. Can I have a kiss for good luck?"
Clarice then stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.
"All right, Clarice, thank you!" Ben smiled. "I'll see you after school, okay?"
"Okay, Benny!" Clarice beamed as she hugged him one last time and soon dashed off into her respective classroom for the school day.
"Such a sweet little sister you have, Ben," Ms. Blanchard smiled warmly before looking over to see Mal. "Oh. Is this your new friend?"
"Uh, yeah," Ben nodded. "Mal's here. She moved here from-"
"It's a long story," Mal interrupted suddenly and bashfully before she soon took out her red apple. "You seem like a cool teacher."
Ms. Blanchard flinched from the red apple.
"...What's wrong?" Mal asked. "Don't like apples? I thought all teachers liked apples."
"Heh... That's a bit of a stereotype, dear," Ms. Blanchard chuckled bashfully. "I'm more of a pear person honestly."
"...Oh," Mal said then as she chucked the apple away which suddenly hit Audrey in the back of her head without anyone noticing except for the brunette girl. "Sorry about that, Ms. ...Bianca?"
"Blan-Chard," The woman enunciated so that Mal would know how to say her name from now on. "It's all right, dear. Your intentions were good at least."
"Yeah... I guess so..." Mal nodded.
"Ben... Are you two going out?" Ms. Blanchard whispered to Ben. "I heard about your nasty break-up with Audrey Thornley."
"I don't know, Ms. Blanchard, but I'm kinda hoping so," Ben whispered back as he suddenly began to blush. "I'm gonna see what I can do for maybe free period today."
"Good luck," Ms. Blanchard advised. "She shall become the fairest of them all to your heart and you can swoop in and be her Prince Charming."
Ben smiled bashfully before nodding, appreciating her advice. He feared and dreaded about getting advice from his mother because she would probably just gush and slobber over the whole deal, especially with her "little boy growing up so fast".
"Well, your classroom seems nice," Mal said as she crossed her arms. "I wish I could trade places with these kiddies for the day and take a nap for them."
"I don't teach Kindergarten, but I know what you mean," Ms. Blanchard smirked. "You kids are always in such a hurry to grow up and then you feel like your whole life has gone by."
"Yeah, we know, Ms. Blanchard," Ben nodded. "Enjoy being a kid while you still can. That reminds me, our next game before the big one against Sherwood is against James Barrie's School for Boys," he then added. "Are you going to come to the game?"
"I might," Ms. Blanchard replied. "You be careful against those boys. They can be rather tricky sometimes."
"Believe me, I know." Ben nodded.
And then suddenly, the five minute warning bell rang.
"Well, I have a class to teach," Ms. Blanchard smiled at Mal and Ben. "Thank you so much for stopping by. I really appreciate it."
"Thanks for letting us," Ben smiled back. "Anything for my favorite fourth-grade teacher."
"I was your only fourth-grade teacher." Ms. Blanchard smirked.
"Makes it easy to pick my favorite, doesn't it?" Ben teased then.
"Very funny," Ms. Blanchard smirked as she decided to tease him back. "Now, shoo. I strongly dislike teenagers~"
"Yes, Ms. Blanchard." Ben rolled his eyes before chuckling as he and Mal went to go back upstairs to the higher floor of the school to get to their respective classes.
"Well, you two certainly seem close." Mal commented as she walked beside Ben.
"Yeah, Ms. Blanchard's pretty sweet," Ben nodded. "She loves animals, sings to them sometimes, and really made us fourth grade kids feel loved and full of hope. Henry sure is lucky to have him as his teacher right now."
"Wish I coulda had someone like that at my old school back then," Mal shrugged as they walked together. "Though I was pretty close with my fair share of friends."
"Yeah?" Ben asked curiously. "Like who?"
Mal glanced back at him before shrugging as they walked along together. "Well, there was one girl named Maddy I was really close with. We got into a lot of trouble together and were even seen by others as sisters sometimes." she then began to explain.
"Maddy, huh?" Ben asked. "It's nice to have friends who feel like family, isn't it, Mal?"
"Yeah, I guess it is," Mal nodded. "Sometimes we called her 'Mad Maddy', though you knew she was in trouble with her grandmother or someone else if they called out for 'Madison Miriam'~" she then smirked with slight nostalgia of being a troublemaker back home.
Ben smiled warmly as he kept Mal company as they bonded together. He was having a lot of fun with her so far and decided to spend the day trying to get to know her better today. Eventually, they met up in front of the gym.
"Well, I gotta head to Gym Class so Coach Jenkins doesn't chew my head off," Ben told Mal. "Good luck with Mrs. Belfrey."
"Oh, you mean The Dragon Lady?" Mal rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I think I'm gonna need it."
"Oh, uh, Mal, if you want, maybe we could grab lunch together today?" Ben invited before blushing. "I-I mean... If you want to."
"Yeah, I guess," Mal shrugged. "I'll probably have to talk that over with Evie, Jay, and Carlos first though. We seem to be making our own little team and Evie's little brother Henry too."
"Yeah, Henry's a good kid," Ben smiled. "I like having a little sister and all, but sometimes I wish I had a little brother, especially for solo football practice at the house with the 'rents."
"...'Rents?" Mal raised an eyebrow before smirking. "Never knew you were so street, Benny~"
"Hey, now, only my mother and sister can call me Benny," Ben chuckled warmly. "Though it sounds nice when you say it."
Mal just shrugged, rubbing her arm as she glanced away bashfully. "So you say," she then said before looking back. "My dad used to call me 'Mally'."
"Mally... It sounds cute..." Ben remarked before his eyes widened. "Uh! Not that I'm saying you're cute... I mean, you are rather pretty... Almost like a cheerleader. I-I mean-" he then stammered nervously.
"Eugh... I don't think I'd ever be a cheerleader," Mal grimaced and shuddered. "That's really not my style."
"Right..." Ben nodded. "You don't have to be though. You'd have to put up with Audrey all the time since she's the head cheerleader."
"Ooh, then I'm definitely glad I'm not a cheerleader and going to big sports games and crap like that." Mal smirked.
"Uh... Right..." Ben chuckled sheepishly. "You could probably come to a game though if you wanted. Our next game is against The Pirates and before the semester ends, we're going up against The Foxes."
"Pirates?" Mal asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Ben nodded. "The team from The James Barrie School for Boys."
"Good to know." Mal then said.
Ben smiled at her hopefully while she gave a half-smile/half-smirk back at him. Eventually, the bell for class rang, making Mal late for her homeroom course.
"Shit!" Mal cursed in frustration. "Now that Dragon Lady is gonna make sure I get another detention."
Ben looked over as he was right at the Gym. Sure, he would have to do an extra set of push-ups for being late to class, then saw the disappointment in Mal's eyes. Detention for one day was bad enough already, but twice in the same month that was her first time in this school? That sounded a bit too much and unfair, so he decided to be a gentleman in this situation.
"I'll walk you to class, Mal." Ben decided.
"Huh?" Mal blinked as she looked back at him. "What did you say?"
"Let me walk you to class," Ben repeated with a small, but firm smile. "I insist."
"But won't you get detention or something for being late to class?" Mal asked in concern.
"Coach Jenkins thinks getting extra push-ups is punishment enough than spending an extra hour in school," Ben said as he offered her his arm, remembering seeing his father and uncle doing that for his mother and aunt several times to appear debonair. "Now come on. I won't let you get detention twice in the same month."
"Wow... Thanks, Ben..." Mal said softly, feeling touched.
Ben smiled and nodded as he gestured to his arm then. Mal glanced over, not sure what Ben wanted to do with his arm, but soon slid her arm in through his so that they could link together. Ben smiled and soon walked off with Mal down the hallway to get to Mrs. Belfrey's classroom and soon took Mal over to the door. Ben then knocked on the door as it was shut and most likely locked.
After a few moments, Mrs. Belfrey came at the door and narrowed her eyes once she saw the dark-haired girl. "Miss Ignus, you are sadly tardy to my class," she then glared. "I hope you had better have a good excuse."
"I... I... I, uh..." Mal stammered, not sure what to say as she felt frozen on the spot like the older woman's gray eyes pinned her on the spot.
"I'm waiting~..." Mrs. Belfrey hissed firmly, nearly seething through her teeth which Mal could had sworn looked like vampire or monster fangs with how wicked and witchy the woman seemed when she was unhappy, which was often, especially around Tilly.
"Erm... I..." Mal continued to stammer.
"She got lost and forgot where to go, Mrs. Belfrey," Ben spoke up once he sensed and felt Mal's fear. "I was on my way to the gym and I saw her struggle, so I thought I'd help her out a little. I'm sure that it won't happen again, Mrs. Belfrey."
"Hmm... All right then, Mr. French." Mrs. Belfrey soon said, sounding just barely calmer now.
"After all, she is still new to our school and can't be expected to know where to go all the time, Mrs. Belfrey," Ben continued calmly. "I'm sure that it won't happen again."
"Yes, it won't happen again." Mal quickly added.
"Yes, it won't happen again, what?" Mrs. Belfrey prompted, nearly acidically.
"Yes, it won't happen again, Mrs. Belfrey." Mal then corrected herself while she still had the chance.
"Very well then," Mrs. Belfrey nodded sharply. "You had better come inside this instant, Miss Ignus, and you better run off to class, Mr. French."
"Yes, Mrs. Belfrey." Both teenagers obeyed and nodded like they had no other free will or choice away from her hardnosed temperament.
Mrs. Belfrey nodded and soon let Mal come inside the classroom and go to her usual spot around Evie, Jay, and Carlos as Ben dashed off to his Gym Class, though not running. As everybody knew that running in the halls was a huge no-no no matter how old you were in school. The others, minus Tilly, looked very shocked and amazed that Mal wasn't given a detention from Mrs. Belfrey, but decided not to pay attention to it for too long, otherwise they would probably end up getting assigned the punishment themselves. Tilly still didn't seem to care though as sleeping for an extra hour after getting out of bed and coming into school was more important to her than anything else.
"Miss Hightopp, I suggest you stop sleeping in class, otherwise I might see in that desk again next year or even during summer break." Mrs. Belfrey suggested firmly.
"Yeah, I've 'eard that one before," Tilly chuckled and smirked impishly as she seemed to be the only one not afraid of Mrs. Belfrey. "You're just like the rest of 'em... Gettin' me to take my Adderall, makin' me sittin' still, hittin' me with a ruler if I have a good laugh in class. We're all mad here and this is all just one big story and none of this is even real~"
"God, she's bonkers." Mal whispered to herself.
"Some of the best people are~" Tilly smirked towards Mal then.
Mrs. Belfrey just narrowed her eyes towards Tilly, though that did get chills down the girl's spine. Only a little bit though, almost like she had seen worse. Mal had thought she did too, especially with how her mother could be sometimes and some of the teachers she had in her old school and nearly got punished every day after she started to idolize Lily's footloose and fancy-free behavior.
"You're late, Ben, so you know what that means." Coach Jenkins said sharply as the brunette boy finally showed up to class as everyone else was in their respective positions.
"Yes, Coach Jenkins..." Ben sighed as he tried not to roll his eyes as he soon fell to the floor and began to do the required set of push-ups as penace for being tardy to Gym Class.
"I just hope you remember to save that energy for the big game against those pirates," Coach Jenkins said as he soon went to take care of the rest of the class. "We wouldn't want you to be too tired to face them."
"No, sir, I'm sure that won't happen." Ben reassured.
"See that it doesn't." Coach Jenkins replied.
Eventually, class began and Ben and Lonnie paired up together for warm-ups. Ben did his sit-ups while Lonnie knelt in front of him and held down his feet.
"So, did you get to talk to the new girl?" Lonnie asked Ben.
"She has a name, Lonnie." Ben reminded his best girl friend.
"Yeah, I know," Lonnie smirked. "So... Is that a yes or no?"
Ben rolled his eyes a bit before he smirked back at her. "Yeah, we talked for a little bit," he then admitted through grunts as he went up and down as Coach Jenkins walked by, monitoring the students as he wrote on his clipboard. "We don't know too much about each other yet, but I invited her to spend lunch with me today."
"Was she up for it?" Lonnie asked.
"She said as long as she ran it by Evie, Henry, Jay, and Carlos first," Ben nodded. "That might be my big chance to get to know her better."
"Well, I guess we can hope for your sake that it turns out alright," Lonnie remarked. "I'm trying my hard to get a guy to notice me too. My dad told my brother though to find a girl worth fighting for."
"Yeah, that sounds like your dad to me," Ben chuckled. "Don't worry, Lonnie. I'm sure you can impress your own Prince Charming someday."
"I sure hope so~" Lonnie smirked, getting a bit girly, though not too girly as she was determined to be mostly a tomboy, though after entering 9th grade, she felt a bit more in touch with her feminine side lately. "I also think something might happen for you and Mal a lot sooner than you think."
"Thanks, Lonnie," Ben smiled. "I also told her about our game against The Barrie Pirates, so maybe hopefully she'll show up."
"I hope she does too," Lonnie smiled back before smirking. "Seeing her man in action... That's gonna be awesome~"
Ben rolled his eyes before chuckling.
Scarlet glanced over from where she was, narrowing her eyes, but smirking. "Hmm... Interesting~" she then said to herself as the gears in her head started turning as she looked hopeful and excited about something.