Okay, Lovies! Here is another chapter of Neighbors! I am so glad that you guys liked the Greatest Showman chapter! I have a couple of things to tell you guys before you start reading...
I will NOT be writing for the next week to a week and a half, because I want to finish my chemistry homework and get it done for the semester so that I can just focus on Biology. So please be patient with me.
The good news though is that I am NOT taking a summer class, because none of my classes are offered during the summer, so I will be uploading, hopefully, more frequently once the semester is over.
Any way! I hope you guys like this chapter and I hope that I left you guys wanting more, but I didn't leave you with cliffhangers. please let me know what you guys think I would really appreciate it!
Creator of Magic: Thank you so much! I really put a lot of work into it, I listened to the soundtrack for 3 weeks straight and watched the movie about 40 times. I love Ben and try to make him as sweet as possible, but able to handle things when he gets heated.
shortanamx: Thank you! I am always emotional and cry so easily! I cried watching the movie and writing the play and I have watched it so many times.
brimason0201: Thank you so much! I absolutely love your enthusiasm for each of my chapters! Everyone's reviews bring a smile to my face!
InuKagLove22: Thank you so much! I hope you really enjoy this chapter then... ;)
Urmimala Hazra: Thank you so much! I always love your enthusiasm for my chapters, and please do not think you are disturbing me when you PM me because you are not!
sao-frozen-smc.animefan: Sorry, I don't know what happened as I said before and I can't see a difference.
SlytherinAvenferPrincess: PARTNER!! I love a dorky Ben. I would never want him any different. I am so glad that you are continuing to read my stories! It really warms my heart!
AmethystDragon14: Thank you! I hope you enjoy my chapters!
Tracie Adams: I plan to, but you already knew that! lol :)
darkpegasuzz: Oh I plan to, and don't worry I will NEVER leave a story incomplete!
WARNING FOR SWEARING and VIOLENCE!
I DO NOT OWN DESCENDANTS!
(NO ONE'S POV)
(NOVEMBER)
It was a week before finals and the day of the championship game. Mal had driven with Ben to school again this week because the game was at their school, and they were playing against their rivals, the Titans. They were both kind of relieved that this was their last week of being super busy. Tomorrow is the last night for the play and today was the last game for the season. Mal was finishing putting all of her stuff away when Tony and Evie walked up to her.
"Ready to cheer on your boyfriend?" Tony asked with a cheeky smile.
"Yes I am," Mal said as she put Ben's letterman's jackpot on.
Ben had gotten his letterman's jacket the week after Mal's opening night of the play. Ben got paid through coaching football in the summer through winter, and baseball in the spring, for the city, and he was going to buy himself the jacket, but Belle and Adam surprised him with it. He gave it to Mal to wear around, but she declined it at first. She said she was fine wearing his sweater, but he made her.
"Are you nervous about halftime?" Evie asked.
Mal shook her head.
"No. I have done flips in the air and sung while swinging across the stage," she said. "I'm not afraid of singing during halftime," she added.
"How was Ben this morning?" Evie asked.
Mal sighed. Ben was not in the best mood this morning. He was aggravated because they were playing the Titans, and their team captain was Anthony Tremaine, Chad's cousin. Ben and Anthony hate each other, and Chad doesn't talk to him.
"He was irritable, but I calmed him down," she said with a smirk.
"Awwww," Tony said. "Mally gave her boyfriend smoochy smooches," he said with a laugh.
"Shush," Mal said, trying to hold back a laugh.
"That's a yes," Evie said, making Mal roll her eyes and laugh.
"Let's go," Mal said. "I have to go to Ben's car and put my stuff away. Then we have to meet everyone."
Tony and Evie nodded and followed Mal out of the auditorium. Once Mal locked the door to Ben's Jeep, she met back up with Tony, Evie, and now the rest of her friends, her parents, and Ben's parents and sister.
"Mally!" Rosie yelled as Mal walked up to their group.
"Hi, Rosie," Mal said with a gigantic smile before Rosie jumped into her arms.
"Oh my god," a girl standing in front of them said. "Did you see number 7?" she asked her friends.
Mal and the others looked toward the girl with confused looks, because of the excessive tone of excitement coming from her.
"Gods, yes!" the other girl exclaimed. "He is so hot!"
"I know. I saw him when he was walking to the locker room," the girl squealed. "He came through the drive-thru when I was at work a couple of times."
That's when Mal realized it was the barista from Starbucks who was trying to flirt with Ben. They must be here for the other team because no one had ever seen her at the past games. Plus, she was wearing red and black instead of yellow and blue. Mal shook her head and chuckled.
"What's funny, Mally?" Rosie asked.
Mal looked at the 5-year-old and smiled.
"Those girls are talking about Benny," she said. "They think he's cute."
Rosie made a yuck face, making everyone laugh.
"You're not bothered by it?" Haden asked, looking at his daughter.
Mal shook her head. "No," she said. "I mean, she's not lying. He is cute," she said with a smile.
Rosie shook her head. "Benny is a dork and gross," she said, making everyone laugh again.
"I think he has a girlfriend though," the girl said. "But they haven't come through in a while. Maybe they broke up," she said as she got excited.
Everyone had to fight back their laughter, Mal especially. They all walked in and found seats in the bleachers, and they weren't that far from where the other girls sat. It confused Mal and the others because usually, the opposing teams' visitors would sit on the visitors' side of the field, but they probably came on the home side to get a good glimpse at Ben.
"You ready, ladies?" principal Sid came up and asked us. "This is the last time you'll have to do this," he said with a smile.
"And the last time for Ben's good luck football kiss," Lonnie said as she nudged my shoulder.
"Oh, don't worry about that," Uma said. "Ben will just change it to a baseball good luck kiss."
Mal rolled her eyes and laughed. It had become a thing where Ben would climb up the side of the bleachers and kiss Mal before the game, and she had to admit that she loved it. The girls followed down to the front of the bleachers just as Carlos started announcing.
"Alright! Welcome to the 2016 Championship football game! It's going to be a battle between the Knights and the Titans. Who will take home the win?" he asked, making the crowd's roar. "Alright, Knights! Here comes your varsity team!" he yelled as the Knights varsity team ran out onto the field.
Ben ran onto the field sidelines with his team behind him. Mal beamed as he smiled at her. He placed his helmet on the bench and sprinted toward the crowd.
"And there he goes," Carlos announced, making Mal blush and the crowd cheer. "The Knights team captain, Benjamin Anderson, making his way to the crowd to get his good luck kiss," he said.
Mal and the rest of the girls weren't that far from where they were sitting, and they could hear the girls who were talking about Ben squealing. Mal laughed as Ben started to climb the wall. She loved that he did this every game, even if it was away.
"Hi," he said as he looked down at Mal with a bright smile.
"Hi yourself," Mal said with a matching smile.
"What are you waiting for?" Carlos said. "Kiss her!"
Ben huffed a laugh before leaning down and pressing his lips to Mal's. Every kiss between them made fireworks go off in their chest. They both wished that they could stay in the moment forever, but knew that they had to let the night go on. Mal smiled against his lips, making Ben laugh as the crowd started to roar.
"You better go before Harry or Jay come and pull you down from here," Mal said against his lips.
Ben laughed before he kissed her one more time and then jumped off the railing. Mal and the rest of the girls watched as Ben ran to his team and they huddled up.
"You ready to go back and sit down?" Uma asked as she wrapped her arm around Mal's shoulder.
Mal looked back at their seats and saw the girls that were talking about Ben stare at her with wide eyes. Did she really look that different from when she saw the girl at the beginning of the school year? Mal laughed and nodded her head, thinking it was funny that the girls were in shock that Ben kissed her. When they got back to their seats, everyone had to hold in their laughs, because the girls were embarrassed for what they said about Ben, now knowing that his girlfriend was sitting right in front of them. Mal didn't care, though. They could look all they wanted because he was her boyfriend and she wasn't going to let anything get in the way of them.
It was almost halftime now, and the girls just got back to their seat after getting their wireless mics put on, and changing. Mal looked back at the field and saw Ben was being held back by Jay and Chad from one of the other team's players.
"What's going on?" She asked Ben and her parents.
"That's Anthony Tremaine," Adam said with a huff. "He tackled Ben after a play when he wasn't looking."
Mal looked back at the field in shock. She didn't know she could miss so much from being gone for 20 minutes.
"That boy is horrible," Seph said, shaking her head. "I honestly don't know how he is related to Chad and Dizzy."
"He's a meany!" Rosie said as Hayden threw her on his shoulders.
"Alright, Rosie. Don't worry your tiny self about it," Hayden said. "Ben can handle it."
Mal looked back at the field and now saw Chad yelling at his cousin. Anthony stood there, rolling his eyes, and laughing before he turned away and walked to the other side of the field. Chad turned around and placed a hand on Ben's shoulder, and they walked to the sidelines. Mal and the rest of the girls looked at the scoreboard and saw that the second quarter was over and the score was 21 - 8, with the Knights taking the lead. Coach Rodgers led the team to the sidelines, where Dizzy and Celia were waiting to give the team water bottles. Mal and the rest of the girls were sitting in the front row of the bleaches, nervously waiting for their cue. Jordan took a deep breath and stood from her seat, and started to snap her fingers.
[Intro: JORDAN]
Where's all my soul sista's?
Lemme hear y'all flow sista's
She walked to the railing, while Mal, Evie, Uma, and Lonnie walked up behind her.
[LONNIE, UMA, MAL & EVIE]
Hey sista', go sista', soul sista', flow sista' (Uh)
Hey sista', go sista', soul sista', go sista'
Everyone in the crowd started cheering as Mal and the rest of the girls walked down the bleacher stairs and toward the field. As they reached the field, Mal met Ben's eyes and winked at him, but not noticing another player looking her up and down.
[Verse 1: UMA]
He met Marmalade down in old Moulin Rouge
Struttin' her stuff on the street
She said, "Hello, hey Joe! You wanna give it a go?"
Oh! Uh-huh
They walked onto the field and Harry couldn't keep his eyes off Uma as she sang.
[Chorus: MAL, EVIE, UMA & LONNIE]
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya, da-da (Hey, hey, hey)
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya, here (Here)
Mocha Chocolata, ya-ya (Ooh, yeah)
Creole Lady Marmalade
What-what, what-what, what-what
Ooh, oh
Everyone on both sides of the field was singing along and dancing while the girls sang, even the football players.
[Refrain: UMA, MAL, EVIE, LONNIE]
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir? (Oh -oh)
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Evie walked in between the girls and placed her elbow on Mal's shoulder.
[Verse 2: EVIE]
He sat in her boudoir while she freshened up
(Hey sista', go sista', soul sista', flow sista')
Boy drank all that Magnolia wine
On her black satin sheets where he started to freak, yeah
Doug had to shake his head from watching Evie. They had been dating for about a year, and whenever she sang, he would lose his train of thought.
[Chorus: UMA, MAL, EVIE & LONNIE]
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya, da-da (Da-da-da)
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya, here, ooh, yeah, yeah
Mocha Chocolata, ya-ya (Yeah, yeah)
Creole Lady Marmalade, uh
[Refrain: UMA, MAL, EVIE & LONNIE]
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir? (Ce soir)
(what, what, what)
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Ooh
Lonnie marched in between the girls while they danced in the middle of the football field.
[Verse 3: LONNIE]
Yeah, yeah, uh
We come through with the money and the garter belts
Let him know we 'bout that cake straight out the gate (Uh)
We independent women, some mistake us for bores
I'm sayin', "Why spend mine when I can spend yours?"
Disagree? Well, that's you, and I'm sorry
I'mma keep playing these cats out like Atari
Wear high heel shoes, get love from the dudes
Five badass chicks from the Moulin Rouge, uh
Hey sista's, soul sista's, betta get that dough, sista's
We drink wine with diamonds in the glass
By the case, the meaning of expensive taste
If you wanna Gitchie, Gitchie, ya-ya (Come on)
Mocha Chocolata (What?)
Real Lady Marmalade
One more time, c'mon now
Jay's eyes were wide after Lonnie's rap. He didn't know she could or even would have done that, but he had to admit, she looked good and did great.
[Interlude: UMA, (MAL) & EVIE]
Marmalade (Ooh, oh)
Lady Marmalade (Ooh, yeah, yeah)
Marmalade (No, oh, yeah)
Ben was so focused on his girlfriend and her singing, he didn't notice his rival looking at Mal too. Mal swerved in between Evie and Uma, closed her eyes, and sang out loud.
[Verse 4: MAL]
Hey, hey, hey!
Touch of her skin, feeling silky smooth, oh
Color of café au lait, alright
Made the savage beast inside roar until he cried
More (More), more (More), more
Mal had to hold in her laughter when she saw Ben spit some of his water out after she sang her part, but everyone was cheering afterward.
[Verse 5: UMA, (MAL) & EVIE]
Now he's back home doin' 9 to 5 (9 to 5)
He's livin' the grey flannel life
(Oh baby turns off to sleep, memories creep)
More (more), more (more), more
People from the crowd started to run onto the field and started dancing with the girls, including some of the cheerleaders and the other team's football players.
[Chorus: UMA, MAL, EVIE & LONNIE]
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya, da-da (Da-da, yeah)
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya, here (Ooh)
Mocha Chocolata, ya-ya (Yeah)
Creole Lady Marmalade
Ben watched as Mal danced and jumped up and down with her friends. He smiled brightly. He absolutely loved watching her sing, loved watching her be her free spirit self, and loved her. He loved her. Even though he hasn't told her yet.
[Refrain: UMA, MAL, EVIE & LONNIE]
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir?
(Ce soir)
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
(All my sistas, yeah)
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir?
(Ce soir)
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
(C'mon! uh)
Everyone watched as Mal, Evie, Uma, Lonnie, and Jordan walked through the small crowd of dancing people and stood in front of them. Then Jordan started to sing.
[Outro: JORDAN, LONNIE, (MAL), *UMA*, {EVIE}, All]
Mal (Hey, oh)
EVIE {Lady Marmalade}
LONNIE (Hey, hey, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh)
UMA *(Oh, oh, ooh)*
Rockwilder, baby {baby}
Moulin Rouge (Oh-ooh) *da-da*
Misdemeanor here...
Creole Lady Marmalade
Ooh, ooh, yes-ah
More people ran toward the field surrounding Mal and the rest of the girls. Ben, Jay, Chad, Harry, and even Doug ran towards the girls, and he was standing in the bleachers with the band. The rest of the guys found their girls quite fast, but Ben couldn't find Mal. He was looking around for her until he heard her voice. He turned to see some of the other team's players in a circle. He craned his neck and saw Anthony trying to pull Mal into his arms.
"Please, stop," she said. "I have to find my boyfriend."
Ben walked toward them with fire in his eyes, and then she got louder.
"Get off me!" she shouted.
"Oh, come on," Anthony said as he grabbed Mal's butt and squeezed it.
Ben pushed past the other guys, shocking Anthony.
"Get the fuck away from her!" he yelled as he pushed Anthony away from Mal. "Are you okay?" he asked as he wrapped an arm around Mal's waist.
She shook her head, making Ben grow even more furious at Anthony. He saw Anthony was still on the floor, making him look back at Mal.
"Did he touch you?" he asked, making Mal nod her head as tears gathered in her eyes. "You son of a bitch," Ben said as he stormed toward Anthony, tackling him to the floor.
Evie and Uma came and pulled Mal away from the crowd. Ben was on top of Anthony and punching him in the face.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Ben asked as he fisted Anthony's jersey in his hands. "Why the fuck were you groping my girlfriend? Why the fuck were you groping a girl who told you to leave her alone?" he asked.
"She's hot," Anthony said with blood-stained teeth. "What would you expect?"
Ben pulled his fist back again, but he was being pulled off by his dad and Haden.
"Ben, stop!" Adam said as he held onto his son.
Coach Rodgers and the rest of the team were holding back Harry, Jay, Chad, and Gil from pouncing on Anthony. Anthony tried to get up, but Haden pushed his back down on the ground and pointed at him.
"Stop," Haden said. "That was my daughter you put your slimy hands on," he growled through his teeth.
Adam shoved Ben back and walked up to Haden.
"Hey," he said as he clasped Haden's shoulder. "I know, but you can't get worked up. Mal doesn't like it," he whispered. "Come on," He said as he pulled Haden away. "Don't you ever go near Mal again! Do I make myself clear?" Adam said as he looked at Anthony who only rolled his eyes.
Ben watched as the Titans coach walked up to Anthony and started to scold him.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked. "You're benched for the rest of the game, and we're going to be having a talk with the principal and your parents after the game."
"But coach…" Anthony started.
"No! I saw what you did, and I am so disappointed to call you our team captain," he said before he pushed Anthony toward the sidelines. "And another thing is if we lose, you're going to be the one to blame."
Ben glared at Anthony as he walked away with the rest of the Titans.
"Come on, Ben, Let's go," Jay said as he clasped Ben on the shoulder.
Ben turned and scanned for Mal. He saw her, walking with Evie and Uma. Persephone ran to Mal, who met her with open arms. They walked back to their seats and when they sat down Belle and Rosie hugged Mal from the other side. Ben ran to the bleachers, dropping his helmet on the field, and climbing up the side of the bleachers. He hopped over the railing as ran to Mal. When he got to her, she looked up at him with her teary eyes.
"Hey," he said as he took her into his arms. "I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" he asked as he swayed them back and forth.
"Yeah," Mal said, nodding her head. "I'll be fine," she said with a shaky voice.
"Do you want to leave?" He asked as he pressed his lips to the top of her head.
"No," she said as she snapped her head up to look at him. "You have to finish the game."
"I don't care about the game," Ben said as he cupped the side of her face. "I care about making sure that you're okay, after what happened with that scumbag," he said.
"No," she said. "Please. Go finish and win the game," she said with a small smile. "I'll…" she said as she bit her lip. "I'll talk to you later," she said.
Ben didn't want to leave her, and he could tell that something was off, but he nodded his head.
"Okay," he said as he leaned down to give her a small kiss. "I'll meet you after the game," he said.
Mal nodded her head and kissed his cheek.
"Go," she said.
Ben smiled down at her and then ran back to the field. Mal sighed and sat back down with Belle, Rosie, her mom, and her friends. Seph put her arm around Mal's shoulder.
"Are you okay?" Belle asked as she took Mal's hand into hers.
"I'll be fine," she said.
She didn't sound confident in herself. She knew what Anthony did more harm than she was letting off.
"You're going to tell him, aren't you?" Seph whispered, but loud enough for Belle, Evie, and Uma to hear.
Mal took a deep breath and nodded her head.
"Yeah," she said. "I have to."
"AND THE KNIGHTS TAKE THE WIN!" Carlos shouted through the stadium speakers. "The Knight taking home the gold with a perfect season, winning 10 games."
Ben was tackled to the floor by his team in celebration. Mal and the rest of her friends and family walked onto the field. Well, Mal was running, and everyone else was walking behind her. Jay helped Ben off the floor and when he saw Mal he sprinted toward her, picking her up off the ground, and spun her around.
"Congratulations," she said as he set her down on her feet. "I knew you guys were going to win."
"Thank you," he said as he smiled down at her. "I guess those kisses were good luck," he said, making her laugh.
"Congratulations, Ben," Belle said as she walked up to Ben and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Thanks, mom," Ben said.
"What about me?" Hadie said as he walked over with Dizzy and Celia.
"You were busy still trying to get up from the floor," Haden said as he put Hadie in a headlock, making everyone laugh.
Hadie struggled out of his dad's hold and tried to fix his sweaty hair. After everyone said their congratulations, they all made their way to their cars.
"You're coming with me, right?" Ben asked Mal as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
She nodded her head and took a breath. She knew the victory party was going to be at Ben's and she wanted him to have a good time, but if she didn't tell Ben soon, she wasn't going to tell him for a while.
"Yeah," she said.
He smiled down at her and kissed her cheek. They got in his car, and when they pulled out of the parking lot, he noticed that she was quiet.
"Hey," he said as he took his hand. "I'm sorry for what Anthony did, and if it makes you feel any better, he is getting suspended for it."
Mal shook her head. "He deserves it, but that's not all I'm kind of upset about," she said.
Ben took a peek at her and saw she was looking down and chewing on her lip.
"What's wrong, babe?" he asked as he pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed it.
"I… ummm…" she stuttered. "I have to tell you something, and I don't know how you are going to take it," she said.
"You can tell me anything. You know that right?" he asked, making her look up at him.
She nodded her head and took a deep breath. "I don't have a great relationship with my biological mother or a relationship at all for that matter," she said. "When I was born my mother and dad had a non-legal arrangement together, and I would go with her every other week until I was 13," she said as her voice started to crack.
Ben pulled Mal closer, as close as he could with the consul in between them.
"That is part of the reason why you don't remember me or didn't notice me when we were younger because I wasn't around half the time," she said. "But, my mother is not the best. She was physically, mentally, and emotionally abusive to me from when I can remember to when I stopped going with her," she said. "I should add that my mother and dad weren't married or anything. They were together, but when my dad met my mom, Persephone, was when my mother found out she was pregnant."
"Okay. Why did you stop going?" Ben asked as he pulled into his driveway and turned off the car.
"I'm getting there," she said with a small chuckle. "When I was 11, my mother had this boyfriend. I never felt comfortable around him, and my dad didn't like him either. He would try to yell at me, punish me, ground me, and my mom would let him. I asked my dad if I could just skip going over there because I told him how uncomfortable I was and he said that he would get going on the paperwork to get full custody of me."
Ben turned to face Mal, giving her his full attention. Mal's eyes started to water, and Ben caressed her face, wiping her tears as they fell from her eyes.
"After my dad said he was going to try to get full custody of me, I was so excited," she said as her voice cracked. "I went to my mother's, and she was passed out drunk in her room, so her boyfriend was there with me. He made me sit down on the couch with him, but he sat too close for comfort. I tried to move away from him, but he kept pulling me back next to him. I asked him if I could go to my room, but he told me no," she said as her voice broke even more. "That is when he started touching me."
Ben's heart shattered into a million pieces. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever think someone could do something to the most perfect person in his world.
"I told my mother when she was at work, but she didn't believe me. She told me that I was stupid and he was trying to get to know me better and that I was sick to think that he would want me over her," she said. "After that, I didn't think anyone would believe me, so I kept it to myself. I didn't tell my dad, or mom, or Evie, or Uma. She made me feel like no one would believe me, and that they would think I was acting for attention."
Ben pulled Mal into his arms and across the middle consul. He hated that someone touched his girlfriend at such a young age.
"I'm not done," she whispered, making Ben pull away and look down at her. "That went on for a year and a half," she said, making Ben's eyes widen in shock. "I would make excuses to try not to go over there, and sometimes they worked, but whenever I did go over, he would continue the actions whenever he could. The day I told my dad was the night after he raped me," she said.
Ben didn't think that he could have his heart shattered twice in the past 5 minutes, but it did.
"What?" he asked in shock.
Mal nodded her head. "Yeah. I came home after that night, and my mom saw that I was off. She came up to my room and asked me what was wrong, and I broke down. I told her everything, and she believed me. She told me that I was never going to go over there again and that they were going to go everything in their power to put him behind bars, and get my mother in trouble for letting it happen."
Ben had tears running down his face, and he didn't care if she saw them. He just held her close to his cheat, not wanting to ever let her go.
"I am so sorry," Ben said as he kissed the top of her head.
"I just wanted you to know," she told him. "I was going to tell you, eventually."
"No one should have to go through what you did, but now knowing makes you the strongest person I have ever met," he said.
"I have come a long way since then, and I am much happier now," she said. "I just hope that you won't judge me for what happened," she told him.
Ben shook his head and cupped the side of her face. "I would never, not in a million years, judge you for what that piece of shit did," he told her, making her sigh in relief. "I…" he started. "I umm…"
"I love you too," she said as she leaned up and pressed her lips to his.
Ben's heart swelled with joy knowing that Mal loved him back. They pulled apart and smiled at each other. He couldn't help himself and pulled her face in and kissed her softly on the lips. When they broke apart again, they rested their heads on each other.
"Thank you," she said. "For not judging me."
"Thank you for telling me," he told her.
"You should head in," she said. "I'll be over in a bit, I just want to go home and shower," she said.
Ben nodded his head and opened his driver's side door. Mal maneuvered her way out of his lap and waited for him to get out and lock the door. He gave her another kiss before they parted ways to get ready for the victory party.
Ben walked downstairs and saw his parents, Rosie, and Mal's parents in the kitchen getting snacks together for the party.
"Hey, everyone," he said as he sat down on one of the bar stools.
"Hello, butthead," Rosie said as she looked up at Ben.
Ben and the rest laughed at the 5-year-old. Hadie walked in and Ben was hoping Mal was with him, but she wasn't.
"Where is Mally?" Haden asked.
"She's getting ready. I asked if she wanted me to wait for her, but she just told me to head over," he said.
"Is she okay?" Ben asked.
Hadie looked at Ben and nodded his head. He didn't know if Ben knew what happened to Mal, and he didn't want to say anything unless he didn't know.
"Yeah," He said as he continued to nod his head. "She's strong. Anthony isn't going to put her down."
"Well, I would imagine not, after what happened to her when she was younger," Ben said, making everyone go silent.
"Mal told you?" Belle asked, making Ben nod his head. "Hadie? Why don't you take Rosie over to your house? I bet Rosie would love to help Mal get ready," she suggested.
Rosie jumped into Hadie's arms and they both left. Ben looked back at the four adults in the kitchen, and the room was silent.
"Ben, what happened to Mal…" Haden started but stopped when he started to remember what his daughter was like when she came home that day.
"Do you remember when you were in the 7th grade, and your dad was busy on a very important case?" Belle asked, making Ben nod his head.
"Yeah, you guys said that it was for a friend," Ben said as he looked at Persephone and Haden. "And now I am guessing that that friend was you guys," he said.
All four of them nodded their heads.
"Yes, your dad did everything in his power to help us," Seph said.
"Mal is like a second daughter to me," Adam said. "Of course I was going to do everything in my power."
"What happened to Mal was horrible, and Haden and I hate that it happened because Mal told us that she didn't want to go over there," Seph continued.
"Mal said she didn't tell you what happened until she came home the day after," Ben said.
"Yes, that's true, but she had been hiding it, and if we would have listened to her and not sent her that would have never happened," Haden said.
"After what happened, Mal was different. She wasn't Mal," Adam said.
Ben hated knowing that Mal had meant so much to his family and he didn't know anything about her.
"She had a hard time and wouldn't let anyone touch her. The only exception was Hadie, and then Rosie when she was a baby," Seph said.
"She wouldn't even let Uma, Evie, or us hug her," Haden said. "It killed me that she went through that. And it killed me more knowing that I could have stopped it."
"Sweetheart, it's not your fault. Mally knows that, and she is so much better now," Seph said. "She's happy, she's back to being our Mally, and she found someone who truly cares about her," she said.
Ben couldn't help but smile at the compliment. He really did care about Mal. He loved her.
"I know, but…"
"No buts, Haden," Belle said as she walked up to Haden. "What matters is that Mal is okay, and she is. You don't know how bad Seph and I wanted to storm down onto the furled and rip Anthony's head off, but we didn't."
"I was," Ben said as a low grumble.
"And I thank you for that," Haden said, looking at Ben. "I was surprised to see that Mal liked you again," he said.
"Again?" Ben asked.
"Yeah," Seph sighed. "Mal had a huge crush on you from the 5th to 6th grade."
"What?" Ben asked in disbelief. "Seriously?"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't she tell me?" Ben asked.
"Well, maybe because she was shy, and the fact that you didn't know she existed," Adam said, making Ben huff at him.
Ben's mind was now going a thousand miles. Mal liked him and he didn't even know it. He could have been with her for years now if he would have known who she was.
"Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon," they heard Mal sing as she made her way to the kitchen with Rosie in her hip. "Or asked the grinning…" she stopped when she noticed everyone looking at her. "What?" She asked.
Ben stood up and stalked over to his girlfriend slowly.
"Nothing," he said, shaking his head. "I was just wondering if I could ask you two questions?"
"Well, there was one," she said with a chuckle as she placed Rosie on the floor. "You got one more."
"Good, because I only had one," he said with a big grin, making Mal gape at him.
"Fine," she said as a grumble and crossed her arms.
Ben smiled as walked a little closer to her. "I was just wondering who you had a crush on in, oh I don't know, 5th and 6th grade?" He asked, making Mal's eyes widen.
She turned to look at her parents, and they looked up at the ceiling trying not to make eye contact with their daughter.
"You two," she said pointing at them but was cut off by the doorbell.
Before Mal could walk up to her parents and scold them for telling Ben she used to have a crush on him, Ben scooped Mal up and threw her over his shoulder, making her shriek.
"Come on, babe," he said as he walked away from the kitchen, making their parents laugh. "I think it's cute you used to have a crush on me, but I wish I was told," he said.
"You didn't know I was alive," she said as she poked his side, making him flinch.
"I wouldn't do that," he said as he adjusted her on his shoulder. "I may drop you."
"You wouldn't dare," she said with a laugh. "You love me too much to let me fall."
"That I do, Mal," he said as he reached for the door. "That I do."
He opened the door, letting his friends in and Making them laugh as he continued to carry Mal over his shoulder until they were in the backyard. As, the rest of the team, the band, and the cheerleaders came Ben and Mal stayed close together, both wanting to be next to each other after taking big steps today.
Okay! That's it for now! I hope I can finish my chemistry class soon so I only have my biology one!
Please let me know what you guys think! I absolutely LOVE all of your reviews!
Until next time my lovies! xoxo GM