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Class was over and everyone was flowing out of their classrooms. Jay Carlos and Evi were talking.

J: "Has one of you guys seen Mal?"

E: "No haven't seen her since lunch."

C: "Me neither."

J: "Well Lonnie said she saw her in the bathroom and said that she walked out of class and did not return."

E: "let's search for her yeah.?"

/

When class was over for Ben he went to look for Mal. They were going to do something after school but he looked for her and couldn't find her. Then after a while, Ben spotted Jane who was walked over to him.

J: "Hey Ben, could you give this back to Mal pleas? She left it in class but I can't see to find her anywhere."

B: "She left during class? Why?"

J: "I don't know she just left. And this morning she was sleeping in chemistry. Do you know if there is something wrong?"

B: "No, she didn't say anything. I am looking for her too."

J: "I hope she is alright. With those four you never know... I-I mean not like I don't trust them or anything, it's just... they are not the... sharing type."

B: "True. Ben agreed. Jane sounded very concerned. And right now Ben was becoming nervous too, he had to find his mysterious purple-haired girl.

/

Ben searched everywhere for Mal but no sign of her yet. He didn't understand. Where is she and why was she acting so strange… He knew this school in and out! Where o where could she be? Ben became very worried now. He was standing on the outside of the building now. looking in disbelieve. There were almost no places to look anymore. He was scanning the back of the building. But then he saw a light… In… Isn't that a storage room? I saw it used befo- wait could it be!? He ran inside up the stairs he made his way to the room that owned the light. The door was locked. But luckily Ben knew how to get the key. So he quickly went to get the key and he opened the door to find… a sleeping Mal in the corner on a makeshift from a cupboard on some old curtains, with only a water bottle next to her and a bucket. Her shoes were kicked off and her hair was messy. Ben couldn't believe what he saw, what was she doing here what is going on? Ben went to stand next to her and came to the same eye level.

B: "M-Mal?"

Ben came closer…

B: "Mal hey… Are you all right!?... Mal?"

M: "…Mmm huh?"

Mal was slowly opening her eyes and moving with her head to see what was going on.

Ben laid a hand on her shoulder. And repeated his question.

B: "Hey are you all right?"

M: "Mm, yeah"

B: "What are you doing?"

M: "… I.. was sleeping wasn't that obvious..." Her voice sounded very raspy from sleeping.

B: "yeahh but why here and not in you're bed? And why did you walk out of class?!

M: "I can sleep wherever I want to sle… h-. Ben wasn't listening anymore but instead, he pressed his hand against Mal's forehead. But Mal pushed his hand away, almost instinctively. He didn't even have the chance to feel her temperature.
Ben was shocked by Mal's fast movement.

M: "what do you think you are doing?!"

B: "... Wow hey calm down I didn't want to hurt you are anything. I just wanted to feel if you had a fever. Maybe you're sick. Ben said still very shocked.

M: "I am not… so leave me alone"

B: "You walked out of class you look ghostly pale you're sleeping in a storage room. And you still wanna tell me there is nothing wrong?"

Mal didn't know what to answer on that. And it was too hard to come up with a lie with that pounding in her head. Mal glanced at him. You could clearly see that she was on guard.

B: Mal it- it's just me, I am not a threat…

Mal didn't want Ben to see her like this, no one should see her this weak and pathetic. But Ben's words were somehow comforting.

There was a short silence.

Mal started to say something but a coughing fit came along. She coughed once twice… They sounded deep and painful. Ben felt bad hearing the girl cough her lungs up. When the coughing stopped she was out of breath. Mal felt totally defeated.

B: "Common Mal let's get you back to your dorm."

…

M: "No."

B: "What no?"

M: "I am… staying here leave m…me be."

B: "Mal I am not leaving you like this, I will get you to a bed.

Ben pulled her up in a sitting position. Mal was still protesting saying things like how she didn't want to go. And that she will not go to her room, and that she was fine like this.
Ben heard what Mal said."Okey" is all that she got in return. Ben pulled Mal up on her feet. He laid her arm in his neck and his arm around her side. And started walking out of the room. It was already dark outside. So there was none in the halls. So the two could easily pass. Ben took Mal to his home.
Mal was still saying things like: "No Ben… don't want to go." and "leave me alone" All tho she seemed a little out of it.
It was very clear she did not want to go and didn't want the help. But she was half asleep, what was the big plan here? After a while, she was getting very tired of walking.
It was almost impossible to hold Mal up any longer. So Ben stopped and lifted Mal in his arms. They were almost at Ben's room so he could carry her the last part.
A few minutes later there were standing for Ben's room. Mal was so tired that she didn't know where she was. Or that she was almost sleeping against Ben's strong shoulder.
Ben held Mal very close. He could feel while he was carrying her that she had a fever. He was worried about her.
Why hadn't she said anything?...

At that moment Belle walked by. She saw her son holding Mal carrying her inside his room. Ben Didn't notice that his mother was there.
Belle was watching the two with only one thought: "What is going on?" Ben laid Mal on his bed. The girl was out the second she hid the pillows. She was asleep.
Ben was standing above her. Then he heard someone calling his name. He turned around to see his mother standing at the door.

Belle: "Ben what is going on? What are you doing? "

Ben: "Mom!" He walked over to his mother so there was a little distance between them and Mal.
"Mom I found Mal sleeping in a locked storage room. She looks pale and has a fever. Ben said a little on edge.

Belle: "What?! Why?" Belle said worriedly. She immediately walked towards Mal.
She laid her hand on Mal's forehead. Her son was right. She had a fever. The purple-haired girl looked so vulnerable. Something that normally couldn't be said of her. Belle was now worried too.

"Now that you mention it, I did see her earlier this day and she did look different"
"Why did you bring her here?

Ben: "She didn't want to go to her room she said."

Belle: "Did she say why?"

Ben: "No, and I don't understand why she didn't tell me she wasn't feeling good… or anyone else for that matter. She's been hiding in a storage room… I... don't get it. and it's driving me insane"

"It is okay Ben. So, Mal got sick. she probably will get better after some sleep and medicine. And then you can ask her. I will go and get some medicine for her right away. Okay?"
Belle could see that her son was worried sick for the purple-haired girl. Wanned to help him. She looked at Mal again, poor girl, she did look terrible."

"Yes, you are right thanks, mom"

With that Belle left…

Ben didn't know what to do now. It was almost eleven o'clock. He walked over to Mal. She was still sleeping. he covered her with his blankets.

he was going to let the girl sleep she really needed it. So while Ben waited on his mother to return he went to sit next to where Mal was sleeping. Belle came back a few minutes later with some medicine in her hands.

"Thanks, mom. When she wakes up I will give them to her."

"Ben If anything happens come wake me up okay?"

"Yes, I will do that, Thank you."

But where was he going to sleep?