Hello my lovely readers! This is only a short one, but a longer chapter is coming soon. I thought I would give you a quick tidbit tonight to tie you over. Reviews are addicting, and my Muse thanks you!
Before anyone complains about my version of the nickname VK's, I wanted to let you know why the distancing from that term fits this story. Mal is more interested in saving other children from the Isle, and her "evilness" is mostly played up as a defense mechanism. I wanted Ben to realize that there was more to the kids from the Isle than their parentage. This may change later, but for now the term will be used as a slur unless they choose to "own it" on their own terms.
As always, I own nothing. I enjoy playing in Disney's sandbox, and have added a dump truck to my toy collection for doing so.
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Ben's Breakup
Ben's point of view
"You shouldn't trust VK's, they could be…." I tuned Audrey out as she started in on the kids from the Isle again. I hated when she referred to them as VK's because made it sound that they were villains that happened to be kids, instead of the innocent children of villains. I was sick of her lack of compassion and willingness to give them a second chance; and it was technically a first chance because nothing they did condemned them to the Isle of the Lost. If she couldn't support me with my first royal decree, then how could I expect her to support me in anything else.
It was a long time in coming, but I knew that Audrey's and my relationship had to end. I tried to tell myself that it wasn't because of the new green-eyed beauty from the Isle with vibrant purple hair unlike anything I had ever seen before, but it was probably the straw that broke the camel's back. What a beautiful straw it was though. I shook my head out of my reverie to see that Mal was close enough to hear all the vitriol coming out of Audrey's mouth, which gave me the incentive I needed to cut her off.
"Audrey, if you can't respect my royal decisions, then maybe we don't have a future together." Audrey stopped mid word and her mouth hung open in shock. "I don't expect my girlfriend to agree with everything I do as a ruler, but I do expect her to respect it enough to have a reasonable conversation. All you are doing is dictating what you think I should do, even after hearing the reasons for my proclamation. The children of the Isle were not sent there for their own misdeeds, so they should be given the chance to make their own mistakes or reach their own heights of success."
Audrey seemed to gather her wits and shot back, "well when one of those mistakes destroys Auradon, you'll wish that you had listened to me."
"We're through," I said, "you are no longer my girlfriend." I walked away from Audrey, only to realize that I was walking towards Mal. I wonder if there's a metaphor hidden in that? I took a deep breath and started to apologize for Audrey. "Mal, I'm so sorry for what Audrey said, she shouldn't have…"
Mal interrupted me saying, "if I believed everyone's opinions about me, then I would have massive mental whiplash."
I smiled and then asked, "would you like to go on a date with me? I'd like to get to know you better."
She seemed taken aback before her countenance turned angry and she coldly said, "I am not a rebound date and will not be used to fuel a teenage need for rebellion."
I suddenly realized how my actions could be taken and back peddled. "No, no, I wasn't asking you as a rebound. I have actually wanted to get to know you better ever since you got here, but…."
"Audrey was in the way," she finished. I looked sheepish as she continued. "This is the fastest way to get all of her friends to hate me even more than they already do. They will say that I gave you a love potion or arrived with the sole objective of stealing you for myself."
"If you won't go on a date with me, then will you at least sit with me at lunch tomorrow?" I asked hopefully. I desperately wanted to connect with her on some level, but realized that I was probably moving too quickly in her eyes. It made me wish that I had broken up with Audrey last year when she insulted the visiting dignitaries from Atlantis, making fun of their lack of balance when first stepping onto solid ground. I knew that she wouldn't make a good queen after that incident, but we had been friends while growing up together and our parents had high hopes that we would make a good match. I tried to see the best in her, but she was turning into a selfish, spiteful woman that I didn't recognize.
Mal gave me a searching look before saying, "okay, we'll try lunch and see where it goes from there." I gave a huge grin and she rolled her eyes, but she had a small smile on her face so I knew that she wasn't angry.
