PART TWO OF THREE
Mal slept all through the rest of the day and into the next morning as she awoke with the sun beaming into her room and resting upon her eyes. Mal silently groaned and started to unravel herself from the bed. She made her way to the wardrobe and picked out a short purple skater dress and light black tights with purple flats. She made her way over to the bathroom slowly as to not wake up Evie and went to change. When Mal came out of her bathroom, she was shocked by the sight that had greeted her. Jay, Carlos, Doug, Ben, Evie, Jane, and Lonnie were all crammed into Mal and Evie's small room, clearly, someone had been planning this. Mal stood there frozen in the door frame "What's up?" Mal asked awkwardly. "Mal are you okay? you left lunch in a hurry and then you come back to our room and sleep throughout the day to the next" Evie asked, concern filling her eyes. "IF that's what all you're here for then you can leave. I'm fine, I just haven't been feeling well for the past couple of days and I didn't want to mention anything in case Ben canceled this. Everyone needed a break and I didn't want to be the one to ruin it, I'm sorry" Mal racked her brain as she kept developing a believable lie. She didn't want anyone to know about Prince Phillip and his little notes. Ben walked over to Mal and gripped her waist tight "Are you okay now?" he asked while planting a kiss on her forehead. "yeah, I guess I just needed a proper night's rest" Mal just wanted everyone to leave her alone, she could handle this. Everyone slowly started to leave Mal and Evie's room until It was just Evie and Mal. "Mal are you 100% sure that you are okay?" Evie asked with caution as she started going through her side of the wardrobe. "Yes E, honestly I'm fine. Maybe I was sick because I was sleep deprived but all that matters now is that I'm fine now" Mal replied as she fixed her dress in the mirror.
Mal sat in silence for the next ten minutes as she waited for Evie to finish her morning beauty routine. Once Evie was done, they both headed downstairs for breakfast. They were greeted by the same sight that they met with at yesterday's breakfast buffet. Again, there were exotic fruits cut into stars, waffles with syrup, croissants, sausages, bacon, eggs and scrambled eggs with three huge jugs full with freshly squeezed orange juice. Everyone sat down in their designated places from yesterday's lunch and began to stock their plates full. To Mal's delight, Prince Phillip didn't slide her any notes, however, this also set her on edge for the day.
Once breakfast was over, all the teens had planned to go down to the spa for a day of relaxing massages. Everyone headed back to their rooms in Aurora's Castle and began to change into their swimsuits. Everyone had agreed to meet up outside of the lunch hall. Mal knew she had five minutes before she had to meet up with everyone so she went to knock for Ben so they could walk together. Mal knocked on the door and waited for less than a minute before the door was swung open to reveal Ben standing in the doorway with the crown on his head and files in his hands. "Mal I'm so sorry, I've just had this pile of paperwork handed to me and my parents. We have to have another meeting today over all of this." Tears brimmed in Mal's eyes. "It's okay Ben, I understand. The kingdom comes first. Just don't be too long okay?" Mal placed a small kiss on his cheek before she left. Ben didn't have time to respond as Queen Leah came storming down the hallway and dragged him to another meeting.
Mal dragged herself down the hallway with soft tears running down her cheeks. He promised that he would come with us. I thought that this was meant to be a break? While Mal was deep in thought, she didn't realize that Prince Phillip was walking forward towards her. while she was vulnerable, Phillip grabbed Mal by her wrist and pulled her into an alcove away from suspecting eyes.
"Listen, I don't know what everyone has told you but we don't take to kindly to whores in our home, so I suggest that you fuck off and never come back. Don't even think about groveling to his majesty because we all know what happens when you do, slut. I reckon that if you did leave and never come back, no one would miss you or even notice that you're gone, you're just a burden that needs to leave. No one wants you, why would they?" throughout Prince Phillip's speech, he kept his hand tight against her wrist, digging his nails into her wrist. He then forcefully pushes her against the wall before he leaves looking proud of himself. Mal collapses onto the floor with her back against the wall. Mal pushes her knees up to her chest as she begins to hyperventilate. Her breathing becomes rushed and shallow as Phillip's words rush through her mind. Small pricks of blood dropped from her wrist and onto the floor. Mal sat in the same position for the next ten minutes as she tried to regulate her breathing. She gripped the sides of the wall and slowly pulled herself up. She peered around the corners of the alcove, asking sure that he could leave without anyone asking questions. Luckily no one was in this part of the castle so Mal made her way out of the alcove and traveled to the spa room. She looked in the mirror that was next to the door made herself look more presentable. Slowly she opened the door and the group of teens turned to look at her. "MAL" Evie screamed as she jumped off the massage table "Where were you? I thought we lost you. Where's Ben? Have you been crying? What happened to your wrist?" Evie threw questions at Mal. Everyone else in the room surrounded Mal while waiting for answers. Mal couldn't bring herself to tell them the truth, "I went to go and get Ben so we could walk to together but he had a surprise meeting so he couldn't come. I spent some time trying to convince him to reschedule. Yes, I have been crying because I hurt my wrist. I caught my wrist on the Bracelet that Ben got me while I was trying to take it off. A few charms clipped my skin that's all" Mal kept lying through her teeth. She knew it was wrong and that she could trust her friends but Prince Phillip's words kept replaying in her head. "Well you're here now, so why don't we all grab some fruit and head into the mud bath" Audrey suggested. Everyone nodded in agreement as Audrey and Jane went over to the small buffet and picked some fruit to bring over. The rest of the day was spent by messing around and talking about random topics.
As the day drew to an end, everyone left the spa and went for a shower to clean themselves up. Once back in her room, Mal dropped to her bed with a smile on her face thinking about the day, leaving out the part with Phillip. Once Evie left the Bathroom, Mal entered after her and went to change. Mal changed into an off-white elbow length shirt with dark purple short overalls and tights. Evie linked arms with Mal as they skipped down the hall and the grand staircase and down to the dining hall. Again, they sat in their designated seats and ate lunch. Throughout the lunch, Phillip was constantly staring at Mal which is something that she and the rest of the teens had noticed.
As the final meal of the day came to a close, Ben decided to walk Mal back to her room like a proper gentleman. "I'm sorry about today Mal, I know what I said before about spending time with you and I feel really bad. However, if any work-related things come up tomorrow, I promise to refuse them and save a dance for you" Ben whispered into Mal's ear. "It's okay Ben, really it is. I knew that this would happen from the moment I told you that you make me really happy" Mal replied with a brief kiss on his cheek. As they neared her room, Ben's grip on Mal's waist tightened as he pulled her close. "I love you Mal, always remember that" Ben reminded her. "I know and I love you too" They both shared a loving kiss before he left her. Mal sat down on her bed and rested her head on the pillows. Slowly her eyes began to close as she fell into a dreamless slumber. Mal finally felt relaxed as Prince Phillip's words stopped pestering her.