A/N Thank you to Liana who suggested this one-shot idea. This chapter does have mentions of Suicide in it so if you feel uncomfortable, please skip it!
Ever since Ben's Coronation, Mal and the other VK's have been getting some strange looks from other pupils at Auradon Prep. Obviously, Mal wouldn't expect everyone to be on their side at first but she couldn't prepare herself for the number of death stares that she had received this week. It started off as just Audrey, then it spread to a couple of freshmen students and then suddenly, half of the year started to 'hate' the VK's. Even, Doug, Lonnie, Jane, Ben, and some teachers had started to notice the stares that the VK's were getting, but no one could prepare themselves for what would happen next.
Mal was sitting on her bed in her dorm during her free period, scrolling through WizBook. Mal was looking for something different to read rather than news articles about her and Ben or the latest gossip on her mother. Nothing really stuck out to Mal so she kept scrolling, that was until Mal received an invite to join a group chat. Being slightly curious, Mal joined the chat but she didn't like what she saw. There were over 130 new posts and they were all comments about Mal, none about the other VK's. Mal hovered over the tab, debating over to close it and forget about the chat or to look it over and see what people were saying about her. Curiosity won over Mal and she started to read all the comments.
Can't wait to see when she'll baby trap his Majesty – ProperPrincess001
She really doesn't belong here, how long will it be before Ben realizes that – QuirkyFarmG1rl
Everyone has the right to be stupid, But Mal's just abusing that privilege – Toadette95
She needs to lose a few pounds – Frankle12
Why can't she do everyone a favor and go back to the Isle – ProperPrincess001
Can Mal find a cliff and then maybe jump off it? – MrCharming34
The further Mal scrolled through the page, the more hurtful the comments got and the more tears she shed. Some comments were about how she would be a terrible girlfriend to Ben, some said that she was going to do something terrible to Ben and the Royal Family. Others commented on her weight and looks, they also suggested going back to the Isle. However, most of them pretty much told Mal to kill herself and that she was nothing. Tears poured down her face as she shut down her laptop and pushed it under her bed. The more she tried to brush them away, more fell from her eyes, Mal fell back onto her bed and laid still as her body released the tears. Mal laid there for the next 20 minutes until the bell rang for her to go to next lesson. Mal rushed to the bathroom and cleaned off any run mascara and swooped up her bag and put it on her shoulder.
Mal walked down the busy hallway and went to her next lesson, Remedial Goodness 101. She would have been thankful that it was her Goodness class, but since Family Day, it has been compulsory for everyone in her year to take at least one term of classes. So, when Mal walked through the classroom doors and over to her seat, she felt at least a dozen pairs of eyes on her. Mal sat on the back row next to Evie, Jay, and Carlos. Ben, Lonnie, Jane, and Doug sat in the row in front of them. As Mal sat down, The VK's and the AK's turned to her, their eyes all said we need to talk. Mal nodded in response and that's when Fairy Godmother started to conduct the lesson. A Minute before the Bell rang, Fairy Godmother had requested Mal to stay behind so they could talk. The class echoed with 'ooh's' and tuts, Mal sat back down in her seat and held her head in her hands while everyone exited the classroom.
Fairy Godmother walked over to Mal and sat in Ben's seat in front of Mal. "Now Mal, I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you to stay behind, Correct?" She asked Mal grunted in response, her head still in her hands. "Right, Well, you seemed a bit off in the lesson today, is there anything bothering you?" Mal's head shot up and looked at Fairy Godmother with pleading eyes. "Mal, what's up? I promise that it will stay between us" she tried to coax Mal into talking but Mal couldn't do anything but let tears fall onto the desk. Fairy Godmother Pulled Mal into a strong hug, at this point the VK's and the AK's peaked their heads around the door only to see Mal being comforted by Fairy Godmother. They all ran over to Mal as she departed from the embrace. "Mal, What's up?" Evie asked as Mal collapsed into her arms. Everyone crowded around Mal, trying to find out what's up. Mal couldn't tell them the truth, that way, the bullies would win. So, she made up a lie on the spot, "I Miss home for some stupid reason" Mal mumbled into Evie's shoulder. Evie's head shot up as she looked over to the AK's and Fairy Godmother "Can we have a minute?" Everyone nodded. Evie pulled Mal out of the hug and dragged her to a corner, Carlos and Jay followed suit.
"Mal if you miss home, you should've said something, I miss home too," Evie spoke. "Yeah, it might be a hell hole, but it's our hell hole." Carlos Reasoned. "Maybe we just need to adjust to the Auradon lifestyle" Jay concluded. Mal nodded in response as the core four walked back over to Fairy Godmother and the AK's. Ben trapped Mal into a hug, "I think we've sorted everything miss, please can we go to lunch now?" Carlos asked as he rubbed his stomach. Everyone let out a small chuckle as Fairy Godmother dismissed them.
Lunch passed fine for Mal and now she was sitting in the middle of a chemistry lesson. She was sitting next to Lonnie who was taking small notes. Mal sat there and continued to draw as well as copying down Lonnie's notes. While Mal was deep in thought, the Chemistry teacher walked over to her desk and placed down a note and hall pass. Mal picked up the note and read it:
Dearest Mal, I was wondering if you quickly pop over to the library so we may have a quick little chat, see you soon. Belle xxx
Mal cleared up her books and bolted out of the classroom and straight to the library. Mal walked past Ivan, Belle's Guard and went to go and sit opposite Belle on the small table. "Hello Mal dear, how are you?" Belle asked as she placed down the book. "I'm fine and you?" Mal asked as she placed down her bag. "I'm Good, thank you, I know this is a bit last minute, however, Ben text me and his father this morning saying that you were quite upset." Belle Reasoned. Mal let out a small sigh as she relaxed her back "Yes, I wanted to make sure that everything is okay and that if you're not too bad, would you still be able to accompany Ben to the Royal Ball this Saturday." Mal stared at the former Queen with a blank look. "I know it might seem scary that you are representing Ben in front of thousands of people but honestly it's nothing to worry about" Belle placed a reassuring hand on Mal's. Tears pricked Mal's eyes, and fell down her cheeks, she quickly retracted her hand and stood up, "I'm sorry but I can't do this anymore" Mal ran out of the library with her bag in hand. As Mal was sprinting down the hallways, she bumped into Jane. "Mal? Mal? Where are you going?" Jane stood there frozen while waiting for an answer. "Somewhere where I won't bother anyone anymore" and with that response, Mal walked through the double doors and out onto the courtyard. It took Jane a good minute to work out what Mal said but when she did, she ran for Ben.
Jane sprinted as fast as he could down to the Tourney field, Ben, Carlos, and Jay were currently practicing but that meant nothing to Jane right now. Jane jumped down the steps and over all the seats as she ran down to the pitch when she couldn't get any closer to Ben, she yelled. "BEN! CARLOS! JAY! HELP!" Jane only had to chant their names once before they came running over. Carlos was the first one to speak. "Jane, honey what's the matter are you hurt?" Carlos asked as her as he checked her over in-case of an injury." No, it's Mal" "Mal?" the three chorused at this point the whole Tourney team and the cheerleading squad were standing around Jane waiting to hear any new gossip. "Something happened, I don't know what but she looked really upset. I asked her where she was going and she said that she was going somewhere where she can't bother anyone anymore" Jane barely took a breath between words. The three boys bolted towards the stairs while everyone else had their phones out and were probably already spreading gossip. Jane bolted towards the school and began to collect everyone else from their group while the boys went to change. Jane went to different classrooms for the next five minutes, collecting everyone from their little group. Everyone met up in the middle of the court yard and began to discuss a game plan. Ben knew of only one place Mal knew outside of school, the Enchanted Lake. So far that was their best hope, Ben, Jay, and Evie planned to go to the Enchanted Lake. Lonnie, Carlos, and Doug planned to go into the town and search around there. Jane was going to stay around Campus and distract everyone that came looking for the AK's and VK's.
Meanwhile….
Mal was sat at the edge of the cliff with her legs dangling off and her head in her hands, her bag by her side but everything from her bag was scattered around her, thrown in frustration. "Maybe I should just take everyone advice and go. No one would miss me anyway" Mal shakily stood up and looked over the edge. As she took one step closer to the edge a voice called out to her from down below. "Mal stop!" Ben's voice echoed from the broken pillars. Jay and Evie ran up behind the cliff to try and pull Mal back down to the ground. "Mal please don't do this" Ben begged. "No Ben you don't understand" Mal yelled back. "What don't we understand Mal?" Evie asked gently. Mal turned around to see the shocked faces of Evie and Jay. "Stay back" Mal yelled at them as she took a step back. Jay held his hand out "Mal, let us help you please" Jay begged as he moved his hand closer to Mal. Mal stared at the hand in disbelief. "I'm sorry, I can't do this anymore" Mal too two more steps back and she fell. She fell into the cold hard hitting water of the Enchanted Lake. "MAL" the trio screamed. Mal just let the water engulf her, this time in the water, she didn't struggle, she just let the darkness over take her.
Ben Jumped into the water and swam deep down to Mal. He swept her off the lake bed and quickly swam up. When he surfaced, he took a huge gulp of air and began to regulate his breathing as he swam back. He gently placed Mal down by the fallen Pillars and tried to perform CPR. Jay had called an ambulance while Evie contacted their group to let them know what was happening. Even though Ben was soaking wet and cold he wouldn't give up on Mal. After one final press on her chest, Mal started sputtering up water. Ben and Jay let out a sigh of relief while Evie let out a choked sob. Mal sat up and leaned against a pillar while Jay wrapped his jacket around her arms. Ben wrapped his arms around her as did Evie and Jay and they all sat there for the next 10 minutes waiting for an Ambulance.
When the Ambulance arrived, Doctors took Mal in the back of the Ambulance to check her over before she was rushed to Auradon General Hospital. After running some tests and the poking and prodding of Mal, Doctors cleared her and told her to rest. They allowed Mal to have her friends in the hospital room with her. Evie was currently sat on the end of her bed while Ben was sat in the armchair next to her bed. Jay and Carlos were Sat against the wall by Mal's bed with the other AK's. the room was silent until Ben spoke up. "Why Mal?" those two words broke the silence and made everyone's eyes land on her. "I couldn't do this anymore" she replied whilst looking down at her fingers. "What do you mean?" Evie asked as she took Mal's hand in hers. Mal sat there for the next half an hour explaining everything, from the website to the Enchanted Lake. Mal could barely get any words out between her stuttering. Evie and Mal were crying by the end of her explanation while Ben refused to let Mal go. Again, the room fell into silence, but again Ben broke it. "Mal, don't listen to them, I know that you wouldn't hurt me or my family." Ben tried to reassure her. "How do you know that Ben?" Mal replied, but her voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm listening to my heart Mal and right now, it's telling me that I love you Mal" He looked down into her eyes before he pulled her into a short but loving kiss, it was a kiss that confirmed that he was indeed listening to his heart.