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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 walking over to him.
J: "Hey Ben, could you give this back to Mal, please? She left it in class but I can't seem 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 disbelief. 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 never 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 bed from a cupboard and some old curtains, with only a water bottle next to her and a bucket. The room was dark whit a lot of old stuff. On the ground were her shoes who were probebly kicked off . 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: "What is it with the questions? I can sleep wherever I want to sle… h-." Ben wasn't listening anymore but instead, he moved his hand to Mal's forehead in an attempt to feel if she had e fever. 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. Why did she do that?!
M: "what do you think you are doing?!"
B: "... Wow hey calm down I didn't want to hurt you or anything. I just wanted to feel if you had a fever or not. Maybe you're sick. Ben said still very shocked.
M: "I am not… so leave me alone"
Ben didn't know what to make of this. Mal was being very mean and unfriendly. He never really saw this side of her. She clearly wanted him gone. Should he listen? maybe he did something wrong. No there clearly is something very wrong here. He wouldn't be a good friend or boyfriend if he didn't try to figure this out. He had to find the problem, only then he could help her.
B: "Mal, 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 how to answer 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 don't want to harm you or something.
Mal didn't want Ben to see her like this, no one should see her this weak and pathetic. If people could just leave her alone everything would be fine. Lay low until she felt better. That's how it's done. But Ben's words were somehow comforting. But she was so tired. Making decent conversation seemed to be off the table.
There was a short silence.
Then Mal started to say something but a coughing fit came along and stopped her. She coughed once twice… They sounded deep and painful. Ben felt bad hearing the girl cough her lungs up.
When the coughing stopped Mal was out of breath. she felt totally defeated. And wanted nothing more then to go back to the warm comfort of sleep.
B: "Common Mal let's get you back to your dorm."
…
M: "No." Mal said slowly like she was about to fall asleep again.
B: "What no?"
M: "I am… staying here so... you just...leave me be."
B: "Mal I am not leaving you like this, I will get you to a bed.
Ben pulled her up to 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. She tried to pull her hand away but there was no power in her movement. It was obvious to Ben that she was not fine.
Ben did hear what Mal was saying, not to the dorms. So he just replied with."All right." Then Ben pulled Mal up to her feet. He laid her arm around 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 thru the halls without the watchful eyes of others. So 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 seem to 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. He looked at her with concern. He slowly brushed her hair out of her face and brushed her cheek. He couldn't help thinking that even though she was sick, she still looked beautiful to him. Then he heard someone calling his name. He turned around to see his mother standing at the door.
Belle: "Ben what is going on son? 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 toward 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"
Belle: "It is okay Ben. So, Mal got sick. she probably will get better after some sleep and medicine. We will wait til morning and then you can ask her all about it. If she still feels bad in the morning we will call a doctor alright?"
"Okay yeah, you're right."
"Now I will go and get some medicine for her right away."
Belle could see that her son was worried sick for the purple-haired girl. Of course, she was going to help him. Before walking out 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 and a glass of water in her hands.
"Thanks, mom. When she wakes up I will give them to her."
Belle looked at Mal again. She didn't really have that good of a bond with her jet. After Ben's crowning, it was clear to her that Mal was here to stay and that she was very brave for standing up for Auredon and herself.
The four of them decided to give good a chance. Was all they could have hoped for. Belle and Mal did see each other occasionally. But it was a slow process. But seeing her so helpless was just so unexpected. She could hardly look away. But It was clear Ben was doing everything he could so it was okay for her to go asleep. Nothing they could do now then let her sleep.
"Ben If anything happens come wake me up okay? I am here to help so don't hesitate."
"Yes, I will do that, Thanks, mom."
"Belle smiled at her son gave a glance at Mal and then left."
...
Ben decided it was getting late and that he should soon go to sleep as well but... Where was he going to sleep?
