It was very late and almost midnight. Ben had Clarice asleep on the couch next to him as he drifted off a little. Luckily they both had their homework done, but they had the TV on. Ben's dreams were filled with the thoughts of the new girl in school. Who was she really? What was she like? Was she a threat or a new friend? These thoughts flooded his mind and he decided it would be a good time to talk with his parents about it. The next morning then came as his thoughts were still focused on Mal and Ben soon yawned and stretched as he woke up.
"Huh?" Ben blinked as he looked all around, finding himself in the living room. "This isn't my room... Mom? Dad?" he then called out.
"Well, it's about time you realized where you were, Benny~" Belle giggled as she was making coffee for herself and her husband. "I see that you and Clarice had an eventful evening."
"Oh! Mom!" Ben gasped as he soon stumbled out of the couch, getting tangled up in the blanket as Clarice yelped as that jolted her awake next. "Mom, I'm sorry we fell asleep in front of the TV. I guess I just lost track of time last night."
"It's okay, I'm not mad," Belle smiled warmly. "In fact, you and your sister looked very happy and comfortable together."
"Oh... Good..." Ben said in relief.
"Did you get your homework done though?" Belle asked as she began to pour the coffee into the mugs and went to the stove to check on the eggs.
"Yes, Mom," Ben reassured as he nodded. He always made that his #1 priority for whenever he or Clarice would come home and their parents weren't home yet, due to being very busy with their jobs. "Clarice did hers too... Though I wish my homework was as simple as 'drawing a picture of your pet'."
Belle giggled, a little amused to that statement.
"...Do you know if you and Dad will be home today after school?" Ben asked hopefully.
"I'll be home, but your father will be late," Belle said as she looked back at him. "I'm also planning on giving your Aunt Lacey a call. Why? Is something wrong?" she then prompted as to why he asked that question.
"I just... I'm thinking about something in school..." Ben said as he began to blush sheepishly. "I kinda want a guy to talk to about it though."
"So... My little Benny is growing up with questions and he can't be bothered to share some thoughts with Mommy?" Belle asked, though a bit playful as she actually understood, though she and her sister never had a chance to properly grow up with their mother, especially when entering puberty, and they just wanted her there and not talk about certain things with Ben and Clarice's grandfather.
"Oh, n-n-no, Mom, it's not that," Ben's hazel eyes widened. "I trust you, it's just that Dad and I need to talk about important things like... Growing hair everywhere..."
"Ben, I was just kidding," Belle smirked with a light chuckle. "I understand... There were some things your aunt and I couldn't talk with your grandfather when we were just a bit younger than you are right now. Plus, I know all about men growing hair all over the place, your father had the craziest goatee and mullet when we were first dating. He almost looked like some sort of dog or Beast Man."
Ben gave a small smile, laughing a bit as he found that kind of funny. "I guess that's why they called him 'The Beast' back in school then, huh?" he then asked.
"Something like that, yes," Belle smirked. "But I still loved him."
"Thanks, Mom," Ben said with a small sigh. "I just need someone to talk to about something in school... I mean, you know what happened between me and Audrey."
"Yes, I remember, especially when she tried to marry you when you met at Evelyn Mills' birthday party in Kindergarten," Belle nodded in memory. "She even tried to pop the question with a Ring Pop from the piñata."
"Aw, jeez, Mom..." Ben blushed even more from embarrassment and sheepishness, made worse as Clarice was heard giggling.
"Morning, Mama~" Clarice beamed as she hugged her mother's legs.
"Hello, dear," Belle smiled. "Benny and I are talking right now, but if you wait quietly at the table like a good girl, I'll get you some eggs."
"Okay..." Clarice nodded and soon walked over to the table and went to sit at her usual spot at the table.
"Just remember to brush your teeth right after!" Belle then prompted.
"Yes, Mama!" Clarice nodded.
"Such a little angel," Belle smiled warmly as she was almost done with the eggs. "I think your father might be too busy to talk at breakfast, Benny, but you could always try to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hopper. He's always there if you kids ever want to talk, he lets one's conscious be their guide."
"Yes, I remember," Ben replied. "Thanks, Mom. I feel just a little bit better, but I still need a man's opinion."
"I understand," Belle said as she turned around and soon scooped her arms around him up into a warm hug. "Oh... You're growing up so fast. Soon you'll be graduated from school, then in college, marriage, grandchildren-"
"Whoa! Easy there, Belle!" Adam's voice chuckled as he soon came downstairs to join his family to the breakfast table. "Clarice is still learning how to count by twos and you're talking about grandkids?"
Belle cupped her mouth with a giggle, unable to resist.
"Morning, everybody." Adam greeted.
"Daddy!" Clarice beamed as she lunged out from her chair, springing onto him for a hug.
"Oof!" Adam grunted as he nearly stumbled back, but laughed as he wrapped his arms around his daughter, catching her in the hug. "Good morning, my little princess."
Ben smiled warmly as he sat down at his place at the table. Eventually, Belle plated everybody's breakfast and they all sat down all around each other as a family and they began to eat up. Ben's mind still wandered, but he kept his thoughts to himself, so glad that his brain didn't lead down into his mouth and then he would end up saying something stupid or embarrassing. His parents noticed that he was unusually quiet this morning as he almost always had something to say, though they decided not to say anything, especially since Clarice was at the table and they didn't have much time together until it would be time to get going to school and work for the day.
Ben still decided he would go talk to the school guidance counselor. He often kept his feelings to himself as he never really opened up much to his friends, especially Chad who was more interested in how his reflection looked. Sometimes he had to wonder why he would even bother being friends with someone like Chad who often acted like a spoiled Prince Charming and a lot of the girls loved him for that. Ben was the president of his class, one of the best players on the football team next to maybe Jay who was heavily built and strong, and pretty much took care of the school. He was almost like The King of the School, even if he never viewed himself as such, unlike Audrey who believed herself to be the Queen of School. Plus there were those times he was the star of a couple of school plays and almost everybody knew him.
He had a lot of high marks on tests and worksheets for classes and it was very perfect. It was nice being popular, but it never mattered much to him as he wanted friends to like him for who he was on the inside and not just on the outside. Hopefully he could let those feelings out because they were so easy to think and ponder on about, but whenever he had the chance to say how he felt on the inside, his mouth would play a trick on his brain and make him quiet at the last second. He never understood why or how that could be. Hopefully he would get the answer one way or another.
Soon, Ben and Clarice were being taken away to get to school. Ben heaved a sharp sigh with even more on his mind now than when he started with. Belle and Adam just hoped that their son would be all right and not stress himself out, though they didn't see anything wrong as he had no reason to be unhappy as he was a perfect young man. Ben didn't view himself as such, but didn't say anything as he just stared off into space while Clarice sang a song to herself that she learned from school as she was happy and carefree with no worry other than it being what would be her toy for Christmas that year.
Ben heaved a sharp sigh as he held Clarice's hand and went to take her into the school that they both attended. Many other students either rushed inside or some just stood by, taking the extra time to speak with their friends about upcoming plans or anything else that was more interesting than school. Ben decided to take his time today by bringing Clarice to her class.
"Are you all right today, Ben?" Ms. Blanchard's cheerful and sweet voice suddenly asked, pulling Ben out of his reverie.
"Oh! Ms. Blanchard..." Ben blinked as he looked at the black-haired woman as she smiled kindly and warmly. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine... I'm just thinking."
"Nothing wrong with thinking in a school," Ms. Blanchard smiled. "Would you like to maybe talk about it?"
"Oh, uh, I don't know if I should..." Ben shrugged. "I'm actually planning on seeing Dr. Hopper today."
"Ah... Well, I'm sure whatever's on your mind, he can help take care of it," Ms. Blanchard smiled. "Clarice would certainly love to have her helpful and supportive big brother around."
"Yeah," Ben chuckled softly with a small smile back. "I'd love to take one of your classes again. Coloring a rainbow sure sounds more interesting than solving for X in Mr. Cogsworth's classroom."
"Very funny." Ms. Blanchard smirked as that did amuse her a bit.
"I try," Ben shrugged. "Do you still volunteer at the hospital?"
"Every Thursday," Ms. Blanchard smiled. "You ever think of coming? Maybe you'd like to read to the kids sometime."
"I'll think about that too, Ms. Blanchard." Ben smiled back.
Then suddenly, the bell began to ring.
"Well, there's the bell," Ben then said to the woman. "I guess I better get going. It was nice seeing you again."
"Nice seeing you too, Ben," Ms. Blanchard smiled. "Have a good day."
"You too." Ben smiled back softly.
And so, Ms. Blanchard went to get ready for the day while Ben went upstairs to the bigger hallway with lockers. Many students were there and he looked around as he made his way over to the guidance counselor's door. However, before he did, he found the man as he just stepped out of the teacher's lounge.
"Ah... Mr. French..." The tall and spiny man with frizzy red hair and glasses smiled as he ran into the boy. "Off to class, I see."
"Uh, yeah," Ben nodded. "Listen, um... If you're not too busy or have too many appointments... I'd like to step into your office today. If it's not too much trouble, I mean."
"Well, sure, I'd love the company," Dr. Hopper smiled at him. "Maybe you'd like to step inside now so we can check my schedule to see if I can pencil you in?"
"...Sure." Ben shrugged and nodded.
The two soon walked off into the office together while the other students were talking about whatever was on their minds. Mal and Evie were even talking to each other as they seemed to become best friends around overnight, even if the new girl in school didn't want to admit that, but it was obvious to those whoever saw them together.
Ben sat down across from Dr. Hopper's desk as the adult man began to start up his computer. Ben had a small, patient smile as he put his hands together, waiting as patiently as possible as he looked around the room and saw several pictures of Dr. Hopper himself and with his pet Dalmatian who had called Pongo and with an old, bearded man known as Mr. Marco Gepetto who owned the infamous Gepetto's Toy Chest which was a beloved toy store to every child in Auradon Heights, especially around Christmastime as he loved every child who came to visit him as his very own and was known to be best friends with Dr. Hopper. Eventually, the computer started up and a screensaver was shown to be a cricket-based background and oddly enough, not of Dalmatians, though Ben guessed that was Carlos's mother's job to obsess over Dalmatians.
"Ah, here we go," Dr. Hopper smiled as he moved his mouse and clicked into the internet, coming to the school's home page before he went to his private email and checked his schedule. "I should have an opening around here somewhere."
"Take your time, but I would love to not be late for class, Dr. Hopper." Ben nodded patiently.
"Don't worry, I'll cover you if that happens, though this should only take a second," Dr. Hopper chuckled as he checked his schedule. "Hmm... What time is your lunch?" he then asked.
"12:15," Ben replied. "Though some other students make it sound like an eternity and nearly eat their own homework to eat food they don't care about, but I actually like Mrs. Lucas and Mrs. Potts' cooking."
"I do too, but I wouldn't mind some Shan Yu's Dim Sum if I can help it," Dr. Hopper smirked playfully with a light chuckle to help lighten the mood a little. "So, how about for after lunch, you come see me and I'll excuse you from class. You have Mr. Cogsworth for Math, I believe?"
"Yes, I do," Ben nodded. "He's an old friend of my parents', but he has a bad habit of droning on and on while making weak jokes during the lecture."
"All right, Ben," Dr. Hopper smiled. "I have lunch a little before you, so we can meet up after you're done eating. I can come get you in the cafeteria if you would like."
"Uh, sure, but try not to make a big fuss over it, okay?" Ben then asked. "I don't want other kids to think that I'm crazy or something."
"Ben, you have nothing to worry about coming to see the school guidance counselor," Dr. Hopper reassured calmly as he looked the boy into his hazel eyes. "Support is important to have in a school, especially if something is on your mind. Don't worry though, when you and I speak later, everything you say or do will be confidential. I'm sworn to secrecy as part of my job."
"Really?" Ben blinked. "So I could say anything I want and you wouldn't tell a soul?"
"Not even my dog, Pongo," Dr. Hopper smiled warmly. "You can trust me."
"Well, that makes me feel a little bit better." Ben said while blushing sheepishly.
"I'm glad to hear it," Dr. Hopper smiled. "So right after lunch is good with you?"
"Yes, sir," Ben nodded. "You can count on it. I'm looking forward to it."
"I am too, Ben," Dr. Hopper replied as they shook hands on it. "I'll be sure to write you a note though so you don't get in detention."
"Ooh, I wouldn't want that." Ben grimaced.
"I'm sure you wouldn't," Dr. Hopper agreed as he then stood up. "Now why don't you run along to your first period class? We'll talk some more later."
"Thanks again, Dr. Hopper." Ben smiled as he soon stood up as well and went to go out into the hallway while he still had the chance. He knew how much Coach Jenkins hated tardiness, even if he made it just as the bell rang, he had to run a lap just for being 10 seconds late.
Time seemed to go by at a snail's pace for Mal as she sat the English classroom. Evie didn't have that class with her, unfortunately, so she felt alone. Even though she met two new friends like Jay and Carlos, she would still rather talk to Evie about whatever and those two often tried to kill each other, almost like brothers. It was a bit annoying and immature.
"Distracted today, Miss Ignus?" The teacher, Ms. Porter, asked Mal as she seemed to stare off into space.
"Huh? What?" Mal blinked. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
Ms. Porter sighed and shook her head. "I was asking you if you remembered anything about To Kill an Agrabahan Bird from the reading I assigned you yesterday, but I can see that your attention is lingering elsewhere right now." she then told the girl.
"I-I... I'm sorry, Ms. Porter," Mal sighed and frowned. "I'll try to pay more attention in class from now on."
"See that you do," Ms. Porter nodded at her newest student. "Save the daydreaming and creative sketching for Art Class with Mrs. Ryder."
"I-I will..." Mal nodded. "Sorry, ma'am, it won't happen again."
Ms. Porter soon went back to the front of the classroom, sighing to herself as she went to continue on with a lesson. She then decided to pair the students up into partners for a new assignment and decided to let Mal be with Jay and Carlos since she seemed to know them and decided not to overwhelm the girl with even more new faces. At least not yet as she wasn't a tough and strict teacher type, even if Mrs. Belfrey suggested that she should be in order to maintain a proper classroom filled with lazy and unimpressed teenagers.
"Dude, falling asleep in class?" Jay smirked. "Not very good to do on your first week at a new school."
"I wasn't asleep," Mal rolled her emerald eyes. "I was just thinking."
"About what?" Carlos smiled innocently.
Mal looked between them as they looked patient and confident. "Sorry, guys," she then said to them. "It's kinda personal and I was hoping to maybe talk to Evie about it. No offense of course... I just think I need to have a bit of girl talk."
"Racist!" Jay pouted firmly.
"WHAT?!" Mal gasped at him.
"You won't talk to us because we're not girls, so that makes you racist!" Jay glared at her.
"Jay, that would make her sexist since we're boys and she's a girl, not racist," Carlos rolled his eyes. "And I doubt that Mal would be either of those things since we had so much fun talking at lunch yesterday with Evie's little brother."
"Yeah, I'm not either, but I promise, guys, it's nothing personal." Mal said to them.
"Come now, whatever it is, we can have girl talk," Carlos reassured as he smiled innocently. "Get your dish on the latest gossip and grand advice, it's Girl Talk with Carlos de Vil," he then said with a smirk, trying to sound like a radio talk show host. "I'm listening~"
"Ugh," Mal groaned, but she laughed a little bit as she face-palmed him. "You two are just impossible."
"Yeah, but you like us since you're friends with Evie," Jay smirked as he folded his arms. "You know you love us."
Mal rolled her eyes and shook her head. "It's just a girl thing, okay?" she then said to them. "Let's just worry about the assignment until I see Evie again."
"All right... You win," Carlos sighed. "I guess there are just some things you can't share with a guy friend."
"Nope," Mal replied. "I promise though, it's nothing personal."
Jay and Carlos just shrugged. Eventually, Ms. Porter assigned the students to do research based on what they were reading in the book so far and just hoped that Jay would at least remember enough of the book to tell Mal about to let her catch up, but luckily, she had one of the school's top students Carlos in her group. Eventually, the bell rang and Mal went away to her locker and sighed as she had something ringing in her mind that wasn't the class bell. Also, what she didn't know was that Coraline and Ivy were keeping a close eye on her for Audrey and luckily for Mal and her own sake, she wasn't anywhere near Ben, though he was around her, in her mind and heart for that matter.
"Hey!" Evie beamed as she was suddenly right behind Mal.
"EEK!" Mal yelped and grabbed her heart, spinning on her heels with a slight glare. "Don't scare me like that!"
"Sorry~" Evie blushed. "I missed you in Ms. Greening's history class."
"Yeah, well, I missed you in Ms. Porter's English class," Mal replied before face-palming. "I have to do a group project based on the book and I just started school here."
"Well, at least you're in a group," Evie reassured. "Do you know the other kids in your group well?"
"Yeah, it's Jay and Carlos." Mal nodded.
"Oh... Well, you're in good hands with Carlos," Evie smiled warmly as Mal smiled back, feeling great to be talking with her since they seemed to become best friends. "Jay? Uh... Maybe not so much... He's not the best in educational classes, but Ms. Greening's history class is the class he did the best at achieving an A."
"How nice for him," Mal shrugged. "Uh... Listen... I was hoping I could talk to you about something."
"Is it that you still have my jacket from yesterday's incident in the girls' bathroom?" Evie smirked playfully.
"Huh? ...Oh. OHH!" Mal said before her eyes widened. "I'm sorry, Evie. I nearly forgot that I had that. I can give it to you tomorrow if you want."
"It's okay, take your time, I'm not mad or anything," Evie smiled reassuringly. "So, something on your mind?"
"Well... I just sorta kinda met someone new, but I... I just... Ugh..." Mal tried to explain, but she groaned as she felt frustrated in finding the right words.
"Calm down... Slow down..." Evie said, putting her hands on Mal's shoulders. "You can tell me."
"...I just can't around here," Mal said as she looked around. "...Especially since Audrey might be around."
"Oh, don't tell me that you're afraid of that pink princess." Evie rolled her eyes, though playful and not in a mean way.
"Well, no, not really, but I'd hate to imagine what she would do," Mal replied. "She keeps talking about how she can get whatever she wants because her mom's head of the PTA and on the city council."
"Mrs. Thornley might be on the city council, but my mother is still mayor," Evie smirked. "Hmm... Tell you what? We'll go see Ruby."
"Ruby?" Mal blinked. "Who's Ruby?"
"Oh, you'll see," Evie replied. "She's really cool."
Mal still looked curious, but then shrugged. "I'd rather just talk to you... No offense," she then said. "I could really use someone I know and can trust and... Well... This is really cheesy, but you feel like a sister to me."
"Aww... Mal, that is a little cheesy, but I'm flattered because I've always wanted a sister," Evie giggled and gave a small smile. "Hmm... I'll tell you what. Why don't you come over to my house this weekend and we can have a sleepover? You have had a sleepover before, have you?"
"Pfft! Of course I have, Evie," Mal rolled her eyes. "I just haven't had one in ages, so... I guess that would be cool. I'd just have to tell Mom of course."
"Yeah, you always gotta tell your mom," Evie nodded in understanding. "And even if ya don't, they'll figure out that you're just hiding something. I swear that my mother is a human lie detector sometimes."
"I figured she would be with being the mayor and whatnot." Mal smirked.
"So true," Evie smirked back. "We'll have some snacks and watch some Mickey's Creek."
"Ugh, I hear like every other kid talking about that show, but I have no idea what it is," Mal rolled her eyes. "What is it anyway?"
"Tell ya what, you wait until Friday or Saturday and I'll show you on Netflix so we can have some Netflix and chill and discuss it," Evie smirked. "I don't wanna spoil the surprise. Then we can talk about anything you want~"
"Thanks, Evie," Mal nodded. "I think I feel better already."
"I love to hear that," Evie beamed. "Hopefully the weekend comes soon. I swear, the first week of school is always eternal, so you must be exhausted."
"Yeah, I wanted it to be Friday last Saturday." Mal chuckled.
Both of the girls laughed before the bell rang and it was time for them to head off to their next class for the time being.
"Just remember, sleepover this weekend, you and me," Evie smiled. "We'll even stop by Sugar Rush Ice Cream Cafeteria."
"Ice cream is good." Mal nodded.
"Yep, it solves any world problem in the universe." Evie giggled.
Mal rolled her eyes to that, but in a playful way. She could tell though that no matter what was going to happen from now on in Auradon Heights, she would be able to find Evie in the space between and they would become best friends forever. She just wished she could open up her new and recent feelings, but it was hard to let them out somehow, especially with Audrey hounding her for even looking at Ben when she barely even knew him.
A/N: I'm saddened to say Jay reacting of Mal being "racist" for not wanting boys in her group is based on a personal experience in middle school when the only students left to join a group project were just a couple of boys... Seriously... Though as my mother always says "Men don't grow up, they just grow old".