Complicated Love

A/N: Sorry I've been MIA, I will keep updating it just might take a while

Age 13

(Inspired by the reviews of JEN-M and MusicWithinMe)

I didn't know what Evie was on about. Kissing wasn't that exciting. I didn't even know why she had even suggested the stupid game.

It was nearly midnight but dad was still waiting up for me. "How was the party?"

"Fine." I shrugged. Parties weren't really my thing but Evie wouldn't shut up about it until I went, if I hadn't, I would have never heard the end of it.

"Anything interesting happen?"

I paused. What did he know? How would he know? "Like?"

"Any alcohol?"

"We're thirteen."

"Any alcohol, Mal?"

I sighed. "No."

"Any boys?"

I hid a cringe. "It was the Gastons' party, it was mostly boys."

"Anything happen with them?"

"With the Gastons'? Never." Augh.

"With any boy, Mal."

I couldn't lie, not to him. The best I could do was stay silent.

"Mal?"

I still didn't answer.

"Mal?"

I caved. "It was just a kiss."

"What?!" If dad's hair could still light itself it would have turned red. "Who?"

"Nobody important."

"Mal?" I knew that tone, a warning.

"Jimmy Le Fou."

Now he was more confused than angry. "Le Fou? Really?"

I shrugged. "It was spin the broken bottle." The glare returned. "It was Evie's idea."

"Bed. Now. Young Lady." He pointed to my room.

"Really?"

"Now."

I wasn't scared of him; not like I had been with my mother but I knew when I was about to push him too far. "Night."

His gaze softened. "Night, little demon."

Three days later Jimmy Le Fou was found hanging by his underwear on the school flag pole. He refused to speak about how he got there.

Present

Jay grabbed Ben by the shoulders, steering him back down to the field. "Let's go, Ben. The whole team's waiting for you.

He nodded in a daze; his eyes still fixed on me. "Yeah."

I gave him a small wave. "Bye."

"What a victory. What a day for the Auradon Knights, finally winning back the trophy after so many years." A hesitant pause. "And a hug round of applause for that lovely performance by Auradon's very own Prince Ben."

Another round of cheers.

The only one not cheering was Audrey, she was holding hands with Chad but she didn't look happy.

"I feel sorry for Audrey." That was the only way I could really put it.

Evie didn't look convinced. "Really?"

"Yeah," I turned to face my friend. "I feel like if she were talented like you, and she knew how to sew and just be plain awesome, she wouldn't need a prince to make her feel better about herself."

"I guess I am really talented." Evie blushed.

"No crown or castle needed."

"Thanks, Mal."

After all the fighting, it felt good to slip into our old banter. Evie was my best friend and as much I wanted to get him off the Isle dad wouldn't want me to sacrifice my friendship to do so.

"And there he is, Jay, the most valuable player. How do you like that?"

We cheered and screamed for our friend. He deserved the award and he deserved the friends he'd made by joining the team.

Maybe Fairy Godmother was right about a few things.

Only a few.

"Mal, Mal, wait up."

I turned to see Ben jogging to catch up with me.

I put on my biggest smile. "Hey."

He caught up to me. "Hey."

"What's up?"

He rang his hands nervously. "Did you want to go on a date…with me?"

I stopped walking. It was too much to hope for to just go to the coronation with him. Apparently, I would have to play the happy girlfriend before it too. "Umm. Sure. Saturday?"

Ben nodded. "I'll pick you up at 11." He started to walk away.

"Wait," I called after him. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

Why did that laugh make my heart race even more than his smile did?

My smile suddenly died.

I'd never been on a date before.

How did one prepare for such a thing?

What did one wear?

There was only one person I could ask.

I mentally prepared myself for the squealing.

To her credit Evie didn't actually squeal when I found her with Doug. She just went into Evie mode.

"We can handle this." She took my arm and waved to Doug. "Bye."

Doug had a dreamy look on his face, no love spell required. "Bye." It looked like Evie had an admirer.

From the smile she returned she just might have liked him back. No castle, no title, just a boy who had been kind to her when everyone else expected the worst from her.

She didn't even bother to look in my small draw, heading for her own wardrobe.

Evie glanced over her shoulder as she flicked through her massive collection of clothes, it had only grown since arriving in Auradon. "You're lucky we're the same size."

I crossed my arms. "I can wear my own clothes, you know?"

"Absolutely not." She started pulling out outfits and throwing them on the bed. Every so often she would hold an outfit out between us. I knew she wasn't asking for my opinion; she was visualizing the outfit on me. That was how Evie's mind worked; give her a piece of fabric and she exactly what it could be made into, give her an outfit and she would show you the best way to wear it.

I took a seat on my bed. This was going to take a while.