After going in the shower I quickly got changed into my sleep clothes so I wouldn't get any make-up on the clothes that I would be wearing on mine and Ben's date evening. I quickly used magic to quickly dry my hair; Evie then quickly brushed it and straightened it - even though I protested that I could do it myself, she said that she wanted to do this for me as we hadn't had girl time in such a long time.
"I thought this dress would be nice" I heard Evie say as I looked at myself in the mirror again. When I turned around I smiled at the dress that she had made for me; it was a fully lined dark purple skater dress with a plunging neck line and tulle underskirt. It had thin straps that would go over my shoulders; and Evie had sown pieces of dark purple material to look like dragon wings. It made me remember my first ever date with Ben, the one where he was under the premise of a love spell and with me starting to fall in love with him. I then started to think about how things had changed between me and Ben since then; and I wouldn't change any of it for the world. Yes we are two people that normally shouldn't go well together; and at times I still couldn't believe it - but we had found each other.
"I love it E!" I exclaimed as I walked up to her. "However-" I began as I noted the excited glint in her eyes.
"Yes?" she replied eagerly.
"Why do I get the feeling that you know where me and Ben are going tonight?" I asked and I watched as something changed in her eyes.
"That would be because I do" she confirmed; I then quickly opened my mouth to question what she knew but she quickly held her left index finger up to stop me. "And before you ask I can't tell you" she stated cutting me off. "I am sworn to secrecy" she advised. "Ben would kill me if I told you" she urged.
"Really E?" I whined. "I'll not let on that I know" I stated. "I'll act surprised" I added. Yes part of me didn't want to ruin the surprise but the excitement was becoming too much to bear; Ben knew that this would be eating away at me and he was probably revealing in it.
"Nope" she laughed. "You are going to need to be patient M" she teased. "Ben wants to surprise you" she reminded me. "That is all I am going to say" she added.
"I don't know why he keeps feeling the need to surprise me" I sighed as my mind started to wander on Ben. "He is enough" I added. "He always has been; and he always will be" I sighed as a smile spread across my lips.
"Aww!" she cooed. "Our Mally is in love" she teased again.
"Does it really come as a surprise Evie?" I chuckled as I looked up at her. "Me and Ben have been together for three and a half years now" I reminded her.
"Yes" she nodded. "Time flies" she noted.
"Yes" I said as my mind wandered back on to Ben; I started to wonder what he was doing but I then heard him humming to himself in a nearby bathroom with made me grin.
"Auradon to Mal!" I heard Evie say as she waved her right hand into front of my face which broke me out of my blissful daydream.
"Hmm" I answered as I looked back at her.
"Come on" she grinned. "Let's get your make up done so we can get you dressed" she smiled.
"You don't need to do this you know" I offered.
"I know" she answered. "But I like to" she clarified. "It's nice to have some time just us; it's like what it used to be like in our dorm room" she smiled as she started to apply make-up to my face.
"Yeah" I answered. "I do miss it just being us; that seems like a life time ago" I noted. I still couldn't get over how much had happened since I packed my things in my dorm and moved in with Ben. It felt like it should be at least a year ago however it was only a matter of weeks ago; I just hoped that time wasn't go too quick for me and Ben - as we had so much to share and enjoy.
"I know" she replied. "But now that we have left college our lives have had to change" she stated. "More yours than mine" she smiled at me. "But we will always have each other's backs" she finished.
"Of course E" I smiled at her. "I love you" I added.
"I love you too" she answered fondly before we fell into silence as Evie continued to apply make-up on my face. As I let her do this I couldn't help but feel settled at having some girl time with Evie; yes she may have been around for the tour and the trial but this time together was different. We could be ourselves like this; not the King's consort or Dame Grimhilde - and sometimes it was nice to have time like this, with my sister.
After Evie finished my usual make-up ensemble she then helped me slowly and very carefully helped me put my dress on. Even though I protested she brushed my hair and straightened it so it hung loose down my back and around my shoulders. Just I pushed my feet into my dark purple flats me and Evie heard a knock on mine and Ben's bedroom door and we smiled at each other before I quickly walked up to the door and opened it.
When my eye's landed on Ben I took a deep breath to steady myself; he was currently wearing his dark blue, and bright white and yellow Auradon Prep letterman jacket which surprised me as he hadn't worn this since we finished our exams. He was also wearing a dark blue long sleeved shirt that was buttoned up all the way apart from the top two buttons. He was also wearing a white pair of trousers and a black belt and pair of shoes.
"Wow!" He gasped as his eyes landed on me.
"What?" I questioned innocently.
"For the first time, I understand the difference between pretty and beautiful" he said lovingly with a half-smile that made my start to stomach flutter.
"You have said that before I believe Benny" I smiled at him.
"Yes" he nodded. "And even though it isn't really the first time it felt fitting" he advised.
"How so?" I asked coyly as I heard Evie giggle behind me as she collected her things together.
"As every time I see you I fall in love with you all over again" he admitted and I watched as his cheeks started to turn a lovely shade of pink. I don't know why Ben was getting so embarrassed for – he told me this all the time. Then it hit me; Evie!
"Aww Benny" I cooed as I walked up to him and I wrapped my arms around his waist. "I love you" I added as I looked up lovingly at him.
"I love you too" he answered as he snaked his arms around my waist.
"I'll leave you two to it" I heard Evie say behind us causing us both to turn around and look at her.
"Ok" Ben replied before pressing a kiss against the top of my head.
"Thanks E" I smiled at her as me and Ben both stepped into the room, but not out of each other's arms.
"You're welcome M" she replied. "Ben" she winked at him and they both chuckled. I did feel the need to question them but I quickly dismissed this – as I knew they weren't going to tell me anyway. "I hope you both have a lovely evening" she said as she picked up the bag with all the things she had just packed up.
"Thanks Evie" I replied.
"Yeah" Ben stated. "Thank you" he added and I watched as Evie smiled at the pair of us before she quickly left the room, closing the door behind her.
"Ben?" I said as I looked up at him.
"Yes?" he replied as he looked down at me.
"I have no idea what we are doing this evening-" I started. "But I am very much looking forward to this evening" I smiled.
"Good" he answered smugly.
"However-" I started again.
"Yes?" he repeated.
"Ben we have just spent the weekend alone" I reminded him as I removed my arms from his waist and I wrapped them around his neck.
"I know" he answered. "But I want to sweep you off your feet" he flirted.
"I see" I noted. "Well I am never going to turn down time with you" I muttered as I brushed my nose against his and he grinned at me.
"I can't wait to see what you think of what I have planned" he added.
"I can't wait either" I advised.
"Ready?" he questioned eagerly and I saw his eyes light up.
"Ready" I nodded and we untangled our arms from each other. Ben then offered me his right arm and I couldn't help but smile as I linked the arm. We then walked out of the room; both very eager to see where this evening was going to take us.
When we into the main hall I smiled as Cogsworth was stood there with mine and Ben's scooter helmets.
"I am guessing that we are taking your scooter" I smiled as we both took them from Cogsworth, who grinned at us both.
"Yes" Ben nodded. "Is that ok?" he questioned.
"Yes" I nodded back. "Just gives me another reason to cuddle into you" I winked at him.
"Hmm" he purred as we started to walk out of Auradon Castle. "Yes" he confirmed as I saw his dark blue scooter waiting for us. In all honesty we hadn't rode on his scooter for such a long time; I loved that Ben was stripping everything back. It felt good to go back to the roots of our relationship; just to strip back and go to the basics just felt like we were building upon an already solid foundation for our relationship.
"If I am honest-" I began.
"Yes?" he chuckled.
"I think you are getting us to travel on your scooter on purpose" I teased. "As I have to hold on to you" I added as a large smug grin spread across my face.
"Darn!" he teased as we dropped our arms down as we stood next to his scooter. "You got me" he laughed as he quickly climbed onto his scooter before he pulled his dark purple helmet on. I then chuckled as I pulled my dark purple helmet on before climbing on behind him; I then wrapped my arms around him as he kicked his scooter into life. As we started to pull away I then smiled that again we were having some time alone together; as now we were back home from the tour our time alone was probably going to be limited when we returned from our date.
"We are here?" I questioned as Ben pulled onto the dirt track road heading towards Enchanted lake.
"Yes" he answered as we both climbed off the scooter; as we both pulled the helmets off I heard the noise of a vehicle and when I turned around I noticed that Dawson pulled up next to us in a black van. It looked like he was here to pick up Ben's scooter; which started to confuse me even more – but I pushed this away as I knew that I was close to finding out what me and Ben were doing this evening.
"I see" I nodded.
"What?" he questioned.
"Everything just feels so familiar" I answered as we handed Dawson our helmets so he could put them on the van before he collected the scooter. "To our first date" I continued.
"Yes" he smiled. "Yes it does" he nodded as he slid his right hand into my left and he started to lead me down the dirt track – with both of us with eager looks on our faces for our evening alone from the world.
"So Mal-" Ben began as we started walking over the bridge that lead to the Enchanted Lake.
"Yes Ben?" I replied.
"Tell me something that you have never told anyone?" he advised and when I looked up at him I threw him a playful look. I watched as he winked at me and I couldn't stop a grin spread across my face. My mind then went back to our first date again and I remembered what I had told him; and if my Beast wanted to play – then I was more than willing to oblige.
"Well my middle name is Bertha" I said innocently as I turned and continued to make my way over the bridge.
"Bertha?" I heard him ask; and I stood still and placed my hands on the rope and turned my head to the left and looked at him.
"Yes" I nodded. "Bertha" I added as I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at my middle name. "Just my mom doing what she does best. Being really, really evil. Mal Bertha." I explained just like I did over three years ago.
"Mine's Florian" Ben advised as he slowly looked up and down my face.
"Florian?" I questioned innocently as I pulled one brow up at him.
"Yeah" he smirked at me.
"How princely" I chuckled. "Oh, that's almost worse" I stated as I pursed my lips together so I didn't laugh out loud.
"I mean, you know, it's better than Bertha" he teased.
"But it's still not..." I answered back before we both started to laugh at each other's playfulness.
"It would appear that some things don't change" he smiled.
"No" I agreed. "And I wouldn't change a thing" I smiled happily up at my boyfriend.
"Me neither" he replied.
"Well apart from one thing-" I stated.
"Which is?" he enquired.
"The longer that we are together-" I said. "The more I fall in love with you" I admitted with a warm and loving smile.
"Oh Mal!" he gasped as we both turned and faced each other. I then felt Ben slid his hands onto my hips as his lips pressed against mine. I slowly slid my arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss and his tongue slid against mine. We moaned against each other's mouths as our arms tightened around each other; which kept our bodies pressed tightly against each other's. When the need to breath came we broke away and rested our foreheads against each other's as we started to work on calming our breathing down.
"I see" I panted.
"Yes" he breathed.
"You never have been able to resist me" I flirted as he brushed his nose against mine; and he cupped the left hand side of my face with his right hand.
"Nah!" he chuckled. "But it's ok as I know you are the same" he shrugged.
"Of course" I answered. "My Beast is very sexy" I purred. "It would be very wrong" I flirted as I slowly looked up and down his face. "To resist him" I muttered.
"Hmm" he hummed before I pressed a brief kiss against his lips.
"I think we are getting side tracked" I laughed when I pulled away.
"Yes" he chuckled back. "Let's get to the lake my love; I can't wait to see your reaction" he grinned.
"Then lead the way my love" I replied lovingly as we untangled ourselves from each other before we continued our slow and very scenic walk towards the Enchanted Lake. The forest was unusually quiet; it felt like it knew that me and Ben needed this quiet time away from the world. However the closer we got to the Enchanted Lake the more noise started to ebb into our world; I knew that we were getting closer as I could hear the lake and waterfall work together in the distance in a soothing harmony. I could also hear birds chirping in the distance; while other wildlife animals continued to move about and do their usual everyday business. The wild flowers were mixed in a bright assortment and were in full bloom; with the bright grass and leaves were reaching out to the warm Auradon sun. I was so lost in taking in the view of the warm and welcoming forest that when we abruptly stood still my eyes quickly landed on mine and Ben's spot at the Enchanted Lake and I gasped at the sight before me.
When we had arrived at the Enchanted Lake I had expected to see just the usual stone pillar and brick work platform that me and Ben sat on; however just before the brick work there was a large dark blue tent with gold stripes on it. Multi-coloured fairy lights was cascading from the entrance of the tent to along the top of the stone pillars. In front of the tent there was a picnic blanket and closed large picnic basket on it next to two large lanterns, which currently told me we probably would be staying here longer than I initially thought.
"Ben" I muttered as he started to lead me towards the evening that he had planned. "What is all of this?" I questioned as I continued to take in the sight before me.
"Well this is your surprise" he smiled.
"Why the tent?" I asked.
"We are staying here tonight" he advised as we stood to the left hand side of the back of the tent.
"Really?" I replied. Even though we had just spent the weekend together: I couldn't wait for it to just be me and Ben once more.
"Yes" he nodded.
"But I don't have any of my things" I stated.
"Well I already have that covered" he replied as I threw him a confused look before we grinned at each other.
"Evie" he both said together before we both started laughing.
"Ben this is really lovely" I said as we started to slowly walk towards the front of the tent. "But-" I added.
"Yes?" He prompted.
"What is all this in aid of?" I enquired.
"I wanted to do something nice for you" he advised. "To say thank you" he continued.
"For what?" I questioned in confusion as we stood at the start of the tent where the front of the tent was still hidden from my eye line.
"For being there for me" he replied.
"Ben you don't need to thank me for that" I said as I looked up at him. I didn't want Ben to think that he had to thank me for things like this; he had taught me that when you are in a relationship that we were there for each other. I did this because I loved Ben; not because of all the things he could give me. "That is what I am for" I reminded him. "But I do appreciate this nevertheless" I added as we went to walk towards our picnic; however when my eyes caught some blood on the side of the tent on one of the gold stripes I started to fall into a panic.
"Ben stop!" I exclaimed as I stood still which also made Ben come to an abrupt stop. "Someone is here" I advised quickly.
"What?" He questioned in confusion. "There can't be" he stated as he looked down at it. "What makes you think that?" He questioned.
"Someone is bleeding" I advised and I watched as Ben looked down at it.
"Darn" he sighed. "I forgot about that" he added as he looked at me and pursed his lips together.
"What?" I asked.
"That's my blood Mal" he explained and I threw him a confused look.
"This is where I hurt myself" he stated. "The hike that me and my father came on was to start setting this up" he reminded me.
"Oh" I muttered in realisation. "I see" I noted. "Where did you hurt yourself?" I asked.
"There" he nodded to the right; and when I looked down I saw that there was blood on a nearby tree stump. "I had to stand on that to help put up the tent" he stated. "And I slipped" he gulped.
"Oh Benny!" I gasped; and I dropped his hand and I wrapped my arms around his waist. "I hate the fact that you got hurt" I said sadly.
"It's ok" he dismissed. "Doctor Dragon sorted me out" he winked at me.
"Did she now?" I sang as a smirk spread across my face. "I will have to say thank you" I said mock seriously.
"Yeah" he nodded. "If she has time" he added. "She's very busy you see" he chuckled as he smiled down at me before we dropped our arms from each other.
"Ok" I nodded as we walked around the front of the tent and I smiled. In the tent Adam and Ben had split the large two man tent in two so one was a living area and the other was a sleeping area. In the living area there was a black folded up table already set up with two dark blue blow up chairs in it, with lighting already hung up for us. In the bedroom however there was a large double dark blue blow up mattress with four medium sized pillows on it. And at the bottom of the bed there were two sleeping bags; which me and Ben would connect together later on.
"What are you thinking about?" I heard Ben say.
"I'm thinking that I don't know what I did to deserve you" I admitted as I looked up at him. "You spoil me far too much" I added.
"Nah!" He dismissed as he pulled a funny face at me which caused me to giggle. "It's my job to spoil you" he urged. "So suck it up" he winked at me as he stuck his tongue out at me. "There will be times when we can't do things like this all the time" he reminded me as he sighed. "And I want to make sure when we have the opportunities to have time together like this that we take it" he finished happily.
"Yes" I nodded. "I agree with that" I added as we smiled at each other.
"Let's have something to eat" he laughed as he quickly walked up to the picnic blanket and he quickly threw himself down onto the blanket and lay on his right hand side. I couldn't help chuckle at how playful he was as I slowly sat down in front of him.
"What?" He asked as he interlocked his fingers together as he looked up at me.
"You never change" I remarked.
"How?" He asked in confusion.
"You did that on our first date as well-" I started to explain. "Eagerly threw yourself down" I reminded him.
"Well you should know me by now" he grinned at me.
"Oh I do Ben" I chuckled. "I think you will find that I know you very well" I winked at him.
"I see" he noted innocently. "Well I think I might need to start keeping you on your toes?" He teased.
"Nah!" I said as I pulled a funny face at him. "You do that still as well" I replied before we smiled at each other. I then watched as Ben bent over slightly and he opened the picnic basket and he started to pull out our food.
"It's not a date unless we have strawberries" he teased as he pulled out a large Tupperware box full of strawberries and he placed it between us both, causing me to giggle at him. "Donuts" he added as he mirrored his actions and set them down next to the strawberries.
"Hmmm" I hummed as I smiled at the running joke that me and Ben had with donuts.
"Sandwiches" he said as he pulled out one box of sandwiches before he pulled out another box and set it down with the rest. "There is other food in there but I guess we can leave them for later" he suggested as he sat up properly and crossed his legs.
"Yeah" I replied.
"Champagne?" He questioned as he gestured to the bottle that was already waiting in the wine cooler with two glasses.
"Yes please?" I smiled and I watched as he picked up the bottle and quickly uncorked it with a loud pop. He then picked up the nearest glass and he poured the Champagne in until it filled half off the glass before he offered me the glass.
"Thank you" I answered as I took the glass from him.
"You're welcome" he replied as he quickly poured himself a glass of Champagne before putting the bottle back into its cooler. "To us?" He smiled as he held his glass up.
"To us" I repeated as we clinked our glasses together before we both took a drink. I then smiled at my Bennybear; he had obviously had put a lot of time and planning into this evening. And this was something that I was never ever going to take for granted; and I would make sure that he always knew this.