Mal was daydreaming about running wild and getting into mischief with her core four. Handing out apples to all the kids of Auradon to make them let loose. She'd been having a lot of dreams like this. Desperately wanting to claw her way out of the restrictive princess box she was in. But now her dreams were crossing into daytime fantasys. The loud yelling and clicking of cameras in her face finally pulled her out of it. She blinked taking in her surroundings, a little disorientated.

The press was on her like a bunch of rabid pack animals. Where had they all come from. She heard invasive and inappropriate questions wizzing past her and couldn't figure out which one to focus on. All the while trying her best to smile. Mal recalled how embarrassing it was to have this scowling picture of her published in the Auradon News.

"Is your mother still a lizard?" Mal caught that question dead in the face. Before she could open her mouth to respond the crowd was parting for Ben to come through. She noticed he had a half eaten apple in his hand. Her dream flashed for a second then she focused on him coming to stand beside her.

Ben put his arm around her waist, more to secure her because she was feeling overwhelmed. He took charge, confidently taking care of the situation. "We will let you know if and when that particular situation changes."

The press got so excited that someone was actually answering their questions the energy seemed to ramp up. A particularly bold woman shoved her mic in his face and asked, "Did you ever think you'd be with a villain kid?"

Anger flashed in front of Ben's eyes but it wasn't noticeable. He was hurt for Mal, knowing she already felt like she had to change things despite his best efforts to show her he loved her just the way she is. And anger for himself that this woman had the audacity to ask such an inappropriate and rude question. That side won out as he commandingly shut her down, "We're done here."

Thankfully for both of them this time Fairy Godmother swooped in to their rescue! Ben pulled Mal in trying to create an appropriate looking intimate moment with her to reassure her everything was fine. He rubbed his hand down her arm soothingly. Then he leaned in to whisper in her ear, knowing the best way to calm her. "Just pretend we're all alone."

It worked, Ben got a genuine smile from her. She leaned up to whisper back. "What a one track mind you seem to be having lately your highness."

Mal didn't move back from where she had stepped into him so now both his arms were holding her and she placed her hands on his chest. He always seemed to know just the way to calm her down. Their flirtation was interrupted by Fairy Godmother shooing the crowd away. Ben and Mal had to rip their gazes away from each other. Both of them watched the crowd walk away with relief.

Ben started to lean down to kiss her but only got an inch before Fairy Godmother reminded him of her presence. "Mal, Ben."

"Fairy Godmother," they both nodded a thank you as she walked away.

Mal audibly let out her anxiety and Ben chuckled at her. "Don't pay any attention to them."

"Well, that's a lot easier said than done. Right?" Mal searched for any sign dealing with them was just as difficult for him and she wasn't a complete failure.

"I know, I know." Despite Mal's best efforts Ben could see the anxiety rippling off of her. That horribly familiar sensation of guilt was back, twisting his insides into a knot. He just wanted to see her smile and be happy. Ben just wanted to be with her. He got caught up in the thought. "You know, maybe we should do something. We should go somewhere, get away."

Mal was so quick to say yes but their bubble was burst quickly as Ben checked his watch. "I have a council meeting. I'm so late."

"That's okay," Mal didn't know what to say as she was getting emotional whiplash.

Ben leaned in to kiss her quick knowing he had to run, "We'll do it sometime." But before his lips could meet even her cheek she was pulled backwards by Evie. Now they were getting interrupted just kissing, great!

Evie was just as serious as Ben was with the reporters just a minute ago, "If we don't do a fitting for your gown right this minute, you'll be dancing in your bathrobe. Okay?"

At least then they'd get some skin to skin contact Mal thought sarcastically. She reached for him as Evie pulled her away but no such luck. Not even a hand squeeze goodbye was permitted.

Mal was completely uncomfortable in her dress for cotillion but at least Evie seemed happy with it. Evie was so excited about all the crazy events Mal had coming up but Mal just stared wistfully at her leather jacket hung up and forgotten on the wall.

Mal let it slip out without even thinking, "Evie? Do you ever think about what we'd be doing if we were back on the Isle right now?"

Evie chuckled, "Thats funny."

Suddenly Mal's thought was interrupted by the royal news coming on. And once again it was plastered with her and Ben. Mal had to find some humor in the footage from Agrabah. It wasn't her worst performance. Snow White reported, "Six months ago, no one thought King Ben and his girlfriend from the wrong side of the bridge would last."

"Yeah, no kidding," Mal grumbled. Mal continued to watch herself fluster more and more as the footage went on until she remembered she still had more studying to do. She ran over and grabbed her spell book from under the bed for speed reading. She wasn't even trying to hide it from Evie anymore.

Evie looked up from her schedule to watch Mal in disappointment, "I know Mal's secrets of fitting in and Ben wouldn't like it one bit."

Mal ignored Evie and kept flipping through the book. That was the last thing she wanted to hear. But Evie persisted, "Haven't you guys had enough secrets between the two of you already?"

Mal tried to explain herself, "Evie you remember what I was like before I started using my spell book. I mean, I was a complete disaster."

Evie sighed, "Well personally, as your best friend, I strongly believe that this spell book-" Evie leaned over and took the spell boom from Mal's lap "it belongs in the museum with my mirror. Don't give me the face. Put the pout away. You know I'm right."

Mal burst, "You don't ever miss running wild and breaking all the rules?"

Evie scoffed thinking Mal was kidding, "Like stealing and lying an fighting?!"

"Yeah," Mal tried and failed not to sound too excited at the prospect.

"No!"

"What?"

"Why would we? M come here. Look at where we are. We're in Auradon. And we're Auradon girls now." Evie was so excited.

Mal just stared at herself on the screen. Evie's words and the image combined only had her thoughts swimming more. She was so fake. This wasn't her.

"See this is the land of opportunity. We can be whatever we want to be here. So please, let's just leave the past in the past, okay?"

Mal spent the rest of the day wandering around on autopilot. Jay, Evie, and Carlos chatted away about cotillion in between classes but Mal was trapped in her own head. She couldn't stop thinking about her dreams. She felt so suffocated by her own life. It had been building for months but the reality was just hitting her. She tried so hard to change for Ben and she was getting better at it. But she needed to find some way to let lose. Everything was way too constricting, from her inability to have alone time with her boyfriend to the facade she had to put on to fit in with the royals to the clothes she wore.

Jane jarred her out of her train of thought, harassing her for the umpteenth time about cotillion. Mal tried to get out of it, she wasn't in the headspace to deal with whatever this was. "Jane, I would love to. I just have to get to class."

Jane rushed out, stopping Mal from her escape. "You know, just nod if you like it."

Damnit, "okay."

Jane prattled off a bunch of words that didn't even compute as English to Mal. Mal again tried to make it stop. "Honestly Jane whatever y-" Jane cut her off again continuing her ranting.

Mal was so overcome with emotions she felt a surge of magic and could feel her eyes change colors. She closed them trying to calm down and recalled the last thing Jane said. "I say pen toppers." Hopefully that would suffice.

It did, "Yeah. You won't regret it!"

Suddenly Lonnie and Evie were back. Lonnie was gushing, "I can hardly wait to see what your wedding will look like."

Mal was still reeling from fighting her emotions in front of Jane it took her a second to process what Lonnie had said. Then she was in full on panic mode. She couldn't hold it down anymore, "Wait, what?!"

"The royal cotillion is like getting engaged to be engaged to be engaged."

"I knew it!" Evie gushed.

"Everyone knows it," Lonnie said as if it were obvious.

Mal could barely get her life together now, she couldn't even imagine being forced to do this for the rest of her life. She couldn't help it the words just started spilling out like word vomit, "I didn't know it! How come nobody told me that? Is my entire life just planned out in front of me-"

Mal was cut off because suddenly Ben was at her side. "Hi Mal."

All the other girls, so obviously daydreaming about marriage, dreamily greeted Ben. Mal looked over at them angrily hoping they wouldn't say anything about her freak out. Hopefully he didn't hear her.

Ben looked down at Mal and leaned in for a kiss. He'd been doing some daydreaming of his own and was completely missing the signs that Mal was distressed.

Jane pulled him away before he could make contact. Mal was secretly thankful to have a quiet moment to calm herself down. They seemed to be caught up in cotillion planning so Mal started off to class.

Ben looked up disappointed once again he didn't get to give her a proper goodbye. He called after her, "See you later."

After lunch Mal was rushing to her locker to switch books when Ben popped up and surprised her. She was so nervous, hoping he didn't spot her spell book.

"I have a little surprise for you."

"Again. Wow. That's like every day now," Mal let slip out. She didn't mean to sound ungrateful. It was all just too much attention on her and she already had more than enough of that.

Ben decided to joke with her. She seemed so tense, "Every other day. The even days. Because you're even more perfect then I thought."

Mal just let out a forced laugh. She knew he was making fun of Evie and Doug but she was way too focused on him spotting her spell book and trying to act natural. "That is me, I am perfect." She let out sarcastically.

Ben got a little more serious with her. He really wanted her to know the meaning behind these gifts. That he appreciated all she was doing and that she meant a lot to him. "Come on, let me spoil you. You didn't have a lot growing up."

That put her off the wrong way. She couldn't take Ben's pity right now on top of everything else. She didn't need one more thing highlighting their differences, "We managed."

Mal reached in for her books and that's when Ben noticed the spell book. "Hey, didn't you donate that to the museum."

Mal shut her locker and tried to act casual, "Is that still in there?"

She wasn't proud but she reached up to sweep his hair hoping to distract him, "Um I gotta get to class. I really don't wanna be late."

Ben wasn't letting another thing spoil their short moments together not this time. "No, you come this way."

He couldn't wait to show her the surprise he had for her. Ben knew she was feeling cooped up so he got her a moped. Mal was looking up at Ben in confusion so she didn't notice until the very last second. "First off ta da-"

Mal was shocked when her eyes landed on it, "What?!" Her hands flew up to her mouth and Ben chuckled pleased.

"You like it?"

"Ben! Does an Ogre like cheese puffs? This is amazing." She went over to check it out.

"It's purple," Ben hopped the subtle message was clear, that he loved her for her.

Mal felt guilty, "I didn't get you anything."

Ben leaned back against the lockers, "You're taking me on a picnic with all my favorite foods, remember?"

Mal touched his arm flirting, "No that's Thursday."

Ben laughed, "It is Thursday."

Mal blinked at him confused, "No it's not."

"Yes it is." Ben grabbed his phone out to show her.

"No it isn't."

"It is."

"I knew that," Mal tried to recover. She had been so in her own head she completely forgot. More proof she didn't deserve Ben. He had been doing all these nice things for her and she couldn't even remember the one thing she promised him to try to alleviate his stress. Mal felt so self centered.

Ben could see the signs of her starting to panic and desperately didn't want things to turn this way again. He tried to act casual, "I mean, if you don't have it, it's fine."

"No, no, no," Mal rushed out. She switched into lying mode so fast it was like she was slipping on flip flops. "I was fully messing with you. I knew it was Thursday. I have one more thing to bake and then I am all yours."

"What about class?"

"She multitasks," Mal flipped her hair over her shoulder trying to remain casual until she could run off to get this date set up for him.

"She dabbles," Ben joked as she skipped off. "You're the best."

"That's me," Mal called back without even a glance back at him.