After the small fiasco regarding Mal's grand entrance, her old friends believed it was best to wait until detention to speak with her. While they were thrilled to see her again, the last thing any of them wanted was to suffer a worse punishment for their excitement. Although she cared deeply for her friends, Mal was temporarily distracted by the thought of reuniting with her 'prince'. Speaking of which . . .
"I thought you said I wouldn't recognize you?"
Smiling at the familiar voice, Mal turned around to see Ben waiting in the hallway outside of their homeroom. "I thought you wouldn't," she admitted as he walked toward her. "Looks like I was wrong about you."
"You could say that again," Ben teased as they began walking together, not noticing the attention they were drawing. "So why did you move here? For your parents' job?"
"The three of us have friends and family here, but Dad needed to go somewhere else for the company he works with," Mal informed as she gazed around at the elaborately decorated school. "Mom can't walk without some sort of assistance, so each move was hard for her. Dad convinced the company's owners to let him stay permanently stationed here in Auradon, where a friend can help Mom if Dad and I aren't around."
"So you lived in Auradon when you were younger," Ben deduced. "How come I don't remember seeing you as a kid?"
"I went to Dragon Hall instead of Auradon Elementary or Junior High," Mal answered with a shrug. "I'm sure you already know that some students here have parents with a criminal history. Dragon Hall was meant for those students, but it was forced to shut down due to lack of funding. That's why Jay, Evie, Carlos and a few others suddenly transferred to Auradon High. I moved before that happened."
"I know Jay's happy you're back," Ben commented, pausing when giving a random classmate a high-five in greeting. "He says you two were close."
"We all were," Mal corrected while taking a second glance at her school schedule. "Our old classmates gave us the nickname 'Core Four' because we were so inseparable. Even if you hadn't heard of us, I'm sure you heard of the 'Sea Three'."
"Uma Facilier, Harry Hook, and Gil Playfair," Ben listed off automatically. "Gil's on the Tourney team and Harry is on the ROAR team. Because of an incident, Uma was banned from participating in any clubs or sports team. The only time I see them apart is when the boys are involved in their sports team."
"Uma is the talented cousin I mentioned before," Mal revealed, though it wasn't much of a secret. "She told me about being banned, but didn't say what for. When whatever happened, she took partial fall for Harry so he could stay on the ROAR team."
During their discussion, the two had reached the lobby, where activity sign-up sheets were posted. Ben gestured to the sheet for the winter musical. "I bet you can't wait to sign up for that now," he teased. "With your voice, you'll definitely get the lead role."
Mal rolled her eyes at his playful behavior. "I'm not signing up for anything yet. At least, not until I had time to catch up with Evie, Carlos, and the others." She gave Ben a sly smirk. "But if you signed up, I would consider coming to the show."
Chuckling at the thought of signing up, Ben claimed, "With my busy practice schedule, it would be impossible for me to consider even trying out."
As though it was magic, Audrey suddenly appeared from behind the column that contained the sign-up sheets. "What's impossible, Ben?" she wondered all too sweetly. "I wouldn't think 'impossible' is in your vocabulary."
Sparing a glance at Mal, Audrey commented, "It's nice of you to show our new classmate around. But with all the fuss she caused earlier, I'm sure someone else could have for you."
Raising a curious eyebrow when no comment was given, Audrey stepped in front of the dup to sign her name with a flourish. In fact, her signature nearly took up the entire sign-up sheet.
When she turned back around, Audrey feigned a look of innocence. "Were you going to sign up for a supporting role?" she questioned carefully. "Chad Charming and I usually star in all of the school's productions while Carlos creates all of our dance routines. It would be nice to give someone else a chance at the lead, but Chad doesn't like taking second place to anyone."
Taking a quick glance around her, Audrey quietly suggested, "If I were you two, I'd wait until it was almost too late to audition for the lead roles, just so no one can try to interfere."
Before she could give them a chance to response, Audrey suddenly walked off like the conversation never took place.
"That was weird," Ben commented with a scrunched nose.
"No," Mal argued with a knowing look in her eyes. "That was a warning."
During the next class period, Mal sat at a station in the chemistry lab next to her cousin Uma, but across the table from Audrey. The students around them wore lab coats as they busily set up equipment for their experiments. The teacher wrote equations on the chalkboard to help explain the science behind each experiment.
Through the test-tubes and weird scientific tools, Audrey gave Mal a small smile as she wondered curiously, "So, how do you know Ben Adams?"
"Met him briefly over winter break," Mal answered bluntly, her full attention on her sketch instead of the teacher's boring lecture. "We visited the same resort for similar reasons, a family member going to a conference for their jobs; his grandfather and my dad and uncles."
"If I had known Ben was going to be there, I would have gone with you instead of visiting Dad," Uma commented as she blatantly ignored the lesson. "I could have introduced you. Maybe I could have convinced Grandpa and Dad to let little CeCe join us."
"Oh!" Audrey exclaimed with slight surprise. "I forgot already, you two are family, right?"
"My dad is her great-uncle," Mal answered.
"And my grandpa is her uncle," Uma further described with a careless shrug. "My grandpa has custody over me because my mother's dead and my dad has a criminal history. It's okay though. Grandpa lets me see Dad and my half-sister whenever I want."
"And he lets Celia stay with you guys whenever possible," Mal reminded knowingly. "It seems like every family event I see Celia clinging to you like a lost puppy, not that I could blame her since no one else is her family. Mom and Dad were really surprised that Uncle treats her like a grand-daughter."
"Why would they be?" Audrey interrogated with a slight tilt of her head. "After all, your mother treated my mother like a daughter all those years ago. She knows best that you don't need to share blood to be a family."
Quickly raising her head at those words, Mal couldn't help the mixture of surprise and fear in her eyes. "How do you—"
"Mom told me before I became a freshman," Audrey informed like it was no big deal. "She hoped I would meet you then, but she didn't realize you weren't attending Auradon High. Apparently, someone wrote to her about your mom having a daughter the same age as me. Mom has been waiting forever to meet you."
Snarling her nose in confusion, Mal began to say something, until she suddenly felt someone standing behind her.
"I know you are eager to make new friends on your first day, but do so between classes, not during," the teacher instructed. Her stern glare softened as she took in Mal's drawing: a wicked enchantress wearing a magnificent crown while holding a one-of-a-kind scepter.
"Impressive," the teacher sincerely complimented. "You should sign up for the Art Relay next week. No matter, please refrain yourself from drawing during my lectures, that includes making portraits of Miss Rose or any other classmates."
Mal blushed from embarrassment while the other two leaned over to see the picture for themselves. They had to admit . . .
Audrey looked good as the 'Queen of Mean'.
Ben was strolling through the lobby on the way to his next class when he caught sight of the musical audition sign-up sheet. His steps slowed.
It was crazy. He knew it was crazy, but he couldn't seem to stop thinking about the musical. He stood still, almost hypnotized by the piece of paper. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice Chad Charming hanging out nearby with a couple of the Drama Club kids.
Chad's eyes narrowed suspiciously. When Ben finally moved on, Chad ran up to the sheet. He just had to make sure . . .
At that moment, Audrey and Carlos walked down the hallway together. Chad rushed up to them, breathless. "Ben Adams was looking at our audition list!" he reported.
"So?" Audrey questioned with a careless shrug. "He was probably checking to see if the new girl signed up. She was looking at the list when they were together this morning."
"Do you think she will?" Chad practically demanded instead of asked. "The last thing I want is to be paired up with someone inexperienced. It's already bad enough that I'm partnered with you."
"Says the guy that can barely hold a tune and forgets his left from his right," Carlos retorted bitterly.
"Carlos," Audrey chided with a soft scowl. "Don't. Arguing with Chad is the last thing you need, even if it's for me. You don't want to rile up Dude."
Exhaling to rid himself of his anger, Carlos stubbornly informed, "Mal is an incredible singer. You would be lucky to be paired with her. Meanwhile, Audrey is unlucky to be paired with a selfish jerk like you."
Brushing past the blonde hair teen, Carlos stormed off with Audrey following close behind him. Chad watched them walk off as a plan came to mind.
Mal couldn't participate in the musical if she was already busy with another club.
