The four VKs and Ben sat stiffly in his office, unable to meet each other's eyes, two days after Cotillion.
"We have to work this out," Ben broke the silence finally, looking up. The VKs looked up reluctantly. They knew he was right, but it was easier said than done. "I promised you, didn't I? At Cotillion. But we all need to chip in."
Mal looked down again. Evie sighed and stared up at the ceiling. Carlos coughed and went back to stroking Dude. Jay fiddled with his beanie. But Ben knew them well enough to tell that this was their way of saying that they agreed to something hard to accomplish.
Deciding that it was better if he did most of the talking, Ben spoke again. "It's going to be really hard. But we have to do it. It's just like bringing VKs to Auradon – it takes determination, it's difficult and a lot of the time you just want to give up. But it's all worth it in the end."
Evie, Carlos, Mal, and Jay were starting to nod, thinking of ordeals they had dealt with in the past. He swallowed, thinking of the Isle. He'd spent all of five days there and he had barely survived – he couldn't ever imagine growing up there. Not like they had done. It made Ben admire the VKs all the more.
"So, are you in?" Ben knew he didn't even have to ask the question, but he wanted to hear them say it out loud.
Evie raised an eyebrow. Mal and Jay rolled their eyes, and Carlos shrugged teasingly. They met each other's eyes, connecting in their silent, close-bonded way.
"We're in," they said.
Sorry for the short chapter! They will get longer as the story goes on, but I wanted a scene where the VKs and Ben sort of connected and promised each other that they'd do it, so here it is. I'm new to Fanfiction Net, so please review!