R…What if 18

An unexpected result.

The audio video class Carlos was taking was connected to the schools web site. And the project of the month with the highest grade, was posted on the web site. Carlos worked feverishly photographing the drawings Mal had worked hard for him. HE called the girls into his room when he was done. He had finally chosen a song that was close enough to represent home, so he was done and ready to show it off. The girls plopped down on the bed while Jay sat at the table, and Carlos put on the DVD.

After the minute long video finished, Mal and Evie clapped. Jay, slapped Carlos on the back. "Great job pal. Felt like home."
"Ben had wanted to send a photographer over to help." Carlos admitted. "But I told him there was no way that was a good idea."
"I told him the same thing." Mal said, the other two nodded in agreement. Mal had to laugh, Ben really had wanted to help, but at least everyone agreed with her. "That nut, he tried all of us."
"He does like to help." Jay agreed.

"Hey, guys, just so you know if I get the highest grade, this will be up on the school's website."
"Yeah, we know." Jay teased. "It's all good. I have been thinking…about our agreement to not talk about home. I think maybe it's time to…talk about it."
"I was thinking the same thing." Evie and Carlos agreed.

"I guess it's time to let them in on the fun we had." Mal consented with a little sarcasm. "But we just answer their questions, we don't advertise we are willing to talk. I don't want to be surrounded by questions for days."
"True. Ok, just brief answers." Jay says.

"Yes."

That Friday the project grades were posted on the door as Carlos entered his class, and he had placed highest. HE quickly texted his friends, "I placed highest, it goes up after class." Mal read it and texted Ben. "Carlos' video goes live in one hour."

"Ok. You guys ready?" Was his reply.
"We are."

After third period Mal and Ben had a free period. Jay and the others had a class. Ben met up with Mal to view the video. He met up with her in the common area. He pulled out his laptop and pulled up the video. After watching it, he looked at Mal. "I love your work."
"Thanks. It really doesn't give the isle's true colors, but you get the idea."
"I see your locker art." He teased. "You did that a lot?"
"Yes. I kind of wanted people there to remember that my Mom was in charge," She pointed out.

"How did your mom get to be in charge?" Ben asked, trying to see how much Mal was willing to share.
"She just took over, the only one who really objected was Evie's mother. They weren't exactly friends."
"Is that why you and Evie weren't friends?"
"In a way yes."
"Go on, we still have 45 minutes till next period." He hoped he wasn't pushing, but she was already sharing, so he thought he'd try.

"Yea, so everyone knows why my mom went after Aurora. Leah and her husband not inviting her to that stupid Christening really hurt my mother. So more background, I met Jay when I was 5, first day of school, that's why he knows my full name. Evie wasn't in our class yet, she wasn't in school that first year. The following year, she was going to turn 6, and Evil Queen decided to send her. It was after Jay and I had turned 6."
"So Jay is the oldest?"
"Right than me, then Evie and Carlos is the youngest, by almost 2 years, but he is really smart and he caught up to us in our classes, and was with us even though he was younger."
"So Evie was turning 6?" He prompted.

"EQ threw Evie a huge party, she had party favors, cake, everything…but they didn't invite me. I thought it was Evie who didn't want me. Mother went NUTS. Sent all the kids home and banished Evil Queen and Evie to house arrest. That's why Evie was as we called it Castle schooled. There are a few larger houses on the island, and they are castle like. Mine and Evie are two of them. Anyway, about two months before you called us over here, Evie turned 16 and EQ felt 10 years was long enough, so she sent her to Dragon's Hall. Mom didn't notice, but I did. As soon as I realized who she was I set about my revenge. But then Carlos befriended her, and he found out, it was only EQ that didn't want me there, and Evie got in trouble with her mother because she wanted me there, in fact she begged her mother not to exclude me. SO…she started hanging with Me, Jay and Carlos. It was really interesting how you happened to pick us four."
"I was drawn to your names, when I saw a list of which Villians had kids old enough to come to AP."
"Fate I guess."

"I guess." He didn't dare tell her, he had been dreaming about the isle, and the villians names kept coming to him as he looked over the list, as if he were drawn to them.

By the end of the day, a lot of kids had seen the video. They had been asked a few questions but not as much as they thought. Most people were interested in who did the drawings, and impressed with Mal's work. That night Mal and Ben were having a private meal at the palace when Belle and Adam returned from a dinner at Snow White's castle. Ben shared the video earlier with his parents, before they had left and Mal had arrived.

"Mal, Dear, how are you?" Belle greeted her.
"Fine thank you, how are you?"
"Fine. Ben shared Carlos' work with us. Your drawings are excellent."
"Thank you. I spent a lot of time in my room, it was something to do."
"Your room?"
"Yes. My mother had very high expectations for me which I never quite lived up too."
"Oh dear. Mal, care to take a walk?" Belle asked of Mal.
"Really mom, you're going to ask her now?" Ben knew this had to do with the love spell again.
"Of course dear." She winked at Ben. "Grab your phone Mal. Please."

Mal gave Ben an odd look and he just shook his head as Mal followed Belle out of the room. "Ok so Ben told me about the song." Belle smirked, Mal looked at the floor.
"Oh. Yea, the love spell did that." Mal admitted.
"I know that. I want to see it please."
"I…yeah, ok." Mal pulled the video up that someone sent her. She had no idea who did it, but there it was one day. She pulled it up and played it for Belle. Mal was blushing by the time it was over.

"I see whoever caught this caught you too." Belle pointed out. "You weren't thrilled at first."
"No. I didn't want the attention. But as he kept singing it…it made me think. I didn't realize at first that he was the boy in my dream." She let slip.

"Dream?" Belle had caught the reference.

"I had a dream about a boy before I came here." Mal admitted.
"Dreams can tell a lot." Belle pointed out, Mal wondered if Ben had ever shared any of his dreams with her.
"I was planning to talk to Fairy Godmother about it at my next class."
"That might be a good idea." Belle agreed, patting Mal's hands. "Was Ben that boy?" She needed to know.
"Yes. It didn't dawn on me until he took me on our first date. He took me to the place in my dream."
"I see. And where would that be?"
"The enchanted lake."
"Wow. He…that is his favorite alone place. He…"
"Never took Audrey did he?"
"Not that I am aware of. Then again you have his ring and she never had that either."

"I…Yes." Mal twisted it on her finger.

"Mal, he loves you. The you, you are from the day he met you. Don't ever change, to be the kind of girl everyone else expects Ben to be dating. It's who you are, that he fell in love with. The girl in his dream." Belle slapped her hands over her mouth.

"His dream?" That answered Mal's question.
"Ask him about it sometime."
"I will. It's hard not to want to fit in, for Ben's sake."
"Don't Mal. Trying to fit in never works, trust me. Please stay who you are. Ben wants you the way you are, the Mal you are. Don't become a prissy princess." She used Mal's term, and Mal had to giggle.
"I understand."
"We had better go back. Can you send me that video, I would love to show Adam."
"Sure." Mal giggled and sent the video to Belle's phone. Now that Carlos had shown her how to use it she was having fun with the phone.

They walked back into the dining area and Ben was ready to go. "It's getting late, we had better get ready to go." Mal hugged her hosts and headed for the car.