Hey guys, I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Please bear with me; this story will heat up soon and you will find out what is going on. Much love RSD xoxoxoxo

*Evie's POV*

"Do I really need to get a new outfit for tonight?" I heard Mal ask again. I smiled to myself as the thought that Mal hasn't changed that much. Yes she was a girl so she liked shopping; but not like me. I liked to make sure I had a good look around before I bought anything - to her dismay. I could tell that when I picked them both us this morning they were both tired but both of them seemed to happy to come shopping. However this was six shops ago so Mals tiredness was starting to show more.

"Yes" I said.

"Why?" She whined. I heard Sam chuckle and watched as Mal pulled a face at him.

"Mal please we haven't gone clothes shopping is ages" I stated sadly.

"Ok" She sighed. In all fairness I did miss shopping with Mal; but I just forgot how reluctant she was.

"I would ask has she always been like this but your reaction speaks volumes" Sam laughed.

"You go clothes shopping with Mal?" I exclaimed as I quickly span around and looked at him.

"No she goes with me" he confirmed.

"And she complains" he laughed.

"I do not" she said as she rolled my eyes behind him.

"Let me guess she's rolling her eyes" he asked to me, I saw Mal pull a face behind him and I couldn't help but smirk at Mal behind him.

"Sassy little fairy" he remarked as he turned to look at her.

"Screw you Rogers!" she snapped.

"Dream on baby" he teased as he picked a green dress up from the rack. I pulled one brow up in confusion; that was a bit of a strange thing to say to Sam.

"Mal why don't you try this one on?" he asked as he handed Mal the dress.

"Because I don't want to" she said looking down at it.

"It matches your eyes" he stated.

"Exactly green isn't a flattering colour" she countered.

"Well your colour scheme is green and purple" he pressed.

"Yes but-" she started.

"No buts" he said sternly.

"Try it on" he said as he draped it over her arm. Mal pulled a stern face at the pair of us and we stood standing for a few seconds in silence.

"Humour me and Evie?" he asked.

"Please?" Sam begged.

"Fine" Mal sighed and she headed off in the direction of the changing rooms.

"I don't want you to think that I force her to wear things I don't" I heard Sam say as I watched Mal walk away.

"I just need to speak to you" he said and this made me turn away from Mal and look up at him.

"To me?" I asked. Why would Sam want to speak to me? Oh well maybe I can find out a little bit more about their 'relationship'.

"Yes" he confirmed.

"Ok" I said slowly.

"About what?" I questioned.

"What's this Ben like?" he asked. I pulled one brow up in confusion; now this was interesting. Why would Sam be asking about what Ben is like? Unless? If he wasn't already going out with Mal maybe he wanted to know so he could get with Mal! Oh god I don't feel comfortable with this.

"Ben?" I stupidly asked.

"Yeah" he confirmed with a smile.

"Why?" I questioned.

"I just wanted to know" he said offhandedly. Why though? I thought to myself.

"He meant a great deal to Mal" he advised.

"I don't like seeing her hurting" he stated. I pulled one brow up at this comment, was Mal hurting more than she was letting on? I hoped she wasn't; I hated the thought of Mal hurting and me not being able to do anything.

"Well they were very close" I advised.

"I see" he replied.

"Yeah well they were together a very long time" I added.

"Ben is a decent guy; it hurt him to end things with Mal" I continued.

"I thought he was decent and I do understand why he did what he did" he said sadly as he looked down.

"I just want Mal to be happy" he said as he looked back up at me.

"So do I" I agreed.

"That's why I'm worried about the change in her" I admitted.

"The change?" he asked.

"You've not noticed?" I questioned.

"I have but she doesn't like to speak about certain things. She's very guarded" he advised. I pulled one brow up; I had a sneaking suspicion that Sam knew more that he was letting on.

"Is she?" I asked.

"So she's not telling you everything either?" I questioned as I started to hope that Sam would start letting me in.

"I know some things but I also know what to push her on and what not to push her on" he advised.

"I see" I answered.

"Yeah" he replied.

"What was Ben like when they broke up?" Sam questioned. I don't know whether I liked Sam questioning me about Ben; something didn't feel right about it.

"Erm" I said slowly.

"I understand that question puts you in an awkward position. I just wondered whether it affected Ben just like it did with Mal" he muttered. My eyes widened slightly at this; I knew that it affected Mal and part of me knew that she was hiding her full reaction away from me. I wished she hadn't done this - I only wanted to help her.

"Yes it affected Ben; he's quiet and guarded as well" I advised.

"Is he still like that?" Sam pressed.

"Kinda" I admitted.

"Kinda?" he asked slowly.

"Well we don't see him very much as he's busy" I explained.

"But when you do see him?" he pressed further.

"He is quiet and reserved" I confirmed.

"How did it affect Mal?" I asked. I saw Sam open his mouth to say something but I then saw him look behind me and he quickly closed his mouth as Mal came back and put the dress back onto the rack.

"Did you not like it?" Sam asked.

"No I've already got my outfit planned anyway" she said sighing as she started to look at another dress next to the one she had just put back.

"What are you two talking about?" she said looking at the both of us. I could tell by the look in her eye that she knew that we were talking about something; and she would hope that we would be honest with her.

"Just about how excited we both are for tonight" Sam answered before I could say anything. I watched Mal's eyes narrow slightly and as she quickly looked at both me and Sam and quickly nodded. It looked like she doubted the both of us but she was choosing to leave it for now.

"Are we nearly done?" she asked us.

"Nearly" Evie said.

"Ok" she sighed.

"Let's get this over and done with; I want to have a nap before we go out" she advised sadly.

"A nap Mal really?" I teased.

"Yes" she said nodding.

"Ok well I'll try not to keep you much longer" I teased; I watched as she smiled at me and she started to follow me and Sam around the shop.

*Mal's POV*

"Evie seems worried about you" Sam said as we stood outside of the changing room for Evie.

"I know" I confirmed.

"But there's nothing to worry about. She senses that there is something wrong; but she thought that the last two times I came back" I advised as I learnt against the wall.

"I see" Sam replied.

"Yeah" I answered.

"Are you sure you don't want to tell her?" Sam asked.

"I will tell her" I said.

"I just want to tell them all together" I added.

"You're choice" Sam said.

"Yeah" I said.

"But in reality no one needs to be worried; I know they'll all be happy" I said nodding to myself.

"Well one person might not be" I added nervously.

"Mal don't fret about that" Sam stated.

"Everything will be ok" he said trying to reassure me.

"I promise" he said with a small smile.

"Yeah" I agreed.

"Hopefully" I muttered to myself.

"You ready?" Sam said as the taxi started to pull into Auradon city centre. We had agreed to meet everyone at Ever After so I was hoping that someone was already there waiting for us.

"As I'm going to be" I said nervously as I started to fidget with my nails.

"Mal everything will be fine" he said as he took my hands in his.

"What if it's not?" I asked looking away from him.

"What if he doesn't come?" I asked.

"He will" Sam said squeezing my hands to make me look at him.

"He didn't the last twice. How can I be stupid enough to build my hopes up?" I said sadly as my breathing hitched as the feeling of rejection started to hit me again.

"Mal calm down" Sam said.

"If he doesn't come tonight then we will make time before we go back home" he advised.

"Don't worry" he added.

"I'm here for you" he finished.

"I know you are" I said with a small smile.

"As always" I added as the taxi pulled to a stop outside the club.

"Let's get this party started" Sam said as he let go of my hands and opened the door to get out.

"Do you need me to assist you?" he said as he handed me some money for the taxi.

"Yes please just until I get into there anyway" I advised as I handed the money over. Sam quickly jumped out of the taxi and then held his hands out to me. I slid my bag over my shoulder and then climbed out of the taxi. I slowly shut the door and took another deep breath to steady my nerves as Sam slid his hand into mine. I let Sam lead me into the club and I heard screams from Lonnie and Jane when they saw me. I glanced up at our friends and I was shocked at what I saw.