Hey guys, I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Let's continue; I've been enjoying writing this story. Much love RSD xoxoxoxoxox

*Ben's POV*

I felt like my heart had dropped from my chest when I saw Mal walking hand in hand with this tall, muscular, brown haired man. When she noticed that I was there I noticed that her eyes widened but she quickly looked away from me; did she not expect me to be here? Evie said yesterday that she had asked after me; maybe she thought because I didn't come the last couple of times that I wouldn't this time. Who was this guy with her? I looked away from her and pretended to listen to what Carlos was telling Doug; but out of the corner of my eye I noticed that she was hugging and saying hello to everyone. I wonder whether she will come and say hello to me.

"Jay" I said and I watched him turn around to look at me.

"Yeah dude" he answered back.

"Who is that with Mal?" I asked.

"That's Sam" he advised. Sam? I'm sure that Mal mentioned someone called Sam in her art class at college; I didn't realise that they were THAT close.

"I know I shouldn't ask" I muttered into his ear.

"No one knows whether they are a couple" he said advising me of what I wanted to know.

"No one?" I asked in disbelief. Surely at least Evie had to know, if she didn't that made me worry. Was Mal hiding something from everyone?

"No. Mal says it's not what everyone thinks but everyone is a little bit cynical. Mal even hasn't told Evie" Jay said.

"I see" I responded. I quickly stole a glance at Mal and noticed that she was now coming over towards us. I suddenly turned nervous; would she want to speak to me? Last time I saw her was when she left Auradon Castle shortly after we had broken up. I know she wouldn't ignore me but I knew that this was going to be very awkward.

"Hi Ben" she said politely.

"Hi Mal" I said as I started to fidget.

"How are you?" I asked.

"Fine" she said. Something didn't feel right; she looked just as nervous as I was.

"You?" she asked. I noticed that Sam was watching her speaking to me; my chest and stomach started to feel like it was burning. It looked like she had moved on; I know that this was the risk of breaking up with her. Maybe I was stupid to think that she wouldn't move on with someone else.

"Yeah thank you" I said bluntly.

"Is it ok if we talk later on?" she asked. Why so you can tell me that you have moved on? I asked myself bitterly.

"Yeah" I answered politely.

"Good" she answered and then Evie came in from the toilets and pulled her into a hug. I saw Mal throw me another glance and I smiled at her and she smiled back. Hopefully it wouldn't be too awkward later on.

*Mal's POV*

Ben is here! I couldn't believe it; in all honesty I didn't expect him to come but now he had it gave me the excuse to speak to him. My stomach was burning and churning so by the time that I got back to Sam the burning in my stomach had moved to my chest.

"Everything ok pumpkin?" He asked.

"I don't know" I admitted.

"How so?" Sam asked as he stepped closer to me. I noticed that Carlos looked at us and I knew that he noticed how close Sam was stood next to me.

"It seems awkward" I admitted.

"It's going to be" he answered back.

"The last time you saw each other was well-" he said stopping as he knew that this was going to trigger the memory of the break up in my mind.

"I know" I answered as I tried to push it away. The last thing I needed was to start crying in front of Ben; that would only make it more awkward when I speak to him later on.

"Well a few drinks should give you the courage" he suggested. I saw out of the corner of my eye that Ben has returned back from the toilets and he noticed me standing with Sam. I saw him turn away slightly from me and he started to listen to what Carlos, Jay and Doug was saying.

"To what? To screw it up?" I said looking back at Sam.

"No" he said shaking his head.

"Well fingers crossed" he teased.

"Just don't wait until you are mortal drunk to speak to him" he advised. I grimaced at this; that would make it even worse!

"I won't" I promised.

"Are you going to be ok left on your own when I do speak to him?" I asked stupidly; of course Sam was going to be ok. It wasn't exactly a conversation that I wanted an audience for.

"Yes dear. I can handle myself; anyway I don't really think you want me there watching such a private conversation" he advised and we both stepped away from each other as we were aware of eyes watching us.

"Just talk to him; he'll understand" Sam stated.

"Yeah" I agreed, secretly hoping that he would.

"Mal come on this is our song" I heard Evie say as she walked up to us and slid her hand onto my arm and she started to pull me away from Sam. I knew what she was doing; and I was going to let her lead me away from Sam. I knew she was trying to spare Ben's feelings and at the moment that's all that mattered to me. Yes he might be my ex-boyfriend but I still cared about him and didn't want to hurt him. But I still needed to speak to him; so both of us know where we stand.

"Ok Evie calm down" I said as I quickly handed Sam my drink.

"Back in a bit" I said.

"Ok" Sam said as he watched Evie drag me away with Lonnie and Jane who had just appeared so the four of us could dance on the dance floor. As we were dancing I noticed that Ben kept looking at me and Sam; yes I wanted to speak to him but the longer I put this conversation off the worse my nerves were getting.

"Mal" I heard Ben say as I walked back to our group with the rest of the girls.

"Yeah" I said as I looked up at him. I have always been proud of the face that I could always read Ben's face; but right now it scared me as his face was blank. So there was no way for me to tell what was on his mind; had Ben changed that much since I left him?

"I need to go in a bit" he stated bluntly.

"Oh right" I said as I let my face drop. I don't know whether I liked the bland tone that he had just used.

"Yeah" he answered and I noticed that he looked behind me and I knew that was where Sam was stood standing.

"Can I have two mins?" He asked as he looked back at me.

"In private" he quickly added before I could say anything else.

"Yeah of course" I answered back as I picked my drink up. Ben led me to the balcony in the VIP part of the club and I knew that everyone's eyes were going to be on us. I noted that Ben seemed different to me; he seemed guarded and quiet. A dark and sinister thought resurfaced in my mind; since our break up I had always questioned the reasoning behind it. Yes we both agreed that it would be better for both of us as it was too stressful and maybe we could pick up where we left off when I came back. However I always questioned whether there was another reason for Ben to suggest it. Ben's current behaviour made me question this as well; was there another reason why he suggested for us to break up? Would he ever tell me if he had? Or would he just try to spare my feelings and continue to act cold and distant?

"Everything ok? I asked as I watched him put both of his hands on the balcony as he stared at the scene of Auradon City beneath us.

"Yeah" he answered still not looking at me.

"You said you wanted to speak to me?" He said finally looking down at me.

"Oh that" I said as I now realised what he wanted to speak to me about. I now had to find the courage to speak to him; however his current behaviour had caught me off guard.

"Yeah" he confirmed.

"How is everything?" I asked as I stepped towards him so we would have a little bit of privacy as there were a few people on the balcony with us. Yes they might be on the other side of the balcony but I still didn't want them to hear me speaking to Ben.

"Is that what you really wanted to speak to me about?" He asked incredulously.

"Well no not really" I admitted. I saw Ben purse his lips together and he sighed. I pulled one brow up; my throat suddenly felt dry. I had to tell Ben something but I didn't know how to start that particular conversation.

"This is really awkward isn't it" I laughed as I started to stir my straw in my drink.

"Yes it is" he laughed which made me smile at him. We stood again in a few minutes of awkward silence; neither of us not knowing what to say to each other.

"Mal" Ben finally said which made me look up at him.

"I understand that a lot can change in time" Ben said sternly.

"Yeah" I agreed as I didn't know what to say to that.

"You don't need to worry about anything" he advised me sadly.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I'm happy for you" he said.

"Thanks" I replied. We both stood in awkward silence again before Ben spoke.

"Mal" he said.

"Yes" I replied.

"I'm sorry I didn't come to see you when you came back before" he said sadly.

"That's ok. I knew you were busy; it's not like you could just drop everything" I replied politely.

"No" he stated bluntly. I went to open my mouth to say what I needed to say but Ben cut me off.

"Well is that everything?" He asked as he looked to the floor. Due to Ben's dismissive behaviour I came to the conclusion that maybe I should just leave it. He obviously had moved on so what was the point? I got the answer that I wanted; Ben didn't want to know me. So maybe I was right, maybe there was another reason behind the breakup.

"I need to go" he added after I didn't answer him. I let my eyes fall to the floor.

"Erm" I said. You need to decide now Mal I told myself. If you are going to talk to him you need to do it now!

"Yeah" I said after a moment as I started to feel deflated. I shouldn't have come home; I should have just stayed at college.

"That's all' I confirmed.

"Ok, well it's been lovely seeing you again" Ben said politely smiling at me; however the smile didn't reach his eyes so it ended up looking wrong.

"Yeah it has. Thank you for coming to see me" I replied.

"Your welcome" he said.

"Bye Mal" he added.

"Bye Ben" I answered and watched as Ben swiftly span around and then quickly left me leaving me on the balcony alone with my thoughts. As my mind started to replay what had just happened between Ben I felt burning in my throat that told me that my body wanted to start to cry. I took a couple of breaths to steady myself as I rested my hands on the balcony as I knew that I couldn't start crying now; especially after Ben had just left me like that. Fingers crossed I would be able to escape to the safe confines of my hotel room soon before the crushing in my chest became too much to bare.