Hey guys, here's the chapter that you have all been waiting for. Are Ben and Mal going to be able to sort things out? Or has too much already happened? Has too much time passed for them to rekindle their relationship? Has Ben really moved on? Find out now! Much love RSD xoxoxoxoxox.
"Mal" Ben said as he looked confused. I noticed that he was trying to move Evie's very heavy bookcase; it then hit me. We both had been stitched up!
"Ben" I answered in disbelief as I tried the door and my body went numb when I found out that they had locked the door.
"Let me out of here!" I shouted through the door.
"NO!" I heard both Evie and Sam shout back.
"YES!" I shouted as I punched the door.
"Mal is everything ok?" Ben asked nervously. I looked at him and pulled one brow up at him; he seemed different this time; he didn't seem so guarded. What on earth had Evie told him to get him here? It now hit me that Evie and Sam had been talking so god knows how much Sam had told Evie to manage to get both me and Ben in the same room again.
"Yes" I answered politely as I pulled my phone out. I quickly opened my messages with Evie, as she was the last one I answered out of her and Sam and I started to angrily and quickly text her - as I now knew that her phone was with her.
LET ME OUT OF HERE NOW! I know what you both are trying to do but forcing me to speak to Ben isn't going to work!
This is meant to be a private conversation! There is no way I can do this with you listening!
LET ME OUT NOW!
"It doesn't look like it" Ben noted.
"Erm" I said as I pushed my phone back into my pocket and looked at him.
"Evie told me that you need to speak to me" he advised.
"Did she now?" I asked angrily as I looked back at the door as grimaced. I know that both Sam and Evie would have heard me.
"Yeah" he confirmed.
"Did she tell you why?" I asked.
"No she wouldn't" he said as he sat down on the bed.
"So you've both stitched me up?" I called out to the pair of them.
"I'm going to kill the pair of you when I get out of here" I warned angrily.
"Just talk won't you?" Sam stated.
"We won't listen" Evie offered.
"Whatever" I said sarcastically.
"Is that what you're worried about?" Ben asked which made me look back at him. I felt a burning in my chest as I watched the left hand side of his mouth upturn into a small smile. I went to smile back but I was then suddenly filled with panic as it didn't want to go through what happened last night.
"Evie I'll just teleport out of here" I warned.
"You can't" she told me.
"How?" I said panic stricken as I looked back at the door.
"I've put a magic block on the room" she advised.
"Oh you!" I said angrily as I thumped my fist off the door again.
"Mal calm down" Ben said as he walked towards me.
"Just come and talk to me. It looks like we both have a lot to say" he said as he stood in front of me.
"Hang on" Ben said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. I stood as he fiddled with his phone for a couple of seconds and then he passed me it.
"Choose a song" he said as I looked down at his iTunes.
"You've still got my playlist?" I said as I looked through his playlists.
"I never got rid of it" he admitted as he started to drag his fingers through his hair nervously.
"Ok" I said as I flicked through my old playlist. Why would Ben keep my old playlist? Did he listen to it? I don't know how I felt about that.
"That one" I said as I showed him. I watched as he smiled as he took my phone from me, he then walked away and put his phone into Evie's speaker and he pressed play. A loud guitar started to play in the background as The Hives started to sing Tick Tick Tick Boom. Ben turned the volume up loud enough so we could speak but also loud enough so Evie and Sam couldn't hear us.
"So what did you want to speak to me about?" He asked bluntly as he sat back down on the bed. I started to panic again I didn't want a repeat of last night; I knew that it was going to hurt to have this conversation. Part of me was scared of being rejected again but I needed the strength so I could move on.
"Erm" I answered slowly.
"Come on Mal" he said happily. I pulled one brow up in confusion; the change in Ben was confusing me and it was knocking me off guard.
"I know this is awkward but we can get through it" he said trying to prompt me to speak to him as I sat down next to him.
"What exactly did Evie tell you?" I asked. I hoped that after knowing what Evie had told him that would then give me a good start to be able to continue.
"That one of the reasons that you came home was to speak to me and that you tried to last night" he advised.
"That's all?" I asked.
"Yeah" he said as he looked down and started to stare down at his shoes.
"Ben are you ok?" I asked after we sat in silence for a few seconds. I pushed away the memory of this happening last night; I couldn't let last night cloud what was happening now.
"I'm fine" he finally answered as he still didn't look at me.
"No you're not what's wrong?" I asked.
"I could never lie to you" he said finally looking at me.
"No" I said shaking my head.
"I'm just a little bit nervous" he finally admitted.
"Why?" I questioned.
"Well your boyfriend is through there" he replied as he pointed to the door with his thumb.
"My boyfriend?" I asked as I pulled one brow up.
"Yeah Sam" he said looking at me. I knew it looked bad but after a few seconds of looking at Ben's despairing face I burst out laughing.
"Why are you laughing?" He asked as he started to look hurt.
"Ben Sam is not my boyfriend" I advised as I stopped laughing.
"In fact there's no reason that he could be" I added.
"How?" He asked. I moved closer to Ben so I could talk more quieter to him even though we had music playing.
"He's my gay best friend" I admitted.
"I know everyone thinks something is going on between us; but quite frankly I have the wrong anatomy" I said looking down.
"I see" he replied.
"Yeah" I answered.
"Sorry for laughing" I said.
"It's fine" he replied as I looked back up at him. I suddenly felt brave and was going to try and push my luck.
"Ben can I have hug?" I asked as I braced myself for him to say no.
"Erm" he said slowly.
"You don't have to if you don't want to" I quickly said regretting asking as I had now made it even more awkward between the two of us. Well done Mal!
"No I want to" he said with a smile. I couldn't help but smile back; I don't know why but I felt driven to hug Ben after last night. After last night I felt so detached from him and it unsettled me, so a hug from him even for a few seconds would make me feel better - ever so slightly.
Ben opened his arms to me and we both slid closer to each other; as Ben closed his arms on my waist I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my chin on his shoulder. Yes this hug felt very awkward but it still felt right; a hug from Ben always helped. Even now when I knew that what we were both about to say to each other was going to be hard.
"This is really awkward isn't it?" Ben laughed as he pulled away.
"Tell me about it" I laughed.
"I haven't seen you since" he said nervously as he quickly looked down at the floor.
"Yeah" I said looking at the floor also as I didn't want Ben to see my eyes properly in case tears started to gather.
"Mal I'm sorry about that" he said sadly.
"It's fine. I understand why you had to do it" I said still looking down.
"It was one of the hardest things I have ever done" I heard him mutter. I knew that we were both close to crying; it was obvious that neither of us liked to think about the last time we saw each other.
"Same" I agreed.
"I know I shouldn't ask" Ben said after neither of us saying anything for a few moments. I looked up at him and noticed that he was pursing his lips together. I burrowed my brow together and then it hit me; I could always tell roughly what Ben was going to ask me.
"No I'm not seeing anyone" I confirmed. I saw his eyes widen at this admission and he looked taken back by what I had just said.
"How did you know I was going to ask that?" He asked slowly.
"I can read you like a book" I laughed. Ben smiled back at me and nodded as he started to fidget with his nails.
"What about you?" I dared to ask. The burning in my chest started again in case I had lost him forever.
"No" he admitted.
"I see" I said thinking out loud.
"What?" He asked.
"Auradon's most eligible bachelor is single, that's quite a scandal" I noted.
"Yeah" he replied.
"That's my choice" he advised
"I see" I answered.
"It's a scandal that you're single as well" he added.
"No it's not" I said shaking my head as I started to fidget with a ring on my finger.
"I'm me and your you that's two different things" I said as I pursed my lips together. So if Ben wasn't seeing anyone why was he so off with me last night? There had to be another reason; sadly I didn't know whether I wanted to know it.
"So no one caught your eye in Schwarzwald?" He probed.
"No, not really" I answered offhandedly.
"Not really?" He repeated slowly.
"No no one caught my eye" I confirmed.
"I see" he said.
"Did anyone catch your eye?" I asked eager to know.
"Erm" he replied slowly.
"Ben if anything has happened since the last time we saw each other I'm not going to judge you for it. It's not like we are still a couple" I advised as I looked away from him.
"Nothing has happened" he admitted.
"Nothing?" I asked incredulously as I looked back at him.
"No" he confirmed as he shook his head.
"But I thought-" I started.
"You thought?" He prompted.
"I thought you were seeing someone; quite involved with someone" I advised.
"No" he confirmed.
"Ok" I said. I now felt a little bit stupid; what Ben didn't know was since our break up I had been on social media to see if he was dating anyone. I wasn't stalking him all the time; just every now and again I would see what was in the papers or on the internet about him. I thought that he had been dating Rapunzel's daughter at one point as he was always seen with her - I was obviously wrong.
"Well now you know" he stated.
"Mal I know that every time that you have come back home I've stayed away but I thought it was for the best as I didn't want to hurt you" he admitted sadly. I looked down as this made me realise something - I was right. Ben had been avoiding me.
"So I was right" I said.
"How?" He questioned.
"You were avoiding me" I added.
"Yes I'm sorry" he said as he looked down.
"I just didn't want to hurt you" he admitted.
"It's ok" I said.
"I have missed you thou" he admitted further.
"I've missed you too" I said as I looked up at him.
"Which makes this conversation really hard" I added as I felt that I needed to say what was on my mind as it was starting to get too much to bare.
"How?" He asked.
"Ben you will always mean something to me" I started.
"But I need to say something and I don't think you are going to like it" I added which made his face drop.
"Ok" he answered slowly.
"What?" He questioned.
"I don't know whether I can be your friend anymore" I muttered.
"What?" He asked.
"I don't know whether I can be your friend anymore" I said more clearly but looking at his chest as looking into his face at this point would be too much to bear.
"Ok" he said sadly.
"Can I ask why?" He said as he looked away from me.
"Of course" I said as I started to feel myself shake slightly with nerves. Here goes Mal, you can do this.
"This is where it gets really awkward" I stated.
"Ok" he said prompting me.
"Ben I don't know because it's hard to deal with how I feel" I admitted. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves as what I was about to say to him was really difficult. I was about to open myself up to Ben and I knew it was going to hurt to do this and I had to prepare for the rejection.
"I don't know whether I can be friends with you because I'm still in love you with you" I admitted as I dared to look into his face.
"What?" He asked incredulously.
"I'm in love with you and I don't think it's fair on either of us if we stay friends" I said looking down as tears started to gather in my eyes.
"Mal" Ben started.
"Please let me finish" I begged. I needed to continue saying what I needed to otherwise I might chicken out again.
"Ben it hurt being away from you when we were a couple; but it was even harder being so far away from you and knowing that I could lose you forever. I guess I was stupid to think that our promise would have meant something" I admitted as my voice broke.
"Mal" he started again as he slid closer to me.
"Please Ben let me get this off my chest" I begged again.
"I wanted to speak to you last night because I wanted to know where I stand so I can try and deal with it" I said as I noticed that Ben had placed his hand behind me. I was about to say something but Ben quickly wrapped his arms around me making me place my head under his chin and my face against his shoulder. I know why he did this; Ben never liked seeing me cry. I smiled against his chest as I let him console me; when I was able to not let the tears in my eyes spoil my voice I continued.
"But I don't want you to feel guilty; a year apart means a lot. I know that you have fallen out of love with me and I don't hate you for it" I said as I placed my hand on his chest. I felt Ben's arms tighten around me waist and I instinctively snuggled into his chest a little bit. I know that this was a weird situation but hugging Ben felt right; it felt natural. It was easy just like breathing; and at the moment I didn't want this hug to end.
"So please don't think that" I said.
"I understand" I added.
"Mal" Ben said pulling away from me so he can look at me.
"Ben" I said as I unwilling released my arms from his waist.
"It's ok" I said as I looked at his face as he suddenly became nervous.
"No it's not" he said shaking his head. I opened my mouth to say something but he cut me off.
"Let me speak" he asked. I nodded and prepared myself for the rejection and backlash of everything that I had just said.
"Mal I love you too" he admitted with a large smile.
"What?" I asked incredulously. Did Ben just say what I think he just said? No he couldn't have? Could he?
"I've never stopped loving you" he said as he stared into my eyes.
"I never will" he added further. I felt a pressure on my chest and I felt like I couldn't breathe. Ben still loved me? But why did he act the way he did last night? Unless he thought I had moved on with Sam so he didn't know how to act around me now. Where did this leave both of us now we have both admitted to each other that we still loved each other?
"Oh Ben" I said as tears started to gather in my eyes again; however this time it was through happiness rather than sadness.
"Oh Mal" he said and as he pulled me back into a hug. I slid my right hand from his neck and I started to run my fingers through his hair at the back of his head. I felt Ben sigh and tighten his arms around my waist and snuggled my face into the side of his head.
"You graduate in six month don't you?' He asked as he snuggled his face into my hair. I know we still had a lot to talk about but right now both of us just wanted to be snuggled into each other and be in the safe confines of each other's arms.
"Yes" I confirmed. I smiled against his cheek and I knew that I could reveal my secret to him in a few minutes.
"Well I can wait that long for you" he said as he finally pulled away to look into my eyes.
"I will wait a lifetime for you Mal" he answered happily.
"Same baby" I replied which made him grin.
"Mal" he said after we stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds.
"I know that this might be too quick" he started.
"Ok" I replied slowly. I noticed that Ben was really nervous and I felt his fingers twitch against my side; what was he about to say? I watched as he took a couple deep breaths to steady himself before he stared into my eyes.
"Maleficent Bertha Faery, will you please be my girlfriend again?"