*A few weeks later...*

I was currently sitting on a bench on the edge of Tangletown General Park, the bench I chose to sit on was the same one that I sat on every day when Edward was at nursery. The bench in question was shaded by large oak trees (that led to a nearby forest through a black iron gate,) that I felt that hid me perfectly and with it being on a slight hill it gave me a view of the whole large park. Another reason I loved sitting on the park bench was that I had Edward's nursery in my sight at all times, and there was even times in which I could see Edward in the classroom or playing in the gardens. Admittedly this did calm my nerves slightly to see him, especially happy and playing with his friends.

On this particular morning I could see Edward playing in the garden and I smiled, I was currently having a coffee and a cigarette. Smoking was something that I had picked up after giving birth to Edward, and of course I never did this in front of Edward. But it was something in which helped me with the stressed and anxiety of this situation. It does help with my nerves and the stress of being in hiding, I knew that it was a dirty habit but I hoped to give it up one day when the stress wasn't as such a big problem, which I hoped would happen one day.

I started to look through the phone I had bought after leaving Auradon, I had transferred photos over onto this phone when I had to get rid of my other phone. I still had everyone's numbers but I had to get rid of the other phone as it was the phone that Ben had gave me. And I had a suspicion that there might be some way for Ben to track where I was so I actually returned it back to my dorm a couple of days later. I had to go back under a disguise, and it was the actually the same disguise in which I had kept to this day. I had actually become accustomed to doing this that it had become second nature for me. I don't know if that necessarily a bad thing, my mindset was solely on Edward's safety and I would do anything to ensure this. However as I continued to look at photos of Evie, Jay, Carlos, Ben and our other friends in Auradon I felt myself get dragged into the memory in returning my phone to my dorm all those years ago, and I just let myself get dragged away. As it was a memory that I still held dear - the last time that I saw Ben, Evie, Jay and Carlos. And they didn't even know it.

*Flash back to four years ago*

I had just teleported into the grounds of Auradon Prep with a loud pop, and to say that I was nervous was an understatement! I had initially left my mobile phone in my dorm room but I needed it as there was things on it that I needed. I already had my new phone with me to transfer everything over onto it, as there was no way I could take my old phone - this was on the assumption however that it was still in my dorm room. For all I knew Ben could have it and if he did then coming back to Auradon Prep would all be for nothing. I know that I need to speak to Ben, but I couldn't do it right now. I was too scared, it was terrifying me even just being on the grounds of Auradon Prep. I wasn't ready to talk to anyone right now, and I just hoped that my Ben, my friends and family could come to terms with this.

Thankfully what settled my nerves was the fact that I was able to return under the guise of a disguise. I had used magic to change my appearance so instead of my usually bright purple locks I now had bright blonde hair that trailed all the way down to the small of my back. I also changed my nose slightly and to make sure that no one would question me I had changed my striking green eyes to dark chocolate brown. I don't know if this was my paranoia of being caught but I also decided to make sure that the clothes I was wearing didn't have one piece of purple or green on them. As stupid as it sounds but I think everything purple and/or green was being to be scrutinised right now. So with this thought in mind I was wearing a dark blue skirt, white vest and dark blue pumps.

I started to slowly make my way back to my dorm room building, I knew that the campus should be quiet that due to it being in the middle of the morning so most people would be in lessons. I did know that things might be different due to me disappearing, I just hoped that I could get in and out of my dorm without any problems. I was just about to walk into my dorm building but I froze when I heard very familiar voices so I quickly flung myself around the side of the dorm building, which wasn't far from the entrance.

"I wonder where she is" I heard Jay say as they walked past as I worked on my breathing.

"I don't know" I heard Ben say as I lent forward slightly to see them all standing outside my dorm room building with their backs to me as they stood in a group. "But we have to find her" Ben pressed which made me purse my lips together. I hated seeing and hearing Ben like this, but I needed some space right now and I hoped that he would understand this. I would speak to him soon but seeing him like this showed me that I had to at least text him off my old phone to tell him I was safe, that is on the assumption that he didn't already have it. If my phone was still in my dorm room everyone would know that I had had returned back to my dorm room, which I don't know whether would hurt them all further.

"And we will Ben" Evie pressed. "Don't worry about that" she added as she rested her right hand against his left shoulder.

"We will find Mal" Carlos interjected.

"I hope so" he offered with a hopeful tone. "I know something is really bothering her" he advised. "And if she lets me I will help her through this" I heard him sadly sigh. This made me bite down on my bottom lip I hated seeing Ben like this, part of me wanted to go straight to them but I knew that I couldn't do that right now. First of all it wasn't safe for me to do so and I wasn't quite ready to talk about what was going on right now. In all honesty I didn't know whether I was ever going to be but I knew that I needed to give them an explanation at some point.

I then watched as Ben's royal limousine pulled up and all four of them climbed in, before quickly closing the door behind them. As the limousine pulled away I threw myself back against the wall and I put my head back against the wall. Tears started to well in my eyes but I quickly pulled myself together, I really didn't need to draw attention to myself right now, I could not loose my secrecy - especially as there were certain persons that I needed to stay away from.

After quickly regaining my composure I looked back around the corner to see Ben's royal limousine leave the grounds in the distance and I gulped. I shook my head slightly before quickly running into the dorm building, with me hoping that I was going to be able to get in and out of mine and Evie's dorm room quickly. I really hated the situation that I currently found myself in, but I had my reasons for my actions - I just hoped in time that my family and Ben would come to understand and respect them.