The next morning, I change into a yellow halter top, with my black pants, and go to the courtyard, holding my bag and books.

"Look, it's Mal." One of the girls says, as Mal goes to her locker.

"Hi, Mal!" Another one chirps, as she waves distantly.

"Love my hair, Mal!" Another yells. Uhm.

Jay turns the corner, looks at me, and then Mal and Jay talk. I stand next to Ben, after closing my locker, and Audrey looks in frustration.

"Do you think they actually paid for those?" Audrey pouts.

"Oh, hello. The name's Jay." He flirts with the girls, and I almost throw up. "You all going to the tourney game tonight?"

"Yeah." Blondie bats her eyes, and I keep all violent thoughts in my head. What is wrong with me?!

"Keep a lookout for number eight, all right?" Jay says, not skipping a beat. "Scoring the winning goal."

"Okay." She giggles, and goes back to her friends.

"She did it to Jane's hair, too, and Fairy Godmother's not happy about it." I laugh.

"That was funny." Ben gives me a look, and I shut up.

"What's the harm?" Ben asks, going back to Audrey.

"It's gateway magic!" Audrey fights, pouting louder. "Sure, it starts with the hair. Next thing you know, it's the lips and the legs and the clothes and then everybody looks good and then... where will I be?" She pouts bigger, and Ben looks like he's ready to give up.

"Listen, Audrey..." She recovers, ignoring whatever Ben was about to say.

"I will see you at the game after my
dress-fitting for the coronation, okay?" She grins.

"Okay." He reluctantly says, giving her what she wants.

"Bye, Bennyboo." She sashays away, air kissing his cheek.

"Bye." He mutters.

"Hey, Bennyboo!" Mal calls, and I almost laugh.

"Hey." Jay smiles at me, as Ben replies.

"I just made a batch of cookies. Double chocolate chip, do you want one?" Mal offers.

"Oh, I, uh, I've got a big game." He explains, acting like a little boy again. I smack my head into my hand. "I don't eat before a big game. But thank you so, so much. Thank you. Next time. Next time." He smiles.

"No, yeah. I completely understand. 'Be careful of treats offered
by kids of villains.'" Mal responds, moving her hand, holding a plastic baggie.

"No, no, no." Ben fights, and I just want to walk away. But, I'm making sure that he doesn't get himself into trouble.

"No, I'm sure every kid in Auradon knows that." I sense manipulation abroad.

"No, that's not it. No, no, no, I... I really do..." He tries to fight.

"No, I get it." Mal says, acting innocent again. "You're cautious. That's smart. Oh, well, more for me, I guess." She takes the cookie out and acts like she wants to take a bite out of it.

"No, no. Hey..." Ben snatches the cookie, and takes a bite.

Dumbo, what did you do?!?

"See that? Totally trust you. Totally." Ben says with his mouth full. The new kids crowd closer, I guess to see his reaction.

"How are they?" Mal asks, looking at him.

"They're good. They're great! They're amazing!" He laughs. "They're, uh... I mean, they're chewy and, and you know, they..." He stumbles over himself, and I get closer to see this. "Is that walnuts?" She nods. "I love walnuts. I mean, uh, you know, the... The chocolate... The... the chocolate... The chocolate chips are... I'm sorry. Um... Uh, they're... They're warm and soft. And they're sweet..." He stops. I put a hand on his arm and shake him a little, but he's still staring at Mal. Ohh crap. "Mal, have you always had those little golden flecks in your eyes?" He asks adoringly, about to take another bite. Mal takes it away from him before he can though.

"How you feeling, bro?" Jay claps him on the shoulders, and asks him.

"I feel... I feel... I feel like..." Ben stutters. "Like singing your name. Mal, Mal!" Mal covers his mouth, and hands the cookie to Jay, who looks surprised about how much of the cookie he ate. I back away, and head to my last period, dropping my bag by my desk, wandering through the shelves. I find one book that matches what I've been thinking and start to read it.

And Holy Genie, they spelled Ben.

How?!?

"Hey." I jump and put the book on the shelf.

"Hi." I force a smile, and look at him.

"Are you okay?" I nod.

"Yeah, just reading up on a few things. What's the homework tonight?"

"Deley." He sighs. We go to the table, and do his work.

I lay down on the table, and he looks at me.

"How long have you known Ben?" I shrug.

"A long time." I vaguely tell him, wary of his reaction.

"So, would you get front row access to his coronation?" He asks me.

"Yeah. I'm like his sister, so that kind of makes me important. And Belle and Beast let me have a plus one, but I don't think I'm going to use it." I tell him, rambling.

Shut up, Alliya.

"How about I be your plus one? You know my dad, and I could soak up all the goodness that everybody puts off." I shrug.

"I guess so. I mean, it'll be the same thing, but a different view. If you really want to..." I stop myself from being a complete idiot.

"Yeah. I think it'll be fun. So. Are you going to the game?" I nod.

"Ben. Remember? And I saw your little flirt with the blondes earlier, don't think I'll be cheering for you. Maybe I'll cheer for Carlos or Chad." He puts his hand to his heart.

"Ouch. That stung." I laugh.

"Good. Maybe you need it every now and then." I playfully shove his shoulder, and he goes back to his homework, asking me random questions.

"Okay. That's enough.... I have to be in the locker room. Wanna come with?" I think about it.

"Sure, let's go." I grab my bag, and he carries my books, as we walk to the locker room.

He talks about his home, where frankly, I can't imagine.

"Wait. You sleep under a shelf?" He nods.

"Yeah. I do. Or.... used to anyway." He chuckles. We stop at the door, and I smile at him. He gives me my books back, and then waves. "Number 8."

"Nah. Go, Carlos!" I laugh. He shakes his head, laughs, and disappears behind the door. I practically run to my dorm, and scream.

"Woah, girl, chill." Lonnie says, laughing.

"Ugh, I hate myself." I laugh, and she gives me a look. "I actually think I'm falling for Jay. Ugh!!" I put my books and bag on my desk, and plop my head down.

"Girl, relax. Remember. He's a villain." I sarcastically laugh.

"He doesn't act like it! He acts like Ben!" I groan, covering my face.

"So what?"

"Soooooooooooo that means I'm having fun talking to him, and hurting his ego!" I cry, throwing my hands in the air.

"His ego?" Lonnie questions.

"Ohh goodness grief!" Genova yells from her lamp.

"G, if you're eavesdropping, that's not nice." I groan. I climb up to my bed, and plop.

"Well, A, if you want my advice?" I nod. "Follow your heart." I give her a look.

"Back to hurting his ego?!" Lonnie yells.

"He told me I should cheer for him. I told him I'd cheer for Carlos. Which in turn made him dramatically tell me that his pride and dignity is hurt." I recall, sighing.

"Aawwhhhhh he cares!!" Genova squeals.

"Well, let's get to the game." Lonnie slaps my feet, and I climb down. I pickup my cover up with no sleeves, and follow, closing our door.

We get there, and the boys are warming up, as we sit next to Mal and Evie.

"Hey girls!" Lonnie says, excitedly.

"Hey.." Mal says back, uninterested.

"Ohh, Alliya, right?" Evie asks me. I nod. "Come sit by me.." I move to sit next to her, and she starts talking. "So. Jay?" I laugh.

"No. Absolutely not." She wiggles her eyebrows. "Okay, maybe a little." She squeals in delight, and Lonnie joins in on my mocking.

•.• Later •.•

"Ohayohay!" Our side shouts.

"This is a nail-biter, folks. There's 47 seconds left on the clock. We're all tied up. The Sherwood Falcons, two. The Fighting Knights, two." The announcer goes nuts. "What a game between
Auradon's fiercest rivals. The teams get into their huddles and take up positions along the kill zone. The dragoneers have been laying down a withering hail of fire. And now a substitution..." I look at our side. "He's bringing that hothead Jay in from the Isle of the Lost and that little guy Carlos can barely hold a shield." I cover my face with my hands.

"Don't worry." Evie encourages, "Carlos has been practicing.

"Break!" We can hear the team from here, and I still worry. Jay looks up at me, and I wave.

"When they break from their huddles, this is gonna be a big moment here. And the tipoff is ready. Here we go." The game starts, and the announcer is doing play by plays... yay. "Long pass goes to Jay. Jay dishes off to prince Ben. Nice little block by Carlos. He does a little dancing jig in his opponent's face. And now Jay gets the ball back. Here comes Jay! Jay, hurdling maneuver at mid-field. Jay makes a nice pass to prince Ben through the kill zone. Big block by Chad! Prince Ben moves over wide, gives it back to Jay. He's in the clear! Shot!" I clench my fists. "Oh, what a save by Philip the Falcons' goalkeeper!" I release and clap.