Ben's p.o.v

I picked up Mal for our date and we were walking towards my bike, which will take us to our date because I don't have a car, even if I did I still don't have a license. It was a long ride to where I was taking us and it felt nice having the breeze hit your face as you drove. Mal tightened her grip around my stomach, something about it felt off but I ignored it. I was with the girl I loved, right?

Soon we got off my bike and began our long walk through the forest. First, we had to pass a bridge, it was quite scary as it was long and really high above the ground. I'm not sure what mother nature had in mind when creating such a large gap between one side of the forest t the other, but I know she had to be pissed to do it.

"Tell me something about yourself that you've never told anyone else," I said as we walked, nothing sets the mood than some questions to get to know each other. "Um... my middle name is Bertha," She said and I couldn't help but laugh. What kind of villain gives their child 'Bertha' as a middle name? I was expecting something scarier I guess. 

"Just my mom doing what she does best, being really, really, evil. Mal bertha." She laughed as we stopped in the middle of the bridge and looked down. "Mines Florian." "Florian? How princely." She teased, well it's not really a middle name, but rarely does anyone address me with it that it feels like a middle name. Most people address us as the 'Beast' family, and we never bothered correcting people.

We continued to talk as we kept walking across. "Oh, that's almost worse." Mal laughed. "I mean you know, it's better than Bertha," I replied.

Once we crossed the bridge, I helped her down a path as I had asked her to close her eyes, it was a surprise. "You ready?" I asked and she nodded in response. "Open," I whispered, she opened her eyes and saw the picnic I had set up on a beautiful spot right by the Enchanted Lake. Beautiful scenery, I know. 

We walked down to it and sat down. Soon we were eating and enjoying the view. Still, I couldn't shake the thought that something was off. Something didn't feel right.

"Is this your first time?" I asked, wait that sounded wrong. "Uh, we don't really date much on the island. It's more like...gang activity," She explained. Gang activity? I don't even what to ask that 'activities' they got up to, hopefully fighting or stealing was all they did.

"I meant, is this your first time eating a jelly donut." I clarified laughing. "Is it bad?" She asked. i handed her a napkin and pointed at her lips, which were covered in powder.

"You can't take me anywhere I guess."

 "You know, I've done all the talking, it's your turn. I don't really know much about you," I feel like I've been ignoring the vk's, I mean my sister was able to spend more time with them than me.

"Well, I'm 16. I'm an only child and I've only ever lived in one place." I'm sure there's more to her though. "Hey me too, we have so much in common already." I joked, and she laughed before she shook her head.

"You're a twin, and you're going to be king soon. We're not really alike." She looked away, her smile shifted into a smirk before she spoke. "Hey, since we're on the topic of you becoming a king and your sister, have you ever asked her how she feels about you becoming king?" She asked turning to look at me. Well, that was random but such a clean way to change the topic.

"She told me that she's proud of me and that I'll be a great king," I answered her question. it's nice to know she and Bella are becoming friends. "Hmm, that's not what she told me." She whispered, but I feel like I was meant to hear that. "What do you mean? What did she tell you?" i asked, is Bella not telling me something?

 "Oh, nothing, just that she kinda wishes she could be queen. She thinks your parents love you more than her. If they picked you and didn't even give her a chance, then I understand why she feels that way. She thinks she's not enough to please your parents." I looked at Mal in disbelief. This didn't sound like Bella at all, why would she tell Mal all this but not me? Especially considering the fact that I'm her brother. I must talk to her when we get back, she must've been holding this in for so long. I'm a horrible brother for not noticing earlier.

"Let's go for a swim." I suggested getting up. We're on a date, we should leave any school-related or family-related topics at home. "What, right now?" She looked up at me confused. "Yeah, right now," I smiled at her as I began to undress.

"I think i'll just stay here." Mal stayed put. "No, no, no."  She still didn't move... "I think I'm gonna stay behind and try a strawberry." Mal picked up a strawberry and took a bite of it.

"I've literally never tried a strawberry before." She looked at the strawberry in a way that made it seemed like she had fallen love with it. "Don't eat all of them." I joked, though judging by how she ate it I'm sure she'd eat a hand full, not that I minded.

I quickly got undressed and went to climb one of the rocks so I could jump off of it. I saw Mal stand up and walk towards the water to observe me jump. Well, time to impress her...

I jumped in and felt my body shiver, but the water wasn't that cold. I swam and brought my head above the water to get a breath of air. Once I did, I felt like my brain was just being played with. I felt dizzy for a second.

I took in my surroundings and saw Mal. What was I doing here with Mal? Suddenly,  I  remembered everything.

I ate her cookie, we won the game, and I told Mal I loved her in front of the whole school. I sang a stupid cheesy love sing for her. I asked her to the coronation and then asked her out on a date.

But why? I don't like mal romantically, heck I don't like any girl romantically. If I was to be on a date, it should be with Carlos...  What exactly made me do all that crazy stuff? Think Ben, think... The cookie!

But why would Mal want to give me a cookie with some sort of love spell on it? Does she like me? Oh gosh, I never broke up with Audrey properly either...

If mal likes me, I can't just end things right now. Not after I told her I loved her... but I don't love her! I shouldn't lead her on either, but I don't want to embarrass her for having a crush on me.

Maybe swimming will clear my head... So I continued to swim, but then I remembered what Mal said about Bella.

She wants to be queen? Heck, maybe she deserves it after I let myself be a victim of a love spell. What if someone tried to poison my drink one day as some have done to other famous kings?! What then? Would Bella take the crown then? Would Bella poison me to be queen? No, of course not. I know her better than anyone else, Bella isn't evil.

I didn't realize how far I had gotten from my original spot so I decided to swim back. I was almost there when I heard Mal calling me. I see her get in the water and she starts trashing around. Does she not know how to swim?

I hurry to help before she drowns, I can't have anyone dying on my watch. I come up behind her and take her in my arms. I quickly get her out of the water so she can dry off. Woah, she's very light. Not that it matters, I'm just saying she's lighter than most people, after all, she is rather short.

"You can't swim?" I asked as I set her down. "No!" She answered angrily. "You live on an island?" "Yeah with a barrier around it remember?!"

She's mad, we should probably head back. We're wet, and since she doesn't have a pair of extra clothes to change into she could catch a cold if we don't hurry up.

"Here, you can start walking to dry off a bit. I'll pack up here and we can head back," I tell her as I grab my towel and hand it to her. She nods her head and begins to walk away as I start cleaning up and changing. As I start cleaning, I start thinking about everything.

How do i explain this to anyone? This situation I seem to have found myself in that is. They'll paint Mal as a villain and we don't want that. Maybe I should talk to Bella, she's the only person I can trust.

Soon we were back at school and I walked Mal to her dorm. She hasn't said anything since we got back, and I don't blame her. I would be mad too if I almost drowned after being forced to get into the water.

We were outside her dorm and she was about to open the door when I stopped her.

"Hey, maybe I could introduce you to my parents on Family Day. Since you're my date to the coronation." Part of me hoped she said no and tell me to never contact her again, but then again I did ask her in front of the whole school.

"Yeah, whatever." She answered coldly while walking into her dorm. Before I could say anything else she slammed the door on me. Fair enough.

I was outside my room when I heard someone calling me. I turned to see who it was, ah it was Bella. Just the person I wanted to see.

"We need to talk." She crossed her arm and gave me a disapproving look. "Did I do something wrong?" I asked, the look she gives me is one I've seen our mom give her many times. "You have a lot of explaining to do." I nodded in agreement and opened my door inviting her in. She came in and didn't waste time as she got straight to the point.

"Why did you tell Mal you loved her in front of everyone? Not only that but you serenaded her with a love song!? Oh, and you asked her to be your date to your coronation as well! What happened from when you and I talked to the day of the game?! You came to me saying how you were confident you liked guys and how you really liked Carlos! Like, did you lie to my face?"  Do I tell her what I found out? Can I trust her? What am I saying?! Of course, I can! She's Bella, my sister!

"Look, I take it all back, I don't love Mal. I wasn't myself when I did that okay. I was... I was high!" Yeah, like that's any better. 

"High? High on what? Crack? Ben, you're going to be king soon, you can't just go around acting like a little school boy. Once you put that crown on, you're going to be observed by everyone. You have to take this seriously! Do you still like guys? Do you still like Carlos?" Hey, that reminds me, I need to talk to her about the whole being queen thing and all.

"Okay yes, I'm fricking gay and I like Carlos. Again, I wasn't in the right mentality when I said that to Mal. Look, I'll take Mal to the coronation just because I don't think anyone would react kindly to me bringing Carlos. I'll find a way to explain myself for the whole "I love you Mal" thing. But now it's time for you to explain things." Oh, how the tables have turned.

"Why did Mal tell me, instead of my own sister, that you're jealous? You want to be queen and you feel like our parents don't love you because they chose me? Do you really think you're not worthy in our eyes? I'm your brother, you can trust me with this kind of stuff! Or stuff with Evie, Jay told me he thinks you like her. You should be able to talk to me like I'm able to talk to you things. Tell me you want to be queen, tell me you like Evie, te-" I stopped talking as I heard her crying. Did I make her cry? Is this such a hard topic for her to discuss? I didn't know...

"Shut up, you- you don't know what you're talking about." She whispered though I'm sure she wanted to yell. "Bella, mom and dad love us equally. If you thought you deserved to be the queen you could've brought it up a long time ago," I stepped closer to her, I needed to comfort her. It's weird, I've never seen her cry really. I mean I was taught not to show weakness, but she was told it was okay. I know, it sounds weird but Bella never cries. Even when our parents scolded her, she would just stare at them until they forced her to go to her room. I'm sure she cries when alone, but never in front of others...

"I could've, but I didn't. You're my brother and I support you. You're our future king, that's it." She wiped away her tears but wouldn't look at me. "Bella, please."

"Forget what Mal told you, it wasn't any of her business to tell you anyways. And don't bring it up to mother and father." She rubbed her eye and headed to the door, she managed to calm herself and return to her cold self. Okay, that was a bit harsh, but she's a cold person. Almost like our dad.  Wait, I can't let her leave! I grabbed her wrist and stopped her, she couldn't leave just like that. 

"At least talk to me about Evie," I  hoped she did, she was so supportive towards me and quickly accepted the thought of Carlos and me as a couple. I could see her and Evie being a couple too. I want to be as supportive as she was!

"Not right now." She mumbled and shook my grip on her wrist off. Without saying anything else, she left and I was alone again.

I didn't mean to upset her, again, I didn't think this was a touchy subject for her. I'm truly sorry. I hope we talk about it. If she really wants to be queen, then I'd gladly give her the crown. I guess I've been getting cold feet for the longest time now... Whatever, I should shower.

[Word Count: 2563]
[Edited: June 8th, 2020]