( 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 )

𝙳𝙴𝚂𝙲𝙴𝙽𝙳𝙰𝙽𝚃𝚂 𝙾𝙽𝙴
ＩＴ＇Ｓ  ＴＨＥ  ＣＯＯＫＩＥ  ＴＡＬＫＩＮＧ

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

I WAS ON MY WAY in my pyjamas to the kitchen for some late-night snacks with Lonnie when we ran into Mal and the rest of the gang, "There you are, Mal. I was looking for you," Lonnie exclaims.

"I was looking for a snack, if you were wondering," I say matter-of-factly. Lonnie playfully rolls her eyes.

"You know, all the girls want you to do their hair!" Lonnie says, Mal awkwardly laughs at Lonnie.

"Midnight snack, huh? What you guys making?" Lonnie asks.

"Nothing special. Just cookies," Mal says as Lonnie and I look at the bowls and decide to tip our fingers into the bowl to try some.

All the VK's try to refrain us from dipping our fingers into the cookie dough, "What?" I look at them confused.

"I'm not gonna double dip," Lonnie says.

"Feel anything?" Evie asks.

"Yeah, like maybe it might be missing something?" Mal asks. Jay approaches Lonnie as if to flirt with her.

"Hey, there," Jay flirts, from Lonnie's face I could tell she was not impressed.

Lonnie and I look at each other with little comfortableness in this situation, "It could use some chips," I thought as I started walking towards the pantry.

"Chips?" Jay mutters.

"And those are..." Mal trails off.

"Chocolate chips. Just the most important food group," Lonnie responds as she takes the chocolate chips out of the fridge and sprinkles it into the batter.

"Wait, didn't your moms ever make you guys, like, chocolate chip cookies?" Lonnie asks.

"Like, when you're feeling sad, and they're fresh from the oven, with a big old glass of milk, and she just makes you laugh and puts everything into perspective and—" Lonnie smiles but frowns when she sees the Isle of the Lost kids faces, "Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"It's just different where we're from," Mal states.

"I didn't think you guys had it that rough. You know, we just kind of thought that, even villains love their kids," I sigh.

"Oh..." Lonnie and I gasp as the faces of the others were saddened by the thought.

"How awful," Lonnie says she starting to tear up.

Mal looks up and sees the tear, quickly wiping it off her face into the bowl, "Yeah, well, big bummer, but we have to get these into the oven, so thank you so much for coming by. Really, really have a good night. I'll see you tomorrow. Evil dreams," Mal says as she starts dragging us out of the door.

"Goodnight," Lonnie and I wave.

"See you tomorrow," Mal mutters. I pop back in quickly.

"Oh and don't forget to bake some extras for me," I say as I get pulled back out by Lonnie. Guess that midnight snack was a no for tonight at least.

⌲ ⌲ ⌲ ⌲

( 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖉𝖆𝖞 )

I straighten my outfit as I was walking out of my class to meet up with Ben and Audrey. We walked out and I saw a bunch of girls with new hairstyles, must be Mal's creation. I'm guessing the girls saw Mal walking out the door as they all greet her loudly. My eyes were so focused on the girls and their new hair that I didn't see where I was going and had bumped into a figure, I looked to the figure in front of me and saw Carlos, "Watch where you're going next time, yeah?" Carlos smirks.

I start walking away with a smile until Carlos stops me, "Wait, Beatrice!" Carlos yells even though I was not far from him. He stood there not really knowing what to do.

"Yes?" I giggle at the situation.

"Oh, yeah! Here are the cookies by the way," Carlos smiles.

"Oh! Thanks, Carlos. I'll be sure to eat them tonight," I say.

I turn around to walk away but I was grabbed by the arm to only spin towards the figure grabbing me, "How about you try them now?" Carlos suggests.

"I usually don't eat before a game, even though I don't play. I'm still a cheerleader. But, thank you again," I say.

"No, I— I get it... Don't trust villains with treats, right?" Carlos frowns.

"Oh, no! That's not it," I say looking into his eyes, "Here, I'll try one just for you, okay?"

I grabbed a cookie out of the bag and took a small bite, "Mhmm! These are really good!" I manage to say with my mouth full.

"How do you feel?" Carlos asks.

"I feel fine," I laugh nervously.

"Do you like them?" Carlos asks.

"Yeah, they're, uh... Uh, warm and— and soft and sweet. You have really pretty eyes, Carlos, and your smile is really nice, did I mention that?" I say. Carlos smile at the compliments.

I start walking towards my brother as he was talking to Mal and I see a cookie in his hands. My brother starts stuttering his words, "I'm sorry. Um... Uh, they're warm and soft and they're sweet..." Ben says.

"Mal, have you always had those little golden flecks in your eyes?" Ben goes to take another bite of the cookie but Mal takes it before he could.

Someone comes from behind the both of us, "How you feeling, guys?" Jay's voice says.

"I feel... I feel... I feel like..." Ben and I both mutter.

"Like singing your name. Mal, Mal," Ben sings.

"I feel like I'm in love with someone I shouldn't be in love with," I sigh looking at Carlos. I walk away thinking about what just happened. I need to focus on the game and cheering, instead of thinking about Carlos... But that's all my mind could think about. Carlos.

⌲ ⌲ ⌲ ⌲

It was the 4th quarter of the game and all of the cheerleaders were all cheering for the team "OHAYOHAY!" we all cheer with the crowd as we were really close to winning.

"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. 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..." The announcer spoke, I tuned out the rest as I saw Carlos getting up with Jay but then quickly sat back down but then Jay picked him right back up.

I was currently talking to Aria about Carlos while cheering for the team, "So, you like him?" Aria teases.

"Maybe... I never thought I would though. I might even be in love with him," I explain.

"Well, how come now?" Aria asks.

"I don't know..." I sigh, confused at my own thoughts.

"I guess, you never saw the signs in front of you," Aria says.

"Maybe," I say as we both focus back on the field.

"He's bringing that hothead Jay in from the Isle of the Lost and that little guy Carlos can barely hold a shield," the announcer states. We all cheer as Jay and Carlos went onto the field. Jay was like our winning surprise.

"When they break from their huddles, this is gonna be a big moment here. And the tipoff is ready. Here we go. 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! Oh, what a save by Philip the Falcons' goalkeeper!" the announcer commentates about the game, groans from our side were disbursed.

"23 seconds left. You could cut the tension with a sword. The long ball is played into Jay. Jay, great jump, great leap. And a great move by Jay. Big block from Chad. Jay dishes off to Prince Ben. And then Carlos with a big block goes down. Jay through the kill zone picks up Carlos. Oh, he's being hammered by dragon fires. Still, going on. Jay, hurdling maneuver at mid-field. He's in the clear. The ball goes back to Jay. He passed to Prince Ben. He scores!" Auradon prep cheers loud as we just won the game!

"Prince Ben has won it! What an unselfish play by Jay! What a team! Incredible! And it's the new guys, Jay and Carlos, who set up the prince for the win here. What a victory! An absolutely wonderful end to one of the best games ever," some of the cheerleaders went onto the field to congratulate the team.

I run to Carlos and give him the biggest hug, I guess he was surprised by the action but soon hugs back and held me tight. "Here they come, folks. The winners of the first tourn—" the announcer starts but then gets interrupted by Ben grabbing the mic.

"Excuse me. Excuse me. Can I have your attention, please?" Ben yells into the mic. He gets up on the stand and continues, "There's something I'd like to say."

"Give me an 'M'!" Ben shouts at the crowd. You could feel the crowd's happiness so they would do whatever the future King wanted.

"M!" we all yell as we make the shape of an M.

"Give me an 'A'!"

"A!" everyone makes another letter with their body movements.

"Give me an 'L'!"

"L!" I scoff at the fact that Ben practically just broke up with Audrey for Mal.

"What does that spell?" Ben asks.

"Mal!" everyone yells in the crowd.

"Come on, I can't hear you!" Ben yells.

"Mal!" everyone repeats except for Audrey, of course, "I love you, Mal! Did I mention that?"

Cheers erupt as Ben proclaims his love to Mal. Audrey ran away as soon as she realized what was going on.

( 𝖛𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖔 𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖙𝖘 𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊 )

 "Give me a beat! Whoo!" Ben yells to the band.

"Uno, Dos, Tres, Cuatro!" Doug starts up, as all of us on the field and crowd starts dancing

"Did I mention that I'm in love with you? And did I mention there's nothing I can do? And did I happen to say I dream of you every day? Well, let me shout it loud, if that's okay, hey, hey," Ben sings

"Hey!" the crowd screams back, "That's okay."

"Hey!"

"I met this girl that rocked my word like it's never been rocked," Ben sings dancing with Carlos. Carlos turns back at me and winks, I look down blushing.

"Now I'm living just for her and I won't ever stop. I never thought that it could happen to a guy like me. But now look at what you've done, you got me down on my knees. Because my love for you is ridiculous. I never knew."

"Who knew?"

"That it could be like this. My love for you is ridiculous."

"Ridiculous."

"My love is r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s," Ben danced as he spelled ridiculous.

"R-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s," everyone on the tourney team copied, "It's..."

"Ridiculous," the crowd repeats jamming up and down to Ben's performance.

"Just..."

"Ridiculous."

"And I would give my kingdom for just one kiss. Well, did I mention I'm in love with you? And did I mention there's nothing I can do? And did I happen to say I dream of you every day? Well, let me shout it loud, if that's okay, hey, hey. Yeah, if that's okay."

"Hey!"

"Yeah, if that's okay."

"Hey!"

Everyone was having so much fun, "I gotta know which way to go, come on, give me a sign. You gotta show me that you're only ever gonna be mine. Don't wanna go another minute livin' without you. 'Cause if your heart just isn't in it, I don't know what I'd do. Because my love for you is ridiculous."

"Ridiculous."

"I never knew."

"Who knew?" everyone yells. People were having fun at the rally and my smile brightens as I see everyone.

"That it could be like this. My love for you is ridiculous."

"My love is r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s.."

"R-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s."

"It's..."

"Ridiculous."

"Just..."

"Ridiculous."

"And I would give my kingdom for just one kiss. Come on, now! Ho!" us cheerleaders were cheering from behind as the boys were pumping up the crowd, "Oh yeah."

"Ho!"

"Yow!"

"All right,"

"Hey!" everyone yells as Ben throws his jersey towards Mal. "Because my love for you is ridiculous. I never knew."

"Who knew?"

"That it could be like this. My love for you is ridiculous. My love is r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s."

"R-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s."

"It's..." Ben says as everyone shouts at him with all their joyful tone, "Ridiculous."

"Just..."

"Ridiculous."

"And I would give my kingdom for just one kiss. Come on, now!" Ben finishes as everyone cheers.

Ben goes in for a kiss but gets rejected and tries to play it cool, "I love you, Mal! Did I mention that?" Ben said into the mic once again. I get closer to the stands standing beside Carlos as his arm hung around me.

I see Audrey go up and grab the mic from Ben, "Chad's my boyfriend now! And I'm going to coronation with him. So I don't need your pity date," Audrey then grabs Chad's faced and plants a kiss.

"Whoa!" the crowd cheers.

"Mal! Will you go to the coronation with me?" Ben asks.

"Yes!" Mal yells into the mic.

"She said yes!" my face drops realizing that now Ben is going to have the break the news to mom and dad that his new girlfriend is Mal from the Isle of the Lost. Jay went to grab Ben from the stands.

"What a victory. What a day for the Auradon Knights, finally winning back the trophy after so many years," the announcer starts his closing.

I decide to tune out the rest. My thoughts were interrupted when the crowd starts once again cheering, "And there he is. Jay, the most valuable player. How do you like that?" we all cheer once again for the win.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

( 𝖓𝖔𝖙𝖊 )
Ahh, I can't believe how far this book has come! Thank you for tuning in and reading. I heard there will be a third installment so I'm very excited about it.