CHAPTER 17

"Hi, Jay. Hey. Jay. Hey, what's up?" Girls say as the VK's walk pass them.

"Hi," Jay says to them causing the girls to swoon.

"Why do you torture them? Just pick someone to take to Cotillion already," Carlos says.

"I already got my Cotillion date," Jay says as he wraps an arm around Mal.

"Ah! You're the expert," Carlos says with a smile.

"He wishes that was the case," Mal says with an eye roll before she walks over to Evie and Ellie, who are giggling.

"Um, Jay... if you were gonna ask Mal, what's the best way to go?" Carlos asks Jay.

"Listen, all you got to do is look like me," Jay tells him causing the girls to roll their eyes.

"Oh, ha-ha," Carlos says with a fake laugh.

"Ellie," Jane says as she walks over.

"Hey, Jane," Carlos says nervously as he stands in front of her.

"Hey," Jane says with a smile.

"I was wondering...uh... if you liked the.... carrot cake last night," Carlos stutters.

"I had the pumpkin pie," Jane says.

"Oh, cool. Um, uh..." Carlos starts.

"Smooth," Jay says as he pulls Carlos away causing Ellie, Mal, and Evie to smile.

"I have an opening for a fitting at 3:00," Evie says as Lonnie walks up. "Who wants it?"

"Me!" Lonnie says quickly before turning to Jane. "Sorry."

"Perfect. I'll take you later," Evie says before she and Lonnie walk off.

"Ellie?" Jane says as Mal follows after Evie and Lonnie.

"Yes?" Ellie responds.

"I hate to keep bugging you, but the decorating committee needs more answers. So, as much as I hate to, um... you know, um..." Jane starts as Ellie nods.

"Bug me?" Ellie asks.

"Right," Jane says.

"Yeah, Jane, I would love to. I just have to get to class," Ellie says before she tries to walk off but Jane stops her.

"You know, just nod if you like it," Jane tells her.

"Okay," Ellie says with a sigh.

"Chair swags. Entry banner. Twinkle lights. Napkin design. Table bunting. And you still haven't picked the party favors yet," Jane names off as Ellie just nods along.

"Honestly, Jane, whatever you think..." Ellie tries to say.

"I mean, we can do chains, key charms, pen toppers. I kind of love the pen toppers, but, I mean, we can do all three," Jane says really fast, stressing Ellie out. Jane sees a flash of blue in Ellie's eyes as the girl takes a deep breath, closing her eyes.

"I say pen toppers," Ellie says opening her eyes to their normal color, making Jane think she just imagined the blue.

"Yeah?" Jane asks.

"Yeah," Ellie answers with a smile.

"You won't regret it," Jane says excitedly.

"Okay," Ellie says with a giggle as Lonnie, Mal, and Evie walk back over.

"I can hardly wait to see what your wedding will look like!" Lonnie says as Ellie isn't really paying attention.

"Me, too," Ellie says before she realizes what was said. "Wait! What?!"

"The Royal Cotillion is like getting engaged to be engaged to be engaged," Jane explains.

"I knew it!" Evie and Mal say excitedly.

"Well, everyone knows it," Lonnie says as if it was obvious.

"I didn't know it!" Ellie says panicked. "How come nobody told me that? Everything is happening so fast. Is my entire life just planned out in front of me..."

"Hi, Ellie," Ben says as he wraps an arm around her waist.

"Hi, Ben," Evie, Mal, Lonnie, and Jane all say sweetly as if nothing had happened. Ellie sends them a glare before Evie, Mal, and Lonnie walk off.

"Oh, oh. Quick moment," Jane says as Ben is about to kiss Ellie but Jane pulls him away. "All right, they're almost finished with the surprise for Ellie's big night. Snow White, Belle. But the one you designed for Ellie is my favorite." Jane scrolls the pictures until it comes to a picture of Ellie in a blue dress with Ben kneeled in front of her.

"Make sure her eyes are brown," Ben says causing Ellie to stop and look at him confused. "Uh... see you later."

"Okay," Ellie says before following after Mal and Evie.

"Which brown should they use?" Jane asks Ben as she holds up three different shades of brown.

"Uh... This one," Ben answers as he holds up a deep brown.

It's between classes and Ellie rushes over to her locker.

"Hi, Ellie," Ben says as he leans against her locker door.

"Hi," Ellie says with a smile as Ben looks at the pictures of them in her locker. One is from Auradon Family Day and the other is from his coronation.

"I have a little surprise for you," Ben tells her.

"Again? Wow," Ellie says as she leans against the lockers. "That's like every day now."

"Or every other day. The even dates. Because you're even more perfect than I thought," Ben says causing Ellie to smile and laugh.

"That is me. I am perfect," Ellie says sarcastically.

"Come on, let me spoil you. You didn't have a lot growing up," Ben states.

"We managed," Ellie says with a smile before reaching into her locker.

"Hey, didn't Mal donate that to the museum?" Ben asks as he notices the spell book in her locker.

"Is that still in there?" Ellie says as she closes her locker. She then fixes Ben's hair with a smile hoping to distract him. "Um, I got to get to class. I really don't want to be late."

"No. You come this way," Ben says as he drags Ellie along. "First off...Ta-da!" Ben shows her a blue bike causing Ellie to gasp in excitement.

"What?!" Ellie asks excitedly.

"You like it?" Ben asks her.

"Ben, does an ogre like cheese puffs? This is amazing! It's blue," Ellie answers him excitedly as she looks at the bike. "I didn't get you anything."

"You're taking me on a picnic with all my favorite foods, remember?" Ben tells her as he leans against the lockers.

"No, that's Thursday," Ellie tells him with a smile.

"It is Thursday," Ben says.

"No, it's not," Ellie argues.

"Yes, it is," Ben says with a smile.

"No, it's not," Ellie argues with a little laugh before Ben gets out his phone.

"It is," Ben says showing her the date.

"I knew that," Ellie tells him as she hides her shock.

"I mean, if you don't have it, that's fine," Ben says as he puts his phone away.

"No, no, no. I was fully messing with you. I knew it was Thursday. I just have one more thing to go bake, and then I am all yours," Ellie says before booping  Ben's nose with a smile.

"Well, what about class?" Ben asks her.

"She multi tasks," Ellie answers him as she flips her hair over her shoulder.

"She dabbles," Ben says with a smile.

"She dabbles," Ellie agrees before she starts to walk off.

"You're the best!" Ben calls after her as he leans against the lockers again with a smile.

"That's me!" Ellie calls back as she heads off to find Mal.