after dinner audrey dropped me off at my dorm before she went to hers. princey wasn't here yet so i was all alone. i decided to turn on the tv we had and see what there was. nothing much really, the news, some cartoons, and some movies. i didn't feel like watching the movie i landed on, but i didn't turn off the tv just so i could have some background noise. i don't like being alone in quiet spaces, it's scary and brings back horrible memories.

i began working on my assignments, which is rare, only because i wanted to make mother proud. she always said that i was smart and that i could have a good life with my big brain. i'm a hearts, and i'm going to make sure everyone remembers that. build a new foundation for our name, yeah i'm the son of the queen of hearts and what about it?

enough about me, back to this homework. must i really learn the history of the gods? they're gods, they're just as bad as people, i think that's about it. how long have i been working on this assignment? it feels like i've been working forever, i deserve a break for my hard work. okay but what the fuck do i do on my break? i don't have a phone, i already ate, and nothing on the tv catches my interest. ugh i'm bored now.

"working hard or hardly working?" when the fuck did princey come back? i legit did not hear the door open nor did i hear him come in. yeah okay whatever at least i have a distraction so i don't have to do this homework. it's not even due tomorrow what the fuck am i even doing?

"a little birdie told me you asked the wicked witch of the west on a date? is that true?" princey tilted his head in confusion like a puppy, adorable. "i asked who?" now no need to be so kind, you know damn well who i'm talking about. "mal." princey let's out a small 'ooh' followed by a laugh. still not answering the question princey.

"that's such a bizarre nickname, why go with that one?" why is he avoiding answering the question? "because she's a witch, now stop walking around the question. did you ask mal out or not?" i don't know why i sounded so angry, but i swear i'm not. i don't care if mal goes out with princey, this is all because of a love potion. i just really care for princey as a friend and don't want anything bad to happen to him. that's all.

"oh right, yeah. well no, it's not exactly a date. more of a hang out, not a date. who's calling it a date? is she calling it a date? because it's not." okay now why is he on the fence about whether it's a date or not? is it a date or not? make up your mind sir.

"so, where are you taking her?" i asked as i sat on his bed. "on a picnic by the enchanted lake." the enchanted lake? wouldn't that like wash off the effects of the potion? i mean if not then why give it such name? "a picnic you say? well that does sound like a date to me." princey turned around to look at me rather quickly, the expression on his face screamed a sort of terror. i like it.

"it's not a date, and i don't want her thinking it's a date. where do you suggest i take her?" well now i've only been on a few dates here and there, and they're nothing compared to what you could do here. i don't really know what type of advice i could offer other than something simple. "just take her out to eat, like a restaurant with other people around. not a fancy one either, if it's not a date then go for burgers. don't share a milkshake, and talk?" most of my dates ended up with us making out, but then again they didn't seem to be into it. maybe that's because two of them ended being lesbians.

"so basically just do what i would do if i went out with the guys?" now you're starting to get it princey. "precisely." princey relaxed a bit and came to sit next to me. "so have you ever been on a date?" he asked me, as if the answer wasn't obvious. of course i have princey.

"of course, i mean have you seen me? i'm beautiful, you'd be a fool to not love me." that being said i've only had three girlfriends, so yeah... "yeah? well isn't someone proud of their looks. it's a shame i can't relate." what did he mean by that? is he comparing himself to me? i mean that wouldn't be a fair comparison but it's not like hes ugly, i mean he's not.

"i've only had one girlfriend, audrey. plus i don't have much of a pretty face like the others here." so princey has insecurities, i didn't know that. i didn't really see that coming. "hey don't say that! you know that's not true." princey laughed and laid down, he didn't believe me? why not? i don't like, much. i don't lie much.

"c'mon now, don't be like that. you're cute, and i'm sure you have girls left and right throwing themselves at you but you just don't realize. i man if i were a girl i'd totally be throwing myself at you." i don't really know why i said that last part, but i did and i don't regret it. "you're just saying that to be nice." princey if you don't learn to love yourself i'm going to fight you.

"i'm from the isle, when are we ever nice? but for real though, you're cute. a ten out of ten, you'd have to be a fool to pass you up." i didn't realize how tired i was until i felt my body begin to shut down. i was on a bed, which meant my body's natural reaction was to lay down and make myself comfortable.

"well i think you're cute too." was all i heard before i knocked out.

**

i woke up the next morning with someone laying right next to me. well actually it looks like i'm cuddling with whoever the person is. to be truth i'm scared to see who it is. they're holding me tightly and their head is resting on mine. i won't lie, this feels pretty comfortable and i'm like super warm. i feel so relaxed, and safe. i finally look it and see that it's princey. we're under the covers, and thankfully fully dressed.

what time was it? i looked over at the clock on princeys nightstand and see that class starts in five minutes. woah great, now to wake princey up.

"princey, hey princey. you need wake up or else we'll be late to class." princey didn't wake up though, instead he held me tighter and mumbled 'five more minutes'. i shook him a couple of times till he finally opened how eyes and looked down at me. he awkwardly laughed but didn't let go.

"well i wouldn't mind waking up to this every morning." what? shut up. why do my cheeks feel hot? am i..? why am i blushing? this is stupid and shouldn't of happened. he's just saying that because of that stupid love potion. "um princey, classes start soon and we have no time to get ready." he looked over at nightstand and checked the time. he groaned before finally letting go of me.

"better hurry up, you know how fairy godmother is about being on time." i forgot i had my first class with her. i jump off the bed and go towards my side of the room to find something to wear. i don't usually take long getting ready, but today i felt like i was the slowest person on earth. by the time i finished brushing my teeth princey was completely finished with his books and everything.

"why haven't you left yet?" i asked as i grabbed my bag. "i'll drop you off and make up an excuse for why you're late. fairy godmother loves me." well isn't that nice of him. we rush out the door and begin to sprint towards the classes. ah man i skipped breakfast! i'm gonna starve until lunch time. by the time i reached fairy godmothers class i was completely out of breath. i guess running around on the isle didn't necessarily work in my favor.

"val, how nice of you to finally join us." fairy godmother sounded disappointed? i quickly take a seat next to evie and pretend like nothing happened. however, i completely forget princey was with me. "ben, what are you doing here dear? don't you have class?" i swear i'm not making this up, but i'm like one hundred percent sure i just saw his eyes flash purple.

"uh yeah sorry, and um please don't be mad at val. i'm the reason he was late, i shouldn't of have put my personal life before his education. i'll be on my way now, hi mal." with that princey was out the door and heading to his next class. evie turned to look at me and whispered, "what was that about?" i just shrug and smile.

my next few classes went by smoothly. in english princey kept asking advice for his 'not a date date' with mal, also i don't get how stuff i'd like to do on a date would be in anyway helpful to him. he's taking her on a 'date' not me like what the fuck? it was time for lunch finally and i was sitting with the preps when i saw evie and mal leave in a hurry.

princey wasn't at our table, and chad left early as he says the coach wanted to talk to the team. so it was just audrey and i enjoying our food. well i was basically shoving it down my throat as i was dying of hunger. gods why is auradon food so amazingly good.

"so anything interesting happen last night after i dropped you off at your dorm?" audrey asked, though her time made it seem like she knew something. princey didn't tell her about our accidental cuddle time right? oh my gods he did didn't he? "what did he tell you?" i asked in a low whisper. i'm not gonna pretend like it's weird because it's not, but information like that could potentially ruin my reputation. i want people to fear me not love me, audrey being the exception because she scares people.

"who ben? nothing, i was just asking because i heard you were both late to first period. so something did happen? what happened? tell me! oh pretty please tell me, i promise i can totally keep a secret." she wasn't going to let this go until i told her wasn't she? well i'm sure i can trust her, she hasn't betrayed me yet.

"okay fine but you can't tell anyone else, swear on your life." she stuck out her pinky and smiled. "i swear on my life." okay here goes, though i dint know why she needed to stick her pinky out. on the isle we don't do pinky promises, we spit and shake on it. gross i know but that's the only way to keep a promise, besides a blood oath.

"okay so last night princey and i started talking. we first started talking about his 'not a date date' with mal, and then he started talking about how he's not cute and that no girl ever wanted him besides you. we sat on his bed and i tried to cheer him up by basically complimenting him. i called him a cute a few times and that was it. untilmybodygaveupandiendedupfallingasleeponhisbeandwhenjwokeupirealizedwewerecuddlingeachother." i said the last sentence so fast even i couldn't understand myself.

"you're kidding! oh my gods, you know ben and i never cuddled or did anything exciting. all we did was kiss, hold hands and go on dates. i can't believe you guys weren't farther than he and i ever did, and you just met him. wait, he's going on a 'not a date date' with mal?" i guess that part finally caught up with audrey as she looked down. was she sad? i thought she wasn't too upset about their break up.

"well good luck to him, mal's pretty but he could do so much better. i just hope both parties realize that before it's too late." what did she mean by that? the ben and mal could do much better than each other? i don't know hoe you could do better than a prince, or should i say a soon to be king.

"well i have a date too, i won't say with who but i'm excited. how do you feel about ben going on a date with mal though?" why did my opinion on the subject matter? she doesn't think i like mal right? ugh i would never, i feel disrespected. "i mean i could careless, knowing mal i'm sure she had other intentions."

after lunch i was walking to my dorm alone, audrey had cheer practice, when evie pulled me inside to her room. now what the fuck? she could've at least gotten my attention instead of dragging me in from the collar. she pulled me inside and quickly closed the door. what is she doing?

"okay mal just left for her date with ben, so we have time to talk. i don't think it'll take long. sit." i am so confused right now. "talk about what?" was i suppose to know what we're here for? girl you literally just snatched me off the street and brought me in, i'm confused as fuck right now.

"well first of all, why were you and ben both late to first period? what were you up to? is it anything that might compromise the mission?" gods i forgot about their whole 'steal the wand' mission, it seems hopeless. we're not gonna succeed and they might throw us back to the isle.

"we weren't doing anything, what are you trying to imply? and no, i'm not doing anything to comprise the mission. i'm just being friendly with the auradon kids for the sake of it." she didn't seem to believe me but she just moved on instead of pushing for an answer i didn't have. she's just like mal, but almost nicer.

"so tell me blue, what's up with you and mal?" obviously something's going on, you can't deny it unless you're blind. "i have no idea what you're talking abut." she's avoiding making eye contact, obviously something is going on.

"cut the bullshit blue, i'm not blind okay? i see how you look at her, how she's overprotective of you and how you're always defending her. so tell me, are you together or what?" evie didn't say anything, she just crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks like an angry child. not the response i was expecting but okay.

"we're not together, i wish we were though. i really like her, and i was planning on doing something about it before we left the isle but i ran out of time. now i can't do much, she has her priorities sorted out and i should too." oh well okay i didn't think she'd come clean about her feelings, she breaks easily doesn't she?

"how does this whole making princey fall for her make you feel?" i asked sitting down next to her, maybe i could be there for her like princey was there for me? "sad, i feel sad just thinking about it. i know he's under a spell, but i'm scared that she's going to end up falling for him. i don't want that, but i'm her best friend. if she does catch feelings then i'll be here supporting her no matter how much it hurts me. that's what friends do, and that's what i'm going to do." well what a brave little soldier you are evie.

"and what if she doesn't? what if we succeed on taking the wand and take over, then what do you do?" she didn't say much, just smiled as she held her hand. "then i'll confess how i feel, i'll tell her that i have feeling for her and hopefully she returns them. then we can rule over auradon as the queens we are." well now that's the spirit!

"when you do that, i'll be here supporting you every step of the way. you get that wicked witch and make her yours." evie laughed and rested her head on my shoulder. we didn't say much for a bit until she got up and gasped.

"i haven't made myself anything to wear to the coronation! i haven't finished the others either, oh i'm so behind!" watching her freak out over clothes was funny, until she pulled me up and basically forced me to help her. she then began taking my measurements, why does she need my measurements?

"you and carlos are very similar, even the color schemes. white, black and red. of course i'd have to add something that reminded others you're a hearts. maybe a heart patch with a crown? for your mother of course. what do you think?" why is she making me clothes? i mean thanks but i figured i'd wear whatever i had brought with me. "sounds great?"

after a while of working on clothes and being her model, having fabric around my waist like a skirt didn't feel right but i allowed it, mal came back from her date and i was thrown out of the room. well not actually thrown out but evie said they needed to have a little girl talk so i left. it's not like i was going to stay either way.

with mal being back that meant princey was back too. so i made my way to our dorm to see how their date went. hopefully bad, knowing mal it was probably bad. i reached out dorm and opened the door to find princey laying on his bed with his head buried in his pillow. i take that as a sign that it went bad? yay.

"hey princey, so how was it?" princey didn't respond with words, just groaned and buried his head even furthermore. i walked over and sat down next to him, hopefully i didn't fall asleep like last time. not that it was bad, truth be told it was the best sleep i've ever gotten.

"no the date went okay, it was awkward at first until she and i just started cracking jokes. then towards the end she called me princey, which was so weird. i didn't like how it sounded coming from her mouth, it sounds much better when you say it." she tried using the nickname i came up with? oh that's a low blow, only i can call him that.

"but that's not why i'm like upset, family day is coming up and one of the dancers backed out. now i need a replacement and i can't find one in short notice. this blows." what the fuck is family day? dancers? this motherfucker dances? well you learn something new everyday.

"unless..." unless what princey? he lifted his head and looked at me with a joyful smile on his face. "unless you can replace her! yeah i can teach you the dance and everything! do you have a suit? if not that's fine you can borrow one of mine, or i'll ask mother if she can have one made." woah woah woah, hold the fuck up princey. i haven't agreed to anything.

"please?" don't look at him, don't look at him valentin hearts! i said don't look at him, and i looked. ugh he's using puppy dog eyes and a pout, he knows how to get what he wants doesn't he? holy fuck i'm going to make a fool out of myself on whatever family day is aren't i?

"fine, i'll do it if it'll make you happy."