𝐊𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐘 - carlos de vil ✔︎

15.

I WAS with Carlos alone after Dude had left. He was sitting against his headboard with me in between his legs, leaning back against him. His arms snaked around my waist tightly, pecking my jaw and cheek every few seconds while we talked together. "Did you talk to Mal?" He mumbled, kissing my temple softly with his pink lips. 

"No, she was on her Thursday date with Ben." I sighed, lifting my hand up and playing with the hair on the back of his nape. 

"Oh, right. You think she's back?" He nodded his head, humming in content from my touch.

"I don't know." I shrugged before someone knocked on the door. 

"Who is it?" Carlos called out.

"It's Evie, it's important. Is Cece in there?" She said in a worrisome voice. 

"She sounds weird. I'll be back." I sat up, turning and pecking his lips before heading to the door.

"Yeah, what's up, E? You sound panicky." I commented, stepping outside into the hallway, and shutting the door. 

"Mal went back to the Isle," Evie informed me and I felt my heart drop. (Nah cause that is such a fun feeling)

"What?" I choked out, and she handed me a paper note, holding up Ben's ring he gave her. I read the piece of parchment quickly, eyes watering slightly - I guess I did cry sometimes.

"Oh, my god. We have to tell Ben, right now." I folded it up, putting it away in my pocket. 

"Well, I wanted to tell you first because I didn't know what to do." She said shakily. 

"We'll be fine, Evie. We'll bring her back, don't worry." I reassured her with a tight hug. 

"Y-yeah." She nodded with a sniffle. 

"I'll be right back." We pulled apart, and I ducked back into the boys' dorm, seeing Carlos standing by the table. 

"What's wrong?" He asked, worried from the look on my face.

"I'll tell you later, I have important something to do," I said, kissing him. "I'll see you after."

"Ok." He placed his lips on my cheek before I left the room, following E to Ben's office.

─── ⊹⊱☆⊰⊹ ───

"Ben?" Evie said, knocking and opening the door at the same time. 

"Evie, Cece, come on in." He smiled, standing up while pulling his earpiece out. She closed the door and I informed him. 

"Mal's gone back to the Isle." I sighed, holding the note between my fingers. I watched the blood drain from his face and his smile fall. We walked closer, handing him the parchment and ring. 

He read over it quickly, pausing for a second. "This is my fault. This is my fault. I blew it. She's been under so much pressure lately and instead of being understanding, I just went all beast on her. I have to go there and apologize. I have to go there and beg her to come back."

"Ben, you'll never find her." Evie shook her head.

"You need to know the Isle and how it works, and..." I counted my fingers as stared out his window with a blank expression. "You have to take us with you."

"Yes, uh... A-are you guys sure?" He turned around quickly, needing us the most from our experience.

"Yeah, she's our best friend."

"And we'll bring the boys, too, because there is safety in numbers and none of us are really too popular over there right now." E started to pace.

"Thank you."

"But let's get two things straight. You have to promise us that we won't get stuck there again." I looked at him with a stern expression on my face.

"I promise."

"And there's no way you're going looking like that," Evie added with a small smirk.

─── ⊹⊱☆⊰⊹ ───

I entered Jay and Carlos' dorm and saw them at their table on their electronics. "Guys." They lifted their heads up at me. "Mal went back to the Isle."

"What? When?" Jay shouted, standing up.

"I don't know but today, obviously." I shrugged.

"Are we going after her?" Carlos asked, still seated.

"Yes, tonight after curfew with Ben," I informed them, struggling to wrap my mind around the problem at hand.

"Is that safe?" My brother quirked a brow, wearing a black tank top.

"He'll be fine, we're protecting him after all." I reminded him, gesturing for Carlos to come here. He got up, coming face to face with me. 

"What's up?" He quirked a brow. 

"Should we tell them about us?" I questioned, referring to the others like Evie and Jay or Lonnie and Jane.

"Whatever you want, Cerise." He smiled, pecking my lips quickly while my brother looked away.

"All right, I'll see you two soon," I stated, leaving the room as soon as I came. I joined Evie back in our room, plopping down on my bed, and glancing at Mal's empty side of the room. 

"So, what were you doing with Carlos before I interrupted?" She asked while putting together Ben an outfit which would be done within the next few hours before we would leave. 

"Uh, we kissed," I announced, sitting up. 

"You what!?" She squealed, twirling around quickly like her head just exploded. 

"We're dating, Evie." A grin forming itself on my face. 

"Oh, my god. This is so much to process in one hour!" E yanked me up and pulled me into a warm embrace. "I'm so happy he finally asked you."

"What'd you mean 'finally'?" I repeated, moving apart a little to stare at her blankly.

"He's liked you for months, C! I thought you knew." Except I didn't.

"Oh, he did?"

"Of course, you never noticed, Cece?" She scoffed. 

"Well, I thought about it but forgot about it because it was kind of unrealistic." I shrugged my shoulder, glancing at the ground.

"Ok, it's whatever because you're dating now!" She shouted, squeezing me tightly again.