VIVA LA VIDA, Evie Grimhilde¹

Chapter 14: Did I Mention?

Word Count: 1066

The group weave through the crowds of students, all cheering and clapping for their team. They finally find an empty space where they could settle. Scarlet sits next to Mal, looking out for Jay, Carlos and Ben on the field. And Evie sits next to her. "We've almost done it! We're so close!" She squeals. "Shh-Shh" Scarlet shushes with a laugh, glancing around the packed bleacher to make sure no one heard her."We can't have people overhearing now, can we?" Evie giggles, covering her mouth, "I know, it's just so exciting. We're so close to getting it."

Scarlet grins and peers back down to the field as the players come out. The crowd goes wild and stands to see the players. The three girls follow suit, standing and looking for the boys. When they finally find Ben, he is looking back to the crowd at Mal. He looks dazed as his coach calls him forward. "Do you think we gave him too much?" Evie asks as she watches the boy stumble to his post.
S

carlet winced her eyes, "Um, no, no he should be fine."

--------

The game is about to come to an end with only 30 seconds left, the two teams are tied. Ben, Jay and Carlos team up last minute and make the final goal. 3-2. The crowd starts cheering out and jumping around. The cheerleaders go out to the field and perform their dances. The announcer speaks into the microphone before it's quickly snatched away. Ben stands in front of his team and speaks to the crowd, "Excuse me, can I have your attention please?" The girls look in confusion as Ben looks over to Mal. "There's something I'd like to say." Everyone goes silent as the microphone echoes. "Give me an 'M'." The crowd copies Ben and makes the 'M' symbol with their arms. The villains' kids look confused at the students and the Prince.

"Give me an 'A'!"
"A"
"

Give me an 'L'!"

"L"
"

What does that spell?"

"Mal!" Mal looks gobsmacked as everyone around her cheers. Scarlet, also confused, lets out a snigger. "Come on, I can't hear you!" Ben yells. Everyone screams Mal's name louder. Ben makes eye contact with Mal, "I love you, Mal. Did I mention that?"

When Ben finishes his little performance, he stands next to Mal who looks up with a slight blush. "I love you, Mal. Did I mention that?" The crowd cheers once more for the two before Audrey bursts through and grabs the mic from Ben's hand. "Chad's my boyfriend now! And I'm going to the coronation with him. So I don't need your pity date." She then leans down to make out with Chad in front of everyone. But Ben seems to pay no mind to them as he snatches the mic back. "Mal! Will you go to the coronation with me?" Mal leans over and speaks into the microphone, "Yes!"

The crowd cheers once more and Audrey looks on in offence before storming away. Jay comes running up the bleachers, "Come on, Ben. The whole team is waiting for ya!" He wraps his arm around the Prince pulling back down to the field, Ben looking back at Mal, lovestruck. Scarlet leans over to Evie "Well, he moved on quick." Referring to Charming Jr as he is being pulled along by his new girlfriend. Evie nods, looking out at them, "Yeah.... but doesn't matter now I have you." She grins. Mal fake gags next to them causing Scarlet to scoff, "Oh, I don't want to hear it from you. I just had to endure your boyfriend serenading you."

Her friend gives a defensive gasp, "That was not a love song, it was...." The other two look at her with their eyebrows raised, amused by her desperate attempt to save face. "Shut up."

She finally concludes, knowing there is no winning. Evie and Scarlet both snicker and giggle at her embarrassment. "Oh, look, there's Jay getting an award!" Mal points out, quickly. They all look out to the field where Jay is being held up by his teammates with a trophy in his hands. The announcer had crowned him 'the most valuable player'. Everybody cheers out for him, especially his friends.

---------

The three girls are waiting outside the tourney changing room for Jay and Carlos. Ben is also in there getting changed, although he had to be dragged there by his other teammates so he wouldn't run back to Mal. That brings up another concern. "So, what are we going to do with him?" Scarlet questions. Mal turns to her, "Waddya mean?" Scarlet looks at her with a 'be serious' type of look causing Mal to look down. "You're not dumb, you know what I mean." Evie butts in, "The coronation isn't for a while, what are you gonna do about Ben's obsession with you?" Her purple-haired friend groans, "I don't know! Hopefully, he just stays away 'til our date."

"Uh.." Scarlet smirks "I wouldn't be so sure of that." She points behind Mal, trying to suppress laughter. Standing behind Mal is Ben with a big, goofy grin, he is now dressed in his ordinary clothes, hair still wet from the showers. Mal slowly turns around and looks up at her date, giving a fake smile. "Hiiiii."
"

Hi!" He returns, happily unaware of the awkward tension.

"Uh, I think we'll leave. Nice to see you, Ben." Seeing the two boys exiting the changing room, Scarlet backs away, the others following, giving a wave to her friend. "Yeah, bye, see you back at the dorm, Mal." Ben gives a happy goodbye while Mal gives them a death glare. They find both the reactions funny as they walked away giggling. 'Maybe Auradon isn't so bad'