Listen To Your Heart

A Mal-ificant Plan

Mal and Ben walked hand in hand into the Auradon ballroom. Ben had it made just for this occasion. Instead of hiring people to decorate, Mal wanted to get a group of students to decorate so she could get involved a little more into school activities. It was only her junior year and she wanted to make an impression and rule the school next year. Technically,  she already was one half of Auradons's power couple, due to her dating the new teenaged King, but she wanted to earn a name for herself on her own. She didn't just want to be known as King Ben's girlfriend or one of the villain's kids. She wanted to have people actually like her because they shared common interests .

"Wow Mal," Ben said in awe. "You did an amazing job decorating!"

"Thanks Ben,"Mal said blushing. She had never been complimented on something she's done before. Her mother would just tell her everything she did wrong and how to become more like her.

"What fairytale did you use as inspiration?" Ben asked, still staring at the beautiful ballroom.

"Um, Cinderella. I lost a bet with Chad and he made me decorate according to his parents' fairytale." Mal explained.

"What bet?"

"You'll see."

A confused Ben followed his girlfriend to a table reserved for them. They sat down and waited for their friends who would be arriving any second. They didn't have to wait long because Audrey and Lonnie walked in with their dates.

Ben looked confused. Chad, being his best friend, had confided in him that he wanted to ask Lonnie to the dance. Mal was in a similar predicament about Audrey. Hadn't Jay meant to ask her?

Jay and Evie walked in hand in hand and Mal raised an eyebrow to this. She looked over and saw Doug with Crystal, laughing at the punch table. Finally, Carlos walked in with Annabelle. Jane was nowhere to be seen.

"Ben," Mal said worried. "Something is wrong!"

"What is it?"

"This!" Mal said, gesturing to her friends. "This isn't how it's supposed to be!"

"What do you mean?"

"Jay really likes Audrey, even if he won't admit it to himself. And Evie has had a crush on Doug since like forever. But Audrey and Doug are with Christopher and Crystal! And Jay and Evie came as friends!"

"How do you know that Jay and Evie don't like each other?"

"I just do! Look at Evie. She's my best friend. I can see the pain in her eyes looking at Doug and Crystal. And Jay is clenching his jaw and curling his fist, which means he's jealous."

Ben was amazed. "How can you tell all that just from looking at them?"

"They're my best friends and I'm very observant. Chad came by himself because Lonnie rejected him. Twice!"

"How did you-"

"Lonnie told us all about it."

"Oh. And what about Carlos? And Jane?"

Mal thought for a minute. "I'm not sure yet. They're younger than us, so they process their feelings a little differently than us. I really don't know about then now, but we've got to fix our friends!"

"Mal, you promised you'd stop meddling. If they're meant be, let it happen on its own. Okay?"

"Okay." But little did Ben know that Mal's plan was already in action, and by the end of the night, all would be well with her friends.

Or at least she hoped.