Unnoticed.

Chapter 1: Spent With You

 It was a little after Ben's coronation. Carlos walked along the side of the field. It was so quiet at night. No shouts from the tourney team. No sounds of the gossiping girls on the benches. It was just Carlos and his thoughts. None of those hopeful ones, all 'what ifs'. They flooded his head. The uncertainty was almost enough to make his stomach turn. There was something about that gnawing feeling that makes you want to hide from the world. The feeling could always be subdued by a smile or glance from him. Ben. The thought of his eyes pushed any doubt Carlos had out.

It was getting late. Carlos went back to his room. Thankfully, Jay was passed out. The spell Mal had put on everyone's drinks had packed a punch. Mal. She had him. He was her's. Why would he want Carlos when he had her? What made him think that he could even have a chance with Ben. He was too amazing to ever want someone like Carlos. His chest, his hair, it was all a mere fantasy. It would never be his. Carlos eventually fell asleep under a cloud of his thoughts.

The next morning was a Saturday. Carlos woke up early, so he decided to take a morning walk. As he walked out of the building, he saw Ben. Without a shirt. Ben turned his head and saw Carlos.

"Hey Carlos! You going for a run?"

Even though Carlos only planned to walk, how could he say no to Ben? They ran together for what seemed to be hours. By the time they got back, Carlos was wheezing.
"Hey, are you okay? That run took a toll on you, didn't it? Come with me, let's get some water." said Ben.

Ben led Carlos into a small room, quite a ways into the castle. The room contained a fridge, a couch, and a screen.

"This is kind of my place to relax. Here, have some water."

Carlos accepted it and walked around the room. He was terrified he would say something dumb.

Ben invited Carlos to sit down. Carlos waited for Ben to sit, so he could sit close. Carlos was too afraid to move any closer. He wanted to so badly. Ben turned on the screen by reciting a chant of sorts. A game of tourney came on. Ben sat back and sipped his water. Carlos didn't want to stare.

About thirty minutes passed and the game ended. Ben seemed to be happy, so Carlos assumed the team he favored had won. Carlos didn't know how to react, as he didn't know much about tourney teams. He simply said, "Wow, they're a great team."

Perfect, now Ben would think he liked that team. God, he just wanted him to like him. Carlos didn't want it to end. He had to think fast.

"Can you tell me a little about their history?"

He wasn't the least bit interested, but if it would keep them in the same room.

"Sure! I'd love to! So this guy here is the..."

Carlos wasn't paying too much attention to what he was saying, he just used it as an excuse to stare into his glistening eyes. When Ben was finished, he glanced over at the clock.

"Oh man, I have to go, but this was fun! You're really cool."

Carlos blushed, "Thanks! We should get together some time!"

'Was that too forward?' Carlos thought

"Sure! Let's grab a potion tomorrow."

"Sounds great!"

It was happening. They were going out together. Sure, Ben probably thought of it as a merely platonic activity, but that didn't stop Carlos from thinking of the possibilities. Who knew what could happen?