Wicked Love

Chapter 14

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Ben was signing some papers in his room, until Lumiere knocks on his door. He says that someone wants to see the king. Lumiere heads to the living room and sees Mal holding a bowl of strawberries. She seemed upset. Lumiere leaves so they can get some privacy.

"What's the matter?" asked Ben.

"Carlos found out," answered Mal.

"Lonnie," muttered Ben, guessing she must've broken her promise.

"No, it wasn't Lonnie," said Mal. "He overheard me and Evie talking about the plan."

"And I'm guessing he didn't take it well," said Ben.

"He's upset," said Mal.

"It's just the love spell," said Ben.

"No, Ben, it's not," said Mal. "Carlos was already in love with me before I gave him the cookie."

"So, he's upset because you've been playing his feelings," guessed Ben.

"Yeah," said Mal.

"But something else is bothering you," said Ben.

"Would it hurt you if I said that you weren't my first love?" asked Mal.

"What?" Ben was confused.

"I love him, Ben," admitted Mal, leaning back with despair. "I've felt that way about him for a long time and I... I told it to him."

Ben didn't know what to say. He was completely surprised by Mal's confession.

"But now, he thinks I was lying to him," said Mal.

"Do you really love him?" asked Ben.

Mal covers her eyes with her hand and says, "I'm afraid so."

"Then shouldn't you kiss him?" asked Ben.

"It won't change anything," said Mal. "He'll still be both in love and angry with me."

"So, you came to ask me for advice," guessed Ben.

"I tried talking to him. It didn't work," said Mal.

"Maybe you should prove to him how much you love him," said Ben.

Mal chokes on a strawberry due to shock from Ben's words.

"Are you nuts?!" yelled Mal. "Why are you encouraging my feelings for him?"

"You wanted help, right? I think proving to him how much he means to you is the best way to earn back his trust," said Ben.

"And you're totally cool with that?" asked Mal.

"You're not my property, Mal. You can be with whoever you want," said Ben, almost feeling sad saying these words but remained honest about being okay with it.

"But I wanna be with you, Ben," said Mal truthfully.

"Even so, you want Carlos' trust back, right?" asked Ben. "Then you know what you have to do."

Ben kisses Mal's hand before leaving the room, allowing the VK to think about her next move.

- ROTTEN TO THE CORE -

A few weeks later...

Mal was in the kitchen, cooking up another batch of cookies, mixed with her love spell. As she mixes the batter, she breaks into song.

Mal

A million thoughts in my head
Should I let my heart keep listening?
Cause up 'til now, I've walked the line
Nothing lost but something missing
I can't decided what's wrong, what's right
Which way should I go?

A tear falls from Mal's face and drops into the batter. Before she was ready to put it in the oven, there was only one ingredient missing. She reaches into her pocket, takes out a napkin, and unfolds it. It was a piece of Carlos' hair.

- ROTTEN TO THE CORE -

Carlos was playing fetch with Dude. He throws a ball that landed in the bushes. When Dude jumps into the bushes to fetch it. He saw a hand snatch the ball. When he came out of the bushes, he saw no one, except the ball. Only, it had a note attached to it.

Dude returns the ball to Carlos, who sees the note. He rips it off the ball and reads it. It says:

School Grounds
3:00 PM