Not A Princess (Sequel to Princess Of The Underworld)

17| Girl Talk

I slid into the car, only calming my breathing once Jay started the engine. I closed my eyes, leaning my head back.

Ben's voice spoke up from my next to me, "I'm sorry that things didn't go the way you wanted them to."

I shook my head, "No, no, as long as your safe that's all that matters."

Ben looked at me for a minute, smiling lightly before leaning his head against the window.

"I'm sorry." I found myself saying, "I shouldn't have run from you and lied I just-"

Ben took my hand in his, causing me to look up at him, "Hey, it's okay. I know." I smiled weakly at him, before leaning my head back against the seat and closing my eyes.

When we arrived back in Auradon, I followed Ben across the courtyard, only to be stopped by Jane.

"Ben! I've been looking everywhere for you! I need to ask you some stuff about Cotillion. Come here." Ben looked from Jane to me.

"Do you want to cancel?" He asked, leaning over to me.

A look of shock washed over Jane's face, "Umm, I can come back if you want, just really, really soon."

Ben looked over at her, "No, now is fine, just..." He then turned to me, squeezing my hand in his, "Do whatever you need to do." I nodded at him as I walked over towards Evie and Mal.

Evie grabbed my arm, "We need to talk." She whispered to me, and I nodded as they started leading me back towards the room.

"No." I turned around to see Carlos holding Dude, with Jay next to him, I looked at the shorter boy questioningly, "You three are always going off in a huddle, whispering your girl talk stuff or whatever, and Jay and I are tired of it."

Jay looked over at us, shaking his head, "I'm not."

Carlos ignored him, "We're you're family, too. We've been through a lot, together. We're not stopping now, okay? Everyone sit."

We all watched as Carlos plopped down on the ground, he then looked at us expectingly. I shrugged, sitting down on the grass, the others following.

Carlos looked around at us, "I don't know how to start girl talk." He admitted.

Jay only shrugged, "What up?"

I chuckled lightly, looking down at my hands, "Well, for starters, I just don't know what to do, about anything. It seems like I always have to be someone I'm not, just for everyone else, and I can't keep that up."

"Then don't." Carlos suggested.

Jay sighed, "Well, this was dumb."

Mal shook her head, "Maybe it's not." She looked around at us, "We are always gonna be the kids from the Isle, okay? That's a part of us, that's something we can't change. But we can change how we let people affect us, and how we know who we are. Because we're us, and that's all that matters."

Carlos nodded, "Hadey, if Ben doesn't love you for you then he's not the one."

Evie nodded, placing a hand on my shoulder, "I like that."

"Give him a chance." Carlos told me softly, Dude seemingly nodding to his statement.

"Hey," I looked over at Evie, "I'm gonna make some changes to your dress. And if you're up for it-only if you're up for it, you know where I'll be, okay?"

I nodded, Evie leaning over and hugging me. She then stood up, taking Mal's hand, and walking off, Carlos and Jay not far behind.

A second later Jay sat back down beside me, "Come to Cotillion tonight, all right?"

"Jay, I-"

He shook his head, cutting me off, "If Ben isn't smart enough to love you and you can't stand another day, I'll drive you back to the Isle tomorrow morning myself. Okay?" I nodded at him, he sent me a small smile, clapping me on the knee, before walking off.

As his footsteps got further I took a derp breath in, falling backwards into the grass.

I knew what I had to do.