7. VK DAY

                                    

                                          
This had to occur but obviously without Mal there, which is heartbreaking but DON'T WORRY. Mal will come back in due time. As I've said before, this isn't a Mal-hating story.... I do want to go ahead and warn that Smee's twins have been changed into a single child. For plot sake, I needed another VK to be chosen. I mean, not like Descendants 3 did anything with those twins anyway, right?
Right now, I'm sure you've noticed that POV has switched exclusively between Evie and Ben. But as the plot gets more complex, I will have to write from different POVs.
Things don't seem so important when you're under water. Time almost freezes when you hold your breath, and the pressure blocks out everything else. All the thoughts that torment you, all the dreams that evade you, all the decisions you've made... it falls away into nothingness. Floating in the water, you could be utterly alone but loneliness doesn't come because you are surrounded and embraced by the water.
But reality comes back. Your lungs burn and you have to leave that piece of serenity behind in the dark depths. Coming up for air, Ben wished for nothing more than to return to that emptiness, that pure, clean emptiness of the enchanted lake. But it wasn't meant to be. He saw the sunrise emerging between the trees now. It was time to get out and dry off.
"Winslow, I'm ready for my--" he stopped short on the bank. Audrey stood there in the ruins of the temple holding out his towel. Behind her was a picnic breakfast laid out, complete with folded napkins and silverware.
"Good morning, Benny boo."
"How did you know--"
"---Where you were? I asked Cogsworth." He took the towel and buried his face on the pretense of drying his face, but he was actually hiding his scowl. He'd be having a conversation with Cogsworth. His personal staff knew to be discreet about how he spends his precious alone time in the early hours of the morning. Cogsworth will have to be briefed. "I packed you some breakfast! Come, eat with me."
"That was... very considerate, Audrey. But I'm afraid I'll have to pass. You know how busy my schedule is." He tried to brush her off gently as he usually did. This was not the first time she had randomly shown up where he was since the agreement was made between them to start over as friends. And if he did indulge her, she would touch him as much as she could. She would incessantly remind him of the "good old days". Last time he agreed to eat with her, she even tried to wipe his mouth for him.
"I do. Which is why I chose today. Cogsworth said you'll have an extra thirty minutes since you cleared your morning for the arrival of the new VKs. Come on, Ben." She kneeled down on the blanket and patted the spot next to her. "You work too hard. And I brought your favorite, raspberry turnovers. Mmm."
He will definitely be talking to Cogsworth.
A gentleman would sit down and enjoy the meal that a titled lady, even more so, a princess, prepared for him. A gentleman would be expected to say all the pleasantries and compliment her for such a spread and talk about how the food was even more delicious with such tasteful company. He knew what was expected of a gentleman, but Ben wasn't in the mood to be a gentleman. His peaceful morning was ruined. And he would not--could not-- enjoy a meal here with Audrey. Not here of all places. This was his and Mal's spot. It's where she tried a strawberry for the first time and her jaded eyes lit up with wonder. It's where he broke her love spell, and realized that it didn't really change anything. It's where he saw the good in her when she jumped in the water after him, knowing she couldn't swim.
Audrey was still blabbering on about the beautiful view, trying to entice him to sit down and eat. His voice came out in almost a growl. "Stop it! Stop all of this!"
"But Benny boo, I came all this way--"
"I didn't ask you to. I didn't want you to. I don't want you here at all. I'm sorry but... this is not happening. We are not happening ever again."