New Roommates
"Yes dear. And we're very sorry about that." A different voice answered their question. It's the former King Adam arriving at the room. He is accompanied by his Queen Belle, who looks like she's about to burst into tears upon seeing her son..still unconscious in the room. There are also some imperial guards with them.
"Just as what was said a while ago, this is to keep you safe and protected." King Adam kept his stern face, even though his eyes are as soft and gentle as they can be. He was actually having second thoughts about this. And just after a second, his thoughts seemed to have earned a voice...he heard his thoughts spoken by his son's voice.
"No Father. That doesn't seem right." Ben is holding his head while trying to get up and sit in his bed. He seems dizzy. Mal immediately rushed to his side, followed by Queen Belle who has much more grace, and they gently helped him sit.
Former King Adam's eyes are shouting with joy upon seeing his son return to consciousness but he kept his composure. He is thinking about what Ben just said and what his own thoughts are. "Pardon me, my King son. But, I think that this is for the best interest of the kingdom."
Ben didn't waste any second to answer. "That's exactly my point, Father. It is for the best interest of the kingdom...but not of these kids, who are also my subjects."
"King Ben, I am sorry to say this, but we are talking about hundreds, if not thousands or millions of lives here. We need to contain whatever is happening." Fairy Godmother added an indisputable truth.
"As much as I am sorry as to what happened, I firmly believe that there is a better option. I don't think it is right to weigh a life against another life, or to weigh a life against some more other lives for that matter. I don't think that we can consider that many lives amount to something more than a few. Lives are not like that. We can't compromise some lives with the justification that it benefits many more. In fact, a single life that we can forsake may be the one who could've saved more in the future. I believe that we should struggle for coexistence, with compromise from both parties and maximized benefit." Ben said all of these without batting an eye.
He seems to remember everything from last night and seems sorry about it, but determined to spare his friends and subjects more trouble by being forced to be locked up in that hospital with their rights somehow violated.
The room echoed with silence. His parents have that same look when he proclaimed his first royal decree about giving the villain kids a second chance. It's the same feeling they had, thinking that it sounded absurd but still seeing Ben's point. They are now again having second thoughts with the considerations.
His friends' eyes, on the other hand, are like watching a heated exchange of a sports match, looking right to left and back, to Ben to King Adam to Fairy Godmother and back. They can't believe that they are witnessing such a conversation that can be considered as an imperial diplomatic discussion.
They are also in awe of Ben's diplomacy. Ben is the real deal, they thought. They know that Ben is King, but it's like they've just understood what it truly means right at this moment. They listened intently to what will be said next. They are actually in support of Ben. They don't want to be locked up in there. It may not look like it, but they have a lot to do in school like homeworks, projects, researches and such. It may look like it's not a big deal, but for them it is. It is not just about credits but about their learning...their future.
They want to be able to choose their own path and it's like the starting line for them. Not to mention that they don't know how long this conundrum will last. It is even possible that it may continue forever. They still don't have that much of an idea about what's going on. And they'd rather risk it outside to find some solution instead of staying imprisoned with uncertainty.
They knew this. Even Fairy Godmother, Former King Adam and Queen Belle knows that it is what the kids felt, but they just can't think about it....but hearing Ben is opening their hearts and minds...just like before, with his first royal proclamation.
The older people in the room exchanged looks. They are deeply considering what Ben just said. "What do you suggest then, my King son?" Queen Belle finally spoke.
"It may be too much but I would like your permission to let us go back to the school and our dorms. We'd keep an eye out for each other and we'll report to you anything odd. We'd also like to contribute anything we can in solving this matter." Ben started the terms.
It seems to be starting a diplomatic haggle, so we better shut up and let Ben handle it, that's just what the gang thought including even Audrey and Chad who normally wouldn't shut up and would try to voice themselves. They just felt it's time to shut up this time. And the bit of fear they had remaining from Ben last night seems to also contribute to it.
"I see. That's fair enough, but we need to fix some things if you really want to go back. What do you think Fairy Godmother?" Former King Adam answered, still with uncertainty in his voice, but it's definitely a start. The kids can't help but beam with hope as they look at each other as if their eyes are smiling widely.
Fairy Godmother immediately responded. "Indeed Your Highness. If I may, I guess we should start with the rooming. We need keep you together as much as possible for you to keep an eye with each other. We'll start by transferring Audrey to Mal and Evie's room. And Chad to Carlos and Jay's."
It sounded nice but the kids can't help their furrowed brows.
Jay and Carlos definitely don't wish to be roomed with Chad. He always has the tendency to never shut up about himself which is why he is currently without a roommate. But, it makes it easier to transfer him without problems.
Audrey, on the other hand, is currently rooming with Lonnie, so it may require a bit of strategy to transfer her without catching too much attention. Not to mention that a lot of students may find it weird for her to suddenly transfer to Evie and Mal's room, and the two doesn't even look that happy with the idea either. They're already starting to be friends and all but the fact remains that they just don't really like each other that much. But it is not as though Fairy Godmother hasn't considered it.
"With Ben, you'll be allowed to remain in your room at the castle. We'll keep an eye on you there. As with Chad, just simply transfer tommorow morning. It won't be that much of a problem. As with Audrey, I'll have your room remodeled or something so you can transfer too. Then, I guess I'll also temporarily transfer Lonnie to Jane and Ally's room. That way it won't be weird....I can't believe I'm doing this." She almost emptied her lungs with her silent sigh at the end. Well, such actions already amount to deceit somehow and Fairy Godmother just can't be proud about it.
"Thank you very much Fairy Godmother. And also, please don't feel down. This is for the best interest of everyone and I for one can say that it is a good idea." Ben is quick to assure her.
"Oh, and make those reports everyday, not only when something's odd or weird...but everyday, every afternoon, in my office. Okay sweethearts? That way we can also inform you of any new findings we have." She quickly added, almost forgetting about that part.
Everyone nodded and the kids smiled. Fairy Godmother, Former King Adam and Queen Belle left the room satisfied with the result of the discussion, leaving the kids to rest for tomorrow, which happens to be Monday. They started to lie down to their beds, happy with how the conversation turned out, and shift their positon to comfort as they fall to slumber. But noone really noticed Ben as he lied down...with a faint crimson glow in his eyes and a sly smile on his lips...
***The early morning after***
It's still a bit dark but everyone already got their energy back. Of course, Jay is still alive and already kicking, thanks to Fairy Godmother. And all of them are genuinely happy that they're not going to be locked up in that hospital, thanks to Ben..
The limo arrived and they quickly boarded. They need to immediately transfer their new roomie's things before the classes start. They happily chatted along the way, seemingly forgetting that night of wrath. Mal and Ben talked as usual and everyone of them actually, except for some awkward pauses when the topic of new rooming was brought up by Chad in a snarky comment. They're trying to be cool with it but they find it as not as easy.
When they arrived at the dorms, Lonnie already transferred out the room. It seemed the 'repair' was started last night. She asked Audrey where she's been but just gave up when she's not getting an answer. She just assumed that maybe she slept over with Chad like watched movies or something. But, she gladly helped Audrey with transferring her things.
"Oh here. You almost forgot these." Lonnie smiled with seemingly sad eyes and handed to Audrey a bottle of meds.
It was actually sleeping pills. Audrey had these fear of sleeping ever since she was a kid when someone told her the story of her mom, Sleeping Beauty. Until now, she can't really sleep without it unless she's too tired to even think, like last night and the other night, after that beastly encounter with Ben.
"Thanks a lot Lonnie. I'd really appreciate it if you won't talk about this with anyone." Audrey hugged her. Lonnie simply nodded and left.
Inside the room, Mal and Evie are awkwardly standing, like they are waiting for something to happen.
"What's with you two? Do you really hate me that much?" Audrey nonchalantly asked but with a bite in her tone.
"Uhmm..Not really. But we could actually ask you just the same." Mal answered as if biting her back.
Evie decided to jump in the conversation. "Well, we can't really do something about it. It's like the best deal we can have."
"Thanks to Ben." Mal added.
"Thanks to Ben." Audrey added again.
"You know what..I think I already had enough of this." Mal stood up and approached Audrey.
Audrey held her chin high and raised an eyebrow, like a defensive stance for an attack that is coming at her. She actually doesn't want to fight with Mal anymore but her pride is keeping her from making peace. She admitted to herself that the thing with Ben was completely a one-sided thing and is already content having Cinderella's son, knowing that a lot of girls are actually after him, of which she just can't help but feel good about.
"You know what." Mal's voice is imposing and full of an authoritative tone. Audrey almost winced but maintained her stance. "Let's just forget about it and move on." Mal held Audrey's shoulders and crinkled her nose with a forced but sincere enough smile. Audrey was dumbfounded. She was completely caught offguard. She was so sure that Mal was about to start a fight or something. She was so surprised and it showed on her face.
"Not what you expected?" Evie teased her a bit with a knowing sweet smile while Mal brought Audrey's bags from near the door to her side of the room.
Audrey can't help but feel embarrassed. She think she should've at least been the one who initiated making up. "I was going to say the same. You just got ahead. Dumbass." She blurts. The two girls giggled and she proceeded to just giggle as well. It won't be too bad rooming with them, she started to think.
Chad, on the other hand, has a different idea. He totally thought he can now boss Jay and Carlos around, them being his roommates and all.
He was totally wrong though, as all his attempts at giving orders completely fell on deaf ears. But Jay and Carlos are actually secretly laughing, they can totally hear all his orders.
Nothing noteworthy really happened there. Chad ended up setting things up on his own and the two completely ignored him the whole time.
That day, all of them managed to attend classes without any problems...so far. They immediately gathered at the front of Fairy Godmother's office and proceeded to report the uneventful day that afternoon. No new findings was also shared to them. This just made their urge to solve things themselves stronger. They decided that they'll talk about it that evening before lights out in the three girls' room. They think their decision is not that bad, at least that's what they thought for now.
As they went outside, Dude, the school mutt, happily greeted Carlos and the gang just like how it always does. It wiggled it's tail with excitement as it attempted to play with Carlos. Carlos immediately picked it up and let it lick him all over his face.
However, this time is weird, it quickly started to growl as if something caught it's attention...
Dude started to bark relentlessly towards Ben. But they didn't notice at all since they are all practically in the same direction. It just looks like the mutt is barking at them, once again Ben's eyes showed a faint crimson glow as he started to look annoyed and maliciously glared at the dog, telling it to fuck off, without anyone noticing, sending the mutt whimpering and running away from them. It doesn't make sense but they just shrugged it off, since they think they have bigger problems to think of, at least that's what they think.
That night, Dude didn't show up where it was suppose to play with Carlos. It was gone...nowhere to be found.