Not So Happily Ever After

Welcome to Auradon

Ben was lost in thought and busy finishing up his packing when he heard the horn of the limousine outside. He was immediately snapped out of his wishful thinking and back into reality. A reality where he steeled his exterior to hide any emotion inside. His father had taught him -forced him- to bottle how he felt up inside and keep a calm icy exterior. So up came his guard and that frosty exterior as he slung his royal blue leather backpack over his shoulder and walked out to meet the group.

Everyone was already stuffing their things into the trunk, Audrey had the most luggage as she required a separate bag for shoes, makeup, clothes, and accessories. Ben slung his bag into the waiting trunk and looked up at the chauffer -bodyguard- who was eyeing him through black sunglasses. Ben gave him an icy glare before ducking into the open back door of the limo. Lonnie and Chad were already inside. Chad was trying to escape Lonnie's current chokehold on him after he apparently did something to offend her. Ben nudged the girl sharply and gave her a sharp look and she let Chad go. Chad adjusted himself with a huff before snagging some of the candy from the display of snacks on the small shelf of the limo. Ben didn't bother paying any attention to it. His mind began to wander until Audrey slid into the back seat beside him bumping him.

"Sorry..." Audrey apologized when she saw the glare, he gave her. The limo began driving and the barrier opened for them. Looking out the window a bridge had formed from pure magic to carry them across the water stretching between here and the land of Auradon. Ben could almost already taste the fresh air and his lungs begged for it, angry at the clean scent of the backseat of the limo's stuffy air. He could smell Audrey's sugary perfume, Lonnie's spicy cologne, and the smell of candy wafting from the shelf opposite to him. His mind wandered to what new smells Auradon would bring. His face remained steely and focused while his mind wandered through possibilities, endless ones of things he had only heard of but never experienced like ice cream. He wanted to try it and chocolate. Lonnie nudged Ben to get his attention as they made it to Auradon. He rolled the window down and took a big breath of fresh air and briefly he let his cool exterior melt into something warm and blissful. It smelled natural and a little floral. Things Ben had read in books but now experienced knew that dry words from dusty pages could never compare. Audrey was the only one to really take notice, but she chose not to bring it up. She and Ben were really close after their failed relationship. She knew that Ben had a softness inside him that he hid really well, and she was seeing it now. Seeing the part of Ben she always liked most. A warmth beneath the thick frigged exterior that had frozen over from years of fatherly affection -abuse-.

Audrey took in the smell of flowers like some of the perfume her mother wears on the fresh air and smiled. She knew she never truly belonged on the Isle, not like most of them. Audrey wasn't evil, she wasn't good either, but she knew the Isle was never her home, coming here. Smelling the faint florals on the fresh breeze flittering in the window made her feel a sense of homecoming. A sense that this was exactly where she was meant to be her whole life. She knew Ben longed for Auradon just as much. They used to talk a lot about what they wanted. Ben just wanted to be free back then. They haven't talked much since his father's abuse worsened. The beast's grip on his son was ironclad and the constant bruises and wounds were an ignored subject. Ben may have been seen as the most feared of the gang because of his reputation, but really, he had it the worst. Audrey's heart ached spotting a bruise peeking out from under the collar of his t-shirt. Ben caught her gaze as his icy exterior resumed and fixed her with a knowing glare. Audrey looked away but she couldn't help but hurt for him. Ben was too proud to show weakness, but she knew he hurt too. Best friends know these things.

"Look the school," Lonnie said with an almost acidic amusement. The school from the outside was almost castle-like. It was big and built strong but renovated to be a school. This clearly was repurposed from royalty. Ben couldn't help but roll his eyes at the lavishness of it all. A trace of slight bitterness on his tongue at how some of it should be his. He technically had noble blood in him. He swallows it down and fixes the building with a fierce look that would strike fear into most of the isle who ever crossed him. The limo stopped and Audrey was the first one out. She stepped out gracefully, followed by Ben and then Lonnie and Chad. Chad stumbled and nearly toppled Lonnie who slugged him in the shoulder for it. Chad whimpered and rubbed his shoulder glaring at her. Lonnie, however, looked amused and proud. A band had stricken up and before her stood five people. The most unmistakable was the Fair Queen who no doubt was the headmistress. She was a beautiful and elegant refined woman. Flanking her was Mal, Carlos, Evie, and Jay. Mal was dressed in purples, pinks, and greens with a slight edge to her that made her seem a lot like Lonnie in some ways. Evie was the daughter of the Fair Queen as they shared a striking beauty and a color palette of blues, reds, and black. Jay was a jock type wearing scarlet and gold, along with a tourney jersey in the school's colors, purple and blue. Lastly was Carlos who immediately Ben felt drawn to. His eyes felt magnetically drawn to him like a compass pointing the way north. Something about Carlos was undeniably gravitational to him, yet he couldn't put a word to it. Carlos wore black, white, and red seeming just as drawn to Ben's frozen gaze.

"Welcome to Auradon!" She exclaimed with a sweet voice. "This is Auradon Prep and your new home. My name is the Fair Queen and I will be your headmistress." She bowed gracefully and smiled. "These four are going to be your guides. Princess Mal is the daughter of Maleficent and Hades. She will be your class president and the art club leader. Evie, my daughter is the head of the science and fashion clubs. Jay is the tourney and fencing captains. Carlos is the leader of the computer and technology club as well as the one who came up with the idea for you all to be here." She gestured at each who waved as she went through naming them. Ben looked at Carlos with a slight curiosity. He was the reason they were there? "Well I'll let you get acquainted and then they will show you around. Welcome again to Auradon." The Fair Queen beamed and gracefully lead the band inside leaving the eight students standing awkwardly looking at each other.

"So. You know who we are but we don't really know you." Evie starts breaking the ice nicely though a bit awkwardly herself. Everyone is still silent for a long moment before Ben clears his throat addressing her.

"Benjamin Beast." He says almost smugly with pride. "This is Audrey Rose, Li Lonnie, and Chad Charming." Ben points as he introduces each one. "Now, if the awkward introductions are over I think you should show us around now," Ben said bossy as usual but Mal didn't seem to like it very much. The other seemed to look towards her and she nodded reluctantly.