If Only

3.9K 78 2
                                    

CHAPTER 9

Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.

CHAPTER 9

The next day Ben had found Zoe and asked her on a date. Zoe has found Mal but she really needed Evie so Zoe and Mal we're currently looking for her.
"There you are!" Zoe calls as she sees Evie sitting beside Doug. "I have been looking for you literally everywhere!"
"She has," Mal says in agreement.
"What's wrong?" Evie asks her.
"Ben just asked me out on..." Zoe answers before letting out a huff. "... a date."
"Nice," Doug says as Evie smiles.
"We can handle this. Bye," Evie says as they start walking back to the dorms. "You're looking a little pale."
"Yeah, of course," Zoe says.
"I can fix that with some gloss and some blush," Evie explains and Zoe nods. Once back at the dorms, Mal went through the dresses that Evie has made and picked one out for Zoe. Evie approved, so Zoe got dressed and Evie started on her makeup.
"Okay. Easy on the blush. I don't want to scare him away. Not that I could," Zoe says after what felt like the 100th brush stroke.
"Please. My mom taught me how to apply blush before I could talk. Always use upward strokes," Evie explains with a smile.
"My mom was never really big on makeup tips and Dizzy is too young to know," Zoe explains before Evie started on the lip gloss.
"Well, now you both have me," Evie says as she looks between Mal and Zoe. "We're going to need all the family we can get If we don't pull this off. My mother's not a barrel of laughs when she doesn't get her way. Just ask snow white."
"Are you afraid of her?" Mal asks.
"Sometimes," Evie admits. "Are you both afraid of your moms?"
"I just really want her to be proud of me. Her and my grandmother get so angry with me when I disappoint them. And sh... yeah, they're my family , so I know they love me...In their own way," Zoe explains and Mal nods in agreement.
"Moving on. Come see," Evie says as she brings Zoe over to the mirror.
"Oh," Zoe says with a laugh as she sees herself.
"I know," Evie says as she and Mal stand on either side of Zoe.
"I look..." Zoe starts.
"Say it," Mal says with a smile.
"Not hideous," Zoe finishes.
"Not even close," Evie says before Zoe hugs her. Zoe then looks back in the mirror and realizes that it is Auradon that is making her this happy. There is a knock at the door before Mal and Evie hold back squeals. Zoe opens the door to find Ben on the other side holding two helmets.
"For the first time, I understand the difference between pretty and beautiful," Ben says causing Zoe to smile and giggle. "I hope you like bikes." Zoe takes one of the helmets from Ben before sending Mal and Evie a scared look. Zoe holds onto Ben tightly as he takes them wherever they are going. They leave the bike behind before walking through the forest and onto a long rope bridge.
"Tell me something about yourself that you've never told anyone," Ben says as Zoe sways from side to side in front of him.
"Um... My middle name is Annie," Zoe tells him.
"Annie?" Ben asks seeing how the names don't really fit together.
"Yeah. Annie. Just my mom doing what she does best. Being really, really evil. Zoe Annie," Zoe explains with a laugh.
"Mine's Florian," Ben tells her causing her to giggle.
"Florian?" Zoe asks and he nods. "How princely. Oh, that's almost worse."
"I mean, you know, It's better than Annie," Ben teases causing Zoe to laugh. After they get off of the bridge Ben has Zoe close her eyes. "watch your foot. Now, step up. There you go." Ben helps her over a rock before pulling her in front of him. "You ready?" Zoe nods excitedly. "Open." Zoe lets out a gasp at how cute everything looked. Ben had set up a picnic for them. Zoe decided to eat a donut first. "Is this your first time?"
"Mm..." Zoe says as she licks her fingers. "We don't really date
much on the island. It's more like... Gang activity." Ben lets out a laugh causing Zoe to smile.
"Um, I meant, is this your first time eating a jelly donut?" Ben asks her.
"Is it bad?" Zoe asks embarrassed.
"You got a..." Ben says as he starts to wipe off her lips with his thumb. "Just a...I mean, yeah, do this." He has Zoe lick her lips.
"Gone?" Zoe asks and he nods. "You can't take me anywhere, I guess." They laugh before Ben turns a little serious.
"You know, I've done all the talking. Your turn. I really don't know that much about you. Tell me something," Ben says causing Zoe to slightly frown since she didn't know what to say.
"Well, I'm 16. And I've only ever lived in one place," Zoe tells him.
"Me, too. That... we have stuff in common already," Ben says causing Zoe to laugh.
"No. Trust me, we do not," Zoe says. "And now you're gonna be king."
"Yeah," Ben says before looking down.
"What?" Zoe asks him concerned.
"A crown doesn't make you a king," Ben tells her.
"Well, it kind of does," Zoe says causing Ben to smile.
"No, it... Your mother is an evil step sister and I've got the poster parents for goodness. But we're not automatically like them. We get to choose who we're gonna be," Ben explains causing Zoe to frown slightly as he brings the conflicting feelings back to her mind. "And right now, I can look into your eyes and I can tell you're not evil. I can see it." Zoe looks at him slightly shocked and he smiles. "Let's go for a swim."
"Hm? What? Uh..." Zoe panics because she doesn't know how to swim. "Right now?"
"Yeah, right now," Ben answers as he starts unbuttoning his shirt.
"I think I'm just gonna stay here," Zoe says as she looks at the food.
"No, no, no. Come on," Ben says as he holds his hand out to her.
"I think I'm gonna stay behind and try a strawberry. I've literally never tried a strawberry before," Zoe says before she takes a bite. "Mm! Mm..."
"Don't eat all of them," Ben says with a chuckle.
"Okay," Zoe says as she grabs another. "Ooh! Mm." Zoe gets up when she sees Ben over on a cliff. "Are those little crowns on your shorts?"
"Maybe," Ben says causing Zoe to giggle. "Rawr! Whoo! Ha-ha!" Ben jumps into the water causing Zoe to laugh.
"A million thoughts
in my head
Should I let my heart
keep listenin'?
'Cause up till now
I've walked the line
Nothin' lost
but somethin' missin'
I can't decide
what's wrong, what's right
which way should I go?
If only I knew what my heart
was telling me
Don't know what I'm feeling
Is this just a dream?
Uh-Oh, yeah
If only I could read
the signs in front of me
I could find the way to
who I'm meant to be
uh-Oh
If only
Yeah
Am I crazy?
Maybe we could
Happen
Yeah, will you
still be with me
When the magic's
All run out?
If only I knew what my heart
was telling me
don't know what I'm feeling
is this just a dream?
Uh-Oh
If only
Yeah, If only
Yeah, If only
Yeah, If only
If only." Zoe sings as she fights with all of the conflicting feelings she has. Zoe sits by the edge of the water before taking her shoes off and letting her feet touch the water. "Ben? Ben?" Zoe stands up as she looks for Ben. "Ben!" Zoe jumps into the water to start looking for him. Zoe gets too far out and starts to panic before she feels arms wrap around her and raise her out of the water. Ben carries her bridal style to shore.
"You scared me!" Zoe says as she hits Ben's shoulder after he sat her down.
"You... you can't swim?" Ben asks her confused.
"No!" Zoe tells him.
"You live on an island!" Ben says.
"Yeah, with a barrier around it, remember?" Zoe tells him. "Ugh!"
"And you still tried to save me," Ben says amazed.
"Yeah. And do you thank me? No! All I get is soaking wet!" Zoe says as she tries to straighten out her dress.
"And, uh, this fancy rock. It's yours," Ben says as he hands her a shining rock. "Make a wish and throw it back in the lake." Zoe throws it back into the lake before walking away from Ben. Ben chases after her before putting his letterman jacket around her shoulders. Zoe sits down as Ben dries off before joining her. Ben starts to play with Zoe's hair causing her to look at him.
"Uh, Zoe... I told you that I loved you," Ben says as Zoe shivers. "What about you? Do you love me?" Zoe looks away from Ben knowing she couldn't give him the answer he wanted.
"I don't know what love feels like," Zoe says with a sigh. Ben uses his thumb to turn Zoe's face back to him causing her to look at him slightly shocked.
"Maybe I can teach you," Ben says causing Zoe to slightly smile.

Trying To Be Good Where stories live. Discover now