Part 1| Chapter 8: Games of Tourney and Love

The next day, the VKs were ready to give the magic cookies to Ben. However, they only had a small window before the tourney match started, which meant they had to act fast.

Jay was flirting with a few girls, trying his luck with all of them. But y/n had eyes for only one boy, the boy who was currently talking to his prissy pink girlfriend. Though she couldn't hear their conversation, it looked like she was complaining. Anyways, that wasn't y/n's business, because soon she would be his girlfriend, and she'd make her mom proud. Finally.

"Bye, Bennyboo," is all y/n heard Audrey say before the girl turned and walked away.

Y/n saw her opportunity and took it. "Hey, Bennyboo!" she greeted with a big smile.

Ben returned the smile enthusiastically. "Hey."

"I just made a batch of cookies. Double chocolate chip and blue sprinkles. Do you want one?"

The four other VKs nervously crowded around Ben, watching their plan unfold with nervous anticipation.

"Oh, I, uh, I've got a big game. I don't eat before a big game. But thank you so, so much. Thank you. Next time. Next time," Ben promised.

Just when they thought they lost it all, Mal quickly said, "No, yeah. I completely understand. 'Be careful of treats offered by kids of villains'."

"No, no, no," Ben tried to say.

"No, I'm sure every kid in Auradon knows that," y/n continued, her voice as manipulative as her sister's, if not more.

"No, that's not it. No, no, no, I... I really do..."

"Don't worry—I'm used to it." Emotional manipulation was sure to work on any Auradonian, so y/n thought. "Oh, well, more for me, I guess."

She lifted the cookie to her lips, pretending to take a bite, when, as she expected, Ben snatched the cookie from her hand.

"No, no. Hey... see that?" he said, taking a bite of the cookie. "Totally trust you. Totally."

"How are they?" y/n asked, her voice a little shaky.

"They're good. They're great! They're amazing! They're, uh... I mean, they're chewy and, and you know, they... blue sprinkles, right? I love blue sprinkles. I mean, uh, you know, the... The chocolate... The... the chocolate... The chocolate chips are... I'm sorry. Um... Uh, they're... They're warm and soft. And they're sweet... Y/n, have you always had those little electric blue flecks in your eyes?" he asked while peering into her face.

"Ummm..." she mumbled.

"How you feeling, bro?" Jay asked, coming up from behind him.

"I feel... I feel... I feel like... Like singing your name. Y/n! Y/n!" he shouted.

Before he could take another bite, y/n took the cookie from his hands. "Let's save it for after the game," she told him, smiling. "Or never," she then mumbled to herself.

***

The match was coming to a close, with Auradon Prep falling behind. Mal, Evie and y/n were anxiously watching from the stands to see if their players could close the gap while the cheerleaders continued cheering from the sidelines.

"This is a nail-biter, folks. There's 47 seconds left on the clock. We're all tied up. The Sherwood falcons, two. The Fighting Knights, two. What a game between Auradon's fiercest rivals," the announcer said. "The teams get into their huddles and take up positions along the kill zone. Akiho! The dragoneers have been laying down a withering hail of fire," he continued.

"And now a substitution..." the announcer declared.

"I wonder who they'll choose," Evie wondered aloud.

"He's bringing that hothead Jay in from the Isle of the Lost and that little guy Carlos can barely hold a shield," the announcer stated.

Mal smiled. "Make us proud, boys," she whispered.

"When they break from their huddles, this is gonna be a big moment here. And the tipoff is ready. Here we go. Long pass goes to Jay. Jay dishes off to prince Ben. Nice little block by Carlos. He does a little dancing jig in his opponent's face," the announcer illustrated. "And now Jay gets the ball back. Here comes Jay! Jay, hurdling manoeuvre at mid-field. Jay makes a nice pass to Prince Ben through the kill zone. Big block by Chad! Prince Ben moves over wide, gives it back to Jay. He's in the clear! Shot! Oh, what a save by Philip the Falcons' goalkeeper!"

A small break, and then...

"23 seconds left. You could cut the tension with a sword. The long ball is played into Jay. Jay, great jump, great leap. And a great move by Jay. Big block from Chad. Jay dishes off to Prince Ben. And then Carlos, with a big block, goes down. Jay through the kill zone, picks up Carlos. Oh, he's being hammered by dragon fire. Still, going on. Jay, hurdling manoeuvre at mid-field. He's in the clear. The ball goes back to Jay. He passes to Prince Ben. He scores! Prince Ben has won it! What an unselfish play by Jay! What a team! Incredible! And it's the new guys, Jay and Carlos, who set up the prince for the win here. What a victory!"

The Auradon Prep students cheered for the victory while the cheerleaders danced and waved their pompoms in the air.

"An absolutely wonderful end to one of the best games ever. Here they come, folks. The winners of the first tourn..." However, the announcer was cut off by Ben grabbing the mic and jumping on the stage.

"Excuse me. Excuse me. Can I have your attention, please? There's something I'd like to say," he told the crowd, who fell silent upon his request.

After a few moments of silence, he suddenly said, "Give me an L!" He raised an arm above his head and another to his side to form the letter.

"L!" the crowd chanted, copying his movement.

"Give me an O!" Another movement.

"O!"

"Give me a V!"

"V"!

"Give me an E!"

"E"!

"What does that spell?" he asked loudly.

"Love!" the crowd yelled.

"Come on, I can't hear you!" he spoke.

"Love!"

"I love you..."

Just when Audrey thought he'd shout her name, he screamed, "Y/n! I love you, y/n! Did I mention that?"

The crowd oohed as a flustered y/n felt her cheeks beat up with the sudden attention and public declaration of Ben's love for her.

"Give me a beat! Whoo!" Ben said.

"Uno, dos, tres, cuatro!" Doug chanted.

"Oh, my God!" Evie said.

"Cookie!" Mal and Evie exclaimed at the same time.

"What was in that cookie?" Mal asked.

Y/n chuckled. "Blue sprinkles."

The boys started dancing as Ben started singing, his eyes only focused on y/n as he sang the words meant for her.

Ben:

Did I mention that I'm in love with you?

And did I mention there's nothing I can do

And did I happen to say?

I dream of you everyday

But let me shout it out loud, if that's okay ay ay

If that's okay (Hey!)

I met this girl that rocked my world like it's never been rocked

And now I'm living just for her and I won't never stop

I never thought that it could happen to a guy like me

But now look at what you've done, you got me down on my knees

Because my love for you is ridiculous

I never knew

(Who knew?)

That it could be like this

My love for you is ridiculous

My love is R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S!

(R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S!)

It's (Ridiculous!)

Just (Ridiculous!)

And I would give my kingdom for just one kiss

Well did I mention that I'm in love with you

And did I mention there's nothing I can do

And did I happen to say?

I dream of you everyday

But let me shout it out loud, if that's okay ay ay

(Yeah!) If that's okay

I gotta know which way to go, c'mon gimme a sign

You gotta show me that you're only ever gonna be mine

Don't want to go another minute livin' without you

Cause if your heart just isn't in it, I don't know what I'd do

Because my love for you is ridiculous

I never knew

(Who knew?)

That it could be like this

My love for you is ridiculous

My love is R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S!

(R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S!)

It's (Ridiculous!)

Just (Ridiculous!)

And I would give my kingdom for just one kiss, c'mon now!

Alright! (Hey!)

Alright! (Hey!)

Ben took off his jersey and launched it to y/n, who caught it despite the multiple hands trying to grab it. She blushed slightly as she brought it close to her face, inhaling its scent.

Ben's teammates then launched him into the crowd, where he was lifted and guided to y/n.

Ben:

Because my love for you is ridiculous

I never knew

(Who knew?)

That it could be like this

My love for you is ridiculous

My love is R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S!

(R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S!)

It's (Ridiculous!)

Just (Ridiculous!)

And I would give my kingdom for just one kiss, c'mon now!

Ben tried to lean in for a kiss, but y/n held up the jersey to cover her face, still a blushing mess.

"I love you, y/n! Did I mention that?" he asked into the microphone.

Suddenly, Audrey grabbed the microphone and said, "Chad's my boyfriend now! And I'm going to the coronation with him. So I don't need your pity date." Then, she grabbed Chad's face and kissed him.

"Whoa!" the crowd exclaimed.

However, Ben ignored her and took the microphone back. "Y/n, will you go to the coronation with me?"

Y/n directed the mic close to her mouth. "Yes!" she exclaimed.

"She said yes!" Ben shouted triumphantly.

"Let's go, Ben. The whole team's waiting for you," Jay told him. "Besides, you should probably keep them away from y/n."

"Y/n! We love you!" the Tourney team exclaimed.

"I want to marry you, y/n!" one declared.

"Y/n, please kiss me!" another pleaded.

"Be my girlfriend, hotshot!" another shouted.

"What is wrong with them?" y/n asked Jay.

"Let's talk later," Jay said, offering her a tight-lipped smile.

Y/n glared at him. "What did you do?"

"Well, gotta go!" He took Ben's arm and pulled him away.

"Bye," Ben quickly called to y/n before being whisked away by Jay.

"Bye," y/n whispered, giving him a small wave.

"What a victory. What a day for the Auradon Knights, finally winning back the trophy after so many years," the announcer said.

Though everyone was cheering for the win, Evie's frown did not go unnoticed by Mal and y/n.

"I feel really sorry for Audrey," Mal started.

"You do?" Evie asked.

"Yeah," Mal said.

"I mean, she only defines herself by her looks," y/n said. "She's not gifted with talent or anything, unlike you."

"Yeah. I feel like if she were talented like you, and she knew how to sew and knew beauty tips, that she wouldn't need a prince to make her feel better about herself," Mal said.

Evie smiled at their words. "I guess I am kind of talented."

"You are definitely gifted," Mal told her.

"And not just a pretty face," y/n added.

"Thanks, guys," Evie told them. "You're the best friends I could ever ask for."

"Don't get all cheesy on me," Mal told her, nudging her slightly.

"Y-yeah," y/n stuttered, processing what Evie had called her. Friend. Did Evie see her as more than just her friend's sister? Did she consider y/n a friend too?

"And there he is. Jay, the most valuable player. How do you like that?" the announcer announced, concluding the game.