𝗪𝗛𝝖𝝩 𝝤𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗪𝝖𝗦 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗘
Ben Florian and Claire Fitzherbert were head over heels in love. Their love was the kind of love that was forever and nothing could come between it. Or at least that's what they thought
descendants.
book one. ben fl...
chapter seventeen. apologies and fireworks 𝗪𝗛𝝖𝝩 𝝤𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗪𝝖𝗦 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗘
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ONCE THE CHAOS of the event had died down, people started to file out of the hall to find the friends and family.
Claire stood with Audrey, Chad and Neville. Ben was off to the side talking to his parents and fairy godmother.
Someone called Claire's name. When she turned to see who it was, it was Theodore.
Claire was quick to apologize, "I'm so sorry about earlier. Belle pulled me away before I even had the chance to come back and tell you. You know how she can be."
"Don't I know it."
When they (Audrey, Claire, Ben, Theo and Neville) were younger Belle was always hovering around somewhere, always telling them to stay in a group, never go off without telling someone first, and to never trust strangers.
Their parents didn't have a very good track record with some of those.
"You're not mad?"
"Of course not," Theodore assures her. After all how on earth could he be mad at her. He spoke looking over her shoulder, "I'm gonna go check on my parents, it looks like yours want you to do the same."
Claire looked behind her in the same direction Theodore just was looking. He was right, there stood rapunzel and Eugene waiting for her.
"I'll see you later than?"
"Definitely."
Claire left him with a peck on the cheek and headed towards her parents. When she met them they both immediately brought her into a hug.
They were holding her so tightly that it felt like they were crushing her. Gasping Claire says, "mom, dad, I can't breathe. You're squishing me."
Their grip loosiened a little but they still wouldn't let go, not yet.
"We're so glad you're okay," Rapunzel says for both her and her husband, kissing her daughter's hair.
The family of three stayed like that for a while, in each others embrace safe and sound.
⋆˙⟡
THE NIGHT WENT on and the celebration for the new kind began. Everyone was either dancing or chatting with their friends.
Claire and Audrey spent a long time together on the dance floor before going their own ways.
Claire stood alone on the balcony of the courtyard over looking the celebration going on down below and all around her.
From where she was she had a perfect view of Chad begging Audrey to dance with him and following her around like a puppy when she denied his request.
From behind her a voice croaked, "Claire."
Claire tuned to find the other woman in purple, "Mal?"
"Mind if I join you," she asks. When Claire nods Mal comes to stand beside her. "Auradon can throw quite the party."
"We sure can."
"Look, Claire," Mal started. "I truly am sorry for all the things I have done and put you through since I got here. I know it's a long shot but is there anyway you can ever forgive me?"
The last thing she and her friends needed after all of this was to be sent back to the isle because of the bad blood between her and the future queen.
Claire sighed. She may bug Ben for being too trusting but Claire is too forgiving for her own good.
"I can forgive you for why you did what you did," she paused making Mal hold her breath. "I understand that you did what you did because thought you needed to and you had to live up to your mother's expectations. But just because I understand that doesn't mean I didn't get hurt in the process and i can't forgive you for that, at least not yet."
That was better than Mal thought.
"I understand."
She gave the blonde a smile and thanks before leaving her alone again to go join Evie who watched for the sidelines.
Claire time alone didn't last long though as another individual invited himself to stand beside her.
"Hey Claire-Bear."
"Hey Benji," she greeted him back.
Ben notice that she didn't spare him a glance continuing to over see their celebrating peers. He leased against the railing, joining her in observing the crowd.
Every few seconds though, his gaze would trail back to the breath-taking Blonde next to him.
"You look beautiful, Claire," Ben swears.
She tilled her head so he wouldn't be able to see her growing rosy cheeks. She hated how much of an effect Ben had on her. "Thank you."
"So." Hesitantly he continues, needing to know if he ever has a chance of getting his love back. "You and Theodore?"
Sensing his worries and wanting nothing more than to ease them Claire admits, "I don't think so."
No. She knew so.
She knew that no matter how perfect and Theodore could be he wasn't Ben.
Ben dropped his and let out a strong breath of relief causing his gold crown to tilt of his head. In attempt to cover it up he said, "that's too bad."
Claire nodded, nether confirming nor denying that.
"I really am sorry Claire," he apologized for what felt like and probably was the one hundredth time.
"I know." Claire smiled as proof that she truly did believe him and their fallout wasn't even his fault. "I just need some more time."
"Okay." Ben really wanted to ask 'how much time?' but he also didn't want to push her. Not that the amount of time she needed would have mater.
If it was a day or a year, it didn't matter because in the end he'd wait as long as it took in order for him to call her his again.
To shed some light on the damped mood of the party, Claire turned to fully face the man infront of hers. She looked proud. "So you're the king now, huh?"
The blonde smirk as she reached up to straight out his once tilted crown.
"I guess I am, aren't I," Ben teased.
The music playing over their conversation switched and everyone made their way to the dance floor as fireworks began to light up the once dark sky.
Ben offered Claire his hand. "A dance, m'lady?"
"A dance, kind sir," Claire laughed taking Ben's hand and letting him lead her to the dance floor.
