Unwanted Ultimatum

[Ben London]

"I won't spread it around if you don't want me to," Ben said with another grin, "We can leave the spreading to Ivy." He nudged Beni playfully and chortled. He was really trying to make the best of this situation, even thought he was still angry that there was a chance Beni could leave him. He didn't want her to go anywhere.

Why can't you just say it to her, you big dolt? he scolded himself, just tell her you love her! Ben knew that he did. There was no doubt in his mind about it, even though they'd only known each other for a short time. He really wanted to tell her, but those three words were said too much. He knew they weren't enough, but they were all he could think of to tell her how he really felt.
"Beni, I...I think...I know..that...I-I," he took a deep breath before he actually said it, "I love you."

[Benita Hendrix-London]

Goodness, had this ever happened before? At this time, her knowledge was garbled, she couldn't remember. She gulped... in her mind. Her smile was weak now, despite her efforts to feign confidence. She always had a hard time admitting such things. She could say it to her parents, to friends in a friend way, etc. But was it ever easy to say to her better half? That was a no for her. And it was still a mystery to her... Alright, this you can do! You know what the Mexicans say! SI SE PUEDE! You can do it, Beni girl. You can do it...

Her leg involuntarily twitched.

With an assuring smile and a confident sigh, she took his hand in both of hers, looked in his eyes, and... "I love.... you?" DAMN!!! You did not just say it that way, did you? O-double-M, he's definitely going to hate you now... At that last word, she looked crushed, obviously feeling the defeat of her own words. "I'm so so so so sorry.... I'm so bad at this part." She sighed again, but it was anything but confident. Her eye contact was broken, and she loosened her grip on his hand (he must've felt her quick grasp when she first realised how badly she made her own confession). She wondered how ready she felt to say it. Am I really? It seemed weird, Beni Hendrix not knowing her way around a relationship... she usually had everything in check.

[Ben London]

Ben just smiled, not really caring about the way Beni said it. He knew how she meant it, and that was enough for him. He brought his hand up and gently stroked her cheek, looking into her eyes.
"Its OK," he replied quietly, "You don't have to say it right now. Say it when you mean it, and I don't care how it comes out." Ben grinned at her, and kissed Beni softly again. That was his favourite part, kissing her.

[Benita Hendrix-London]

So he didn't flip out. He wasn't even sad. He... accepted it. Beni had felt absolutely speechless for that moment, as if she couldn't figure out what had happened. But halfway through the kiss she knew that sitting like a mannequin wasn't going to help her any. She was elated to see him still loving her, still kissing her even after she told him she wasn't ready to out and say the "words".

She had to smile into the kiss and eventually break out into a small fit of giggles. "You might just make this easy on me," she remarked. She was appreciating him more than ever.

[Ben London]

Ben smiled warmly at her as she burst into a fit of giggles and spoke.
"It's what I'm trying for," Ben replied coolly, touching her cheek again softly. For a while, The Hufflepuff just gazed into Beni's eyes, letting himself get lost in them. He couldn't really explain it, but he just loved being around her. She just seemed to be so full of life and laughter, and it was contagious. She just made him happy, simple as that.

"Well," Ben started, "Now that my bottom is totally numb from sitting on the floor..." Ben began to stand up slowly, and brushed himself off, reaching out a hand to help Beni up too.

[Benita Hendrix-London]

"I believe we're onto a pattern here," Beni said with a laugh as she grabbed hold of his hand and jumped up herself. She briefly recalled his hair appointment that turned into their first date, and how they were definitely numb from the cold ground. The wait between that date to the first time she saw him after the winter break was excruciating, but it was well worth it. If we can wait two weeks, can we wait for months at a time? She found herself asking.

But because the camp-in never got off on a good foot, an owl came right in. How these people at Fourier-Fourier knew where she was was beyond her. But as she took the letter, she was surprised to see not a disappointing letter from them, but a thick letter from one of the other leading companies, De Le Coeur. Unwrapping it, she skimmed through it, her eyes managing the fast movement while also expressing themselves in joy.

"It's DLC... they want me, too!" She looked up finally, her smile as wider than ever. "But they don't want me now... they want me to start in mid-June!!" She did a sort of hyperventilating laugh, one that could believe her eyes or her ears. She didn't have to leave school at all!

[Ben London]

Ben was about to say something when he was cut off by the flapping of wings as an owl came fluttering into the room. Ben jumped slightly, definitely not expecting it and even yelped slightly.
"What the bloody hell..." Ben asked allowed, moving to stand behind Beni and read over her should. He didn't actually get close enough to, however, as he was once again interrupted by her sudden cheer.

He was thrilled. Seriously. Ben was so happy for her now, and was go glad she wasn't going to leave him just yet. Grinning broadly, Ben wrapped his arms around Beni, pulling her into yet another tight hug.
"That's great!" he exclaimed, "Really, really brilliant! Congratulations!" Ben leaned down and kissed her again, just feeling so happy. Maybe this was going to be a good thing after all.

"Is there anything else I should know about now?" he asked her, chuckling slightly, "Any other surprises?"

[Benita Hendrix-London]

Beni gave an excited yelp herself and clung to Ben as well as look at the letter. This was sheer luck, she thought. No, no... it was her talent that brought her this. And for it, she now didn't have to cut out time with her boyfriend.

"I could think of a few that I should probably tell you..." She said like a devilish tease. "But wouldn't that just knock the mystery out of me?" With a grin, she stood high up and kissed him deeply, her letter that had been clutched tightly now was losig its grip and soon fell to the ground.

[Ben London]

"I always like a little mystery," Ben replied slyly, with a mischievous grin plastered across his face. He grinned still as he kissed Beni once more, the feeling never getting old. Ben couldn't keep the smile off his face as they continued the lip-lock until he finally broke it, still smiling, and looked down at Beni, resting his forehead against hers.

"I'm so glad I met you, Beni," he told her, although he was sure he'd said it before and his writer was too lazy to check other threads to be sure, "Truly I am. I can't imagine life without you now."

[Benita Hendrix-London]

"I don't know how I could have gone on without you," Beni admitted timidly. "I would have gone there, but it would have felt too painful to leave you." She sighed and smiled. "There's not much to worry though now! I've got all the time in the world." Ironically, it wouldn't be enough....

[Ben London]

Ben smiled at Beni's words. It was nice to know that he actually meant something to someone for a change. His family had never even really like him that much. The sad middle child, always getting overlooked. But no matter now, he had Beni, she was his world, and thats all that really mattered.

"All the time in the world seems a little much," Ben pointed out, "But we do still have time. I dunno what I'm gonna do when this year is over. I wish I had come here earlier."

[Benita Hendrix-London]

Beni nodded, noting her own exaggeration. But if they let it, they could have an eternity's worth of memories to create. "I think it's time for our regrets to go away and just live the moment. No regrets." She smiled. For the moment, she wanted to touch his face, and she did. Caressing his face, she held her gaze in his eyes.

[Ben London]

Ben returned the smile, and touched her hand that was on his cheek, holding it there so she wouldn't be able to take it away. There was no way he was going to let her soft touch get away from him just yet. He sighed slightly, looking into her eyes and realize how little time they really had. But they were going to have to make the best of it. Beni was absolutely right. No regrets.

"I don't think there's anything we can do together that I'll regret," Ben replied, still smiling down at his girlfriend. He kissed her again softly, and then changed to a topic he really didn't want to discuss, but figured it was best if they did now, before this whole "no regrets" thing.

"What's gonna happen to us, Beni?" he asked her quietly, realizing he was now repeating himself from earlier on, "What are we going to do after this year? We'll still be able to see each other, right?"

[Benita Hendrix-London]

"I believe it's safe to say it," Beni said with her steady smile. She wondered how it would work out, though. She would be going into the apartment complex that her mother had built, thankfully with a discount, and she'd be apparating from wherever she needed to go from there.

But what about the two? She pondered this, and wondered with a shock if they had to break up because of this. But it didn't have to happen, did it?

She looked at him, wondering if this was the right time to ask him. She couldn't say "I love you", yet this coming felt less difficult. Why? She was an expedient young woman, thinking little or nothing of her actions, but she always had good faith that better things could come of it.

Her eyes widening, she asked with a heavy and nervous heart, "What do you think of... of us living together?" She wasn't going to expect anything, but she wanted an answer.

[Ben London]

Ben watched the girl for a moment. He watched her curiously, wondering what she was thinking. It seemed as though she wanted to ask him something, but wasn't sure how. He was about to ask her what was wrong, when she finally said it. Ben had to admit, he was slightly taken aback. She couldn't say she loved him, but moving in together was no problem? Sure it was a little weird, but he wasn't going to complain. Moving in the possibly the greatest girl on the planet. He'd be stupid to say no.

"Seriously?" he asked her incredulously, "That would be...amazing. Seriously, that's a great idea! But...where?" So many things were tumbling through Ben's head now. They'd have to find somewhere to live, he'd have to get a job if they were planning on actually staying there. Rent, and food and things they'd need. It better be a damn good job.