"Well, well. Isn’t this an exciting turn of events?"

Ben turned over on the bed and faced the door, his eyelids still heavy with sleep. His gaze passed quickly over the slender form at his side, who was slowly coming out of a heavy sleep, her tousled curls brushing the warm skin of his forearm. Then he saw the intruder.

Meghan was standing in the open doorway, the heavy make up on her face mingling with a very sarcastic little smile, "So, was she any good?"

Felicity awoke with a low groan and covered her face with one hand. Realizing the unusual warmth next to her in the bed, she turned her head to find Ben beside her, with one bare muscular thigh thrown over the edge of her soft comforter. She sat up, her face frozen in disbelief and shock.

Meghan eyed Ben’s thigh appreciatively before closing the door behind her. He sighed and pulled the covers back over his leg, wishing that he and Felicity might have had a chance to talk before they were so rudely interrupted. Or at least had the chance to get dressed.

Felicity blinked rapidly and watched Meghan grab a CD from one of the shelves by her own bed and then leave the room, laughing a little over her shoulder.

"Oh God…" Felicity sighed. Numbly, she got out of bed and moaned at the sudden pain that coursed through her head. She slowly made her way to her closet and pulled out a thick cotton robe, decorated with delicate green leaves. She pulled it on.

Ben watched her, perplexed at her silence. And then he smiled gently. She was so lovely with her wild thick hair tumbling down her back, the golden highlights catching fire as she walked past the window where the rays of sun caught the strands in their vivid, startling light. And the glow of her soft skin set his blood to boiling.

She went to the door that led to the hall outside and reached for the handle but hesitated, drew a short raspy breath and said softly without turning to face him, "I’m going to take a shower. Please go home."

Modesty was the last thing he was thinking about as he gracefully jumped from the bed in all his naked glory and strode quickly to the door before she could leave. Felicity’s eyes followed him warily when she heard him get up and she tried not to notice how beautiful he was without clothes.

His green-eyed gaze met hers searchingly, "Don’t you think we should talk about this?"

"I don’t want to talk about this. Or even think about it." She told him haltingly, unable to meet his eyes. She was incredibly embarrassed by both her behavior last night and his. How could he have let such a thing happen between them when she’d been drinking?

Suddenly, the door opened halfway, striking Felicity’s shoulder and knocking her back a few steps. Ben’s eyes turned dark with anger. This was the last person he wanted to see right now.

Burkey stuck his head inside and grinned at Ben, then Felicity, "Hey, Meghan said you had a guy in here. I had to come see for myself. I even bet her five bucks that it wasn’t true…"

Ben stepped forward, grabbed the edge of the door and promptly shut the door in the freshman’s face. Luckily Burky had great reflexes and jumped back just in time. Inside, Ben searched Felicity’s face for any sign of tenderness.

Her cloudy blue eyes were downcast, the line of her gentle lips unmoving and unreadable. She would give him nothing, he realized sadly. No indication that the night before had meant anything special to her.

"Felicity, last night…" He began carefully.

"No!" She suddenly spoke up, her eyes clashing with his in a sudden explosion, "I do not want to talk about this. Not now. Not ever! You completely took advantage of me when I was drunk out of my head. There’s no excuse for that!" Her trembling hands reached for the doorknob, turned it and then opened the door. The blue eyes that Ben saw before him were unrelenting and furious, "When I get back, I want you out of here."

Felicity left the room, closing the door sharply behind her. Ben stood there, his eyes and face reflecting the pain that had loomed up inside of him at her harsh words. He could not go back and change what had happened. He wasn't sure he even wanted to. That night had meant something to him. It had been a momentous happening that would reside within his mind for the rest of his life.

With a resolute sigh, he began to get dressed.

"You did what?" Elena inquired with raised eyebrows.

Felicity settled her chin on her crossed forearms as they sat at their usual table in Epstein's. She was exhausted and not really ready to talk about what had happened, but Elena had insisted.

"We slept together." She confirmed quietly, her eyes fixed on some distant object.

Elena's mouth curved upwards in a secret smile and then she tried to conceal it, knowing that she could not give away Ben's newfound talent. Not quite yet. She'd had an idea that wouldn't go away, and as soon as she saw Ben, she intended to tell him about it. But Felicity didn't need to know yet.

"Listen, maybe it's a good thing. I know you don't really want to get into this with him again, but maybe he's…. changed or something." She commented lightly, taking a sip of her coffee.

Felicity still suffered from a throbbing headache, and she didn't say anything more. She was mortified and actually really disappointed with herself. What had she done to give him the impression that she wanted him back? Her gaze became fixed on the street outside, and all of the people walking by.

Some were clad in business suits, some in jeans and sweatshirts. But they all seemed to reflect her own mood. Aggravated and distant, they passed by the window in a dreadful hurry, heading to work or school.

Sighing, she took a drink of her own coffee. It was going to be a long week.

"I'm telling you, Ben. It would be awesome." Elena prodded, unrelentingly.

She and Ben were at Sean's loft, going over some of the poetry he'd written in the past few weeks. She took a last look at the notebook and closed it, her dark eyes fixed on him in a determined manner.

"Elena, I could never do that. You know how bad I am at speaking in front of people." Ben shook his head, barely believing what she was suggesting. He was certainly proud of the poetry he'd written lately, but to read it aloud? In front of a group of people? No way.

"Come on." Elena tilted her head, "Maybe it could be your final step to opening up. Like we talked about before."

His emerald eyes settled on the notebook before him. It would be a huge risk, putting himself up there like that. Not just himself, but the poetry as well. And though he was happy about it, he wasn't sure that the words would really affect anyone but himself. And maybe Felicity. Why should anyone else care?

"Listen, Lynn said that Epstein's has an open door policy on this because it's a new thing they're trying out. Just put your name in, and if you change your mind let them know and they won't announce you or make you do it." She smiled slightly, "But I really think you should give it a try. It could mark a real turning point for you." She picked up her gray backpack from the sofa and headed towards the door. Pausing, she glanced back at him, "Just think about it, okay?"

"Okay, okay." He promised quickly, "I'll consider it."

The line at the bookstore was incredibly long, and Felicity had already been waiting for fifteen minutes, her arms filled with the textbooks she would need for her classes. She tried to read the time on her small gold watch, but couldn't because of the load she was carrying. It had to be at least 3:10 pm, she thought to herself. The Floor Meeting was scheduled for 3:30 and she was sure she'd never make it in time. That would give Meghan another thing to bug her about.

Ben paused as he was scanning for the American Sociology book he needed on the shelf before him. He sensed her here. Somehow, every nerve was alive in him and he felt her presence very strongly. It seemed like a warm breeze had passed through him and with an eager gleam in his eyes, he looked over. Yes, there she was.

Felicity was there, her tender young face turned in profile as she engaged the redheaded freshman next to her in easy conversation. She had pulled back her mass of golden brown hair and tied it with a navy blue ribbon, but a few very unruly tendrils had escaped their binding and were now falling gently against the sides of her slender neck. The worn blue jeans hugging her slight frame gave evidence of having been worn regularly, and the light yellow button down shirt seemed to accentuate the summer tan that still lingered on her face, neck and collarbone.

Ben struggled to maintain his dignity in the face of such beauty. Every time he saw her, he noticed something else that intrigued him. The way her eyes seemed to brighten when someone turned a friendly smile upon her. The gentle curve of her mouth when she heard a silly joke.

Then, as if he had simply called out her name, she turned. And the pair of eyes locked on each other. There was a magnitude of feeling there, in that heated gaze. One full of questions and tenderness. The other a barely disguised look of recognition and surprise.

But they did not speak to each other, Ben's lips parted slightly, as if he would try to say something, his eyes dark with unwavering passion. Then, someone rudely pushed past him in the noisy bookstore and he reconsidered his course of action.

This was not the right time, he told himself. Later. He dragged his gaze away from hers and took the book he needed from the shelf. Yes, he would have his chance to reveal his real feelings to her. And to gauge her reaction to them, as well.

Looking up at again, and catching the pair of blue eyes still fixed on him, he smiled gently, almost teasingly and disappeared down another isle. The time would come. And he would be ready.

Felicity watched his tall, retreating form with regret. Her gentle face took on a sad expression for a moment, then she turned back to the cashier who was about to ring up her purchases.

Epstein's was crowded. The people inside milled about in animated movements, excited by the new entertainment that would be taking place that evening. Even the bartenders, usually morose and unimpressed seemed to have an eager quickness in the way they served the patrons that evening.

Ben surveyed the growing throng of bodies with a twinge of nervousness. He only hoped that once his name was called, he would be able to step up and deliver something that they all might find inspiring. The source of his inspiration had not shown her lovely face yet, but Elena had assured him that Felicity would be there, come hell or high water.

He sighed and glanced down at the few crisp sheets of paper in his hands. He would do everything he could win her back and if that meant revealing his very soul to every person in that room, he was determined to do it. No matter the outcome. For the fourth time that evening, he searched the crowd for a familiar face, and found none.

The only person he knew there was Lynn, who was behind the bar. Not even Julie or Sean had been told about his plans that evening and he regretted it sorely. Keeping this adventure a secret had been hard, but this first time he knew he would have to accomplish the task on his own.

Finally, he saw Elena come through the door across the room and noticed immediately that she was alone. Heaviness settled over him as he realized that she'd failed in her attempt to drag Felicity away from the dorm. She approached his corner table and sat down with a tired sigh, shaking her head.

"Sometimes I really don’t understand that girl, you know?" She asked quickly.

"She's not coming?" Ben asked, setting the papers down in front of him. He looked alarmed, and she tried to reassure him.

"She said that she'll try to make it down here later. And don't worry. I didn't say anything about what you're going to do." She looked up as a waitress approached to take her drink order, "Just a diet soda, please."

He shook his head, "I don't know if I can do this, Elena. If she doesn't show up, it'll all be for nothing."

Her eyes narrowed, and her jaw tightened as she replied slowly, "Don't say that. You and I both know that this isn't just about Felicity. This is really about you. The person that you are inside and what you're capable of." She reached out and put a hand over his in a friendly gesture, "Whether she shows up or not, you need to let the world know who Ben Covington really is. You've been holding it back for a long time. Just let go."

He took a short breath and nodded. She was right. Felicity wasn't the only thing that mattered tonight. He was about to show everyone where his soul had been taking him over the past few weeks. All of the endless hours he'd spent writing and thinking and remembering. All of the words that had flooded those pages of his notebook, transporting him from the harsh reality he'd known into a brighter place, full of possibilities. There was opportunity here. And he would extract from it every glimmer of hope that he could. Not just for her. But for him too.

He heard his name called at a quarter past ten. And it didn't seem to change his mood, knowing that Felicity had not yet shown up. Because the words inside refused to be pushed aside. They hummed inside his brain like a desperately fluttering bird, eager to be released from a cage that had held it prisoner for far too long.

Elena watched him leave the table, and glanced around her as the crowd began to grow quiet again. Ben made his way through the tables and approached the stage, a fierce flow of emotion sweeping through him. This was his time. The paper in his hands felt solid and familiar. The words written there seemed to be permanently etched in his mind, and he didn't think he'd need to look at them to recall what he'd put there.

Across the room, a pair of eyes watched him warily. Felicity had entered the building unnoticed, wearing a pale blue sweater and cream colored corduroy pants. She stood against the wall by the door, unable to take her eyes off the imposing figure now standing upon the small stage with the microphone before him.

It was a few moments before the words began to come forward. The depth and feeling of his tone reaching her clearly, and she pressed her arms close against her sides as she listened to him speak. It was as if everyone else in the room had disappeared suddenly, and she felt the expanse between she and Ben shorten. He seemed to be only a few scant inches away. She found herself holding her breath.

He gave the people a shy grin and said softly, "This poem is called 'Seeking Peace'. I hope you like it." And then he began.

"The street is dark, my steps are slow.

Why I'm here, I do not know.

I feel the rain. It falls in sweeps.

I cannot help the sky. It weeps."

"My heart thumps slow, a steady beat.

In deep thought, I cross the street.

Standing still, I see her there.

She stands alone and does not care."

"Shining eyes, her smile is bright.

The rain is gone. It flees the light.

I cannot hide it, this deep dark pain.

She touches me, an act in vain."

"My fear is real. It's plain to see.

With worried eyes, she frowns at me.

I shake my head in mute reply.

She'll never know the reason why."

" I can't explain and I can't tell.

I only know that I'm in hell.

Trapped inside myself for good,

Never getting what I should."

"Caught by constant, blackened fear,

Fried inside by lies I hear.

Monsters chase me in the night,

Catch me though I try to fight."

"Hold me captive, threaten death.

Burn my soul, take my breath.

Perhaps it's just inside my mind,

These visions of the evil kind."

"But there she is, she offers peace.

She could secure my pure release.

What she might give could set me free.

If I could let the demons be."

"I slip into her warm embrace,

And feel her lips upon my face.

Somehow, I feel I'll win this fight.

I know dawn will destroy the night."

He finished, and released a cleansing breath. The crowd was quietly contemplating, until one pair of hands began to clap. Then another pair joined the first, and another. Slowly, the whole room began to get caught up in the intensity and they rose, still applauding this new face before them. Praising the words that he had uttered with such desire. And Ben smiled.

The figure that stood across the room from him barely noticed the roar of the crowd before her. Hot shining tears fell from blue eyes and she wiped them away without taking her gaze from him. Nothing could have prepared her for such a revelation. And no one on Earth could have moved her with the same force that he just had. She could not imagine that this man was the same one she'd followed to New York a year ago.

He smiled, thanked the crowd quietly and took his leave, stepping off of the stage. Only then did he notice Felicity standing near the door, her face exposing a abundance of wordless feeling. She smiled at him, her lips curving upward in a warm welcome.

And he knew. The reconstruction had truly begun.

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THE END.