Who: Brooke & Ben What: A talk between the two When: A Wednesday morning near the end of January [Backdated!] Where: Stature Rating: TBD but probably not that high.
Brooke was never one to be shy or nervous about anything, especially when it came to sharing how she felt. Which was why the fact she was had her even more on edge and instead she was trying to busy herself to keep her mind off all that. This talk was one she had been avoiding mainly because she was torn when it came to her feelings. Why did the dome have to pull this shit? She had been handling things and now her life was upside down once again. Though Brooke knew if things didn’t go the way she was planning that she’d be fine even if it would suck. However, it was better to know now than keep putting it off. Texting Ben to come meet her at the store since she had to finish putting things together, Brooke had been in the back room when she heard someone who she figured was Ben. No one else should be here, but after thinking that she reminded herself of everything from back home. “I swear if someone is here to kill me, I have scarier people that will kill you,” she called out just in case it was anything along those lines. Her heels clicking on the floor as she made her way out to the main part with a pair of scissors just in case since it had been the nearest weapon near her hand. Dressed in jeans and a low cut top with her hair up in a clip, she smiled when she saw that she wasn’t going to have to stab someone or attempt to anyways. “Hey, thanks for coming,” she told him with a smile. —
He put his hands up a little, mostly out of habit - it wasn’t like she could actually stab him and kill him.
“Uh - sorry. I should have announced myself better.” Ben didn’t exactly naturally move around like an alive person did so the space he occupied always sounded a little off to people. He needed to figure out a way to do that part better somehow.
He offered her a smile as he lowered his hands. He was a bit nervous about their meeting, but he knew it had to happen. He also knew this sometimes happened with people who left and came back - they experienced a whole lifetime sometimes. That had to be weird coming back. He was pretty sure he remembered hearing about a girl who came back as a teenager after being an adult here for a while. That had to be super weird.
–
“No, you’re fine. Even though it’s been years since someone has tried to kill me, it’s more habit now to be slightly on the safer side sometimes when on my own,” she admitted to Ben. And considering for a few years now she had been sharing a place with her boyfriend back in her world it wasn’t like she was alone in their place that much. Brooke wasn’t even sure what was going to come of this though she knew she liked Ben and was hoping they would be good, but this talk was needed considering for her it had been years. A lot had changed in a sense. Yes, she was still her flirty, confident self but she had grown up quite a bit.
“You look good,” she told him with a smile, motioning for him to get comfortable or as comfortable as he could. She moved to sit on the counter of the store, knowing no one should be coming in. “Okay, I’m sorry I’ve been putting this off since well you know that isn’t normally my style. But I was trying to work out my feelings for you when I had memories of our relationship tied in with the one I have back in my own world,” she told him, knowing for some that might be surprising considering how anti-relationship she had been until Ben. After losing the man she loved, then everything with Seth, she hadn’t planned to get in another, but Stavo had won her over. Technically Ben had first, but Stavo did back in her world. “I was 17 when I went home, then came back 20 with having lived in New York with my boyfriend for a few years now so there was a lot to work out in my own head. However, I have figured it out for the most part or tried and I figured I’d see where your head was, answer anything, and see what we wanted to do.” Brooke was proud of herself cause she was being an adult rather than cutting all ties or going with some of her self-destructive choices, such as picking a fight to call it off or something like that.
–
Ben had suspected some of the things Brooke said as he leaned against the counter and listened. It made sense she found someone. Despite her reputation here, he was pretty sure most people could find someone right for them if they looked for it. Even someone like Klaus. It was mostly surprising to Ben that he didn’t feel hurt or jealous. It was a good surprise because he was sure that if he did, it’d be a lot more awkward, but somehow Ben just… didn’t. Maybe it was the fact he was dead and being a ghost for so long he’d already gotten used to the fact life went on without him. Or maybe it was that, to Ben, there was a clear divide in live in Madison and life back home in people’s worlds. Whatever the reason, he was just glad he didn’t feel a punch to the gut - figuratively speaking.
“I’m happy that you found someone back home.” Maybe he shouldn’t lead with this, but he meant it. “Are you happy? Does he treat you good?”
– Brooke was glad that Ben wasn’t one of those jealous types. Which she never saw him as the type, but there was no reason to be jealous as far as she was concerned. Brooke was a lot of things; however, she could say she never cheated. Didn’t mean she was innocent since she knew she still did a lot of shitty things over her the course of her life. There were plenty of people around here who she slept with but none where she considered getting into a relationship with or skipped out on an orgy for. That was all Ben, and that said a lot on her end. One of the reasons she was sitting here and talking to him to figure out what they both wanted like adults or at least, as close to adults as she could be.
A small smile did appear on hearing him say he was happy for her cause it did mean a lot, and the smile grew at the thought of Stavo. “Yes, to both. He was there for me when I got drugged trying to help me, there where I dealt with news I found out about my dad, and then when I lost my dad. I did think he was a killer, but that’s a whole long story. Still, he was and is always there for me and believes in me more than anyone,” she told Ben. It had been nice to have someone on her team, cheering for her considering the lack of belief her own parents had when it came to her. “However,” she added since she wanted to make herself clear, “you also make me happy and have treated me good while I’m here. It’s why I wanted to separate things in my own head. Though my feelings are for the most part the same when it comes to you minus the fact now I also know I have someone back home.” Brooke made a face, watching him. “Is any of that making sense?” Cause it didn’t feel like it but she was trying cause this was an odd situation.
—
As he listened, Ben nodded from time to time. Some of it he had already suspected, though the details were obviously new to him. He ended up smiling when she said he made her happy because that was definitely a good thing to hear. Even if they could just be friends from now on, Ben wanted to make sure that Brooke liked being around him. Thankfully it seemed like she didn’t want to call it off completely.
“Yeah, it does. I mean, I don’t think I’ll ever actually understand unless I get sent back home for a bit, but I get it as much as I can. And to be honest? I’m just glad you still remember me.” He knew some people came back without memories, after all. “You mean a lot to me Brooke.”
– Brooke saying that was a big deal considering it would’ve been harder for her to even admit before her time away. The idea of any type of relationship other than a sexual one was terrifying in many ways for her, not that she’d ever admit it. A Maddox was not meant to be scared of anything, but she saw she could do it. And maybe it came with being in one now for a few years, she didn’t fear turning out like her parent’s in that area. She could be in a relationship without going the route of self-destruction as she did sometimes. Calling things off was the last thought on her mind since no matter what Brooke did like Ben and he was an amazing man.
“This is my second time being sent home, which I’m just glad it didn’t have me underage again. That would have been bad and also pissed me off like it did the last time,” she admitted. At least, the dome hadn’t been stupid to do something like that again. Brooke laughed at his honest comment, leaning forward a bit. “And what would you say if I told you not to be honest with me? Cause you didn’t even need to be honest since I figured you’d be glad on that. It would suck if I didn’t remember you or any of the friends I made around here.” She could hear the comments from a few of her close friends on what they would say if she had forgotten them. Her smile grew at him saying she meant a lot, moving off the counter to stand in front of him. “How can I not? I’m awesome,” she teased, leaning up to kiss him before pulling back a bit. “You mean a lot to me as well. But,” she told him, “while I do want us to try things, I want to take it slow. Since I’m still trying to separate the thoughts that I’m not cheating on my boyfriend and being like my parents.” The one thing she never wanted, but she was making it known she wanted to be with Ben just still adjusting to having memories and knowing she had someone back home.
—
Ben nodded slowly. Did it hurt? Yes. But also Ben had been sort of preparing for something like this. Plus he was used to being disappointed throughout his ‘life’ that the idea that of course he couldn’t get what he wanted and things would go wrong was expected. Still, he gave her a smile because this wasn’t Brooke’s fault - none of it was Brooke’s fault and he didn’t want her to feel guilty.
“I get it. And I’m happy to do that.” He meant it, even if it sucked. He paused, then offered. “... Do you want to be just friends for a while?”
– Brooke looked a little surprised at the offer and shook her head though she could understand where the offer came from. Yes, Brooke was sure that would be easy, but she also knew herself even if she did believe her old habits were behind her. If she went with them as just friends, then it would allow her to drag her feet and probably even do something to avoid it. Brooke liked to think she wasn’t that walking disaster but deep down that girl still existed even if she had grown as a person. “No, because I want to be with you,” she admitted, and she did mean it. Though anyone who knew Brooke knew that cause she never said anything she didn’t mean. “I just want to take it slow and do things at our own pace. However, if you want to just be friends or that’s better for you, then we can do it that way? Your chance to bail if you want and I won’t blame you.” Brooke would never make that offer to anyone, but she did like Ben and she did know this wasn’t fair to him. He had missed out on a lot with being dead and a ghost, so she would understand if he wanted something else and someone else who wasn’t trying to figure things out at the moment. Another way she had grown, her ego was staying slightly in check at the moment.
–
Ben found himself relieved. While he’d have done it for Brooke, the fact she didn’t want to be just friends definitely solidified that he wanted to be with her. A small smile played on his lips with that realization. Though when she said he had a chance to bail, he held up his hands hastily. “No, no.” Just in case she thought he’d be okay with it. “No. I’d like to still see you. And I’m okay with going slow. As slow as you need. I promise.” He knew he could definitely do that. Mostly he just wanted her to be happy, though he could admit that he was glad it seemed like being with him meant she’d be happy. That was a nice little ego boost.
His smile remained. It might not go away for a while.
– Brooke knew herself, and knew if she had done the friendship thing that the chances were likely she’d find every reason to keep it that way. This made her face the problem rather than run from it, which also said a lot about her growth. Cause the Brooke from before even with knowing that would still have done the running. This older Brooke was determined to try and keep herself from setting it on fire before it even really started. “You sure? Cause it’s a one time only offer deal and I’m made sure my friends didn’t come give you hell,” she told him with a smile. Though she was sure a few would still do it, Brooke would still try; however, she was glad to hear that he didn’t seem to want to end this. “That’s all I ask is to take it slow, but I do want to be with you,” she told him, smiling before leaning up and kissing him again. And he did make her happy. He was the first person around here who had her even entering into a relationship so that was a big deal.
“If you want, you can come over tonight we can hang out with some food and a movie?” She offered since she was off from the club, and she would be done here by then. — If he were being truthful, Ben probably didn’t have a good grasp on what was ‘fast’ or ‘slow’, but he planned to let Brooke drive and he’d follow her lead.
His smile warmed. “Yeah, I’d like that very much.”