𝒪𝓃𝓁𝓎 𝒰𝓈

Ch.7

📍Alya's dorm
8:00pm

I'm sitting on my bed with Jane as we pick my dress colors for coronation. We both look up at the door when we hear knock. I'm honestly so tired of people knocking on my door. I hop off of the bed and open it. It's Ben.

I have an urge to roll my eyes, but I resist. I stare up into his green eyes, waiting for him to say something.

"Can I-" he clears his throat. "Can I come in?" He asks softly.

I step to the side, revealing Jane on my bed.

"Oh, you have company." He points out, looking down.

"I can leave, no worries." Jane nervously hops up and gets her stuff.

"Wait, Jane. It's okay, we can keep planning." I tell her. I really didn't want to talk to Ben after today.

"No no, it's fine. Really. My mom wants me in my dorm by 9 anyway." She pushes past an awkward Ben and I. She nods at Ben as she walks out.
"Bye, Aly!" She yells, walking down the hall.

"Bye, Jane." I wave unenthusiastically. So much for not being alone.

We stand there awkwardly. Without a choice, I step aside and hold my arm out, signaling for him to come in.

He walks past me, into the room, and spins around to look at me. I close the door behind him and lean on it, looking at him.

"So, I saw the footage." He rocks back and forth in his heels. "Of the museum." He crosses his arms and looks down.

I'm really wishing Carlos and Jay had done their job right about now.

"Ben, I'm sorry. What else do you want?" I say, softly, but annoyed.

"That's not what I want." He says.

"What is it?" I ask, cocking my head to the side.

"I wanna know what's going on with Hook." He says.

"Harry?" I look to the side, "What do you mean?"

"You looked...close. You snuck him in, harbored him, and was his little partner." He continues.

"Ben." I put my head down, disappointed.

"I saw the footage, Alya." He says. He never calls me Alya unless he's mad. It's been becoming a little too often now.

"We're friends, Ben. Are you serious?" I raise my voice, realizing how bizarre his accusation is.
"You're my soon to be husband. We chose each other. And you think something's going on between Harry and I? Ben, who do you think I am?" I ask.

"I don't want to fight."

"That's odd, seeing how you come in here throwing around accusations like that."

"I'm not accusing you, Alya. I just want the truth."

"Ever since we walked out of that cell I have not lied to you once. Not a single time." I sternly say.

"I know." He looks down.

There's a pause between us. I know he wants more out of me. I contemplate keeping it a secret, as he doesn't need to know. But it feels like the only thing that will begin to soothe the tension.

"We're old lovers." I say. He looks up at me.
"Way back on the Isle. But we were kids Ben, teen love. It was nothing." I say to him.

He shifts his weight and clears his throat. It's obvious that he's bothered and unsettled by what I'm telling him.

I walk over to him and unfold his arms. I thread mine under his and pull him into a hug. I feel him rest his lips on my head and hug me tight.

"Ben, I promise to god you're the only one I want." I say, head on his chest.

He repeatedly pecks my head and rubs his hand along my back. We embrace for a few minutes, just holding each other.