Be With Me

Chapter Thirteen

When she was finished with training, Ben took her to a Chili's Grill & Bar where they enjoyed a nice Tex-Mex meal and each other's company. Rey noticed how many times she couldn't resist a smile when she looked at him and felt her stomach flutter whenever he smiled back. She found him to be very easy to talk to and she felt completely comfortable in his presence. Ben Solo was a very reserved and seemingly daunting young man but when you got to know him and spend some time with him he was an incredibly affable person. "So, on Sunday we're doing a double feature of Hocus Pocus if you wanna come," Rey spoke softly, now knowing he wasn't the Halloween enthusiast that her and her friends were. "We do a movie night before Halloween every year and since the new Hocus Pocus movie came out, we're watching both."

"Who's we?" Ben asked, taking a sip from his Pepsi.

"Poe, Finn, Kaydell, Rose and me," Rey leaned against the table with her forearms and hands under the table and giving him a sweet, pleading simper.

"Are you sure the others would want me there?"

"Of course. They won't have a problem with it," she lied, knowing full well that Finn would be rather displeased.

"I mean," he pushed his hair back and blew air threw his teeth expressing hesitation. "If they're fine with it, sure. Where?"

"This year at my house. We switch it up every year."

"This is starting to sound like an annual thing where you'd... go all out."

"Don't worry, Ben nobody is getting dressed up or anything. Just snacks and a movie. It's very casual."

"Mmh," he gave her an unconvinced look. "Alright, I'll swing by." Rey grinned and she could tell he was still reluctant but accepted the invitation for her sake.

The next day, Ben didn't come to school and Saturday he told her he'd be helping with the renovations at his friends house again, so Rey was very excited to see him and her friends after her ballet lesson. After class, little Anna had asked about the racer again and Rey promised her to bring him soon. When she had mentioned to her friends that Ben was coming, they were all fine with it but Finn stayed silent. He didn't verbally oppose to it but she knew he wasn't happy about it either. She hung up string lights with little bats all around her room and decorated her shelves with pumpkins and other Halloween decorations. As it got closer to the time the others would arrive, she ran downstairs to make popcorn and fetch other snacks and beverages. Unkar was sitting in his recliner watching Columbo, beer in hand and a bowl of chips on his lap. When the doorbell rang, he didn't budge and Rey ran to the door to invite her friends in. Poe, Finn and Kaydell stepped in and greeted Unkar who acknowledged them by raising his beer towards them but without looking away from the TV screen. The bell rang again and when she opened the door she found Rose with Ben Solo right behind her.

"Look who I found," Rose said pointing up at Ben who was so much taller than her.

"Yeah, I saw her walking all alone and I couldn't stop without asking if she was looking for her mommy," Ben teased to which Rose punched him in his ribs making him slightly hunch over and letting out a soft huff.

"Careful, Solo. I have the perfect height to reach other sensitive areas," she warned him with a raised brow. He grinned at her and they stepped inside, took off their shoes and greeted Rey and then the others. When Ben stepped inside Unkar shifted in his recliner and she could see his tired, blue eyes stare straight at Ben.

"Oh, Unkar," Rey addressed her adoptive father, "this is Ben Solo. Ben this is Unkar." Ben walked over to him and reached out his hand towards him. Unkar wiped his hand on his jeans and took Ben's hand.