Singles Will Be Paired- BENRIUS

UNCHARTED TERRITORIES

It was next morning and the group began to stir, slowly awakening from their night's rest, the faint rustle of blankets and the shuffling of feet filling the air.

Ben and Darius, having shared the bed for the night, found themselves stirring awake almost simultaneously, the remnants of their conversation from the night before lingering in their thoughts. As they slowly rose from their makeshift slumber, a quiet sense of camaraderie hung between them, a silent understanding shared in the soft morning light.

With a stretch and a yawn, Ben sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He glanced at Darius, who was already sitting upright, quietly gathering his thoughts as the morning brought with it a sense of renewed energy.

"Morning," Darius greeted softly, offering a reassuring smile to Ben, who returned it with a nod.

"Hey," Ben replied, his voice still carrying the weight of their previous conversation but tinged with a newfound sense of determination.

The rest of the group began to rouse from their sleep, their morning routine gradually falling into place as they prepared for another day on the island. Brooklyn rummaged through their supplies, scavenging for breakfast items while Kenji and Sammy engaged in playful banter, their laughter echoing in the confined space of the bunker.

Yaz stretched her limbs, letting out a satisfied sigh as she surveyed the small space, her gaze landing on Ben and Darius. She offered them a warm smile, a silent gesture of support that didn't need words.
Although Darius didn't notice, Ben saw the friend's gesture and smiled back at her.

Once they were making eyes contact, she looked to Darius then back at Ben and raised her eyebrows in a teasing way while wearing a smirk on her face, making Ben's cheeks immediately flush into a shade of pink, his embarrassment evident, feeling the warmth of a blush spreading across his face.

Yaz couldn't help but giggle at Ben's adorable reaction, her laughter ringing softly in the confined space of the bunker. The lighthearted moment between them added a touch of playfulness amidst the atmosphere, and Ben, although slightly embarrassed, couldn't help but find the situation amusing.

A little while later, finding a moment away from the rest of the group, Ben sought an opportunity to have a private conversation with Yaz. Nervously, he approached her.

"Hey, Yaz, do you have a minute? I wanted to talk to you about something," Ben asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the nerves.

Yaz turned to face Ben, noticing the seriousness in his tone. "Yeah, sure, what's up?"

"Um, I know this is a weird question but, I was wondering... how did you know you were in love with Sammy?" Ben questioned, a touch of uncertainty in his voice.

Yaz's face softened with a warm smile as she reminisced. "Well, it's hard to explain, but I just felt this... connection. Like, she was someone I always wanted to be around. I cared about so much about her happiness, and it's like what I told you before we started dating, when I think about me with Sammy, it just feels.. right"

Ben nodded, processing her words. "Right. I actually never really... felt that way about anyone. I mean, I've never had a crush or anything. It's always been so.. confusing!" he said looking down

Yaz tilted her head, understanding dawning in her eyes. "It's okay, Ben. Not everyone experiences things the same way. Maybe it's just a matter of time or meeting the right person."