Benielle: It's Complicated

Sixteen

Quick Author's Note: 

Hi everyone! Sorry for the late upload. I usually post on Thursdays around 4pm EST  but for some reason, the chapter didn't post properly this time. Here it is now, and I hope you like it! Thank you for all of the love you've been giving this story. I really enjoy reading and responding to your comments. 

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~Flashback~

Michael: "So what do you think?"

*Ben covers his face with his hands* Ben: "I'm sorry Michael, but no. I can't do it and I won't do it. It's not right."

Michael: "But it'll be different. The story is no longer specifically about you. We could get a really good thing going here, Ben."

Ben: "Our show carries a legacy. It's fragile. It could shatter."

Michael: "What, you don't think we could do it again?"

Ben: "You can't predict anything, Michael. The world is so different today, the kids are different, the way they do things are different. It's not that I don't believe in you, it's that I don't trust television climate. I'm not setting the Boy Meets World name up for failure."

Michael: "...Then let's do Girl Meets World. Let's change it up and let everyone know that we're changing it up."

Ben: "But what if they don't like it? People don't like change, especially when you're messing with old characters they used to love."

Michael: "Didn't I teach you anything all those years? Change can be good. It can work."

Ben: "But this whole network thing... I don't know. ABC gave you a lot of freedom to write."

Michael: "The only thing different is no Corpanga sex scenes."

Ben: "Damn it, I'm out."

Michael: "Oh stop! We'll make it work, Ben. This is going to be my baby too. We'll figure it out and keep it true to what it is."

Ben: "So wait. Danielle is on board?"

Michael: "I'm not sure yet. I've only had a couple of network discussions and then this talk with you."

Ben: "We're not doing this without Danielle, I hope you know that. No writing her out, no re-casting her. If Danielle's not going to do it, then I'm out for real. That's my condition."

Michael: "Deal."

~Flashback over~

Danielle's POV:

When Michael gave me a run down of the project years ago, it was so appealing. I had some logistics to figure out, but of course I agreed to come back. Plus, he said the show was basically contingent on my return. What can I say? Ben and I are a power duo. We were all very careful in putting this show together, but I think it bothered Ben a little more than everyone else. He was very protective and wanted control over a lot of the aspects of the new show. I remember sitting with him and Michael during casting. Ben hand-selected every cast member which was really important to him (and all of us) considering that they are the reincarnations of our past. We worked closely with Michael on this vision. We wanted Girl Meets World to be genuine, real, and keeping true to our old roots while trying to avoid an overwhelming sense of redundancy. Although our primary audience, once again, is the young generation, our idea was to have this show have a high level of impact on both audiences in their own ways.

Ben's POV:

When Danielle texted me and said she was in, I called Michael and told him to get ready to do this. Danielle confirmed to be on board, we had the safety of a new name, and the concept would be new for us since Corpanga had kids now! Those are probably the three sole reasons I decided to really do this. It sparked a new kind of excitement in me, until reality struck in: I had to recreate Cory. I'm not going to lie, I had a lot of trouble starting out. I was left asking myself "Who is Cory now?" The break between the end of the last show and the start of the new show were The Lost Years, not only for Cory but for Ben. What's been going on for either of them, I couldn't tell ya. Channeling adult-Cory took a lot of soul searching within myself. I knew he was in there and never really left. "Hiba-nation is ova! Come on out and pull up your big boy unda-pants!" After realizing and discovering who Cory is and who he became, I wanted to be him for real. I mean, I've always envied Cory's life, but now even more so – he's grown up, dream job, married with kids. I'm none of those things. His life is perfect, and maybe it's because he's a fictional character, but I'm still the one that portrays him. There's still a sense of realism within me. I get so sick of my own life sometimes and just wish I could be him and have what he has. But who doesn't wish they could live the life of a fictional character?