Benielle: It's Complicated

Eighteen

Danielle: "You forgot your scarf at my house the other day! I figured you'd eventually miss it."

Sabrina: "Ahh yes! My favourite scarf. Thanks! And you can give this CD back to Tim. Tell him it was one of the best albums I've heard in a long time."

Danielle: "Here, I'll just give you his number and you can let him know yourself."

*She gives her the number and Sabrina leaves*

*Danielle turns to Ben*  Danielle: "What's up, my darling?"

Ben: "Sabrina was over to visit again?"

Danielle: "Um, yeah? Her and Tim have a good time. And it gets her out of her house."

Ben: "Why won't she talk to me? Why does she gravitate to Tim?"

Danielle: "She can pick and choose who she wants to confide in, you know. Tim's not a bad guy. Stop making him seem like one."

Ben: "I never said that he was a bad guy, it just bothers me that– Never mind."

Danielle: "No, finish that sentence. What bothers you so much about him?"

*Ben looks at the ground and doesn't answer*

Danielle: "Well let me know when you mature a little and can answer that."

*Danielle storms off, leaving Ben in his thoughts*

~Later that night~

Ben: "I know I said I'd wait until you got here, but it was calling my name."

Rider: "If the booze is calling your name, I think you've had a little bit too much of it already."

Ben: "What can I say? It likes me. Everyone likes me."

*Rider grabs the bottle to take a look*  Rider: "The good stuff, eh? How come you never just settle for a glass of wine or something?"

Ben: "Where's the fun in that? If I had my own drink, would 'The Ben Savage'  be a lightweight's drink?"

Rider: "Don't answer my questions with questions."

Ben: "Move over, Jack Daniels! Ben Savage is the new stuff that'll make underage kids gag and hurl on prom night."

Rider: "I so didn't need that image. But bring that shit to a wedding though and there will be no holding back!"

Ben: "Ahhh that's it, my brotha!"

*Rider laughs and takes a shot with Ben*

Rider: "So what's going on man? What's the occasion?"

Ben: "I want kids."

*Rider spits out his drink*

Ben: "...Are you reacting to what I said or is this stuff too strong for you?"

Rider: "I'm debating whether it'd be better for me to have this conversation sober or if I should knock a few back first. What?! What are you talking about Ben?"

Ben: "What am I doing with my life, man? I'm missing out on my prime days."

Rider: "Prime days? You still drink like a college kid so I don't know what you're talking about."

Ben: "Forget the booze! I wish I had a little family of my own. I'd give it all up to have that."

Rider: "Okay but you don't just get to have a family over night you know."

Ben: "...But Danielle did."

Rider: "Oh god Ben, what is this about?"

*Ben mixes a drink and swirls it in his hand*

Ben: "Sabrina's going through some stuff at home so she's been relying on Danielle for support. But since she's always at her house, she's grown so close to Tim. Rider, I want to be the guy she can go to!"

Rider: "You know, you always say you wish you could be Cory but I see it more and more in you every time. Just like him, you're jealous of the things you can't control."

*Ben slams his drink down disappointedly*  Ben: "Don't side with them Rider."

Rider: "I'm not siding with anyone! Ben, you're my best friend. I'm just trying to be the voice of reason here."

Ben: "I want her to want me."

Rider: "Ben, she's married, it's-"

Ben: "I was talking about Sabrina."

Rider: "...Oh. Well let me ask you this. Do you want this connection with her only because another man has it right now? What are your intentions here? You can't go fucking around with other people's feelings for your own benefit."

*Ben stands up and throws his hands on the table*

Ben: "I just want what they have! I want what everybody else has!"

*Rider moves Ben's glass away so he can't have any more*

Rider: "Buddy, listen, you might think you want what everybody else has, but we've all got our problems. You think Danielle's life is perfect? You know Sabrina's isn't. And yours isn't either. But we've all got some good going on for us too."

*Ben plops back down exhausted*

Ben: "So what do you suggest I do?"

Rider: "Put your problems aside and be who you wanna be. Stop living in the past and let yourself be open to finding that someone who you can picture yourself having a family with."

Ben: "But what if living in the past is the only place I can find that person...?"

*Rider sighs heavily*  Rider: "Don't make me say it, Ben."

*Ben gives Rider a smug glance*

Rider: "Don't you dare make me go there."

*Ben raises his eyebrows and looks Rider straight in the eyes*

Rider: "Goddamn it Ben. Go get Danielle."