Finding Balance (Reylo)

4- A Strange Meeting

I looked around at the coffee shop, at all the people. Women with caked on makeup, heels, short shorts and low neck shirts, ordering fancy lattes. The young girls were close to the same- Makeup, flats, short shorts and crop tops that covered almost nothing. The men and boys in business suits or jeans and gaming shirts. The there was my group. Poe in jeans, a white shirt, and a white and a red and a white basketball jacket. Finn in his custom made shirt. Artue in his grey shirt, blue and white plaid sweater, blue jeans, blue and grey high tops, and his favourite grey beanie. Seithrie in his dark yellow and grey sweater, khakis, and his mismatched shoes. Bebe in her unique orange and white dress, matching heels, and matching shawl, finished with her black lipstick. Just a weird group of nobodies.

"Reeey! Hello!" A voice called, dragging me out of my thoughts. I looked up to the group. All ten eyes were on me. "So? Are you going to tell us your secret?" Bebe asked. "My secret?" I repeated. "As to how you're so confident around Kylo Ren!" She exclaimed. "I don't have a secret. It just happens." I said. "Well that doesn't help us." Artue sighed. I looked out the window of the coffee shop and watched the cars drive in and out of the parking a lot. Then something from the corner of my eyes caught my attention. I looked at it. A boy in all black. I didn't have to see a face to know who it was. Without excusing myself from the group, I stood up and walked out of the shop. "What are you doing here, Ben?" I asked. "I could say the same to you." He said.

"Where's your group?"

"Where's yours?"

This confused me. I turned to look at my group who have stood from their seats, but haven't left the table. "Can't you see them?" I asked, turning back to him. "Can't you see mine?" He asked. I was flustered. Was I being delusional? "Why are you here, Ben?" I asked again.

"Why are you here?"

"A meeting with my group." I said. "You need to leave." He said. "No, my group was here first. You leave." I demanded. "Where are they then?" He asked. "I can see them from here. Are you blind?"

He didn't respond. He just looked down. "What?" I asked, seeing that something was bothering him. He slowly faded until he vanished. I stood there, speechless. I couldn't think straight. "Rey, are you okay?" I heard Bebe ask. "Would it be crazy to feel sorry for Ben?" I asked, not turning to look at her. I heard her footsteps come closer and a hand rested on my shoulder. She pulled it to turn me around to face her, but I looked at my feet. "Is something wrong?" She asked. "I wish I could tell you, but you would never believe me." I whispered. "Come on, I'll get the guys and we'll take you home. You're boiling." She said, resting her hand on my forehead. I nodded and watched as she signalled the boys to come out. They got up and left the shop. "Is everything alright?" Seithrie asked. "Rey just needs to go home. She's not feeling well." Bebe said. We all got in Poe's car and he drove me to the orphanage. When we got there, Bebe and I got out and went inside. We snuck past sleeping Rudith and we went into the bedroom. "Rey!" The girls yelled. Bebe shushed them and they all fell silent. I laid on one of the mattresses and just stared at the ceiling. I blocked out the noise around me. All I could think about was Ben. He always looked mad, but his eyes always told a different story. He was battling his own war that wasn't between us. A battle I may never know of. He's not what he seems to be. He has something I've never seen in him before.

It's compassion.