it all revolves around you

chapter two

Ben got off of the elevator and walked to his suite that he shared with his mother and uncle. Although he was a completely independent adult, his mother still insisted he spend family time during competitions. After his room key buzzed green, he slipped in hoping to go unnoticed.
"Hey honey," his mother called out. He groaned and stepped a few feet back to peer into the doorway. "Hey Mom."
She continued to stare, and he reluctantly walked over to her.
She was sitting in a green hotel armchair that she somehow made look like it was a work of art. Her youth and beauty had faded into elegant wrinkles and grey streaks in her dark hair. She was still beautiful but wore her age well. She patted the chair next to it and summoned her son.
"So, how was your day? Are you two happy with how things turned out?" She asked casually, barely looking up from the newspaper she was reading.
"Yeah, we're both grateful with how things went."
"Did you listen to anything I said on the phone?" She still was speaking casually, but he could sense a hint of ire in her voice.
"What?"
"Ben, I clearly wanted you to go out with your teammates. Why are you up here with me?"
"Well, I wanted to be up here by myself..."
Leia rolled her eyes. "Is Rey going?"
"I think so. I guess, I don't know. She's friends with lots of those guys."
"And aren't you?"
Ben frowned. "No. You know that."
"Ben, how are you going to make Rey fall in love with you if you won't go to a bar and get a drink with her friends?"
Ben reddened, eyes wide. "How- I'm not- she's not in love with me," he stammered. "besides, we're partners, we always have been. I'm not a social guy. H-how do you even know about what I think?"
Leia rolled her eyes. "Oh my God, you're such a drama queen. I'm not saying you're going to marry her. I just wanted to talk to you about this. You've obviously had feelings for her for years."
Ben stared at his mother, befuddled. "How did you know?"
"Well, for one thing, I'm your mother, but also you've always cared deeply for her. More than anyone else. Who am I to say, but it seems like you love her."
"Does she know?"
"I don't think so. I think she's so distracted with how all of your fans think you're in love that she considers it all fake. But that doesn't mean it can't be real."
"Oh, yeah. Like she's going to start to like me after all this time."
"I don't know, honey, but you can always try. And you can also always listen to what I tell you to do, you idiot."
Ben rolled his eyes. "I'll go to the bar."
Leia smiled. "That's by boy."
Ben kissed her on the cheek and went to his own room. He went into his closet and changed his tee shirt into a black sweater and brown pants, before heading into the bathroom. He stared at the mirror. He didn't like what he saw, usually. His nose was far too big, his face too long, his lips too pink, his skin too pale, blah blah blah. He was so tall and had spent years working to grow into his lanky body. At least now he was muscular and strong, something he actually took pride in. m
But the worst feature on his face was the glaringly obvious scar that had never really gone away. At the last Olympics, he had taken a serious slip and sliced open his face on cracked ice, breaking his nose and leaving a huge scar running diagonal. After three years it still persisted, darker than the rest of his pale skin.
After that injury he felt he might not ever skate again. He became severely depressed after being humiliated intergalactically and receiving a bad score. To make it worse, Rey hadn't talked to him much after, and he was very alone. Only with the help of his mother and uncle was he pushed to try to get back in the game.
He traced the scar with his finger before combing through his thick black hair and putting on some cologne.
He said goodbye to his mom and went downstairs.
-
Rey's cab had dropped her at a loud and certainly hip bar in the city.
As she pensively walked in, she spotted a heavily inebriated Poe from across the way.
"Rey!" he shouted, waving vigorously.
She ran over and hugged him.
"I'm glad to be here, I'm glad Leia invited me for you!"
"Oh, I'm sorry baby, we just came right over here after the awards. We don't stop the party!"
Rey nodded as Finn came over, placing a sloppy kiss on Poe's cheek before saying hello. They weren't officially a couple, but everyone knew that they liked each other. Rey didn't understand why they didn't start dating already, but figured it wasn't her business.
"Hey dude. You guys did amazing today. I loved the costumes."
"Oh, yeah, Well. I can explain that. We found them. They're so cute. Mine really makes my ass pop." Finn slurred.
Rey just chuckled, being sober could be fun sometimes.
"Where's your boyfriend Rey? His costume was so boring. I mean, all black? Pshhhh. Boring! A turtleneck? I mean who does that? You need to talk some sense into him." Poe said loudly.
Rey rolled her eyes. "He's not my boyfriend. And the black is on theme with our music."
"Whatever." Poe lazily sipped his drink.
I'm going to go get a drink, okay guys?" Rey left to find the bartender. "I doubt they even notice I left."
-
Three vodka tonics later, Rey was just as drunk as everyone else. She was a lightweight if there ever was one.
She was having so much fun with the figure skaters, happy to be able to let loose without having to think about the future or stupid shot like that. Please. They would do fine at the games.
Just as she was about to complain to Finn about her dinner with Ben, he walked through the door, looking terribly anxious.
"Beeennnn, come here!" Rey called over, waving just like Poe had to her. She was sitting in a booth with some other teammates who were equally wasted.
"Hey, my Mom con- I decided to come. What are you drinking?"
"Mm-uhhhmn vodka tonic. Extra lime."
"Okay, I'll get the same."
When he returned, he drank cautiously, as if it were poison. He was so uncomfortable in the large crowd. He also noticed a pair of eyes on him from one of the skaters at the booth, a blonde girl who was rude in his opinion, yet who wasn't as wild as the others. He couldn't remember her name. Had he ever even met her?
Rey was loudly talking to Poe, so he decided to go talk to her.
"What's your name?"
"I'm Phasma. Nice to meet you, Mr. Solo," she drowsily shook his hand. "I don't believe we've met," She was speaking oddly, in a deep husky voice.
"No, I don't know many of the figure skaters. You must know my mother."
"No, she isn't my coach. I'm under Snoke. He's much more disciplined. Leia is so casual with everyone, she doesn't care about skating. None of them are serious. Armie Hux and I are serous. We are both going to win gold, I'm sure of it."
Ben scoffed. He had just insulted his mother, but also had insulted he'd teammates. He had trained under Snoke years ago before he paired up with Rey, in his teenage years. He was not impressed. Smoke used intimidation and punishment to make his pupils succeed, while his mother was fair and passionate. However, he did agree that some of her athletes were far from serious.
"Maybe, we'll see."
"How's it been coming back? I heard it took a lot to get you back under Luke's tutelage."
"Fine. Rey and I work well together, so I'm not worried."
"You know, I was thinking of trying pairs sometime. For fun. If Rey is ever busy we could choreograph something." Kylo frowned. He and Rey were inseparable, or so he thought. He glanced over and saw her making out with a young guy in her booth.
"Perhaps. I don't know, Snoke doesn't really like me."
I didn't say anything about Snoke."
Suddenly, Phasma was kissing him, hard, hands running over his chest. He pulled away. "What are you doing?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm trying to seduce you."
"Why?"
"Because you're a sexy guy here who doesn't make me want to rip my ears out." She leaned forward again, but he stood up from the booth, hoping not to be kissed again.
"I'm not looking to meet anyone, okay? I need to focus on me and Rey, I just came here because my Mom made me..."
Phasma shook her head. "Why do you care so much about you and her? She doesn't even like you."
"What?"
"I heard her talking to Finn about how you bore her to death with your seriousness."
Ben looked down, hurt. "Oh. Well, I'm going to go home. I'm sorry Phasma, I just don't want to, ugh, whatever. Bye."
Phasma absentmindedly waved as she picked her drink back up, turning back to her group. Ben walked out of the bar, alone and cold.
"So much for that."