One Last Look

8

A few months had passed. El writing a few essays, Ben serving coffee, and everything that came inbetween.
Now El sat alone on her couch.
Furiously her fingers flew from key to key. Tapping filling the otherwise silent room. Wisps fell down from her messily-thrown up hair, framing her flushed cheeks. Eyes fixed on her screen, concentrating on stringing the thoughts in her head into cohesive sentences.
Ben burst through the front door, turning on the light as he came.

"El you'll never believe what just happened!! Also what have I told you about working in the dark? And where's your glasses? How do you live without me I swear..." his voice, which had started out an excited jumble, trailed off into incoherent muttering as he absentmindedly picked up the things El had left sitting around.

"Ben I'm fine tell me what just happened!" yelling, she jumped up from the couch, sending her laptop and assorted items flying.

"Oh right!!—" He dropped the T-shirt he was holding as instantly he straightened up, excitement flooding his eyes—"El, I got a job offer."

"NO WAY" she gasped, her face clearing displaying her shock.
"Where?!"

"Burkham Studios!"

Her eyes briefly clouded with confusion.
Noticing this, Ben rushed to explain.
"You know that big, white building a few blocks down from the coffee shop?"

El's eyes lit up in recognition

"Yes! What do they do?"

"They're a graphic art studio, they found some old sketches I did awhile ago and are interested in hiring me for a job in design!"

"Oh wow!! I didn't know you were still interesting in drawing, you haven't sketched it in awhile." She cocked her head, trying to remember the last time she saw Ben pick up a pencil.

His eyes flashed with concern.

"El...I draw all the time. H-have you not noticed?"

Her eyebrows furrowed.
Vague pictures came into her mind of the past few months, Ben bent over some scattered papers, Ben with a pencil behind his ear while serving coffee, and other ones like it.

How did she not remember that?

"Oh...I guess I just forgot in the excitement." She stammered, then recomposing her thoughts, she exclaimed,
"I really am so happy for you Ben!! This is amazing for you and your career!"

A smile flashed back on his face.

"I know right!! I'm so excited, think of what possibilities are waiting around the corner for us El!"

"I can't wait Benji!"

Ben lifted her up into a big bear hug and spun around and around.
Love and joy welled up in her and came spilling out in the form of laughter.
Ben immediately joined in.
They spun til they both got dizzy and fell onto the couch, still giggling.

Their eyes met, and they stayed there for a little while. Wrapped up in the moment, and each other's arms.