He first thought it was homesickness.

The way he felt restless when he was lying on his bed. The way his mind would always go off to his hometown in Bellwood. How his memories of his childhood heroic days would pop up in his head just as he was about to get some shut eye. As his tormenting memories have been becoming more and more frequent and disturbing, he realized that this was homesickness at its worst. This was the disgusting feeling of nostalgia. Every night, this would return to him. Every night he finds himself longing to get out of his college and travel back to Bellwood. And every night, he gets a little bit more suffocated from the insomnia that resulted.

But tonight, it was different. He rested on his bed. His eyes were idly fixed on the ceiling fan and his ears were much distracted by the snoring of his roommate. Yet, his mind somehow found its way to be somewhere else.

He remembered how he would travel around the country with his grandfather and his cousin, Gwen. Yes, life was exciting then, compared to his days of monotony now that he's trying to have a normal life. A faint smile grew on his lips as he recalled those times and everyone in them. Mostly on Gwen. He remembered how she was the very first girl to make him feel so comfortable. The way they would sneak off to fight aliens when they were teens. He remembered Kevin. That spoiled son-of-a-metal-slab (1). Ben hated that guy to the might but they turned out to be good friends. Then again, Kevin tried to steal Gwen away. Then again, again, Gwen refused Kevin. Then again, again, again, they had little time left because college had to steal Ben away when he received an athlete's scholarship. He left Gwen without confirming the real stand on their relationship. No 'I Love You's', just a leave.

The eighteen year old sighed. 'High school sucked' he thought. He sat up from his bed and looked over to his roommate's bed. 'Still asleep' he noted. Ben got on his feet and walked towards the door. As he entered the hallway, he heard a tapping at the door from downstairs. 'Guess I'm not the only one awake'.

Thinking it might be a friend of his drunk from another party, Ben walked downstairs to answer the door. The tapping became louder and faster. "Yeah I'm coming!" he called out. 'Sheesh, Dan, could you be for real?' But the knocks were persistent.

"WHAT?!" he growled when he swung the door open.

His eyes fell on what was before him and he could only feel confused.

It was around 10 o' clock in the morning. Ben was lying down lazily on the couch while watching some stupid reruns on TV. Just then, someone came in through the door.

"There you are Jamie!" the person greeted. Ben winced at the nickname. He glared at the man.

He grumbled. "What do you mean 'There you are Jamie'? You're the punk who was missing last night, Dan. Mrs. Henry was looking for you."

"You didn't tell her I was out last night, did you?"

'Stupid question'. "Didn't need to. She took a guess all by herself and now, she's out to get your neck."

Suddenly, a yell was heard from upstairs. "DANIEL, YOU BETTER WASH THAT ALCOHOL STENCH OFF OF YOU AND CLEAN UP YOUR ROOM OR YOU'RE OUT OF HERE!"

Dan looked at Ben with pleading eyes. "Help me!" he mouthed. Ben, on the hand, mouthed an apathetic 'no' in return. When Mrs. Henry, the dubbed 'dorm house dictator' came down the stairs, Daniel left in a hurry, leaving Ben alone.

"Good morning, ma'am" he greeted, forcing a gentle smile on his face. The elderly lady smiled in return.

"Does your class start early today? Is that why you're up so early?" she asked. Ben couldn't see how she thought ten in the morning was early. 'Maybe I can't tell what early is anymore from all those sleepless nights" he thought.

"Nah," he replied. "Couldn't sleep. I've been getting less rest nowadays." He gave out a little chuckle. The woman asked, "Is your girlfriend keeping you up all night?"

Before Ben could answer, Dan came barging back in. "Lady, you didn't just ask Bigshot about his love life!" he exclaimed, gesturing her to back off. "He won't answer you."

Mrs. Henry just sighed and left. "Dude, you can't just talk to your grandma like that!' Ben said. Dan gave a 'Yes I can' look and pulled up a chair right next to Ben's couch. "So, who's this girl you keep thinking of? She hot? She has friends or something?"

Ben looked at him in disbelief. Then again, he was somewhat right about how he would think of Gwen. And yes, she is hot. "Whether or not she has friends, don't think I'll introduce them to an idiot like you."

"So there is a girl?"

"Put a sock in it, Henry." (2)

"Oh, so you're being secretive. Nice."

"Back off."

"You don't wanna share the goodies?"(3)

"Holy shit! Are you for real?"

"I – hey, what's that?" Fortunately for Ben, his friend had a short attention span. Unfortunately, he discovered the small package beside Ben' couch.

"I got it last night. Don't know where it's from; don't know what to do with it." Ben shrugged. Dan just raised and eyebrow and looked at Ben. After a couple of minutes of nothing, the bored Dan went off to do whatever he does.

Ben, noticing that he was alone once more, pulled out his cellphone from his pocket. "I certainly don't know where it's from or what to do with it, but I know just what to do." as he started dialing.

"Gwen? I need to speak with you."

A/n: HELLO! I'm uploading my first chapter of my BenxGwen fic. It's actually based on a graphic novel I'm currently working on. I know it's long and dragging, but I promise the next chapters will be shorter.

(1)Sorry, couldn't help myself. ^0^

(2)Daniel Henry, gets?

(3)"Men are after one thing" If you know what I mean.. Goodies may be that something.

More power to BenxGwen! ^0^

Reviews, constructive criticisms, questions or blackmail (joke) are welcomed.